ZA200905619B - Holster - Google Patents

Description

Co 2009/0564

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION ) . THIS invention relates to a holster for a handgun. :

Handgun holsters used by policemen and other security personnel are required to have a releasable locking arrangement which locks the ‘handgun in a holstered condition until such time as the weapon is required for use and the wearer draws it. The purpose of the locking system is to reduce the chances of unauthorised drawing of the weapon by, for instance, a criminal who confronts the policeman. :

In conventional holsters, typically of leather or other flexible material, there is a flexible strap which can be clipped over the hammer of the handgun to prevent unauthorised removal. However such straps provide little real 0 security and are often broken or otherwise fail.

The specification of ZA98/6778 describes a lockable, moulded plastics handgun holster which has a hollow body into which the barrel end of a handgun, including the barrel and trigger, is inserted downwardly when the : handgun is holstered. A spring loaded detent projects into the body. As the : handgun is inserted into the holster a forward part of the trigger guard located in front of the trigger abuts the detent and deflects it against the - action of the spring, allowing this part of the trigger guard to pass by.

Thereafter the detent springs back into position over the forward part of the : trigger guard in order to prevent upward withdrawal of the handgun from the holster. The detent forms part of a spring-loaded latch which is pivoted to the bodyside of the holster and which can be pivoted manually by the - thumb of a wearer of the holster in order to retract the detent against the

Co action of the spring, and thereby allow the handgun to be drawn. :

In ZA98/6778 the latch pivots about an axis which is at right angles to the downward direction in which the handgun is inserted into the holster, i.e. at right angles to the barrel of the handgun. Because of this, the detent swings downwardly in an arc in the holster body when the latch is pivoted to release the detent. This requires that the detent have an angled surface facing the forward part of the trigger guard to enable the detent to clear the trigger guard when lever is operated to release the handgun for withdrawal. :

It has been found that the angled surface of the detent, necessitated by the arcuate path along which the detent moves during the release operation, is problematical in that if sufficient upward withdrawal force is applied to the handgun, the action of the trigger guard on the angled surface can deflect the detent and allow the handgun to be withdrawn even if the release lever is not operated by the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a handgun holster comprising a hollow holster body into which the barrel end of a handgun can be inserted downwardly in order to holster the handgun, the holster body having an outside facing away from a wearer thereof and a bodyside facing towards the wearer, and the holster including a locking arrangement comprising a spring loaded latch pivoted to the holster body and carrying a detent which projects into the holster body in order to locate over a forward part of a trigger guard of the handgun when the handgun is holstered, wherein the latch is operable by finger action from the outside of the holster and is pivotable about an axis generally parallel to the axis of the barrel of the handgun when the handgun is holstered, thereby to move the detent clear of the forward part of the trigger guard and release the handgun for withdrawal from the holster.

Preferably the detent has a flat surface which locates over and opposes the forward part of the trigger guard when the handgun is holstered, this surface being at right angles to the barrel axis.

Preferably also, the latch is arranged for the fiat surface to move in a plane at right angles to the pivot axis of the latch when the latch is operated to release the handgun for withdrawal.

The holster may include a second locking arrangement comprising a spring-loaded member which is pivoted to the holster body and which is locatable, in an operative, locking position, over a rear end of the handgun when holstered, thereby to prevent withdrawal of the handgun from the holster. The holster may include clipping means for clipping the locking member in its operative position and release means for unclipping the locking cap to allow it to pivot, under spring action, to a release position clear of the rear end of the handgun, thereby allowing the handgun to be withdrawn from the holster. The release means may comprise a spring- loaded latch which is operable by the thumb of the wearer on the bodyside of the holster. In the preferred embodiment, the locking member comprises a cap locatable over the hammer of the handgun.

The holster of the invention may comprise an anti-rattle insert located in the holster body and arranged to apply an upward biasing force to the handgun, when holstered, such that the forward part of the trigger guard is pressed upwardly against the detent of the first locking arrangement, thereby to restrain the handgun against movement in the holster in an upward/downward direction. Typically the anti-rattle insert includes a first, resiliently flexible arm which acts upwardly against the forward part of the trigger guard when the handgun is holstered. The anti-rattle insert may be also be arranged to apply a forward biasing force to the handgun when holstered, such that the barrel end of the handgun is urged forwardly against the interior of the holster body, thereby to restrain the handgun against movement in the holster in a forward/rearward direction. For this purpose the anti-rattle insert may includ a second, resiliently flexible arm which acts forwardly against the barrel end of the handgun when holstered.

The first and second arms are conveniently formed integrally with a central hub which is mounted between respective bodyside and outside body parts of the holster body.

Preferably the holster body is of moulded plastics construction and includes bodyside and outside parts which are fastened to one another, for example by screws. In the preferred embodiment, the holster body includes an insert located between the respective holster body parts, the insert being compressible in a sideways direction in order for the body parts to embrace the holstered handgun in a sideways direction and restrain the handgun from moving sideways in the holster body.

The holster of the invention may comprise a belt mount including a belt loop member, possibly of cranked shape, connected to the holster body, through which a belt can be threaded. The belt loop member may have a pair of spaced apart slots therein through which the belt can be threaded and a central, curved zone between the slots across which the belt extends in use, the curved zone being recessed to allow an inside surface of the belt to sit flush with front and rear portions of the belt loop member when threaded through the slots. The belt loop member is preferably connected to the holster body by connection means allowing pivotal adjustment of the holster body about an axis extending in a bodyside/outside direction.

As an alternative to the belt mount, the holster of the invention may comprise a trouser mount comprising an insert portion, a connection member connected to the holster body and a bridging portion, the insert member being spaced from the connection member and being curved for location inside a wearer's trousers with the bridging portion extending over the upper edge of the trousers. In this case, the connection member may have holes therein into which adaptors can selectively be fixed to define a gap of selected width, between the adaptors and the bridging portion, to receive a belt.

The connection member may be connected to the holster body by connection means allowing pivotal adjustment of the holster body about an axis extending in a bodyside/outside direction.

The connection means of the belt mount or trouser mount may include a first fastener located on a pivot axis and a second fastener passing through a selected one of an array of angularly spaced apart holes spaced away from the pivot axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an exploded side view of a typical handgun, in this case in the form of an automatic pistol, and a holster, according to the invention, for the pistol;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the handgun inserted into the holster;

Figure 3 shows a top perspective view of the holster;

Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of the holster;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the holster, with the outside body part removed and with the handgun holstered,;

Figure 6 shows a perspective view, from the outside, of the security latch of the first locking arrangement;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view, from the inside, of the security latch seen in Figure 6;

Figure 8 shows a top view of the security latch seen in Figure 6;

Figure 9 shows a bodyside view illustrating the first and second locking arrangements of the holster;

Figure 10 shows a top perspective view of the holster with the handgun holstered, and illustrates the locking cap of the second locking arrangement;

Figure 11 shows a top perspective view of the locking cap;

Figure 12 shows an internal view of the holster, with the handgun holstered, and illustrates the anti-rattle insert;

Figure 13 shows another internal view of the holster, illustrating the anti-rattle insert, with the handgun drawn;

Figure 14 shows a rear view of the holster;

Figure 15 shows a bodyside view of the holster and illustrates part of the waist mounting apparatus;

Figure 16 shows an outside view of a belt loop member forming part of one waist mounting arrangement;

Figure 17 shows the belt loop member of figure 16 connected to the spacing bracket seen in Figure 15;

Figure 18 shows a bodyside view of the holster and part of an alternative waist mounting apparatus; and

Figure 19 shows a trouser mounting member used with the apparatus seen in Figure 18.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a handgun in the form of an automatic pistol 10, and a holster 12 according to the invention. The pistol 10 is entirely conventional and has a barrel 14, a breech section 16, a handgrip 18, a hammer 20, a trigger 22 and a trigger guard 24. In this specification, when reference is made to the pistol, the direction 26 is the forward direction.

The holster 12 is made up of moulded plastics parts. It includes a hollow holster body 30 formed primarily by two body parts 32 and 34. When worn by a wearer, the body part 32 is located on the inside, closest to and facing towards the wearer's body. In this specification this part is referred to as the bodyside part. The body part 34 is located on the outside, furthest from and facing away from the wearer's body. In this specification this is referred to as the outside part. The terms bodyside and outside have corresponding means when used with reference to other components. With reference to

Figures 1 and 3, the numerals 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44 designate downward, upward, sideways, front and rear directions respectively relative to the holster.

The body parts 32 and 34 are held together by screws 41 which connect front flanges 43 of the body parts to one another and screws 45 which connect rear flanges 47 of the body parts to one another.

In use, with the holster worn at the wearer's side it will be understood that when the pistol 10 is to be holstered, its forward or barrel end is moved downwardly into the holster body as indicated in Figure 1 by the numeral 50. When the pistol is fully holstered as shown in Figure 2, the holster body accommodates the barrel end of the pistol, including the barrel 14, most of the breech section 16, the trigger and the front part 52 of the trigger guard 24.

Security against unauthorised withdrawal of the pistol 10 from the holster, “i.e. in the upward direction 38, is prevented by a moulded plastics security latch 54 of a first locking arrangement. The latch 54, which is shown in more detail in Figures 5, 6 and 7, includes a finger engagement portion 56 and a detent 58 on opposite sides of a pivot axis 59 defined by an axle 60 which is supported rotatably by the outside body part 34 of the holster body. Referring to Figure 5 it will be understood that the pivot axis 59 is oriented in an upward/downward direction. The finger engagement portion, which is elongate in the upward/downward direction, is accessible from the outside and is formed with a series of external ribs 62, extending in a forward/rearward direction, to enhance non-slip finger engagement with the latch. The detent 58 extends through an opening in the outside body part 34 and projects in a bodyside direction into the interior of the holster body, as shown in Figure 3. The detent has a flat lower surface 64 which, assuming a vertical orientation of the holster, extends in a horizontal plane, and an upper surface 66 which is chamfered or angled as shown.

The latch is loaded by coil springs (not visible) acting between the latch and the outside body part. These springs bias the latch pivotally, about the pivot axis, in such a manner as to urge the detent into the holster body, as indicated by the numeral 68 in Figure 6.

In use, when the pistol 10 is moved downwardly into the holster body during a holstering operation, the front part 52 of the trigger guard 24 comes into contact with, and rides over, the upper surface 66 of the detent 58. This deflects the latch pivotally, against the spring bias, in the direction 70 in Figure 7. As soon as the front part 52 of the trigger guard has passed the detent, the latch pivots back in the direction 68 under the action of its spring, thereby locating the detent over the front part as shown in Figures 5 and 9. With the detent located over the front part 52 of the trigger guard it is not possible to draw the pistol 10 upwardly from the holster.

The latch provides particularly secure locking of the pistol in the holster. It will be noted that the flat surface 64 of the detent is in direct opposition to the front part 52, so it is not possible for the front part to move past the detent even if substantial upward force is applied to the pistol. If the pistol is to be drawn it is necessary for the wearer of the holster to extend a finger, typically an index finger, downwardly over the outside of the holster and then press inwardly on the finger engagement portion 56 in order to pivot the latch, against the spring bias, in the direction 70, thereby pivoting the detent clear of the front part 52 and releasing the pistol for withdrawal.

It will also be noted that the pivotal movements of the detent are in a lateral plane at right angles to the pivot axis 59. For example, where the pivot axis 59 is vertical, corresponding to a vertical orientation of the barrel of the holstered pistol, the detent moves in a horizontal arc.

It is considered that these features represent an improvement over the holster described in ZA98/6778 in which, as stated previously, the detent moves downwardly in an arc so the opposing surface of the latch detent has to be angled to permit the detent to move past the front part of the trigger guard.

It is also considered advantageous that the latch is released by finger action from the outside rather than the inside as in ZA98/6778, since it is perceived that this will make it more difficult for unauthorised withdrawal of the pistol from a position in front of the wearer.

The illustrated holster also includes a second locking arrangement providing further security against unauthorised withdrawal of the pistol. The second locking arrangement includes a locking cap 80 carrying a pair of downwardly projecting lugs 82 formed with holes 84. A pin 86 passes through these holes and through an upstanding lug 85 projecting forwardly from a body part 88 of the holster body 30 (Figures 1 and 4). This permits the locking cap to pivot relative to the holster body about the axis of the pin 86. The locking cap has a top portion 92 and side skirts 94, one of which is formed with an opening 96 therein. A spring, not visible in the drawings, is located about the pin 86 and biases the cap 80 in the direction 98 in

Figures 10 and 11.

The second locking arrangement also includes a latch 100 including a thumb-engagable portion 102 and a detent 104 on opposite sides of a pivot axis 106 defined by stub axles 108. A further spring, not visible in the drawings, biases the latch in the direction 110 in Figure 11.

Figures 2, 5, 9 and 10 show the locking cap 80 in an operative, locking position in which the portion 92 locates over the rear end of the pistol, in this case over the hammer 20 of the pistol. The cap is held in this position, against the bias of the spring acting on it, by engagement of the detent 104 in the opening 96. It will be understood that with the cap in this position, it is not possible to withdraw the pistol upwardly from the holster 12.

If the pistol is to be withdrawn, it is necessary for the wearer of the holster to move his thumb downwardly on the bodyside of the holster and onto the thumb-engagable portion 102, and then to press this portion inwardly. This causes the latch 100 to pivot in the direction 112, thereby withdrawing the detent 104 from the opening 96 and freeing the cap to be urged forwardly in the direction 98 by its spring. The cap clears the hammer 20 and allows the pistol to be withdrawn.

When the pistol is reholstered and is to be locked again in the holster, the wearer merely pivots the cap 80 back against the bias of its spring until the opening 96 is opposite the detent 104, at which point the detent clips into the opening to hold the cap once more in its locking position.

In practice, the locking of the pistol in the holster can be achieved by means of the first locking arrangement, i.e. the latch 54, by the second locking arrangement comprising the locking cap 80 and the latch 100, or by both locking arrangements. In the latter case, a wearer wishing to withdraw the pistol 10 from the holster 12 can locate the palm of his hand over the handgrip 18 and simultaneously operate the latch 54 by finger action on the outside of the holster and the latch 100 by thumb action on the bodyside of the holster. Reholstering is achieved merely by pushing the pistol downwardly into the holster 12 so that the latch 54 locks it automatically and thereafter swinging the cap 80 over the hammer to provide the further lock.

It is considered undesirable for a handgun such as the pistol 10 to be free to rattle in the holster body when holstered. However it is also understood that a single holster 12 may be required to accommodate various different handguns having different dimensions. For this reason, the illustrated holster 12 includes an anti-rattle insert 120 which is shown in Figures 5, 12 and 13. The anti-rattle insert is moulded in one piece of a flexibly resilient grade of plastics material. It includes a hub 122 which is mounted between the bodyside and outside body parts of the holster body, a first slender arm 124 which extends upwardly in a curve from the hub and a second slender arm 126 which extends forwardly in a curve from the hub.

When the pistol is moved downwardly into the holster during holstering, the front part 52 of the trigger guard 24 encounters and presses on the first arm 124, compressing it into a smaller arc. After the pistol has been pressed far enough into the holster for the detent 58 to engage over the front part 52 of the trigger guard, with the result that the first locking arrangement is operative, the first arm 124 applies an upward biasing action to the pistol.

The front part 52 is accordingly urged upwardly into firm contact with the detent 58, so the pistol is prevented from rattling in an upward/downward direction.

At the same time, the underside 128 of the barrel 14 of the pistol acts against the second arm 128 and effectively flattens it against its inherent resilience. Accordingly, when the pistol has been fully holstered and is locked in position by the first locking arrangement, the second arm 126 applies a forward biasing action, indicated by the arrow 130 in Figure 12, to the barrel. The barrel is accordingly urged forwardly, inside the holster body, against the front internal surfaces of the body parts 32 and 34, and is prevented from rattling in a forward/rearward direction in the holster body.

The anti-rattle insert 120 accordingly prevents rattling movements of the pistol in two directions at right angles to one another. Rattling in the third possible direction of movement, i.e. sideways movement, is prevented by means of a resiliently flexible insert 132, typically of a soft rubber or the like, which is located in recesses 134 (Figures 3, 5 12 and 13) in the body parts 32 and 34 and which is effectively sandwiched between these body parts when the screws 46 are tightened up. For clarity of illustration, the insert 132 is shown only in Figure 14. It will be understood that by tightening or loosening the screws 46 is it possible to adjust the internal width of the holster body to suit handguns having different widths measured from side to side in the barrel area. In practice, the setting for each particular handgun will be such that the handgun is held firmly between the internal side surfaces of the body parts 32 and 34, ensuring that it cannot rattle from side to side.

Further features of the illustrated holster 12 relate to the manner in which the holster is mounted at the waist of a wearer. Figure 15 shows a bodyside view of the holster 12 and illustrates a spacing bracket 140 formed with a series of screw holes 142, 144 and 146. Figure 16 shows an outside view of a belt loop member 148 formed with screws holes 150 and 152. Figure 17 shows the belt loop member 148 connected to the spacing bracket 140 by means of screws. A first screw, not shown, extends through the holes 150 and 142 and one or more second screws, also not shown, extend through aligned ones of the holes 152 and 146. The holes 152 and 146 are located on circular arcs, typically at a 20° spacing from one another.

The belt loop member 148 is of cranked shape and includes an upper belt- receiving section 154 which includes a pair of spaced apart, belt-receiving slots 156 and a central zone 158 which is recessed outwardly relative to the slots. In use, a belt is threaded through the slots with a portion of the belt between the slots extending over the central zone 158. The recessing of the zone 158 is such that the bodyside surface of the belt lies flush with the forward and rear ends of the belt loop member. This feature, combined with the curved nature of the zone 158, means that the belt is able to follow the oo natural curvature of a wearer's waist when the holster is worn, thereby enhancing the wearer's comfort.

The thickness of the spacing bracket 140, combined with the cranked shape of the belt loop member, spaces the upper part 154 of the belt loop member, in which the belt-receiving slots 156 are provided, outwardly from the wearer's body. One advantage of this is that there is sufficient space between the handgrip 18 of the pistol and the wearer's side to be able to move a thumb into position to operate the latch 100. A further advantage is that it is possible for a wearer of the holster to fit a thick upper body garment to the bodyside of the handgun. In a typical application, the space which is created by the spacer and the cranking of the belt loop member is sufficient for the lower edge of a bullet-proof vest to fit on the bodyside of the handgun while still providing the wearer with sufficient space for the thumb operation mentioned above.

The angular spacing of the screw holes 146 and 1562 provide the wearer with the ability to customise the orientation of the holster, and hence of the handgun, to suit his personal preferences. It will be understood that it is possible to rotate the belt loop member relative to the spacing bracket about the axis of the screw which extends through the holes 142 and 150, and to fix the selected orientation by one or more screws extending through selected ones of the holes 146 and 152. This provides the wearer with the ability to orient the holster such that the handgun either faces vertically downwardly or forwardly or to the rear. It is for example understood that where a security official such as a policeman feels the need to be able to draw his handgun swiftly, it is preferable to have the holster rearwardly oriented. On the other hand where the wearer spends a lot of time sitting, for example in a vehicle, it is generally more convenient and comfortable for the holster to be oriented forwardly.

Figures 18 and 19 show views similar to those of Figures 16 and 17, but of a waist mounting arrangement for use where the wearer does not wish to suspend the holster on a belt. In this case, the holster includes, instead of the belt loop member, a mounting bracket 160, which is connected to the spacing bracket 140, and a trouser mounting member 162 which is in turn connected to the bracket 160. The member 162 has a portion 164 which connects to the bracket 160 and a curved portion 166 which is spaced from the portion 164 by a bridging portion 168. In use, the curved portion 166 is located inside the wearer's trousers with the bridging portion extending over the upper edge of the trousers. Thus in this case the holster is suspended from the wearer's trousers rather than from a belt.

The angularly spaced holes 165 in the member 162 once again provide the facility to alter the orientation at which the holster, and hence the handgun therein, are supported by the trousers. A trouser-mounted arrangement is typically preferred by detectives or other plain-clothes security personnel, since this holds the holster and handgun in a less obtrusive manner.

Referring to Figure 19, the numeral 170 indicates a clip which can be used to convert the trouser mount of Figures 18 and 19 to a belt mount. The clip 170 can be attached to any selected one of a series of openings 172 provided in the portion 164 of the trouser mount and which will then extend towards the wearer's body. In practice, two such clips would be installed.

The space which is then defined between the clips and the bridging portion 168 of the trouser mounting member 162 can then accommodate a belt as indicated by the broken lines 180 in Figure 19. Thus it is possible for a person to convert his holster rapidly from a trouser mount to a belt mount arrangement.

In the interests of clarity of illustration in the accompanying drawings, not all components are shown in all Figures.

Claims (24)

1. Th CLAIMS N.Y A handgun holster comprising a hollow holster body into which the barrel end of a handgun can be inserted downwardly in order to holster the handgun, the holster body having an outside facing away from a wearer thereof and a bodyside facing towards the wearer, and the holster including a locking arrangement comprising a spring loaded latch pivoted to the holster body and carrying a detent which projects into the holster body in order to locate over a forward part of a trigger guard of the handgun when the handgun is holstered, wherein the latch is operable by finger action from the outside of the holster and is pivotable about an axis generally parallel to the axis of the barrel of the handgun when the handgun is holstered, thereby to move the detent clear of the forward part of the trigger guard and release the handgun for withdrawal from the holster.
2. 2. A holster according to claim 1 wherein the detent has a flat surface which locates over and opposes the forward part of the trigger guard when the handgun is holstered, this surface being at right angles to the barrel axis.
3. 3. A holster according to claim 2 wherein the latch is arranged for the flat surface to move in a plane at right angles to the pivot axis of the latch when the latch is operated to release the handgun for withdrawal.
4. 4. A holster according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holster includes a second locking arrangement comprising a spring-loaded member which is pivoted to the holster body and which is locatable, in an operative, locking position, over a rear end of the handgun when holstered, thereby to prevent withdrawal of the handgun from the holster.
5. A holster according to claim 4 and comprising clipping means for clipping the locking member in its operative position and release means for unclipping the locking cap to allow it to pivot, under spring action, to a release position clear of the rear end of the handgun, thereby allowing the handgun to be withdrawn from the holster.
6. 6. A holster according to claim 5 wherein the release means includes a spring-loaded latch which is operable by the thumb of the wearer on the bodyside of the holster.
7. 7. A holster according to any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the locking member comprises a cap locatable over the hammer of the handgun.
8. 8. A holster according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising an anti-rattle insert located in the holster body and arranged to apply an upward biasing force to the handgun, when holstered, such that the forward part of the trigger guard is pressed upwardly against the detent of the first locking arrangement, thereby to restrain the handgun against movement in the holster in an upward/downward direction.
9. 9. A holster according to claim 8 wherein the anti-rattle insert includes a first, resiliently flexible arm which acts upwardly against the forward part of the trigger guard when the handgun is holstered. :
10. A holster according to claim 9 wherein the anti-rattle insert is arranged to apply a forward biasing force to the handgun when holstered, such that the barrel end of the handgun is urged forwardly against the interior of the holster body, thereby to restrain the handgun against movement in the holster in a forward/rearward direction.
11. 11. A holster according to claim 10 wherein the anti-rattle insert includes a second, resiliently flexible arm which acts forwardly against the barrel end of the handgun when holstered.
12. 12. A holster according to claim 11 wherein the first and second arms are formed integrally with a central hub which is mounted between respective bodyside and outside body parts of the holster body.
13. 13. A holster according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the holster body is of moulded plastics construction.
14. 14. A holster according to claim 13 wherein the holster body includes bodyside and outside parts which are fastened to one another.
15. 15. A holster according to claim 14 wherein the bodyside and outside parts of the holster body are fastened to one another by screws.
16. A holster according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the holster body includes an insert located between the respective holster body parts, the insert being compressible in a sideways direction in order for the body parts to embrace the holstered handgun in a sideways direction and restrain the handgun from moving sideways in the holster body.
17. 17. A holster according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a belt mount including a belt loop member, connected to the holster body, through which a belt can be threaded.
18. 18. A holster according to claim 17 wherein the belt loop member has a cranked shape.
19. 19. A holster according to claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the belt loop member has a pair of spaced apart slots therein through which the belt can be threaded and a central, curved zone between the slots across which the belt extends in use, the curved zone being recessed to allow an inside surface of the belt to sit flush with front and rear portions of the belt loop member when threaded through the slots.
20. 20. A holster according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the belt loop member is connected to the holster body by connection means allowing pivotal adjustment of the holster body about an axis extending in a bodyside/outside direction.
21. A holster according to any one of claims 1 to 16 and comprising a trouser mount comprising an insert portion, a connection member connected to the holster body and a bridging portion, the insert member being spaced from the connection member and being curved for location inside a wearer's trousers with the bridging portion extending over the upper edge of the trousers.
22. 22. A holster according to claim 21 wherein the connection member has holes therein into which adaptors can selectively be fixed to define a gap of selected width, between the adaptors and the bridging portion, to receive a belt.
23. 23. A holster according to either one of claims 21 or 22 wherein the connection member is connected to the holster body by connection means allowing pivotal adjustment of the holster body about an axis extending in a bodyside/outside direction.
24. 24, A holster according to claim 20 or claim 23 wherein the connection means comprises a first fastener located on a pivot axis and a second fastener passing through a selected one of an array of angularly spaced apart holes spaced away from the pivot axis.

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