Holster with locking element and pushrod disengagement

A holster for a handgun, comprising:

• a holster body defining an at least partial cavity portion for receiving at least a portion of said handgun therein;
• a locking element, wherein said locking element extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein a first helical portion, defining a first helical ramp surface, begins at or proximate said proximal end and extends to a locking projection portion extending from at least a portion of said distal end of said locking element, wherein a second helical portion, defining a second helical ramp surface, begins at or proximate said proximal end and extends toward said distal end of said locking element, wherein said locking element is at least partially rotatable between a locking element engaged position and a locking element disengaged position, wherein in said locking element engaged position at least a portion of said locking projection portion of said locking element protrudes into said at least partial cavity portion a sufficient distance to extend inside at least a portion of a trigger guard of said handgun if said handgun is seated within said at least partial cavity portion of said holster, wherein in said locking element disengaged position at least a portion of said locking projection portion of said locking element is withdrawn from said at least partial cavity portion a sufficient distance to be withdrawn from said trigger guard of said handgun if said handgun is seated within said at least partial cavity portion of said holster and permit release of said handgun when in said locking element disengaged position;
• an elongate pushrod, wherein at least a portion of said pushrod is slidably positioned within at least a portion of said holster body, such that at least said first end of said pushrod may be urged within said at least partial cavity portion to contact said second helical ramp surface of said second helical portion of said locking element;
• and
• a release lever attached or coupled to a second end of said pushrod, wherein said release lever is slidable between a release lever engaged position and a release lever disengaged position, and wherein as said release lever is urged toward said locking element, interaction between a first end of said pushrod and said second helical ramp surface of said second helical portion causes said locking element to rotate toward the release lever disengaged position.

A holster for a handgun, comprising:

• a holster body defining an at least partial cavity portion for receiving at least a portion of said handgun therein;
• a locking element, wherein said locking element extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein a first helical portion, defining a first helical ramp surface, begins at or proximate said proximal end and extends to a locking projection portion extending from at least a portion of said distal end of said locking element, wherein a second helical portion, defining a second helical ramp surface, begins at or proximate said proximal end and extends toward said distal end of said locking element, wherein said locking element is at least partially rotatable between a locking element engaged position and a locking element disengaged position, wherein in said locking element engaged position at least a portion of said locking projection portion of said locking element protrudes into said at least partial cavity portion a sufficient distance to extend inside at least a portion of a trigger guard of said handgun if said handgun is seated within said at least partial cavity portion of said holster, wherein in said locking element disengaged position at least a portion of said locking projection portion of said locking element is withdrawn from said at least partial cavity portion a sufficient distance to be withdrawn from said trigger guard of said handgun;
• an elongate pushrod, wherein at least a portion of said pushrod is slidably positioned within at least a portion of said holster body;
• and
• a release lever attached or coupled to a second end of said pushrod, wherein said release lever is slidable between a release lever engaged position and a release lever disengaged position, and wherein as said release lever is urged toward said locking element, interaction between a first end of said pushrod and said second helical ramp surface of said second helical portion causes said locking element to rotate toward the release lever disengaged position.