Protective firearm pouch

A protective pouch for firearms includes a compartment defined by front and rear faces and a peripheral face between the front and rear faces. A zipper opening mechanism provides access to the inside of the pouch. The pouch is constructed of a fabric-like material having bulletproof characteristics. The pouch includes a mechanism for securing a firearm within the pouch. A lock may also be included to restrict access to the contents of the pouch.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The invention is directed generally to firearm pouches and, more
 particularly, to a firearm pouch in which the casing is made from a tough,
 bulletproof material which prevents access to unauthorized users.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Long firearm pouches for rifles are, of course, well known to facilitate
 their transport. Similarly known are pouches for handguns. Examples of
 handgun pouches are, for example, disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No.
 D262,231 which shows a firearm cylinder pouch and U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,031,
 which shows a discreet pistol pouch serving as a concealed gun holster.
 Such pouches however have virtually served no other purpose than simply to
 carry a weapon in a concealed manner. The pouches are not necessarily safe
 from, for example, an unauthorized entrant into the pouch. Further, the
 firearm could inadvertently discharge in the pouch, causing grave harm or
 even killing a person in the vicinity.
 Handgun safety is a national concern, particularly since "the right to bear
 arms" is arguably granted in the Second Amendment. Further, with the
 recent tragedy at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., preventing
 easy accessibility of firearms, by children in particular, is of paramount
 national importance.
 It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a protective firearm
 pouch, which lessens the dangers from an inadvertent discharge of the
 firearm.
 Another object of the invention is to provide a protective firearm pouch,
 which is not accessible, except to an authorized entrant--for example by
 one with the correct combination or key to a locking mechanism on the
 pouch
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 These and other objects of the invention, which shall be hereafter
 apparent, are achieved by the protective firearm pouch having
 substantially triangular shaped front and back faces and a substantially
 rectangular shaped peripheral face, connecting the front and back faces.
 The material in the faces is preferably constructed of very hard
 fabric-like material, which has bullet proof characteristics such as the
 material sold under the mark KEVLAR.RTM..
 Secured to the right face and a substantial length of upper face is a
 zipper under an overlapping flap for opening the pouch and accessing the
 firearm. The firearm is secured to the pouch by a strap having
 complementary Velcro.RTM. mating surfaces. The pouch further includes a
 locking mechanism, preferably a combination lock which interfaces with
 zipper to keep the pouch closed to unauthorized entrants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals reflect like elements
 throughout the various view, FIG. 1 generally shows a substantially
 triangular-shaped firearm pouch 1 having substantially triangular shaped
 front 10 and back 30 faces and a substantially rectangular shaped
 peripheral face 11, connecting the front 10 and back 20 face. Peripheral
 face 11 has an upper face 21, a right face 22 and a left face 23. The
 material in the faces is preferably constructed of very hard fabric-like
 material which has bullet proof characteristics such as the material sold
 under the mark KEVLAR.RTM.. Other materials marketed under other marks are
 also known. It should be understood that although Kevlar is being referred
 to herein, it is by no means the only class of materials to be used and
 references to Kevlar may be substituted by other brands or types of
 material having the characteristics set forth herein.
 KEVLAR is a high-strength fiber comprising a long chain-like polymer made
 by an array of parallely-oriented molecules in a crystalline structure
 made by an extrusion process. Typically, KEVLAR has a high cut and flame
 resistance and tensile strength. Kevlar and other "soft armor material"
 have been tested by various groups for ballistic resistance. The magnitude
 of ballistic resistance has been classified into various levels by the
 National Institute of Justice. A table delineating the levels is below:

Bullet mass impact velocity*
 Type Bullet caliber and type (grains) (ft/s)
 I .22 long rifle high-velocity 40 1,050
 .38 round-nose lead 158 850
 II-A .357 jacketed soft-point 158 1,250
 9-mm full metal jacket 124 1,090
 II .357 jacketed soft-point 158 1,395
 9-mm full metal jacket 124 1,175
 III-A .44 magnum lead semi- 240 1,400
 wadcutter gas-checked
 9-mm full metal jacket 124 1,400
 III 7.62 mm full metal jacket 150 2,750
 IV .30-06 armor-piercing 166 2,850
 Special custom custom custom
 *Minimum velocity; the maximum velocity for a fair hit is 50 ft/s greater.
 The material for the protective pouch herein could be uniform or could
 consist of different types and gradations of strength, and could be
 separated, for instance, by a seam 13 as shown and FIGS. 1 and 2.
 Preferably, additional amounts of KEVLAR or other stronger material should
 be at the discharge end of the weapon in the pouch.
 Secured to the right face 22 and a substantial length of upper face 21 is
 an opening mechanism, preferably a zipper 14 for opening the pouch and
 accessing the firearm 40. The zipper may either be stitched and/or heat
 sealed. Zipper 14 begins at an initial end 15 and may be used to close the
 pouch by pulling it to a distal end 16 and is securable there to a locking
 mechanism generally depicted by 17. The zipper 14 is covered by an
 overlapping flap construction as shown by flap 70 having a leading edge
 indicated by dashed lines.
 As shown in particularly FIG. 5, firearm 40 is secured to the pouch by a
 strap at 18, preferably having complementary Velcro.RTM. mating surfaces
 having (preferably on the underside of the strap 18 on the right as shown
 in FIG. 5).
 In one corner of the pouch 1, near the back end of the firearm, is a
 rectangular piece 50 made of strong material to reinforce the lock area.
 Into this rectangular piece 50 is constructed the locking mechanism, which
 is also shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and depicted in greater detail in FIG. 7
 and can be of various types.
 In a preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, the mechanism 17 comprises
 combination lock tumblers 19, which facilitates the movement of a male pin
 20 which slides into tumblers 19 to thereby lock it. The figure shows a
 simple side view of the zipper 14 as it interfaces with combination lock.
 This interface is shown in FIG. 6, which is an elevation view with the
 combination lock.
 While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been depicted in detail
 modification and adaptations may be made thereto, without departing from
 the spirit and scope of the invention as shown in the following claims: