Abstract:
An intermediate attachment member may be configured to enable accessories for a safe (e.g., a gun safe, etc.) or another container (e.g., a cabinet, a locker, etc.) to be secured to an interior surface of a safe (e.g., inside a door of the safe, to a wall of the safe, etc.) or other container that lacks features (e.g., a loop material, etc.) the accessory is configured to engage. The intermediate attachment member may include a substantially flat body with a rear surface that carries a coupling element that will engage a feature of the interior surface of the safe or other container (e.g., a clip that will engage a loop on the interior surface, etc.) and a front surface that carries an engagement material (e.g., a loop material, etc.) that will mutually engage a complementary engagement material (e.g., a hook material, etc.) of the accessory. Systems for and methods that enable the storage of items on interior surfaces of safes and other containers are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    A claim for the benefit of priority to the Feb. 4, 2014 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/935,721, titled INTERMEDIATE ATTACHMENT MEMBERS FOR SECURING ACCESSORIES TO INTERIOR SURFACES OF SAFES, SAFE STORAGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STORING ITEMS IN SAFES (“the &#39;721 Provisional Application”) is hereby made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The entire disclosure of the &#39;721 Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to devices, referred to herein as “intermediate attachment members” or, more simply, as “attachment members,” that enable accessories to be secured to interior surfaces of safes and other containers (e.g., cabinets, lockers, etc.). More specifically, this disclosure relates to intermediate attachment members that enable the attachment of accessories to a surface to which the accessories could not otherwise be secured. In particular, this disclosure includes intermediate attachment members that are configured to engage loops, pockets or other features on an interior surface of a safe or another container, as well as to mutually engage attachment features of existing accessories for safes and other containers. 
       RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Safes are often used to store valuable items. Many safes include features that are specifically configured to enable them to store and secure guns, or firearms. Various features have been designed for this purpose, including a number of features that enable guns, accessories and other items to be carried by the interior of the door of a safe. 
         [0004]    Among the various accessories that have been made for safes are door panels that include a number of features (e.g., pockets, loops, etc.) that receive and organize guns and other items, and hold them in place relative to the interior surface of the safe door. The features of many safe door panels are fixed, limiting the types and numbers of items that may be held by such a door panel, as well as the manner in which the items may be arranged over the door panel. 
         [0005]    Greater flexibility, including the ability to customize the arrangement of guns and/or other items on a surface, has been provided by way of smaller accessories. Many of the currently available accessories for securing guns and other items to the interior surfaces of safes include a so-called “hook material,” which engages a complementary “loop material,” such as the hook and loop materials available as VELCRO® fasteners. While a hook material may secure an accessory to a safe that has been lined with a loop material, such as the type of material frequently used to line the trunks of automobiles, these materials are generally only used in less expensive safes; many currently available accessories cannot engage the interior surfaces of high-end safes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An intermediate attachment member is configured to enable an accessory to be secured to a surface, such as an interior surface of the door of a safe or another container (e.g., a cabinet, a locker, etc.) or to another interior surface within the safe or other container. The intermediate attachment member may be configured for use with an accessory that, without the intermediate attachment member, could not otherwise be secured to the surface. 
         [0007]    In a specific embodiment, an intermediate attachment member may be thin, or have a low profile, which may minimize the distance the intermediate attachment member protrudes from a surface to which it is secured. Such an intermediate attachment member may include a substantially flat body with a rear surface and a front surface. 
         [0008]    The rear surface of the substantially flat body may be configured to face, or be positioned against, the interior surface, and may carry a coupling element. The coupling element may be configured to engage a feature at a surface to which the intermediate attachment member is to be secured. In a specific embodiment, the coupling element may comprise a clip or any other suitable feature that will engage a loop, pocket or other feature of a door panel (e.g., an element permanently secured over the interior of the safe door to enable items to be organized and secured in place over and carried by the interior surface of the safe door, etc.) or door cover (e.g., an element configured to be removably positioned over the interior surface of the safe door to enable organized and secured in place over and carried by the interior surface of the safe door, etc.) for a safe or another container. 
         [0009]    The front surface of the substantially flat body of the intermediate attachment member may be configured to engage an accessory (e.g., a pistol holder, a pouch, a basket, etc.), and to hold the accessory in place relative to a surface to which the intermediate attachment member is secured. Thus, the front surface of the substantially flat body may carry an engagement element that engages or is engaged by a complementary engagement element of the accessory. The engagement element may be substantially flat, which may enable minimization of the distance the intermediate attachment member and the accessory protrude from a surface over which they are secured. 
         [0010]    A storage system for a safe or another container may include an intermediate attachment member, a feature on a surface to which the intermediate attachment member may be secured, and an accessory. A plurality of intermediate attachment members may be used in a storage system. When a plurality of attachment members are used, a combination of two or more attachment members may be used in combination to secure an accessory to an interior of the safe or other container and/or one or more accessories may be secured to the interior of the safe or other container by a corresponding, single attachment member of the plurality. A storage system may include a safe (e.g., a gun safe, etc.) with a plurality of attachment members secured in place on or over an interior of a door of the safe. One or more of the attachment members may each secure a corresponding single item (e.g., a pistol case; a loop for thin, elongated items; a strap for larger items, etc.) in place on or over the interior of the door. Two or more additional attachment members may be positioned laterally adjacent to one another over the interior surface of the door to collectively hold a pouch or another larger item in place on or over the interior surface of the door. 
         [0011]    Attachment members that incorporate teachings of this disclosure may enable customization of the manner in which accessories are arranged over interior surfaces within a safe or another container, even in situations where door panels or similar accessories are not configured for such customization. As a non-limiting example, one or more attachment members according to this disclosure may be used with a non-customizable element (e.g., a door panel, a door cover, etc.) that includes a number of fixed features (e.g., one or more loops, one or more straps for receiving and securing the barrels of rifles or shotguns, one or more pockets, etc.). The coupling element of an attachment member may be secured to a selected one of the fixed features to enable another accessory to be held in place over the previously non-customizable element and, thus, to enable an individual to use the non-customizable element to customize an arrangement of accessories and items within the interior of the safe or other container. 
         [0012]    Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    In the drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of an attachment member; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the embodiment of attachment member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the embodiment of attachment member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment of attachment member shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  depicts an embodiment of a manner in which a coupling element of an attachment member may be secured in place over a surface; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate embodiments of the manner in which an attachment member may secure an accessory in place over a surface; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of an arrangement of attachment members over a surface; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of an arrangement of accessories over the surface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    As illustrated by  FIG. 8 , an interior surface of a door or another interior surface of a safe (e.g., a gun safe, etc.) may be lined with a panel  10  that is configured to enable one or more items to be secured to the panel  10  and, thus, to be held in place over the interior surface. Often, such a panel  10  includes two or more elongated strips  12  that are oriented horizontally and secured to the panel  10  at a plurality of spaced apart, or intermittent, locations  14   a,    14   b,  etc. The result of this arrangement is a strip  12  that provides a number of loops  16 . The loops  16  may be configured to receive relatively small items, such as the barrel of a rifle or shotgun, in a manner that enables these items to be held in place on or over the panel  10  and, thus, on or over an interior surface of the safe. Unfortunately, the number of items that can be held in place by a relatively small, horizontally oriented loop is limited. 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , an embodiment of an attachment member  20  is depicted. The attachment member  20  is configured to be positioned on or over an existing panel  10  ( FIGS. 5-7 ) on an interior surface of a safe in a manner that expands the functionality of the panel  10  and enables a wider variety of different types of items to be secured to the panel  10  and, thus, held in place over the interior surface of the safe. 
         [0024]    In the embodiment illustrated by  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the attachment member  20  includes a coupling element, shown as comprising a clip  22 , that is configured to engage (or to be engaged by) a loop  16  ( FIGS. 5-7 ), pocket or other feature on a panel  10  ( FIGS. 5-7 ) that has been installed over an interior surface of a safe. In embodiments where the coupling element comprises a clip  22 , an end  26  of an exterior portion  24  of the clip  22  (i.e., the portion of the clip that can be seen while viewing the attachment member  20 ) may flare away from a remainder of the attachment member  20 , which may enable the exterior portion  24  of the clip  22  to be readily positioned within an opening  18  ( FIGS. 5-7 ) defined by a loop  16  and to readily engage the loop  16 . The clip  22  may have a width that enables it to be received by the loop  16 . A length and a shape of the clip  22  may enable it to engage the loop  16  in a manner that will hold the attachment member  20  firmly and stably against the panel  10 . A bent top  28  of the clip  22  may be configured to rest upon a top edge of the loop  16 . 
         [0025]    The clip  22  may be formed from any material that will withstand the weight, or at least a portion of the weight, of the item or items to be carried thereby. The clip  22  may be resilient, which may facilitate its engagement of a loop  16 , as well as its removal from the loop  16  and subsequent re-use. In some embodiments, the clip  22  may comprise spring steel, a fiber-reinforced composite material or another material with similar properties. 
         [0026]    An interior portion (not shown) of the clip  22 , which is on an opposite side of the bent top  28  from the exterior portion  24 , may be held in place by other parts of the attachment member  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment member  20  includes a base  30  and a clip-securing piece  36 . The clip-securing piece  36  is secured to a back side  32  of the base  30 . The base  30  may have dimensions (e.g., a height, a width, etc.) that exceed corresponding dimensions of the clip  22 . The clip-securing piece  36  may be shorter than the base  30 . The height differential between the base  30  and the clip-securing piece  36  may enable the base  30  to support the bent top  28  of the clip  22  from behind, while the bent top  28  emerges from and is located above a top edge of the clip-securing piece  36  and a remainder of the exterior portion  24  of the clip  22  extends downward from the bent top  28  and resides over the exterior of the clip-securing piece  36 . The interior portion of the clip  22  resides, and is held in place, between the base  30  and the clip-securing piece  36 . In a specific embodiment, a pair of rivets  40  may secure the interior portion of the clip  22  to the clip-securing piece  36 . The sides and bottom of the clip-securing piece  36  may, in turn, be coupled (e.g., sewn, bonded, etc.) to the base  30 , effectively securing the interior portion of the clip  22  in place between the clip-securing piece  36  and the base  30 . 
         [0027]    The base  30  and the clip-securing piece  36  may be formed from a variety of materials. Without limitation, the base  30  and the clip-securing piece  36  may be formed from nylon fabric. In some embodiments, the material from which the base  30  is formed may impart the attachment member  20  with sufficient rigidity to enable the attachment member  20  to support an accessory secured thereto, along with any item(s) held by the accessory. 
         [0028]    In addition to the clip  22 , the clip-securing piece  36  and the base  30 , the attachment member  20  may include an accessory engagement element  38 . The accessory engagement element  38  may be secured to or otherwise located on a front side  34  of the base  30 . As shown, the back side  32  and the front side  34  of the base  30  are opposite from one another; thus, the clip  22  and the accessory engagement element  38  are located on opposite sides of the base  30 . Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , when the clip  22  is secured to a loop  16  on a panel  10  that covers an interior surface (e.g., a door, a wall, etc.) of a safe, the accessory engagement element  38  faces outward, away from the panel  10 . 
         [0029]    The accessory engagement element  38  may comprise any suitable means for engaging or being engaged by a corresponding feature of an accessory  50  ( FIG. 6 ),  50 ′ ( FIG. 7 ), etc., that is to be held in place on or over a panel  10  by the attachment member  20 . Without limitation, the accessory engagement element  38  may comprise the “loop” side of a hook and loop fastener. Alternatively, the accessory engagement element  38  may comprise the hook side of a hook and loop fastener, an element of a hook-hook fastener, an element of a slidingly engageable fastener, an element of a snap fastener, or the like. 
         [0030]    Of course, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the accessory engagement element  38  of the attachment member  20  may be configured to engage a complementary attachment engagement element  54 ,  54 ′ on a back side  52 ,  52 ′ of an accessory  50 ,  50 ′. With continuing reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an accessory  50 ,  50 ′ is secured to an attachment member  20 , which is, in turn, secured to a panel  10  on an interior surface of a safe (e.g., by way of a loop  16 , etc.). Accordingly, the attachment member  20 , including its clip  22  (or other coupling element) and engagement element  38 , are configured to mutually engage their complementary features (e.g., the loop  16  and the attachment engagement element  54 ,  54 ′, respectively) while supporting the weight of the accessory  50 ,  50 ′, as well as the weight of any other item(s) that may be carried by the accessory  50 ,  50 ′. 
         [0031]    The accessory  50  depicted by  FIG. 6  is a holder for a pistol. The attachment member  20  enables the accessory  50  and a pistol to be secured to a variety of different locations over panels  10  that cover interior surfaces, including an interior surface of a door, of a safe. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 7 , the accessory  50 ′ is a bag, or pouch, that may be configured to hold a variety of relatively small items. A few non-limiting examples of the types of items that may be held by the accessory  50 ′ are shotgun shells, bullets, firearm cleaning tools and the like. The attachment member  20  enables the accessory  50 ′ and its contents to be carried by a panel  10  and, thus, by an interior surface of a safe. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a plurality of attachment members  20  may be secured to a panel  10  that covers an interior surface of a safe in a variety of different arrangements to secure a plurality of accessories  50 ,  50 ′, etc., to the panel  10 . In some embodiments, two or more attachment members  20  may secure an accessory to the panel. The attachment members  20  may expand the functionality of an existing panel  10  by enabling a variety of different types of items to be secured to the panel  10  in a variety of different arrangements. Thus, the attachment members  20  may enable customization of an arrangement of accessories and items across an entire interior surface (e.g., an interior surface of a safe door, etc.) of a safe. 
         [0034]    Although the foregoing disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of each claim is, therefore, indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements.