Patent Publication Number: US-2023158961-A1

Title: Seat Carrier for Long Guns

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. Application No. 17/225,262, filed 8 Apr. 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. Application No. 16/399,182, filed 30 Apr. 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/666,954, filed 4 May 2018, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to vehicle gun racks, and in particular to a long gun carrier having bottom and back surfaces and adapted to be secured to a vehicle seat by a seat belt. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Long guns are a subset of the small arms category of firearms. Long guns are generally characterized by long barrels, a forearm or front grip, and a shoulder stock. They are designed and intended to be fired from the shoulder, using two hands. Examples of long guns include rifles, carbines, and shotguns. Actions may include semiautomatic, lever-action, bolt action, pump, and single-shot (either breech- or muzzle-loading). Long guns are distinguished from other small arms, such as handguns and personal defense weapons comprising medium length barrels and pistol-type grips not designed to be fired from the shoulder. 
     While handguns may be safely and securely transported while worn in a holster or placed in a glove compartment or console of a vehicle, the safe transportation of long guns is more problematic. Long guns are bulky in the confined space of a vehicle interior or on a small vehicle such as an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or Utility Vehicle (UTV). To protect the long gun from damage, and to prevent misalignment of optics or other sights, the long gun should be secured in a case or rack, rather than being free to slide around in the floor, trunk, or cargo bed of a vehicle. Repeatedly moving a long gun to and from a case, such as when traveling field-to-field while hunting, is inconvenient and time-consuming. 
     A variety of gun racks and holders are known in the art. However, many of them are not readily accessible, and are as inconvenient to use as a case. While not the best practice from a safety perspective, the fact is that many hunters travel at least short distances with long guns still loaded, and many prior art gun racks store the long guns with their barrels pointed in potentially unsafe directions. Additionally, many prior art gun racks are effectively little more than hooks, which may not hold a long gun securely as the vehicle travels over rough terrain, or in the event of an accident. Some prior art gun racks require quasi-permanent installation in a vehicle, and cannot readily be moved between vehicles in the field. Some prior art gun racks, such as the iconic pickup truck rear window rack, prominently expose long guns to exterior view, inviting theft. 
     A need exists in the art for a long gun holder that is convenient and readily accessible, that securely holds one or more long guns pointed in a safe direction, and that protects the long gun and its sights in transit. Furthermore, a need exists for such a long gun holder that is simple to install and remove, and that is relatively inconspicuous in use. 
     The Background section of this document is provided to place embodiments of the present invention in technological and operational context, to assist those of skill in the art in understanding their scope and utility. Approaches described in the Background section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Unless explicitly identified as such, no statement herein is admitted to be prior art merely by its inclusion in the Background section. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to those of skill in the art. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is not intended to identify key/critical elements of embodiments of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     According to one or more embodiments described and/or claimed herein, a long gun carrier rests on a vehicle seat, and is secured to the seat by a seat belt. An upper, sloping surface of the long gun carrier slopes generally downward and forward. One or more gun-holding channels formed in this sloping surface each hold a long gun pointed generally forward and downward, toward the vehicle floor. The long guns may be secured in the gun-holding channels by straps. Long guns are conveniently placed into and extracted from the long gun carrier, held securely during transportation, pointed in a safe direction, and not readily visible from the exterior. 
     One embodiment relates to a long gun carrier for a vehicle seat that includes a seat portion and a back portion. The long gun carrier includes a body. The body has a longitudinal axis, and includes a generally flat, horizontal bottom surface adapted to rest on part of the seat portion of the vehicle seat. The body has a generally flat, vertical back surface adapted to contact part of the back portion of the vehicle seat. The long gun carrier body includes one or more gun-holding channels, each parallel with the longitudinal axis and adapted to removably contain a long gun. The body additionally includes a through channel transverse to the longitudinal axis and below the one or more gun-holding channels. The through channel is adapted to accept a seat belt operative to secure the carrier to the vehicle seat. 
     In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to a long gun carrier for a vehicle seat that includes a seat portion and a back portion. The long gun carrier comprises a bottom adapted to rest on part of the seat portion of the vehicle seat; a back adapted to contact part of the back portion of the vehicle seat; and a longitudinal axis extending transverse to the bottom and the back. The long gun carrier further comprises a slanted top extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, with the top having first and second gun-holding channels. Each gun-holding channel is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis and adapted to removably contain a long gun. At least the first gun-holding channel comprises a forward portion adapted to cradle an action of the long gun and an aft section adapted to cradle a stock of the long gun. A gap is disposed longitudinally between the forward section and the aft section, and the gap is adapted to expose a portion of the long gun between the action and the stock. The carrier further includes a first through-channel transverse to the longitudinal axis and disposed below the first and second gun-holding channels. The first through-channel is adapted to accept a seat belt operative to secure the carrier to the vehicle seat such that the bottom is secured against the seat portion of the vehicle seat and the back is secured against the back portion of the vehicle seat. The carrier also includes a second through-channel disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis and below the first and second gun-holding channels and aligned with the gap. The second through-channel has a spur passage disposed between the first and second gun-holding channels and opening to the gap. The carrier also includes a magazine recess that is open to the first gun-holding channel, extends downwardly, and is laterally closed. The magazine recess is disposed below the first gun-holding channel and closer to a front of the carrier than both the first and second through channels. In use, a seat belt inserted through the first through-channel secures the long gun carrier such that the bottom is secured against the seat portion of the vehicle seat and the back is secured against the back portion of the vehicle seat. The carrier also includes a strap assembly comprising a strap and an associated fastener. The strap assembly is selectively closable into a loop via the fastener to secure the long gun within the first gun-holding channel with the strap assembly extending through the second through passage, including the spur passage, and across the first gun-holding channel at the gap. 
     Another embodiment relates to a method of transporting long guns in a vehicle having a seat that includes a seat portion and a back portion. A long gun carrier is provided. The long gun carrier comprises a body including a longitudinal axis, a generally flat, horizontal bottom surface, a generally flat, vertical back surface, one or more gun-holding channels parallel with the longitudinal axis, and a through-channel transverse to the longitudinal axis and below the one or more gun-holding channels. The long gun carrier is placed in the seat of a vehicle such that the bottom surface rests on part of the seat portion of the vehicle seat and the back surface contacts part of the back portion of the vehicle seat. A seat belt of the vehicle is placed through the through channel and tightened so as to hold the long gun carrier securely against the vehicle seat. A long gun is placed in a gun-holding channel of the long gun carrier. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of the front and side of a long gun carrier. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the back and side of the long gun carrier. 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the long gun carrier installed on a vehicle seat. 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded view of the long gun carrier. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the long gun carrier in longitudinal section taken down the center. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of one embodiment of the long gun carrier in longitudinal section taken in the center of one gun-holding channel. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of another embodiment of the long gun carrier in longitudinal section taken in the center of one gun-holding channel. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the long gun carrier in transverse section. 
         FIG.  9    is a flow diagram of a method of transporting long guns. 
         FIG.  10    is perspective view depicting one end of the long gun carrier being used as a shooting rest. 
         FIG.  11    is perspective view depicting the other end of the long gun carrier being used as a shooting rest. 
         FIG.  12    is a cross section view from the front of a seat carrier according to a second embodiment configured to mount an accessory holder at an angle. 
         FIG.  13    is a cross section view from the front of a seat carrier according to the second embodiment with a gun in the accessory holder. 
         FIG.  14    is a cross section view from the front of a seat carrier according to the second embodiment with a gun in the accessory holder. 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective view from the rear of a seat carrier according to the second embodiment with the accessory holder mounted at an angle. 
         FIG.  16    is a cross section view from the front of a seat carrier according to the second embodiment with a handgun in the accessory holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the present invention is described by referring mainly to an exemplary embodiment thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In this description, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
       FIGS.  1  and  2    are perspective views of a long gun carrier  10  for a vehicle, and  FIG.  3    is a side view showing the carrier  10  mounted on a vehicle seat  50  (and holding a long gun  58 ). The long gun carrier  10  is adapted to be secured on the vehicle seat  50  (or console between seats) by a seat belt  56  of the vehicle, in a manner similar to securing an infant or child safety seat in the vehicle. 
     The long gun carrier  10  comprises a body  12 , having a longitudinal axis  11 , shown in  FIG.  1    as lying along a sloping surface  18 . The body  12  has a generally flat, horizontal bottom surface  14  adapted to contact part of the seat portion  52  of the vehicle seat  50 , and a generally flat, vertical back surface  16  adapted to contact part of the back portion  54  of the vehicle seat  50 . A sloping surface  18  extends from the upper back surface  16  generally toward the front of the bottom surface  14 . In the embodiment depicted in the Figures, the sloping surface  18  slopes from the upper back surface  16  toward a point forward of the front of the bottom surface  16 , and a generally flat, vertical front surface  20  extends between the front of the bottom surface  14  and a forward extent of the sloping surface  18 . 
     One or more gun-holding channels  22  are formed in the sloping surface  18 , parallel to the longitudinal axis  11 . The Figures depict two such gun-holding channels  22 , straddling the longitudinal axis  11 . The formation of gun-holding channels  22  in the sloped surface  18 , in some embodiments, forms the sloping surface  18  into a series of longitudinal ridges between and outward of the gun-holding channels  22 . As depicted in  FIG.  3   , each gun-holding channel  22  is operative to removably contain a long gun  58 , with a muzzle  60  of the long gun  58  pointed generally toward a floor of the vehicle forward of the vehicle seat portion  52 . The dimensions and angles of the body  12  of the long gun carrier  10 —in particular, the length of the bottom surface  14 , the slope of the sloping surface  18 , and the height of the front surface  20 —are such that the gun-holding channels  22  are operative to hold a long gun  58  such that no part of the long gun, such as, e.g., the muzzle  60 , contacts the seat portion  52  of the vehicle seat  50 , when the long gun carrier  10  is secured to the vehicle seat  50  by the seat belt  56 . In some embodiments, a deformable material, such as closed-cell foam, lines part or all of a gun-holding channel  22 . 
     In one embodiment, a cut-out  24  in the sloping surface  18  is positioned aft of the action of a long gun  58  and generally coincides with the location of a pistol grip. The cut-out  24  facilitates removal of the long gun  58  from the gun-holding channel  22 , by providing access to a portion of the long gun  58  normally grasped when carrying the long gun  58 . The cut-out  24  additionally facilitates access, in some embodiments, to a strap  26  and fastener  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , a securing strap  26  with a side-release buckle  28  is provided for each gun-holding channel to secure the long gun in the gun-holding channel  22 . The side-release buckle  28  includes male and female connectors attached to opposite ends of the strap  26  and provides means to adjust the operative length of the strap  26  to accommodate guns of different size. In one embodiment, the strap  26  is formed of a material having elasticity in at least its longitudinal dimension. In this embodiment, the strap  26  may be adjusted to exert a positive downward force on the long gun  58 , further securing it in the gun-holding channel  22 . 
     In the exemplary embodiments, the body of the long gun carrier  10  is provided with a through-channel  32  and associated spur passage or strap access well  34  to enable the securing straps  26  to wrap around the gun-holding channels  22 . The through-channel  32  extends through the body of the long gun carrier  10  beneath the gun-carrying channels  22  in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis  11 . The spur passage or access well  34  extends perpendicular to the main through-channel  32  between the gun-holding channels  22  and intersects the channel  32 . The securing strap  26  for each gun-holding channel  22  extends through the channel  32  with one end of the strap  26  exiting via the strap access well  34  and the other end exiting the channel opening on one side of the body. 
     As shown in the exploded view in  FIG.  4   , the strap  26  may be attached to a mounting block  30 , which is removably secured in the channel  32 . The strap  26  is secured to the mounting block  30  by screws or other suitable fasteners and the mounting block is inserted into the channel  32 . The mounting block  30  is sized to frictionally fit in the channel  32 . The removable mounting block  30  facilitates replacing straps  26  as they age, tear, or lose elasticity due to wear by removing the mounting block  30  from the chamber, detaching the worn straps  26 , and attaching a new strap  26 . Securing the strap  26  and fastener  28  to a mounting block  30  also adds modularity to the long gun carrier  10 , for example allowing different gun-holding channels  22  to be configured with different length straps  26 , to accommodate differently sized or shaped long guns  58 . 
       FIG.  6    is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment, taken down the center of one gun-holding channel  22 , showing the chamber  32  extending beneath the gun-holding channel  22 , below the cut-out  24 .  FIG.  7    is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment, also taken down the center of one gun-holding channel  22 . In this embodiment, a magazine well  36  is formed in the body  12  below the gun-holding channel  22 . The magazine well  36  is operative to accept a variety of sizes and shapes of fixed, protruding magazines, or a detachable magazine when it is attached to a long gun  58 . 
     To secure the long gun carrier  10  to a vehicle seat  40 , a through-channel  38  extends all the way through the body  12 , in a direction traverse to the longitudinal axis  11 , below the gun-holding channels  22 . In one embodiment, the through-channel  38  is angled similarly to the sloping surface  18 . The through-channel  38  is operative to accept a seat belt  56  of the vehicle, to secure the body  12  of the long gun carrier  10  to a vehicle seat  50 . In particular, and as depicted in  FIG.  3   , the seat belt  56 , when inserted through the through-channel  38 , is operative to secure the long gun carrier  10  such that the bottom surface  14  is secured against the seat portion  52  of the vehicle seat  50  and the back surface  16  is secured against the back portion  54  of the vehicle seat  50 . In one embodiment, as depicted in the exploded view of  FIG.  4   , a detachable load distributor  40  is removably inserted into the through-channel  38 . The load distributor  40 , which may be made of metal, is positioned between the seat belt and the body  12 , and is operative to distribute forces from the seat belt  56  evenly across the through-channel  38 . 
       FIG.  8    is a transverse section view of the long gun carrier  10 , particularly showing the formation of gun-holding channels  22  in the sloping surface  18 . This view also depicts the through-channel  38 , which is large enough to accept a wide variety of seat belts. As depicted in  FIGS.  6  and  8   , the body  12 , beneath the through-channel  38 , may have voids formed therein to reduce weight. Hence, the bottom surface  14 , while generally flat and horizontal, is not necessarily continuous. 
       FIG.  9    depicts steps in a method  100  of safely and securely transporting long guns  58  in a vehicle having a seat  50  that includes a seat portion  52  and a back portion  54 . A long gun carrier  10  is provided (block  102 ). The long gun carrier  10  comprises a body including a longitudinal axis  11 , a generally flat, horizontal bottom surface  14 , a generally flat, vertical back surface  16 , one or more gun-holding channels  22  parallel with the longitudinal axis  11 , and a through-channel  38  transverse to the longitudinal axis  11  and below the one or more gun-holding channels  22 . The long gun carrier  10  is placed on the seat  50  of a vehicle such that the bottom surface  14  rests on part of the seat portion  52  of the vehicle seat  50  and the back surface  16  contacts part of the back portion  54  of the vehicle seat  50  (block  104 ). A seat belt  56  of the vehicle is placed through the through-channel  38  and tightened so as to hold the long gun carrier  10  securely against the vehicle seat  50  (block  106 ). A long gun  58  is then placed in a gun-holding channel  22  of the long gun carrier  10  (block  108 ). 
       FIG.  10    shows an accessory holder  42  affixed to a generally flat mounting surface  15  formed on the body  12  of the long gun carrier  10 . A handgun portion  44  of the accessory holder  42  is sized and shaped to hold a variety of handguns. A magazine portion  46  of the accessory holder  42  is sized and shaped to hold a variety of magazines. In general, a variety of accessory holders  42  may be devised to carry various shooting and hunting accessories, which may be attached to, or formed in, the long gun carrier  10 . In one embodiment, the holder  42  is made of rubber or other resilient material and is sized to hold hand guns within a range of sizes. The holder  42  in this embodiment expands when, for example, a handgun is inserted into the holder  42  so that the holder  42  can accommodate handguns of different size and shape. 
       FIG.  10    also depicts another use of the long gun carrier  10 —as a shooting rest for holding a long gun  58  while shooting. In one embodiment, the end of at least one gun-holding channel  22 , adjacent the back surface  16 , includes a forearm channel formed generally horizontally at the top. The forearm channel is sized and shaped to hold the forearm of a long gun  58 . The long gun carrier  10  may be removed from a vehicle, and set up at a gun range, or in the field, to provide stability in shooting the long gun  58 , such as for sighting in optics or other sights. 
       FIG.  11    depicts another use of the long gun carrier  10  as a shooting rest. A barrel channel  48  is formed on or attached to the front surface  20 . The barrel channel  48  is sized and shaped to hold the barrel of a long gun  58  while shooting. 
       FIGS.  12 - 16    illustrate an alternate embodiment of the long gun carrier  10  configured to mount the holder  42  at a slight angle. In this embodiment, the mounting surface  15  is angled slightly and the holder  42  extends above the top edge of the mounting surface  15  so that a finger space for the user&#39;s hand and/or fingers is created between the holder  42  and the body  12  of the long gun carrier. As shown in  FIGS.  13  and  14   , the finger space accommodates the user&#39;s fingers or thumb when the user is inserting or removing the gun from the gun holder  42  so that the user is able to more comfortably and firmly grip the hand gun as it is being inserted into or removed from the holder  42 . 
     Embodiments of the present invention present numerous advantages over prior art gun racks and holders. The long gun carrier  10  is readily accessible on the seat of a vehicle, and is convenient to access and use. Long guns  58  placed in gun-holding channels  22  travel with the muzzles pointed in a safe direction, towards the floor of the vehicle (and the ground beyond that). The gun-holding channels  22  hold a long gun  58  along a significant portion of its length. Even without strapping a long gun  58  into a gun-holding channel  22 , the gun  58  rides securely and is unlikely to become dislodged as the vehicle travels over rough terrain, or in the event of an accident. The long gun carrier  10  requires no modification to the vehicle; its installation and removal is a simple as threading and tightening a seat belt. When installed on a vehicle seat, the long gun carrier  10  carries long guns  58  fairly low, i.e., below the windows in most vehicles. Hence, the long guns  58  are not exposed to exterior view, and do not invite theft. Indeed, the long gun carrier  10  and long guns  58  are easily concealed by placing, e.g., a jacket over them. 
     The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.