US3419728A - Weapon holster - Google Patents

Description

D@n 31, 196s C, L, WILSON y3,419,728

WEAPON HOLSTER Filed Aug. 10, 1965 United States Patent O 3,419,728 WEAPON HOLSTER Curtis L. Wilson, Box 1094, Sierra Vista, Ariz. Filed Aug. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 478,777 2 Claims. (Cl. 307-9) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a weapon holster. and more particularly to a means for securing a weapon against unauthorized use, yet readily made available to authorized users. f

The present invention is especially useful to military personnel, criminal investigators, police, and others who have need for an emergency weapon in their vehicles, also drivers of cargo trucks, wherein it is uncomfortable to wear a weapon, yet carrying of a weapon is required. Its uses are myriad.

Briefly, the invention consists of a holster that is attached to a vehicle and a plurality of electric solenoid operated plungers that pierce the holster to lock a weapon, such as a pistol, when in the holster. The plungers are withdrawn when a pushbutton switch is operated to release the weapon for use. The ignition switch is required, however, to be on before the pushbutton can close the circuit and operate the plungers. Hence the operator must have an ignition key and know where the pushbutton switch is located before he can release the weapon for removal from the holster. y

It is therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a holster for the securement of a weapon against unauthorized use.

It is another object to provide a weapon holster to be mounted in a vehicle and a means for locking a weapon in theholster, said means being operated electrically.

A further object is to provide a weapon holster attached to a vehicle having a series of solenoid operated plungers, that are operated by a combination of the vehicles ignition key and a pushbutton switch, that pierce the holster and secure the weapon therein.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the holster of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on a larger scale and taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification; and,

FIG. 4 is a wiring diagram of the solenoid hook up.

Referring to the drawing, reference character 1 designates generally the holster of the invention (see FIG. 1). The holster 1 may be located at any convenient point in a vehicle, such as, under the dashboard, on the sides,

under the seat, etc. In FIGS. 2 and 3 a portion of the vehicles body is indicated by 2 and the holster Lis shown (FIG. 2) as secured, for example, by bolts 3 to the portion of the vehicle (not shown).

As shown in FIG. l,y holster 1 is an outer lcontainer having side walls 4 and 5, end wall 6, and top and bottom walls 7 and 8. While a substantially rectangular shape holster is shown, other shapes would be feasible as is expedient. However one. end of the structure will always be open for entrance of a weapon.

A weapon 9 is shown in holster 1 and as illustrated in FIG. 1, this weapon is a pistol, which is generally the type of weapon to be used.

Holster 1 is provided with an inner shield 10. This inner shield is open-ended and receives the pistol 9 therein. Shield 10 is shown to extend from top wall 7 to bottom wall 8 and is of a width to accommodate the particular weapon to be used.

Inner shield 10 is provided with a barrel supporting portion 11 to accommodate the barrel 12 of pistol 9 therein. Portion 11 may be a strip of material similar to that of the inner shield 10.fThis strip could be arranged to accommodate barrels of automatic pistols if desired. The manner of mounting inner shield 10 in the holster 1 and the barrel supporting portion 11 in the inner shield 10 is not shown, as any method could be employed as is expedient. Further, the entire holster 1 may be made of any type material such as steel, wood, plastic etc.

As shown in FIG. l, `pistol 9 is illustrated to be positioned so that the stock, or handle 13 will protrude outside the holster for facilitating the grasping thereof by the user.

Means for locking the pistol 9 in holster 1 are provided and consist of solenoids 14 xed to side wall 4 .at points suitable to secure pistol 9 in holster 1. Solenoids 14 have plungers 15 which are biased outwardly by a spring 16. Each plunger 15 (three are shown, but any member can be used as desired) penetrates inner shield 10 and extends transversely into it. As shown, one plunger 15 is positioned behind the sight 17 of pistol 9, another into the trigger guard 18 of the pistol and still another between the trigger guard 18 and handle 13, thusly securing the pistol 9 against withdrawal.

Solenoids 14 are electrically energized by the vehicles electrical system. The wiring diagram is illustrated in FIG. 4. As shown in this view, 19 indicates the ignition switch of the vehicle. Ignition switch 19 is electrically connected by leads 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and grounds 25 and 26 to solenoids 14, in series. Lead 20 is interrupted by a pushbutton switch 27.

A slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. Instead of .plunger 15 penetrating only one side of inner shield 10, it penetrates both sides to give better support thereto and provide further reinforcement for the better securement of the pistol 9 therein.

The operation of the holster device is contingent on three factors: (a) The ignition switch must be turned on by one possessing a key 28. (b) The pushbutton 27 must -be closed to complete the circuit to retract the plungers 15 and permit the withdrawal of pistol 9. (c) The operator must know the location of the pushbutton (which may be located at a secret point in the vehicle).

1t is apparent that the operator of the holster must possess the ignition key 28 in order to unlock the weapon, since he must turn on the ignition before the pushbutton 27 will close the circuit. This would permit the operator to leave the vehicle unattended if desired and as long as the ignition key is off there would be no unauthorized removal of the pistol.

The holster of this invention, while shown as for holding a pistol, could be designed for use with a rie, or a plurality of weapons.

While only preferred forms of the invention are shown and described, other forms of the invention are contemplated and numerous changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A weapon holster to be mounted in a motor vehicle having an ignition switch, said holster including an outer container having side Walls, top and bottom walls, a single end wall and an inner shield xed to one of the side walls within said outer container and spaced from the other side wall, said inner shield being adapted to receive a weapon therein, electrically operated means for locking a weapon within said inner shield and comprising, a plurality of solenoids having spring biased plungers mounted at expedient points in said space between a side wall of said container and said inner shield, their longitudinal axes being disposed at right angles to said inner shield, said plungers normally extending into said inner shield to block removal of a weapon therefrom, an electrical circuit connecting said solenoids with said ignition switch 4 and a pushbu'tton switch in said circuit whereby when said solenoids are energized by the closing of both said ignition and pushbutton switches said plungers are withdrawn from said inner shield `to permit insertion or removal of a weapon.

2. A device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said inner shield is provided with a barrel supporting portion in its upper end thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,807,033 5/1931 Hansen 70-282 2,655,298 10/1953 Riley 224-1 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

DAVID SMITH, JR., Assistant Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R.

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