DEVICE FOR MOUNTING AND SECURING A HANDGUN

Abstract

A mounting and securing device for a handgun having a grip, a trigger, and a trigger guard. The device can include a mounting base including a means for affixing the base to a structure, a lock post extending from the mounting base having an annular groove proximate the distal end; and a trigger-blocking member including a trigger-blocking post attached to the mounting base and configured to extend behind the trigger of the handgun when mounted on the device, and a lock member comprising a body that includes a front face and a rear face, and having a bore through the rear face and into the body that is configured to accept the lock post for positioning the lock member onto the lock post, and including push-buttons for locking or unlocking the lock member to the lock post to secure the handgun.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application 61/861,906, filed Aug. 2, 2013 (pending), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a holder or storage device for securing a firearm, and in particular a handgun.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The owners of certain articles, such as a handgun, want to have the article ready for use at any or all times, but need to maintain the article in a safe condition and state of operation for other persons, including friends, family members, children, guests and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a mounting and securing device for a handgun having a grip, a trigger, and a trigger guard. The device includes a) a mounting base including a means for affixing the base to a structure; b) a lock post extending from the mounting base having an annular groove proximate the distal end; c) a lock member comprising a body that includes a front face and a rear face, and having a bore through the rear face and into the body that is configured to accept the lock post for positioning the lock member onto the lock post, and including a means associated with the annular groove of the lock post for locking the lock member to the lock post; and d) a trigger-blocking member including a trigger-blocking post attached to the mounting base and configured to extend between the trigger and the trigger guard of the handgun when mounted on the device.

The invention also includes a method for mounting and securing a handgun having a grip, a trigger, and a trigger guard, to a comprising the steps of: a) providing the mounting and security device of the invention; b) mounting the handgun onto the device by positioning the front of the trigger guard of the handgun against the lock post and positioning the trigger in front of the trigger-blocking member; and c) optionally repositioning the trigger-blocking member along the slot and pivotably around the axis to a position that prevents movement of the trigger that would discharge the handgun.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a locking gun holster having a mounting base and a push-button lock member for securing a handgun or other firearm.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a mounting assembly of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a side elevation view of the mounting assembly viewed from line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the mounting assembly through line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a cover assembly of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a side elevation view of the mounting assembly viewed from line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the cover plate through line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the face of a push-button lock member of the invention.

FIG. 9 shows an elevation view of the view a push-button lock member viewed from line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows an axial sectional view of the push-button lock member through line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 shows an axial sectional view of the push-button lock member through line 11-11 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 shows a transverse sectional view through the push-button lock member through line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show exploded views of the area designated 13 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows a sectional view of the locking gun holster viewed from line 14-14 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is the sectional view of the locking gun holster of FIG. 14, but with the locking gun holster in the holstering position.

FIG. 16 shows the mounting assembly as viewed from line 16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows the locking gun holster with the handgun mounted on the mounting assembly and secured with the push-button lock member.

FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of a mounting base having a muzzle guard wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a locking gun holster 1 for a handgun, including a mounting base 3 and push-button lock member 5. The push-button lock member 5 can be positionable on the mounting base 3 in a holstering position in which the handgun can be placed onto the mounting base, and in a secured position as shown in the Figure, to secure the handgun from removal on the mounting base. The push-button lock member 5 also includes a means for locking the push-button lock member 3 into its secured position on the mounting base 3.

The mounting base 3 includes a mounting assembly 10 which provides a platform onto which other elements and features of the mounting base are attached, fixed or formed. An embodiment of the mounting assembly 10, shown in FIGS. 2-4, includes a mounting plate 12 having a means for affixing the mounting plate to another structure, which can be a fixed or building feature, including an interior or exterior wall, wall stud, wall or door frame, floor or ceiling stud, or a portable structure including a cabin of a vehicle (aircraft, watercraft, or ground vehicle). The affixing means includes fixture holes 13 through which a fastener such as a bolt or screw can be inserted.

The mounting assembly 10 also includes a lock post 30 and a pedestal post 20 extending from the mounting plate 12. The lock post 30 has sidewall 32 having an annular groove 35 proximate the top or distal end 31, and a base end 33 fixed to the mounting plate 12, typically by swaging the post into an aperture 14 in the mounting plate 12. The lock post 30 accepts and retains the push-button lock member 5, which is securable to the lock post and is moveable axial on the lock post 30 between a holstering position and a secured position as described in more detail herein below.

The pedestal post 20 has a sidewall 22 and a base end 23 fixed to the mounting plate 12, typically by swaging the post into an aperture 15 in the mounting plate 12. The pedestal post 20 is set a short distance from the lock post 30 that is sufficient to allow placement therebetween of the trigger guard of a firearm, as described herein below. The pedestal post 20 is substantially shorter than the lock post 30, and the top or distal end 21 extends from the mounting plate 12 a distance slightly below the back face of the push-button lock member 5 when in its secured position. The mounting plate 12 also has an elongated slot 16 with slot ends 17 and 18, discussed herein after.

The mounting base 3 also includes a cover assembly 40 which is configured to be installed over the outer face of the mounting plate 12. An embodiment of the cover assembly 40, shown in FIGS. 5-7, includes a cover plate 42 having a peripheral edge 41 that is substantially coextensive with the peripheral edge 11 of the mounting plate 12. The cover plate 42 has openings 43 and 44 through which the pedestal post 20 and the lock post 30, respectively, extend when the cover plate 42 is installed over the mounting plate 12. The openings 43 and 44 are sized sufficiently in shape or diameter to guide the cover assembly 40 onto the mounting assembly 10. To retain the cover assembly 40 from pulling away from the mounting assembly 10, or to prevent it from falling off the mounting assembly 10 (for example, in case the mounting assembly 10 is fixed to a ceiling or downwardly-facing surface), a snap ring 96 can be inserted into the annular grooves 24 and 34, respectively, of the pedestal post 20 and the lock post 30, to prevent the cover plate 42 from sliding up, as shown in FIG. 14.

A trigger-blocking post 50 is attached to the cover plate 42 and includes an elongated blade 52 that is configured to extend vertically from the cover plate 42. The blade 52 extends between the trigger and the trigger guard of a handgun mounted onto the mounting base 3 (as shown in FIGS. 16 and 18). The blade 52 is illustrated as arc-shaped in lateral cross section, with the arc-shaped base end of the blade 52 extending from, and along the periphery of, a circular base 54. The underside of the circular base 54 has a threaded bore 55 that accepts the threaded stem 56 of a screw fastener 57 that extends through an elongated slot 45 in the cover plate 42. The elongated slot 45 extends away from the pedestal post 20 (opposite the lock post 40) to allow repositioning of the trigger-blocking post 50 anywhere along the slot 45. In addition, the base 54 can be rotated freely when the screw fastener 57 is loosened, to allow placing of the blade 52 directly behind the trigger of a handgun when mounted. The screw fastener 57 can then be tightened, for example with a screw driver, to secure the trigger-blocking post 50 from lateral movement along slot 45 and from rotation. As shown in FIG. 14, the head of the screw fastener 57 is accommodated within the wider slot 16 of the mounting plate 12 that generally registers beneath the slot 45 of the cover plate 42.

The cover plate 42 also can include a peripheral guard wall 46 that is attached along its proximal edge 47 to the edge of the cover plate 42. The guard wall 46 can be any configuration or shape, and can extend continuously or intermittently along the periphery, or away for the periphery, of the cover plate 42 to inhibit access to the trigger or to cover other parts of the handgun when holstered.

One aspect of the cover assembly 40 is that the cover plate 42 covers the fastener holes 13 in the mounting plate 12, thereby preventing access to and tampering with the fasteners that secure the mounting base 3 to a structure. Another aspect of the cover assembly 40 is the various types of guard walls(s) that can be affixed to the cover plate 12 for inhibiting access or covering other parts of the handgun. Another aspect of the cover assembly 40 is its interchangeability onto the mounting assembly 10 depending on the characteristics of the handgun being mounted, such that a particular design or configuration of the cover plate can accommodate a particular design of a firearm.

An embodiment of the push-button lock member 5 is shown in FIGS. 8-13. The push-button lock member 5 has a central bore 53 that is configured for mounting the push-button lock member onto the mounting base 3. To retain it to the base when moving between the holstering position and the secured position, a threaded bore 82 is formed radially through the body 61 near proximate the rear face 56 (FIG. 10), and accepts a threaded set pin 84 having a drive head 86 (hex drive or equivalent). The distal end 88 of the set pin 84 engages an elongated axial slot 37 formed into the sidewall 32 of the lock post 30, which allows the push-button lock member 5 to move axially along the lock post 30, but prevents its rotation around the axis 200 of the lock post 30. The upper end 38 of the slot 37 serves as a stop for the push-button lock member 5 when raised up to permit mounting and holstering of the handgun, as described below. The lower end 39 of the slot 37 serves as a stop for the push-button lock member 5 when secured and locked down on the holstered handgun to secure the handgun. The push-button lock member 5 is therefore moveable between the holstering position (FIG. 15) in which the handgun can be placed onto the mounting base, and in the secured position (FIG. 4 and FIG. 14) that secures the handgun from removal on the mounting base.

FIGS. 8-13 illustrate an embodiment of the push-button lock member 5 that includes a cylindrical body 61 that has a front face 52 and a rear face 56, and has a bore 53 through the rear face 56 and into the body 61. The bore 53 is configured to accept the lock post 30 for positioning the push-button lock member 5 onto the mounting base 3, and includes a means for locking the push-button lock member 5 to the lock post 30. Other non-limiting examples of a push-button lock member are described in U.S. provisional application 61/800,324, filed Mar. 15, 0213, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

A plurality of pushable button(s) 55 extend through the front face 52, with each push button 55 being associated with an elongated pin 60 that moves axially within the body 61. The plurality of pins 60 are disposed within pin bores 62 arranged radially around the central bore 53, typically at equal spacing radially. Each pin 60 is biased to a forward first position within the pin bore 62 with a biasing means 64, illustrated as a compression spring.

Each pin 60 includes a cylindrical body having a periphery 65 having a recess or groove 66 (FIG. 11) formed intermediate the button 55 and spring 64 end. The recess 66 can extend around the entire circumference of the pin to form an annular groove (pin 60h of FIG. 11), or can extend around only an arc portion of the pin (pin 60a of FIG. 10). The pin groove 66 and its axial center are disposed a fixed distance from the button end of the pin 60. The pin groove 66 is illustrated as an annular rectilinear trough with tapered sides. The groove 66 can also have just a rectangular trough, or a curved (parabolic) groove, or a V-shaped groove. Typically the depth of the groove 66 from the outer periphery of the pin is less than the radius of the spherical or cylindrical tumbler.

The annular groove 35 of the lock post 30 receives tumblers 70 disposed within radial-arranged tumbler channels 67 that communicate between the central bore 53 and the pin bores 62. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the tumbler channels 67 (nine tumblers and pins are shown, though other numbers can be used) are all formed in the body 61 a same distance axially from the front face 52, typically along an axis 205 perpendicular to the central axis 200. To aid in forming the cylindrical tumbler channels 67, an outer channel bore 69 is form and radially inwardly the outer circumference of the device body 61 to the pin bore 62, and continues radially inwardly toward the central bore 52 to form the tumbler channel 67. Each tumbler channel 67 of fixed diameter is formed only partially (not completely) through the wall portion that defining the central bore 53, to leave an annular shoulder at the junction of the tumbler channel 67 and the central bore 53, to define an opening into the central bore 53 that is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the tumbler channel 67, and smaller in diameter or size than the tumbler 70. The shoulder prevents a tumbler 70 from passing from the tumbler cavity 67 too far, or completely, into the central bore 53. The outer channel bore 69 also permits loading of the tumbler pin(s) from outside during assembly and reprogramming of the lock device.

With all of the pins 60 biased outwardly with the buttons 55 extending fully outwardly from the face 52, each of the tumblers 70 is disposed within each cylindrical tumbler channel 67, with an end of the tumbler extending at least partially into either the central bore 53 (pin 60h) or its respective pin groove 66 (pins 60a-60g and 60i), since the dimension of the tumbler 70 exceeds the distance between the wall of the pin bore 62 and the wall of the central bore 53. With the lock post 30 disposed within the central bore 53, for any one pin 60, at least one or both of the groove 35 of the lock post 30 or the groove 66 of the pin(s) 60 is aligned with the tumbler channel 56, with an end of the tumblers 70 extending therein.

The pin 60a associated with button 55a includes a partial groove 68 that extends into only about a quarter of the circumferential surface of the pin 60a, as shown in FIG. 13A. The angular orientation of the partial groove 68a is aligned with a groove indicator 92 on the button 55a, shown in FIG. 8 as a notch in the top edge of the button 55a. The partial groove 68 is a locking feature which only allows the tumbler 70 to extend into the partial groove 68 of the pin when it is angularly facing the central bore 53. If the pin 60a is rotated to a different angular position, typically of about 90 degrees or more (FIG. 13B, where the groove indicator 92 is oriented away from the central bore 53), the end of the tumbler 70a will be forced to extend into groove 35 of the lock post 30, which prevents the push-button lock member 5 from being “unlocked” and moved away from the secured position.

As shown in FIG. 11 with pin 60b, when the groove 66 of a pin 60 is aligned with its respective tumbler channel 67 when in its biased-forward first position (extending fully through the face), termed the neutral unlock position, the tumbler 70 can evacuate the groove 35 on the lock post 30. Alternatively, as shown with pin 60h, at least one (or more) pin will have a groove 66 that is out of alignment axially with its tumbler channel 67 when in its biased-forward first position, termed the neutral locked position, so that the cylindrical peripheral surface of the pin 60 blocks the tumbler 70, and forces the end of the tumbler 70 to extend into and block the groove 35 of the lock post 30, which in turn prevents the push-button lock member 5 from being withdrawn from its secured position on the lock post 30. As can be understood from FIG. 11, depressing the button 55h inwardly to the face 52 moves the pin 60h rearwardly to align the pin groove 66 with the tumbler channel 67, enabling the tumbler 70 to evacuate the groove 35 on the lock post 30. By depressing all, and only all, of the buttons 55 associated with pins 60 disposed in the neutral locked position, the grooves 66 of all pins 60 will become aligned axially with their respective tumbler channels 67 and with the groove 35 of the lock post 30, and all of the tumbler(s) 70 will be moved, or biased, out of the groove 35 of the lock post 30 when the push-button lock member 5 is moved axially along the post 30 and away from the mounting base 3, to the holstering position.

The body 61 of the push-button lock member 5 is a cylinder having a radius that extends over both pedestal post 20 and the trigger-blocking post 50, and preferably also over the guard wall 46, to prevent access to or tampering when the push-button lock member 5 is positioned onto the lock post 30 in the secured position.

FIG. 15 shows a sectional view of another aspect of a push-button, having an extending member. The extending member is a plate 180 having a periphery 181 with a portion thereof that extends beyond the lateral periphery of the lock member 5. The periphery 181 of the plate can extend from only one portion of the lock member, or can have portions extending on opposite sides of the lock member, or can extend outwardly all around the lock member. The extension of the plate 180 can be asymmetrical or symmetric about the periphery 11 of the lockable device 10. The plate 180 is typically planer, and can be made of any durable, non-bendable material, or bend-resistant material. A non-limiting example of the material is steel. The plate 180 can be secured to the rear face of the lock member 5 using any conventional fastening means, such as a threaded hole in the rear face of the locking device body and a threaded screw or bolt 185. The plate 180 includes an aperture 186 there through that registers with the central bore 16. When the locking member is secured to the lock post 30 with a handgun mounted on the post, the extending member can extend outwardly to cover the view or access to a trigger or other feature of the handgun. As shown in FIG. 17, the extending plate can inhibit or block access to a feature of the handgun, such as a trigger, hammer, or magazine clip release button.

The present invention also includes a method for mounting and securing a handgun or firearm. With the push-button lock member 5 in the secured position, shown in FIG. 14, the user depresses the proper combination of buttons 55 (buttons and pins configured or programmed in the neutral locked position) to align each pin groove 66 with each respective tumbler chamber 67, which releases the end of each tumbler 70 from the groove 35 of the lock post 30. The user then pulls the push-button lock member 5 axially away from the mounting base 3 to the mounting position (FIG. 15). Next, a handgun 300, loaded or unloaded, is manipulated into a holstering position on the mounting base 3 (shown mounted to a structure S in FIG. 16), by carefully placing the forward portion of the trigger guard 305 against the upper end 31 of the lock post 30, and then moving the handgun toward and against the cover plate 42 with the trigger 310 position behind the pedestal post 30 and directly in front of the blade 52 of the trigger-blocking post 50. The trigger-blocking post 50 has been adjusted in position both traversely and rotationally on the cover plate 42 for the particular model of handgun. In this position, the locking post 30 blocks access to the trigger 310, and the blade 52 extends into the pull-path of the trigger 310, to reduce the risk of the trigger being pulled purposefully or accidentally. FIG. 17 shows the push-button lock member 5 disposed in its secured position on the lock post, blocking access to the trigger and other parts of the handgun.

FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment of a mounting base 3 wherein a second guard wall 146 extends from the edge 42 to cover the muzzle end 315 of the handgun. Other embodiments can include a guide wall along or over the hammer 320 or the rack 325 of the handgun to further limit unauthorized access and tampering.

Claims

1. A mounting and securing device for a handgun having a grip, a trigger, and a trigger guard, comprising:

a) a mounting base including a means for affixing the base to a structure;

b) a lock post extending from the mounting base having an annular groove proximate the distal end;

c) a lock member comprising a body that includes a front face and a rear face, and having a bore through the rear face and into the body that is configured to accept the lock post for positioning the lock member onto the lock post, and including a means associated with the annular groove of the lock post for locking the lock member to the lock post;

d) a trigger-blocking member including a trigger-blocking post attached to the mounting base and configured to extend between the trigger and the trigger guard of the handgun when mounted on the device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the trigger-blocking member attaches repositionably to the mounting base along a slot through the mounting base.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the trigger-blocking member includes a proximal base having an axis, and the proximal base is repositionably pivotably around the axis relative the mounting base.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the trigger-blocking post is positioned on the proximal base away from the axis for circumferential movement when the trigger-blocking member pivots around the axis.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting base includes a means for attaching the mounting base to a structure.

6. The device according to claim 1, further including a pedestal extending from the mounting base and positioned proximate the lock post, and configured for positioning of the trigger guard of the handgun between the lock post and the pedestal.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein body of the lock member is a cylinder having a radius that extends over the trigger-blocking member when the lock member is positioned onto the lock post.

8. The device according to claim 1, further including a wall member extending from the periphery of the mounting base, configured to inhibit access to the handgun trigger when mounted on the device.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting base includes a mounting assembly that includes the pedestal post and the lock post, and a cover assembly having at least two apertures that register with the pedestal post and the lock post, respectively, to block access to the affixing means.

10. A method for mounting and securing a handgun having a grip, a trigger, and a trigger guard, to a comprising the steps of:

a) providing the mounting and security device of claim 9;

b) mounting the handgun onto the device by positioning the front of the trigger guard of the handgun against the lock post and positioning the trigger in front of the trigger-blocking member; and

c) optionally repositioning the trigger-blocking member along the slot and pivotably around the axis to a position that prevents movement of the trigger that would discharge the handgun.