Invisible rifle wall mount

An invisible rifle wall mount for securely mounting a rifle on a wall or surface or wall panel. The invisible rifle wall mount cannot be seen when a rifle is mounted on it, and the mount generally includes a base adapted for mounting on the surface, such as a wall, the base comprising a wall-mount portion and a plug extending away from the wall-mount portion, the plug comprising a plurality of plug locking surfaces arranged circumferentially on the plug. The wall mount may also comprise a rifle mount with a magazine and a socket extending from the magazine, the socket adapted for coupling to the plug, the socket comprising an opening and a plurality of socket locking surfaces in the opening that engage the plug locking surfaces to prevent the socket and rifle mount from rotating relative to the plug when the socket and the plug are coupled.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable to this application.

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND

Field

Example embodiments in general relate to an invisible rifle wall mount for securely displaying a rifle or airsoft rifle on a wall without the support being readily visible.

Related Art

Mounting systems for mounting rifles to walls have been in use for many years. Devices or systems are not usually directed to any attempt to make the rifle look good while mounted on the wall, however, and typically are designed and intended to simply keep rifles readily available for quick access. Another function or goal of such systems and devices has been to provide for highly secure storage, again while paying little attention to aesthetics.

Further, many devices for mounting rifles on walls or other surfaces have consisted of multiple pieces, again at the expense of aesthetics.

SUMMARY

An example embodiment is directed to an invisible rifle wall mount. The invisible rifle wall mount includes a base adapted for mounting on a surface, such as a wall, the base comprising a wall-mount portion and a plug extending away from the wall-mount portion, the plug comprising a plurality of plug locking surfaces arranged circumferentially on the plug. In addition to embodiments adapted for mounting on a conventional wall, the wall-mount portion of the base may be adapted for mounting on any number of surfaces or panels, such as pegboards, slat-walls, or proprietary wall panels, such as panels with openings shaped and sized to accept connecting elements. For example, the base may include hooks or other connectors for mounting on such walls or panels.

The mount may also comprise a rifle mount comprising a magazine and a socket extending from the magazine, the socket adapted for coupling to the plug, the socket comprising an opening and a plurality of socket locking surfaces in the opening that engage the plug locking surfaces to prevent the socket and rifle mount from rotating relative to the plug when the socket and the plug are coupled.

In some example embodiments, the rifle mount is alignable and lockable at different rotational angles with respect to the plug. The plug may comprise a multi-sided cross section, for example, an octagonal cross section with flat sides. The flat external sides of the plug may engage with flat internal sides in the socket to prevent rotation of the socket and rifle mount. In addition, the plug and the socket may be slidably coupled by a spring-loaded binding post comprising a spring, the socket being slidable relative to the plug, between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is closer to the wall-mount portion than the second position. In such an embodiment, the spring urges the socket toward the first position, and the plug locking surfaces and the socket locking surfaces engage when the socket is in the first position and disengage when the socket is in the second position.

In another example embodiment, the plug may comprise a plug hole extending transversely into the plug. The system may also include a rifle mount comprising a magazine and a socket extending from the magazine, the socket configured for the socket comprises a socket hole alignable with the plug hole when the plug is coupled to the socket. The rifle mount is releasably secured to the wall-mount base by insertion of a securing member through the socket hole and into the plug hole.

In still other example embodiments, the socket comprises a plurality of socket holes, each alignable with the plug hole when the rifle mount is in a different rotational orientation with respect to the plug, wherein the rifle mount is releasably securable in different orientations when a different socket hole is aligned with the plug hole. The plug holes and socket holes may be aligned at any orientation of the plug and socket. For example, the multi-sided cross sections of the plug and socket may dictate fixed rotational orientations of the magazine and socket with respect to the wall mount, and in each such orientation, the plug hole and at least one of the socket holes will be aligned, so that the magazine can be secured by the securing member, which may be inserted through the holes. The securing member may be a locking pin (e.g., a cotterless hitch pin), or it may be the cable of a lock, which may also be threaded through the trigger guard of a rifle mounted with the system.

One possible example cross section of the plug and the mating socket is an octagonal cross section. The socket comprises a multi-sided cross section that mates with the cross section of the plug to prevent the socket from rotating relative to the plug when the plug is coupled to the socket. In some embodiments, the socket is alignable at different rotational angles with respect to the plug. For example, if the plug has an octagonal cross section, a rifle attached to the magazine of the system can be oriented so that is horizontal, vertical, or has other orientations, at 45° increments. Of course, other angles and orientations are also possible, depending on the cross sectional shape of the plug and socket.

Some possible embodiments of the wall-mount system for rifles may further comprise an optional sizing adapter attached to the magazine, wherein the sizing adapter is sized and shaped to make the magazine insertable into the magazine receptacle of a rifle. For example, the magazine and sizing adapter may fit securely into an AR-15 or other rifle, so that the magazine (with its attached socket) can lock into the rifle's receptacle. With or without a sizing adapter, the rifle may be mounted on the wall using the system. When so mounted, the mounting system may be invisible, and the magazine can be made to have an appearance identical to an ordinary magazine, with the final effect being that the rifle appears to “float” on the wall or surface to which it is mounted.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the invisible rifle wall mount in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments of the invisible rifle wall mount that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invisible rifle wall mount in detail, it is to be understood that the invisible rifle wall mount is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invisible rifle wall mount is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example invisible rifle wall mount system10generally comprises a base20adapted for mounting on a surface or panel, such as a wall, the base20comprising a wall-mount portion21and a plug22extending away from the wall-mount portion21, the plug22comprising a plurality of plug locking surfaces24arranged circumferentially on the plug22, for example, on the outer surface of the plug toward the second end36of the plug, spaced distally from the wall-mount portion21, and spaced from the first end34of the plug22. The plug22may also comprise a smooth, cylindrical portion23between the plug locking surfaces24and the wall-mount portion21.

The system10may also comprise a rifle mount40comprising a magazine50and a socket41extending from the magazine, the socket41adapted for coupling to the plug22, the socket41comprising a socket opening46and a plurality of socket locking surfaces48in the opening46that engage the plug locking surfaces24to prevent the socket41and rifle mount40from rotating relative to the plug22when the socket41and the plug22are coupled. The magazine50is connectable to an optional sizing adapter52, so that the magazine will fit and lock into a standard magazine receptacle in a rifle.

For example, the magazine50and an optional sizing adapter52may substantially duplicate a known magazine, such as an AR-15 magazine, so that the magazine50can be securely attached to virtually any rifle90having an external magazine. Accordingly, when rifle mount50is attached to a rifle (or even an airsoft rifle) and the rifle mount50is then coupled to a base that is attached to a wall or other surface, the rifle or airsoft gun is mounted on the wall or surface, with the wall mount system10being invisible behind the rifle90, and appearing to “float” on the wall. It should be noted, however, that a sizing adapter52is optional, and the system is usable with a rifle mount50in embodiments without a sizing adapter.

In some example embodiments, the rifle mount40is alignable and lockable at different rotational angles with respect to the base20and plug22. The plug22may comprise a multi-sided cross section, for example, an octagonal cross section with flat sides, which comprises plug locking surfaces24. The plug locking surfaces24of the plug may engage with flat internal sides (socket locking surfaces48) in the socket41to prevent rotation of the socket and rifle mount. In addition, the plug22and the socket41may be slidably coupled by a spring-loaded binding post70comprising a spring74, the socket41being slidable relative to the plug22between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is closer to the wall-mount portion of the base20than the second position. In such an embodiment, the spring74urges the socket41toward the first position, and the plug locking surfaces24and the socket locking surfaces48engage when the socket41is in the first position and disengage when the socket41is in the second position.

The locking surfaces24,48engage each other much as a socket wrench engages a nut, so that the socket41can slide over the plug22in the direction of their common axis, while being rotationally “locked” to each other due to the flat or otherwise locking surfaces24and48, one set internal and one set external. Further, the rifle mount40, which comprises a magazine50and the socket41, can be aligned and locked in different rotational orientations with respect to the base20.

In another example embodiment, the plug22may comprise a plug hole28extending transversely into the plug. The socket41may comprise one or more socket holes45alignable with the plug hole28when the plug22is coupled to the socket41. In this example embodiment, the rifle mount40is releasably secured to the wall-mount base20by insertion of a locking pin60or cable64through the socket hole45and into the plug hole28.

As best shown inFIGS. 2, 3, and 6, an example embodiment of the invisible rifle wall mount system10generally comprises a base20for mounting on a surface, such as a wall. In addition to a conventional wall, the base20may be adapted for mounting on any number of different surfaces or panels, such as pegboards, slat-walls, or proprietary wall panels, such as panels with openings shaped and sized to accept connecting elements. For example, the base20may include hooks or other connectors for mounting on such walls or panels, or it may be configured to accept such hooks or connectors.

The base20may include a generally flat wall-mount portion21and a plug22extending away from the wall-mount portion21, the plug22comprising a plurality of plug locking surfaces24arranged circumferentially on the plug22, for example, on the outer surface of the plug22toward the second end36of the plug. The wall-mount portion21of the base20may be triangular as shown, or it may be any other shape that is practical and suited for its purpose. The base20may also have a number of mounting holes26, for attaching the wall-mount portion21securely to a wall or any suitable surface, as shown for example inFIG. 2, where the mounting holes are at the points of the triangle. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 13, the base20can be mounted to a wall with mounting screws76, although other mounting components or methods are also possible. In addition, the exact shape of the wall-mount portion is not critical—thus, it need not be triangular. In addition to a flat surface or conventional wall, the wall-mount portion21of base20may also be adapted for mounting on any number of surfaces or panels, such as pegboards, slat-walls, or proprietary wall panels, such as panels with openings shaped and sized to accept connecting elements. For example, the wall-mount portion21may include hooks or other connectors for mounting on such walls or panels, or it may simply be designed and configured to accept such hooks or connectors.

The wall-mount portion of the embodiment ofFIG. 3may include a locking hole29, which may receive a locking cable64of a cable lock62(see, e.g.,FIGS. 11 and 17), which is also threaded through the trigger guard92of rifle90if desired, to lock the rifle90to the wall mount system. In the embodiment ofFIG. 13, the plug hole28serves much the same function, although, in addition, the cable64in this embodiment also serves to hold the plug22and the socket41together. As an alternative to the cable lock62, the plug22and socket41of the embodiment shown inFIG. 13can be held together by a locking pin60, or other locking member, which can be in any form, so long as the locking member extends through a hole45in socket41and into plug hole28in the plug22.

As further shown inFIGS. 3 and 13, the plug22may include a number of plug locking surfaces24, which may be flat surfaces. In the embodiments shown, the cross-sectional shape of the plug through this portion is octagonal, although other numbers of sides and other entirely different profiles are also possible, so long as the function of interlocking with the sides or profile of the socket41of the system is accomplished. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, for example, the plug locking surfaces24may only be present on the free end of the plug22, with the remainder of the plug being smooth and cylindrical, represented by cylindrical portion23in the Figures. In other embodiments, the plug locking surfaces24may extend over the entire length of the plug22, as shown inFIG. 13, so that the plug is generally octagonal or has an otherwise consistent cross section over its entire length.

The plug22, as mentioned, generally extends outward from the wall-mount portion21of the base20, so that it can receive a socket41that slides over the plug22. In one embodiment, as shown for example inFIGS. 4 and 6, the base20may have a central binding post opening27extending through the wall-mount portion21and the plug22of the base. As mentioned, this opening is central, along the axis of the base22, and may have a larger portion at the rear part of the wall-mount portion21, so that the head of binding screw72can be below the rear surface of the base, allowing for flush mount to a wall. As will be discussed further below, a binding post70can extend through the plug22and the socket41, holding them together in a spring-biased, sliding connection or coupling.

An alternative embodiment of the wall-mount base20is shown inFIGS. 12-16. In this embodiment, the system10operates much as with the previously-described embodiment, with the following differences. Rather than being coupled to the socket under spring bias, the plug22and socket are generally separate until the rifle mount is desired to be attached to the base20. To mount a rifle90, the base20is first mounted on the wall, as discussed. Next, the rifle mount, comprising the magazine, the socket41, and the sizing adapter52are pushed onto the plug22in a desired rotational orientation. In any possible orientation, the locking surfaces24and48will hold the socket41and plug22in position rotationally. Further, the plug comprises a plug hole28, and the socket comprises a number of socket holes45. When the socket41and plug22are coupled, with or without a rifle90in place, the aforementioned holes28and45will line up.

When the socket41and plug22are aligned, a securing member, such as a locking pin60or the cable64of a cable lock62, may be inserted through both holes, so that the securing member extends all the way through the socket41and the plug22.FIGS. 14 and 16illustrate the alternative mount assembled in a horizontal position, withFIG. 14showing a locking pin60, andFIG. 16illustrating the cable64of a cable lock62acting as the securing member. As shown inFIGS. 15 and 17, the cable64of the lock may also be threaded through the trigger guard92of rifle90, thus preventing its removal and use without a key.FIG. 21illustrates the locking pin60and the cable lock62in greater detail.

The system10may also comprise a rifle mount40generally comprising a magazine50and a socket41extending from the magazine, the socket41adapted for coupling to the plug22, the socket41comprising a socket opening46and a plurality of socket locking surfaces48in the opening46that mate with, or engage, the plug locking surfaces24to prevent the socket41and rifle mount40from rotating relative to the plug22when the socket41and the plug22are coupled. The magazine50is also connectable to a sizing adapter52, so that the magazine will fit and lock into a standard magazine receptacle in a rifle. Magazines usable with the wall-mount system10may come in a number of sizes and forms, so that they may be used with a wide variety of rifles or even airsoft guns.

For example, the magazine50, when connected to the sizing adapter52, may be virtually identical in appearance to a standard magazine for a rifle90, especially when viewed from a vantage point away from a wall, where the wall-mount system's components are not visible, as shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 18illustrates the magazine50, assembled to the sizing adapter52just before being inserted into the magazine receptacle of rifle90, andFIG. 19shows the rifle90from the opposite side with the magazine/sizing adapter inserted into the rifle90.

The sizing adapter52may be attached to the magazine50any number of ways. As shown throughout the figures generally, and inFIGS. 6 and 9, the sizing adapter52may slide onto the magazine with a dovetail connection which may lock in place with a locking tab of the type well known to hold plastic and metal parts together (not shown).

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 6, as just one example, the rifle mount40has a magazine50with an opening54, adapted and sized so that socket41can be inserted in the side of the magazine50. The socket may have locking tabs44with a sloped front end. When the socket is inserted into the magazine50, the walls of the magazine opening54will force the locking tabs44inward, allowing the socket to be smoothly slid into the magazine. As the socket moves deeper, the locking tabs44, due to their resting position, which is shown inFIG. 3, will engage with magazine locking slots56, thereby releasably coupling the socket41to the magazine50. In addition to a releasable coupling, the socket41can also be permanently mounted on a magazine50, which is especially suitable for the embodiment shown inFIG. 13.

As mentioned above, in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, for example, before being coupled to the magazine50, the socket may be slidably coupled to the wall-mount base20. In this configuration, the binding post70is inserted through socket binding post opening43and through the plug binding post opening27, with binding screw72being screwed into the binding post70to keep the assembly together. As perhaps best shown inFIG. 5, spring74is held between the head of the binding post70and a shoulder47in the socket41. When the socket41and the plug22are coupled by the binding post70, the spring74is compressed between the head of the binding post70and the shoulder47in the socket41. The spring74under compression, urges and forces the socket41into a first position, which is in full or maximum engagement with plug22, so that the face of the socket41is in contact, or nearly in contact, with the corresponding face of the wall-mount portion21of the base, as shown inFIG. 2. However, the proximity of the socket to the wall-mount portion21of base20is not at all critical. In the first position, the locking surfaces24and48of the socket41and the plug22will be engaged.

In this state, if the socket41is pulled away from base20, spring74will be further compressed, and the socket41will be in a second position, wherein the locking surfaces are out of engagement since they do not meet, as shown inFIG. 7. More specifically, the locking surfaces24of the plug22will be adjacent to the smooth, cylindrical portion49of the socket when the socket is in the second position relative to the plug. When so pulled away, the locking surfaces of the plug22and the socket41will be out of engagement, which in turn allows the socket to be rotated relative to the plug22, pivoting about the binding post70. Upon release, the locking surfaces of socket41and plug22will re-engage, as shown inFIG. 8, either in the same position they were originally in, or in a different rotational orientation.

As shown inFIG. 6, the opening46of the socket41may have a smooth, cylindrical portion49nearest the opening46, with locking surfaces48interior to the cylindrical portion49. When the socket41is pulled away from the plug22as described above, the locking surfaces24of the plug22will be opposite the smooth cylindrical portion49, thus allowing the socket41to freely rotate with respect to the plug22. Upon release of the socket41by a user, the flat locking surfaces24of the plug22will engage with the proximate flat locking surfaces48of the socket41. In addition, the cylindrical portion23of the plug22can fit tightly within the cylindrical portion49of the socket41, so that the entire wall mount system10is able to securely hold a rifle90on the wall.

FIGS. 13-14illustrate a second embodiment of the system, where the socket is coupled to the plug by a securing member, such as locking pin60. In this embodiment, the socket and plug are not coupled by a binding post, so that, when the rifle is to be mounted or rotated, the magazine50and socket41are disconnected from the plug22after the securing member is removed, which allows the socket41to be pulled away and out of engagement with the plug22. As with other embodiments, the rifle mount can then be rotated to a different orientation, as described above, and the rifle or rifle mount can be reinstalled on the plug/wall-mount, as shown for example inFIG. 14. The locking surfaces24and48are engaged when the socket is installed onto the plug22, and the socket/rifle mount is locked onto the base20by a securing member, which may be locking pin60or the cable64of cable lock62, as shown inFIG. 15. The securing member is inserted through hole28and one of holes45to lock the assembly together.

D. Operation of Preferred Embodiment

In the embodiment of the system10ofFIGS. 2-11, all the components of the wall-mount system are assembled and connected together. Accordingly, the base20and plug22are secured to a wall, the socket41is securely, but releasably, coupled to the plug22and to the magazine50, and the magazine50is attached to a rifle90, with the aid of the sizing adapter52. Viewed from a position away from the wall, the wall-mount system10, with a rifle mounted on it, itself cannot be seen, and the rifle90appears to float in front of the wall, as shown inFIG. 1. To assemble an embodiment of the system10such as the one shown inFIG. 3, the socket41and the plug22are first coupled together by the binding post70. Next, since in this condition the mounting screws76or other fasteners can be accessed without interference, the base20is attached to the wall in a desired location.

At this point, the magazine50with or without a sizing adapter52can be snapped onto the socket41, with the resulting assembly as shown inFIG. 2. Alternatively, the magazine and/or adapter52can first be inserted into the rifle90, and then the rifle90and magazine can be coupled to the socket41, which extends from the wall. As mentioned briefly above, the system10can be used to mount a rifle in a number of rotational orientations. For example, the rifle90may simply be mounted horizontally, as shown inFIG. 1. In addition, it can readily be rotated to other positions as shown inFIG. 20. This rotation can be accomplished as illustrated inFIGS. 10A-10C.FIG. 10Ashows the system, without a rifle, mounted horizontally on a wall. As shown inFIG. 10B, the magazine50, or alternatively, the socket41without the magazine50connected, can be pulled away from the wall under the compression of spring74as described above. With the socket41in this position, denoted as the second position, the magazine50or socket41can be freely rotated to a new position as shown inFIG. 10C, and when released, the locking surfaces of the socket41and the plug48will engage each other, and the mount will not rotate. This procedure may also be performed with a rifle90already mounted, as shown inFIG. 20.

The procedure is similar for using the embodiment shown inFIGS. 13-15. where the socket is coupled to the plug by a securing member, such as locking pin60or the cable64of a cable lock62, as shown inFIG. 21. In this embodiment, when the rifle is to be mounted or rotated, the magazine50and socket41are disconnected from the plug22after the securing member is removed, which allows the socket41to be pulled away and out of engagement with the plug22. As with other embodiments, the rifle mount can then be rotated to a different orientation (as shown inFIG. 20, for example), as described above, and the rifle90or rifle mount40can be reinstalled on the plug/wall-mount, as shown for example inFIG. 14. The locking surfaces24and48are engaged when the socket is installed onto the plug22, and the socket/rifle mount is locked onto the base20by a securing member, which may be locking pin60or the cable64of cable lock62, as shown inFIG. 15. The securing member is inserted through hole28and one of holes45to lock the assembly together, both rotationally and slidably.