GUN VAULT WITH RETRACTABLE HANDLE
The present invention provides for a gun vault that can safely transfer a firearm within the public area that is easy to carry and can secure easily and quickly to various surfaces or objects. The gun vault comprises a first component, illustrated as a gun vault top half connected to a second component, illustrated herein as a gun vault bottom half, which when coupled together provides an interior constructed and arranged to store internal functional hardware as well as one or more firearms, such as a handgun and magazine clip. The gun vault further includes a removable and variably positionable handle, which allows for the gun vault to be secured to objects or surfaces, such as a seat of a car or some type of fixed pole, quickly and easily. To prevent unauthorized access, the gun vault may further include a locking assembly.
In accordance with 37 C.F.R 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), 120, 121, and/or 365(c) as a continuation-in-part to U.S. Patent Application No. 61/863,131, filed Aug. 7, 2013, entitled, “GUN VAULT WITH RETRACTABLE HANDLE”, the contents of the above referenced application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a firearm storage device; and more particularly, to a firearm vault having a retractable handle for storing and securing a gun therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe manufacturing, distribution, and purchasing of firearms remain popular in the United States. Although it may be impossible to determine the actual number of guns purchased, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that it recorded more than 16.8 million background checks for gun purchases in 2012. This number does not account for firearms previously obtained or for firearms owned by law enforcement or military individuals. While the distribution and selling of firearms has provided controversy, many individuals who own firearms seek to use them responsibly. As such, firearm safety is a paramount concern among firearm owners and gun enthusiasts. As a result of this concern, numerous safety mechanisms, such as gun vaults, exist in the market. Typical firearm vaults on the market today are designed to lock away firearms from theft and accidental discharge. For example, a safe can easily weigh several hundred pounds, making the safe immovable for a thief. However, these large safes are not practical for safely moving a gun in the public. For example, when travelling within the airport, individuals owning guns, and even some public safety officers, are required to safely store their guns once they pass the security gates. Moreover, individuals often store their guns in the glove compartments when travelling in a car. Such action may be unsafe and can result in theft of the gun should someone break into the automobile.
Therefore, what is needed in the art is a gun vault that can be used to safely transfer a firearm within the public area that is easy to carry and can secure easily and quickly to various surfaces or objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides for a gun vault that can safely transfer a firearm within the public area that is easy to carry and can secure easily and quickly to various surfaces or objects. The gun vault comprises a first component, illustrated as a gun vault top half 12 connected to a second component, illustrated herein as a gun vault bottom half 14 which, when coupled together, provides an interior 16 constructed and arranged to store internal functional hardware as well as one or more firearms such as a handgun and magazine clip. The gun vault further includes a removable and variably positionable handle, which allows for the gun vault to be secured to objects or surfaces, such as a seat of a car or some type of fixed pole, quickly and easily. To prevent unauthorized access, the gun vault may further include a locking assembly.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to teach a device, system and method for firearm storage.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach a device for securing a firearm.
It is yet another objective of the instant invention to teach a safe and secure handgun vault apparatus for a loaded handgun.
It is a further objective of the instant invention to teach an easy to carry handgun vault apparatus for a loaded handgun, which has a removable handle.
It is a still further objective of the invention to teach an easy to carry handgun vault apparatus for a loaded handgun, which has a variably positionable handle that can easily and quickly be secured to various surfaces or objects.
Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
The present invention provides a portable system and method for firearm storage, and more particularly a safe and secure handgun vault apparatus for a loaded or unloaded handgun that allows an authorized user to safely and securely transfer or store a gun in different locations. Referring to
The gun vault with adjustable handle 10 contains a first component, illustrated as a gun vault top half 12 connected to a second component, illustrated herein as a gun vault bottom half 14, which when coupled together provides an interior 16 constructed and arranged to store internal functional hardware as well as one or more firearms such as a handgun and magazine clip. Preferably the gun vault top half 12 and the gun vault bottom half 14 are hingedly coupled together via a hinge assembly, illustrated as a concealed hinge, having a hinge plate 18 with rod 20 and hinge plate support structure 22 (see
As shown at
The gun vault top half 12 comprises a first surface 32 which defines the outer top surface of the gun vault 10 and a second surface 34 which defines part of the boundary of the inner portion 16 and can be used to couple one or more components of hardware designed to provide functionality, such as a locking mechanism to the gun vault 10. A plurality of sidewalls 36, 38, 40 and 42 extend downwardly away from the surface 32 and interact with portions of the gun vault bottom half 14 to provide an enclosure. Both the gun vault top half 12 and the gun vault bottom half 14 may be made of any materials known to one of skill in the art, including plastics, metals, such as steel, or combinations thereof.
The gun vault bottom half 14 comprises a first surface 44 which defines the outer bottom surface of the gun vault 10 and a second surface 46 which defines part of the boundary of the inner portion 16 and can be used to couple one or more components of hardware designed to provide functionality, such as a locking mechanism to the gun vault 10. A plurality of sidewalls 48, 50, 52, and 54 extend upwardly away from the surface 46 when the bottom half first surface 44 is resting on a surface such as a floor or table. A left bottom half extension 56 and right bottom half extension 58, see
Referring to
Referring to
Secured to portions of the gun vault bottom half second surface 46 is one or more elongated handle brackets 80, see
One end 94 of the walls 88 and 90 contains an angled or curved surface 96, which corresponds to an angled, or curved surface 96 associated with the raised surface 92. Sidewall 88 contains a plurality of tabs 98 which are sized and shaped to engage with a plurality of slots 100, see
Opening 106, seen on
The gun vault 10 preferably contains a locking assembly 120, see
Referring to
Each of the slides 138, 140, and 142 are held in by guide bracket 166 and U-shaped bracket 168, see
Finally, to prevent the firearm from moving within the internal area 16, the gun vault 10 may further include gun securing member. The gun securing member may include a band or bracket to lock the gun in place. Alternatively or in addition to, the gun vault 10 may include an insert, such as a foam material insert 174, see
Referring to
All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention, which are obvious to those skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A gun vault comprising:
- a top member, including a top plate and a plurality of side surfaces to define an interior cavity;
- a bottom member, said bottom member including a top plate and a plurality of side surfaces to define an interior cavity, said top member and said bottom member being hingedly connected along one side for movement between an open position and a closed position;
- a lock assembly for selectively securing said top member to said bottom member;
- a handle member secured to either said top member or said bottom member whereby said gun vault and any contents within said interior cavity may be carried by grasping said handle member;
- said combined interior cavity of said top member and said bottom member being sized for containing a gun.
2. The gun vault of claim 1 wherein said hinge is a concealed hinge, whereby no portion of said concealed hinge is visible from outside said gun vault while said gun vault is in a closed position.
3. The gun vault of claim 2 wherein said concealed hinge includes a first hinge plate secured to an interior surface of said top member, a second hinge plate secured to an interior surface of said bottom member, one of said first or said second hinge plates including a curved portion, said curved portion extending away from said interior surface to create a concave area, said concave area sized to traverse around a perimeter surface of said top or said bottom member during opening of said gun vault.
4. The gun vault of claim 2 wherein at least one extension member is secured to an inner surface of said plurality of side surfaces of either said top member or said bottom member, said at least one extension member extending above the perimeter of said plurality of side surfaces, said at least one extension member sized to extend into the opposite of said top or said bottom member to provide overlapping engagement while said gun vault is in a closed position.
5. The gun vault of claim 4 including at least two of said extension members, whereby each said extension member extends partially around said perimeter of said inner surface of said plurality of side surfaces.
6. The gun vault of claim 1 wherein a portion of said handle is disengageable from said gun vault and reattachable to said gun vault, whereby said handle may be secured around a fixed object.
7. The gun vault of claim 6 wherein said handle includes a first elongated member, a second elongated member, said first elongated member oriented generally parallel to said second elongated member and connected with a base member to form U-shaped handle, said first and said second members securable to said top or said bottom member, said base member defining a hand grip.
8. The gun vault of claim 7 wherein said first and said second elongated members slidably engage said top or said bottom member for securement thereto.
9. The gun vault of claim 8 wherein each of said first and said second elongated members includes a plurality of apertures for variable positioning with respect to said top or said bottom member.
10. The gun vault of claim 9 wherein said bottom member includes an opening for each of said first and said second elongated members, whereby a portion of each of said first and said second members is inserted into said interior cavity for securement to said bottom member.
11. The gun vault of claim 10 wherein openings are separated by a raised lip, said raised lip including a surface shaped similarly to an inner surface of said base member, whereby said handle may assume a substantially flush orientation with a bottom surface of said bottom portion.
12. The gun vault of claim 10 wherein an inner surface of said bottom member includes a pair of elongated handle brackets secured thereto, a first end of each said elongated handle bracket aligned with one of said openings for said first and said second elongated members, each said elongated handle bracket being constructed and arranged to form an inner channel for covering said first and said second elongated members when inserted into said bottom member.
13. The gun vault of claim 12 including at least one locking member for securing said handle member in a desired position, said locking member extending through at least one of said elongated handle brackets and at least one of said apertures through said first and said second elongated member.
14. The gun vault of claim 13 wherein said at least one locking member is removable and replaceable, whereby the locked position of said handle may be adjusted.
15. The gun vault of claim 14 wherein said at least one locking member is a spring pin assembly.
16. The gun vault of claim 15 including a spring pin assembly for each of said first and said second elongated members.
17. The gun vault of claim 1 wherein said locking assembly includes a cam member having at least one slide channel for causing movement of at least one locking member during rotation thereof.
18. The gun vault of claim 17 wherein said cam member includes two said slide channels each said slide channel cooperating with a separate locking member for causing movement of each said locking member.
19. The gun vault of claim 17 wherein said cam member includes three said slide channels each said slide channel cooperating with a separate locking member for causing movement of each said locking member.
20. The gun vault of claim 7 wherein said base member is flexible.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 7, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 9, 2015
Inventors: David Carson (Stuart, FL), Thomas Delattre (Stuart, FL)
Application Number: 14/454,470