DEVICE FOR RETAINING THE LANYARD OF A HANDGUN

Abstract

Device for retaining the lanyard of a handgun composed of a retaining case that is attached to an item of clothing of the bearer of the gun, the case allowing the lanyard (10) linking the gun to the bearer of the gun to enter therein so that the lanyard does not catch on surrounding objects when the bearer of the gun moves. The case is a rigid or semi-rigid housing (12) including at least one cover (22 or 28, 30), the partial opening of which is caused by the continuous and gradual exit of the lanyard under tension due to the fact that it is retained in the housing when the bearer draws his or her gun and raises his or her arm to a firing position.

Claims

1. A handgun retaining lanyard (18) comprising a retaining case secured to an article of a weapon holder's clothing, said case allowing a lanyard (10) connecting a weapon to the weapon holder to be inserted in the case so that the lanyard does not snag on objects in the immediate environment while the weapon holder is moving, wherein said retaining case is a rigid or semi-rigid box (12) comprising at least a cover (22 or 28, 30), the partial opening of which is caused by the exit of said lanyard in a continuous and progressive manner and under tension as it is retained in said case when the holder unholsters his/her weapon and extends his/her arm to assume a firing position.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said box (12) is secured to the gun belt (14) of the weapon holder.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said box (12) is secured to the gun belt (14) of the weapon holder by a loop (36) whose width can be modified to adapt to the width of said gun belt.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said cover is formed from a single part (22) secured to said gun belt (14) by a hinge or equivalent means exerting a low retaining force allowing said lanyard (10) to easily exit said box (12).

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said cover is formed from two parts (28, 30) secured to said gun belt (14) by hinges or equivalent means exerting a low retaining force allowing said lanyard (10) to easily exit said box (12).

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said box (12) is a sheath into which said lanyard is placed when the holder is no longer using his/her weapon.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said lanyard (10) is comprised of coils so as to allow the lanyard to extend from a length of approximately 25 cm to a length of approximately 110 cm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0012] Other purposes, objects and characteristics of the invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 schematically represents a holder of a handgun in the firing position showing the lanyard taut at its longest length as described in the prior art;

[0014] FIG. 2 represents the case comprising the device according to the invention, which is a box into which the lanyard was placed, connecting the weapon to the weapon holder's gun belt;

[0015] FIG. 3 schematically represents a user having unholstered his/her handgun with the lanyard partially exiting its box;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates the lanyard retaining box comprising only one cover;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates the lanyard retaining box comprised of two covers side by side; and

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates the lanyard retaining box secured to the gun belt by a loop adapted to the width of the gun belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the retaining device according to the invention is a retaining box which, in the preferred embodiment, is a sort of box 12 that is positioned on the gun belt 14 between the loop 16 of the lanyard secured to the gun belt and the holster 20 of the weapon 18, and into which the lanyard is inserted. The box 12 retains the most of the lanyard 10. Thus, the length of the section of lanyard between the holster 20 and the weapon 18 and the box 12, is reduced to a minimum.

[0020] When the user unholsters his/her weapon to assume the firing position, the lanyard 10 exits its box while remaining taut for as long as the holder needs to be in the firing position. Thus, FIG. 3 represents the user having removed his/her weapon 18 from the holster 20 to assume the firing position and still having his/her elbow in the low position as the arm is not yet fully extended. It can be seen that the part of the lanyard 10 that has exited the box 12 remains taut, which would not be the case with the system illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0021] An embodiment of the box 12 forming the main element of the device according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. The box 12 mainly comprises a cover 22, preferably rigid although it may be semi-rigid. The cover 22 is secured to the gun belt 14 by a hinge 24 (not shown) which holds it against the gun belt 14 with low force allowing the lanyard to easily exit the box while remaining taut. It should be noted that the cover 22 can be secured to the gun belt without including a hinge, the hinge effect being produced by an equivalent means such as the stiffness of the cover combined with its elasticity.

[0022] When the user unholsters his/her weapon, the coils of the lanyard easily exit the box 12 in a continuous manner, causing the cover 22 to open in the direction of the arrow 26, which allows the lanyard, which is already out, to remain taut.

[0023] After the user has used his/her weapon, he returns it to its holster 20 and returns the lanyard into the box 12 under the cover 22. This may be achieved in several ways such as, for example, by folding the lanyard in two as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0024] A second embodiment of the device according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. Here, the box 12 comprises two side-by-side covers 28 and 30, identical or otherwise, secured to the gun belt by hinges (not shown) or equivalent means which, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, exert a low retaining force allowing the lanyard to exit in an easy progressive manner. When the user unholsters his/her weapon, the coils of the lanyard exit the box 12 through the opening between the two covers 28 and 30 caused by the rotation of the covers 28 and 30 in the direction of the arrows 32 and 34.

[0025] It goes without saying that the lanyard retaining box may be any other means allowing the lanyard to exit with a low retaining force, for example, a tubular-shaped sheath.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which the retaining case 12 is integral with a loop 36 that surrounds the gun belt. The loop 36 features a mobile part 38 that allows it to be adapted to gun belts of various widths.

[0027] While, in the embodiments described above, the lanyard retaining case is secured to the gun belt, it goes without saying that it may be secured to another part of the weapon holder's clothing.

[0028] It should be noted that the retaining device which forms the object of the invention may be used to retain a lanyard connected to an object other than a weapon, such as a tool or anything else. Furthermore, the lanyard may not be coiled, but made of a stretchy, elastic material for example.