Hooded holster

1. A holster for a weapon, comprising:

a body defining a cavity for receiving and holding a weapon, the body comprising a pair of opposed side walls, a front wall, a rear wall and a lower portion;

a hood assembly pivotably connected to the body, the hood assembly pivotable between a closed position for securing the weapon within the body cavity and an open position for removal of the weapon;

a locking means securing the hood assembly in the closed position when a weapon is held in the body cavity;

a release means associated with the locking means for releasing the hood assembly to the open position for removal of the weapon; and

means for automatically pivoting the hood assembly to the closed position and thereby automatically engaging the locking means upon insertion of the weapon into the body cavity, wherein the means for automatically pivoting the hood assembly comprise at least one pivot arm, and wherein the at least one pivot arm extends within the body cavity from the hood assembly to a pivot plate.

2. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking means is precluded from engaging when a weapon is absent from the body.

3. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein a portion of the body comprises a removable, replaceable, interchangeable cup for accommodating an accessory for a received weapon.

4. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hood assembly is pivotably attached at a point on the pivot arm adjacent to the pivot plate to a point on the body adjacent to the lower portion of the body.

5. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the release means comprises a thumb release.

6. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the release means comprises a finger release.

7. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking means is biased to a locked configuration when the weapon is held in the body cavity.

8. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one pivot arm extends along the interior of one of the opposed side walls.

9. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one pivot arm extends along the interior of the front wall.

10. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hood assembly is biased to the open position when a weapon is absent from the body.

11. A holster as set forth in claim 10 wherein the hood assembly is biased to the open position by a spring loaded means.

12. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pivot plate is positioned within the body cavity at the lower portion of the body.

13. A holster as set forth in claim 12 wherein the means for automatically pivoting the hood assembly to the closed position is activated upon engagement of a forward face of an inserted weapon with the pivot plate of the hood assembly.

14. A holster as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one pivot arm comprises a pair of elongated pivot arms and wherein the pivot arms extend along the interior of the opposed sidewalls.

15. A holster as set forth in claim 14 wherein the means for automatically pivoting the hood assembly is pivotably attached at coplanar points on the pivot arms adjacent to the pivot plate to coplanar points on the body adjacent to the lower portion of the body.

16. A holster for a weapon, comprising:

a body defining a cavity for receiving and holding a weapon, the body comprising a pair of opposed side walls, a front wall, a rear wall and a lower portion;

a hood assembly pivotably connected to the body, the hood assembly comprising a retaining hood, at least one elongated pivot arm, and a pivot plate, the hood assembly being pivotable between a closed position for securing the weapon within the body cavity and an open position for removal of the weapon;

a locking means securing the hood assembly in the closed position when a weapon is held in the body cavity;

a release means associated with the locking means for releasing the hood assembly to the open position for removal of the weapon; and

means for automatically pivoting the hood assembly to the closed position upon insertion of a weapon into the body cavity, said means comprising at least one pivot arm and a pivot plate, wherein the pivot arm is attached to the hood assembly and the pivot plate, wherein the pivot arm extends, within the body cavity, from the hood assembly to the pivot plate, and wherein the pivot plate is positioned within the body cavity at the lower portion of the body;

wherein the locking means is biased to a locked configuration when the weapon is held in the body cavity.

17. A holster as set forth in claim 16 wherein the locking means is precluded from engaging when a weapon is absent from the body.

18. A holster as set forth in claim 16 wherein a portion of the body comprises a removable, replaceable, interchangeable cup for accommodating an accessory for a received weapon.

19. A holster as set forth in claim 16 wherein the pivot arm extends along the interior of the rear wall.

20. A holster as set forth in claim 16 wherein the means for automatically pivoting the hood assembly comprises a pair of elongated pivot arms.

21. A holster as set forth in claim 16 wherein the hood assembly is biased to the open position when a weapon is absent from the body.

22. A holster as set forth in claim 21 wherein the hood assembly is biased to the open position by a spring loaded means.