Abstract:
A long gun carrying system for all terrain vehicles that incorporates a support structure that will mount on a rear deck or rack on an ATV and that will support a channel member to receive a soft gun case. The soft gun case is attached to the channel member and the soft gun case may be removed with a gun inside, from the channel member. Alternatively, the long gun is easily removed from the soft gun case, while leaving the gun case in position on the ATV.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a system for mounting and carrying long guns on all terrain vehicles. It is particularly concerned with providing for holding a long gun in a protected position such that the gun is available for easy removal and use. The system of the invention includes a support structure to mount on the rack on an all terrain vehicle (ATV), and that includes a channel member in which a soft gun ease rests. 
   This invention relates to apparatus for carrying long guns on ATV&#39;s. The invention further relates to soft gun cases suitable for carrying long guns on or off an ATV. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the past it has been common to carry long guns on ATV&#39;s by securing them to the support racks of the vehicles or by positioning them, in mounts, across the handlebars of the vehicles. Other support systems have been proposed that use solid or hard gun cases that will mount to the vehicle, but such hard cases are subject to breakage and do not properly protect a gun stored in therein. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present Invention provides a system that will carry a long gun on an ATV, such that the gun is immobilized in a soft case and is held in a position allowing either the long gun and soft case to be on just the gun itself to be easily retrieved by an operator. The soft gun case is mounted in a channel member that is supported by a bracket assembly, which will attach to the rear platform of an ATV. The bracket assembly can be attached to extend outwardly of either side of the platform. As a result, a pair of soft gun cases can be supported at opposite sides of the vehicle and the entire mounting system does not prevent other items being stored on the rear platform or rack of the vehicle. The soft gun case is mounted in the channel in such a manner as to preclude forward and reverse movement of the gun case and the soft gun case is constructed to allow easy removal of the gun contained therein and full protection of the gun during the time the gun is within the case. 
   Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a soft gun case for the storage and transportation of a long gun, i.e., rifle or shotgun. 
   Other objects of the present invention are to provide a gun case that will hold a long gun such that either the gun case with gun, or the gun without soft gun case can be easily installed on and removed from an ATV. 
   Another object is to provide a soft gun case that will protect any of a wide variety of types of long guns. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide support means for a soft gm case that will attach to many different types of ATV&#39;s and that does not utilize the support space normally found on the front or rear rack of an ATV. 
   Another object is to provide a support bracket interconnecting the rear deck or rack of an ATV with the soft gun case and providing support throughout a large portion of the length of the soft gun case. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a support for a soft gun case that will allow the positioning of guns of different shapes and types and even including guns with projecting bolt handles to be carried on the ATV. 
   Still another object is to provide a soft gun case that will receive long guns of various types to be supported on an ATV and that will effectively prevent dirt, moisture and the like, entering into the gun case to damage a gun placed therein. 
   Another object is to provide a support structure for the soft gun case that will hold the soft gun case in its gun receiving and holding configuration even if the gun is removed. 
   Yet another object is to provide a support structure for the soft gun case that will hold the soft gun case in a desired angle or position and that will preclude forward or reverse movement of the soft gun case during storage or travel of a gun placed in the case. 
   Still another object is to provide a support structure for the soft gun case that is readily attached to the rear platform or rack of an ATV and that will permit the angle of the gun case to be set, as desired, by the ATV operator. The gun case is made of strong, durable, fabric material, such as nylon and is flexible to accommodate a wide variety of different kinds of long guns. For example, it will accommodate shotguns of various kinds and types and rifles, including those having operating bolts projecting from either a right or left side of the gun. 
   Principal features of the long gun carrying system of the invention include a mounting plate to attach to the rear deck or rack of an ATV. The mounting plate supports a channel member beyond a side of the ATV and the angle of the channel member may be varied with respect to the rear deck or rack of the ATV. 
   The channel member has a pair of sidewalls interconnected by a web. Each of the sidewalls has a notch formed intermediate its length. 
   The soft gun case of the system includes a handle that allows the gun case to be transported or moved by hand. The soft gun case is made of durable fabrics, such as nylon and is made to have a zipper top through which a long gun is inserted into the case. The soft gun case fits into the channel member and is secured thereto by straps attached to the soft gun case and passed around the channel member. Pockets on opposite sides of the soft gun case extend downwardly over the sidewalls of the channel member and the pockets are closed at opposite ends so that the gun case cannot slide relative to the channel member when the gun case is inserted in the channel member. 
   The soft gun case is sufficiently flexible to accept long guns of different shapes and types. The notches formed in the sides of the channel allow the gun case to project beyond the sides of the channel when a gun having a bolt handle projecting outwardly from the side of the gun is placed in the soft gun case. 
   Entrance to the soft gun case is made through a zippered opening in the top of the soft gun case. The zippered opening extends from intermediate the length of the soft gun case to a back end of the soft gun case. A semi-rigid top cover pivots from one side of the soft gun case over the zippered portion of the gun case and is locked in place with straps connecting the cover and outside surface of the soft gun case. A portion of the soft gun case containing the top zipper extends upwardly beyond the upper portion barrel receiving end of the gun case so that as a gun is positioned in the case, barrel first, the gun stock can be pivoted down into the larger portion of the soft gun case. With the top cover made of semi-rigid material it is easily folded over the zipper portion and protects the zipper against dirt and moisture. The semi-rigid top flap also provides mounting structure for a handle located intermediate the length of the soft gun case. When the soft gun case is unstrapped from the channel member and is removed, it is easily carried using the handle to any desired location. 
   The principal features of the invention further include a support structure that will readily adapt to mounting on a rear deck or rack of an ATV and that will adapt to use on ATV&#39;s of various makes and manufacturers. The adaptor includes a flat plate that is bolted to the deck or rack of the ATV and an upwardly extending lip that is bolted to a corresponding plate extending downwardly from a channel in which a soft gun case is positioned. A plurality of bolt holes are provided to allow the upright plate and corresponding downwardly extending plate to be positioned at selected angles. 
   The downwardly projecting plate extends from the bottom of a channel member having opposite sides projecting upwardly from a web plate to which the downwardly extending plate is fixed. The walls of the channel member are notched intermediate the length of the walls. A soft gun case is dimensioned to have a bottom that will fit into a channel member. Pockets formed at opposite sides of the soft gun case fit over the upstanding walls of the channel member such that the ends of the pockets prevent slippage of the soft gun case with respect to the channel member. Straps on the soft gun case are passed beneath the channel member to secure the soft gun case in the channel member. 
   The soft gun case has a zippered top opening extending from intermediate the length of the soft gun case to the rear of the gun case and raised above a front end portion of the soft gun case that receives the muzzle end of a long gun placed in the case. The zipper for the zipper opening of the soft gun case extends beyond the rear of the case so that rear of the case is fully open to better facilitate insertion of the gunstock as the gun is positioned in the soft gun case. A top cover is pivotally connected to the soft gun case and pivots over the top of the zipper, including the extended portion of the zipper, and is held in place by straps on the soft gun case. The top cover prevents the entry of dust, moisture, and the like into the soft gun case when the gun is being transported or stored. 
   The top cover preferably is made with semi-rigid side, front, rear and top walls so that it will easily swing into position off of and onto the top of the soft gun case. 
   Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed description and drawings, disclosing what is presently contemplated as being the best mode of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a gun carrying support system of the invention as it is mounted on an ATV, but with the soft gun case separated from the channel member; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the support structure for the soft gun case; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the support structure shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an elevation view, with an alternate position of the channel member shown in phantom; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the rear deck or rack of an ATV with a pair of support structures for the soft gun case of the invention at opposite sides of the deck or rack; 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the soft gun case of the system of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the opposite side of the soft gun case; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective taken from the front and slightly above the soft gun case; and 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings: 
   In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the long gun carrying system of the invention is shown generally at  10 , mounted to the rear deck or rear rack  12  of an ATV, shown generally at  14 . The long gun carrying system includes a support structure, shown at  16 , that receives a soft gun case  18 . 
   The support structure for the soft gun case  18  includes a mounting plate  20 , with a flat surface  22  having multiple holes there through, to receive U-bolts that are each inserted through two openings in the rear deck or rack of the ATV. The U-bolts  42  secure the plate  20  to the rear deck or rack. Plate  20  has an upturned flange  24  that has one end of the upright plate  26  bolted thereto. The other end of plate  26  is bolted to a downwardly turned flange  28  of an attachment member  30  that is bolted to a web  32  forming part of a channel  34 . The channel member  34  further includes a pair of spaced apart sidewalls  36  and  38  and each of the sidewalls is notched at  40 , intermediate the length of the sidewall. 
   The U-bolts  42  are inserted through holes in the flat plate  22  to secure the flat plate to the rear deck or rear rack of the ATV  14  The U-bolts are inserted through selected ones of a large number of holes  44  in the flat plate  22  and the large number of holes  44  allow the flat plate to be mounted on a wide variety or types of ATV&#39;s. It is most desirable that when the flat plate  22  is secured to the ATV the upstanding lip  24  is positioned outwardly of the rear deck or rack of the ATV. 
   Bolts  46  are used to secure the upright plate  26  to the lip  24  and these bolts are inserted through selected holes  48  in the upturned lip and are secured with nuts  47 . The variety of holes again allows for the support structure to be modified to best fit different kinds and types of ATV&#39;s. The opposite end of upright plate  26  is secured to the downwardly extending portion of attachment plate  28  by bolts  50  inserted through selected holes in the upright plate  26  that are used to secure the upright plate  26  to selected hole  54  in attachment plate  28 . Nuts  52  secure the bolts  50  in place. 
   Attachment plate  28  is secured by bolts  60  and nuts  62  to the web  32  of the channel member  34 . 
   The arcuate and crossing pattern of the holes  66  through the upright plate  26  allows the bolts  50  to be inserted as the channel member is pivoted angularly up or down and at either side of an ATV to which the unit assembly is attached. Nuts  52  secure bolts  50  in place. 
   Soft gun case  18  includes a pair of sidewalls  70  and  72  interconnected by a bottom  74 . Sidewalls  70  and  72  extend the full length of the gun case and are tapered to a muzzle end  74 . A reinforcement member  76  is wrapped around the end  74  and is sewn to the sidewalls. Flexible foam material cushions  80  are provided inside of each sidewall and bottom to firmly engage the long gun placed inside the soft gun case. Sidewalls are curved upwardly at  82  to form an entryway into the soft gun case. The sides  70  and  72  are extended upwardly at  84  and  86  and the opening formed at the top between the sides is closed by a zipper  88 . The zipper extends beyond the rear end  90  of the soft gun case. 
   When the zipper  88  is open, it is a simple manner to insert a long gun into soft gun case  18 . This is done by inserting the barrel end of the gun through the opening at the top of the soft gun case and into the muzzle receiving portion of the soft gun case and then pivoting the stock of the gun down through the opening into the soft gun case. 
   A lid  94  is pivotally connected to the wall  70  of the soft gun case and includes spaced apart sidewalls  98  and  100  interconnected by spaced apart end walls  102  and  104  and a top wall  106 . Lid  94  is pivotally connected at  108  to the wall  70 . Interconnecting couplers  110  and  112  respectively attached to straps on the lid and the ball of the soft gun case are used to hold the lid securely in position over the zipper assembly  88 . 
   Pockets  120  and  122  are formed on opposite sides of the soft gun case and each pocket is sewn at ends  126  and  128  while remaining open at a bottom edge. In use, when the soft gun assembly  18  is positioned within the channel member  34 , pocket  120  fits over sidewall  36  of the channel member. At the same time, pocket  22  fits over the sidewall member  38  of the channel member. Once the pockets are installed over the sidewalls of the channel member the sewn ends  126  and  128  of the pockets prevent sliding of the soft gun case  18  with respect to the channel member. 
   Straps  130  are then passed beneath the channel member and are secured to hold the soft gun case in position, in the channel member. 
   A handle  132  is attached to the top of the lid and provides means for carrying of the soft gun case when it is released from the channel member. 
   Although a preferred form of our invention has been herein disclosed, it is be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter we regard as our invention.