Abstract:
An improved concealed safe is disclosed for concealment of firearms and other valuables therein, the safe being sized and shaped to replace a bed box-springs. The safe includes a top surface to support a mattress of a bed, a bottom surface to engage a supporting floor, a plurality of exterior side walls and corners being sized and shaped to support a mattress bed. The safe includes an internal storage cavity bounded by interior walls a lower floor. The safe includes side wall openings through at least one of the exterior side walls and through respective interior walls, into which one or more drawers can be inserted into the storage cavity. Each drawer is lockable and concealed from view when inserted into the safe in a concealed position, and each drawer is extendable outwards from the storage cavity into an exposed position. A rolling means supports each drawer and allows each drawer to be moved along at least one pair of roller tracks positioned on an interior wall within the storage cavity, providing a user ease of opening and loading each drawer in the exposed position, and allowing closing each drawer to the concealed position into the concealed safe that is hidden under a mattress and appears as a bed box-springs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to the field of concealed safes. More specifically this invention relates to a concealed safe hidden under a bed, with the safe having lockable drawers for storage of firearms and other valuables. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Prior support frames for beds have provided internal compartments within the support frames for storage of items. Typical bed support frames are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,435, issued to Dufresne, which discloses a space saver platform, hiding bed assembly having rigid covers that open upwards to reveal multiple storage compartments. A bed mattress can be placed on the rigid covers but must be removed before the rigid covers can be opened upwards. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,566, issued to Russell, discloses a storage locker that can support a bed, the storage locker having side wall doors that pivot upwards for entry into the storage locker. The side wall doors of the storage locker can be opened a distance upwards that is limited by the amount of overhang of a bed mattress placed on top of the storage locker. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,435, issued to Philips et al., discloses an article of furniture that includes a top surface that can support couch cushions, bed mattresses, and/or additional furniture, and includes side wall drawers of generally light weight that open laterally outwards for storage of items within the drawers within the furniture. 
     Additional prior devices that relate to beds and safes are discussed in the following U.S. Patents that define beds and/or bed frames having internal, lockable containers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,650, issued to King, et al., discloses a furniture unit including a frame having at least one secure container within the frame. A door of the secure container is lockable in a closed position in the frame by a padlock positioned on the door. The secure container fits into a frame side that opposes a second frame side having drawers therein. The secure container includes means extending from the secure container into the frame to secure the container in a fixed position within the frame. The means extending includes a nut welded to the frame, and a bolt securing arrangement that is fixed to and within the frame. The secure container includes a quick access door separate from the lockable door, with the quick access door independently lockable within the container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,315, issued to Wachenheim, discloses a waterbed pedestal for supporting a waterbed frame and mattress. The pedestal includes a plurality of panels defining a cavity in the pedestal, with a safe positioned within the cavity. The safe is secured within the cavity with an attaching means, such as fixed flanges, to position the safe in the cavity behind a removable panel that hides the cavity and the safe. An anti-theft means secures the safe in position by attaching the safe to one of the sides of the cavity. The removable panel includes a door hinged and mounted to the pedestal panel to hide the safe. The safe is not removable from a fixed position within the cavity unless the attaching means, hidden behind the safe, is disconnected. 
     The prior support frames are generally frames having an internal cavity into which drawers are positioned, with a lockable safe or secure container positioned permanently within the support frame. Therefore, a user must open one or more panels or doors, and reach into the safe or container to retrieve one or more generally small and/or light-weight items of value stored within the safe. There is a need for an improved, hidden safe containing sliding drawers that provide ease of access to articles of value having extended length, width, and/or heavy weight. There is also a need for a concealed safe that is positionable in an inconspicuous position in a home and that is quickly accessible to an owner. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved safe that replaces a bed box-springs to support a mattress of a bed. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a concealed safe of sufficient size and shape to be generally unmovable by an intruder, and to provide a reinforced interior cavity accessible to a user for lockable storage of articles of value. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a concealed safe that is sized and shaped to support a mattress of a bed, the safe having at least one lockable drawer slidably extendable from the interior of the safe, into which firearms and other sizable articles of value can be placed for safekeeping and concealment. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of independently lockable storage compartments within a disguised safe supporting a mattress of a bed, with the storage compartments having drawers that are slidably movable into the safe for disguised storage of weapons and other articles of value. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Other objects and advantages will be accomplished by the present invention which includes an improved concealed safe being sized and shaped to replace a box-springs for a bed, the concealed safe including exterior walls having a top surface to support a mattress for a bed, a bottom surface to engage a supporting floor, a plurality of exterior side walls being connected between the top surface and the bottom surface, and exterior corners being sized and shaped to support the mattress. The concealed safe provides for secure storage of portable firearms and other articles of value having extended length and/or width. The concealed safe includes a plurality of interior walls being generally oriented parallel to each respective wall of the exterior walls, the interior walls having internal surfaces, the plurality of interior walls including a lower surface parallel to and interior of the bottom surface of the exterior walls of the safe. A storage cavity is formed within the safe and is bounded by the internal surfaces of the plurality of interior walls. An opening is provided through one of the plurality of exterior side walls of the concealed safe, the opening being extended through the respective interior wall into the storage cavity. A drawer is provided and is movable through the opening, the drawer being positionable in a concealed position by being inserted into the storage cavity, the drawer also being positionable in an exposed position by being extended outwards from the storage cavity through the opening, the drawer including an outwardly faced surface having at least one rolling means attached thereon. The drawer includes an end cover being oriented to cover the opening when the drawer is in the concealed position. The end cover includes a lock thereon, the drawer being lockable with the lock when in the concealed position. The interior walls of the storage cavity and/or portions of the outwardly faced surface of the drawer include at least one roller track on at least one of the interior walls, preferably on the lower floor of the storage cavity. The at least one roller track being aligned with the at least one rolling means attached on the drawer. The user of the concealed safe can position a mattress bed on top of the concealed safe, which replaces the box-springs, and can place the articles of value having extended length and/or width such as guns and/or rifles into the drawer when the drawer is positioned in the exposed position. The user can position the drawer to the concealed position by the rolling means being rolled along the at least one roller track until the drawer is concealed within the storage cavity. The drawer is lockable in the concealed position with the lock. A plurality of drawers having locks can be provided in the exterior side walls to provide space-efficient, secure storage in the concealed safe for firearms and other articles of value, with the concealed safe disguised as a replacement box-springs positioned underneath a mattress for a bed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above mentioned features of the invention will become more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention read together with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the improved concealed safe constructed in accordance with several features of the present invention sized and shaped generally similar to a bed mattress and having a plurality of interior storage compartments; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of FIG. 1, illustrating the drawer positioned in a concealed position within the storage cavity of the concealed safe; 
     FIG. 3 a  is a partial perspective view of the drawer positioned in an exposed position extending outwards from the storage cavity of the concealed safe; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a perspective view of an outwardly faced surface of one drawer having a rolling means attached to the underside surface; 
     FIG. 4 a  illustrates a perspective view of FIG. 1 with the internal drawers removed, illustrating a plurality of roller tracks within the storage compartments; 
     FIG. 4 b  illustrates a side view, in section taken at  4   b — 4   b  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 c  illustrates a side view of an alternate embodiment of FIG. 4 b ; and 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the improved concealed safe having a plurality of interior storage compartments. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An improved concealed safe is disclosed incorporating various features of the present invention as illustrated generally at  10  in FIG.  1 . The improved concealed safe  10 , is designed in a configuration having generally the size and shape of a mattress  12  (see FIG. 2) having twin-size, queen-size, or king-size proportions. The concealed safe  10  is configured in a height  14  of generally the height of a bed box-springs that the concealed safe  10  is designed to replace and mimic in size and shape a mattress  12 . 
     The preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 b , is designed to support a mattress for a bed, by placement of the concealed safe  10  underneath the mattress and directly on the supporting surface of the floor, or by placement within a bed support frame (not shown) that is built to support the heavy weight of the concealed safe  10 . The preferred embodiment of concealed safe  10  does not include support springs within the upper portion of the height  14  of the safe as an alternative embodiment may include, but a cushioned pad (not shown) can be provided to cover the top surface  20 , and/or the plurality of exterior side walls. As shown in FIG. 1, a head board first end  16  comprises the first end of the plurality of exterior walls of the concealed safe  10 , with the opposing end being the foot board second end  18 . If preferred by an user to bolster the disguise of the concealed safe  10  as a box-springs, a bed head board (not shown), and a bed foot board can be attachable by brackets (not shown) to the respective first end  16  and/or second end  18 . 
     In FIGS. 1-3 a , one exterior side wall, namely the first side wall  24  that is opposite a second side wall  26 , can include an opening  28  through which a movable first elongated drawer  30  is positioned. FIG. 2 illustrates the first drawer  30  in a concealed position within the first side wall  24 . 
     The preferred embodiment provides the drawer  30  having an interior drawer floor  32  (see FIG. 4 b ), and an end cover  34  that covers the opening  28  when the drawer  30  is positioned in a concealed position as shown in FIG.  2 . The end cover  34  can include a locking mechanism  36  such as a rotary lock, or alternatively a key operated lock (not shown), along with one or more handles  38 ,  38 ′ for opening and closing the drawer  30 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, one embodiment includes a second drawer  42  that is positioned in the foot end  18  of the concealed safe  10 . The second drawer  42  can be a relatively narrow width in relation to the elongated first drawer  30 , to allow both drawers to be positioned in concealed positions in the safe  10  and underneath the mattress  12  without internal contact of each drawer within the concealed safe  10 . The second drawer  42  includes an interior floor  44  onto which articles of value can be positioned and/or attached, includes an end cover  45 , and includes a second drawer lock  46  and at least one drawer handle  48 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 a , the concealed safe  10  includes exterior walls having the top surface  20 , a bottom surface  22  facing the supporting floor, the first side wall  24 , second side wall  26 , first end  16 , and second end  18 . Each drawer, if more than one drawer is utilized, is positionable in the concealed position within a storage cavity  50  within the safe  10 . The storage cavity  50  is bounded by a plurality of interior walls of the safe  10 , thereby providing a double-walled configuration that provides increased structural strength to the safe  10 , and provides increased security for articles of value stored within or on the floor  32  of first drawer  30 , and/or floor  44  of second drawer  42 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4 a , the plurality of interior walls of the storage cavity  50  include interior head side wall  52  that is oriented parallel to head board end  16 , and second side wall  54  that is oriented generally parallel to second outer side wall  26 . A foot side wall  56  is oriented generally parallel to foot board end  18 , except for a corner section  56 ′ that connects with second opening  40 , with corner section  56 ′ being generally oriented parallel to second side wall  26 . The interior surface  58  of the drawer end cover  34  serves as the interior first side wall, and is generally parallel to the outer first side wall  24 . In an alternative embodiment, first drawer  30  can be oriented to be insertable through an opening (not shown) in second side wall  26 , with first side wall  24  being a solid surface with a solid interior side wall (not shown). The exterior of the concealed safe  10  and interior walls  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  56 ′,  58  can be constructed of steel or other high-strength metal or composite material that deters forcible entry by breakage of one or more of the exterior walls. The interior side walls  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  56 ′ that are stationary are connected to an interior floor  60  of the interior of the cavity. The interior floor  60  is oriented generally parallel to the bottom exterior surface  22  of the safe  10 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3 a ,  3   b , and  4   b , a first drawer  30  is positionable outwards  66  in an exposed position (see FIG. 3 a ), or positionable inwards  68  in a concealed position (see FIGS. 3 a  and  4   b ), by being insertable through opening  28  and into the storage cavity within concealed safe  10 . The means of movement of the drawer  30  is by a rolling means attachable to at least one outwardly faced surface of the drawer, either the two sides of the drawer, or preferably the underneath surface  70  of the drawer  30 . The rolling means includes a first rolling unit having at least a first set of a plurality of rollers  72  having about two to five, or more, generally cylindrical or spherical rollers. The rolling means also includes a channel unit being oppositely disposed within the storage cavity for movable support of the drawer, the channel unit positioned adjacent the first rolling unit to allow the drawer to be movably positioned in the concealed position or in the exposed position. 
     The rolling unit includes a first set of rollers  72 , having two to five, or more, generally cylindrical or spherical rollers, with each suspended on separate rotational axes between a parallel pair of brackets or tracks  74  for the first set of rollers. A second set of a plurality of rollers  76  includes about two to five, or more, generally cylindrical or spherical rollers, with each roller aligned and suspended on separate rotational axes between a parallel pair of brackets or tracks  74  for the first set of rollers. The first set of rollers  72 , and second set of rollers  76 , and associated brackets or tracks  74 ,  78 , are aligned parallel to each other, and oriented in the direction of movement  66 ,  68  of drawer  30 , and attachable to the under surface  70  of first drawer  30 . Alternative configurations of rollers are known to persons skilled in the art and can be utilized to allow the drawer  30  to be positionable along the direction of movement  66 ,  68 . Similar configurations of sets of rollers are attached to the underside surface of the floor  44  of second drawer  42 , and each additional drawers that are to be insertable into additional openings in side walls of concealed safe  10 . 
     When the drawer  30  is positioned into the storage cavity  50  in the concealed position, each of the sets of rollers  72 ,  76  follow along and into channel units that include a pair of rolling tracks  82 ,  84 . In one embodiment, each roller track  82 ,  84  is oriented inside the storage cavity  50  along an upper faced portion of the lower interior floor  60  (see FIG. 4 a ). Each roller track  82 ,  84  is positionable parallel to the other pair of roller tracks for alignment with the at least one rolling means attached to the underside of the drawer  30 . In one embodiment, the at least two pair of roller tracks  82 ,  84  is indented a sufficient depth into the upper faced portion of the lower interior floor  60  so that the indented roller tracts form channels for the at least one rolling means to follow along in when the drawer  30  is positioned in the concealed position, and when drawer  30  is moved to the exposed position. A sufficient depth into the upper faced portion of the floor  60  can range from about one eighth (⅛) inch, to about one half (½) inch, with each roller track  82 ,  84  having a width of about one quarter (¼) inch to about one inch wide. Utilizing two generally parallel and adequately indented roller tracks allows a heavy drawer  30  containing a plurality of heavy articles of value to move smoothly into the storage cavity to the concealed position (see FIG. 4 b ). Similar parallel spaced roller tracks  86 ,  88  are oriented inside the second opening  40 , extending into the storage cavity  50 , to allow the potentially heavily weighted second drawer  42  to be positioned in the concealed position. 
     An alternate embodiment for the rolling means includes at least one set of side rollers movable between pairs of rails attachable to each side of drawer  30 . The side oriented rollers are insertable into, and mate with a set of parallel side tracks (not shown) on each of the interior surfaces of interior wall  52  and  56 , with each respective side of drawer  30  movably supported between interior walls  52 ,  56 . 
     A further alternative embodiment provides one centered roller track, or two parallel roller tracks in the interior ceiling (not shown) of the storage cavity for each drawer that is insertable into a respective opening. By providing roller tracks in the interior ceiling, the user is provided the option for removal of appropriate drawers and flipping over of the bulky concealed safe  10  in the shape of a mattress  12 , with reinsertion of appropriate drawers in an upright orientation into one or more openings oriented on the appropriate side of the concealed safe  10 . Repositioning of the concealed safe for covering by a mattress  12 , and reinsertion of the drawers therein, allows for a user to position the concealed safe  10  underneath a bed mattress  12  in a variety of locations within a room to hide the drawers from the sight of a potential intruder entering the room of the user. A box springs (not shown) can be placed on the top surface  20  between the surface  20  and the mattress  12  for additional disguise of the concealed safe  10 . 
     An alternative embodiment provides a configuration (not shown) that positions at least two indented roller tracks on the underneath surface  70  of the drawer  30 , and on the underneath surface of each additional drawer insertable into the concealed safe  10 . At least one set of a plurality of in-line rollers, with each set supported between a pair of rails, can be attachable to the interior floor  60  underneath each drawer within the interior of the cavity to provide a rolling means for each respective drawer. 
     As recognized by those skilled in the art, an alternative roller means can include a pair of heavy equipment drawer slides  112 ,  112 ′ positioned on side walls of first drawer  30 , comparably positioned drawer slides  116 ,  116 ′ on the second drawer  42  (see FIGS. 4 a - 4   c ), and additional slides for additional drawers (not shown). Associated track and/or channel units can be positioned on interior walls within storage cavity  50 , at locations  110 ,  110 ′ for support of first drawer  50 , at locations  114 ,  114 ′ for support of second drawer  42 , and at locations  118 ,  118 ′ for support of a third drawer  90  (if utilized). The heavy equipment drawer slides and tracks provide support for the side walls of each drawer to minimize dipping in a downwardly direction when each drawer is in exposed position  66 . The drawer slides can include rolling metal wheels and rows of steel ball bearings fitting into rails of precise dimensions for support of heavy loads as may be placed into each respective drawer of the concealed safe  10 . 
     An additional alternative embodiment can include a third drawer  90  and lock (not shown) in the position as illustrated in FIGS. 3 a  and  5 , if the depth of the first drawer  30  is reduced. A further alternative embodiment can include a fourth drawer  102  and lock  104  in the position as illustrated in FIG.  5 . Additional combinations of lockable drawers, either side-by-side, or stacked one above another will be recognizable to those skilled in the art. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the drawer  90  similar to first elongated drawer  30 , but having a limited depth into storage cavity  50 , can also be positioned in the second side wall  26  (see FIG.  5 ), without obstructing either first drawer  30  in first side wall  24 , or second drawer  42  in second end  18 . 
     From the foregoing description, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that an improved hidden safe offering advantages over the prior art has been provided. Specifically, the concealed safe provides a space-efficient, secure storage for articles of value such as rifles and/or pistols, with the concealed safe disguised as a replacement bed box-springs positionable underneath a bed mattress. The side-mounted drawer provides for convenient and rapid access to a weapon for an owner on the bed mattress supported by the concealed safe, while also providing a lockable storage unit that is out-of-sight of other family members, such as young children. The disguised nature of the concealed safe can be improved by covering the concealed safe with a mattress pad, box springs cover, or a bed skirt that overhangs the locks and drawers, while still providing easy access by an owner having the combination to the locks. The concealed safe can include attaching members on a header end opposite the end having one or more drawers therein, to allow a headboard to be attachable to the header end to increase the disguise of the concealed safe. A further benefit of the disguised safe is that the large dimensions, either twin-size, queen-size, or king-size, and the bulky weight of the disguised safe decreases the possibility of one or two intruders removing the safe if the intruders fail to breach the lockable drawers. 
     While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the disclosure, but rather it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate methods falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.