They Invented What? (No. 126)

U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,249:  Belt buckle gun holder.

 

I claim:

1. A belt buckle adapted for use as a holder for a gun, comprising means for receiving a gun, said means also retaining said gun on said buckle, some of said means comprising a cover over said gun and being releasable to permit said gun to be withdrawn from said buckle.

2. The belt buckle of claim 1 in which said buckle includes a rigid main body, said receiving and retaining means being affixed to said body and contacting parts of said gun.

3. The belt buckle of claim 2 including hinge means on said body fastening one end of said cover to said body, and separate means on said body for retaining an opposite end of said cover over said gun.

4. The belt buckle of claim 3 in which said cover retaining means is operable to release said opposite end of said cover, a portion of said hinge means actuating said opposite ends away from said body upon release.

5. The belt buckle of claim 4 including biasing means on said body for placing said cover retaining means in a position which fastens said opposite end of said cover to said body.

6. The belt buckle of claim 5 in which said cover retaining means are actuated to overcome said biasing means to release said opposite end of said cover.

7. The belt buckle of claim 6 including means on said body for preventing accidental actuation of said cover retaining means.

8. The belt buckle of claim 1 in which said cover has an opening adapted to receive a portion of said gun.

9. The belt buckle of claim 1 including a main body having a peripheral outline equal to a substantial projected area of the retained gun, and means on said body for attachment to a belt.

10. The belt buckle of claim 9 in which said main body has an opening adapted to receive a portion of said gun.

11. The belt buckle of claim 10 including a cover mounted on said body and means for retaining said cover to cover said gun, said cover having an opening opposite the opening in said body, both of said openings cooperating to receive a portion of said gun.

12. The belt buckle of claim 1 comprising a main body having a general configuration of said gun, an opening in said body adapted to receive a portion of said gun, and means on said body for attachment to a belt; means on said main body contacting portions of said gun for retaining it against said body; a cover for said gun secured to said body, hinge means on said body securing one end of said cover and including means tending to hold said cover in an open position to uncover said gun; cover retaining means mounted on said body and securing an opposite end of said cover to said body in a closed position to cover said gun, biasing means on said body normally placing said cover retaining means in a position to retain said cover in closed position, said cover retaining means actuated to overcome said biasing means to release said cover to permit said cover to be located in its open position; and means on said body for preventing accidental actuation of said cover retaining means.

13. In combination, a rigid gun holder and gun, including means on said holder for receiving and retaining said gun, said holder comprising a main body, some of said means comprising a cover having at least two ends affixed at one end to said body and secured at an opposite end in a closed position over said gun.

14. The combination of claim 13 in which some of said means are releasable to permit said gun to be withdrawn from said holder.

15. The combination of claim 13 in which said holder has a peripheral outline equal to a substantial projected area of said gun.

16. The combination of claim 13, said retaining means being affixed to said body and gripping parts of said gun to retain it in place.

17. The combination of claim 13 including means on said body for releasing the opposite end of said cover from its closed position, and means on said body moving said opposite end from said body to uncover said gun.

18. The combination of claim 17 in which said gun has a handle and a cylinder, said main body and said cover having opposite openings receiving said cylinder and providing at least part of said gun retaining means.

19. The combination of claim 18 in which said cover releasing means is adjacent said gun handle to permit simultaneous grasping of said handle and actuation of said cover releasing means.

20. The combination of claim 18 in which said handle extends beyond said main body to facilitate withdrawal of said gun.

21. The combination of claim 18 including hinge means mounted on said body and said cover to place said cover in either open or closed position.

22. A gun holder having a rigid construction, comprising integral means for receiving said gun, said means also retaining said gun in said holder, some of said receiving and retaining means comprising a cover over said gun.

23. The gun holder of claim 22 in which said holder comprises a principal gun supporting member, said member having a peripheral outline equal to a substantial projected area of said gun.

24. The gun holder of claim 23 adapted for mounting on a belt, including means on said member for mounting said holder on said belt.

25. The gun holder of claim 22 in which said cover has opposite ends, one of said ends being secured to said member and the other of said ends being releasably secured to said member, and means for releasing said other end to uncover said gun.

26. In combination, a gun holder and belt, said gun holder having a principal gun supporting member of rigid construction, said member having means for mounting said holder on said belt, said member also having integral means for receiving and retaining a gun in said holder, some of said receiving and retaining means comprising a cover over said gun and being releasable to permit said gun to be withdrawn from said holder.

27. The combination of claim 26 in which said cover has an opening adapted to receive a portion of said gun.

28. The combination of claim 26 including hinge means on said principal gun supporting member fastening one end of said cover to said body, and separate means on said principal gun supporting member for retaining an opposite end of said cover on said gun.

29. The combination of claim 28 in which said cover retaining means is operable to release said opposite end of said cover, a portion of said hinge means actuating said opposite ends away from said body upon release.

30. The combination of claim 26 in which said principal gun supporting member has a peripheral outline equal to a substantial projected area of the retained gun.