Patent Publication Number: US-2017350672-A1

Title: Vehicle mounted firearm retention device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/346,073, which was filed on Jun. 6, 2016. The contents of U.S. Application No. 62/346,073 are incorporated by reference in their entirety as part of this application. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This application relates generally to firearm retention devices/holsters, in particular vehicle mounted firearm retention devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Law enforcement officers, military personnel, and/or firearm owners possessing a conceal carry permit often desire to have access to firearms while seated in a vehicle. In the case of law enforcement officers, access to a secondary firearm within the law enforcement vehicle may provide a tactical advantage to the law enforcement officer seated in the vehicle and faced with a potential threat from outside the vehicle. With traditional sidearm holsters commonly used by law enforcement officers, the holster, which is often engaged with a belt worn about the waist, positions the firearm with the butt of the firearm jammed into the backrest of the driver&#39;s seat when the law enforcement officer is seated in the driver&#39;s seat of the vehicle. With the butt of the weapon jammed into the backrest, the law enforcement officer cannot easily access the weapon while seated in the car. There is a need for a vehicle mounted holster that provides efficient access to firearms within a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY 
     Provided herein is a firearm retention device. The firearm retention device includes a base; an arm coupled to the base and pivotable about an axis of rotation; a cradle coupled to an end of the arm opposite the base and having an inner cavity shaped to receive a firearm; and a locking mechanism having a locking member, wherein the locking mechanism is positioned so that the locking member extends into a space formed by a trigger guard of the firearm when the firearm is received in the cradle and the locking member is moved to a locking position. 
     In some embodiments, the arm of the firearm retention device has three pivot points about which the arm is pivotable. 
     The firearm retention device can also include a riser pivotably coupled to the base, a bracket pivotably coupled to the riser, and a hinge pivotably coupled to the bracket. 
     In some embodiments, the cradle has a first open end configured to receive a firearm and a second open end opposite the first open end and through which the barrel of the firearm protrudes. The cradle can also include a rigid outer shell and an insert positioned within the outer shell and shaped to receive the firearm. 
     The locking mechanism can include a solenoid coupled to the locking member and the solenoid can move the locking member out of the locking position when activated. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism includes one or more electrical connections for providing power from the vehicle to the locking mechanism. In some embodiments, the firearm retention device further includes a battery receptacle for receiving one or more batteries to provide power for the solenoid. 
     Further provided herein is a firearm retention device that includes a mounting base, a riser, a hinge, a mounting bracket, a cradle, and a locking mechanism. The riser is pivotably coupled to the base about a first axis. The hinge is pivotably coupled to the riser about a second axis and the second axis is substantially parallel to the first axis. The mounting bracket is pivotably coupled to the hinge about a third axis and the third axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis. The cradle has an inner cavity shaped to receive a firearm and is pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket about a fourth axis and the fourth axis is substantially perpendicular to the third axis and the second axis. The locking mechanism has a locking member movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein the locking member is received within a trigger guard of the firearm when the firearm is received in the cradle and the locking member is moved to the locking position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a firearm retention device as disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the firearm retention device of  FIG. 1  deployed in a vehicle. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a firearm retention device with the firearm removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the firearm retention device of  FIG. 3  with the firearm installed. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a riser portion of the firearm retention device of  FIG. 3  with the riser portion coupled to the base. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a positioning bracket of the firearm retention device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the positioning bracket of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the positioning bracket of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the positioning hinge of the positioning bracket of  FIG. 6  having the shaft removed from the outer housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of a cradle of the firearm retention device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the cradle of the firearm retention device of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the cradle of  FIG. 11  taken along section line AA. 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the cradle of  FIG. 11  taken along section line BB. 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic showing the electrical connection of the solenoid of the locking mechanism to a power source, switch, and time delay relay. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a firearm retention device, referred to herein by the reference number  10 , is disclosed for retaining a firearm  12 , such as a handgun, in a vehicle  18  and providing efficient access to the firearm  12 . The firearm retention device  10  includes a base  20 , which may be a mounting plate, an adjustable arm  22  coupled to the base  20  and pivotable about one or more axis of rotation, and a cradle  24  coupled to an end  26  of the arm opposite the base  20 . The cradle  24  is shaped to receive the barrel  14  of the firearm  12  and includes a locking mechanism  28  having a locking member  30  ( FIG. 10 ). The locking mechanism  28  can be coupled to the cradle  24  and positioned such that the locking member  30  engages a trigger guard  16  of the firearm  12  when the locking mechanism  28  is in a locked position. The locking mechanism  28  can include a release device  32  to disengage the locking member  30  for inserting the firearm  12  into or removing the firearm  12  from the cradle  24 . The adjustable arm  22  enables the cradle  24  to be positioned in an efficient and ergonomic position within the vehicle  18  when the vehicle operator is seated in the vehicle  18 . The locking mechanism  28  keeps the firearm  12  secured within the vehicle  18  but allows efficient release of the firearm  12  when needed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the base  20  (mounting plate) can be a flat plate having a plurality of mounting holes  34  therethrough for coupling the base  20 , and thus the firearm retention device  10 , to a surface of the vehicle  18  or other anchor point. Each of the mounting holes  34  can be sized to receive a fastener  36  therethrough for mounting the base plate  20  to the vehicle  18 . In one embodiment, the mounting holes  34  may be threaded. The base  20  can also have one or more openings  38  therethrough to reduce the quantity of material in the base  20  and reduce the weight of the base  20 . The base  20  can have any convenient shape in top view, including square, rectangular, circular, triangular, polygonal, elliptical or other shape. The base  20  can be made of a rigid and durable material, such as, for example, carbon fiber, fiberglass, or metal, such as steel, iron, aluminum, titanium, brass or other metal or metal alloy. The base  20  can also be made of a rigid and/or durable thermoplastic or polymer, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene (PE), high-density/low-density polyethylene (HDPE/LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide, polystyrene (PS), poly vinyl chloride (PVC), or other rigid or durable plastic/polymeric material or composite materials. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , the arm  22  is coupled to the base  20  at a proximal end  40  and coupled to the cradle  24  at a distal end  42 . The arm  22  is adjustable about one or more axis of rotation (or pivot points) so that the arm  22  is adjustable in one or more dimensions to position the cradle  24  for efficient and ergonomic access by the operator of the vehicle  18 . In one embodiment, the arm  22  is adjustable in three dimensions. The arm  22  can include two or more axis of rotation in one embodiment, three or more axis of rotation in another embodiment, or four or more axis of rotation in yet another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the arm  22  can include a riser  44  for adjusting a height H of the cradle  24  relative to the base  20  and a positioning bracket  46  for orienting the cradle  24  in an efficient and ergonomic position for access by the vehicle driver. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the riser  44  can include at least one extension  48  having a proximal end  50  and a distal end  52  and at least two riser hinges  54 ,  56 , which include at least a proximal riser hinge  54  positioned at the proximal end  50  of the extension  48  and a distal riser hinge  56  positioned at the distal end  52  of the extension  48 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , each of the proximal  54  and distal  56  riser hinges can include an outer housing  58 ,  59  defining a cylindrical interior cavity (not shown) extending axially through the outer housing  58 ,  59 . A shaft  60 ,  61  of each riser hinge  54 ,  56  can be a cylindrical shaft extending through the interior cavity of the outer housing  58 ,  59  and having center axis A, B. The outer housing  58 ,  59  of each riser hinge  54 ,  56  can be generally concentric about the shaft  60 ,  61  and can have one or more set screws  62  received through threaded openings in the outer housing  58 ,  59  and engageable with the shaft  60 ,  61  of the riser hinge  54 ,  56  to fix the rotational position of the shaft  60 ,  61  relative to the outer housing  58 ,  59 , respectively. 
     The outer housing  58  of the proximal riser hinge  54  can be rigidly coupled to the base  20 , and the shaft  60  of the proximal riser hinge  54  can freely rotate relative to the outer housing  58  when the set screw(s)  62  are loosened. The proximal riser hinge  54  can also be configured such that the shaft  60  of the proximal riser hinge  54  is coupled to the base  20  and the outer housing  58  of the proximal riser hinge  54  is freely rotatable about the shaft  60  when the set screw(s)  62  are loosened from engagement with the shaft  60 . The outer housing  58  or shaft  60  of the proximal riser hinge  54  can be coupled to the base  20  by welding, sintering, adhering with an adhesive, fastening with one or more fasteners, or other coupling means. 
     The proximal end  50  of the extension  48  is coupled to the outer housing  58  or shaft  60  of the proximal riser hinge  54  to allow the riser to pivot about center axis A of the proximal riser hinge  54 . The proximal end  50  of the extension  48  can be coupled to the outer housing  58  or shaft  60  of the proximal riser hinge  54  by welding, sintering, adhering with an adhesive, fastening with one or more fasteners, press-fitting, interference fitting, or other methods of attachment. The proximal riser hinge  54  can allow the riser  44  to pivot more than 180° relative to the base  20 . When the base  20  is coupled to a flat surface, such as the floorboard of a vehicle, the flat surface of the vehicle may limit rotation of the riser  44  to about 180° or less. Pivoting the riser  44  about the center axis A of the proximal riser hinge  54  changes the height H ( FIG. 3 ) of the cradle  24  relative to the base  20 . Rotating the riser  44  generally 90° relative to the base  20  can place the cradle  24  at a maximum height from the base  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the riser extension  48  can include two bars  64 , the bars  64  being oriented generally parallel to each other and each bar  64  coupled to the outer housing  58  or the shaft  60  of the proximal riser hinge  54  at the proximal end  50  of the extension  48  and coupled to the outer housing  59  or the shaft  61  of the distal riser hinge  56  at the distal end  52  of the riser extension  48  ( FIGS. 3-5 ). In another embodiment, the riser extension  48  can be a generally flat plate having portions that couple to the outer housings  58 ,  59  or the shafts  60 ,  61  of each of the proximal  54  and distal  56  riser hinges, respectively ( FIG. 1 ). The riser  44  can have one or more apertures  66  ( FIG. 3 ) extending therethrough to reduce the weight and material cost of the riser  44 . In an embodiment (not shown), the riser  44  can include one or more supplemental riser extensions and one or more supplemental riser hinges coupling together the supplemental riser extensions and coupling the supplemental riser extensions to the riser extension. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the distal end  52  of the riser extension  48  can be coupled to the distal riser hinge  56 , which can have central axis B that is generally parallel to the center axis A of the proximal riser hinge  54 . The distal end  52  of the riser extension  48  can be coupled to the outer housing  59  or the shaft  61  of the distal riser hinge  56 . The outer housing  59  can include one or more set screws  62  to set the rotational position of the shaft  61  of the distal riser hinge  56  relative to the outer housing  59 . The distal riser hinge  56  can provide up to 360° of rotation of the cradle  24  relative to the riser  44 . In one embodiment, the cradle  24  and positioning bracket  46  may limit the range of motion of the cradle  24  to about 270° or less. 
     The housing  59  of the distal riser hinge  56  can also include at least two threaded apertures  68  for receiving fasteners for mounting the positioning bracket  46  to the outer housing  59  of the distal riser hinge  56  and rotationally positioning the positioning bracket  46  relative to the distal riser hinge  56 . Each of the threaded apertures  68  can be spaced apart from one another but positioned along a line generally parallel to the center axis B of the distal riser hinge  56 . The threaded apertures  68  can be radially spaced apart from the set screws  62  of the distal riser hinge  56  so that the positioning bracket  46  does not interfere with tightening and loosening the set screws  62 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the positioning bracket  46  can include a pivot plate  70  coupled to a positioning hinge  72 . The pivot plate  70  is coupled to an outer housing  74  of the positioning hinge  72  by welding, sintering, adhering with an adhesive, fastening with one or more fasteners, or other coupling means. The positioning bracket  46  can be removably coupled to the distal riser hinge  56  by way of the pivot plate  70  and can be coupled to the cradle  24  at the positioning hinge  72 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , the pivot plate  70  can be a generally flat plate having an aperture  76  for receiving a pivot fastener  78  for mounting the pivot plate  70  to the distal riser hinge  56 . The pivot fastener  78  is received through the aperture  76  in the pivot plate  70  and received into one of the threaded apertures  68  ( FIG. 5 ) in the housing  59  of the distal riser hinge  56 . The aperture  76  defines a pivot axis C of the pivot plate  70  relative to the distal riser hinge  56 . The pivot plate  70  can also include a generally arcuate aperture  80  for receiving another fastener  82  for fixing the rotational position of the pivot plate  70  relative to the distal riser hinge  56 . The other fastener  82  is received through the arcuate opening  80  in the pivot plate  70  and in another of the threaded apertures  68  ( FIG. 5 ) in the outer housing  59  of the distal riser hinge  56 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , with the pivot fastener  78  and the other fastener  82  slightly loosened, the pivot plate  70  can be rotated about pivot axis C such that a position of the other fastener  82  within the arcuate aperture  80  changes. Rotation of the pivot plate  70  about axis C is indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 6 . Rotation of the pivot plate  70  in combination with the rotational position of the distal riser hinge  56  can orient the cradle  24  vertically relative to the base  20 . When the cradle  24  is oriented, the pivot fastener  78  and other fastener  82  can be tightened to reversibly fix the rotational position of the pivot plate  70  relative to the distal riser hinge  56 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the positioning hinge  72  comprises the outer housing  74 , a shaft  84 , and an attachment portion  86  coupled to the shaft  84 . The housing  74  is coupled to the pivot plate  70  and has a central bore  88  therein configured to receive the shaft  84 . The shaft  84  is removably and rotatably received within the central bore  88  of the housing  74  such that the shaft  84  and the attachment portion  86  can be capable of rotating about an axis D. The attachment portion  86  is coupled to an end  89  of the shaft  84  protruding from the housing  74 . The attachment portion  86  includes an attachment surface  90  for attaching the positioning hinge  72 , and thus the distal end  42  of the arm  22 , to the cradle  24 . The attachment surface  90  of the positioning hinge  72  can be attached to the cradle  24  by welding, sintering, adhering with an adhesive, fastening with one or more fasteners, or other coupling means. The outer housing  74  can include one or more set screws  62  to reversibly fix the rotational position of the shaft  84  within the housing  74 . Rotation of the shaft  84  of the positioning hinge  72  relative to the housing  74  can rotationally orient the cradle  24  in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis D. 
     Each of the components making up the arm  22 , including the riser hinges  54 ,  56 , riser extension  48 , and positioning bracket  46 , can be made of rigid and durable materials, such as, for example, carbon fiber, fiberglass, or metal, such as steel, iron, aluminum, titanium, brass or other metal or metal alloy. The components of the arm  22  can also be made from a rigid and/or durable thermoplastic or polymer, such as ABS, PE, HDPE, LDPE, PP, polyamide, PS, PVC, or other rigid or durable plastic/polymeric materials or composite materials. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 and 10-12 , the cradle  24  can include an outer shell  102  having an inner surface  104  defining an inner cavity  106  passing vertically into and/or through the cradle  24  and shaped/adapted to receive the barrel  14  of the firearm  12  ( FIG. 4 ). The outer shell  102  can be made of one piece or two or more separate pieces that are coupled together by a plurality of fasteners  108 , such as bolts. In one embodiment, the outer shell  102  fully surrounds an end  13  of the barrel  14  of the firearm  12  when the firearm  12  is inserted within the cradle  24 . In another embodiment, the inner cavity  106  passes all the way through the outer shell  102  so that the outer shell  102  does not completely surround the barrel  14  of the firearm  12 . The outer shell  102  of the cradle  24  can be made of rigid and durable materials, such as, for example, carbon fiber, fiberglass, or metal, such as steel, iron, aluminum, titanium, brass or other metal or metal alloy. The outer shell  102  can also be made from a rigid and/or durable thermoplastic or polymer materials, such as ABS, PE, HDPE, LDPE, PP, polyamide, PS, PVC, or other rigid or durable plastic/polymeric materials or composite materials. The outer shell  102  of the cradle  24  can be coupled to the attachment surface  90  of the positioning hinge  72  by welding, sintering, adhering with an adhesive, fastening with one or more fasteners, or other coupling means. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 10 , the outer shell  102  can be widened to receive an insert  110  having an outer surface  112  shaped to fit securely within the outer shell  102 . The insert  110  can include an inner surface  114  defining the inner cavity  106  of the cradle  24 . The insert  110  can be a single molded piece or can be a plurality of pieces coupled together within the outer shell  102  by the one or more fasteners  108 . The insert  110  may also be coupled to the inner surface  104  of the outer shell  102  by adhering, press-fitting, interference fitting, clipping, or utilizing other mechanical methods of attachment. The insert  110  can be made of a thermoplastic or polymer, such as ABS, PE, HDPE, LDPE, PP, polyamide, PS, PVC, or other rigid or durable plastic/polymeric materials or composite materials. In an embodiment, the insert  110  is made of a material having a hardness that is less than a hardness of a material of the firearm  12  (or finish coatings on the firearm) so that the insert  110  does not scratch or otherwise deform the surface finish of the firearm  12  while inserting and removing the firearm  12  from the cradle  24 . In an embodiment, the insert  110  is made of ABS. 
     The inner surface  106  of the outer shell  102 , or the inner surface  114  of the insert  110 , can define the inner cavity  106  to have a widened portion  116  for receiving a portion of the barrel  14  of the firearm  12  and optionally a narrowed portion  118  of the cavity  106  for receiving at least a portion of the trigger guard  16  of the firearm  12 . The inner surface  104  of the outer shell  102  can have an abutment  120  against which the trigger guard  16  of the firearm  12  is seated when the firearm  12  is inserted into the inner cavity  106 . The abutment  120  can be positioned to orient the firearm  12  within the inner cavity  106  such that the locking mechanism  28  can engage the trigger guard  16  of the firearm  12 . In an embodiment, the inserted position of the firearm  12  in the cradle  24  can be determined by abutment of the handle  15  of the firearm  12  against a top edge  122  of the cradle  24 . When the firearm  12  is positioned barrel  14  downward within the cradle  24 , in the inserted position, at least a portion of the trigger guard  16  and trigger  17  ( FIG. 1 ) are positioned within the inner cavity  106  and generally between opposing inner surfaces  104  of the outer shell  102  and/or between opposing inner surfaces  114  of the insert  110 . In this position, the handle  15  of the firearm  12  protrudes from the cradle  24  so that the handle  15  can be gripped by the user to insert and remove the firearm  12  from the cradle  24 . The shape of the inner cavity  106  can be designed to accommodate the outer contour of a specific make and model of firearm  12 . In an embodiment, the cradle  24  can include a universal outer shell  102 , and the insert  110  can be shaped to define the inner cavity  106  of a specific shaped for a particular make and model of firearm  12 . In an embodiment, the cradle  24  having a universal outer shell  102  can be adapted to fit different models of firearm by changing the insert  110 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , the outer shell  102 , and optionally the insert  110 , can have a side bore  124  sized to receive the locking mechanism  28  therethrough. The side bore  124  extends through one side  126  of the outer shell  102  and insert  110  in a direction generally perpendicular to a midplane E ( FIGS. 3 and 10 ) of the cradle  24 . The side bore  124  is positioned so that the side bore  124  provides access to a space  128  defined by the trigger guard  16  when the firearm  12  is inserted in the cradle  24 . In an embodiment, the side bore  124  is positioned adjacent to the narrow portion  118  of the inner cavity  106  of the cradle  24 . The side bore  124  receives a portion of the locking mechanism  28  therein to enable the locking mechanism  28  to engage the trigger guard  16  of the firearm  12  when in a locked position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the locking mechanism  28  can include a locking member  30  and a solenoid  132  that operates to move the locking member  30  into and out of a locking position. The locking member  30  can be a pin, hook, or other structure that is capable of being positioned through or engaging with the trigger guard  16  of the firearm  12 . When in a locking position, the locking member  30  may extend through the space  128  defined by the trigger guard  16 . The locking member  30  may pass between the trigger guard  16  and the trigger  17  or between the trigger  17  and the handle  15 . The locking mechanism  28  can include a spring  134  or other biasing member that biases the locking member  30  into the locking position when the solenoid  132  is not energized. In one embodiment, the solenoid  132  can be a 12 V DC solenoid. 
     When energized, the solenoid  132  can operate to move the locking member  30  laterally (i.e., along a line generally perpendicular to the midplane E of the cradle  24 ) out of the locking position and into an unlocked position, in which state the locking member  30  is no longer engaged with or inserted through the trigger guard  16  of the firearm  12 . When the solenoid  132  is activated and the locking member  30  is moved out of the locking position, the firearm  12  may be removed from or inserted into the cradle  24 . When the solenoid  132  is de-energized, the solenoid  132  releases the locking member  30 , which is then biased back into the locking position by the spring  134  (biasing member). 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the solenoid  132  of the locking mechanism  28  can be electrically coupled to a power source  136 . The power source  136  can be one or more batteries, such as one or more 12 V batteries, or the power source  136  can be the power system in the vehicle  18  in which the firearm retention device  10  is installed. In one embodiment, the power source  136  is the 12 V 10 amp DC system of the vehicle  18 . The solenoid  132  of the locking mechanism  28  can also be electrically coupled to a time delay relay  138 , which can be configured to energize the solenoid  132  for a specified period of time before de-energizing the solenoid  132 , in which state the solenoid  132  releases the locking member  30 , which is then biased back into the locking position. The specified period of time can be selected to provide sufficient time to insert or remove the firearm  12  from the cradle  24 . In one embodiment, the time delay relay  138  is an 8 second time delay relay. 
     The solenoid  132  of the locking mechanism  28  can also be electrically coupled to a switch  140  that energizes the solenoid  132  when activated. The switch  140  can include one or more user input devices  142 , such as a push button, toggle switch, lever, fingerprint reader, or other input device, for example. In an embodiment, the switch  140  can be electrically coupled to one or more control circuits of the vehicle  18  such that the solenoid  132  can be operated in response to operating conditions of the vehicle  18 , such as energizing the solenoid  132  only when the vehicle  18  is stopped. In an embodiment, the switch  140  can be a momentary switch.  FIG. 14 , shows an schematic of a circuit  144  that includes the solenoid  132  of the locking mechanism, the power source  136 , the time delay relay  138 , and the switch  140  operatively coupled to a push button  142 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the firearm retention device  10  can be installed on a surface  19 , such as a floor, of a vehicle  18  by using fasteners  36  to couple the base plate  20  to the surface  19 . The various pivot points (e.g., hinges  54 ,  56 ,  72  and pivot plate  70 ) can be adjusted to place the cradle  24  in a position to provide efficient and/or ergonomic access to the firearm  12  by the user. The pivot points can be fixed in position by the various set screws. The solenoid  132  of the locking mechanism  28  can be wired to the power source  136 , switch  140 , and time delay relay  138  ( FIG. 14 ). The switch  140  with the user input device  142  (e.g., push button) can be positioned within the vehicle  18 . The position of the user input device  142  can be selected to provide convenient access to the user input device  142  and switch  140  or to conceal the user input device  142  and switch  140  from persons outside or inside the vehicle  18 . Positions within the vehicle  18  for the switch  140  can include, but are not limited to, the dashboard, steering column, center console, under the dashboard, under the seat, in the ceiling, or in any other convenient or concealing position. 
     To remove the firearm  12  from or insert the firearm  12  into the cradle  24 , the user activates the user input device  142  operatively coupled to switch  140 , which energizes the locking mechanism  28 . The solenoid  132  of the locking mechanism  28  retracts the locking member from the trigger guard  16  of the firearm  12 . The user can then insert or remove the firearm  12  from the cradle  24 . In an embodiment, the user can press and hold the user input device  142  while removing the firearm  12  from the cradle  24 . In an embodiment, the user can activate the switch  140 , and the time delay relay  138  can hold the solenoid  132  in the unlocked position for the specified period of time while the user inserts or removes the firearm  12 . 
     A method of securing a firearm  12  within a vehicle  18  can include providing a firearm retention device  10  as disclosed herein, installing the firearm retention device  10  within the vehicle  18  as described herein, activating the switch  140  to open the solenoid  132  of the locking mechanism  28 , inserting the firearm  12  within the cradle  24  of the firearm retention device  10  such that the firearm  12  is fully seated within the cradle  24 , and releasing the switch  140  or allowing the time delay relay  138  to de-energize the solenoid  132  to allow the locking member  30  of the locking mechanism  28  to move into the locking position. 
     It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only, is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that other changes and modifications are possible.