TITLE

SAFETY DEVICE FOR WEAPON' S HOLSTERS

Technical Field the present invention regards the technical field relative to the construction of weapon' s holsters in general, and in particular it refers to the safety means applied or to be applied to these holsters.

State of the Art

The weapon' s security, once it is inserted inside its holster, has become a fundamental requirement for every security force' operator or for any person who owns a weapon for self-defence, public safety, military or civil use.

It is indeed indispensable, especially when they are used by the security forces, to avoid in any way a possible unwanted or accidental extraction of the weapon. In the case, for example, of scuffles or strives between rioters and security forces, it is really important to avoid an accidental extraction of the weapon from the holster in any time. Only in this way it is possible to avoid the cases where the assailants can easily take the arms from the policemen, with many risks for civilian' s and people' s lives. in the same time, anyway, it is indispensable for a policeman to have the possibility to extract in case of need, the weapon easily and fast even in the most critical condition.

The weapon' s holsters should also guarantee the holding of the weapon in the right position, not only to avoid the accidental extraction by dangerous people, but also during the chasings and similar situations. For example, a downfall by a policeman during a chasing could easily cause the loss of the arm, with severe consequences for the police' safety.

For this purpose, many different devices made to resolve the above mentioned problems, have been created, in few words, the safety means used to impede the unwanted extraction of the weapon from the holster, intervene by blocking the arm from the inside of the same holster, creating this way a bond on its upper part, in the proximity of the arm grip or butt.

The common protections that are used could consist of, in the simplest case, a simple band in fabric which is wrapped around the weapon' s grip, or on any of its upper parts, fixing them on the holster by means of a joint button or a simple clip. In this case, to extract the arm, it is necessary to unhook the clip or the button by hand. It is clear how this kind of safety device is unsuitable for critical situations, as the band and the button could be easily tore by assailants and therefore they cannot guarantee in any way an appropriate level of safety. Moreover, the releasing operation of the arm is not fast, since it is a manual act that must unhook a button that could wedge in the buttonhole, moreover these devices tend to lapse in the course of time causing the decay of all the safety elements.

In EP1382931 for example it is described an alternative safety device that is more complex that the simple band described above. In particular, it is a rigid band, or alternatively, a simple band, which is however connected to a safety device joint to the holster, and which it "blocks" the same band in the safety position. It is therefore necessary to act on a realising button of the safety device in order to unlock the band and allow its "forward" manual rotation, from the arm grip or any upper part of the arm toward the barrel, in all the other conditions where the user does not act on said unlocking button, the band remains in a secure position for the weapon.

it is clear how this device does not have the quickness requirement for the unlocking, since are two the operation needed to make the weapon free and ready for the extraction, which are the manual actuation of the button and the manual rotation of the band forward.

Moreover, in a critical scuffle situation, if a policeman should find him/herself in a corner, or blocked from an obstacle, the extraction of the weapon could be impeded from the same obstacle which blocks the rotation of the band and constrains the arm in the safety position.

Moreover, the operation that puts again the safety on the grip or on any upper part of the weapon, or rather the

"backward" rotation, is not exempted from risks. Indeed, it could happen, that the band gets blocked against an obstacle, which impedes its movement, making this way the weapon accessible to anyone.

Accordingly it is clear, independently from the evolutions on the art that allow the "forward" or "backward" rotation of the band in an automatic or manual manner, that it shouldn' t be excluded the inconvenient of an unsuitable safety caused by a possible obstruction on the rotation of the band.

Another significant inconvenient of these safety devices, as for example the one described in EP1382931, is that in order to act and rotate the band, is necessary to leave the grip. Indeed, the traditional type of "forward" or "backward" kinematism creates some distances between the fingers of the user and the safety band that it is not possible to make this operation without leaving the grip. it is therefore evident how this last one is an ulterior condition of great risk, which is inadmissible for this kind of safety devices.

Disclosure of invention it is therefore the aim of this invention to give a safety device for weapon' s holsters, which blocks in an

- A - efficient way the weapon when this is put back into the holster, but in the same time it guarantees an efficient and simple way to extract the weapon, avoiding the risk of blocking or misfire caused by obstacles that hit against the same holster.

Moreover, it is the aim of this invention to give a safety device for weapon' s holsters which guarantees an actuation/deactivation of the device that is kept safe and preserved from any accidental breaking. Moreover, it is the aim of this invention to give a safety device for weapon' s holsters which avoids at best, or makes it as much as difficult, the accidental extraction of the weapon by unauthorized persons.

These and other aims are reached through the present safety device for weapon' s holsters, and are able to keep the arm into the safety position inside the holster (6), the device comprising at least a holding band (8), joint to the holster, and blocking means (17) for the band (8), where the holding band (8) being movable from an initial position, which corresponds to the point where the weapon enters inside the holster (6) into a blocking condition of the weapon inside the holster (6), and a second position, which is external to the entering position of the weapon inside the holster (6) and to which it corresponds an unlocking condition of the weapon from the holster, is characterized by the fact that it is movable between the initial and the second position through a lateral route respect to the holster (6).

In this manner, possible obstacles placed in front or in the back of the user of the holster do not impede in any way the weapon' s release, by impeding the movement of the holding band. This way any dangerous situation will be avoided.

Moreover the lateral rotation of the holding band (8)

will allow to the same band to follow the edge of the holster (6) at best, remaining as much as possible close to it. in this manner the risk of blocking the band through external obstacles, will be reduced to the least. Advantageously the holding band (8) could be assembled as rolling according to a lateral route in respect to the holster (6) between an initial position, which corresponds to the point where the weapon enters inside the holster (6) into a blocking condition of the same weapon, and a second position, which is external to the entering point of the weapon inside the holster (6) to which it corresponds an unlocking condition of the weapon from the holster ( 6) .

Preferably, to avoid, or to make it as much as difficult, the risk to block the band on external obstacles, it is preferred to assemble the safety device in a way so that the band rotates toward the body of the user who wears the holster. in this way the rotation of the holding band (8) will be lateral sx or internal in respect to the holster (6) .

If the above safety condition is not holding much, alternatively the rotation of the holding band (8) can be dx or external in respect to said holster (6) .

The rotation of the safety band can be easily and automatically obtained using generic elastic means joint contemporarily to the holding band and to the holster (6). An ideal example would be a simple torsion spring.

Advantageously the holding band (8) comprises at least a curved band (8a) joint to a supporting element (101) in respect to the curved band (8a), the supporting element (101) results to be hinged on the frontal body of the holster on the opposite side of the curved band (8a) and it can freely rotate in respect to the hinge point by an angle that is sufficiently wide to allow the moving of

said holding band (8) between said first position in a blocking condition of said weapon and said second position to which it corresponds an un-locking condition of said weapon from said holster (6). The curved configuration of the band facilitates better the fact that during the rotation it remains much closer to the edge of the holster.

Moreover the curved band (8a) has a predetermined angular spacing. This angular spacing shall be in a way to cover the grip of the weapon to retain it safe. For this reason the curved band (8a) has such an angular spacing to cover at least part of the zone where the weapon enters the holster. Advantageously the supporting element (101) and the curved band (8a) are made in a sole piece and in a way that the curved band (8a) and the supporting element (101) result reciprocally orthogonal to each other.

Moreover the supporting element (101) has a gore conformation with a predetermined angular spacing and an ulterior projection (102) of angular spacing that coincides to the angular spacing of the curved band (8a) , the supporting element (101) has a side (103) that works as a ledge and rotation block for the mentioned holding band (8). in this manner it is therefore possible to limit and stop the opening and unlocking rotation of the band.

The band is kept into the position through specific blocking means, in particular there are blocking means (17), said blocking means (17) are joint to the holster

(6) and interfere with the holding band (8) maintaining it in said blocking position.

Advantageously on the projection (102) there is at least one step (12) within which the blocking element (17)

acts by blocking said holding band (8) . it is clear that, although the rotation of the holding band (8) is the best solution, this last one is not the only one. Indeed the holding band (20) could be assembled as rolling according to a lateral route in respect to the holster (6) between an initial position, which corresponds to the point where the weapon enters inside the holster (6) into a blocking condition of the same weapon, and a second position, which is external to the entering point of the weapon inside the holster (6) to which it corresponds an unlocking condition of the weapon from the holster (6) .

Also in this case the translation can follow two different lateral sides, in particular the translation of the holding band (20) can be laterally internal to said holster (6), or alternatively laterally external to said holster (6) .

Advantageously, the means that block the holding band into the position can be of different types. in detail the blocking means (17) of the holding band (8) comprise at least a holding lever (11) connected to the holster

(6), the holding lever (11) is movable from a contrasting point where it result to be gripped to the band (8) forcing the band (8), which is in the first position to block the weapon, to move into a second position, where the holding lever (11) does not result to be gripped on the holding band(8), bringing the holding band(8) into the unlocking position. Moreover the holding lever (11) result to be hinged to a point (14) on said holster (6) and is in such a way that an end (106) of the holding lever (11) result to be placed in contrast with said step (12).

Advantageously the holding lever (11) is set free by

the step (12) by operating on the lever (13) and setting free the end (106) and limiting its race with a strip (105) connected to the holster.

Moreover, in order to protect at best the blocking systems and to make it as much as difficult the access to unauthorised persons, it is preferred to assemble the blocking means (17) of said blocking band (8) from the lateral side sx or "internal".

Advantageously there can be a weapon' s holster characterized by the fact that it comprises said safety device according to one or more of the previous claims.

Moreover the holster can have assembled and reciprocally joint to each other the blocking means (17) and the holding band (8) according to what has been described.

This way there will be directly a holster supplied with all the described safety devices.

At last the holster is made by presswork. in one solution it can be made by die casting.

Brief description of drawings

Further features and advantages of this safety device, according to the invention, will be clearer with the description of one of its pattern realization that follows, made to illustrate but not limit, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

- Figures from 1 to 4 represent schematically in view a normal safety device according to the state of the art.

- Figures 5,6,7 and 8 represent schematically in view the invention according to specific functioning conditions.

- Figure 9 shows the invention along to further accessories .

- Figures from 10 to 12 show in view the functioning and employment phases of the invention.

- Figure 13 shows in view an alternative configuration of the invention.

Figure 14 show in view a detail of the safety device.

Description of some chosen pattern realizations in figure 1, is schematically represented a simple safety device (1) which is usually assembled on traditional holsters (2). In this case it has been highlighted the type of movement of the holding band 3, beyond automatic or manual devices that are more or less complex making possible its actuation and which are anyway well known art. As it is represented in figure 2, the band 3 can rotate according to a predetermined slant that is indicated in the figure by the double arrow F. In particular the "forward" rotation unlock the weapon and allows the extraction of it, while the "backward" rotation puts back the weapon in a safety condition once it is replaced into the holster, in particular, to replace the weapon into a safety condition, it is necessary to place it into the holster and afterwards to rotate manually backwards the holding band 3 in order to block the arm in correspondence to the cock 4.

It is clear how a constructing solution of this kind is not exempted from risks or dangers for the user. Indeed any obstacle could impede both the unlocking or blocking

movement of the band. Indeed, in the specific case of figure 3 it is represented a wall 5 placed as an obstacle against the holster 2 impeding the "forward" rotation of the band 3. In this situation it will be impossible for the user to release the arm and proceed with its extraction of it.

Similarly, it could happen that a policeman finds himself in an emergency situation and while he' s ready to extract the arm some assailants block him against a wall. In this other particular situation, it could happen that the band 3 of the safety device is found in the unlocking condition (look at figure 4) and it is against the wall 5, making this way, difficult its "backward" rotation. in this event the policeman would remain blocked with the weapon that can easily be taken by the assailants, causing severe consequences.

It is also evident how both the "forward" and

"backward" rotations of the band 3 determinate such a wide slant F (look at Figure 2) which cannot be performed with the thumb of the hand while holding the grip 16 of the weapon.

In figure 5 it is represented a realization of the invention that would resolve all the above inconvenient.- In particular it is represented a weapon' s holster 6 on which it is assembled an innovative unlocking/blocking weapon safety device 7. Moreover, in the specific case of figure 5, it is also highlighted the configuration of this device for which the weapon results to be in a blocking safety condition. in particular the cock 4 of the weapon is against the holding band 8 impeding this way the extraction of the weapon.

Basically (look at figureβ) , the rotation of the safety band 8 is lateral to the holster 6, differently

from a common "forward" and "backward" unlocking/blocking device, as described by the well known art. In particular it can be set a direction of the lateral rotation of the safety band 8 in respect to the holster, definable as lateral sx or also "internal" and lateral dx or also "external" respectively of a predetermined Beta angle. In particular, as highlighted in figure 6, it been chosen to define as lateral sx or "internal" the specific direction of the lateral rotation of the band 8 looking at the holster 6 with the weapon' s grip 30 toward the observer, partially represented in the figure with a dotted line. The opposite rotation is consequently the lateral dx or "external".

Of course, any other definition to identify the two sides on which the lateral rotation happens, could have been chosen in a non-binding manner. in particular, according to the representation made in figure 7, the rotated configuration of the holding band 8 toward the direction of the lateral arrow sx or "internal", determinates an unlocking configuration of the weapon, while a rotation toward the direction of lateral dx or "external" brings the band in the safety or blocking position (look also at figure 5 and 6) .

Moreover, still as represented in figure 6, the lateral rotation sx or "internal" coincides, in this case, to a rotation towards the fitting means 9 that are assembled on the holster 6 and that, as it will be described later on, are needed to connect the same holster

6 to belts or similar elements used to wear the weapon. in this way, according to this solution, when the holding band 8 rotates towards the lateral sx part to unlock the arm, it moves towards the body of the user who wears the weapon.

in detail (look at figure 7), the holding band 8 can freely rotate in respect to the holster 6, thanks to the aid of a simple journal 10 that connects the same band to the holster 6. In particular, according to the preferred configuration of the invention, inside the journal 10 could be assembled simple elastic means, as for example a torsion spring, so that the holding band 8 can rotate automatically.

In particular according to the preferred configuration of the invention, the holding band 8 rotates automatically toward the "internal" part of a predetermined angle β thanks to the action of the torsion spring, creating this way the sufficient space to replace the weapon into its holster 6 or to make it ready for the extraction in an unlocking condition.

An opposing rotation opposite to the preceding one, and made for example manually by the user, wins the strength of the torsion spring returning the holding band 8 into a safety or blocking position of the weapon (figure 5) . The opposing rotation happens therefore in a negative angle β towards the "external" or lateral dx part, and in this case the weapon that is eventually replaced into the holster will be in contrast with the band impeding this way its extraction. According to a first preferred configuration of the invention (look at figure 5) , the holding band is maintained in correspondence to its position for blocking the arm thanks to specific blocking means 17. The mentioned blocking means 17 could simply consist in a holding lever 11 which apex 106 is kept in contrast against a specific step 12 obtained on the band 8, impeding this way its rotation toward the unlocking direction due to the torsion spring. Acting, therefore,

with a pressure on the holding lever 11 on the unlocking lever 13 , according to the direction of the arrow 11' indicated in the figure, this last one is forced to rotate around its hinge rod 14. in this way the blocking lever gets unhooked from the step 12 of the band 8, releasing the holding band 8 and allowing it to rotate toward the direction of the arrow 12' represented in the figure (look at figure 8) .

A specific strip 105 obtained on the same holster will restrain the rotation of the holding lever 11 (look at figure 8) .

This way it is possible to go quickly and automatically from a holding configuration of the same holding lever 11 on the band 8 (band in the blocking configuration) , to a releasing configuration where the band is free to rotate.

The corresponding opposing rotation, for example manual, which brings the holding band 8 into a blocking position for the weapon, forces automatically the apex 106 of the holding lever 11 to return against the step 12. This way the band 8 remains again blocked and into the safety position.

For this reason, it is used for example a simple torsion spring fixed inside the hinge rod 14. in this manner the blocking means 17 and therefore the apex 106, once they are released, will tend to rotate and maintain the direction of the arrow 14' . As a consequence of this, the apex 106 of the holding lever 11 will remain in a position that is really closed to the step 12, and so the opposing rotation of the band 8 will make the step 12 to fasten automatically the apex 106 with the consequence of restoring the blocking condition for the same band

Only as a clarifying aim (look at figure 14), and

therefore not limited for the present invention, it has been represented an ulterior view for the holding band 8 for which an ulterior description will be given. The holding ban 8 can have any shape, without any limitation. For example, according to the preferred configuration of the invention, the upper portion of the band 8 designated to hold the weapon has a curved configuration 8a so that during its rotation it will remain as much as possible close to the frame of the holster saving much more encumbrance.

Thus, the curved band 8a is firmly connected to a supporting element 101 that is found on an area that is orthogonal in respect to the area that contains the profile of the upper portion 8a of the band 8. The element 101 is then, as already specified, hinged to it by means of the journal 10. Of course the angular space of the "alfa 1" band 8a is such to retain the weapon when it is placed in a blocking condition and therefore in correspondence of its entering zone. Moreover, still according to this preferred configuration of the invention, the conformation of the supporting element 101 is triangular or as a "gore" and therefore it has a predetermined angular space too. In particular it is distinguished a first angular space "Alfa 2" in correspondence to the side 103 and which works as a blocking ledge for the supporting element 101 on the holster during it unlocking rotation. An ulterior projection 102 on which it is obtained the step 12 that puts to work the holding lever 11 has, on the other hand, a second angular space that coincides with the one of the curved band 8a, that is called "Alfa 1".

For reasons of simplicity the torsion springs assembled on the journal 10 and 14 are not shown and

nothing stops the possibility to use equivalent means that allow the automatic rotation of both the blocking means 17 and of the band 8, without moving apart from this inventive concept. In Figure 9 are described the fitting means 9 that are needed to connect the holster and the weapon to a feedthrough 15. The fitting means 9 can be of any type, as threaded elements or other and they will be coupled to the equivalent ones 9' found on the feedthrough. This fitting means 9 and 9' can then have different heights to obtain the right distance between the weapon and the same feedthrough. Of course these are not object of the present invention, and because they are well know art they will not be described more longer. The feedthrough can be then inserted on any type of belt 16 so that the weapon remains close to the body and can be weared easily. However, according to the preferred configuration of the invention, the blocking means 7 are preferably turned toward the part of the same feethrough 15 and consequently toward the user, in this manner, by maintaining the grip of the weapon in the hand, the only thing to do is to act on the unlocking lever 13 with the thumb to activate and release the arm.

Moreover, this particolar configuration, protects the blocking means 17 from any eventual breaking caused if barged into a wall. Indeed, this last one are always found turned toward the body of the user, resulting this way protected from any crash or eventual blockage caused by an obstacle. Moreover they will be much more difficult to be reached by an eventual assailant. Thus, this particular configuration results to be more natural, safe and quick for the user to use, who will be able with only one movement to release the weapon.

Still as highlighted in figure 9, the lateral or "internal" rotation sx of the holding band 8 that releases the arm, coincides to the lateral rotation toward the part of the feedthrough 16, according to the direction of the arrow, and therefore toward the body of the user. in this way the risk to jam the band against a contrasting wall, is avoided.

Without moving apart from the present inventive concept, nothing would stop to make the rotation of the band to release the weapon toward the opposite direction. Moreover it is not constricting to have the blocking systems 17 placed in the area, conventionally defined as lateral sx or internal, close to the user' s body who wears the weapon. in the figures from 10 to 12 is much more simplified a simple using sequence of the safety device.

In particular, in figure 10 it is simplified the entering phase of the arm inside the holster 6 while the holding band 8 is found in an unlocking configuration and thus totally rotated toward the lateral sx part, as indicated by the direction of the arrow. Once the arm is inserted inside the holster, acting, for example, with the movement of the thumb, while the other fingers are holding the grip of the weapon 16, we act on the band 8 making it rotate toward the lateral part dx into the blocking configuration (look at figure 11) . This way, the holding lever 11 is forced to act automatically on the step 12 of the holding band 8, as already described.

A simple pressure on the lever 13 will release the holding lever 11 from the step 12 allowing this way to set free the band 8 which will automatically rotate, thanks to the torsion spring, toward the lateral part sx releasing the arm (look at figure 12) . As mentioned, the activation

of the lever 13 can be made for example by the thumb, while the other fingers keep holding the weapon.

Thus nothing would stop to make automatically and not manually the rotation movement of the band toward the lateral dx.

Alternatively, with a second realization of the invention, it could be possible to make the movement of the band, instead of a simple rotation, in a different manner. In particular, as simply indicated in figure 13, it could be possible to make a lateral translation of the band 20 toward left, for example, to release the arm, and then toward right to replace it into the safety position, as indicated by the double direction of the arrow. For example, the band 20 could be activated through a blocking lever 18 and make it sliding through a specific slide 19. in fact the possibilities of the lateral movement of the same band are many and are not different from the inventive step of the present invention.

Advantageously it is possible the realization in a sole processing by die casting of the holster, making the opportune sites for the safety device as described. this would allow the realization of a specific holster, for example in plastic or similar, prearranged with all the safety system described. The above description of a specific shape is able to show the invention from the conceptive point of view, in a way that others, by using the art, can modify and/or adapt in different applications this specific shape without any further research and without going apart from the inventive concept, and, therefore, it is intended that these adaptations and transformations will be considered as equivalent to this specific realization. The means and materials to make the many described functions can be of

various nature without exiting the area of the invention, it is intended that the expressions or the terminology used have a simple descriptive aim and therefore not limiting.