Patent Publication Number: US-2010122960-A1

Title: Portable gun rack

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to sporting goods, more specifically, a temporary storage device for long bore firearms like shotguns and rifles. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     When using long bore firearms like shotguns and rifles in the field for hunting or target shooting, it is common for such firearms to be carried in a flexible gun case, like a leather or canvas bag, which maintains the firearm in a clean and safe environment. Such gun cases, however, lack means to temporarily store the firearm in a manner that makes it readily accessible or interchangeable with another firearm. Placing the firearm on the ground is not a desirable option because the firearm can become soiled or damaged. Leaning the firearm against an object like a tree or fence might provide better access and support, but will not elevate the dirt and damage problems because such objects tend to accumulate dirt by exposure to the elements and are not reliable supports for the smooth metal muzzle of a typical long bore firearm. In addition such objects are not portable and serve to limit the user&#39;s mobility. Consequently, the art includes many devices for temporarily storing a shotgun or rifle when in the field. These devices, however, lack the degree of portability of the present invention and other useful features, like the ability to hold several firearms simultaneously and protect the firearm from damage and dirt. 
     Thus, there is a need for a portable gun rack that collapses efficiently and is adapted to hold several firearms simultaneously in a manner that protects the firearm from excess dirt and damage. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a portable gun rack comprising a collapsible or foldable frame stand, a collapsible or foldable muzzle sconce, and a collapsible or foldable butt sconce. The collapsible frame stand comprises at least two frame pivots and at least one collapsible frame bracket adapted to provide lateral support to the frame. The frame stand may also include at least one additional bracket that provides additional lateral support to the frame and also supports the muzzle sconce when in an unfolded position. The frame stand also includes at least one handle adapted to allow a user to easily grasp and carry the gun rack when fully collapsed. The collapsible muzzle sconce is operably connected to the frame and comprises a plurality of hinges adapted to collapse the muzzle sconce proximate the frame when fully collapsed. The muzzle sconce further comprises a peripheral surface covered with a suitable material to protect a rifle muzzle or barrel from marring and/or damage. Suitable materials include felt, rubber or other non-marring materials. The peripheral surface of the muzzle sconce further comprises a scalloped edge adapted to accommodate a plurality of rifles. The collapsible butt sconce includes a collapsible or foldable shelf including a flange or lip to prevent the rifle butt from slipping off the shelf. The shelf and flange also may include a surface covered with a suitable material, like felt or rubber, to protect a rifle butt, including a portion of a rifle stock, from marring, damage and/or slipping. The flange also may include means to secure or lock the gun rack in the collapsed position, including a hook and eye latch. The butt sconce further includes a plurality of hinges adapted to collapse the butt sconce proximate the frame when fully collapsed. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be better understood by reference to the following drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an embodiment of the portable gun rack. 
         FIG. 2  is a further embodiment of the portable gun rack in a fully collapsed position. 
         FIG. 3  is an embodiment of the portable gun rack in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments or examples. These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and structural, logical, and procedural changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     In an embodiment of a portable gun rack  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , the gun rack  10  includes a collapsible frame stand  101  comprising at least two frame pivots  102  and at least one collapsible frame bracket  103  adapted to provide lateral support to the frame. As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the frame stand  101  may also include at least one additional bracket  104  that provides additional lateral support to the frame  101  and also supports a collapsible muzzle sconce  105  when the sconce  105  is in an unfolded position  105   a . Preferably, the brackets  103 ,  104  are adapted to lock in place using self-locking mechanisms that are well known in the art. The frame stand  101  also includes at least one handle  106  adapted to allow a user to easily grasp and carry the gun rack  10  when fully collapsed as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the collapsible muzzle sconce  105  is operably connected to the frame stand  101  and comprises a plurality of hinges  107  adapted to allow the muzzle sconce  105  to be collapsed proximate the frame  101  when fully collapsed as shown in  FIG. 2 . The muzzle sconce  105  further comprises a peripheral surface  108  covered with a suitable material to protect a rifle muzzle from marring and/or damage. Suitable materials include felt, rubber, or other non-marring materials. The peripheral surface of the muzzle sconce  108  further comprises a scalloped edge  108   a  adapted to accommodate a plurality of rifles as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     As also shown in  FIG. 1 , the gun rack  10  includes a collapsible butt sconce  109  further comprising a collapsible or foldable shelf  110  including a flange  111  to prevent a rifle butt from slipping off the shelf  110 . The flange  111  may be attached to the shelf  110  by any suitable means, including by way of non-limiting example only, screws and/or nails. The shelf and flange  110 ,  111  also include a surface  110   a  covered with a suitable material, like felt, rubber, or other non-marring materials, to protect the rifle butt, including a portion of a rifle stock, from marring and/or damage. The butt sconce  109  further includes a plurality of hinges  112 ,  112   a  adapted to allow the butt sconce to be collapsed proximate the frame  101  when fully collapsed as shown in  FIG. 2 . By way of non-limiting example only, a pair of lateral hinges  112  operably connects the frame  101  and butt sconce  109 . A center hinge  112   a  allows the butt sconce  109  to fold and collapse proximate the frame  101  when the frame is fully collapsed. 
       FIG. 2  of the portable gun rack  20  shows the frame  201  in the fully collapsed, portable position. In this position, the collapsible frame bracket  202  has been unlocked and folded along its longitudinal axis. When the frame  201  is in the collapsed position, both the muzzle  203  and butt  204  sconces are folded along their respective hinge axes and rest proximate the frame  201 . As further shown in  FIG. 2 , and by way of non-limiting example only, if an embodiment of the gun rack  20  includes two handles  205 , the handles are close enough to each other in the fully collapsed position to allow a user to grasp both handles and lift the gun rack  20  for easy carrying. Another embodiment of the portable gun rack  20  includes a latch to secure the frame sides  201  so the sides stay collapsed during carrying or transport. The latch may include a hook and eye latch attached to a posterior surface  207  of the flange  206  opposite the covered surface. In the embodiment including a hook and eye latch, the hook  208  may be attached to one side of the flange and the eye  209  may be attached to the other side of the flange so that when the frame is collapsed and the sconces are in the folded position, the hook is proximate to and can engage the eye for latching  210 . Other mechanisms may be employed to secure the frame sides  201  so the sides stay collapsed during carrying or transport, like, by way of example only, friction or self-locking locks built into the butt and/or muzzle sconces, and/or butt and/or muzzle sconce hinges. 
       FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the gun rack  30  in use. As a shown in  FIG. 3 , a user would carry the portable gun rack  30  to the desired location using the handle(s)  301  and unfold the frame  302  and lock the brackets  303 ,  304  to sturdy the frame stand  302  and muzzle sconce  305 . Once the gun rack  30  is secure, long bore firearms like rifles and shotguns can be placed in the gun rack  30  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The user would place the butt of the rifle on the butt sconce  306 , which includes a flange  307 , and place the rifle muzzle or barrel within one of the plurality of scalloped edges  308  on the muzzle sconce  305  to rest the firearm in the gun rack. The non-marring surfaces of the butt sconce  306   a , the flange  307   a , and the scalloped edge  308   a  will help prevent the firearm from slipping out of the gun rack  30  and thereby reduce the possibility of marring or damaging the rifle butt, stock, and barrel, including the rifle muzzle. 
     By way of non-limiting example only, an embodiment of the portable gun rack includes a length of the collapsed or folded frame of about 100 to about 107 centimeters and a depth of the collapsed or folded frame of about 7 to about 8 centimeters. A further non-limiting embodiment of the portable gun rack includes a width of about 37 centimeters to about 41 centimeters when in the unfolded position. The gun rack components, including the frame, sconces, brackets, and handles may be comprised of any suitable material including wood products, metals, fiberglass, synthetic fibers, natural products, plastics, or combinations thereof. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments and variations may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”