Abstract:
A mounting apparatus includes a base, a first support member position on the base, a second support member positioned on the base and spaced apart from the first support member and a movable locking bar that extends between the first and second support member. The base, locking bar and support member cooperating to releaseably secure one or more devices.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/874,751, filed Jun. 6, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention is directed to a mounting apparatus. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for safely and securely mounting or displaying firearms, tools and the like.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    The safekeeping of firearms is an issue of considerable importance to every gun owner; particularly gun owners who are parents. Generally, it is not enough to simply “lock up” a firearm. Additional, precautions should also be taken to ensure that a firearm cannot be discharged even it is locked away in a secure cabinet or display case.  
           [0006]    The safekeeping devices, like firearms, or even power tools, also presents a considerable dilemma for firearm retailers. Typically, the retailer wants prospective purchasers to “get a feel for” the device by allowing those purchasers to closely examine the product. However, that examination must not come with a risk of security to the retailer or other purchasers.  
           [0007]    In order to address similar concerns regarding the potential theft of retail goods a variety of stands and mounts have been developed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,497 to Maule discloses a display stand including a base that has at each end an outwardly extending rod. A crossbar is pivotally secured to an end of one rod and extends parallel to the base to engage a lock that is positioned on the other end of the rod. Using this system, a retailer can publicly display and allow examination of a variety of objects without worrying about possible theft or misuse.  
           [0008]    A similar type of device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,879, which is also issued to Maule. In this system, the crossbar and one rod include circular end portions that are engaged and secured together by a lock.  
           [0009]    A gun rack is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,972 to Saathoff. The gun rack includes a number of horizontally extending sleeves that are used for supporting a firearm. A pair of vertically extending crossbars extend over the sleeves to secure the firearm in the rack.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention concerns a mounting apparatus for a device such as a firearm or a tool. The apparatus includes a base, a first support member, a second support member and a locking bar that extends between the first support member and said second support member.  
           [0011]    The base includes such things as a vertically directed surface (e.g., a wall), a flat surface (e.g., a table top) or a plate (e.g., mounting plate). The first support member has a base (preferably a conical base) that is positioned on the base of the apparatus and a support rod that extends from the base of the first support member. The support rod has a first end and a second end. The first end is secured to the conical base of the first support member. In the preferred embodiment, the second support member is engaged by the locking bar. The second support member includes a base (preferably a conical base) and a lock that can engage the locking bar. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    Reference is made to the attached drawings, when read in conjunction with the following specification, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a side environmental view showing a preferred embodiment of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention being used with a firearm;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a side cutaway view of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is planar side view of the top end of a support rod of the preferred embodiment; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 4 , there is shown an mounting apparatus  10  constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus  10  includes a base  12 , a first  14  and a second  16  support member positioned on the base  12  and a locking bar  18  that is moveably secured to the second support member  16  and adapted to engage the first support member  14 .  
         [0019]    Still referring to FIGS.  1 - 4 , and as best shown in FIG. 3, the base  12  of the present invention includes most any smooth surface, such as a vertically directed surface. A vertically directed surface is normally a wall or other vertical support that is provided with appropriate bracing for supporting the apparatus  10  of the present invention. Two inch by four inch support beams (not shown) may be provided within the vertically directed surface for appropriate support. Alternatively, the base  12  may include a tabletop (not shown) or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the base  12  includes a mounting plate  20 , a faceplate  22  that is positioned over the mounting plate  20  and a backing plate  24 . The mounting plate  20 , faceplate  22  and backing plate  24  are preferably constructed of steel. However, other metals and alloys having the requisite strength and support characteristics may also be used in the construction of the base  12 . For example, the normally outwardly visible faceplate  22  may be constructed of a stainless steel or otherwise be chrome plated.  
         [0020]    The mounting plate  20  (see FIG. 3) is a rectangular, box-like structure that includes a lower surface  26 , a pair of sidewalls  28  and an upper surface  30 ; the sidewalls  28  and surfaces  26 ,  30  defining an open interior for the mounting plate  20 . The ends  32 ,  34  of the mounting plate  20  are open. A U-shaped opening  36 ,  38  is defined in each end  32 ,  34  of the upper surface  30  of the mounting plate  20  to facilitate (as will be described below) engagement with the first and second support members  14 ,  16 . The ends  32 ,  34  of the mounting plate  20  are sealed by the insertion of plastic or metal end caps  40  following the positioning of the first and second support members  14 ,  16  in the U-shaped openings  36 ,  38 .  
         [0021]    A pair of circular apertures  42  (FIGS.  3 - 4 ) are defined in the upper surface  30  of the mounting plate  20  between the U-shaped openings  36 ,  38 . Likewise, a series of four apertures  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50  are defined in the lower surface  26  of the mounting plate  20  and are in alignment with the U-shaped openings  36 ,  38  and apertures  42 , respectively, of the upper surface  30 . A pair of bolts  52  extend through the apertures  42  in the upper surface  30  and the lower surface  26  to secure the mounting plate  20  to the backing plate  24 . Alternatively, or additionally, it will be appreciated by those having skill in the art that the mounting plate  20  and backing plate  24  can be used to secure the apparatus  10  to a wall or similar surface (not shown).  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS.  2 - 4 , the faceplate  22  of the base  12  includes a top surface  54  and a pair of sidewalls  56  extending from the top surface  54 . A pair of U-shaped openings  58 ,  60  are defined in each end  62 ,  64  of the top surface  54 . The top surface  54  and sidewalls  56  of the faceplate  22  are positioned over the upper surface  30  and sidewalls  28 , respectively, of the mounting plate  20 . In positioning the faceplate  22  on the mounting plate  20  the U-shaped openings  58 ,  60  of the faceplate  22  are aligned with the U-shaped openings  36 ,  38  of the mounting plate  20 .  
         [0023]    Still referring to FIGS.  2 - 4 , the first support member  14  includes a base, preferably a first conical base  66  having a recess  68  and a support rod  70  that is secured to and extends from the first conical base  66 . A circumferentially extending groove  72  (as shown in FIGS.  3 - 4 ) is defined around the first conical base  66 . The groove  72  engages U-shaped openings  36 ,  58  of the base  12  (when the faceplate  22  is secured to the mounting plate  22 ) to thereby secure the first support member  14  to the base  12 . A lower portion  74  of the first conical base  66  is cut away on a side  76  of the first conical base  66  opposite the direction of insertion of the conical base  66  into the base  12  to provide a face surface  78  that allows additional room for the positioning of an end cap  40 . An axially extending tap  77  (see FIG. 4) is disposed in a bottom of the first conical base  66  and is engaged by a screw  79  that extends through an aperture  44  in the lower surface  26  of the mounting plate  20  to secure the first support member  14  to the base  12 .  
         [0024]    The first support member  14  is preferably constructed of steel. However, other metals or alloys having the requisite strength characteristics can also be used in the construction of the first support member  14 . For example, the first support member  14  can be constructed from a polymer material, e.g., plastic, or a reinforced material e.g., carbon fiber or TEFLON®.  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 - 5 , the support rod  70  extends from the first conical base  66  and preferably includes an opening  80  at an end  82  opposite the conical base  66 . It will therefore be appreciated that the support rod  70  may be a tube or cylinder that is affixed at one end to the first conical base  66  and is open at an opposite end or a solid rod having a recess defined in one end. The support rod  70  has a diameter of ¾ of an inch, however, a greater or lesser diameter may also be used. The opening  80  in the support rod  70  includes a notch  84  that extends from a top  86  of the support rod  70  and along the side of the support rod  70  facing the second support member  16 . The opening  80  and the notch  84  are engagable by the locking bar  18  (as will be discussed below).  
         [0026]    As shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 , the second support member  16  includes a base, preferably a second conical base  88  having a longitudinally extending axial bore  90  extending therethrough, a spring  92  that is positioned within the bore  90 , a lock housing  94  and that is secured to the second conical base  88  and a sleeve  96  that extends from the lock housing  94 . As with the first conical base  66 , the second conical base  88  has a circumferentially extending groove  98  that is adapted to engage a U-shaped opening  38 ,  60  of the base  12  (when the faceplate  22  is secured to the mounting plate  20 ) to secure the second support member  16  in the base  12 . Since it may sometimes be necessary to remove the second conical base  88  and associated locking bar  18  (to facilitate access to the firearm, etc), it is not necessary to secure the second conical base  88  to the base  12  by means of a screw or the like. A lower portion  100  of the second conical base  88  is cut away on a side  102  opposite the direction of insertion of the second conical base  88  into the base  12  to provide a face surface  104  that allows additional room for the positioning of an end cap  40 .  
         [0027]    As seen in FIG. 4, the lower surface  26  of the mounting plate  20  serves to maintain the spring  92  within the bore  90  of the base  88  when the second support member  14  is secured to the base  12 . Alternatively, the spring  92  may be seated on a flange  104  that extends into the bore  90 . As a still further alternative, a recess may take the place of the bore  90  so as to support the spring  92 . As discussed below, the spring  92  engages the locking bar  18  to bias the locking bar  18  in an unlocked orientation.  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIGS.  2 - 4 , the lock housing  94  is secured to and extends from the second conical base  88 . The lock housing  94  has a longitudinally extending bore  106  and a lock apparatus  108 . The lock apparatus  108  includes lock cylinder  110  having a lock cam  112  that, as discussed below, engages and disengages the locking bar  18 . One having skill in the art will note that lock housing  94  can be integral with the second conical base  88 .  
         [0029]    The sleeve  96 , which is preferably tubular in shape, is secured to and extends from the lock housing  94  and includes a bore  114  therethrough that communicates with the bore  106  of the lock housing  94 .  
         [0030]    The second support member  16  is preferably constructed of steel. However, other metals or alloys having the requisite strength characteristics can also be used in the construction of the second support member  16 . Additionally or alternatively, the sleeve  96  can be constructed from or can be coated with a polymer material, e.g., plastic, or a reinforced material e.g., carbon fiber or TEFLON®.  
         [0031]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 4 , the locking bar  18  is an L-shaped rod having a horizontal portion  116  and a vertical portion  118 . The vertical portion  118  of the locking bar  18  movably engages and extends though the bores  114 ,  106  of the sleeve  96  and the lock housing  94  and has an end  120  that terminates in bore  90  of the second conical base  88 . The end  120  of the vertical portion  118  of the locking bar  18  is secured within the base  88  by means of a pin  122  (see FIG. 4) that extends through an aperture  124  positioned proximate the end  120 . Therefore, the bores  90 ,  106  of the second conical base  88  and the lock housing  94  should have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the bore  106  of the lock housing  94  in order to accommodate the pin  122 . However, the diameter of the bore  114  of the sleeve  96  should be narrower than the length of the pin  122  such that the locking bar  18  is movably securable to the second support member  16 . A locking groove  124  is disposed on the locking bar  18 , proximate the end  120  and above the aperture  124  that is releaseably engaged by the lock cam  112 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 , the horizontal portion  116  of the locking bar  18  has a vertically extending end portion  126  that has a diameter less that the diameter of the opening  80  of the support rod  70 . Therefore, when in the unlocked position the locking bar  18  is free to move about the second support member  16  such that it may be moved either toward or away from the end  82  of the rod  68 .  
         [0033]    In operation, the end portion  120  of the vertical portion  118  of the locking bar  18  is biased in an upwardly or unlocked position by the spring  92 . In the unlocked position the locking groove  124  of the locking bar  18  is positioned above the lock cylinder  84  such that the lock cam  112  cannot engage it. When a user aligns the end portion  126  of the horizontal portion  116  of the locking bar  18  with the opening  80  of the support rod  70  and urges the locking bar  18  into a downwardly or locked position, the locking groove  124  of the locking bar  18  is placed in alignment with the lock cam  112  such that the lock cam  112  can engage the locking groove  124  and thereby fix the locking bar  18  in the locked orientation.  
         [0034]    Having described my invention, additional embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains.