Patent Publication Number: US-9423211-B2

Title: Locking container for firearms

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention concerns a container for firearms such as handguns and shotguns and more specifically concerns the mechanism for unlocking a door portion of the container, providing access to the firearms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well recognized that it is important to control physical access to weapons, in particular firearms such as handguns and shotguns, especially in a home environment. An owner of firearms will want to have fast and convenient access to a firearm for various reasons, but will also want to prevent access to the firearm by others, particularly children, and/or anyone else, without permission. There are many articles, typically known as gun safes, which are useful for this purpose. However, it is important for the firearm owner to have access to the firearm in a manner which is both convenient and fast. 
     Accordingly, a firearm container which provides reliable and fast access to a firearm is desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an apparatus for holding firearms, comprises: a container which includes a body portion for holding a firearm and a door movably connected to the body portion, the door having at least one latching element; and a locking mechanism attached to the body portion, the locking mechanism including a latch bar having at least one latch opening to receive the latch element on the door in a connecting relationship; an actuation mechanism which in operation locks the latch bar relative to the latching element, preventing the door from opening; a plurality of actuating elements on the container for operation by a user; a mechanism responsive to operation of the actuating elements to release the actuation mechanism; and an operating member accessible to the user and connected to the actuation mechanism for moving the actuation mechanism, which in turn moves the latch bar sufficiently that the latch opening is so positioned that the latch element is free to move through the opening, allowing the door to be opened. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a firearm container having a mechanical access structure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an electronically controlled firearm container for handguns which has an electronic control access. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the mechanical arrangement of the  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanical arrangement of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another portion of the mechanical arrangement of  FIG. 1  in a locked position. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the portion of  FIG. 5  in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the electronic access assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a portion of the electronic access assembly of  FIG. 7 , shown in a locked position. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the electronic access assembly of  FIG. 7 , shown in an unlocked position. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a firearm container or safe, generally at  10 , with a mechanical access assembly  12  (shown in detail in  FIG. 3 ) which is covered by a generally L-shaped plate  13 . Generally the container is slightly rectangular with a door  14  which is hinged at  16  to one side  12  of the container to permit access to the interior of the container. The container is durable and strong, made from high strength steel or similar material. The door includes two latch members  20  and  22  which fit into mating slots in the mechanical access assembly, through openings  23  and  24  in plate  13 . The mechanical access assembly  12  is shown in an exploded view in  FIG. 3 . The access assembly includes an elongated latching bar  24  which extends for nearly the entire length of the access assembly, leaving a small distance, approximately ½ inch or so, for movement, the latching bar including latch catch openings  26  and  27 . The L-shaped plate  13  ( FIG. 1 ) covers the top and rear of the mechanical access assembly and is held in place by two screws  32  on opposite sides of the container. When L-shaped plate  13  is removed, the mechanical access assembly is revealed, shown in  FIG. 3 , including the latching bar  24 . The latching bar is held in place by small bolts which extend from the inner surface of front plate  29 , through a first portion  31  of the latching bar, and associated nuts which secure the latching bar, while permitting some side-to-side movement, as explained below. An intermediate portion  34  of the latching bar includes a slot  36  through which an extended arm portion  38  of activation element  40  extends. A third portion  37  of the latching bar includes the two latch openings  26  and  27  through which the latches  20  and  22  from the door extend. 
     Mounted on the front plate  29  is a face plate  39  in which a plurality of pushbuttons  44 - 44  are spring-mounted. In the embodiment shown, there are a total of eight pushbuttons, numbered 1-8 in  FIG. 1 , although a different number of pushbuttons can be used. A rotatable knob  46  is mounted in faceplate  39 , extending through front plate  29  and an intermediate plate  50  to engagement with activation element  40 , which is attached to a biasing spring element  52 . Attached to the rear of intermediate plate  50  is a lock combination member  54 , shown generally in  FIG. 4 . Lock combination member  54  is held in place in the container by tabs  56  which extend rearwardly from plate  50  and an L-shaped plate  13 , as well as other pin elements from plate  50  (not shown for clarity). Lock combination member  54  is shown representationally in  FIG. 4 , since a variety of such members can be used with the access assembly of  FIG. 3 . In the embodiment shown, lock combination assembly  54  includes a plurality of extending tab buttons  58 - 58  which are responsive to the operation of pushbuttons  44  ( FIG. 3 ). The lock combination member is arranged so that when preselected pushbuttons are operated in a preselected sequence, an activating tab  60  extends from the lock combination assembly. In the embodiment shown, tab  60  will extend a selected additional distance for each correct button operated in the right sequence by the user. However, alternatives to this arrangement can be used. For instance, the activating tab  60  may extend fully when all of the preselected buttons have been operated in the right sequence. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show the structure for linking the extending tab to a plunger  62  which is shown in its extended position in  FIG. 5 , mating with an indented edge  64  of activation element  40 , maintaining it in a selected position against the action of spring  52 . In this position, latching bar  24  cannot move and the latching elements stay latched to the latching bar, preventing the door from opening. 
     When the correct sequence of buttons is operated, tab  60  acts against a pivoting lever arm  63  positioned within a mounting housing  66 . When tab  60  is fully extended, the lower end of the pivoting lever arm  63 , which pivots about a pin  61 , moves rearwardly, drawing the proximal end of the plunger to which it is attached away from engagement with the activation element, as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this position, the control knob  46  can rotate the activation element  40 , including moving arm  38 , which moves latching bar  24  sufficiently laterally that the latch elements no longer physically engage the latching bar. The door  14  can now be opened. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the mechanical access assembly also includes a key override member  68 . A key (not shown) fits in the override member  68 , which extends through openings in faceplate  50  and front plate  29 . Rotating a key rotates a key tab  70  which rides in a curved portion  71  of an actuation plate  72 . Rotating the key results in movement of the actuation plate, the distal end  74  of which contacts a pin  75  extending from plunger  62 , moving plunger  62  away from actuation element  40 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The actuation element is thus free to be rotated against the action of the spring by the knob  46 , moving the latching bar  24  such that the door latches are freed from the bar, permitting the door to be opened by the user. Use of the key bypasses the action of the lock combination assembly and link arm. Rotating the key back to the locked position locks the door. 
     The mechanical operation in summary uses a preselected sequence of pushbuttons operated by the user, through a mechanical linkage to withdraw a plunger from the actuation element, allowing the actuation element to be rotated against the bias of a spring by a user actuated knob  46 . The access control can be bypassed by the use of a key override system. 
       FIGS. 2 and 7-9  show an electronic access assembly. The container  76  is basically the same as that for the mechanical access assembly of  FIG. 1 . The container  76  has a face plate  78  which is attached to a front plate  80  of the container. An L-shaped cover plate  81  covers the top and rear of the electronic access assembly, shown in exploded form in  FIG. 7 . The cover plate  81  includes two openings  82  and  83  through which door latches  84  and  85  extend. The cover  81  is attached to the container by screws  83 . 
     The interior of the container  76  and container  10  for the mechanical access assembly could be adapted to house and support a shotgun, as for instance shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/832,628 the contents of which are included herein for reference, in addition to a handgun. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the electronic access assembly is operated by a battery pack  85 . In the embodiment shown, the electronic access assembly has a total of five pushbuttons  84 - 84 . In the embodiment shown, the operation of pushbuttons  84  is read by a reader, shown generally at  86 . When the reader determines a correct operation of buttons  84 , an electromagnet  88 , which controls a plunger  90 , is activated. When the electronic access assembly is in its locked position, plunger  90  is in an extended position, engaging a cutout edge  92  of actuation element disc  94 , which is similar to the actuation element in the mechanical embodiment. The actuation element includes an extended arm  95  which extends through slot  96  in latching bar  98 , which also is identical to the latching bar in the mechanical arrangement. When the plunger is withdrawn, due to a correct actuation of the pushbuttons, knob  100 , which engages actuation element  94  can rotate actuation element  94 , which moves the latching bar  98  by arm  95 , such that the latch elements from the container door are no longer engaged by the latching bar. The container door  100  can now be opened. The movement of latching bar  98  engages a reed switch  114  by a pin  116 , which resets the locking mechanism. The electronic embodiment also includes a key override arrangement  104 . The rotation of a key in the lock  106  rotates arm  110 , sliding bracket  112  to engage plunger  90 , by virtue of surface  113  engaging tab  115  on plunger  90 , freeing the rotation of disc  97  which in turn rotates actuation element  94 , allowing the door to open. Actuation elements  94  and  97  are separated by a spacer  99 . 
     Accordingly, a firearm container has been described with a mechanical access assembly in one embodiment and an electronic access assembly in another embodiment. Both provide reliable and fast access to the firearm upon actuation of a selected sequence of pushbuttons on the front of the container. 
     Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims which follow.