Magnetic firearm and knife holster

Abstract

A firearm holster or knife sheath with an imbedded magnetic holstering locator is disclosed. A strong magnet source is positioned at a preferred insertion point of a firearm holster or knife sheath. To facilitate inserting a firearm or edged weapon in a holster or sheath, a magnet located at the insertion edge opening in each instance allows the user to more safely reholster or re-sheath either a firearm or a knife without a need to break focus on a threat. The magnetic insert attracts the leading edge of the firearm or the knife thereby allowing the user to quickly recognize the correct position to begin insertion of the firearm or the knife into the holster or sheath without the need to observe the arm movement in the process.

Claims

1. A method of holstering a weapon, the method comprising: moving a body of a weapon toward a holster having an interior cavity configured to receive the body of the weapon by passing at least a portion of the body of the weapon through an entry opening located at an end of the interior cavity; magnetically attracting a metallic portion of the body into contact with a magnetic portion of the holster, the magnetic portion being located at least partially outside of the interior cavity and proximate the entry opening; and inserting at least a portion of the body of the weapon through the opening and into the interior cavity, wherein magnetically attracting the metallic portion of the body into contact with the magnetic portion of the holster aligns the body of the weapon with the entry opening and provides tactile feedback that facilitates proper insertion of the body into the interior cavity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the body of the weapon includes a blade having an edge and a cheek.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the magnetic portion includes a tip of the blade.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein inserting the body of the weapon through the opening includes sliding the cheek of the blade along the magnetic portion of the holster.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the weapon is a pistol, and wherein the metallic portion of the body is located on a muzzle of the pistol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the weapon is a knife, and wherein the metallic portion of the body is located on a blade of the knife.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the body of the weapon through the opening includes sliding the body of the weapon along the magnetic portion of the holster.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the magnetic portion includes a magnet covered by a low-friction material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the low-friction material is configured to facilitate sliding the body of the weapon along the magnet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the low-friction material is a leather material.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the low-friction material is a plastic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a top view of a knife sheath showing a preferred location of an embedded permanent magnet at the mouth of the sheath.

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view of a combat edged weapon in close proximity to its protective sheath disclosing the preferred location for a permanent magnet at the opening of the sheath.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pistol holster with a permanent magnet embedded in the holster extension rising out of the mouth opening of the holster demonstrating a preferred location for a magnet to secure a pistol in a holster.

(4) FIG. 4 is a comparative perspective view of the present invention in firearm holster form and in knife sheath form along with typical weapons used in each sheath demonstrating typical construction for the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) And now the invention will be described with reference to the various Figures as numbered to describe constituent parts of the invention. Like numbers refer to like parts in the drawings.

(6) Turning to FIG. 1, a close up of a knife sheath 10 with a permanent magnet 12 installed in knife sheath entry area 14 is shown. Sheath 10 is comprised of a back piece 15 which mates with front piece 16 such as to create a pouch-like volume between piece 15 and piece 16 to accept knife 20. Magnet 12 is a permanent magnet with sufficient magnetization to provide a useful attracting force to any ferrous metal or other material which would be attracted to such a magnet.

(7) FIG. 2 shows knife 20 which, for the example presented, is the correct size for sheath 10 thereby providing a carrying device for knife 20. It can be appreciated by considering FIG. 2 how knife 20 fits within sheath 10 by slipping knife point 22 into sheath 10 between the halves of the sheath comprised of back piece 15 and front piece 16 which are manufactured to be affixed together with stitching, rivets or other attachment means suitable for the material used. Leather, plastic or other conventional holster or sheath materials may be used to manufacture sheath 10. The style of the sheath disclosed as a preferred embodiment provides one method to create a pocket or pouch utilizing magnet 12 to create a holster-like carrying device for knife 20.

(8) Sheath 10 otherwise is fashioned with conventional means with the exception of the improvement provided by magnet 12. In reinserting knife 20 into sheath 10, when knife point 22 is in the vicinity of magnet 12, it can be appreciated that knife point 22 will be attracted to, and contact magnet 12, thereby providing the user with a positive contact feel and affirmation that there has been contact between knife point 22 and magnet 12 allowing knife 20 to be inserted inwardly into sheath 10.

(9) When knife 20 is in the vicinity of sheath 10 and point 22 is drawn magnetically to the area of magnet 12, it can be appreciated that the large dimension or flat side area of the knife blade, referred to as blade cheek 24, will continue to stay in contact with magnet 12 as point 22 is slidably inserted in the interior compartment of sheath 10. It is advantageous to embed magnet 12 into the material used to create sheath 10. Such a means of securing magnet 12 into the sheath or holster which uses the invention disclosed prevents the magnet from creating a metal-on-metal sound when a knife or firearm contacts magnet 12. Having a plastic or leather layer between magnet 12 and the knife or firearm being placed into a sheath or holster also reduces possible damage such as scratching a blade or body of a firearm during contact and any sliding motion as the weapon is slid into the pouch portion of the sheath or holster. The material in the area of magnet 12, or magnet 32 in the case of a firearm, can be made of a material with a low coefficient of friction to facilitate the sliding of the weapon over and past the location of the magnet while the weapon is moved into the holster to be secured.

(10) The essence of the disclosed invention is the operation and procedure of contacting the magnet with the weapon and thereafter inserting and seating the edged weapon allowing a user of knife 20, while gripping the knife handle 26, to find the appropriate location on sheath 10. When this occurs, the user is in a position to insert the knife into the sheath without the need to look down or over at the operation. Knife point 22 or cheek 24 of knife 20 is immediately drawn to magnet 12 allowing positive contact.

(11) The same invention translates directly to the use of the combination of a magnet infused holster and a metallic firearm to provide the same effect of ease of holstering. The operation is basically the same with a pistol upon which a magnet has the effect in regard to attracting the pistol to a predefined starting location to insert a pistol into a holster. As can be seen in FIG. 3, holster magnet 32 is embedded in the top of holster 30 such that magnet 32 would attract any ferrous metal in its vicinity such as pistol 40 shown with a mating holster 30 as depicted specifically in FIG. 4. Holster 30 as depicted both in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 is of the single piece molded plastic type. A belt clip as shown is typical as a means to secure the holster in a user's belt, in the present embodiment, inside a belt. Extension piece 34 of the holster as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 extend above the pouch area formed to hold the firearm in holster 30 when inserted therein. Piece 34 is the ideal place to embed magnet 32 to create a preferred target area of initial attraction for firearm 40. When placing firearm 40 into holster 30, it can be appreciated that muzzle 42 of firearm 40 will experience the initial attraction force of magnet 32 when the firearm is staged in the area of extension 34 such as to prepare to slide firearm 40 into holster 30. This is because, as is universally true with most holsters, muzzle 42 is the leading edge of travel of firearm 40 toward holster 30 as the user prepares to holster the weapon.

(12) FIG. 4 provides a view of preferred embodiments for both an edged weapon and a typical firearm when paired with suitable sheaths or holsters for each respective weapon. Knife sheath 10, knife 20, holster 30 and firearm 40 together demonstrates the similarity in the operation of the invention as applied to both edged weapons or firearms. Regardless of the type of weapon or instrument involved, it can be appreciated in FIG. 4 that any time a device is held or carried in a sheath-like or holster-like container about a person's body, using a magnetic device embedded in the carrying holster or sheath will assist in reinserting the device into the carrying holster or sheath.

(13) The invention also lends itself to an improved method of securing a firearm, knife or other sheathed or holstered weapon. After drawing a firearm or knife from its holster or sheath in the conventional fashion, the weapon used can be reinserted into its carrying device without bringing the eyes of the user toward to the holster or sheath device. The method of reinsertion of the weapon into its carrying device would include the steps of bringing firearm 40 or knife 20 towards the body of the user and to the location on the user in which holster 30 or sheath 10 within which embedded magnet 32 or 12 respectively is positioned. Once the firearm or knife is in the immediate vicinity of magnet 32 or magnet 12, the user will feel the attraction and contact of firearm 40 or knife 20 with the magnet located in the threshold area of a holster or sheath.

(14) The advantage of this method of securing a weapon into its carrying device is that the user need not look at the holster or sheath to find the entry point of the carrying device. Rather, the user's eyes can remain elsewhere as the magnet will capture the weapon as it travels to the vicinity of the holster or sheath by the action of the user, soon to be captured by the pull of the magnet and leading the weapon to the point on the holster or sheath which allows the weapon to be slid further and seated into the carrying device without the user needing to be distracted by the user focusing on the proper entry of the weapon. After contact with the area in which magnet 32 or 12 is embedded, the user then slides the firearm or the knife respectively into the sheath while the firearm or knife is being held in close proximity by the magnet that is embedded in the holster or sheath. This new method frees the user from any distraction of re-holstering a firearm or re-sheathing a knife. The process of returning the weapon to a holder becomes more of a reflex with a magnetic holster allowing the new procedure to function in a fashion not possible with prior techniques.