Security hood for handgun holsters and the like

A security hood assembly for a holster having a holster body that defines a cavity and an opening sized to admit at least a portion of a service item into the cavity, comprising:

• a hood adapted to be movably supported in association with the holster body so that the hood extends over at least a portion of the opening when the hood is in a closed position;
• a lever coupled to the hood for driving the hood, the hood being responsive to operation of the lever for movement from the closed position wherein the hood prevents the service item from being removed from the holster toward an open position wherein the hood is moved forwardly relative to the holster body, to thereby allow the service item to be removed from the holster;
• and
• a latch mechanism operable to releasably engage when the hood is in the closed position to prevent the hood from being opened, the latch mechanism operable to be disengaged by manual operation of the lever, wherein at least a portion of the lever is moved in a first direction for disengaging the latch mechanism and in a second direction different from the first direction for driving the hood toward the open position.

A holster for a service item comprising a cocked handgun including a hammer, the holster comprising:

• a body means for holding the service item and for defining a constrained draw path of the service item;
• a hood supported in association with the body means, the hood movable between a closed position wherein the hood extends over at least a portion of the constrained draw path to prevent the service item from being removed from the holster, and an open position wherein the hood is moved out of the constrained draw path to allow the service item to be removed from the holster;
• a lever movably supported on the body means and adjacent the hood;
• means for coupling the lever to the hood and for driving the hood from the closed position toward the open position in response to movement of the lever;
• and
• means for preventing the hammer of the cocked handgun from accidentally falling.

A security hood assembly for a holster having a holster body adapted to hold a service item and defining a draw path along which the service item must move when drawn from the holster, comprising:

• a hood adapted to be movably supported in association with the holster body so that the hood extends over at least a portion of the draw path when the hood is in a closed position;
• a lever adapted to be operably coupled to the hood for driving the hood, the hood being responsive to operation of the lever for movement from the closed position wherein the hood prevents the service item from being removed from the holster toward an open position wherein the hood is moved out of the draw path to allow the service item to be removed from the holster;
• and
• a latch mechanism operable to releasably engage when the hood is in the closed position to prevent the hood from being opened, wherein at least a portion of the lever is moved in a first direction for disengaging the latch mechanism and in a second direction different from the first direction for driving the hood toward the open position.

A security hood assembly for a holster having a holster body adapted to hold a service item and defining a draw path along which the service item must move when drawn from the holster, the service item comprising a cocked handgun including a hammer and a firing pin, the holster comprising:

• a hood formed of a substantially rigid material and adapted to be supported in association with the holster body for movement between a closed position wherein the hood extends over at least a portion of the constrained draw path to prevent the service item from being removed from the holster, and an open position wherein the hood is moved out of the constrained draw path to allow the service item to be removed from the holster;
• and
• a lever operably coupled to the hood for driving the hood from the closed position toward the open position in response to movement of the lever,
• the hood including a blocking section that is interposed between the hammer and the firing pin when the cocked handgun is holstered and the hood is in the closed position, to thereby prevent the hammer from accidentally falling against the firing pin.