Background of the Invention

[001] In a mociern-ciay semi-automatic pistol, the bore axis is well above the position of the shooter ^' s shooting hand. This positioning allows the slide to move backward and forward without contacting the shooter ^' s hand. Because the bore axis is above the point where the shooter's hand grips the gun, the forces generated upon firing of the weapon can cause the muzzle to rise abruptly when the weapon is fired. This action is referred to as "muzzle flip", and can adversely affect the accuracy and speed at which additional shots can be delivered by the shooter.

[002] One way to limit muzzle flip is to use a two handed technique in which the

shooters support (second) hand applies additional clamping force to the gun and to the primary hand, thus helping to steady the gun when it is fired. In this regard, some firearms manufacturers have attempted to enhance the control of the pistol by checkering or stippling the forward face of the trigger guard, where the forefinger of the support hand can apply pressure. However because the forward face of the trigger guard is substantially forward on the gun, not much gripping force is available to control the movement of the handgun. Also _; the forefinger of the support hand cannot oppose the thumb with sufficient clamping pressure.

[003] Such handguns may have a rail system incorporated into the frame of the

handgun. The rail sits just below the slide and barrel of the handgun and forward of the trigger guard. The rail enables accessories such as lasers to be attached to the handgun for a tactical advantage. But some rail mounted accessories extend below the bottom of the trigger guard, which can pose a problem when holstering the gun. This is because holsters control movement of the handgun in a direction between the top of the slide and the bottom of the trigger guard: this positioning helps to ensure also that the holster locking mechanism stays engaged and that the gun cannot be rocked out of the holster, when a rail mounted accessory extends below the bottom of the trigger guard, the holster cannot contact the trigger guard. Summary of the Invention

[004] In accordance with the present invention, a control element is provided on the handgun, to enhance control when a two handed grip is used The control element extends downward from the bottom of the trigger guard, at a fore and aft location closer (rearward) to the grip of the handgun than the front face of the trigger guard. The control element may have a non-slip (high friction) surface, below the existing trigger guard and close to the handgun grip. The result. is that the forefinger of the shooter ^' s support hand can apply both rearward and downward pressure, with a strong clamping force, thereby helping to reduce muzzle flip.

[005] A holster that is designed to accommodate a handgun having such a control element is designed to index to the bottom of the control element, which is typically below the bottom surface of a rail mounted accessory This configuration allows the handgun to be properly secured in the holster.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[006] Figure 1 is a left side etevational view of a handgun that can receive both a rail mounted accessory and a trigger guard attachment of the present invention:

[007] Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the handgun with both a rail

mounted accessory and a trigger guard attachment of the present invention;

[008] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the two separate parts of the trigger guard attachment;

[009J Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the trigger guard attachment on the handgun;

10010] Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing the handgun with accessory and trigger guard attachment in a holster; and

[001 1] Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of Figure 5, showing the spatial relationship of the trigger guard attachment to the bottom wall of the holster. Description of an Embodiment of the Invention

[0012] The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention. A handgun holster 10 (Figure 5) has a body 12 defining a chamber 14 for receiving a handgun that is illustrated schematically at 20. The holster body 12 includes a first or top wall 16 (forward wall when the holster is secured on the shooter's belt), and, on the opposite side of the chamber 14, a second or bottom wall 18 (back wall when the holster is secured on the shooter ^' s belt).

(0013] The handgun 20 (Figure 1) in the illustrated embodiment is a semi-automatic handgun. The handgun 20 has a body 22 including a muzzle 24 defining a bore axis 26 near the top edge 28 of the handgun. A slide 30 at the top of the body 22 reciprocates relative to the body, in a direction parallel to the bore axis 26, when the handgun 20 Is fired The slide 30 forms the top edge 28 of the handgun 20. The handgun's grip 32 is part of the body 22 and is located at the back end of the handgun 20, at a location below the bore axis 26.

[0014] The handgun body 22 supports a trigger guard 40, at a location forward of the grip 32 and below the slide 30. The trigger guard 40 has a generally L.shaped configuration as viewed from the side (Figure 2), including a forward leg 42 and a bottom leg 44. The trigger guard 40 encloses the trigger 46.

[0015] The illustrated handgun 20 also has a rail 50 for supporting one or more

accessories on the handgun The rail 60 is located on the side of the body 22.

forward of the trigger guard 40 and below the muzzle 24. The rail 60 has an industry standard configuration adapted to support, in a known manner, one or more of various known accessories, such as a laser sight or a light, in the illustrated embodiment, an accessory shown schematically at 52 is supported on the rail 50. The accessory extends downward from the rail 50, that is, in a direction away from the top edge 28 of the handgun 20. at a location in front of the trigger guard 40. The accessory projects below the trigger guard 40 (in a direction away from the top edge 28 of the handgun 20). [0016] In accordance with a feature of the present invention, a control member 60 (Figures 3-6) is attached to the trigger guard 40 of the handgun 20. The control member 60 in the illustrated embodiment is formed as two separate pieces 62 and 64. fitted on opposite sides of the trigger guard 40. In other embodiments of the invention, the control member could be configured or constructed differently.

[0017] The left piece 62 of the control member 60 has a generally Z*shaped

configuration as viewed from ihe side and includes a forward arm 66 that is adapted to overlie the forward leg 42 of the trigger guard 40. A lateral arm 68 of the left piece 62 extends rearward from the lower end of the forward arm 66 and is adapted to overlie the bottom leg 44 of the trigger guard 40. A gripping arm 70 of the left piece 62 extends downward from the back end of the lateral arm 68. The left piece 62 also has two fastener openings in the form of through holes 72 for receiving fasteners therethrough.

[0018] The right piece 64 of the control member 60 is generally a mirror image of the left piece. The right piece 64 has a generally Z-shaped configuration as viewed from the side and includes a forward arm 74 that is adapted to overlie the forward leg 42 of the trigger guard 40. A lateral arm 76 of the right piece 64 extends rearward from the lower end of the forward arm 74 and Is adapted to overlie the bottom leg 44 of the trigger guard 40. A gripping arm 78 of the right piece 64 extends downward from the back end of the lateral arm 76. The right piece 64 also includes two bores 80 for receiving fasteners.

[0019] The left and right pieces 62 and 64 of the control member 60 are fitted together over trigger guard 40. The fastener openings 72 on the left piece 62 align with the bores 80 in the right piece 64. Two fasteners 82, such as screws, extend through the mounting openings 72 in the left piece 62 and into the bores 80 in the right piece 64, to secure the two pieces together. As a resuii, the control member 60 is securely positioned on the trigger guard 40. In one embodiment, the two control member pieces 62 and 64 are plastic and the screws 82 are metal self-threading screws. [0020] When the control member 60 Is in position on the handgun 20, the two gripping arms 70 and 78 together form a control arm 90 that extends downward from the trigger guard 40, that is, in a direction away from the bore axis 26 and away from the top edge 28 of the handgun 20. The front face 92 of the control arm SO may be stippied or textured or provided with another type of non-slip surface, to enhance gripping. The control arm 90 is located about halfway bacK on the bottom leg 44 of the trigger guard 40. In one embodiment, the control arm 90 is in the range of from about one half inch long to about one Inch long. An outer end portion 94 of the control arm 90 is located farthest from the top edge 28 of the handgun 20.

[0021] When the handgun 20 is gripped with a two-handed grip, the shooting hand is wrapped around the grip 32: the thumb is behind the grip, the index finger lies alongside the handgun body 22, and the last three fingers grasp the front of the grip and puli back against (toward) the thumb.

(0022] On a handgun 20 that does not Include the control member 60 of the present invention, the support hand would wrap around the shooting hand, its thumb on the back of the grip 32 and its fingers on the three fingers of the shooting hand that are on the front of the grip.

[0023] When the handgun 20 includes a control member 60 of the present invention, the control arm 90 is positioned forward enough so that the last three fingers of the shooting hand can stiil wrap the front of the grip 32 without interference. The support hand is positioned over the shooting hand, generally as before. But in this case, the index finger of the support hand engages and pulls back on the front face 92 of the control arm 90, toward the thumb. This action applies not only a rearward force vector to the control arm 90, but also a significant downward force vector to the control arm 90, thus helping to counteract the upward force of the muzzle flip.

[0024] The dimensions of the holster 10 and of the control arm 90 are selected so that when the handgun 20 is hoistered (Figure 5), (I) the top edge 28 of the handgun engages the top wail 16 of the hoister, and (ii) the outer end portion 94 of the control arm 90 engages the bottom wall 18 of the holster. As a result, the handgun 20 is properly fitted in the hoister 10, as desired.

[0025] In addition, the dimensions of the control arm 90 are selected so that rail

mounted accessories do not engage the bottom wall 18 of the holster 10. This benefit is seen in Figures 5 and 6 and helps to protect the accessories. The engagement of the hoister 10 with the control arm 90, under the trigger guard 40, prevents the handgun 20 from being rocked enough to loosen it from the holster locking mechanism and pulled out of the holster, without unlocking the holster locking mechanism.

[0026] The control member 60 may be removed by unfastening the screws 82. When the control member 60 is removed, the handgun 20 is unchanged and fully functional

[0027] From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications in the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.