Abstract:
Apparatus for storing therein a firearm includes a firearm case including walls and defining therein a volume for storing therein a firearm. A recharger is configured for recharging a battery of an electronic device. The recharger is in electrical communication with an access port located in a portion of the firearm case.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/331340, filed 15 Jul. 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,441,911, and claims priority therefrom. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to cases for firearms, and particularly to such a case with advanced safety features. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A gun owner naturally must have a safe storage means to protect a gun against accidental discharge or misuse. However, in the prior art, the mere enclosure of a firearm in a closure or lockable enclosure has not afforded protection against unauthorized or accidental use. In particular, such protection of the past has not protected against the accidental discharge of a loaded weapon, either from within the enclosure or after removal, authorized or unauthorized, from the enclosure. Unfortunately many individuals carry their firearms in storage cases in an unsafe condition, wherein the firearm is actually cocked, ready to shoot. Sometimes the firearm is not cocked but there is a live round in the chamber. Once the owner or other individual takes the firearm out of the case, they may inadvertently hold the firearm by the grip, pull the trigger and shoot. 
         [0004]    Complicated devices of the past have provided some form of lock on the trigger guard (that is, aside from the normal gun safety mechanism) inhibiting the pulling of a trigger. Some devices have, especially in the case of revolvers, provided rods locked in the barrels of guns inhibiting rotation of the cylinder against the firing of a loaded chamber in position to be fired. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,307,755 and 3,369,721 to Lentz describe a firearm safety box provided with a safety rod that ensures a firearm has no bullet in its chamber while properly in such a box. The safety rod is inserted into the barrel. The safety rod end is of a length to extend the entire length of the barrel and the bullet chamber. A clip safety rod is also provided that protrudes into the magazine well. 
         [0006]    However, a disadvantage of Lentz is that it is essential to manufacture the box and safety rod for only one particular model of firearm. As stated in Lentz, the positioning of the mounting bar is particularly gauged so that only the particular model automatic pistol may fit into the firearm safety box. The thickness of the inside dimension of the firearm safety box is such that the automatic pistol will fit snugly inside the firearm safety box and the firearm safety box could not otherwise close with another firearm placed in the firearm safety box even if the safety rod and clip safety rod were properly engaged. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention seeks to provide a safe carrying case for firearms (handguns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, etc.), and which may be lockable, as is described more in detail hereinbelow. In one embodiment, the carrying case includes a recharger for recharging batteries of electronic devices, such as but not limited to, electrically operated firearms, personal communication devices and more. 
         [0008]    The present invention prevents storing the firearm in an unsafe position and loaded with ammunition. The user of the firearm can understand and see, even externally, that if the firearm is stored inside the box, then the firearm is certainly cleared, in a safe position. The case is universal for different models of the same manufacturer but not limited to the same manufacturer (such as Springfield, SIG, Smith and Wesson, Beretta and others). Indeed, the case can be fashioned for use with firearm models of several manufacturers, by employing a specific insert (sometimes even the insert is not needed) for each individual manufacturer; however, the lengths of the barrel and the caliber do not affect the performance of the cleared firearms case. 
         [0009]    The invention includes novel structure that ingeniously exploits a feature which has escaped the prior art. For a given line of firearms of a given manufacturer, the distance between the back part of the pistol/grip and the firing pin surface is always fixed. In the case of pistols, for example, there is a fixed size of the grip in calibers of 9 mm and 0.40 (the length of the ammunition is the same). For pistols of caliber 0.45 the length of the grip is slightly longer (typically less than 3 mm). In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the case has alignment structure attached to one wall of the case, so that all firearms of a given line of firearms having different barrel lengths are always placed in the same exact place, such that the distance from the alignment structure to the front surface of the firing pin is always the same (within a tolerance of typically ±1-2 mm, without limitation). A safety rod of a fixed length inserted from the opposite wall into the barrel will always reach the firing pin surface, regardless through which barrel length the rod has to cross. Thus, in contrast to the case of Lentz which requires a custom carrying case for each individual firearm, in the present invention, a single carrying case is used for an entire line of firearms having different lengths of barrels. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the rod can be used as a cleaning rod and/or a stopper on the other side of the case, and may form part of a lock for locking the rod to the firearm and to the case. 
         [0011]    There is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention apparatus for storing therein a firearm, the firearm being one of a given line of firearms of a given manufacturer that have different barrel lengths, the firearm having a barrel and a firing pin, the apparatus including a firearm case including walls, alignment structure extending from one of the walls positioned to abut against a rear surface of one of the firearms of the given line of firearms placed in the firearm case such that a distance from the alignment structure that abuts against the firearm to a front surface of the firing pin of the firearm is equal for all the given line of firearms of the given manufacturer that have different barrel lengths, and a safety rod of a fixed length insertable into the barrel of the firearm, the fixed length being such that an end of the safety rod always reaches the front surface of the firing pin, regardless of the barrel length. 
         [0012]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention an end of the safety rod opposite the end that reaches the firing pin includes a receptacle in which a lock is disposed for locking the safety rod to at least one of the firearm case and the firearm. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the safety rod is formed with an aperture for receiving therein a cleaning cloth or brush. 
         [0014]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the firearm case includes a hinged cover with an aperture for passing through the safety rod. 
         [0015]    There is also provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a method for storing a firearm, the firearm being one of a given line of firearms of a given manufacturer that have different barrel lengths, the firearm having a barrel and a firing pin, the method including placing a firearm in a firearm case, the firearm case including walls, alignment structure extending from one of the walls positioned to abut against a rear surface of one of the firearms of the given line of firearms placed in the firearm case such that a distance from the alignment structure that abuts against the firearm to a front surface of the firing pin of the firearm is equal for all the given line of firearms of the given manufacturer that have different barrel lengths, and a safety rod of a fixed length insertable into the barrel of the firearm, the fixed length being such that an end of the safety rod always reaches the front surface of the firing pin, regardless of the barrel length, and placing the safety rod in the barrel of the firearm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0017]      FIGS. 1, 2 and 3  are simplified cutaway pictorial, plan-view and top-view illustrations, respectively, of a firearm case constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a simplified exploded pictorial illustration of elements of the firearm case of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a simplified pictorial illustration of a safety rod of the firearm case of  FIG. 1 , showing a lock for locking the rod to the firearm and case; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a simplified pictorial illustration of a safety rod of the firearm case of  FIG. 1 , showing provisions for a cleaning cloth or cleaning brush; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are simplified pictorial illustrations of the firearm case with a hinged cover in open and closed positions, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1-3 , which illustrates a firearm case  10 , constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Firearm case  10  is used to safely house a firearm  16 . The illustrated firearm used with the case is a type of handgun, but this is merely for the sake of simplicity and clarity, and the present invention is in no way limited by this particular illustrated construction. 
         [0023]    Firearm  16  includes, among other components, a slide  20 , a grip  22 , a barrel  26  and a firing pin (also referred to as a striker)  32 . Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that only those parts of firearm  10  that are needed to explain the present invention are shown, but the firing assembly of firearm  16  in actuality may include many other parts, such as but not limited to, a breech block, a trigger, a trigger bar, a sear and various springs that are well known in the art and (are) therefore do not require detailed description and are omitted in the drawing for the sake of simplicity. 
         [0024]    Firearm case  10  may be made of injection-molded plastic, or of any other suitable material, such as but not limited to, metal or wood. 
         [0025]    Firearm case  10  includes alignment structure  12  extending from a wall  14  positioned to abut against a rear surface of firearm  16  placed in firearm case  10 . In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, alignment structure  12  includes ribs  18  that abut against the rear face of the slide  20  and/or the grip  22 . One or more other abutments  24  are positioned in the case  10  to support firearm  16 , such as an abutment  24  that straddles the barrel  26 . The case  10  may include one or more other holding elements  28  for holding accessories, such as but not limited to, magazines  30 . 
         [0026]    Manufacturers of firearms often have a line of firearms that differ in the length of the barrel. For example, SPRINGFIELD ARMORY of Geneseo, Ill., USA manufactures a line of handguns under the trade name XD. There are different firearms in the XD line, and some of the barrel lengths 3″, 3.5″, 4″, 5.25″. 
         [0027]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, all firearms of a given line of firearms having different barrel lengths are always placed in the same exact place, such that the distance from the alignment structure  12  that abuts against the firearm (in the illustrations, the leftmost end of the ribs  18 ) to the front surface of the firing pin  32  (in the illustrations, the leftmost end of firing pin  32 ) is always the same (within a tolerance of typically ±1-2 mm, without limitation). 
         [0028]    A safety rod  40  of a fixed length is inserted into barrel  26 , such as but not limited to, through an aperture  13  ( FIG. 1 ) in a wall  15  opposite to wall  14  of case  10 . The fixed length of safety rod  40  is selected such that it always reaches front surface of the firing pin  32 , regardless through which barrel length the rod has to cross. Thus, for a short barrel (e.g., sub-compact) more of the left end of rod  40  is exposed, whereas for a long barrel (e.g., XD M ) more of the left end of rod  40  is inside the barrel, but the right end of the rod  40  always reaches the front surface of the firing pin  32  (“reaches” meaning either just touching or spaced therefrom with a small gap, e.g., a few millimeters). 
         [0029]    Safety rod  40  can only reach the front surface of the firing pin  32  if the firearm  16  is not cocked and there is no round in the chamber. Thus, by placing firearm  16  in the case  10  with safety rod  40  in place in the barrel  26 , the user is assured that firearm  16  is safely stored, not cocked and with no round in the chamber. Unlike the prior art, a single carrying case is used for an entire line of firearms having different lengths of barrels. 
         [0030]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an end of safety rod  40  opposite the end that reaches the firing pin includes a receptacle  42  for receiving therein a lock  44 . In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, lock  44  is a vending machine type of lock, well known in the art of locks, that has a keyway  46  for inserting therein a key (not shown), which when turned, actuates a locking tongue  48  for locking rod  40  to firearm  16  and/or to the case  10 , wherein locking tongue  48  catches onto a portion of firearm  16  (e.g., an inner surface of the barrel) and/or case  10  (e.g., a guide member  49 ). Other types of locks can also be used. 
         [0031]    Safety rod  40  may also serve as a cleaning rod for cleaning firearm  16 . For example, the end of safety rod  40  near the firing pin may be formed with an aperture  50  (e.g., an elongated slot) for receiving therein a cleaning cloth or patch (not shown) and/or with an aperture  52  (e.g., a threaded hole) for receiving therein a cleaning brush (not shown). Apertures  50  and  52  may be transverse to each other. 
         [0032]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, firearm case  10  may include a hinged cover  60  with an aperture  62  for passing through rod  40  and lock  44 . 
         [0033]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the firearm carrying case  10  includes a recharger  80  for recharging batteries of electronic devices, such as but not limited to, electrically operated firearms or firearm accessories (such as lights or sights), personal communication devices and more. The recharger  80  may be in electrical communication with an access port  82 , such as but not limited to, a USB port, located in a portion of case  10 . 
         [0034]    Optionally, recharger  80  may be a charged battery that can be used as a recharging device for another battery or another device or another accessory or the weapon itself. Accordingly, recharger  80  may be a charged battery/energy reservoir of any kind, for example two separate chemical materials that once mixed emit energy and can be used as a long shelf life battery. 
         [0035]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.