Patent Publication Number: US-2016223290-A1

Title: Hidden pistol lock box

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/111,962, filed Feb. 4, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to gun cases and, more particularly, to handgun cases that provide quick and easy opening while located in a discreet location. 
     Many people have firearms for recreational use such as target shooting. Others collect firearms. Moreover, an ever-increasing number of people are keeping guns, such as pistols and revolvers, in their homes and offices for protection. No matter what the purpose for the gun, the gun owner should have a safe storage box to protect the gun against unauthorized access and accidental discharge or misuse. 
     In contrast to the owner&#39;s need for a gun box which prevents unauthorized and accidental opening is the need for immediate access to the gun box and quick and easy grasping of the gun once access is obtained. When the owner suddenly realizes that the gun is needed because an intruder has entered the home or office, the gun box must be immediately accessible—then easily opened. Thus, although the cardinal requirement in preventing children&#39;s accidents would be to keep the gun box out of sight and out of reach of the child, that requirement may thwart the owner&#39;s purpose in storing the gun: immediate accessibility. A gun kept unloaded in a closet would cost the owner precious time in a crisis situation. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a handgun case that provides quick and easy opening while located in a discreet location. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a hidden pistol lock box comprises: an upper body comprising a base and a sidewall extending about a periphery of the base; a drop tray secured to the upper body by a hinge and comprising an inner surface facing the upper body, wherein a ledge is protruding from the inner surface and is sized to retain a pistol within and fit within the sidewall when the drop tray is in a closed position; a joint arm assembly attaching the upper body and the drop tray together, wherein the joint arm assembly comprises a speed and stop control joint operable to control a speed of a transition of the drop tray from the closed position to an open position; and a locking mechanism operable to lock the drop tray to the upper body in the closed position. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention shown in a partially open configuration demonstrating scissor arm operation; 
         FIG. 4  is a section detail view of the present invention along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a section detail view of the present invention along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     The present invention includes a hidden security pistol lock box that secretly attaches to existing furniture or cabinets. When the lock is deactivated, the bottom tray gently lowers using an adjustable speed control hinge arm. Adjustable pistol straps securely hold weapon in place as tray lowers. When the bottom tray lowers a motion activated light illuminates for approximately 20 seconds allowing easy retrieval of a pistol within. The present invention allows for safely hiding and locking a self-defense weapon in an area that is easily accessible, in case of an emergency situation, but hidden from view. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the present invention includes a hidden pistol lock box  10 . The hidden pistol lock box  10  includes an upper body  38  and a drop tray  12 . The upper body  38  has a base and a sidewall extending from a periphery of the base. The drop tray  12  is secured to the upper body  38  by hinges  36 . The drop tray  12  includes an inner surface facing the upper body  38 . A ledge  14  is protruding from the inner surface and is sized to retain a pistol  48  within as well as fit within the sidewall when the drop tray  12  is in a closed position. A joint arm assembly  22  attaches the upper body  38  and the drop tray  12  together. The joint arm assembly  22  includes a speed and stop control joint  34  operable to control a speed of a transition of the drop tray  12  from the closed position to an open position. A locking mechanism  16  locks the drop tray  12  to the upper body  38  in the closed position. 
     The hidden pistol lock box  10  may be secured to a structure  42 , such as underneath a desk, underneath a bed, or other furniture. Therefore, the hidden pistol lock box  10  may be out of view from children or a potential intruder, but easily accessible to the user. In certain embodiments, a mount may secure the upper body  38  to the structure  42 . For example, a plurality of bolts  40  may run through apertures formed through the base and into the structure  42 . To access the pistol  48 , the user unlocks the locking mechanism  16  and the drop tray  12  pivots downward to the open position. The user may then readily grab the pistol  48  for self defense. 
     As mentioned above, the pistol  48  may be retained within the drop tray  12 . In certain embodiments, the ledge  14  may be U-shaped so that the pistol may fit within and be retained in between. In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a strap  18 . The strap  18  is secured to the inner surface of the drop tray  12  and includes a connector  20  operable to releasably connect a first portion of the strap to a second portion of the strap, forming a loop. The strap  18  may be wrapped around the handle of the pistol  48  and connected together, thereby securing the pistol  48  within the ledge  14 . The connector  20  may be any connector  20  that may easily be disconnected by applying a pulling force, such as but not limited to, snap buttons, a hook and loop fastener and the like. 
     In certain embodiments, the joint arm assembly  22  includes an upper arm  28  pivotally mounted to the upper body  38  at pivot point  30  and a lower arm  24  pivotally mounted to the drop tray  12  at a pivot point  26 . The upper arm  28  is pivotally connected to the lower arm at pivot point  32 . The speed and stop control joint  34  joins the upper arm  28  and the lower arm  24  together. The speed and stop control joint  34  may include a spring and/or a gas piston. For example, a torsion spring may be disposed within the speed and stop control joint  34  biasing the drop tray  12  towards upper body  38 . When the locking mechanism  16  is released, the drop tray  12  may lower at a slower speed due to spring, as the weight of the pistol  48  pushes the drop tray  12  downward against the bias of the spring. A stop member that is part of the speed and stop control joint  34  prevents the drop tray  12  from pivoting beyond a certain point. For example, the stop member prevents the drop tray  12  from pivoting beyond about 90 degrees, or pivoting beyond about 45 degrees relative to the upper body  38 . 
     The present invention may further include a motion activated light  44  that emits a light  46  towards the ledge  14 . For example, the motion activated light  44  may be secured to the base above the ledge  14 . The motion activated light  44  may include a motion sensor. When the motion sensor senses motion, the light  44  is activated. The motion activated light  44  may also include a timer. After a set period of time has gone by without motion detected, the light  44  may turn off. 
     The locking mechanism  16  of the present invention may include a latch  16 . In such embodiments, a pivoting latch  16  may be secured to the drop tray  12 . A retaining lip may be formed in the sidewall of the upper body  38 . The pivoting latch  16  secures against the retaining lip in a locked configuration when the hidden pistol lock box  10  is closed. A magnet may be used to unlock the pivoting latch  16 , thereby allowing the drop tray  12  to lower exposing the pistol  14 . Alternatively, the present invention may utilize locking mechanisms such as keyed, biometric, keypad, remote, or a card reader. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.