Abstract:
A device that can hold a firearm can be used to prevent the firearm from being damaged, make the firearm aesthetically appealing, absorb the heat generated during use of the firearm, and reduce kick-back generated by the firearm. The device can include an inner portion, an outer portion, and magnets between the inner portion and the outer portion. The outer portion of the device can be made of a friction resistant material, which enhances durability to endure contact with items such as a gun rack or a stabilizing object. The inner portion of the device can be made of a soft material that can be used to cushion the firearm, and optionally clean the firearm. Related methods and products are also described.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/012,097, entitled “Device For Holding A Firearm” and filed on Jun. 13, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter described herein relates to a device that holds a firearm in order to prevent damaging the firearm, while still making the firearm be aesthetically appealing, absorb heat generated during a use of the firearm, and reduce kick-back generated by the firearm during use of the firearm. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Firearms are tools that need to be stored so that they are accessible when needed, but without allowing damage to occur to the firearm. Additionally, when in use, it is desirable to have a way of protecting the firearm from damage, such as from friction caused by contact with a stabilizing object, as well as protecting the user from vibration, heat, or other types of irritation caused by the firearm during use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Methods and apparatus are provided for holding a firearm in a manner that insulates a portion of the firearm from its surroundings to prevent the firearm from being damaged, while still making the firearm be aesthetically appealing, absorb heat generated during use of the firearm, and reduce kick-back generated by the firearm during use of the firearm. The apparatus includes an outer portion, an inner portion, and magnets between the outer portion and the inner portion so that the apparatus can hold itself in place on the barrel of a firearm. The apparatus can optionally include a padding layer between the outer portion and the inner portion. The outer portion of the apparatus can be durable and friction resistant. The inner portion of the apparatus can be soft, as well as capable of being used to clean the firearm of debris, gunpowder, dirt, and the like. 
         [0005]    Methods described herein include using the apparatus to store a firearm while protecting the firearm from its surroundings. Methods presented herein can also include using the apparatus to protect the firearm from scratches caused by using the firearm with a support object, such as a stabilizing block. Additionally, or alternatively, the methods can include using the apparatus to clean the outside of the firearm, such as to wipe off lead, gunpowder and its residue, other dirt, or any combination thereof. The methods can also include using the apparatus to mitigate vibration, force, or heat transfer between the firearm and a user, such as when discharging (e.g., firing) the firearm. 
         [0006]    In one aspect, an apparatus is described that can include an outer portion, an inner portion, and at least two magnets between the outer portion and the inner portion. The at least two magnets can hold the outer portion and the inner portion in place on a barrel of a firearm. 
         [0007]    In some variations, one or more of the following can additionally be implemented either individually or in any feasible or suitable combination. The apparatus can further include a padding layer between the outer portion and the inner portion. The outer portion can be configured to resist friction. The outer portion can be made of one or more of: leather, polyurethane, imitation leather, regenerated leather, bonded leather, canvas, coated canvas, suede, heavy cloth, reptile skin, and sheepskin. The inner portion can be configured to be soft. The inner portion can be made of one or more of: cloth, felt, padding, plush material, synthetic material, artificial fur, animal fur, sheepskin, and silk. The inner portion can be configured to be used to clean at least one of debris, gunpowder, and dirt on the barrel of the firearm. 
         [0008]    The apparatus can further include a centerline. The centerline can be aligned with the barrel of the firearm when the firearm is in use and with at least one magnet on each side centerline of the apparatus. The at least two magnets can be made of a same material and have a same shape. A shape of each of the outer portion and the inner portion can be one of elliptical, oval, and circular. A diameter of each of the outer portion and the inner portion can allow each of the outer portion and the inner portion to cover more than half of the barrel of the firearm. In one implementation, the diameter can be 6 inches or more than 6 inches. In another implementation, the diameter can be 6.75 inches or more than 6.75 inches. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, an apparatus can be applied to a barrel of a firearm. The apparatus can include an outer portion, an inner portion, and at least two magnets between the outer and inner portions. The at least two magnets can be configured to hold the outer portion and the inner portion in place on the barrel of the firearm. The firearm with the applied apparatus can be stored in a gun rack. 
         [0010]    In some variations, one or more of the following can additionally be implemented either individually or in any feasible or suitable combination. The gun rack can include one or more depressions configured to store the firearm. The apparatus can further include a padding layer between the outer portion and the inner portion. 
         [0011]    In yet another aspect, an apparatus can be applied to a barrel of a firearm. The apparatus can include an outer portion, an inner portion, and at least two magnets between the outer and inner portions. The at least two magnets can be configured to hold the outer portion and the inner portion in place on the barrel of the firearm. The firearm with the applied apparatus can be placed on a support object. 
         [0012]    In some variations, one or more of the following can additionally be implemented either individually or in any feasible or suitable combination. The firearm can be placed on the support object by overlaying the applied apparatus on the support object. The applied apparatus can minimize transfer of vibration, force, and heat generated, when the firearm is discharged, to a user discharging the firearm. The apparatus can further include a padding layer between the outer portion and the inner portion. 
         [0013]    The above-noted aspects and features may be implemented in systems, apparatuses, methods, and/or articles depending on the desired configuration. The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       p DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In the drawings, 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an example of a device for holding a firearm placed around a barrel of a firearm; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows another view of the example of the device for holding a firearm placed around the barrel of the firearm; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows another view of the example of the device for holding a firearm in use; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary device for holding a firearm without the firearm in a closed configuration; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary device for holding a firearm without the firearm in an open configuration, showing the soft interior of the exemplary device; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary device for holding a firearm without the firearm in an open configuration, showing the durable exterior of the exemplary device; and 
           [0021]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  8 A, and  8 B show an exemplary device for holding a firearm in a rack. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Like labels are used to refer to the same or similar items in the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows one view of an exemplary implementation  100  of a device  105  for holding a firearm  110  in use around a barrel of firearm  110 , which is shown as a rifle. The device  105  is shown about the barrel of the firearm  110 , adjacent to the forestock of the firearm. A pair of magnets hold the device to the barrel of the firearm  110 . 
         [0024]    The device  105  can enable maintenance of the firearm  110  in a good condition, both during storage of the firearm  110  and usage of the firearm  110 . The device  105  can protect the firearm  110  when the firearm  110  is being stored in, for example, a gun rack. The device  105  can also protect the firearm  110  when the firearm  110  is in contact with a supporting object (or a supporting substance) or any other object (or substance) that can cause scratches or other marks due to friction between the firearm and its surroundings. The device  105  can also be used to prevent the transfer of force, such as kickback or friction, or temperature, including heat, from the firearm  110  to the user so that discharging (e.g., firing) the firearm is more comfortable. The device  110  can also make the firearm  110  aesthetically appealing (for example, aesthetically pleasing). 
         [0025]    As discussed above, the firearm  110  shown in  FIG. 1  is a rifle. This rifle can be one or more of air gun, an automatic rifle, a bolt action, a double rifle, a lever-action rifle, a recoilless rifle, a repeating rifle, a revolving rifle, a semi-automatic rifle, a short-barreled rifle, a spencer rifle, and the like. Although the firearm  110  is described as a rifle, in other implementations, the firearm  110  can be any one of a handgun, a shotgun, a musket, a carbine, and the like. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows another view of the implementation  100  of a device  105  for holding a firearm  110  in use around the barrel of a firearm  110 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows the exemplary implementation  100  of the device  105  for holding a firearm in a use configuration. The device  105  is wrapped around the barrel of the firearm  110 , as also shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The inner  120  and outer  125  portions of the device  105  can be seen. The outer portion  125  of the device is in contact with the surroundings of the firearm  110 . In  FIG. 3 , the firearm  110  is shown leaning on the edge of a stabilizing object  115 . The outer portion  125  of the device  105  can contact the edge of the stabilizing object  115  while the inner portion  120  contacts the barrel of the firearm  110 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows an implementation of a device  105  for holding the firearm  110 . The outside portion  125  of the device  105  is shown, and the device  105  is shown folded along a centerline  440 . The material forming the outside portion  125  can be any suitably durable material, such as one or more of: leather, polyurethane (for example, imitation leather), regenerated leather (for example, bonded leather), canvas, coated canvas, suede, heavy cloth, reptile skin (for example, alligator, snake), sheepskin, and the like. The material forming the outside portion  125  can be suitable for use with a wide temperature range such as −40° C. to +50° C. or more. The material forming the outside portion  125  can also withstand repeated folding, particularly along the centerline  440  of the device. Water and stain resistance can also be characteristics of the material forming the outside portion  125  of the device  105 . In addition, the material forming the outside portion  125  can be suitable for easy cleaning such as in a washing machine. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows an implementation of an open configuration of the device  105  for holding a firearm  110 . The inner portion  120  of the device is shown, and the centerline  440  is identified for easier orientation within the figure. On either side of the centerline  440 , there is a magnet  545  (represented by circles in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 ) underneath the material of the inner portion  120 . The material of the inner portion  120  can be any suitably soft, easily cleaned material. Some examples of materials for the inner portion  120  of the device  105  include one or more of: cloth, felt, padding, plush material, a synthetic material, artificial fur, animal fur, sheepskin, silk, and the like. Padding material, such as wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers, can be inserted between the inner portion  120  and the outer portion  125  of the device  105 . The material used for the inner portion  120  of the device, alone or in combination with the material of the outside of the device, as well as the padding material, can fold easily, such as along the centerline  440 . In addition, the material forming the inner portion  120  can be suitable for easy cleaning such as in a washing machine. 
         [0030]    The material used for the inner portion  120  can also be used to clean lead, gunpowder, dirt, and the like, from the outside of the firearm  110 . Additionally, the device  105  can be cleaned easily, such as by washing with water, including hand washing or machine washing. 
         [0031]    The magnets  545  can both be of the same material, or each can be of a different material. In some exemplary implementations, one or both of the magnets  545  can be rare-earth magnets or magnets of another ferromagnetic material. The magnets  545  can be any suitable size and shape, such as disk-shaped and approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. The magnets  545  can be held in place in the device  105  with, for example, stitching or adhesive. The location of the magnets  545  can be any location that is convenient for holding the device  105  in place against the barrel of a firearm, such as a set distance away from the centerline  440  or a set distance away from the edge of the device. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows implementation of a device  105  for holding a firearm  110  in an open configuration. Two magnets  545  can be placed in the device  105 , one on either side of the centerline  440 . The outer portion  125  is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0033]    From  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the overall shape of the device  105  can be seen. The device  105  can be elliptical or oval shaped. Alternatively, the device  105  can be circular, such as disk shaped. Other shapes of the device  105  are also possible, such as a square, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, any polygon, any irregular shape, of the like. The device  105  can have a diameter that allows the device  105  to cover much of the barrel of an average gun or rifle, such as about 6.25 inches (15.875 cm.), including about 6 inches (15.24 cm), about 6.5 inches (16.51 cm), and about 6.75 inches (17.145 cm). In some embodiments, the device  105  can have a diameter ranging from about 6 inches to about 6.75 inches. The centerline  440  is along the minor axis of the oval or along the diameter of the circle, and the magnets  545  are shown to be a predetermined distance away from the edge of the device  105 , as measured at the major axis of the device  105  in the case of an oval shaped device. In some embodiments, the magnets  545  can be 0.75 inches (1.905 cm) away from the edge of the device  105 . As indicated above, the device  105  can have two layers (for example, the outer portion and the inner portion) or three layers (for example, the outer portion, the inner portion, and a padding layer between the outer portion and the inner portion). 
         [0034]    Both the outer portion  125  and inner portion  120  materials can be any pattern or color, such as a solid color, camouflage, animal print, striped, checked, paisley, argyle, plaid, or any combination thereof. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  8 A, and  8 B show a firearm  110  with a device  105  in use in a rack  750 . The rack  750  can have one or more depressions, each of which is sized to accommodate a firearm  110  by, for example, supporting the barrel of a firearm  110  while one end of the firearm  110  rests on a base of the rack  750  or on the ground. The device  105  is shown fitting around the barrel of the firearm  110 , between the firearm  110  and the rack  750 . When used in this way, the device  105  can prevent scratches from appearing on the firearm  105  when the firearm  110  is placed in and removed from the rack  750 . Also, a firearm  105  that may be elevated in temperature can be placed into the rack  750  without concern that heat from the firearm could cause an adverse interaction between the firearm  110  and the rack  750 , more specifically between the barrel of the firearm  110  and the paint on the rack  750 . 
         [0036]    Although the device  105  is described as including one or more magnets to hold the firearm  110 , in other implementations, the device  105  can include any suitable mechanism to allow for reversible attachment of the device  105  to the firearm  110 . Some examples of such suitable mechanisms can include one or more of: straps with hook and loop closures (for example, Velcro®), grommets and laces, ties, snaps, buttons, buckles, hooks, adhesive, tape, bands (for example, rubber bands, metal bands), and the like. 
         [0037]    Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations may be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above may be directed to various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and subcombinations of several further features disclosed above. In addition, the logic flow depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein does not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. The phrases “based on” and “based on at least” are used interchangeably herein. Other implementations may be within the scope of the following claims.