Abstract:
An arrangement and method for storing a hand gun or rifle in which a hand gun receiving gun case is attached to a fixed structure and an audio alarm is activated whenever a lid for the gun case is opened. A concealed shut off lever allows the alarm to be turned off.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial Number 68/694,841 filed on Jun. 28, 2005 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention concerns hand guns particularly in the home. Keeping a hand gun in the home as for self defense presents a hazard where children are present, as many injuries and deaths have resulted from children finding hand guns and inadvertently discharging the same.  
         [0003]     While alarms have been provided for storage cabinets, it is often desired that a gun be kept readily at hand for use in self defense, or in a night stand. While gun cases suitable for handguns are known, a child may wander off with a hand gun in a gun case and open it at some more remote location. Locks on the cases may prevent opening by a child, but might slow access to the handgun if an emergency need arises for access by the owner.  
         [0004]     It is the object of the present invention to provide child protection for stored hand guns while providing for quick access by the owner.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The above object and other object which will become apparent upon a reading of the following specification and claims are achieved by a portable gun case equipped with an audible alarm activated whenever the gun case is opened. The alarm is preferably a magnetic two component alarm which sounds an audible alarm when the components are separated by opening a gun case lid. One component is secured to the case lid, the other to a case receptacle side wall located adjacent to the one component so that opening the lid separates the components and triggers the audible alarm. The normally portable gun case is adapted to be detachably secured to a furniture piece or other structure. Preferably, the gun case is fixed with non marring hook and loop fastener strips which deter a child&#39;s efforts at moving the gun case but allow an adult to remove the gun case when it is desired to be moved.  
         [0006]     The alarm can be deactivated by the owner by an arrangement which is concealed so that a child or other person cannot easily deactivate the alarm while allowing the owner to do so. Preferably, the other of the alarm components is mounted slightly spaced above the case bottom with an alarm lever disposed in that narrow space so as to not be readily seen or accessed by a child or other person not familiar with the arrangement. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a gun case according to the present invention detachably secured to a structure shown in fragmentary form.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of the gun case shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged side view of the case mounted alarm components together with a fragmentary portion of the case receptacle and detachable mounting strips.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic end view of the alarm components and gun case lid and receptacle.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the receptacle mounted alarm component. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0013]     Referring to the drawings, and particularly  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a portable hand held gun case  10  is shown of a commercially available type comprised of a lid  12  and a lower receptacle  14 . Both the lid  12  and receptacle  14  are molded plastic shells connected together along one side with a hinge  16 . Contoured soft foam pads  24 ,  26  are inserted into the inside of each of the lid  12  and receptacle  14  which are easily compressible so that a hand gun  18  can be held in position when the lid  12  is closed and latches  20  secured on either side of a hand grip  22 .  
         [0014]     According to the concept of the present invention, an audible alarm system  28  is installed within the case  10  and adjacent the hinge sides  16  connecting the lid  12  and receptacle  14 . The audible alarm may be of a commercially available type which includes a magnetic trigger component  30  attached to the lid  12  and recessed into a corner of the foam pad  24  and a main component  32  attached to the receptacle  14  recessed into a corner of the pad  26 . Double faced adhesive tape can be used to mount those components.  
         [0015]     When the magnetic trigger component  30  is positioned adjacent the main component  32 , no alarm sounds, but when separated, as happens when the lid  12  is swung open to move the components  30 ,  32  apart, this causes an audible alarm to sound loudly. This arrangement is indicated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0016]     According to one aspect of the invention, the normally portable gun case  10  is securely attached to a supporting structure such as a table surface  34  as with mating hook and loop strips  36 ,  38  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ). This attachment should be quite strong, sufficient to resist the efforts of a child, but able to be overcome by an adult to allow the gun case  10  to be portable and, movable. Suitable sizing of the hook and loop strips  34 ,  36  enables sufficient holding power to be achieved.  
         [0017]     Other arrangements such as screw fasteners could be used, but the hook and loop strips  36 ,  38  have the advantage of not permanently marring the surface  34 .  
         [0018]     According to another feature of the invention, a shut off lever  40  is provided projecting downward from the main component  32 , but effectively concealed while still being accessible by spacing the main component  34  a small distance above the bottom wall  42  of the receptacle  14 . The presence of the pad  26  also aids in concealment of the lever  40 .  
         [0019]     Thus, by inserting a thin tool into the space can the lever  40  be accessed.  
         [0020]     Accordingly, the gun case  10  can be readily opened but an alarm sounded so that if a child opens the gun case  10 , the owner or other adults will be alerted.  
         [0021]     The invention can also be used with rifle cases in addition to hand guns as described.