Abstract:
A secure firearm holder ( 10 ) includes an outwardly swinging hinged plate ( 14 ) that is hinged to a holder base ( 12 ) with a gun ( 44 ) mounted at a side of the plate in a ready-to-use orientation when the plate swings outwardly. In a preferred embodiment, a bore shaft ( 36 ) is mounted on the hinged plate, the bore shaft extending into the firearm. When the plate is in a first, closed, position, the holder base prevents the gun from being removed from the bore shaft, but when a motivating member ( 52 ) rotates the plate to a second position, the gun can be easily and quickly removed from the bore shaft from a ready-to-use orientation. The motivating member biases the lid toward the second position but is held closed in the first position by a latch ( 50 ), which latch is remotely releasable. A locking mechanism has three positions: a totally-locked position (B) for locking the latch ( 50 ) against remote release of the lid; an active position (A) for allowing remote release of the lid; and a manual-release position (C) for releasing the lid manually.

Description:
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) on Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/442,914, which was filed on Jan. 28, 2003 and is herein incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to the art of weapon holders, and more specifically to secure firearm safes or holders. 
   In recent years a great deal of emphasis has been placed upon preventing unauthorized and improper use of firearms. Quite often such efforts have been directed toward placing impediments to accessing firearms, such as locking firearms in holders, or safes. However, a problem with placing impediments on the use of firearms is that the impediments often hinder authorized users from having immediate access to their weapons. In this regard, a number of US patents describe handgun storage cases, gun locks, gun safes and the like for storing handguns, a few of these being: U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,342 to Prinz; U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,175 to Costello; U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,086 to MacTaggart; U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,021 to Satina; U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,584 to Brunoski et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,589 to Cordero; U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,941 to Zocco; U.S. Pat. 6,405,861 to Siler et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. D426,059 to Siler et al. 
   The devices described in these patents have a number of disadvantages; however, a common disadvantage of all of them is that they do not provide sufficiently quick and ready access to firearms for authorized users. 
   Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a secure firearm holder that provides ready and immediate access of firearms to authorized users but yet that maintains the firearms secure against use by unauthorized users. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a firearm holder that is relatively uncomplicated and inexpensive to both manufacture and use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to principles of this invention, a secure firearm holder includes an outwardly swinging hinged plate that is hinged to a holder base, with a firearm mounted on the plate in a ready-to-use orientation when the plate swings outwardly. 
   For example, according one mode of operation of a preferred embodiment, the secure firearm holder is oriented so that the hinged plate swings upwardly with a top edge of the gun being immediately adjacent a bottom side of the hinged plate and a bottom edge of the gun directed, downwardly, away from the plate. 
   According to a preferred embodiment, a bore shaft is mounted on the hinged plate, with the bore shaft extending into the firearm. Thus, the firearm is mounted on the plate by the bore shaft. When the plate is in a first, closed, position, the holder base prevents the gun from being removed from the bore shaft, but when a motivating member rotates the plate about the hinge to a second position, the gun can be easily and quickly removed from the bore shaft in the ready-to-use orientation. 
   The holder base can be a box and the plate can be a lid of the box, with the lid&#39;s first position being closed on the box. In this case, the bore shaft extends parallel to the lid, but spaced therefrom, with a free end of the bore shaft extending away from a hinge attaching the lid to the box. The motivating member biases the lid toward the second position but the lid is held closed in the first position by a latch, which latch is remotely releasable. A locking mechanism has three positions: a totally-locked position for locking the latch against remote release of the lid; an active position for allowing remote release of the lid; and a manual-release position for releasing the lid manually. A remote actuator is included for unlocking the latch when the locking mechanism is in the active position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained and described in more detail below using embodiments shown in the drawings. The described and drawn features, in other embodiments of the invention, can be used individually or in preferred combinations. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on illustrating principles of the invention in a clear manner. 
       FIG. 1  is a cutaway perspective view of one embodiment of a firearm holder of this invention, including a remote control, with a handgun mounted on the firearm holder, but with some of the elements being omitted for purposes of illustration; 
       FIG. 1A  is a segmented isometric view of a modified, one-nut, mounting of an L-shaped bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmented, cutaway, side view of a lid of the firearm holder of  FIG. 1  mounted on a box by a hinge; 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the firearm holder of  FIG. 1  showing operation of a locking mechanism thereof; 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmented, cutaway, detail of the locking mechanism of  FIG. 3  depicting different locking positions thereof; 
       FIG. 5  is a top fragmented cross-sectional view taken on line V—V in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a simplified cross-sectional view taken on line VI—VI in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , but with alternate-embodiments of a number of elements of this invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a segmented cross-sectional view taken on line VII—VIII in  FIG. 7 ; and 
       FIG. 9  is a segmented cross-sectional view taken on line IX—IX in FIG.  7 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A firearm holder  10  includes a holder base  12  with associated structure and a plate  14  that is hingedly attached to the holder base  12 . In the embodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings, the holder base  12  is a box  12  and the plate  14  is a lid  14  for covering an opening  16  in the box  12 . The plate, or lid,  14  has a semicircular hinge member  18  (shown in  FIG. 2  but omitted in  FIG. 1  for purposes of illustration) that is rigidly attached to an underside of the lid  14  at a first end portion  20  of the lid, and is pivotally attached at  22  to an underside of a first top member  24  of the box  12 . Thus, the lid  14  can hinge on the box  12  between a first, closed, position, as depicted in  FIG. 2 , and a second, open, position as depicted in FIG.  1 . 
   The plate, or lid,  14  has threaded studs  26  welded to the underside thereof on which nuts  28  hold an L-shaped bracket  30  to the lid  14 , but spaced therefrom by spacers  32 . An attached leg  33  of the bracket  30  has attachment slots (or it could be one slot) extending longitudinally therealong, through which the threaded studs  26  extend so that the nuts  28  can be loosened and the position of the bracket  30  can be adjusted longitudinally along the plate  14 . Of course, the nuts are again tightened once the bracket  30  is at a proper location.  FIG. 1A  depicts an alternate embodiment for mounting and adjusting a similar, but slightly modified, L-shaped bracket  30   a  with only one threaded stud  26  and nut  28 , which employs a stabilizing bracket  31 . In any event, a free-end leg  34  of the bracket  30  extends substantially perpendicularly away from the lid  14  and has a bore shaft  36  mounted thereon by nuts  38 . In this regard, the bore shaft  36  is formed of a core threaded metallic shaft, with uncovered threads at the right end thereof (as depicted in  FIG. 2 ) having the mounting nuts  38  screwed thereon. However, to the left of the nuts  38 , the threaded shaft is covered with Teflon  40  and has a resilient spacer  42  immediately to the left of the left mounting nut  38 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a firearm, such as a handgun  44 , can be mounted on the bore shaft  36  by extending the bore shaft  36  into the firearm&#39;s bore. The Teflon protects the bore. A second end portion  46  of the lid  14  has a catch.  48  mounted on an underside thereof for receiving latches  50  of a latching mechanism of the box  12 . 
   Before describing the latching mechanism of the box  12 , it is noted that the lid  14  is biased to the second, open, position, depicted in  FIG. 1 , by an expanding gas shock  52  that is mounted between a floor  54  of the box  12  and a bracket  56  mounted on the underside of the lid  14 . In this regard, the bracket  56  has a series of apertures therein to which the gas shock can be attached, with an attachment aperture being chosen for providing a correct mechanical advantage and position for achieving a desired bias toward the second, open, position depicted in FIG.  1 . 
   Turning now to the latching mechanism of the box  12 , this includes a U-shaped rocker  58  having the latches  50  at outer tips of its arms and being rotatably attached to the box  12  by pins  60  welded respectively to each of two opposite inside side surfaces of the box  12 . A bias spring  62  is connected between the rocker  58  and the box  12  for biasing the rocker  58  to rotate to a latching position as shown in  FIG. 2. A  solenoid  64  is coupled to the rocker  58  by an unlocking linkage  66 , and this solenoid  64  can be energized by a battery pack  72  in response to a receiver  68  receiving a signal from a hand remote  70 . The battery pack  72  includes a charger so that the battery pack  72  can be charged via a plug-in transformer  74 . In the depicted embodiment, the receiver  68  and the battery pack with charger  72  are mounted as a unit on a plate  76  that is attached to the inside surface of the box  12  by threaded pins welded to the box and nuts that engage the pins. In this manner, the receiver  68  and the battery pack  72  can be easily removed from and mounted in the box  12  so that the receiver/battery pack unit can be assembled and mounted as a separate unitary packet. In one embodiment, the solenoid  64  is attached to the bottom of the box  12 , but in the depicted embodiment it is also mounted on the plate  76  to become part of that unit. 
   A padded cradle  78  is mounted in the box  12  for receiving a handle  79  of the handgun  44 . The padded cradle  78 , as seen in  FIG. 6 , is held in position by slats  80  that engage slots  82  at an underside surface of a second top member  84  (see FIG.  6 ). A stop  86  welded to the underside of the second top member  84  helps to form these slots  82  and also serves to prevent the lid  14  from falling into the opening  16  when it is in the first, closed, position. That is, when the lid  14  is in the first, closed, position, it lies against the stop  86 . 
   Describing now a lock mechanism  88 , a locking latch  90  thereof can be rotated on an end wall  89  of the box  12  by a removable key  92  to three different positions as shown in FIG.  4 . In a first, active, position A, the locking latch  90  does not impinge on anything; thus, it allows the bias spring  62  to move the rocker  58  to a position for engaging the latches  50  with the lid catch  48 . However, in this, active, position A, the solenoid  64  can overcome the bias spring  62  upon activation of the remote  70  to unlock the lid  14  and allow the expanding gas shock  52  to open the lid  14 . 
   Should the locking latch  90  be rotated by the removable key  92  to a totally-locked position B, it engages a catch flange  94  affixed to the rocker  58  and will therefore not allow the rocker  58  to be moved to a lid releasing position by the solenoid  64 . Thus, when the locking latch is in the totally locked position B, the lid  14  cannot be opened. 
   On the other hand, when the locking latch  90  is moved to the manually-unlocking position C, it impinges on an inclined cam  96  affixed on a lower end of the rocker  58  and thereby manually causes the rocker  58  to pivot against the pull of the bias spring  62  until the rocker latches  50  release the lid catch  48 . Thus, by rotating the removable key  92  to cause the locking latch  90  to move to the position C, one can manually open the lid  14 . 
   Describing now operation of the firearm holder  10 , its normal mode of operation is carried out when the locking latch  90  is in the, active position A where it impinges nothing. This allows remote operation of the firearm holder. In this regard, in order to place the handgun  44  into the firearm holder  10 , an authorized person manipulates the hand remote  70  to cause a signal  96  that is picked up by an antenna  98  of the receiver  68 . The receiver  68 , in turn, energizes the solenoid  64  from the battery pack  72  to pull the bottom end of the rocker  58  toward the solenoid  64  by overcoming the bias spring  62 . This, of course, pivots the rocker  58  so that the rocker latches  50  release the lid catch  48  and the expanding gas shock  52  automatically rotates the lid  14  about the pivotal attachment  22  of the semicircular hinge member  18 . Thus, the lid  14  moves to the position shown in FIG.  1 . The handgun  44  is then telescoped onto the bore shaft  36 , with the bore shaft  36  extending into the bore of the handgun  44 . The lid  14  is then manually rotated downwardly until the top surface of the rocker latches  50  engage the lid catch  48  to thereby rotate the rocker in a counter clock-wise direction (as seen in  FIG. 1 ) through cam action of the latches  50  with the catch  48 . Once the latches  50  can enter a catch cavity  100  of the catch  48  they do so automatically under force of the bias spring  62 . 
   The normal manner of thereafter gaining access to the handgun is to manipulate the hand remote  70 , causing the signal  96  which is picked up by the receiver  68  that in turn energizes the solenoid  64  to rotate the rocker  58  and release the latches  50 . Again, the expanding gas shock  52  rotates the lid  14  to the open position shown in FIG.  1  and the handle of the handgun  44  is totally free and oriented to be gripped by a user who easily pulls the handgun from the bore shaft  36 . 
   Should the authorized user desire that the firearm holder  10  not be accessible with the hand remote  70 , he rotates the lock mechanism  88  to the totally-locked position B, which prevents the rocker  58  from being rotated by the solenoid  64 . 
   Finally, should the authorized user desire to open the firearm holder manually, such as when the battery pack  72  is dead or the hand remote  70  is lost, he rotates the lock mechanism  88  to the manually-unlocking position C. 
   It is noted that since, under normal use, the lid  14  is automatically operated by the remote  70 , the user can open the lid  14  before he arrives at the firearm holder  10  and the handgun  44  will already be available for him to grip when he arrives. When the lid  14  is in the first, or closed, position, the handle of the handgun is held snuggly in the padded cradle  78  so that it is fully stabilized within the box  12 , should the box be rotated or turned upside down. 
   In this respect, the box  12  is provided with a number of mounting holes  102  both in its bottoms and on its sides. In this regard, in addition to the box being mounted with the lid  14  opening upwardly as shown in  FIG. 1 , it can also be mounted on its side, below a counter or other surface. When the box  12  is mounted on its side, and the lid  14  moves to the second, open, position, the handgun  44  is automatically rotated by gravity to a vertical position on the bore shaft  36 , again, so that it can be easily gripped by a user. 
   The embodiment depicted in the drawings, in which the holder base  12  is vertical and the plate  14  opens upwardly with an upper edge  104  of the gun  44  being immediately adjacent the plate  14  and a lower edge  106  of the gun directed away from the plate  14  has distinct advantages. In this mode, the handgun is clearly visible and both sides of the gun are free to be gripped. 
   Although the firearm holder  12  has its own power source in the form of the battery pack to make it portable, it is normally left plugged in to keep the battery charged. The firearm holder of this invention can be used in a home, on vehicles, on water vessels as well as in other places. 
   It is beneficial that the firearm holder of this invention can be opened before a user arrives at the firearm holder. But it is also beneficial that, when necessary, it can be totally locked so that the remote  70  cannot open it, for safety reasons. 
   In the drawings, the firearm holder is shown used with a  44  pistol. However, it could be made in various shapes and sizes to be used with various other firearms, including rifles. In the depicted model, the firearm holder has a length of approximately 14-{fraction (1/2 )}inches, a height of approximate 8 inches and a width of approximately 4 inches. The firearm holder of this invention is so safe that it can be used to store a loaded gun. Further, the box has enough room in it for holding additional magazines. Of course, the dimensions can be changed to fit firearms with which the firearm holder is to be used. 
   It is beneficial that the firearm holder of this invention presents a gun to a user in a safe manner oriented and positioned exactly where the user can easily grip it, but facing away from the user for added safety. 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. 
   For example, there could be a light in the box  12  that automatically turns on when the lid  14  opens. 
   Also, it is desirable that the box be bolted down so that it cannot be carried away with a firearm inside. In this respect, the bolts are installed from inside the box  12  through the mounting holes  102  so when the lid  14  is latched closed the bolts cannot be accessed. 
   Similarly, it is noted that the semicircular hinge member  18  is particularly designed to be totally inside the box  12  so that an unauthorized person cannot remove the lid by tampering with the hinge. 
   Along the same lines, it would be possible to place a motion sensor in or on the box, which would sound an alarm if an unauthorized person tries to move the box. 
   The firearm holder of this invention can be adapted to fit almost any firearm, including a rifle, and it can be in the form of a stand, rather than a box. 
   When a box is used, it is desirable that the box be fabricated to an appropriate degree of strength. Heavy steel construction is preferable, such as {fraction (3/16)}″ steel for the box and ¼″ steel for the lid. The lid could also be {fraction (3/16)}″. Stainless steel can be used for many parts. 
   The remote  70  could be on a user&#39;s watchband, key chain, necklace, clothing, etc. 
   The box can be dimensioned for allowing a gun with an attached flashlight on the muzzle to be mounted therein. 
   A resinous plastic other than Teflon can cover the bore shaft. 
     FIGS. 7-9  depict an alternate embodiment of the invention in which lid catches  48   a  of a lid  14   a  are engaged by latches  50   a  and  50   b  of a long lever  108  and a short lever  110 . The long and short levers  108  and  110  respectively rotate about pivot pins  112  and  114  affixed to the end wall  89   a  of the box  12   a  and are interconnected by a lever link  116 . The long and short levers  108  and  110  are biased to the latching position depicted in  FIG. 7  by a tensioned spring  118  in which they hold the lid  14   a  in the closed position. However, the latches  50   a  and  b  of the long and short levers  108  and  110  can be caused to move away from one another, and thereby to release the lid catches  48   a  and  b , by a solenoid (the solenoid  64  of  FIG. 1 , for example) pulling on the unlocking linkage  66  to rotate a right-angle lever  120  about a pivot pin  122  and thereby rotate the long lever  108  via a link  124  in a counter-clockwise direction. The long lever  108 , in turn, rotates the short lever  110  in a clockwise direction via the lever link  116  so that the latches  50   a  and  b  release the lid catches  48   a  and  b.    
   A lock mechanism  88   a  is shown in the active position in which a locking latch  90   a  does not engage either of the long and short levers  108  and  110  so that they can be activated by a remote as described above. The lock mechanism can be moved to a totally-locked position by rotating the locking latch with a removable key (such as key  88 ) so that its notch  124  engages a protrusion  126  on the short lever  110  to thereby hold the long and short levers  108  and  110  in the latching position so that the remote cannot be used to open the lid  14   a . Finally, the lock mechanism can be moved to a manually unlocking position in which a nose  128  of the locking latch  90   a  impinges on a protrusion  130  on the long lever  108  to manually force the latches  50   a  and  b  apart. Thus, the lid  14   a  can be unlatched manually with the removable key should the battery become shorted, for example. 
   In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9 , the padded cradle  78  of the  FIGS. 1-6  embodiment is replaced by a spring-metal, gun-butt tensioner  78   a  that is attached to the end wall  89   a . The gun-butt tensioner  78   a  applies pressure on a handle of a handgun mounted as shown in  FIG. 1  to ensure that the gun stays on the bore shaft  36  and does not prevent the lid  14   a  from opening. It is significant that the tensioner  78   a  is an upwardly angled leaf spring because with this structure it encourages the gun to move upwardly with the lid  14   a . 
   The embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9  has an additional feature that prevents sticking of the lid  14   a  when it is opened by the expanding gas shock  52 . Namely, outer edges  132  of the lid  14   a  are beveled as are mating surfaces  134  of the box  12   a . Such beveling eliminates friction between the lid  14   a  and the box  12   a , and thereby prevents the lid from sticking. 
   Otherwise, the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9  function in the same manner as described above for the  FIGS. 1-6  embodiment. 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.