Abstract:
A firearm case which is attachable to a motorcycle comprises a frame the holds and encloses a firearm. The frame includes a firearm lock and latch that securely locks the firearm in place. A housing surrounds the frame as to enclose the frame and firearm, safe from the weather, theft and minor damage. An optional remotely operated control system unlocks the firearm case and the firearm lock simultaneously for quick and easy access to the firearm.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/395,148, filed May 10, 2010. The content of this application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a firearm case for a motorcycle or an all terrain vehicle (ATV) particularly to securely lock the firearm and enclose the firearm from harsh weather conditions. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is known to provide a protective firearm housing for mounting to an ATV and the like, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,530 issued to Black on Oct. 21, 2003. The Black mounted firearm case comprises a protective gun housing with an opening on the top through which a firearm may pass. The firearm case comprises three portions: a protective firearm housing, a soft firearm case and a mounting assembly. The protective firearm housing is connected to a mounting assembly designed to attach to handle bars. The firearm housing is designed to outline the shape of a hunting rifle and the soft case, used to protect the firearm, is inserted into the firearm housing. The mounting assembly comprises brackets to hold the firearm housing and mounting collars for attachment to the handlebar. An alternative embodiment further comprises an opening in the firearm housing that is closed by a hinged cover. 
         [0004]    One disadvantage of this type of firearm case is that it does not provide a locking feature to keep the firearm safe from theft. Furthermore, although the protective housing of the invention provides a shell to keep the firearm safe from nicks or being banged by foreign objects and from mud, dirt and water being splashed while driving an ATV, this shell does not provide for a protective cage during crashes. 
         [0005]    It is also known to provide a permanently mounted gun safe that has a hinged cover and lock to a motorcycle as in U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,913 issued to Lindsey et al Dec. 5, 2006. The Lindsey gun safe is sized and shaped to conform to a conventional handgun. The gun safe is bolted through the back wall of an inner surface to a flat area on a motorcycle, so that it cannot be removed without unlocking the gun safe. Although this firearm case does keep the firearm secure from theft and weather elements, it is not easily accessible if the firearm is needed quickly. 
         [0006]    It is also known to mount a firearm to an ATV longitudinally or laterally as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,484 issued to Savant May 7, 2002 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,273 issued to Allen Apr. 10, 1990 respectively. The Savant firearm rack discloses a firearm mounting bracket that is attached to a cargo rack assembly of an ATV. A rigid firearm boot is removably received into a loop shaped mounting bracket by a latch assembly that cooperates with a retaining loop of the firearm boot. Although the Savant firearm rack discloses a protective cover and lock for a firearm it is lacking because it only discloses how to mount the removable firearm boot in a longitudinal direction only on an ATV, and is not applicable for a motorcycle. 
         [0007]    The Allen firearm rack discloses an assembly for mounting a firearm to an ATV comprising a butt end bracket and a forearm bracket that are attached to a rectangular tube. The tube may be attached to the rear frame of an ATV so that the firearm is in a lateral orientation. Although the Allen firearm rack allows for the lateral mounting of the firearm to an ATV or a motorcycle, the disadvantages of the Allen firearm rack is that it does not provide a cover to keep the firearm safe from inclement weather or in crashes and it does not provide a locking system to keep the firearm secure from theft. 
         [0008]    In addition, it is known to provide a locked storage compartment on a motorcycle as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,171 issued to Augustine, Jr. Aug. 7, 2007. The storage compartment discloses a compartment with a lock mounted on the rear fender of a motor cycle so that the access door faces forward. Some disadvantages of this storage compartment are that it is not large enough to contain all varieties of firearms and it does not provide a quick unlock feature to access the contents quickly. U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,516 issued to Hanagan, May 4, 2004, discloses a quick change storage compartment for mounting on a rear fender of a motorcycle. 
         [0009]    Holsters have been designed to attach to the side of a motorcycle. The open frame allows a handgun to be attached to the side of the motorcycle. These holsters have a lock for safe keeping. Also closed storage boxes that are attached to a motorcycle have a lock to secure items within the box. 
         [0010]    What is needed is a firearm case that s secures and store a firearm to a motorcycle or ATV which keeps the firearm safe from dangers such as theft, crashes and inclement weather, yet allows the firearm to be accessed easily and quickly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the firearm case has a frame that includes many pieces to form a cage that has a base portion and a top portion. The base portion of the cage is configured to hold the firearm in place. The top portion of the frame is hingedly attached to the base portion of the cage so it opens and closes. The top portion covers over the top of the firearm when the cage is closed as to provide a secure cage around the firearm. The base portion of the cage includes a firearm barrel alignment at an end of the base portion of the cage for supporting a barrel end of the firearm, and a firearm stabilizer at an opposite end of the base portion of the cage for supporting a butt end of the firearm. 
         [0012]    The firearm case preferably includes a housing that encloses the frame to provide a protective cover which keeps the firearm safe from inclement weather, road debris and the like. 
         [0013]    The firearm case also preferably includes a lockable latch to prevent unauthorized opening of the firearm case. 
         [0014]    The firearm case may also include an optional firearm lock that is positioned in the base portion of the frame intermediate the firearm barrel alignment and the firearm stabilizer to lock the firearm in place. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, for added security, an optional control system can be built into the frame unlocking the firearm case and the firearm lock from a remote control source. The control system may be designed to unlock the firearm case and the firearm lock simultaneously and also may be designed to relock the firearm case and the firearm lock after a predetermined length of time. 
         [0016]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a firearm case is constructed for attachment to an exterior of a motor vehicle. The firearm case has an internal clam shell cage member with an upper cage section pivotably connected to a lower frame section for moving between an open and closed position. The cage member has a first locking device for lockably latching the upper cage section to the lower cage section. A firearm clamp has an upper clamp section hingedly attached to a lower clamp section with the lower clamp section mounted in the lower cage section; and the upper clamp section movable between an open position and a clamped locked position encasing a barrel of a firearm disposed in the cage. The firearm clamp having a second locking device for locking the firearm clamp when in the closed position. 
         [0017]    Other objects, advantages and application of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a motorcycle having a firearm case of the invention attached to a rear crash bar of the motorcycle; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the firearm case of  FIG. 1  showing a hinged top portion and a firearm lock in an open position to illustrate internal details; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the firearm case of  FIG. 1  showing the hinged top portion and the firearm lock in the open position with a firearm in place in a base portion of the firearm case; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the firearm case of  FIG. 1  showing the hinged top portion in the open position and the firearm lock in a closed position locking the firearm in place in the base portion of the firearm case; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the firearm case taken substantially along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4  looking in the direction of the arrows, with the hinged top portion in the closed position, and with the firearm removed to show internal details; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the firearm case with the housing cut away to show details of an internal frame of the firearm case; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the firearm case with the housing cut away and showing the internal frame of the firearm case with a portion of the internal frame removed to illustrate internal components; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of a control system for the firearm case; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of an additional embodiment of a firearm case having a plurality of components affixed to the rear wall of firearm case housing 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0028]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a firearm case  10  of the invention is shown attached to a rear crash bar of a motorcycle  11 . The firearm case  10  may be also attached to an ATV or other vehicle or may be attached to any other convenient location on any of the vehicles. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 , the firearm case  10  includes a frame  22  and a housing  12  attached to the frame  22 . The frame  22  has many member pieces that make up a base portion  24  and a hinged top portion  26  as explained below. The housing  12  comprises a front wall  13 , a rear wall  14 , a first side wall  15 , a second side wall  16 , a bottom wall  17  combining to create a lower housing portion, and a top lid  20  defining a cavity  18  therebetween when the top lid  20  is closed as shown in  FIG. 5 . The cavity  18  is dimensioned and configured to receive and enclose the frame  22  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Internal components of the firearm case  10  include a firearm lock  30 , a time delay module  36 , a latch  42 , a firearm barrel alignment  50 , and a firearm stabilizer  52 . The housing  12  is preferably constructed of a rigid, durable material strong enough to prevent a forced entry into the firearm case  10 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4  show the internal components and the firearm lock  30  in an open position, a firearm placed in the firearm case with the firearm lock in the open position, and the firearm placed in the firearm case with the firearm lock in a closed position respectively. A suitable firearm lock  30  is a commercially available electronic gun lock made by Pro-Gard and designated as Model No. U5000UT. The firearm lock  30  has a lower clasp member  31  mounted on base portion  24  of frame  22  with an upper clasp member  32  hingedly connected to the lower clasping member  31 . The firearm lock  30  can be opened remotely by an electric signal and also has a mechanical override in which a key can be placed into a mechanical firearm lock  38  to unlock it manually. Other suitable firearm locks may be used. However, it is preferable any alternate firearm lock be capable of being opened remotely by an electric signal and include a key operated mechanical override. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows a cross section of the invention and discloses how the frame  22  and housing  12  are attached to each other by two external hinges A and B. Each external hinge comprises a lower hinge plate  56  and an upper hinge plate  57 . The two external hinges are located on the outside of the housing  12 . The top lid  20  of the housing  12  is attached to the hinged top portion  26  of the frame  22  by a plurality of fasteners that go through the upper hinge plate  57 , through the top lid  20  and through the hinged top portion  26  of the frame  22 . The lower portion of the housing  12  is attached to the base portion  24  of the frame  22  by a plurality of fasteners that go through the lower hinge plate  56 , through the rear wall  12  and the base portion  24  of the frame  22 . While the drawings show nuts and bolts, any suitable fasteners may be used. 
         [0032]    The two external hinges A and B connect the base portion  24  of the frame  22  to the hinged top portion  26  of the frame  22  so that the frame  22  can be opened and closed while the hinged top portion  26  stays intact. The top lid  20  moves in conjunction with the hinged top portion  26  of the frame  22  while opening and closing. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective of the frame  22 . The base portion  24  of the frame  22  comprises of an oblong rectangular rod  60  that provides a perimeter for the firearm stored in the firearm case  10 . A front plate  62  and a rear plate  63 , both plates being long, narrow and rectangular, attach to the oblong rectangular rod  60  longitudinally. The front plate  62  and the rear plate  63  extend up from the oblong rectangular rod  60  and face each other. A first lower band  64  and a second lower band  65 , both bands being U-shaped, each reach perpendicularly from a long side of the oblong rectangular rod  60  to a second long side of the oblong rectangular rod  60 , such that the first lower band  64  and the second lower band  65  create a bottom cradle of the frame  22 . The firearm barrel alignment  50  is attached at a narrow end of the oblong rectangular rod  60  for supporting a barrel end of the firearm. The firearm barrel alignment  50  is comprised of an L-shaped brace  51  and a rod that protrudes inwardly and carries a tapered plug  53  that fits into the barrel end  59  of the firearm  77  to hold it in place. The firearm stabilizer  52  is attached at an opposite narrow end of the oblong rectangular rod  60  and sits within the first lower band  64  for supporting a butt end  61  of the firearm  57 . The firearm stabilizer  52  is a block with a slot in the top of the block for receiving the butt end  61  of the firearm. The base portion  24  of the frame  22  also includes a mounting plate  70  for the firearm lock  30  that is attached to the oblong rectangular rod  60 . 
         [0034]    The hinged top portion  26  of the frame  22  has a front upper plate  66  and a rear upper plate  67 , both plates being long, narrow and rectangular. The front upper plate  66  and the rear upper plate  67  run parallel to each other and run longitudinally in the hinged top portion  26  of the frame  22 . A first upper band  68  and a second upper band  69 , both bands being U-shaped, each reach perpendicularly from the front upper plate  66  to the rear upper plate  67  to connect the two plates as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0035]    The rear plate  63  and the rear upper plate  67  serve as backing plates for the hinges A and B as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the structural components that make up the frame  22  are preferably constructed of strong durable material, for example, stainless steel that is strong enough to survive forced entry and severe hits. Non-structural components such as the stabilizer may be made of a convenient material, for example a molded foam. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective of the frame  22  with the front plate  62  removed to show the latch  42 . The latch  42  comprises a latch arm  44  and a catch member  46 . The latch arm is connected to the hinged top portion  26  of the frame  22  at the upper front plate  66 , intermediate to the firearm band. alignment  50  and the firearm stabilizer  52 . The catch member  46  is connected to the base portion  24  of the frame  22  adjacent to the position of the latch arm  44 . A suitable latch  42  is a commercially available electric rotary latch made by SouthCo and designated as Model No. R4-EM-11-131. The latch  42  can be remotely unlocked through an electric signal and also has a mechanical override capability. A mechanical frame lock  48  is attached to the base portion  24  of the frame  22  and protrudes through the housing  12 , such that a key can be placed into the mechanical frame lock  48  as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 . The mechanical frame lock  48  is connected to the latch  42  by a cable  49 , such that when a key is inserted into the mechanical frame lock  48  and the key is turned, the cable  49  pulls an internal catch (not shown) and overrides the latch  42  to open it, releasing the latch arm  44 . Other suitable latches may be used. However it is preferable any alternate latch be capable of being opened remotely by an electric signal and include a key operated mechanical override. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an electronic control system for unlocking the firearm case  10  remotely. A remote unlock switch  34 , which can be a button is either wired to the motorcycle or can be a wireless device such as a remote unlock button on a key chain for an automobile. The remote unlock switch  34  sends a signal to a time delay module  36  that is mounted on the frame  22 . The time delay module  36  then relays the signal to both the firearm lock  30  and the latch  42  simultaneously causing both to unlock. The signal holds the firearm lock  30  and the latch  42  in the unlocked position for a predetermined length of time set by the time delay module  36 . If the firearm case  10  is not opened within the predetermined length of time the firearm lock  30  and latch  42  both return to a locked state. As an additional safeguard, the control system may require the motorcycle&#39;s ignition to be turned to an auxiliary position before the remote unlock switch  34  can operate. The latch  42 , the time delay module  36  and the firearm lock  30  are powered by a power supply  40  affixed to the motorcycle  11 . 
         [0038]    The firearm case  10  is preferably attached to the rear of the motorcycle in any suitable manner so that front of the firearm case  10  faces forward as shown in  FIG. 1 . This precautionary measure is a further protection against an unauthorized forced opening of the firearm case  10 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  shows a typical mounting assembly  54  comprising a series of brackets that are attached to the firearm case  10  for mounting it to the motorcycle  11 . When the firearm case  10  is installed, it may become the new holding place for the motorcycle&#39;s license plate  58  and LED storable lights  55  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under law.