Abstract:
A casing for protecting firearms from the elements while allowing the user to access firearm sight and trigger. Although the firearm is at all times fully enclosed in the cover, the firearm may be aimed and discharged without having to remove the firearm from its protective casing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally related to the art of firearm casings. More particularly, this invention is related to a protective cover for a firearm which permits the firearm to be sighted and discharged while remaining protected from the elements. 
     There are various apparatuses which can be employed to encase a firearm. These implements are generally unsatisfactory as they do not permit use of a firearm sight while the firearm is enclosed in the casing. Various gun casings and covers and their method of construction are known and found in the prior art. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,166 to Pedro shows a molded plastic case for protecting firearms. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,247 to Gantress discloses a cover for protecting a rifle from the elements while permitting the firearm, enclosed in the cover, to be fired. However, Gantress&#39;s apparatus does not permit use of a sight while the rifle is enclosed in the cover. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,456 to Schauer shows a gun case for protecting a rifle from the elements while being carried in the field. Schauer&#39;s apparatus requires the firearm to be removed from the case before discharging the rifle. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,371 to Stackhouse shows a storable gun case small enough to fit into a person&#39;s shirt pocket. The Stackhouse case has openings permitting the triggering of a gun while in the case, however, it does not permit the use of the sight while so encased. 
     The prior art of the inventor, U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,344 to Jones, et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a cover for protecting a rifle from the elements allowing both the firing of the gun and the use of the sight while enclosed in the cover. 
     However, while devices such as those described above provide protection for firearms, there are still problems associated with the use of firearms which are not addressed. For example, none of the devices described above provides for the protection of the sight from the elements, i.e. rain, snow, or direct sun, while the sight is in use. Thus, it is seen that there is still room for improvement in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a means for protecting a firearm from the elements while accessing the sight in aiming and discharging the firearm. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide such protection adaptable to various kinds and sizes of firearm telescopic sights. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide such protection which is easily portable. 
     It is yet a further object of the invention to protect the sight from the elements while accessing the sight. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide sighting means on the gun cover to assist in aiming the gun accurately. 
     These and other objects of this invention are provided by a casing for protecting a firearm from the elements, comprising: a cover for enclosing a firearm protecting it from the elements; a sight aperture defined by said cover for allowing a sight to project from said cover; and a flap defined by said cover and folded over said sight aperture, wherein said flap comprises a semi-rigid member. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view illustrating a firearm, in phantom, encased within the cover. 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of firearm cover illustrating accessibility of the sight and the flap providing protection for the sight during use of the firearm. 
     FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the firearm cover illustrating position of the sighting bead on the cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with this invention, it has been found that a firearm cover can be provided to enclose and protect a firearm from the elements while enabling the user to access the firearm sight, trigger and carrying strap. The protective cover, which is preferably in the shape of a firearm, maintains the rifle in a state of readiness and permits the rifle to be discharged while enclosed in the cover. The cover may, however, be in any shape which could accommodate a firearm. A flap portion of the cover is constructed of a semi-rigid material such that when in an open position, the flap forms a roof-like structure over the gun sight to protect it from the elements. The cover may also be provided with a sighting bead incorporated at the end of the barrel portion of the protective cover to aid in aiming. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate cover 10, generally, having opposing panels 11 and 12. Cover 10 may be fabricated from a suitable water-resistant material, which is preferably camouflaged. Panels 11 and 12 may be fabricated from any number of water-impermeable materials such as GORTEX® fabric, vinyl or sturdy canvas treated with a water repellant finish. A firearm 50 is enclosed in cover 10. The firearm 50 includes a stock 51 having a butt 53. A sight 52 is mounted upon the firearm 50. Cover 10 has upper longitudinal edge 20 having sight opening 32 formed therein for accessing sight 52. Cover 10 also has lower longitudinal edge 22 which is selectively sealed along portions of panels 11 and 12 to form access opening 55 which permits insertion of a firearm. Once a firearm is inserted into cover 10, the unsealed portions of lower longitudinal edge 22 permit access and use of the rifle&#39;s trigger and attached carrying strap, if any. 
     Contiguous with both upper longitudinal edge 20 and lower longitudinal edge 22 is stock end 26 which may be formed by joining the respective edges of panels 11 and 12. Terminal aperture 24, opposite stock end 26, permits a firearm to be discharged while encased in cover 10. Terminal aperture 24 may be selectively closed around the barrel of firearm 50 by a fourth fastener 99, such as a hook and loop fastener. 
     FIG. 2 shows extension of sight 52 from sight aperture 32. An extended portion of panel 12, or a third panel which may be detachable, forms flap 30. FIG. 2 illustrates flap 30 in an open position. Flap 30 comprises a semi-rigid member 40 enclosed in the water resistant material of the cover 10 and formed preferably in an arching configuration over the sight aperture. The semi-rigid member 40 may comprise a flexible plastic or other suitable material. When the flap 30 is in an open position, the semi-rigid member 40 is positioned over sight 52 in an arching manner to provide protection for the sight from the elements, or from the glare of the sun, thus providing the user an enhanced line of sight. In this way, flap 30 forms a roof-like structure over sight 52 when in an open position. In addition, the flap 30 comprises a forward edge 42 and a back edge 46 which extend to cover the sight. The forward edge 42 of the flap 30 extends beyond the sight front 44 thus protecting the sight from becoming obscured by elements such as rain, snow or debris that might fall from the surrounding environment. The forward edge 42 may also provide some shading over the sight in times of bright sunlight. The flap 30 is fastened to cover 10 by fastener 16, which is preferably a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro®, when in a closed position. Other fastening methods such as zippers, buttons and snaps may be employed. 
     In FIG. 3, cover 10 may likewise be provided with a sighting bead 60 at the portion of the cover 10 at the terminal aperture 24. This sighting bead 60 is positioned at the terminal aperture 24 to enhance the user&#39;s aim and may comprise a metal, plastic, a combination of metal and plastic, or any suitable material. The sighting bead 60 may be used with guns equipped with sights and, more particularly, with guns with no sights or with removable sights. Magnets may also be used in conjunction with the cover 10 in order to accommodate, for example, a fiber optic sighting device on the market which uses magnets to affix to the gun. 
     While not particularly shown in the drawings, it is envisioned that cover may contain pockets and elastic bands to hold small objects such as cartridges and bullets. Also, cover 10 may have a strap to permit firearm 50 enclosed in cover 10 to be carried in the field. Furthermore, cover 10 may be easily folded and carried in the field in an accompanying case (not shown) preferable made of the same water resistant material, thus making the cover accessible and storable. 
     It is thus seen that in accordance with this invention a casing apparatus is provided which permits the enclosed firearm to be aimed utilizing a sight protected by a flap, and discharged. As variations will become apparent to those of skill in the art from reading of the above description, such variations are embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.