Holster, holster accessory, and related methods

Abstract

A firearm holster has a holster body that includes a plurality of walls defining a encasement for the firearm and an opening for inserting the firearm into that encasement. The walls include an interior wall, as well as an exterior wall disposed opposite the interior wall. The holster also includes a first magnetic element disposed on the holster body, and a second magnetic element that is configured to cooperate with the first magnetic element to magnetically attract the first and second magnetic elements to one another. The second magnetic element includes a coupler for coupling the second magnetic element to an article of clothing.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A firearm holster concealing belt clip for a person wearing a shirt hanging down over that person's waist area, comprising:
 a clip body including oppositely disposed first and second plates hingedly connected to one another at respective proximal ends of said plates, said plates being urged inwardly and configured to lie respectively against an exterior surface and an interior surface of a belt worn by the person in that person's waist area;   a first magnetic element disposed on an exterior surface of said first plate; and   a second magnetic element configured to cooperate with said first magnetic element to magnetically engage said first and second magnetic elements with one another, said second magnetic element being configured to be magnetically coupled to said first magnetic element through a portion of the shirt being worn by the person with the shirt hanging down over that person's waist area.   
     
     
         22 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 21 , wherein said first magnetic element includes at least one magnet. 
     
     
         23 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 22 , wherein said first magnetic element has a total effective magnetic pull force not greater than 52 Newtons when tested against a flat metallic plate. 
     
     
         24 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 22 , wherein said first magnetic element includes two magnets, each having a nominal pull force in the range between 19 Newtons and 26 Newtons and said second magnetic element includes a ferrous metallic plate. 
     
     
         25 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 22 , further comprising a layer of synthetic rubber material having a thickness between 0.2 and 0.5 mm disposed over at least one of said first magnetic element or said second magnetic element. 
     
     
         26 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 21 , further comprising a restraining feature at an interface between said first and second magnetic elements and configured to hinder sliding movement of said first and second magnetic elements relative to one another when said first and second magnetic elements are magnetically coupled to one another through the portion of the shirt being worn by the person. 
     
     
         27 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 26 , wherein said restraining feature includes a male element in one of the first or second magnetic elements and a cooperating female element in the other of the first or second magnetic elements for receiving said male element therein when said first and second magnetics elements are coupled to one another. 
     
     
         28 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 21 , wherein said restraining feature includes a first stepped surface on one of the first or second magnetic elements and a complementary second stepped surface on the other of the first or second magnetic elements or a texturized surface on one or both of said first and second magnetic elements. 
     
     
         29 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 21 , wherein said first magnetic element is free of magnets. 
     
     
         30 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 21 , wherein said second magnetic element is free of magnets. 
     
     
         31 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 21 , wherein said first magnetic element is integrally formed with or permanently attached to said first plate of said clip body. 
     
     
         32 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 21 , wherein said first magnetic element is releasably attached to said first plate of said clip body. 
     
     
         33 . A firearm holster concealing belt clip for a person wearing a shirt hanging down over that person's waist area, comprising:
 a clip body including oppositely disposed first and second plates hingedly connected to one another at respective proximal ends of said plates, said plates being urged inwardly and configured to lie respectively against an exterior surface and an interior surface of a belt worn by the person in that person's waist area;   a first magnetic element disposed on an exterior surface of said first plate; and   a second magnetic element configured to cooperate with said first magnetic element to magnetically engage said first and second magnetic elements with one another thereby magnetically securing a position of the shirt hanging down over that person's waist area.   
     
     
         34 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 33 , wherein said second magnetic element includes a coupler for coupling said second magnetic element to the shirt, said coupler including one of a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap fastener, a temporary adhesive, a clamp, or a resilient clip configured to releasably couple said second magnetic element to the shirt. 
     
     
         35 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 33 , further comprising a restraining feature at an interface between said first and second magnetic elements and configured to hinder sliding movement of said first and second magnetic elements relative to one another when said first and second magnetic elements are magnetically coupled to one another through the portion of the shirt being worn by the person. 
     
     
         36 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 35 , wherein said restraining feature includes a male element in one of the first or second magnetic elements and a cooperating female element in the other of the first or second magnetic elements for receiving said male element therein when said first and second magnetics elements are coupled to one another. 
     
     
         37 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 35 , wherein said restraining feature includes a first stepped surface on one of the first or second magnetic elements and a complementary second stepped surface on the other of the first or second magnetic elements or a texturized surface on one or both of said first and second magnetic elements. 
     
     
         38 . A firearm holster concealing belt clip for a person wearing a shirt hanging down over that person's waist area, comprising:
 a clip body including oppositely disposed first and second plates hingedly connected to one another at respective proximal ends of said plates, said plates being urged inwardly and configured to lie respectively against an exterior surface and an interior surface of a belt worn by the person in that person's waist area;   a first magnetic element disposed on an exterior surface of said first plate, said first magnetic element including a pair of magnets and having a total effective magnetic pull force not greater than 52 Newtons when tested against a flat metallic plate;   a second magnetic element configured to cooperate with said first magnetic element to magnetically engage said first and second magnetic elements with one another, said second magnetic element being configured to be magnetically coupled to said first magnetic element through a portion of the shirt being worn by the person with the shirt hanging down over that person's waist area; and   a restraining feature at an interface between said first and second magnetic elements and configured to hinder sliding movement of said first and second magnetic elements relative to one another when said first and second magnetic elements are magnetically coupled to one another through the portion of the shirt being worn by the person.   
     
     
         39 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 38 , wherein each of the magnets in said pair of magnets of said first magnetic element has a nominal pull force in the range between 19 Newtons and 26 Newtons. 
     
     
         40 . The firearm holster concealing belt clip of  claim 38 , wherein:
 said second magnetic element includes a ferrous metallic plate and is free of magnets, and said restraining feature includes a male element in said first magnetic element and a cooperating female element in said second magnetic element for receiving said male element therein when said first and second magnetics elements are coupled to one another through the shirt being worn by the person.