Abstract:
A locking, concealed weapons storage cabinet designed to offer secure storage of home defense weapons. Weapons are readily available to the home owner but still secured to prevent unauthorized access. Cabinet is concealed as a piece of artwork that is either stand-alone or part of a group of artwork pieces or other ornamental pieces. Cabinet allows rapid access in regular or low light conditions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/928,659 entitled “Instant Access IPS” and filed on Jan. 17, 2014, which is specifically incorporated by reference herein for all that it teaches and discloses 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Prior Art 
       [0002]    The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 US Patents 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Patent Number 
                 Kind Code 
                 Filing Date 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee(s) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 20120206026 
                 A1 
                 Feb. 16, 2012 
                 Aug. 16, 2012 
                 Emelio, Fred 
               
               
                 7,178,370 
                 B2 
                 Nov. 29, 2004 
                 Feb. 20, 2007 
                 Engel, Raymond C 
               
               
                 6,363,760 
                 B1 
                 Sep. 15, 1999 
                 Apr. 2, 2002 
                 Sigmond, Edward 
               
               
                 4,304,447 
                 A 
                 Jul. 18, 1980 
                 Dec. 8, 1981 
                 Ellwood/Hoffman 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Nonpatent Literature Documents 
       [0003]    Stackon, FULL-LENGTH IN-WALL STEEL CABINET. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.stack-on.com/categories/security-cabinets-gun-cabinets/products/75 
         [0004]    TacticalWalls, Concealment Covers and Inserts. (2012, October). Retrieved from http://tacticalwalls.com/product-category/concealment-covers/ 
         [0005]    Gun safety is of paramount importance in our country because of the many guns owned by Americans. Pew research estimates there is somewhere between 270 million and 310 million privately owned guns. A significant number of these weapons are owned for self-defense inside the home. A growing market segment for home defense weapons are the home defense shotgun which incorporates a shorter barrel than sporting models as well as the semi-automatic carbine such as the AR-15. More than 400,000 home defense shotguns are sold in the US each year according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. 
         [0006]    Responsible gun owners keep these weapons secured. The most common security measures are either in a gun safe or various styles of gun locks. The problem with these type of security is excessive access time. Each of the options requires the gun owner to turn on the light or at least a flash light, put in a combination or find and put in a key, remove the weapon from the safe or remove the locking device from the weapon and then proceed to defend their life and property. 
         [0007]    According to the FBI there were nearly 60,000 home invasions (ROBBERY WITHIN A RESIDENCE) in 2012. These incidents often unfold very rapidly. Nearly every gun owner knows that in emergent situations seconds count, and the above described security options take numerous minutes to access the owner&#39;s home defense weapon. Unfortunately, many gun owners find this access time too great and make the irresponsible decision to leave their home defense weapon both loaded and unsecured. This has led to many, many, injuries and deaths when these weapons fall into the hands of children or the untrained. 
         [0008]    Additionally, the presence of a gun safe or a weapon that is secured but left in the open creates a number of problems. It is not aesthetically pleasing to many people. It attracts attention to the presence of a weapon or other valuables and thus makes them obvious targets for thieves. This obviousness will also lead home invaders to immediately block access to these weapons during a home invasion. It can also pique the interest of children and lead them to attempt to access the weapon when the adults are away. 
         [0009]    Accordingly there is a well-defined need for a secured, aesthetically pleasing, readily accessible, concealed, locking home defense weapons cabinet. While a number of the items that are either being marketed or are patented as outlined in the referenced prior art, none of them quite fill all of the needs identified here. Patent 20120206026 as well as the TacticalWalls product both require a magnetic key fob which is easily lost or is not readily acceptable. The Stackon product also uses a key and does nothing to conceal the storage solution. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,178,370 and 6,363,760 lack both concealment as well an aesthetically pleasing appearance and are generally designed for handguns. U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,447 does not lock and is not of sufficient size to accommodate home defense long guns. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    In accordance with one embodiment a security cabinet with door of sufficient size that it will fit between the studs in common home construction and of sufficient depth such that the cabinet will fit inside the walls common to home construction. Cabinet and security door are constructed of high strength material such that they will resist attempts to gain unauthorized access. The security door connects to the cabinet via a continuous hinge. The locking mechanism in this embodiment is through to electronic solenoids placed on the interior of the security door. Solenoids are actuated by the microprocessor and associated componentry on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is mounted to the exterior surface of the security cabinet door. A piece of art or other ornamental device is connected to the security door via another continuous hinge. Concealed in the art frame is the combination input keypad. The art covers the microprocessor and associated componentry and is securely locked to the security door via a keyed cylinder lock. When the user inputs the correct combination, the solenoids actuate and the artwork and security door pivot open allowing the user access to the home defense weapon secured inside. The input code is user programmable and the unit is powered by batteries, ac current, or a combination thereof. Units are offered a single or multiple panel artwork schemes with one or more working security cabinets. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS—FIGURES 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the security cabinet and its interior 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the security cabinet installed between the studs of a typical wall 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the security door and the components attached thereto 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the artwork door 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DRWAINGS - REFERENCE NUMERALS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   1 
                   Cutout to accommodate 
                   2 
                   Solenoid latch cutout 
                 
                 
                     
                   longer weapons 
                 
                 
                   3 
                   Mounting holes 
                   4 
                   Mounting hardware 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                     
                   for weapon 
                 
                 
                   5 
                   Continuous hinge security 
                   6 
                   Wall studs 
                 
                 
                     
                   door to cabinet 
                 
                 
                   7 
                   Keypad or biometric input 
                   8 
                   Electronic solenoid 
                 
                 
                   9 
                   Continuous hinge artwork 
                   10 
                   Microprocessor and 
                 
                 
                     
                   to security door 
                     
                   printed circuit 
                 
                 
                   11 
                   Cutout for cylinder lock cam 
                   12 
                   Power supply (AC or DC) 
                 
                 
                   13 
                   Keyed cylinder lock 
                   14 
                   Concealed Cabinet 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates the security cabinet in the first embodiment. It is of sufficient width that it will fit between the studs typical in home construction. It is of sufficient depth such that it will fit flush inside a typically constructed residential wall. Said cabinet is of sufficient length that it will accommodate the weapon or weapons for which it is designed. It is fabricated of high strength material such that it will resist attempts to gain unauthorized access. Said cabinet has a cutout  1  in the top of the case such that longer weapons may extend up through the opening into the stud cavity. Cabinet has solenoid latch cutouts  2  in the top and bottom to allow for the solenoid plungers to extend with the security door is closed thereby locking the security door securely closed. Mounting holes  3  accommodate screws which will mount the cabinet into the sides of the studs. Weapon mounting hardware  4  takes on various forms including hook and loop straps, magnets, pegs, and other such hardware that helps hold the weapon in a ready position. Said cabinet has a continuous hinge  5  that attached the security door to said cabinet. 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates the security cabinet installed into the stud cavity of a typical wall. Mechanical fasteners are placed through mounting holes  3  and fastened to the side of the studs  6 . When installed, the knuckle continuous hinge  5  extends one knuckle length beyond the exterior of the wall surface (typically drywall) such that said knuckle rests on the exterior wall surface. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates the security door which is of sufficient width and length to completely cover the opening of the security cabinet. Said door is fabricated of high strength material such that it will resist attempts to gain unauthorized access. Continuous hinge  5  connects the door to the security cabinet. The electronic solenoids  8  are mounted to the inside of said door such that the solenoid plungers extend up the through the solenoid latch cutouts  2  in the security cabinet when the door is closed. The continuous hinge  9  connects the artwork door to the security door. The microprocessor and printed circuit  10  mounts to the surface of the security door, processes user inputs and actuates the solenoids  8  when the correct input signal is initiated. The input keypad or biometric input device  7  accepts the user input and transmits that to the microprocessor and printed circuit. The power supply  12  powers the printed circuitry. The door has a cylinder lock cam cutout  11  to accommodate the cylinder lock  13  in the artwork frame allowing the artwork to be securely latched to the security door. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the artwork door. The continuous hinge  9  connects the artwork door to the security cabinet door. The input keypad or biometric sensor  7  is secreted into the frame of the art such that it is not readily obvious but still accessible to the user. There is a keyed cylinder lock  13  secreted into the frame, typically under a canvas flap, such that the user can use a key to open the artwork door and access the power supply  12  and printed circuit  10 . 
       Operation 
       [0019]    Once installed the user uses the keyed cylinder lock  13  to open the artwork door. The user then initiates the programming sequence on the printed circuit  10  and inputs there unique code. The printed circuit  10  acknowledges the input indicating for the user to proceed. The artwork door is closed and the keyed cylinder lock  13  locked. The user then inputs the previously programmed unique input into the keypad or biometric sensor  7 . The microprocessor  10  analyzes the input and initiates the opening sequence if the input matches the previously programmed input. The power is then supplied to the solenoids  8  which retract the plungers allowing both the security door (and attached artwork door) to pivot open. After a few seconds the power is shut off to the solenoids  8  and the solenoid plungers extend. The plungers are spring loaded and tapered such that the security door can be closed without actuating the solenoids. There is a voltage sensing circuit in the microprocessor  10  that audibly alerts the user to a low power condition. 
       Alternative Embodiments 
       [0020]    An additional embodiment uses concealed cabinet hinges  14  rather than the continuous hinges  9 . 
         [0021]    An additional embodiment has replaceable art panels that magnetically attach to the artwork door frame. 
         [0022]    An additional embodiment has multiple pieces of artwork with one or more working security cabinet. 
         [0023]    An additional embodiment used an RFID chip contained within a wearable device (ring, necklace, eyeglasses, etc) such that the input reads the RFID chip and opens the security door when the RFID is proximal to the sensor. 
         [0024]    An additional embodiment uses a full length mirror in place of the artwork.