Patent Publication Number: US-2021180391-A1

Title: Storage system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Non-Provisional Application and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 16/576,112 filed Sep. 19, 2019; and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/713,965 filed May 15, 2015; and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 14/731,968 filed Jun. 5, 2015, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety into this disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates to a storage system for securely housing various valuable items, and in particular to providing a storage system having a rotatable door with a locking mechanism to prevent rotation of the rotatable door from a locked to an unlocked position into which valuable items may be stored. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Gun and jewelry safes currently come in a variety of different sizes and shapes. Current gun safes are typically in the form of an upright, rectangular, metal box that include a rectangular door on the front of the box. Locking mechanisms used with these safes typically include numerous cylindrical metal bolts that slide into corresponding circular cutouts that are located contemporaneously close to the safe&#39;s door as the door is locked. Likewise, these conventional safes are cumbersome to use as the access door opening to insert and retrieve weapons from is narrow and oftentimes difficult to handle weapons there-through. Once open, withdrawing the various weapons from the safe in a quick manner is difficult and impossible with conventional designs. 
     Consequently, there is a need for a storage system with an improved locking mechanism having a large access door to secure various items, such as various weapons, their ammunition, magazines, and the like. Likewise, there is a need to be able to withdraw these various items from a safe in a quick and easy many. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a storage system having an outer housing assembly including an elongated housing having a non-rotatable curved inner structure. A top assembly is attached to an upper end of the elongated housing, and a lower assembly is attached to a lower end of the elongated housing. An arcuate housing door rotates within the top assembly and the lower assembly concentrically about a longitudinal axis and partially within and adjacent to the non-rotatable curved inner structure. An upper end of the arcuate housing door rotates around a circular plate attached to the top assembly about the longitudinal axis. The arcuate housing door rotates between a closed position that prevents access to an internal compartment within the elongated housing, and an open position that provides an access opening of approximately 180 degrees about the longitudinal axis into the internal compartment within the elongated housing. 
     A rack assembly is disposed within the internal compartment and is capable of extending from the internal compartment along a track when the arcuate housing door is open. In the extended position, the rack assembly can also rotate to provide access to the items stored on the rack assembly. 
     These and other objects, features, and/or advantages may accrue from various aspects of embodiments of the present invention, as described in more detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary a weapons storage system in a closed locked position in accordance with this invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts the weapons storage system in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 3  shows the rotatable housing and weapons cassette having a weapon secured within the weapons cassette. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the weapons storage system in a partial open position. 
         FIG. 5  depicts the weapons storage system in an unlocked open position. 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of the weapons storage system in an unlocked open position having various weapons secured to the weapons cassette. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the weapons cassette removed from the weapons storage system. 
         FIGS. 8-9  depict the weapons cassette placed into a transfer carrying case. 
         FIG. 10  shows an upper rear perspective view of the weapons storage system and mounting system. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an upper front perspective view of the weapons storage system. 
         FIG. 12  depicts a lower perspective view of the weapons storage system in an unlocked open position. 
         FIG. 13  shows a cross section view of the top assembly and the handle assembly. 
         FIG. 14  depicts a side view of the top assembly and the handle assembly. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the top assembly and the handle assembly. 
         FIG. 16  depicts a top view of the top assembly and the handle assembly. 
         FIG. 17  shows a lower perspective view of the top assembly of the weapons storage system. 
         FIG. 18  depicts a side view of the top assembly, the handle assembly and the weapons cassette attached thereto. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a cross section view of the lower assembly and lower locking mechanism therein. 
         FIG. 20  shows an exploded view of the lower assembly and lower locking mechanism therein. 
         FIG. 21  depicts a top view of the lower locking mechanism in a locked closed position. 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a top view of the lower locking mechanism in an unlocked open position. 
         FIG. 23  shows an upper perspective view of the lower locking mechanism in a locked closed position. 
         FIG. 24  depicts an upper exploded perspective view of the lower locking mechanism in a locked closed position. 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a side view of the lower locking mechanism in a locked closed position. 
         FIG. 26  shows the barrel locking mechanism. 
         FIG. 27  shows the barrel locking mechanism attached to the weapons cassette. 
         FIG. 28  shows the barrel locking mechanism securing a barrel of a weapon. 
         FIG. 29  shows the barrel locking mechanism securing a rifle to the weapons cassette. 
         FIG. 30  shows retractable feet adapted for use with the weapons cassette. 
         FIG. 31  shows an enlarged view of the weapons cassette including a pair of retractable handles. 
         FIG. 32  depicts an exemplary wiring conductor extending from the keypad to the lower locking mechanism. 
         FIG. 33  is a perspective view of an exemplary second embodiment for a storage system according to this subject disclosure. 
         FIG. 34  is a front view of the storage system in a closed position. 
         FIG. 35  is a front view of the storage system in an open position. 
         FIG. 36  is a front view of the storage system embodied as a weapons storage system in an open position. 
         FIG. 37  is a lower perspective view of a rotatable housing and locking mechanism. 
         FIG. 38  is an upper perspective view of a rotatable housing and the locking mechanism. 
         FIG. 39  is a lower perspective view of the locking mechanism. 
         FIG. 40  is an upper perspective view of the locking mechanism. 
         FIG. 41  is an upper perspective view of an inside of an end cap in the lower assembly. 
         FIG. 42  is an upper perspective view of an inside of an end cap in the lower assembly with an attached locking mechanism. 
         FIG. 43  is an upper perspective view of a ball screw. 
         FIG. 44  is an upper perspective view of a ball screw cap. 
         FIG. 45  is an exploded view of A in  FIG. 44  of an adjustable leveler assembly. 
         FIG. 46  is a lower perspective view of an outside of an end cap with an adjustable base plate in the lower assembly. 
         FIG. 47  is a lower perspective view of an end cap without the adjustable base plate in the lower assembly. 
         FIG. 48  is an upper perspective view of a locking mechanism without a bridge plate. 
         FIG. 49  is an upper perspective view of the locking mechanism without a bridge plate and a sear plate. 
         FIG. 50  is a top view of the locking mechanism in a locked position. 
         FIG. 51  is a top view of the locking mechanism in an unlocked position. 
         FIG. 52  is an upper perspective view of the storage system with a rack assembly in an extended position. 
         FIG. 52  is a first upper perspective view of the storage system with a rack assembly in an extended position. 
         FIG. 53  is a second upper perspective view of the storage system with a rack assembly in an extended position. 
         FIG. 54  is an upper perspective view of the storage system with shelves in an extended position. 
         FIG. 55  is an upper perspective view of the rack assembly. 
         FIG. 56  is a top view of the upper track in the rack assembly in an extended position without shelves. 
         FIG. 57  is a top view of the upper track in the rack assembly in an extended position with shelves. 
         FIG. 58  is a bottom view of the lower track in the rack assembly in an extended position without shelves. 
         FIG. 59  is a bottom view of the lower track in the rack assembly in an extended position with shelves. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary weapons storage system  10  according to this subject disclosure. Various advantages will be described below by the construction of the weapons storage system  10 . The construction of the weapons storage system  10  provides for a large 180 degree access opening to an internal compartment in an unlocked open position. A locking mechanism may be positioned in a remote, hard to access, location within a lower assembly of the weapons storage system  10 . A code input receiver, such as a keypad may be positioned atypically distant from the locking mechanism further ensuring the inability to break into the weapons storage system  10 . Another advantage of the weapons storage system  10  is the ability to rapidly access weapons stored therein and to be able to quickly remove a weapons cassette from within the weapons storage system  10  and quickly move it to a remote location. 
     The weapons storage system  10  has an elongated upright tall profile. The weapons storage system  10  may have a rectangular outer base housing  20  bounded by a lower assembly  18  and a top assembly  16 . The outer base housing  20  has an elongated curved inner structure  21 . The rectangular outer base housing  20 , the lower assembly  18  and the top assembly  16  all partially encase an integrated cylindrical shaped and an elongated upright inner secure rotatable housing  30 . The inner secure rotatable housing  30  is rotated between an open position and a closed position by a handle  32  provided in the top assembly  16  at an upper end of the rotatable housing  30  to enable access to a weapons cassette  45  securing various weapons  12  stored in an interior compartment  34  as shown in  FIG. 4 . As will be discussed in more detail later, a key pad  75  is electronically connected to a locking mechanism  80  located in the lower assembly  18  and is adapted to lock and unlock the rotation of the rotatable housing  30 . 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show the inner secure rotatable housing  30  is constructed in a tubular vertical shape and includes a pair of vertical frame members  40  having a first vertical frame member  41 , and a second vertical frame member  42  opposite the first vertical frame member  41 . The first vertical frame member  41  and second vertical frame member  42  are attached between the upper door plate  72  and the lower floor plate  110 , all of which rotate together as an integrated unit being a part of the rotatable housing  30 . The weapons cassette  45  securing the weapons  12  is fixed and the rotatable housing  30  rotates around the weapons cassette  45 . It is to be understood that the weapons cassette  45  securing the weapons  12  can also be constructed to rotate with the rotatable housing  30 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the inner secure rotatable housing  30  has been rotated approximately 180 degrees from the first locked or closed position shown in  FIG. 1 . The rotating door  31  of the rotatable housing  30  has been rotated and lies adjacent to the inner curved surface  21  of the rectangular outer base housing  20 . The inner curved surface  21  may take a variety of different shapes, such as for example a u-shaped curve, a cylindrical curve or some other curve with a predetermined radius of curvature. The inner curved surface  21  is provided to rotationally mate concentrically with the rotatable housing  30  adjacent to the inner curved surface  21 . 
     The interior compartment  34  within the rotatable housing  30  is constructed as an elongated cylindrical housing. The door  31  is integrated with the rotatable housing  30  and is attached between the vertical frame members  40  and the upper door plate  72  and the lower floor plate  110 , and rotates between a first locked closed position ( FIG. 1 ) and a second open unlocked position ( FIG. 2 ). 
     In  FIG. 3 , although one weapons cassette  45  is shown provided, it is to be understood that the overall size of the weapon storage system  10  may be sufficiently large enough to house more than one weapons cassette  45 . That is, a diameter of the internal compartment  34  of the weapon storage system  10  may be large enough to house two, three or sufficiently more weapons cassettes  45  within the weapon storage system  10 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the rotatable housing  30  rotated approximately midway between the first closed position as shown in  FIG. 1  and the second open position as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the second open position (such as shown in  FIG. 2 ), the door  31  is concentrically rotated into an open position allowing a wide access opening into the interior compartment  34 . The door  31  is positioned at the rear of the interior compartment  34  adjacent to the inner curved surface  21  of the outer base housing  20 . In the closed position (such as shown in  FIG. 1 ), the door  31  is concentrically rotated into a secure closed position at the front of the interior compartment  34  closing off access to the storage of weapons  12  within the interior compartment  34 . 
       FIG. 4-6  shows the weapons cassette  45  securely mounted within the interior compartment  34  of the weapons storage system  10 . As shown, the interior compartment  34  houses the weapons cassette  45 . The weapons cassette  45  is also adapted to store and secure various weapons such as a rifle, a hand gun, a high voltage weapon, a baton, magazines, a knife, flashlight, tear gas, handcuffs, vest, pepper spray, ammunition and other weapons and equipment suitable for law enforcement use. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates the quick disconnect construction of the weapons cassette  45  removed from within the rotatable housing  30 . An advantage of this weapons storage system  10  is the ability of the entire weapons cassette  45  to be quickly and easily released from its storage position inside of the interior compartment  34  of the weapons storage system  10 . As will be described in more detail later, a locking mechanism  80  disposed in the lower assembly  18  is provided to prevent the rotatable housing  30  and the rotatable door  31  to permit access to the weapons  12  from being rotated into an open position to maintain the security of the weapons cassette  45  within the weapons storage system  10 . 
       FIGS. 8-9  show a transfer carrier case  130  into which the weapons cassette  45  may be placed and transferred to another location in a concealed manner. The transfer carrier case  130  may take a variety of different sizes and/or shapes. In this exemplary embodiment, the transfer carrier case  130  is configured like a suitcase as a rectangular compartment carrying case with a pivoting lid. The transfer carrier case  130  may be adapted to securely receive the weapons cassette  45  within the transfer carrier case  130  and transport the weapons cassette  45  from the weapons storage system  10  to a remote location. The transfer carrier case  130  may also include a mounting assembly adapted to receive the upper weapons cassette mount  46  and the lower weapons cassette mount  47  to secure the weapons cassette  45  within the transfer carrier case  130 . 
     For example, a weapons storage system  10  may be securely located in a police station. A police vehicle may be provided with a mating mounting system adapted to receive the entire weapons cassette  45 . As such, an authorized user (such as a police officer) may remove the weapons cassette  45  containing the various weapons  12  (rifle, handgun, stun gun, etc) and ammunition from its secure location in the weapons storage system  10  and transport it from within the police station to the police vehicle in the transfer carrier case  130 . 
     Alternatively, the police vehicle may be adapted to receive and lock the entire carrier case  130  with the weapons cassette  45  disposed therein into the vehicle at a predetermined location, such as in the trunk of the vehicle. The trunk of the vehicle may be equipped with a mating mounting system adapted to receive the entire carrier case  130 . 
     In another use example, once the user arrives at the police vehicle, she may easily remove the weapons cassette  45  from the transfer carrier case  130  and securely install it to a mating mounting system adapted to engage the upper weapons cassette mount  46  and the lower weapons cassette mount  47  within the police vehicle. The advantage of the self contained weapons cassette  45  is that the police officer does not have to independently retrieve numerous weapons and ammunition and various pieces of equipment required for their job and carry them separately from the station to the police vehicle. This process can be cumbersome and time consuming. The weapons cassette  45  acts as a self contained unit capable of carrying all of the various pieces of equipment all together attached to the weapons cassette  45  as a single secure unit. 
     In  FIG. 10 , returning to the construction of the weapons storage system  10 , a rear view of the rectangular outer base housing  20  is shown. Various mounting channels  22  can be provided about the various surfaces of the outer base housing  20  for securing the weapons safe  10  to another surface, such as a wall. A mounting bracket such as a mating elongated rigid bar  24  can be securely anchored to the wall or other surface by various threaded secure fasteners. The channel  22  can be constructed and aligned with the elongated rigid bar  24  for securing to the wall or surface. The weapons safe storage system  10  can be mounted to the surface upon which it is resting, such as a floor and/or any other suitable surface. 
     As shown from this angle, the handle  32  is secured to a center axis (X) that it rotates around and extends radially outward therefrom. The rectangular outer base housing  20  includes the curved interior surface  21  adapted to receive the secure the rotatable housing  30 . The handle  32  rotates around the center axis (X) and has enough space provided between an end of the handle  32  and the inner curved interior surface  21  for rotation between the first closed position and the second open position. 
       FIGS. 11-12  depict upper perspective views of the top assembly  16  and the lower assembly  18  in the weapons storage system  10 .  FIG. 11  shows an upper circular cap  35  provided at the top assembly  16  upper end of the secure rotatable housing  30 . A lower circular cap  36  is shown in  FIG. 12  and is provided at the lower assembly  18  lower end of the secure rotatable housing  30 . 
     The upper circular cap  35  may be semicircular in shape and may be attached to a front face  20   a  of the base housing  20 . Alternatively, the upper circular cap  35  may be circular and may be recessed and securely attached within a semicircular channel (not shown) provided in the front face  20   a  and inner curved surface  21  of the upper end of the base housing  20 . The upper circular cap  35  covers and prevents access to the interior compartment within the top assembly  16  that houses the handle assembly  60 . Various constructions for the upper circular cap  35  are possible. 
     Likewise, the lower circular cap  36  may be semicircular in shape and may attach to the front face  20   a  of the base housing  20 . Alternatively, the lower circular cap  36  may be circular and may be recessed and securely attached within a semicircular channel (not shown) provided in the front face  20   a  and inner curved surface  21  at the lower end of the base housing  20 . The lower circular cap  36  covers and prevents access to the interior compartment within the lower assembly  18  that houses the lower locking mechanism  80 . Various constructions for the lower circular cap  36  are possible. 
       FIGS. 13-15  show a cross section, a side view and exploded view of the handle assembly  60 . The top assembly  16  is located above the interior compartment  34  of the weapon storage system  10 . The top assembly  16  includes an interior space  16   a  defined between an upper inner circular cap  37  and an upper inner base cap  38 . The upper inner circular cap  37  may be attached to the upper inner base cap  38  in a variety of different ways. Various fastener projections  33  may extend from the upper inner circular cap  37  adapted to receive various fasteners to secure the upper inner base cap  38  to the upper inner circular cap  37 . The upper inner circular cap  37  and the upper inner base cap  38  are fixed to the rectangular outer base housing  20 . 
     The upper inner base cap  38  may be secured to the upper outer circular cap  35  and/or the rectangular outer base housing  20  in a variety of different ways. For example, and as shown, various tabs  39  may extend from the upper inner base cap  38  having a fastener hole adapted to receive a fastener to secure the upper inner base cap  38  to the upper outer circular cap  35  and/or the rectangular outer base housing  20 . 
     The weapons storage system  10  includes an upper inner circular cap  37  and the upper inner base cap  38 . An upper surface of the upper inner circular cap  37  may be constructed to include an upper aperture  37   a  in the center having a shoulder and a concentric channel encircling the shoulder surrounding the upper aperture. Likewise, the upper inner base cap  38  may also have a lower aperture  38   a  substantially aligned with and below the upper aperture  37   a  in the upper inner circular cap  37 . The upper aperture  37   a  and the lower aperture  38   a  adapted to receive the various components of the handle assembly  60 . 
     In construction, the handle  32  has a central opening  32   a  adapted to receive a handle cap  61  therein. The central opening of the handle  32  is positioned above the upper aperture  37   a  in the upper inner circular cap  37  and allowed to rotate around the upper aperture  37   a . The handle  32  is attached to a support ring  62  with an internal tongue  62   a  having an aperture  62   b  and a recessed groove  62   c  bisecting the aperture  62   b.    
     The support ring  62  is fastened to an upper main shaft  64  having an extending cross member  64   a  that mates with the recessed groove  62   c  in the internal tongue  62   a  of the support ring  62 . An upper stop plate  66  is located on the upper main shaft  64  below the internal tongue  62   a  of the support ring  62 . The upper stop plate  66  rotates a predetermined rotational distance between a first position and a second position defined by a position of an upper stop shaft  68 . As shown, the upper stop plate  66  has a central substantially circular base with a pair of arms  66   a ,  66   b  that extend therefrom. 
       FIGS. 15-16  illustrates the first position (such as in a closed position), in which a first arm  66   a  engages the upper stop shaft  68  at a first orientation. In a second position (such as in an open position), a second arm  66   b  engages the upper stop shaft  68  at a second orientation. The upper stop shaft  68  defines the boundaries between which the handle assembly may rotate. One example may be a 180 degree turn between a first and a second position to define an open and a closed position. However, it is to be understood that the rotation degree can be varied according to this subject disclosure. 
     An upper bushing  71  is located on the upper main shaft  64  just below the upper stop plate  66 . The upper bushing  71  is positioned between the upper main shaft  64  and an upper door plate  72  so that the handle assembly  60  may rotate the upper door plate  72  through the fixed top portion defined by the upper inner circular cap  37  and the upper inner base cap  38  that is fixed to the upper outer circular cap  35  and/or the rectangular outer base housing  20 . The keypad  75  is disposed within a central portion of the handle  32 . Circuitry for the keypad  75  may be embodied in an interior space between the handle cap  61  and a lower handle cap base cover  61   a . As shown and described later in  FIG. 32 , a conductor  77  may extend from the circuitry of the keypad  75  to the lower locking mechanism  80 . The various components are rotationally fixed between the handle  32  and the upper door plate  72  by a nut fastener  65  threadedly attached to an upper end of the upper main shaft  64 . 
       FIG. 17  shows the top assembly  16  including an upper locking mount  63  provided just below the upper door plate  72  adapted to be connected to the upper weapons cassette mount  46 .  FIG. 18  shows a side view of the handle assembly  60  connected through the upper locking mount  63  to the upper weapons cassette mount  46  attached to the weapons cassette  45 . In operation, the weapons cassette  45  may be fixed and may not rotate as the handle assembly  60  and the rotatable housing  30  rotate together between an open position and a closed position. Alternatively, the weapons cassette  45  may be adapted to rotate with the rotation of the handle assembly  60  and the rotatable housing  30  as they rotate together between an open position and a closed position. 
     The upper weapons cassette mount  46  is positioned at the upper end of the weapons cassette  45  and is adapted to engage and lock onto the upper locking mount  63  attached to the top assembly  16  and the handle assembly  60 . 
       FIG. 18  shows the upper weapons cassette mount  46  of the weapons cassette  45  having a receiving cup portion  46   a  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) with an outer guide  46   b  portion adapted to receive and align the upper locking mount  63  within the outer guides  46   b . A pair of release levers  46   c  are integrated into the upper weapons cassette mount  46  and function as latch release levers to release the upper locking mount  46  from the upper locking mount  63  in a quick manner when the release levers  46   c  are depressed. 
       FIG. 19  shows a cross section view of the lower locking mechanism  80  in the lower assembly  18 . The lower assembly  18  below the interior compartment  34  of the weapon storage system  10  includes the outer lower circular cap  36  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The lower assembly  18  includes an interior space  18   a  defined between a lower base plate  81  and a lower floor plate  110 . The lower outer circular cap  36  may be attached to the outer base housing  20  in a variety of different ways. Various fasteners may be provided to secure the lower outer circular cap  36  thereto. 
       FIG. 20  shows an exploded perspective view of the lower locking mechanism  80  positioned in a locked position within the vertical frame members  40 . The lower assembly  18  is composed of the lower base plate  81  being fixed to the rectangular outer base housing  20 . The lower base plate  81  has an outer contour that includes the shape of the rectangular outer base housing  20  and the circular bearing plate  82 . 
     Positioned within the lower assembly  18 , the lower locking mechanism is  80  is inaccessible in the middle of the lower end of the weapon storage system  10 . This position for the lower locking mechanism  80  is very difficult to obtain access to by a person trying to compromise its security and to gain access to the weapon storage system  10 . 
     However, it is to be understood according to the subject matter of this disclosure, that the locking mechanism can be located in various locations within the construction of the weapon storage system  10 . For example, the locking mechanism can also be suitably located in the top assembly  16 , in the rectangular outer base housing  20  and/or any other suitable location within the weapon storage system  10 . 
     The bearing plate  82  is fixed to the lower base plate  81 . The lower main shaft  87  is disposed in the center of, and attached to the bearing plate  82  and the lower base plate  81 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , a lower bushing  85  is disposed above the bearing plate  82  and concentric to the lower main shaft  87 . The lower bushing  85  is connected to the lower door plate  84 . The lower bushing  85  is disposed between the bearing plate  82  and the lower door plate  84  and allows the lower door plate  84  to rotate about the lower main shaft  87  without the bearing plate  82  being rotated. 
     A drill guard  86  is attached to the lower door plate  84  to protect the inner components of the lower locking mechanism  80  from being tampered with by an object such as a screw driver or other piercing tool, such as a drill, or the like. The drill guard  86  has an L-shape protective cross sectional view configuration. The lower leg of the L-shape cross section configuration is an outer flange  86   a  that surrounds the upward flange  86   b  portion of the L-shape. The outer flange  86   a  includes various fastener openings  86   c  adapted to receive various fasteners for attachment to the lower door plate  84 . 
     A bridge plate  88  (as shown in  FIG. 24 ) is attached to an upper edge of the upward flange  86   b  portion of the L-shape of the drill guard  86 . As shown in  FIG. 24 , the bridge plate  88  is a cover element that secures tampering of the locking mechanism  80  within the interior space within the drill guard  86  that securely houses the locking mechanism  80 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 20 , the lower main shaft  87  has a shoulder  87   a  disposed at approximately its central position, and a flat portion  87   b  that is keyed at its upper end above the shoulder  87   a.    
     A sear hub  90  is disposed concentrically over the lower main shaft  87  above the lower bushing  85 . The sear hub  90  includes a central opening  90   a  having a shape that mates with the keyed flat portion  87   b  of the lower main shaft  87 . The mating keyed connection between the lower main shaft  87  and the central opening  90   a  in the sear hub  90  permits the sear hub  90  to be rotationally fixed to the lower main shaft  87 . The sear hub  90  is substantially curved and has a notched indentation  90   b  along its perimeter that is adapted to receive a sear lock  100  as will be described later. 
     A lower stop plate  92  is disposed above the sear hub  90 , and is attached through an aperture  92   a  by a shaft fastener  87   d  to another aperture  87   c  in an upper end of the lower main shaft  87 . The lower stop plate  92  further includes various apertures  92   b  adapted to receive various other fasteners  92   c  to apertures  90   c  in the sear hub  90 . 
     The lower stop plate  92  has a central substantially circular base with a pair of arms  92   e ,  92   f  that extend from the central substantially circular base. The pair of arms  92   e ,  92   f  intermittently engage a lower sear stop shaft  101  at a first closed position and a second open position respectively. 
     The lower stop plate  92  is fixed to the lower main shaft  87  and does not rotate as the rotatable housing  30  rotates between a first closed position and a second open position. That is, when the rotatable housing  30  rotates a predetermined rotational distance between an unlocked or first open position and a locked or second closed position, the pair of arms  92   e ,  92   f  are engaged with the lower sear stop shaft  101  respectively. 
     A pair of frame member guides  91  are adapted to secure the vertical frame members  40  in position between the lower door plate  84  and the lower floor plate  110 . As shown, the frame member guides  91  have a u-shape configuration. The u-shaped frame member guides  91  can be inserted into mating recesses  91   a  (as shown in  FIG. 23 ) disposed in the lower door plate  84  to the lower floor plate  110  and are adapted to secure the lower door plate  84  to the lower floor plate  110  in assembly. 
       FIG. 21  shows a plate  104  disposed in front of the lock nose  97 , lock clevis  98 , clevis pivot  99  and sear lock  100 . The plate  104  is a high strength protective plate which may be made of a variety of different materials, such as a hardened steel plate. The plate  104  is provided to block and protect the various vulnerable parts of the lower lock mechanism  80  form access, such as from a piercing tool, such as a drill trying to obtain access to the lower locking mechanism. 
       FIG. 21  also shows the lower locking mechanism  80  in a locked or closed position. As shown, the rotatable door  31  is facing forward away from the outer base housing  20 , blocking access to the interior compartment  34  of the rotatable housing  30 . The rotatable door  31  is secured between, and to the first vertical frame member  41  and the second vertical frame member  42 . The rotatable housing  30  has been rotated so that the arm  92   e  engages the lower sear stop shaft  101 . To move the rotatable housing  30  into an open position where the rotatable door  31  is rotated open, the lock body  96  must be actuated by the keypad  75  to retract the lock nose  97  and lock clevis  98  in toward the lock body  96  pivoting the projection  100   a  end out of the notched indentation  90   a  in the sear hub  90 . 
       FIG. 22  shows the lower locking mechanism  80  rotated 180 degrees into an unlocked and open position. As shown, the rotatable door  31  has been rotated 180 degrees and is facing rearward and is positioned against and juxtaposed to the outer base housing  20 , unblocking access to the interior compartment  34  of the rotatable housing  30 . The first vertical frame member  41  and the second vertical frame member  42  has been rotated 180 degrees and exchanged positions. In this position, the door  31  has been removed from the opening into the interior compartment  34  and access to the interior compartment is provided by a large 180 degree opening defined by the open space disposed between the first vertical frame member  41  and the second vertical frame member  42 . In this orientation, the open configuration of the rotatable housing  30  causes the internal compartment  34  and access thereto to thrust out forward from the outer base housing  20  for access into the internal compartment  34 . That is, the rotatable housing  30  has been rotated in an opposite direction so that the arm  92   f  engages the lower sear stop shaft  101  at approximately 180 degrees from the closed position shown in  FIG. 21 . 
     The lower stop shaft  101  defines the boundaries between which the rotatable housing  30  may rotate. One example may be a 180 degree turn between a first and a second position to define an open and a closed position. In the second open position, the upper stop plate  66  butts up against the upper stop shaft  68 , and in the same second open position, the lower stop plate  92  butts up against the lower stop shaft  101  correspond at equal rotational angles. Likewise, in the locked position, the upper stop plate  66  butts up against the upper stop shaft  68  at 180 degrees from the first open position, and in the same unlocked position, the lower stop plate  92  butts up against the lower stop shaft  101  at 180 degrees from the first open position, also correspond at equal rotational angles to close the weapon storage system  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 19, 23  and exploded  FIG. 24 , a lower floor plate  110  is disposed above the lower stop plate  92 . The lower floor plate  110  covers the interior compartment  18   a  defined within the lower assembly  18 . The lower floor plate  110  may be a single piece construction or a multi-piece construction. 
     A lower locking mount  94  is then attached above, and to, the lower floor plate  110  and the lower stop plate  92  by the various fasteners  94   a  into various apertures provided in the lower stop plate  92 . The lower locking mount  94  engages with the lower weapons cassette mount  47  in a quick disconnect manner and will be described in more detail later. 
       FIGS. 21-22  illustrate a locking element provided in the lower assembly  18 . The locking element is comprised of a lock body  96  having a retractable lock nose  97  with a lock clevis  98  disposed on an end. The lock nose  97  of the lock body  96  is adapted to extend and retract into and out of the lock body  96 . The extending and retracting motion may be in response to a mechanical or electronic switching element that actuates the movement of the lock nose  97  inward and outward of the lock body  96 . The lock clevis  98  is attached at a pivot  99  to a sear lock  100 . The sear lock  100  has a circular central body that is disposed concentric about the lower sear stop shaft  101 . 
     As an electronic switching element, the lock body  96  is an electronic component or device that can switch an electrical circuit, i.e., by interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another in response to actuation by another electronic element. The electronic switching element responds to an external force to mechanically or electrically change an electric signal. Switches are used to turn electric circuits ON and OFF and to switch electric circuits. One such example of the electronic switching element can be for example an electronic keypad  75 . 
       FIGS. 10-11, 15 and 32  show a digital door lock embodied as a keypad  75  integrated into the handle cap  61 . The keypad  75  may be embodied as a display interface and/or set of buttons arranged in a block or “pad” which usually bear digits, symbols and usually a complete set of alphabetical letters or numerals. The keypad may require a special code, such as a specific alphabetic, numeric, a specific pattern swipe and/or some input combination thereof to generate and send a signal from the keypad  75  to the lock body  96  to actuate movement of the lock nose  97  into or out of the lock body  96 . 
     At rest, the lock nose  97  disposed within the lock body  96  may be biased in the locked position in which the projection  100   a  of the sear lock  100  is biased into the notched indentation  90   a  of the sear hub  90   a  shown in  FIG. 21 . The lock nose  97  may be spring loaded to bias the projection  100   a  into the notched indentation  90   b  of the sear hub  90 . When the lock body  96  is actuated to an unlocked position by a correct code being received at the keypad  75 , the projection  100   a  of the sear lock  100  is actuated to move away from the notched indentation  90   b  of the sear hub  90 . 
     A wiring conductor  77  extends from an output in the keypad  75  to the lock body  96 . As shown in  FIG. 32 , the wiring conductor  77  extends from the keypad  75  in the top assembly  16  to the lock body  96  disposed in the lower assembly  18 . The wiring conductor is of sufficient length and gage and has a suitable conductor to transmit signals from the keypad  75  to the lock body  96  in the lower locking mechanism  80  to activate and deactivate the locking mechanism  80  disposed in the lower assembly  18 . 
       FIGS. 21-22  illustrate the operation of the lower locking mechanism  80 . When the lock body  96  is electronically actuated to lock the lower assembly  18  to prevent the rotatable housing  30  from being rotated, the projection or end or lock nose  97  extends out of the lock body  96  causing a projection or nose  100   a  extending from the circular central body of the sear lock  100  to pivot and move into the locking notched indentation  90   b  of the sear hub  90  thereby preventing the sear hub  90  from being rotated. The sear hub  90  will remain rotationally locked in the closed locked position until the lock body  96  is electronically released so that the nose  100   a  extending from the sear lock  100  is retracted and moved away from the locking notched indentation  90   b . When the sear hub  90  is locked, the entire rotatable housing  30  is prevented from being rotated and suspended in a closed locked position as shown in  FIG. 21 . 
     When the sear hub  90  is unlocked by the sear lock  100 , the rotatable housing  30  is allowed to rotate into an open unlocked position such as shown in  FIG. 22 . As shown, the sear lock  100  is unlocked from the sear hub  90  when the lock nose  97  is actuated to retract back into the lock body  96  and the nose  100   a  of the sear lock  100  is retracted from within the notched indentation  90   b  in the sear hub  90 . When the sear hub  90  is unlocked, the entire rotatable housing  30  is allowed to rotate as depicted in  FIG. 24 . As shown in  FIG. 24 , the first and vertical frame member  41  and the second vertical frame member  42  are rotated 180 degrees from their initial position shown in  FIG. 21 . 
     The lock body  96  may be actuated by a variety of different actuating mechanisms, such as by a mechanical switch, an electronic switching mechanism and/or any other suitable actuation method. An electronic keypad can be positioned on the handle assembly  60  and an electrical conductor can be extended from the keypad to the lock body  96  in order to activate and deactivate the locking and unlocking of the lock body  96 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 23 , the lower locking mechanism  80  includes a lower locking mount  94  provided just above the lower floor plate  110 . The lower locking mount  94  is adapted to be connected to the lower weapons cassette mount  47 . 
       FIG. 25  shows a side view of the lower locking mount  94  connected to the lower weapons cassette mount  47  that is attached to the weapons cassette  45 . The rotating door  31  is shown cut away to illustrate the interior compartment  34  of the rotatable housing  30 . In use, the weapons cassette  45  is fixed and does not rotate as the rotatable housing  30  rotates between the unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 22  and the locked position shown in  FIG. 21 . 
     The lower weapons cassette mount  47  is positioned at the lower end of the weapons cassette  45  and is adapted to engage and lock onto the lower locking mount  94  attached to the lower assembly  18  of the rotatable housing  30 . The lower weapons cassette mount  47  of the weapons cassette  45  may be provided with various engagement configurations to lock onto the lower locking mount  94 . For example, the lower weapons cassette mount  47  may have a receiving cup portion  47   a  with an outer guide  47   b  portion adapted to receive and align the lower locking mount  94  within the outer guides  47   b . A pair of release levers  47   c  may be integrated into the lower weapons cassette mount  47  and function as latch release levers to release the lower locking mount  47  of the weapons cassette  45  in a quick manner when the release levers  47   c  are depressed. 
       FIG. 26  depicts the weapon clamp  120 , and  FIG. 27  illustrates the weapons clamp secured to the weapons cassette  45 . The weapon clamp  120  can be constructed in variety of different ways. This embodiment includes the clamp  120  having a first jaw  121  and a second jaw  122  adapted to move open and close. The clamp  120  may include an interior resilient grip portion composed of a flexible material that can be slightly compressed as the clamping force is applied during the closure process of the clamp  120 . The first jaw  121  may pivot outward at a first pivot connection  121   b  and the second jaw  122  may pivot outward at a second pivot connection  122   b.    
     The clamp  120  may be opened and closed by a lever  126  having a cam surface  126   a  that engages with mating cam surfaces  121   a ,  122   a  attached to the jaws  121 ,  122  to open and close the jaws  121 ,  122  based on the position of the lever  126  and its cammed surface  126   a  biasing against the cammed surfaces  121   a  of the first jaw  121  and the cammed surface  122   a  of the second jaw  122 . 
     In  FIGS. 27-28 , the weapon clamp  120  is shown disposed on the weapon cassette  45  and is positioned adjacent to a barrel of a weapon  12 . In use, the jaws  121 ,  122  are secured by the clamp  120  onto the barrel of the weapon  12  in such a way, and with a force, that the weapon cannot be removed without opening the clamp  120 . Although shown attached to the barrel of a weapon, it is to be understood that the weapons clamp  120  can be constructed to clamp onto any portion of a weapon according to this subject disclosure. 
       FIGS. 29-30  shows retractable feet  140  adapted for use with the weapons cassette  45 . The retractable feet  140  are provided to enable the weapons cassette to sit upright in a stable secure manner when the weapon cassette is laid onto a surface. The retractable feet  140  pivot inward adjacent to the cassette when in a storage position and outward into an open position as shown in  FIG. 29  to widen the footprint of the weapons cassette. Resilient pads  142  may be provided at the ends of the feet  140  for enhanced support and stability. 
       FIG. 31  shows an enlarged view of the weapons cassette  45  including a pair of retractable handles  145 . The retractable handles  145  make it easier to transport the weapons cassette  45  during transport. A user can gain a better grip on the weapons cassette  45  by using the retractable handles  145 . 
       FIGS. 33-36  illustrates a second embodiment for a valuable item or storage system  210  according to this subject disclosure. Various advantages will be described below by the construction of the storage system  210 . The construction of the storage system  210  provides for a large 180 degree access opening to an internal compartment  234  in an unlocked open position sown in  FIGS. 35-36 . A locking mechanism  280  may be positioned in a remote, hard to access, location within a lower assembly  218  of the storage system  210 . A code input receiver, such as a keypad  275  may be positioned atypically distant from the locking mechanism  280  further ensuring the inability to break into the storage system  210 . Another advantage of the storage system  210  is the ability to slide a rack assembly  400  disposed within the internal compartment  234  outward from the internal compartment  234  along a track to rapidly gain access to weapons  12  stored thereon. 
     The second embodiment of the storage system  210  shown in  FIGS. 33-36  is substantially similar to that shown and described for the first embodiment of the storage system  10 , shown and described in  FIGS. 1-6 and 10-24 . The description provided above with respect to the first embodiment applies in part to the second embodiment and will not be repeated for sake of brevity. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 33-34 , the storage system  210  has an elongated upright tall profile. The storage system  210  may have a rectangular outer base housing  220  bounded by a lower assembly  218  and a top assembly  216 . The outer base housing  220  has an elongated curved inner structure  221 . The rectangular outer base housing  220 , the lower assembly  218  and the top assembly  216  partially encase an integrated cylindrical or arcuate shaped housing door. The arcuate housing door is an elongated upright inner secure rotatable housing  230  as shown in  FIGS. 35 and 37-38 . 
     The rotatable housing  230  has an arcuate shape and is rotated about a center axis (X) between an open position (shown in  FIG. 35 ) and a closed position (shown in  FIG. 34 ) by a handle  232  provided on the rotatable housing  230  to enable access to a weapons rack assembly  245  securing various weapons  12  stored in an interior compartment  234  as shown in  FIG. 36 . As will be discussed in more detail later, a key pad  275  is electronically connected to a locking mechanism  280  (shown in  FIGS. 39 and 40 ) located in the lower assembly  218  and is adapted to lock and unlock the rotation of the rotatable housing  230 . 
       FIGS. 37 and 38  show the rotatable housing  230  is constructed in a tubular vertical shape and includes a pair of vertical frame members  240  having a first vertical frame member  241 , and a second vertical frame member  242  opposite the first vertical frame member  241 . The first vertical frame member  241  and second vertical frame member  242  are attached between the upper door plate  272  and the lower door plate  310 , all of which rotate together as an integrated unit being a part of the rotatable housing  230 . 
     In the closed position (shown in  FIG. 34 ), the weapons rack  245  securing the weapons  12  is fixed in rotation and the rotatable housing  230  rotates around the weapons rack  245  from the closed position to the open position (shown in  FIG. 35 ). As will be described in more detail later, when the rotatable housing  230  is in an open position, the weapons rack  245  is capable of sliding outward along tracks  410 ,  420 , away from within the internal compartment  234  within the base housing  220 , so that the weapons  12  may be more easily accessed. When the weapons rack  245  has been extended completely outward along the tracks  410 ,  420  from the base housing  220 , a non-rotation element may be disengaged to allow the weapons rack  245  to rotate to allow access to all of the weapons  12  supported by the weapons rack  245  in a convenient manner. 
     In  FIG. 35 , the rotatable housing  230  has been rotated approximately 180 degrees from the locked or closed position shown in  FIG. 34  to the open position shown in  FIG. 35 . The rotating door  231  of the rotatable housing  230  has been rotated and lies adjacent to an inner curved surface  221  or non-rotatable curved inner structure of the rectangular outer base housing  220 . The non-rotatable inner curved surface  221  may take a variety of different shapes, such as for example a u-shaped curve, a cylindrical curve or some other curve with a predetermined radius of curvature. The non-rotatable inner curved surface  221  is provided to rotationally mate concentrically with the rotatable housing  230  adjacent to the non-rotatable inner curved surface  221 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 35-38 , the interior compartment  234  within the rotatable housing  230  is constructed as an elongated cylindrical housing. The door  231  is integrated with the rotatable housing  230  and is attached between the vertical frame members  240  and the upper door plate  272  and the lower door plate  310 , and rotates between the closed position ( FIG. 34 ) and an open position ( FIG. 35 ). 
       FIG. 36  shows the weapons rack  245  securely mounted within the interior compartment  234  of the storage system  210 . The weapons rack  245  may also be adapted to store and secure various weapons such as a rifle, a hand gun, a high voltage weapon, a baton, magazines, a knife, flashlight, tear gas, handcuffs, vest, pepper spray, ammunition and other weapons and equipment suitable for law enforcement use. Alternatively, a different type of storage rack (not shown) may be integrated into the interior compartment  234  of the storage system  210  to store various other valuable items, such as jewelry, coins, and/or any other item of significant value to s user. 
     As with the weapons storage system  10  described previously, various mounting channels (similar to that shown in  FIG. 10 ) can be provided about the various outer surfaces of the outer base housing  220  for securing the storage system  210  to another surface, such as a wall. A mounting bracket such as a mating elongated rigid bar can be securely anchored to the wall or other surface by various threaded secure fasteners. Alternatively, the storage system  210  can be mounted to the surface upon which it is resting, such as a floor and/or any other suitable surface. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 33-38 , the handle  232  is secured to door  231  of the rotatable housing  230 . The handle  232  allows a user to rotate the rotatable housing  230  approximately 180 degrees between the closed position and the open position. 
       FIG. 35  depicts a front view of the storage system  210  illustrating the top assembly  216  and the lower assembly  218  in the storage system  210 . An upper circular cap  235  is provided at the top assembly  216  upper end to retain and secure the upper door plate  272  or upper end of the rotatable housing  230  as will be described in more detail below. A lower circular cap  236  is provided at the lower assembly  218  of the secure rotatable housing  230  to retain and secure the lower door plate  310  or lower end of the rotatable housing  230 . 
     The upper circular cap  235  may be semicircular in shape (as shown in  FIG. 33 ) and may be attached to the base housing  220 . Alternatively, the upper circular cap  235  may be circular and may be recessed and securely attached within a semicircular channel (not shown) provided at the upper end of the base housing  220 . The upper circular cap  235  covers and prevents access to the interior compartment  234  through the top assembly  216 . It is to be understood that various other constructions for the upper circular cap  235  are possible according to this subject disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 36 and 55 , an upper rack plate  412  is fixed to the top assembly  216  under the upper circular cap  235 . The upper rack plate  412  has a plurality of bearings  414  concentrically attached to its periphery. The upper door plate  272  of the rotatable housing  230  is captured by the upper rack plate  412  and rotates on the bearings  414  as it is rotated between the  180  degree open and closed positions. That is, the upper door plate  272  of the rotatable housing  230  is suspended by the upper rack plate  412  and permitted to rotate on the bearings  414 . In this construction, the bulk of the weight on the weapons rack  245  is not carried by the rotatable housing  230 , but instead is directly carried by an upper connection to the upper rack plate  412  from the weapons rack  245 . 
       FIG. 41  shows an upper perspective view of the lower assembly  218  without the locking mechanism  280 , and  FIG. 42  shows an upper perspective view of the lower assembly  218  with the locking mechanism  280  mounted thereon. The lower assembly  218  includes a lower base plate  281  adjustably connected to an end cap lower brace  318 . The lower base plate  281  is a floating plate. The end cap lower brace  318  has a center platform  321  onto which the locking mechanism  280  is attached. The lower brace  318  is disposed in an interior space  218   a  between the lower base plate  281  and the lower door plate  310  of the rotatable housing  230 . 
     The lower brace  318  includes various adjustable levelers  320  adapted to adjust the floating lower base plate  281 .  FIG. 45  is an exploded view of section A illustrating the adjustable levelers  320  in more detail. The lower brace  318  includes a level retainer  319  portion having various adjustable levelers  320  disposed at various locations along the lower brace  318 . As a result of the varying weight of the storage system  210  and the contents stored therein, it may be necessary to adjust the level of the storage system  210  from time to time. The level of the storage system  210  is made by adjusting the height of the floating lower base plate  281 . The adjustable levelers  320  may be adjusted by an adjustment key  322 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 41-47 , the adjustable levelers  320  may include a nut  326 , a ball screw  323  and a ball screw cup  325 . The nut  326  is fixed to the lower brace  318  which is fixed to the lower assembly  218 . The ball screw  323  is threaded into the nut  326 . The ball screw cups  325  are internally attached to the ball screw  323 . A lower end of the ball screw cups  325  is attached to the lower base plate  281  by various fasteners  327  as shown in  FIGS. 45 and 46 . Turning the threaded ball screw  323  clockwise or counter-clockwise within the threads inside of the nut  326  will adjust a length of the height of the ball screw  323  higher or lower within the nut  323  thereby increasing or decreasing the height of the lower base plate  281  at that location in the lower assembly  218 . Optimally adjusting the various adjustable levelers  320  at each of its locations will allow the storage system  210  to account for the varying distributed weight on the weapons rack  245  that rotates. Likewise, the height position of the storage system  210  can also be adjusted. 
       FIGS. 41-42  further illustrate a pair of stop lugs  330 ,  331  positioned on the lower brace  318 . As shown, the first stop lug  330  and the second stop lug  331  are positioned at approximately 180 degrees from each other about the lower main shaft  287  in the locking mechanism  280 . The stop lugs  330 ,  331  are positioned to set the 180 degree rotational boundary that the rotatable housing  230  is allowed to rotate. As shown in  FIG. 37 , a door stop  332  is provided on a lower surface of the lower door plate  310  that rotationally interacts with the stop lugs  330 ,  331 . 
     When the rotatable housing  230  is in a closed position, the door stop  332  is adjacent to, and butt up against, the first stop lug  330 . When the rotatable housing  230  has been rotated into an open position, the door stop  332  is adjacent to, and butt up against, the second stop lug  331 . As the rotatable housing  230  is turned from the closed position to the open position, the door stop  332  rotates from the closed position being butt up against that first stop lug  330  to the open position being butt up against the second stop lug  331 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 40 , the locking mechanism  280  is securely contained within the drill guard  286  and under a bridge plate  288  and a sear plate  386 .  FIG. 48  shows the locking mechanism  280  with the bridge plate  288  removed, and  FIG. 49  shows the locking mechanism  280  with the sear plate  386  also removed. In use, the lower main shaft  287  is fixed to the sear hub  290  which is also fixed and does not rotate. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 37, 39 and 41 , the lower end of the main shaft  287  has a keyed configuration. The lower end is keyed to fit into an aperture  317  in the center platform  321  ( FIG. 41 ) on the lower brace  318 . In position, the main shaft  287  is fixed to the lower brace  318  from rotation. Likewise, the sear hub  290  that is fixed to the main shaft  287  is also fixed when the rotatable housing  230  rotates between a closed and an open position. 
       FIG. 50  shows the internals of the locking mechanism  280  without the bridge plate  288  and the sear plate  386  connected. In particular, the lower locking mechanism  280  is shown positioned in a locked position. As shown in  FIG. 42 , the locking mechanism  280  is positioned centrally within the lower assembly  218 . The locking mechanism  280  is inaccessible in the middle of the lower end of the storage system  210 . This position for the locking mechanism  280  is very difficult to obtain access to by a person trying to compromise its security and to gain access to the storage system  210 . 
     However, it is also to be understood according to the subject matter of this disclosure, that the locking mechanism  280  can be located in various locations within the construction of the storage system  210 . For example, the locking mechanism can also be suitably located in the top assembly  216 , in the rectangular outer base housing  220  and/or any other suitable location within the storage system  210 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 50 , a drill guard  286  is attached to the lower plate  284  ( FIG. 39 ) to protect the inner components of the locking mechanism  280  from being tampered with by an object such as a screw driver or other piercing tool, such as a drill, or the like. The drill guard  286  may be attached in a variety of different ways, such as by being welded or using fasteners or the like. 
     The bridge plate  288  ( FIG. 40 ) is attached to various bridge projections  289  adjacent to an upper edge of the drill guard  286 . The bridge plate  288  is a cover element that secures from tampering of the interior space of the locking mechanism  280 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 39 and 41 , the lower main shaft  287  may have various shoulders or contours that are keyed into mating components. For example, the lower end of the main shaft  287  is keyed into and fixed to the aperture  317  in the center platform  321  of the lower brace  318 . Similarly, an upper end of the main shaft  287  may be keyed (not shown) into and attached to a sear hub  290 . In use, the main shaft  287  and the sear hub  290  are fixed. The remainder of the locking mechanism  280  rotates with the rotatable housing  280  since the locking mechanism  280  is attached to the rotatable housing  230 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 50 , the sear hub  290  is disposed concentrically over the lower main shaft  287  above a lower bushing. The sear hub  290  includes a central opening that mates with the lower main shaft  287 . The connection between the lower main shaft  287  and the sear hub  290  is rotationally fixed. The sear hub  290  is substantially curved and has notched indentations  290   a  along its perimeter that are adapted to receive sear locks  300  controlled to engage by a pair of lock bodies  296  as will be described later. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 34 and 50 , the locking mechanism  280  is in a locked or closed position. The rotatable door  231  is facing forward away from the outer base housing  220 , blocking access to the interior compartment  234  within the rotatable housing  230 . The rotatable door  231  is secured between, and to the first vertical frame member  241  and the second vertical frame member  242 . The rotatable housing  230  has been rotated so that the door stop  332  engages the first stop lug  330   a  ( FIGS. 37 and 41 ). 
       FIG. 51  shows the rotatable housing  230  into an open position where the rotatable door  231  is rotated open 180 degrees, the pair of lock bodies  296  must be actuated by the keypad  275  to retract the lock nose  297  and lock clevis  298  in toward the respective lock bodies  296  pivoting the projection  300   a  end out of the notched indentations  290   a  in the sear hubs  290 . 
       FIG. 51  shows the lower locking mechanism  280  rotated 180 degrees into an unlocked and open position. As shown in  FIG. 35 , the rotatable door  231  has been rotated 180 degrees and is facing rearward and is positioned against the non-rotatable curved inner structure  221  and juxtaposed to the outer base housing  220 , unblocking access to the interior compartment  234  of the rotatable housing  230 . The first vertical frame member  241  and the second vertical frame member  242  have been rotated 180 degrees and exchanged positions. 
     In this position, the door  231  has been rotated and removed from the opening allowing access into the interior compartment  234 . The access opening to the interior compartment  234  is provided by a large 180 degree opening defined by the open space disposed between the first vertical frame member  241  and the second vertical frame member  242 . That is, the rotatable housing  230  has been rotated in an opposite direction so that the door stop  332  engages the second stop lug  330   b  ( FIGS. 37 and 41 ) at approximately 180 degrees from the closed position as shown in  FIG. 35 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 50  in more detail, a pair of locking elements are provided in the lower assembly  218  according to the subject disclosure. Each of the locking elements are comprised of a lock body  296  having a retractable lock nose  297  with a lock clevis  298  disposed on an end. The lock nose  297  of the lock body  296  is adapted to extend and retract into and out of the lock body  296 . The extending and retracting motion may be in response to a mechanical or electronic switching element that actuates the movement of the lock nose  297  inward and outward of the lock body  296 . The lock clevis  298  is attached at a pivot  299  to a sear lock  300 . The sear lock  300  has a circular central body that is disposed concentric about a lower sear shaft  302 . The lock body  296  is similar in function to the lock body  96  in the storage system  10  and responds to the electronic keypad  275  in the base housing. 
       FIGS. 33-36  show a digital door lock having a protective door  375  and a keypad  275 . Under the door  375 , a keypad  275  may be integrated into the base housing  220 . The keypad  275  may be embodied as a display interface and/or set of buttons arranged in a block or “pad” which usually bear digits, symbols and usually a complete set of alphabetical letters or numerals. The keypad  275  may require a special code, such as a specific alphabetic, numeric, a specific pattern swipe and/or some input combination thereof to generate and send a signal from the keypad  275  to the lock body  296  to actuate movement of the lock nose  297  into or out of the lock body  296 . The signal from the keypad  275  to activate the lock body  296  may be a wired or wireless signal. 
     In  FIG. 50 , and at rest, the lock nose  297  disposed within the lock body  296  may be biased in the locked position (shown in  FIG. 50 ) in which the projection  300   a  of the sear lock  300  is biased into the notched indentation  290   a  of the sear hub  290 . In this position, the rotatable housing  230  is locked closed and cannot be opened. The lock nose  297  may be spring loaded to bias the projection  300   a  into the notched indentation  290   a  of the sear hub  290 . When the lock body  296  is actuated to an unlocked position by a correct code being received at the keypad  275 , the projection  300   a  of the sear lock  300  is actuated to move away from the notched indentation  290   a  of the sear hub  290  as shown in  FIG. 51 . 
     Similar to the diagram shown in  FIG. 32 , a wiring conductor  77  may extend from an output in the keypad  275  on the base housing  220  to the lock body  296 . That is, the wiring conductor  77  extends from the keypad  275  in the base housing  220  to the lock body  296  disposed in the lower assembly  218 . The wiring conductor is of sufficient length and gage and has a suitable conductor to transmit signals from the keypad  275  to the lock body  296  in the lower locking mechanism  280  to activate and deactivate the locking mechanism  280  disposed in the lower assembly  218 . It is also to be understood that the signals can be transmitted wirelessly from the keypad  275  to the lock body  296 , or from a mobile device to the lock body  296 . 
     When the sear hub  290  is unlocked by the sear lock  300 , the rotatable housing  230  is allowed to rotate into an open unlocked position such as shown in  FIG. 35 . As shown, the sear lock  300  is unlocked from the sear hub  290  when the lock nose  297  is actuated to retract back into the lock body  296  and the nose  300   a  of the sear lock  300  is retracted from within the notched indentation  290   a  in the sear hub  290 . When the sear hub  290  is unlocked, the entire rotatable housing  230  is allowed to rotate as depicted in  FIG. 51 . As shown in  FIG. 35 , the first vertical frame member  241  and the second vertical frame member  242  are rotated 180 degrees from their initial closed position shown in  FIG. 34 . 
       FIGS. 52-60  illustrate another aspect of this subject disclosure is to permit the outward extension of a rack assembly  400  from the internal compartment  234 . The rack assembly  400  may be constructed for various applications. For example, the rack assembly  400  may be for jewelry or other valuable items. For brevity and exemplary purpose, the rack assembly  400  is a weapons rack  245 . 
       FIG. 55  depicts an exemplary rack assembly  400 . The rack assembly  400  is comprised of rack post  402  or shaft bounded on top end by an upper connection  404  and a bottom connection  406 . A storage unit  401  is attached to the rack post  402 . The upper connection  404  and the bottom connections  406  are capable of traveling within an upper track  410 , and a lower track  420 , respectively. Likewise, the upper connection  404  and the bottom connections  406  are capable of rotating to cause the storage unit  401  to be rotated. 
     The weight of the storage unit  401  stocked with items is supported by the upper end of the rack post  402  and the upper connection  404  disposed in the upper track  410  attached to the upper rack plate  412 . The lower connection  406  may be constructed to merely slide within the lower track  420  without bearing the majority of the weight of the storage unit  401 . According to this example, the upper rack plate  412  bears the majority of the weight and the rotatable housing  239  does not. The lower track  420  is fixed to the lower door plate  310  such that as the rotating door  230  rotates between 180 degrees, the lower track  420  also rotates. Alternatively, the lower track  420  can be constructed so that it is fixed in position and also does not rotate. 
     The advantage of this construction is that once the rotating door  230  has been opened and the internal compartment  234  is exposed, the storage unit  401  can be extended outward from within the internal compartment  234  along the tracks  410 ,  420  away from the base housing  220 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 55 , the upper track  410  is attached to an upper rack plate  412 . The upper rack plate  412  is fixed to the top assembly  216  ( FIG. 35 ) and does not rotate when the rotatable housing  230  is moved between the open and closed position.  FIGS. 55-57  show various bearings  414  attached to the upper rack plate  412  adjacent to its periphery. In assembly, the upper door plate  272  of the rotatable housing  230  is captured by the upper rack plate  412  of the rack assembly  400  and rotates on the bearings  414  as it moved between the open and closed positions. That is, the rotatable housing  230  is suspended by the connection between the upper door plate  272  and the upper rack plate  412 . The upper door plate  272  rotates on the bearings  414 . 
       FIGS. 56-59  show that the rack assembly  400  can be constructed to rotate once the weapons rack  245  has been extended from within internal compartment  234  of the storage system  210 .  FIGS. 56-57  show a top view of the storage unit  401  (with shelves ( FIG. 57 ) and without shelves ( FIG. 56 ) in the rack assembly  400  in an extended position. That is, the upper connection  404  disposed in the upper track  410  is shown having traveled along the upper track  410  to an extended position away from the internal compartment  234  of the storage system  210 . In this extended position, the upper connection  404  may be disengaged from a non-rotation structure in the upper track  410 , and the upper connection and the storage unit  401  are then allowed to rotate. It is to be understood that a non-rotation structure may be embedded within the lower track  420 . 
       FIGS. 58-59  show a bottom view of the storage unit  401  (with shelves ( FIG. 57 ) and without shelves ( FIG. 56 ) in the rack assembly  400  in an extended position. That is, the lower connection  406  disposed in the lower track  420  is shown having traveled along the lower track  420  to an extended position away from the internal compartment  234  of the storage system  210 . In this extended position, the lower connection  406  and the storage unit  401  are then allowed to rotate. The advantage of allowing the rotation in the extended position is to allow a user to quickly rotate the storage unit  401  and have access to all area of the storage unit  401  in a quick manner. This is particularly useful when the storage unit is a weapons rack  245  and various weapons must be accessed very quickly. 
     The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. 
     For example, the locking mechanism may be used for a variety of different applications outside of the weapons storage system technology, such as for example for use with secure enclosures for jewelry, currency and/or other personal effects. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.