Abstract:
A weapon wall mount is provided with the mount having a continuous base plate which matches the silhouette of a weapon. The continuous base plate has equidistantly spaced countersunk holes providing uniform attachment to a wall. The wall having wall studs spaced at least between a range of 12 inches to 24 inches on center. The base plate has a transversely aligned support which provides longitudinal and vertical support to the weapon. In addition the base plate has a transversely aligned locking shaft to receive a lock. When mounted, the weapon restricts access to the equidistantly spaced countersunk holes so that the mount and weapon cannot be easily removed from the wall. This mount also provides the appearance of the weapon securely fastened and mounted to the wall without the noticeable visual appearance of any support.

Description:
This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 61/304,422, filed Feb. 13, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,637,180 discloses a wall mount device for guns where the device is for mounting and locking a gun into place on a wall. The device consists of essentially two parts, a cylindrical member having a base and means associated with the base for affixing the cylindrical member to the wall, plus a latch member adapted to be received within the cylindrical member. The device projects through the trigger guard of the gun such that the gun rests upon the cylindrical member itself. A head at the outer end of the latch member, larger than the trigger guard, prevents removal of the gun. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,449 discloses a safety device for firearms which has a trigger and trigger guard. The firearm safety device includes a first and second assembly adapted to be secured to the firearm on opposite sides of the trigger guard to prevent access to an actuation of the trigger. The firearm safety device includes a lip disposed on at least one of the first and second assemblies for overlapping the other assembly when the safety device is secured to the firearm. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,453 discloses a rack for displaying and securing guns which has a bar secured to a wall and a number of gun supports attached to the bar. When guns are placed on a support, the fastening, securing the bar to the wall and the fastenings attaching the gun supports to the bar are hidden. A locking pin passes through the trigger guard of each gun and is locked in a recess in the base. Common locking mechanisms can lock all the pins on one rack. 
     Referring to column 1 around line 64 “a steel plate is securely bolted to the wall using raw bolts or similar methods. A cover which has a recess on its rear face so that it will fit over the plate is secured to the plate by means of a number of counter sunk head set screws passed through the cover and into the plate. The base is then fixed to the wall and the main fixing screws are concealed by the cover. Each gun support platform is attached to the cover by means of the set screws. This is the only attachment to each platform and therefore by slightly slackening the screw the platform can be pivoted to alter the alignment of the barrels of the gun resting on the support. When the gun is in place, the set screws are concealed by the central part of the gun so that it can not be unscrewed. A locking pin has a head where the shank of the pin passes through the trigger guard of the gun but the head is so large that it would not pass through the guard and the guard will not be able to pass back over it.” 
     Furthermore in column 2 around line 49 “clearly, the rack can accommodate any number of guns as desired. The platform has a part which extends on the other side of the base. This part prevents a screwdriver from being used to unscrew the screws securing the trigger guard. If this was not done, it would be possible to remove these two screws and then to wrench the gun from its place.” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,966 discloses a device for locking and mounting a firearm with a base and two upstanding sidewalls, each sidewall defining a groove adjacent to the floor. The device also has a first member pivotably mounted between the two sidewalls, a second member slidably in the grooves and adapted to couple with the first member to lock the firearm between two protruded parts of the firearm, a lock pin for locking the second member and a lock for locking the lock pin. The floor has a least one through hole each for the passage of the fastener. 
     As can be seen in column 2 around line 13 “the firearm is supported and locked by a locking device and supported by a barrel or fore end supporting device. The locking device has a base, a pivotable member, a slideable member, a lock pin, (a deadbolt), and a lock operable by a key. The locking device locks the firearm between the butt stock and the trigger housing of the firearm. The slideable member and the pivotable member couple with each other to deny passage of the butt stock and the trigger housing of the firearm and deny any movement of the firearm away from the locking device.” 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,815 discloses an apparatus and method for securely mounting a firearm to a support structure such as a motor vehicle and includes a base plate defining a generally plainer mounting surface, a locking pin, a guide pin, and a plurality of mounting posts extending away from the mounting surface in orthogonal relation thereto. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,972 discloses a gun rack for storing and displaying a plurality of firearms. The gun rack includes a substantially rectilinear frame having a number of laterally spaced uprights and a number of vertically spaced crossbars spanning between the up rights. The frame is attached to a vertical mounting surface such as wall. A relatively flat panel member is adapted to attach to the frame, to substantially cover the frame and prevent the frame from being detached from the mounting surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,174 discloses a combination wall mount/portable gun lock assembly which has a U-shaped locking bar and a pair of laterally spaced leg members. One leg member is inserted into the open end of the gun barrel until it is in the firing chamber. The other leg member has a transversely extending leg portion formed on its end that passes through the trigger guard aperture when the locking bar is installed on the gun. 
     A combination lock is then inserted over the free end of the transversely extending leg portion and pressed tightly against the trigger guard. The locking bar prevents the chambering of a round in the firing chamber of the gun. The U-shaped locking bar can be passed through transversely aligned apertures in the wall mount unit when it is desired to mount the gun on a wall. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,996 discloses a combination security and display device for firearms which uses a pair of complementary casings that can be locked into a closed position whereby the casing substantially surrounds to prevent access to the operational portions of the firearm. 
     US patent application 2003/0102273 discloses a mounting apparatus which includes a base having a first and second end with a first support member positioned on the first end of the base and a second support member positioned on the second base. A locking bar is pivotably secured at one end to the second support member and has an opposite end lock. The post engages a switch of the device, for example a firearm, to prevent activation of the firearm. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation perspective view of the weapon wall mount and firearm; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of the weapon wall mount and firearm; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of the fire arm mounted on the wall mount without the locking mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed perspective view of the fire arm mounted on the wall mount secured by the locking mechanism; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic flowchart of the installation method; 
         FIG. 6  is a overall perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the weapon wall mount apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is an overall perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the weapon wall mount apparatus holding a compound bow. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The general concept is to provide a way for weapon owners such as firearm owners to display their firearms or compound bows and the like on the wall and provide a deterrent for removing the weapons from the wall display location. Accordingly, a weapon wall mount and locking apparatus  10  as seen in  FIG. 1  is constructed of a base plate  12  where the base plate is cut to match the silhouette of the weapon in this case a firearm  32 . The base plate itself may be constructed of iron, steel, fiberglass, composites, carbon fiber, or other material which would provide for rigid support of the weapon. The present embodiment utilizes a steel base plate and is encased with an outer covering layer to prevent scratching of the weapon. The outer covering can be any of a number of materials such as a powder coating, rubber coating, silicone coating, or other non abrasive material. 
     In this particular embodiment, the firearm  32  is a shotgun or rifle, and the base plate  12  has a barrel portion  28  and a stock portion  30 . While the present embodiment of the weapon mount  10  is constructed in the silhouette of a rifle or shotgun, the fire mount  10  can be constructed to match any other type of weapon currently available or in the future. By way of example, the wall mount  10  profile may be for a handgun, a tommy gun, a machine gun, a rifle, a compound bow, or any other weapon, with some common elements being that the weapons may have a trigger guard, or a handle/stock portion, or a barrel upon which the weapon rests on the seating support and utilize the locking mechanism of the weapon wall mount  10 . 
     In order to attach the wall mount  10  to the wall, a plurality of counter sunk holes  14  are provided at a 2″ on-center longitudinal spacing for wall stud mounting  19  to the wall. These counter sunk holes are arranged along the longitudinal axis  16  of the base plate  12 . The wall mount  10  is arranged about an axis system  18  which includes the previously mentioned longitudinal axis  16 , a transverse axis  22 , and a vertical axis  20 . The weapon wall mount  10  is covered with a scratch resistant material to prevent damage of the firearm  32  when placed on the wall mount  10 . In this particular embodiment, the scratch resistant material is a rubber coating which is laid on the outer surface of the wall mount  10 , and in other embodiments a powder coating is utilized. 
     In order to hold the mounted position of the weapon, the wall mount  10  has a forward support  24  and a rear support  26 . The supports are provided as, in this particular embodiment, transversely aligned approximately ¼″ diameter (min) bars which are welded or fixedly attached by similar means to the outer edge of the base plate silhouette. When the firearm  32  is mounted onto the base plate, the effect is of the firearm  32  essentially freely mounted to the wall with nearly no attachments showing of the underlying base plate. The base plate  12  is for the most part hidden behind the weapon, because the base plate profile has lesser outer dimensions than the weapon itself. Furthermore, because the base plate may be covered in a black powder coating, the coating creates the effect of a back shadow of the weapon placing more emphasis on the firearm than on the wall mount itself  10 . In order to prevent the firearm  32  from being removed from the wall mount  10 , a locking mechanism is provided in this embodiment through a trigger  38  to effectively lock the firearm onto the wall mounts  10 . 
     The mount  10  acts as a visual aid when choosing a location to mount the weapon on the wall. In other words, instead of using the valuable weapon itself as a guide for proper location on the wall, the weapon wall mount  10  having the same overall profile of the firearm  32  can be used to center and level the mounting of the weapon by acting as a template and enabling the user to get a general feel for how the weapon will be presented. Subsequently, when the weapon is placed on the wall mount  10 , it is automatically positioned in its proper location and no further adjustments are necessary. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the firearm  32  is shown in partial alignment with the weapon mount and locking apparatus  10 . A more detailed discussion of the weapon mount as it interacts with the rear support  26  and the trigger guard  48  of the firearm  32  will now be provided. As previously discussed, the transversely aligned rear support  26  is welded to the outside edge  27  of the base plate  12 . The rear support as well as the forward support may be placed anywhere along the outside edge  27  where they can provide adequate vertical support for the firearm  32 . While two supports are provided, it is easily conceived that more than two supports can be provided as required for any particular firearm design. It is also conceivable that a single support attached along the edge at a particular location to support the entire firearm may be provided. 
     The weapon mount  10  as seen in  FIG. 2  is presently shown with the locking mechanism  40  attached to the locking shaft  34 . In order to secure the firearm to the weapon mount  10 , the user will have to engage the locking keyhole  46  and remove the cylindrical housing  44  which also carries an outer flange  42 . Once removed, as can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the firearm can be seated onto the weapon mount  10  at the first seating location  60  on the rear support  26 , as well as the second seating location  61  (not shown) on the forward support  24  (not shown). The locking shaft  34  which is arranged along a locking shaft transversely aligned axis  58  is essentially located within the non-seating but locking location  62  somewhere within the center portion of the trigger guard  48 . The user can then place the cylindrical housing  44  of the locking mechanism  40  onto the locking shaft  34  where the outer diameter of the cylindrical housing  44  has a lesser diameter than the inner diameter of the trigger guard  48 . Also, the outer diameter or width of the outer flange  42  of the locking mechanism as attached to the top portion of the cylindrical housing  44  has a greater diameter than the inner diameter of the trigger guard  48 . This is so that once the user locks the locking mechanism  40  onto the locking shaft  34 , the firearm cannot be removed from the wall mount  10  without first removing the locking mechanism  40 . Still referring to  FIG. 4 , once the locking mechanism  40  is in place, the mounted firearm display assembly  70  is completed where the entire assembly is attached to the wall  72  or other vertical surface. 
     In addition, an alternative embodiment of the weapon wall mount utilizing a compound bow configuration  150  as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7  will now be provided. In this particular embodiment, the wall mount for bow configuration  150  includes a base plate  12  which is arranged to silhouette the bow handle of a compound bow. The base plate  12  includes an upper countersunk hole  152  as well as a lower countersunk hole  154  enabling the user to vertically align the wall mount with for example a single wall stud in the wall  72  for secure attachment. To provide for vertical and rotational resistance, a first upper support post  158  which is transversely aligned perpendicular to the base plate  12  extends out from the base plate to receive the locking mechanism  40 . A lower support post- 156  is also transversely aligned and perpendicular to the base plate for providing additional vertical and rotational support of the compound bow. Each support in this particular embodiment is constructed from ¼″ diameter steel rod. Alternative diameters may be utilized. In this particular embodiment, the locking mechanism  40  also includes a locking bar  160 . A locking bar  160  is L-shaped and extends radially from the cylindrical casing of the locking mechanism  40 . The non-radial portion of the locking bar which extends perpendicular to the radial portion in the transverse direction is configured to encompass the outer edge of the compound bow handle. A handle space  162  which ranges from between one and 4 inches is designed to allow the users to encompass the bow handle while not allowing the bow to be removed from the wall mount. In locking and unlocking the wall mounts, the user will move the locking mechanism in a transversely aligned axial translation to lock down the compound bow. While this particular embodiment utilizes a compound bow, other embodiments may utilize string bows and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the weapon wall mount with compound bow assembly  170  is shown where the locking mechanism  40  has encompassed the bow handle  174 . The bow handle itself is supported vertically by the lock bar  160  and the upper support post- 158  while in the bow handle  174  is rotationally supported by the lower support post- 156 . While the weapon wall mount  150  has three supports, the upper support post- 158 , the lower support post-one  156  and the locking bar  160 , additional supports may be provided about the perimeter edge of the base plate  12  to further secure and stabilize the weapon. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a detailed discussion of the installation method for an ornamental firearm on a vertical surface  100  will now be provided. At step  102 , a user will acquire a weapon wall mount for placement of the firearm or other weapon onto a vertical surface. The user will then at step  104  align a weapon wall mount  10  ( FIG. 1 ) in an ornamental position on the vertical surface. In other words, the user will utilize the weapon wall mount as a substitute for the firearm itself in determining the final ornamental arrangement or placement of the firearm on the surface itself. 
     At step  106 , once the user has decided on the particular location for the firearm to be mounted on the wall, the user will attach the weapon wall mount to the vertical surface. In doing so, the user will do one of the following. Determine the locations of at least a first stud spaced at approximately 16″ on-center within the wall itself, and then determine the location of at least a second stud spaced at approximately 16″ on-center. The user may then align the weapon wall mount&#39;s countersunk holes which, as previously discussed above, are longitudinally aligned along the top half portion of the wall mount  10  where the countersunk holes are spaced at approximately 2″ on-center. The user will align one of the holes to the first stud and one of the other plurality of holes to the second stud. The user then will utilize attachment means to secure the weapon wall mount through the countersunk holes to the first and second studs. The attachment means may be a wall screw, or other fastener mechanism. In the alternative, the user may utilize sheet rock anchors aligned with the countersunk holes and then utilize sheet rock anchor screws to attach the weapon wall mounts to the vertical surface. 
     Once the weapon wall mount is placed on the wall, the user can at step  108  place the firearm on the first and second weapon wall mount supports. The user can then lock the firearm onto the weapon wall mount at step  110  using the locking mechanism. In doing so, the user will attach the locking mechanism to the locking shaft at the trigger guard  48  and thereby prevent the firearm from being removed from the wall mount unless the user removes the locking mechanism first. Lastly, at step  112 , the firearm is presented on the vertical surface and appears to be mounted directly to the wall while being securely locked and mounted on the weapon wall mount  10  itself.