Abstract:
A gun mount comprises two spaced adjustable gun racks, each gun rack has a square tubular main body to which there is adjustably attached one or a plurality of upwardly opening cradles within which a gun can be supported. Each main body includes opposed attachement means by which it is removably supported from the rear window of a vehicle. One of the attachment means has a marginal end telescopingly received within the main body, and a blade is formed at the other end thereof. The other end of the main body is provided with an opposed blade. Each of the blades are received between the glass and the gasket of a vehicle window. The blades can be turned laterally so that a pair of the racks can be incorporated into a low profile package. The gun rack can be used in conjunction with a vehicle window, or alternatively, can be mounted directly to any wall surface.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 691,403 filed Jan. 14, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,516 issued Mar. 10, 1987. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In my previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,876,079; 3,931,893; 4,058,211; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 238,228, there is disclosed a gun mount for attachment to the rear window of a vehicle. The gun mount includes spaced rack members, each of which is made into two coacting pieces so that the opposed attachment blades thereof can be extended respective to one another to thereby provide for a range of adjustment therebetween. 
     In my U.S. patent application Serial No. 691,403 filed Jan. 14, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,516, there is disclosed a gun rack which can be mounted on the rear window of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck, for example, as well as being used as a decorative rack mounted directly to any wall surface; for example, the wall surface of a home or hunting lodge. The gun rack has a main body which is supported at each end thereof by attachment means, wherein the attachment means can be moved respective to one another to provide a relatively great range of adjustment therebetween. The gun rack can accommodate any number of gun supporting cradles in the event that space considerations admit the length between the attachment means to be extended sufficiently to accommodate the extra cradles. The cradles can be adjustably movec along the length of the main body. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is to a gun rack comprised of a square tubular main body having upper and lower attachment means formed at opposed ends thereof. The lower attachment means is removably affixed to the main body. The main body can be made any convenient length. The main body can adjustably receive any number of upwardly opening gun receiving cradles respective thereto. 
     The upper attachment means of the gun rack has a lower marginal end adjustably received in a slidable manner within the tubular main body. The upper end of the upper attachment means and the lower end of the lower attachment means terminate in a flat blade. The flat blade can be inserted in captured relationship between a window glass and a gasket therefor as found on the rear window of a pickup truck, for example. Alternatively, the blades of each of the opposed attachment means can be directly attached to any suitable wall surface. 
     Each of the cradles of the gun rack is captured to the main body in a slidable manner, and further include a latch means on one of the cradles by which the upper attachment means can be latched into a number of different predetermined positions, thereby making the overall length of the gun rack adjustable. 
     The lower attachment means preferably is removably affixed respective to the main body. The main body can be easily shortened to provide a large adjustment in length, and the telescoping action of the upper attachment means respective to the main body provides another adjustment means by which the spaced distance between the blades of the opposed attachment means can be adjusted. 
     The design of the cradle and its cooperative action with the main body provides an unusually rugged gun rack construction. Two racks, arranged in side by side spaced parallel relationship, provide an improved mount means by which firearms can be safely transported in a vehicle, or alternatively, provides a decorative gun mount when attached to most any wall surface. 
     Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved mount for supporting one or a plurality of firearms. The mount includes spaced improved racks having opposed attachment means, one of which is adjustably received respective to a main body thereof. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved mount comprising a pair of spaced similar racks each rack having one or a plurality of gun receiving cradles which are slidably received respective to the main body of the rack, and opposed attachment means arranged so that the spaced distance between the upper attachment means and adjacent cradle of a rack can be easily vertically adjusted. 
     A still further object of this invention is the provision of a gun mount comprising a pair of racks, wherein each rack has opposed gun supports formed thereon which cooperate with a main body thereof in such a manner that the supports can be adjustably moved towards and away from one another, and means for capturing a gun within the gun supports. 
     Another and still further object of this invention is the provision of a gun mount comprising a pair of racks, each rack has a gun receiving cradle, each rack has a support telescopingly received in a slidable manner respective to a main body thereof by which the length of the rack can be changed to any desired length within a range of lengths. 
     These and various other objects and advantages of the invention are attained by the provision of a combination of elements which are fabricated in a manner substantially as described in the abstract and summary. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a broken, perspective view of a part of the cab of a pickup truck with apparatus made in accordance with the present invention operatively associated therewith; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2, with some parts being removed therefrom and some of the remaining parts being shown in cross-section; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a front, elevational view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, part cross-sectional view of part of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 7 is a top, part cross-sectional view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 6; and, 
     FIG. 8 illustrates the apparatus of the present invention packaged for shipment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is disclosed a pickup truck 9 having a rear window glass 10 held within the illustrated gasket which holds the glass respective to the opening that forms the window, in the usual manner. The pair of gun racks 11, made in accordance with the present invention, is attached to the window glass and gasket. Guns 12 are supported by the pair of gun racks 11 in a new and novel manner as will be more fully appreciated later on as the remainder of this disclosure is more fully digested. 
     As seen illustrated in FIGS. 2-5, each gun rack 11 includes a main body 14 having an upper cradle 15 and a lower cradle 16. The main body 14 has opposed ends 18, 20 with there being attachment means 22, 24 which define the upper and lower terminal ends of the rack 11. The main body 14 has a hollow interior 26, 28 at the upper and lower ends thereof. Preferably there is a passageway extending axially through the entire main body 14. 
     The attachment means 22 has an extension 30 integrally affixed thereto and extending into the upper end 26 of the before mentioned passageway. The extension has an outer wall surface 32, with the upper marginal length of the wall surface 32 being provided with the illustrated teeth 34. The teeth 34 are arranged parallel to one another and in a horizontal plane. 
     A ratchet means 36 is an integral part of the upper cradle 15. The ratchet means 36 selectively engages any one of the teeth 34 and thereby restrains downward relative motion between the attachment means 22 and cradle 15. It will be noted that the teeth 34 are arranged respective to the ratchet means 36 whereby the attachment means 22 can be forced into an extended position; however, the attachment means can not be retracted unless the ratchet means 36 is released from the teeth 34. 
     An interlock tab 38 is slidably captured respective to the main body 14, and is connected between the cradles 15 and 16. As best seen in FIG. 4, the lower extremity of cradle 15 includes a dovetail attachment means 40 which is received within a complementary configured recess of the interlock tab 38. The upper end of cradle 16 includes a similar dovetail projection 42 which is received within a complementary configured recess formed in the lower end of the interlock tab 38. Accordingly, the interlock tab 38 removably attaches the cradle means 15 and 16 one to the other. 
     The lower extremity of the lower cradle 16 has a T-shaped tab 44 extending therefrom. The lower attachment means 24 has a receptacle 46 formed thereon for receiving the T-shaped tab 44 therein, thereby releasably locking the lower cradle 16 to the lower attachment means 24. The lower attachment means 24 terminates in an upwardly extending square socket 48 which is of a configuration to be received within the before mentioned hollow interior 28 formed at the lower end of the main body 14. 
     Accordingly, the apparatus indicated by the numerals 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46 jointly cooperate together to provide means by which the cradle 15 is fixed respective to cradle 16 and to the attachment means 24. Hence, the two cradles 15 and 16 are connected together, and the lower cradle 16 is attached to the lower attachment means 24. Hence, the entire assembly 15, 38, 16, and 24 can not be slidably removed downwardly from the main body 14. 
     The main body 14 has a longitudinally extending slot 50 formed outwardly of wall 52. The outer wall 52, together with the opposed inturned confronting spaced walls 54 and 56, form the slot 50. A tongue 58 forms a rear surface of cradle 15, while a tongue 60 forms a rear surface of cradle 16°. Each tongue, 58 and 60, is received in a slidable manner in captured relationship within the slot 50 of the main body. The interlock tab 38 is similarly received within the slot 50. 
     Each cradle 15 and 16 is provided with an upper gun restraining member 62. As best seen illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the gun restraining member 62 includes an elastomeric member 64 in the form of an endless belt which is connected to links 66 and 68. The link 68 is attached to enlargement 70 located adjacent to tongue 60 (see FIG. 4); while one end of the link 66 is received within a slot 72 located at the upper end of the enlarged portion or boss 74 that forms the upper terminal end of the outer part of the cradles 15 and 16. The link 66 must be turned towards the vertical in order to be released from the boss 74. 
     The ratchet means 36 includes a spring 76 which is captured between members 36 and 70 by the illustrated shaft-like members 79. The shaft-like members 79 are received within the spring 76 and position the spring whereby the member 36 is biased away from member 70, while the wedge-like member 75 engages the teeth 34. A resilient extension 78 augments the action of spring 76 and resists being bent away from the plane of the tongue 58. Extension 78 is a continuation of tongue 58. 
     FIG. 8 sets forth a unique manner in which a gun rack, built in accordance with the present invention, can be packaged. The novel packaged goods disclosed in FIG. 8 is considered to be a subcombination of the present invention. As seen illustrated in FIG. 8, the packaged goods 80 comprises a self-supporting planer surface 82, as for example heavy cardboard which forms a self-supporting surface for two of the racks 11. The cardboard 82 and racks 11 are covered with thin plastic film 84, preferably a plastic transparent film that has been shrunk in a manner to tightly encapsulate both the upper surface of the cardboard 82 and the two gun racks 11. 
     The carboard 82 can be slit at 86, 86&#39; and 88, 88&#39; so that the marginal terminal end of the blade members can be received through the slits and thereby hold the racks in place. The restraining means 62 preferably are fastened in the closed position. 
     Another unique feature of the packaged goods 80 is provided by the orientation of the attachment means 22, 24. The upper and lower attachment means 22, 24 have been rotated 90° respective to the main body 14 of the racks 11 so that the blade members of the attachment means lie flat against the upper surface of the cardboard 82, thereby providing a low profile package and accordingly, a large number of packaged goods 80 can be attractively packaged and accommodated within a much smaller volume than would otherwise be possible with a gun rack not having attachment means 22, 24 which can be oriented from the illustrated position seen in FIG. 2 into the illustrated position seen in FIG. 8, for example. 
     The blades of the attachment means are provided with holes or apertures 88&#39; by which the racks can be attached to surfaces other than the pickup window 10. Numeral 90, located on the upper attachment means, accommodates the thumb of ones left and right hand so that the extension 30 can easily be telescoped away from the main body 14. 
     In operation, a rack 14 is assembled by sliding tongue 60 of lower cradle 16 into the slot 50 of the main body 14. The interlock tab 38 is connected to the dovetail projection 42 of the lower cradle 16 and the assembly 16, 15 moved downwardly within the slot a limited distance which admits the dovetail projection 40 of the upper cradle 15 being received by the interlock tab 42. The entire assembly is then moved along slot 50 into the illustrated position seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 8 of the drawings. 
     Next the upper and lower attachment means 22 and 24 are assembled to the main body by telescoping the extension 30 and socket 48, respectively, into the marginal ends 26 and 28, respectively, of the main body. 
     At this time, the orientation of the attachment means respective to the main body is determined by the election to provide a rack as seen in FIG. 2, or packaged goods as seen in FIG. 8. 
     The apparatus of the present invention preferably is marketed and received by a consumer as the packaged goods 80 disclosed in FIG. 8. The plastic film 84 is removed from the self supporting base 82, and then the attachment means 22, 24 are removed from the main body 14 and rotated 90° into the position of FIG. 2. The lower blade 25 of the lower attachment means 24 can then be inserted between the gasket and glass of a vehicle rear window. Next, the right and left thumbs of a person&#39;s hands are placed against the impressions 90 of the upper blade member 23 of the upper attachment means 22, and a force is exerted at 90 thereby causing the extension 30 to be extended in a telescopic manner from the hollow main body 14 until the marginal terminal end of the blade 23 is received between the gasket and the glass of the pickup window 10 (FIG. 1). 
     During the extension of the member 30 from the main body 14, the ratchet means 36 will permit the teeth 34 to ratchet, or move upwardly respective thereto, until the upper and lower attachment means 22, 24 are properly received in sandwiched relationship between the window glass and gasket. The teeth 34 of extension 30 being engaged by the ratchet means 36, will not permit the extension 30 to be retracted within the main body 14 until the wedge-like member 75 is forced away from the teeth 34. The sharp terminal ends of the blades engage the gasket interior and hold the rack in mounted position. 
     Next, the restraining member 62 is unlatched from slot 72 so that the upwardly opening cradles 15 and 16 can receive a gun 12 therewithin. This is easily accomplished by merely grasping the diverging wings of the member 62 between the fingers, rotating the wings in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, whereupon the member 66 will ride out of the slot 72 of the upwardly opening receptacle 74 so that the entire restraining member 62, 66, 64, 68 can be lifted in a pivotal manner in order to remove any obstacle from the upwardly opening cradle. The member 62 is replaced in the reversed manner. The elastomeric member 64 can be stretched to accommodate large firearms, and the member 62 prevents a firearm from inadvertently being bumped, jarred, or otherwise removed from the cradle means. Moreover, the restraining means 62 provides a latch which children find difficult to open, and this feature of the invention imparts safety into the gun rack, vehicle, and gun combination.