IP Library Granted Patent US 11,725,905
Granted Patent B2
US 11,725,905 · App. 17/245,688 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

Thumb-actuated locking holster

Inventors: Paul N. Smith (Bozeman, MT); Troy E. Lance (Livingston, MT); Oscar C. Woods (Manhattan, MT); Daniel D. Sereday (Belgrade, MT); Christopher J. Michael (Belgrade, MT); Robert J. Meinert (Andover, MN)
Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
F41C33/0236F41C33/0263F41C33/041
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,725,905
App. No.
17/245,688
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A holster for receiving and withdrawing a handgun has a proximal wall portion with a handgun retention mechanism thereon. The mechanism having a first lever with a tab portion for actuation and release of a trigger guard, the lever having a snap fit into a lever region without a separate pin. A belt engaging member covers the lever region capturing the first lever therein. If a second retention mechanism is used, another lever with a tab portion is positioned so the tabs are stacked, depressing one also depresses the tab behind it, such that both mechanisms are released. Overmolded polymer layers in the holster body provides a softer interior handgun engagement surfaces. The holster body is split forwardly with a threaded fastener for clamping onto the handgun. No holster body is beneath or rearward of the tab portion, configured as a thumb button, allowing smooth transition to gripping the handgun.

Claims (42)

1. A holster mount comprising:

a column portion comprising:

a lower portion comprising a holster attachment region;

a mid-level portion disposed vertically above the lower portion; and

an upper portion disposed vertically above the mid-level portion;

at least one of the mid-level portion and the upper portion comprising a recess defined by a lower rib and two side ribs configured to be adjacent to a holster attached to the holster attachment region, wherein the side ribs extend into at least a portion of the upper portion; and

at least one belt loop portion extending from the upper portion.

2. The holster mount of claim 1 , wherein the recess is configured to accommodate a thumb while drawing a pistol from a holster attached to the holster attachment region.

3. The holster mount of claim 1 , the holster attachment region further comprising apertures for receiving at least one threaded fastener for attachment to a holster body.

4. The holster mount of claim 1 , the recess configured to cooperate with a holster body to capture components of a retention mechanism of the holster body between the holster body and the recess.

5. The holster mount of claim 1 , the at least one belt loop portion displaced distally inward of the column portion and displaced laterally from the column portion.

6. The holster mount of claim 1 , wherein the at least one belt loop portion extends from the upper portion of the column portion.

7. The holster mount of claim 6 , the upper portion further comprising an upper connection portion connecting the at least one belt loop portion to the upper portion; the upper portion, upper connection portion, and at least one belt loop portion being unitary with each other.

8. The holster mount of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one belt loop portion is configured for clamping.

9. The holster mount of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one belt loop portion is adjustable with respect to the column portion by a respective threaded fastener.

10. The holster mount of claim 9 , the at least one belt loop portion further comprising a lower end not unitarily joined to the column portion, but having a closable space therefrom, the closable space closable by the threaded fastener.

11. The holster mount of claim 1 , the mid-level portion further comprising protruding portions configured to cooperate with the lower ends of the at least one belt loop portion.

12. The holster mount of claim 11 , the protruding portions comprising bosses.

13. The holster mount of claim 1 , the at least one belt loop portion further comprising an outside face, the outside face comprising protruding features.

14. The holster mount of claim 13 , the protruding features selected from a group consisting of ribs and studs.

15. The holster mount of claim 1 , the upper portion comprising a back side, the back side comprising protruding features.

16. The holster mount of claim 15 , the protruding features selected from a group consisting of ribs and studs.

17. A holster system for receiving a handgun, comprising:

a holster comprising:

a holster body having a plurality of unitary holster wall portions defining a handgun receiving cavity, the plurality of holster wall portions including a proximal wall portion;

a handgun retention mechanism at the proximal wall portion for selectively preventing the handgun, when in the cavity, from being withdrawn from the cavity; the handgun retention mechanism comprising a thumb actuator;

a holster mount comprising:

a column portion comprising:

a holster attachment region configured to attach to the holster;

a recess defined by a lower rib and two side ribs, wherein the recess is disposed opposite the thumb actuator and is configured to accommodate a thumb while actuating the thumb actuator and drawing the pistol from the holster; and

at least one belt loop portion extending from the column portion.

18. The holster system of claim 17 , wherein the column portion further comprises:

a lower plate portion;

a mid-level portion; and

an upper portion;

wherein the lower plate portion comprises the holster attachment region.

19. The holster system of claim 18 , wherein the at least one belt loop portion extends from the upper portion of the column portion and is configured for clamping, and wherein each of the at least one belt loop portions is adjustable with respect to the column portion by a respective threaded fastener.

20. A holster mount comprising:

a column portion comprising:

a holster attachment region; and

an upwardly extending, thumb receiving recess defined by a lower rib and two side ribs configured to be adjacent to a holster attached to the holster attachment region, wherein the ribs are adjacent to the holster attachment region, and configured such that access to the recess by a user's thumb is not blocked from above when a holster is attached to the holster attachment region; and

at least one belt loop portion extending from the column portion.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2025
From: BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; QUIETKAT, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC; STONE GLACIER, INC.; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; REVELYST OPERATIONS LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072238/0250 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2025
From: BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; QUIETKAT, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC; STONE GLACIER, INC.; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; REVELYST OPERATIONS LLC
To: FORTRESS CREDIT CORP., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069817/0586 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; STONE GLACIER, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; FOX HEAD, INC.
Reel/Frame 069459/0808 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2024
From: VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
To: REVELYST OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 069272/0579 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF TERM LOAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; FOX HEAD, INC.; SIMMS FISHING PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 066959/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2022
From: SMITH, PAUL N.; LANCE, TROY E.; WOODS, OSCAR C.; SEREDAY, DANIEL D.; MICHAEL, CHRISTOPHER J.; MEINERT, ROBERT J.
To: VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 061580/0035 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2022
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BEE STINGER, LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; C PREME LIMITED LLC; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; FOX HEAD, INC.; GOLD TIP, LLC; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; MICHAELS OF OREGON CO.; MILLETT INDUSTRIES; NIGHT OPTICS USA, INC.; NORTHSTAR OUTDOORS, LLC; QUIETKAT, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; STONEY POINT PRODUCTS, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR SALES LLC; WAWGD NEWCO, LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061521/0747 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2022
From: AMMUNITION OPERATIONS LLC; BELL SPORTS, INC.; BUSHNELL HOLDINGS, INC.; BUSHNELL INC.; CAMELBAK PRODUCTS, LLC; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; FOX HEAD, INC.; LOGAN OUTDOOR PRODUCTS, LLC; QUIETKAT, INC.; STONE GLACIER, INC.; VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC; VISTA OUTDOOR SALES LLC
To: CAPITAL ONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 061085/0706 →