Sidearm holsters

Abstract

A sidearm holster having a latchable flap or strap composed of a spring metal strip having one end anchored in the rear part of the holster and arranged to snap upwardly when the flap is unlatched, and provided with a latching mechanism which can be manually actuated to positively unlatch the flap.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a sidearm holster having a closing member disposed to extend over the top of a sidearm held in the holster and movable into a closed position for keeping the sidearm in the holster, and into an open position for permitting withdrawal of the sidearm, the improvement comprising: latch means carried by said closing member near the end thereof, which, when said closing member is in its closed position, is adjacent the side of said holster which faces away from its wearer;   a manually operable latching mechanism mounted on said holster for holding said latch means when said closing member is in its closed position, said latching mechanism being manually movable .Iadd. relative to said holster by direct manual actuation .Iaddend.into a position for releasing said latch means; and   said closing member including spring means for causing said closing member to spring into its open position, and to remain therein, upon release of said latch means.   
     
     
       2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said closing member is permanently connected to that side of said holster which faces the wearer when the holster is being worn, and said spring means comprise a strip of spring material joined to said closing member, having one end pemanently and immovably fastened to that side of said holster which faces the wearer when the holster is being worn, and having its opposite end disposed at a point adjacent said latch means. 
     
     
       3. An arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said latching mechanism is arranged to be moved upwardly, when said holster is being worn, to reach the position in which it releases said latch means, and said latching mechanism comprises a pushbutton disposed to be pushed upwardly for moving said latching mechanism into such releasing position. 
     
     
       4. An arrangement as defined in claim 3 wherein said holster is provided with a recess in the vicinity of its bottom, said recess being accessible at least from the bottom of said holster and said pushbutton being located in said recess. 
     
     
       5. An arrangement as defined in claim 4 wherein said latching mechanism further comprises a latch plate provided with a first opening and a second opening located above said first opening and having a dimension in the direction transverse to the movement of said latching mechanism which is smaller than that of said first opening, said first and second opening being in communication, and wherein said latch means includes a latch pin extending transversely from said other end of said strip of spring material and having a shank and an enlarged head disposed at the free end of said shank, the diameter of said enlarged head being less than the dimension of said first opening in the direction transverse to movement of said latching mechanism, and larger than the corresponding dimension of said second opening, and the diameter of said shank being less than such dimension of said second opening. 
     
     
       6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5 wherein said latching mechanism further comprises spring biassing means arranged for urging said latching mechanism in the direction away from its said releasing position. .Iadd. 7. In a sidearm holster having a closing member disposed to extend over the top of a sidearm held in the holster and movable into a closed position for keeping the sidearm in the holster, and into an open position for permitting withdrawal of the sidearm, the improvement comprising: latch means carried by said closing member near the end thereof which, when said closing member is in its closed position, is adjacent one side of said holster;   a manually operable latching mechanism mounted on said holster for holding said latch means when said closing member is in its closed position, said latching mechanism comprising a pushbutton disposed to be manually pushed for moving said mechanism into a position for releasing said latch means; and   said closing member including means for causing said closing member to spring into its open position, and to remain therein, upon release of said latch means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. An arrangement as defined in claim 7 wherein said means included in said closing member are spring means. .Iaddend.