Abstract:
A convertible gun carrier is to be mounted on a front of an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) which quickly transitions from a horizontal gun rack position to a vertical gun rest position. This gun carrier holds a gun or rifle securely during ATV travel and also doubles as a shooting rest when the ATV is stopped.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to gun carriers for holding a gun or rifle on an ATV (all-terrain vehicle). While traveling on an ATV with a firearm, it is important to use a secure designated gun rack. When shooting a firearm, it is important to make safe, steady shots, clear of obstruction. Unlike other ATV gun racks, the convertible gun carrier of the present invention has the ability to pop up from a horizontal gun rack position to a vertical gun rest position via a gas lifting spring. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The convertible gun carrier of the present invention can be mounted to an ATV so as to pop up to the left for left handed shooters. The gun carrier can also be mounted to an ATV so as to pop up to the right for right handed shooters. A gun cradle of the gun carrier is capable of rotating 360 degrees when the gun rack is in the vertical gun rest position. The gun carrier, when in the vertical gun rest position, can be used as a shooting rest by users both mounted on the stationary ATV and users dismounted from the ATV. While the ATV is traveling, the gun carrier is securely locked in the horizontal gun rack position via a hold down clamp. When the ATV is stationary and a user wishes to utilize the shooting rest, the hold down clamp is released and one end of the gun carrier pops up via a gas lifting spring. After use, the user simply pushes the end of the gun carrier back down into the horizontal gun rack position and the hold down clamp locks the carrier in place. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side/front perspective view of an ATV with the convertible gun carrier of the present invention mounted thereto, the gun carrier being in the horizontal gun rack position. 
       FIG. 2  is a side/front perspective view of an ATV with the convertible gun carrier of the present invention mounted thereto, the gun carrier being in the vertical gun rest position. 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged front perspective view of the convertible gun carrier of the present invention, the gun carrier being in the horizontal gun rack position. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged front perspective view of the convertible gun carrier of the present invention, the gun carrier being in the vertical gun rest position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The convertible gun carrier ( 1 ) of the present invention includes a frame member ( 2 ) having a first end ( 3 ) and a second end ( 4 ). The first end ( 3 ) of the frame is mounted to an ATV via a first mounting structure ( 5 ) and the second end ( 4 ) of the frame is mounted to the ATV via a second mounting structure ( 6 ). The mounting structures can be secured to the ATV using U-bolts ( 7 ). The first end ( 3 ) of the frame is releasably mounted to the first mounting structure ( 5 ) via a hold down clamp ( 8 ) that releasably locks the first end ( 3 ) of the frame member ( 2 ) to the first mounting structure ( 5 ). The hold down clamp ( 8 ) can be in the form of a cam clamp. When locked in place, the gun carrier is held in the horizontal gun rack position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The second end ( 4 ) of the frame is pivotally mounted to the second mounting structure ( 6 ) via a hinge point ( 9 ). When the hold down clamp ( 8 ) is released, the frame is allowed to pivot about the hinge point ( 9 ) to transition the gun carrier into the vertical gun rest position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
   A gas spring ( 10 ) is connected between the second mounting structure ( 6 ) and the frame. Upon release of the hold down clamp ( 8 ), the gas spring ( 10 ) urges the frame upward, causing the gun carrier to pop up from the horizontal gun rack position to the vertical gun rest position. 
   The frame member ( 2 ) has two gun cradles ( 11 , 12 ) mounted thereto. A first gun cradle ( 11 ) is pivotally attached to the first end ( 3 ) of the frame member ( 2 ) via a pivot cradle base ( 13 ). The pivot cradle base ( 13 ) allows the first gun cradle ( 11 ) to pivot about a horizontal axis so as to always maintain a vertical orientation as will be explained below. The first gun cradle ( 11 ) is attached to the pivot cradle base ( 13 ) via a swivel joint ( 14 ) which allows the first gun cradle ( 11 ) to rotate 360 degrees about a vertical axis. A second gun cradle ( 12 ) is fixedly attached to the second end ( 4 ) of the frame member ( 2 ) via a fixed cradle base ( 15 ). In the horizontal gun rack position, both gun cradles extend vertically away from the frame member ( 2 ) as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In the vertical gun rest position, the first gun cradle ( 11 ) extends vertically away from the frame member ( 2 ) and the second gun cradle ( 12 ) extends horizontally away from the frame member ( 2 ) as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . 
   A lever ( 16 ) is connected between the second mounting structure ( 6 ) and the pivot cradle base ( 13 ). As the frame member ( 2 ) rotates about the hinge point ( 9 ), the lever ( 16 ) causes the pivot cradle base ( 13 ) to rotate about the frame member ( 2 ) in order to maintain a vertical orientation of the first gun cradle ( 11 ) so that it can be used as a gun rest in the vertical gun rest position. 
   In use, an ATV rider releases the hold down clamp ( 8 ) to free the first end ( 3 ) of the frame member ( 2 ) from the first mounting structure ( 5 ). After the hold down clamp ( 8 ) is released, the gas spring ( 10 ) urges the frame member ( 2 ) upward and transitions the convertible gun carrier from the horizontal gun rack position to the vertical gun rest position. In the vertical gun rest position, a user can use the swiveling first gun cradle ( 11 ) to make a safe, steady shot. When it is time to store the firearm once again, the user simply pushes the frame member ( 2 ) downward until the hold down clamp ( 8 ) is engaged and the convertible gun carrier is held in the horizontal gun rack position.