FIREARM HOLSTER FACILITATING RAPID MAGAZINE REPLACEMENT

Abstract

A holster facilitating rapid magazine replacement includes a pistol sleeve and a spare magazine holder including at least one well configured for receiving a spare magazine. The spare magazine is supported at a predetermined angle relative to the grip of the pistol in the pistol sleeve to allow for straightforward exchange. The spare magazine may be substantially parallel or at least near-parallel to the magazine loaded in the grip of the pistol in the pistol sleeve. The holster preferably includes two wells in a vertical stack, each configured to receive a spare magazine at substantially the same angle. One or more fasteners may be provided for adjusting the frictional engagement of the spare magazine disposed in each well. The spare magazine(s) may be disposed in a plane parallel to the plane of the pistol, and this plane may be offset from the plane defined by the grip and the barrel of the gun.

Claims

1. A holster facilitating rapid magazine replacement for a pistol having a barrel and a magazine-receiving grip disposed at an angle relative to the barrel, the magazine having a magazine tube with a floor plate end, the holster comprising: a pistol sleeve for receiving the barrel of the pistol; a spare magazine holder including at least one well configured for receiving the spare magazine such that the floor plate end is exposed for grasping by a user; and wherein the spare magazine is supported in the spare magazine holder at a predetermined angle relative to the grip of the pistol in the pistol sleeve.

2. The holster of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle is zero to 15 degrees.

3. The holster of claim 1, wherein the spare magazine is substantially parallel to the grip of the pistol in the pistol sleeve.

4. The holster of claim 1, wherein the spare magazine holder includes spaced-apart front and back panels defining each well.

5. The holster of claim 4, wherein one or both of the front and back panels are conformal to the magazine tube.

6. The holster of claim 1, wherein the spare magazine is frictionally disposed within the well.

7. The holster of claim 6, further including one or more fasteners for adjusting the spacing between the front and back panels to adjust the frictional engagement of the spare magazine disposed in the well.

8. The holster of claim 7, wherein the fasteners extend through compressible members between the front and back panels to maintain the adjusted spacing.

9. The holster of claim 1, wherein: the barrel and the grip of the pistol define a plane; and wherein the spare magazine is disposed in the spare magazine holder in a plane parallel to the plane of the pistol.

10. The holster of claim 1, wherein: the barrel and the grip of the pistol define a plane; and wherein the spare magazine is disposed in the spare magazine holder in a plane parallel and spaced apart from the plane of the pistol.

11. The holster of claim 1, wherein: the barrel and the grip of the pistol define a plane; and wherein the spare magazine is disposed in the spare magazine holder in a plane spaced apart from the plane of the pistol toward a wearer of the holster.

12. The holster of claim 1, wherein the spare magazine holder includes a plurality of wells in a vertical stack, each configured to receive a spare magazine at substantially the same angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment in a loaded condition;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view in an unloaded state;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a backside view;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a rear view;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a top view; and

[0017] FIG. 8 is a bottom view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] FIG. 1 is a view of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown generally at 100 in a loaded condition. The article includes a sleeve 101 to receive the barrel of a weapon 102 having a barrel (hidden by the sleeve) and a grip 103. The weapon in this case is a semi-automatic 9 mm Glock pistol, though the invention is not limited with respect to the weapon itself.

[0019] The grip 103 of the pistol includes a magazine 104 defining an axis 105. The angle between the magazine in the grip and the barrel is usually in the range of 100 to 120 degrees, more particularly around 110 degrees for the Glock handgun.

[0020] The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes 2 spare magazines, 106 and 108, disposed in wells 114, 116. The wells are configured to retain the tubes 110 of each magazine in a frictional fit, with the floor plate 112 of the cartridge loading end exposed as shown. In the figure, less than half of each magazine tube is retained in each well. While this was found to be sufficient, up to half the length or more of each magazine tube may be received by each well. Further, although two spare magazine wells are shown in FIG. 1, embodiments of the invention may have a single well or more than two. It has been found that two is a convenient number given the length of the barrel.

[0021] In the preferred embodiments, the spare magazines are disposed directly below the grip of the gun, and at an angle comparable to the angle of the magazine already in the clip. In the most preferred embodiments the spare magazines are parallel or near parallel to the loaded magazine; that is, lines 105 and 107 in FIG. 1 are preferably parallel or near-parallel, though divergence of up to 20 degrees or even more is possible though less effective during exchange.

[0022] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, all of these pieces are made from formed rigid or semi-rigid stock such as Kydex, though other thermoformed materials and even leather may alternatively be used. However, although this version of the invention is made by assembling component parts, it will be appreciated that some or all of the article may be constructed through other processes including plastic injection molding.

[0023] The assembly of FIG. 2 includes a pistol sleeve 202, belt tunnel 204, back well panel 206 and front well panel 208. Pistol sleeve 202 is itself a piece of folded material, held together with fasteners 210, 212, 214, 216. Fasteners 220, 224, 226 hold back well panel 206 to sleeve 202, sandwiching belt tunnel 204 in between. Fasteners 230, 232, 234 hold together back and front panels 206, 208, thereby forming the spare magazine wells. The fasteners 230, 232, 234 are received by bushings 235, 238, 240 disposed between the front and back panels. The bushings are made of a compressible/resilient rubber or rubber-like material enabling the spacing between panels 206, 208 to be set and adjusted for a desired frictional fit between the spare magazines and the wells. It has been found that a pull force on the order of 5-12 pounds or thereabouts is suitable for most users.

[0024] The remaining figures show different views of the embodiment just described. FIG. 3 is a side view in an unloaded state looking toward a potential wearer. FIG. 4 is a backside view. FIG. 5 is a front view, FIG. 6 is a rear view, FIG. 7 is a top view and FIG. 8 is a bottom view. One thing to notice from these additional views is that, in the preferred embodiment, the plane of the spare magazines is offset though preferably parallel to the weapon in the holster. This is perhaps best seen in the rear view of FIG. 6, which shows the plane of the gun at 602 and the plane of the spare magazine(s) at 604. While the spare magazine(s) could be located immediately below the grip of the gun, offsetting them as shown eases construction and protects the spare magazines as being more proximate to the body of the wearer during use.