FIREARM CABINET

Abstract

A firearm cabinet for storing firearms is provided. The firearm cabinet is comprised of an interior compartment which is defined by a top panel, a plurality of side panels, a back panel, a front panel, and a bottom panel. The front panel includes a framework opening for display of the contents therein. Along the edge of each side panel and front panel is an open hem to allow ease in assembly. The side panels and front panel slidably cooperate with each other for assembly. Along the edge of the top and bottom panels, a lip extends about the periphery thereof. The lip includes openings that cooperate with corresponding openings along the side panels, back panel, and front panel. The openings are sized to allow a fastener having a round head to be inserted therein and affixed. The rounded head fastener prevents tampering from the exterior of the firearm cabinet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for storing guns and, in particular, a lightweight storage cabinet that breaks down for easy transport and assembly to provide secure storage in places where it is not normally available.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Owning and collecting firearms are popular hobbies of many around the world. Many owners and collectors of weapons, rifles, shotguns, handguns, knives, and the like, are interested in showcasing their collections; thus, many do so by storing the weapons in a firearm rack. A firearm rack is typically comprised of a framework with rails, bars, hooks, or pegs for holding or storing firearms in a horizontal position. The firearms are mounted on the firearm rack, and showcased for the pleasure of viewing, as well as being accessible to the owner at any time. Some racks display the firearms in a vertical orientation, particularly long guns.

Firearm racks are effective at storing weapons; however, they are not secure or theft resistant. Firearms are relatively expensive, and a modest firearm collection can be worth a significant amount of money. Thus, the mere presence of a firearm rack may alert others that firearms are present within a household, and could possibly lead to theft of firearms, as well as other contents within the home. Furthermore, while firearm racks are useful, they are sometimes not particularly attractive furniture pieces. Therefore, many firearm racks are located within garages, basements, or other less conspicuous areas, which tend to make the contained firearms not readily available should quick access be required. Thus, there remains a need for an attractive firearm storing and showcasing unit at an affordable price. High quality safes are available, but can weigh a thousand pounds or more, are difficult to move, and can highly load a supporting floor.

Another problem with firearm racks is that, although a firearm is readily accessible from the rack to an owner, it is also readily accessible to small children. The lack of an encasing or safety locks makes for a potential attractive nuisance to young children. Additionally, there exists a need for a way to safely and securely store firearms and other weapons without the disadvantages described above.

A firearm cabinet is a secure and protective storage container for one or more firearms and/or ammunition for those firearms. Firearm cabinets are primarily used to prevent access to unauthorized or unqualified persons, for burglary protection, and to protect the contents from damage during a flood, fire, or natural disaster. Firearm cabinets were traditionally made of fine high quality wood with etched glass fronts for display, so as not to become an eyesore in many firearm collectors' homes. A firearm cabinet for the secure storage of firearms provides many benefits. However, in order to encourage the use of firearm cabinets, it should be attractive in appearance, allow quick access to the firearm in the event of an emergency, and preferably, should be capable of being located in a variety of settings.

Currently, there are a number of commercially available firearm cabinets and storage cabinets designed for residential settings. However, these firearm cabinets and safes are typically large and heavy for shipping purposes, as they are shipped as a single assembled unit. Many people travel for work, school, and extended vacations. These people often desire to take at least a portion of their firearm collection with them for recreation and protection. However, the large heavy nature of firearm cabinets makes shipment and set up of the devices impractical for short terms. Storage cabinets that are not specifically manufactured for firearm storage uses are too easily broken into to make a suitable storage device. A simple screwdriver provides access to the contents of these devices, as the panels do not suitably interlock or overlap. Many contain bolts that are easily disassembled from the exterior of the cabinet, and thus depart from the intention of the firearm cabinet, which is to provide secure storage void from tampering. Accordingly, there exists a need for a firearm storage device that is compact and light weight for storage and transport, easily assembled and securely stores firearms while allowing easy access to the interior of the cabinet to the owner, and provides protection against unintended access to the firearms to others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A firearm cabinet for storing firearms and/or other items is provided. The firearm cabinet is comprised of a fully enclosable interior compartment which is defined by a bottom wall, a top wall, a pair of side walls, a back wall, and a door assembly. It is packaged as a kit for assembly by a purchaser.

In one form, the walls are constructed as independent panels with connectors that extend along the edges of the panels for connection to adjacently positioned panels to create a secure assembly that extends along the entire edge of each panel. In particular, each side panel, back panel, and front door frame are provided with an open hem extending along the edges of the panel. The open hem type panel connectors are constructed to allow the panels to be shipped in an unassembled condition, and easily assembled on a desired site to provide an overlapping interlocking connection between the panels. The use of hems allows assembly by relative longitudinal movement between adjacent panels. This construction provides a lightweight storage cabinet that can be easily transported and set up on a desired site. The overlapping interlocking connectors on the panel edges provide security against prying instruments to protect objects stored within the firearm cabinet from unintended users or handlers of the stored firearms. The front panel includes an opening sized to cooperate with the door assembly for access and display of the contents contained within the firearm cabinet. A lip extends about the periphery of the edge of the door frame for cooperation with the door assembly. Apertures are provided, and in predetermined spacing through the open hems to accept carriage bolt type fasteners with lock nuts on the inside of the cabinet. In this manner, only the round head surface of the carriage bolts are visible to anyone viewing the cabinet from the outside. Placing fasteners through the interlocked hems reinforces the overlapping structure and further prevents an intruder from opening the cabinet at the seams to take items from inside the cabinet. The door assembly may be provided with any suitable lock arrangement, including, but not limited to, radio frequency identification, lock and hasp, biometrics, combination, etc., that is suitable for restricting access to the interior of the cabinet.

In a second embodiment, the independent panels have interconnectable edge margins configured to be joined by mechanical fasteners. The top panel and bottom panel are also configured for joining with mechanical fasteners. All the panels are relatively thin and planar for compact packaging.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention provide a firearm cabinet that provides secure storage while allowing for cost-effective shipping and transport, and ease in assembly.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a firearm cabinet that is compact, and which securely stores firearms while allowing easy access to the firearms.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a firearm cabinet that improves the utilization of space within the confines of the cabinet by incorporating the fasteners along the edges of the panels to maximize the interior space of the cabinet.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a firearm cabinet that provides suitable firearm security against theft or improper usage and does not require excessive effort and/or time to store and retrieve firearms from the secure cabinet.

It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide a firearm cabinet that is aesthetically pleasing to look at without detracting from the safeguarding purposes thereof.

An even further objective of the present invention is to provide a firearm cabinet comprised of panels that are substantially planar so that they can be more easily shipped or stored in a compact configuration by a manufacturer.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a firearm cabinet including panels having cooperating open hem assemblies for ease in assembly from a kit by the owner.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a firearm cabinet having fasteners that interact with the side panels and back panel to prevent unwanted access to the interior of the cabinet.

Still yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a firearm cabinet which is constructed to provide fire protection for a limited time.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a locking firearm cabinet. Which may include a transparent polycarbonate front panel or panel portion and/or transparent side panels or panel portions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGS.

FIG. 1 is an assembled view of the firearm cabinet;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the firearm cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the firearm cabinet without the top and bottom panels;

FIG. 4 is a detailed representation of the open hem and fastener assembly of the firearm cabinet;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the open hem and fastener assembly of the firearm cabinet;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the lip along the top and bottom panels of the firearm cabinet;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a gun cabinet;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective back side view of a cabinet door;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the cabinet taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the cabinet taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cabinet side panel and back panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in Various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

Referring now to a first form of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, a firearm cabinet 1 for storing firearms is provided. It is to be understood that while a preferred use is for firearm storage, the cabinet can be used to store other items like jewelry, bows, knives, fishing equipment, tools and the like, alone or in any combination. However, it will be referred to as a firearm cabinet herein. The firearm cabinet 1 is comprised of an interior compartment 3, which is defined by a plurality of wall panels, including a top panel 10, a plurality of side panels 20, a door assembly 30 forming a front, a back panel 40, and a bottom panel 50. The panels 10, 20, 40, and 50, and door assembly 30, can be constructed of powder-coated steel, which provides a level of fire protection. However, an alternative embodiment may include wall panels that are constricted of polycarbonate material, which may be layered and adhered together in a stacked arrangement. The panels 10, 20, 40, and 50, and door assembly 30, have main panels that are substantially planar so as to facilitate ease and compactness in packaging, shipping and storage. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door assembly 30 includes a frame opening structure 32 for cooperation with portions of the door assembly. The door assembly 30 can be similar to the door assembly 130 (FIG. 8), but has the frame opening 32. The door assembly 30 is preferably steel with a lockable latch assembly 134; however, in at least one embodiment, other material selections are considered, such as, but not limited to, polycarbonate or the like, The latch assembly 134 can include a key lock and/or combination lock 204, separately or in combination with radio frequency identification, lock and hasp, biometrics, etc., to secure the latch assembly in a closed condition and effect opening mechanically by a user or electronically. The polycarbonate may be layered and glued together to create a laminate structure that is extremely resistant to penetration, While still providing a clear view to the contents of the cabinet. Like the steel door assembly, the polycarbonate door assembly may also include a latch assembly 134 of various varieties that are suitable for keeping unwanted persons from accessing the contents of the cabinet.

In the preferred embodiment, there is a pair of side panels 20, each having a front and rear open hem 24 along the edge 22 of each side panel 20 for use in assembly. The side panels 20 are preferably the same, and can be used as either a left-side panel or a right-side panel. Additionally, along he edge 34 of the frame opening structure 32 and edge 42 of the back panel 40 is an open hem, 36 and 44, respectively, for assembly. The hems 24, 36 and 44 are attachment members utilized to join the panels 20, 30, 40 together by sliding one into the other with longitudinal movement between the panels. The side panels 20, back panel 40, and door assembly 30 slidably cooperate with each other by interlocking the open hems, 24, 44, 36, respectively, as shown FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The door assembly 30, back panel 40, and pair of side panels 20 provide a parallelepiped shaped interior compartment 3 and have main panel portions 31, 41 and 21 respectively. As shown in FIG. 3, the side panels 20 have an open hem 24 facing outwardly, and the open hem 36 and back panel open hem 44 are bent at 90 degree angles and face inwardly. The pair of side panels 20 can be used on either side of the firearm cabinet 1 during assembly. The door assembly 30 is distinct from the back panel 40 because of the frame opening structure 32 and door assembly 30, The open hems 24, 44, 36 on the pair of side panels 20, back panel 40, and door assembly 30 slide together for assembly as shown in FIG. 5.

The top panel 10 and bottom panel 50 can be of substantially identical construction and thus interchangeable. As showy FIG. 2, a lip 14 and 54 extends along the periphery 12 and 52 of the top panel 10 and bottom panel 50. The lips 14, 54 include holes 16, 56 that cooperate with corresponding holes 26, 38 and 46 along the side panels 20, door assembly 30, and back panel 40. On the top panel 10 and bottom panel 50, the holes 16, 56 are located on the corners thereof, shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The holes 16, 26, 38, 46, and 56 are sized to allow a fastener 60 having a round head 62 to be inserted therein and affixed, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The rounded or domed head fastener 60 prevents tampering from the exterior of the firearm cabinet 1. On the side panels 20, back panel 40, and door assembly 30, the holes 26, 46, 38 are located on the top and bottom edge and intersect the open hems 24, 44, 36. The interlocking open hems 24, 44 and 24, 34, combined with the fasteners 60 extending through the interlocking hems, prevent easy entrance to the contents of the cabinet with a prying instrument The hems 24 open inwardly and the hems 36, 44 open outwardly and form open sided channels. In a preferred embodiment, the holes 16, 26, 38, 46, and 56 have a square shape to accept the square shoulder 64 of the fastener 60. Preferred fasteners 60 are carriage bolts. The fasteners 60 are preferably comprised of high strength carriage bolts 61 and locking flange nuts or castle nuts 68. The carriage bolt 61 includes a rounded head 62 and a shank with a square shoulder 64 and threaded end 66. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the square shoulder 64 cooperates with the square hole 56 on the bottom panel 50 to prevent relative rotation. As shown in FIG. 5, the rounded head 62 prevents tampering from the exterior of the firearm cabinet 1, and the threaded end 66 extends past the last square hole into the interior 3 of the firearm cabinet, which is the hole 26 on the side panel open hem 24 (not shown, but also occurs on all the remaining side panel holes), and accepts a threaded nut 68 for assembly of the firearm cabinet 1. Beads, ridges or the like may be added to any of the panels to increase rigidity of the panel(s).

Referring now to a second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 7-11, a firearm cabinet 101 for storing firearms is provided. The firearm cabinet 101 is comprised of an interior compartment 103, which is defined by a plurality of wall panels including a top panel 110, a plurality of side panels 120, a door assembly 130, a back panel 140, and a bottom panel 150. The panels 110, 120, 140, 150, and door panel assembly 130, can be constructed of powder-coated steel which provides a level of fire protection. However, an alternative embodiment may include wall panels and door components that are constructed of polycarbonate material, which may be layered and adhered together in a laminated arrangement as described above. The panels 110, 120, 130, 140, and 150 are substantially planar so as to facilitate ease and compactness in packaging, shipping and storage. As shown in FIG. 8, the door assembly 130 includes a hinge 131 adapted for mounting to a side panel 120 for hinged movement of a door 132 to selectively close a cabinet opening 133. The door assembly 130 is preferably steel; however, in at least one embodiment other material selections are considered, such as, but not limited to, a transparent material such as polycarbonate or the like. The polycarbonate may be layered and glued together to create a laminate structure that is extremely resistant to penetration while still providing a clear view to the contents of the cabinet. Like the steel door assembly, a polycarbonate door assembly may also include a latch assembly of various varieties that are suitable for keeping unwanted persons from accessing the contents of the cabinet 101. The door assembly can be a combination of materials, e.g., steel with a transparent polycarbonate insert. The side panels 120 can also be polycarbonate or the like as described for the door assembly 130 or have polycarbonate inserts. The door assembly 130 can be symmetrical about its top to bottom center, to allow it to be mounted for either a left-hand hinge or a right-hand hinge.

The door assembly 130 is provided with a lockable latch assembly 134. The latch assembly 134 is operable to selectively secure the door 132 in a locked condition, selectively closing the opening 133. The latch assembly 134 is described below.

Preferably, the side panels 120 are of the same construction and can be used as either a left-side panel or a right-side panel. The side panels 120 have means along marginal edge portions configured to attach one to the hinge 131 and both to the back panel 140. As shown in FIGS. 7, 11, the side panel 120 has a main panel portion 121 with a flange 122 at the back marginal edge portion 123, and a flange 124 at the front marginal edge 125. The flanges 122, 124 form open-sided generally U-shaped front and rear channels opening toward one another. The bottom and top edges of the panel are open to allow nesting of one panel 120 within the other side panel 120 for packaging as a kit. The flange 122 is generally L-shaped and has a bight 118 generally perpendicular to the panel portion 121 and a leg 126 generally parallel to the panel portion 121, and is spaced therefrom. The flange 124 includes a leg 127 generally spaced from and generally parallel to the panel portion 121, and an arm 128 extending from the leg 127 and preferably generally perpendicular to the leg 127. A bight 129 connects the leg 127 to the panel portion 121 and is generally perpendicular to the panel portion 121. The arm 128 forms a door stop, extending into the opening 133 behind the door assembly 130. The arm 128 thus prevents a prying tool from getting behind the door assembly 130 to force it open. The flange 122 is used to connect a side panel 120 to an attachment member, such as flange 141 of the back panel 140. The flanges 141 are generally perpendicular to a main panel portion 142 of the back panel 140 and extend inwardly therefrom, The door assembly 130, back panel 140, and pair of side panels 120 provide a parallelepiped or generally rectangular solid shaped interior compartment 103. The pair of side panels 120 can be used on either side of the firearm cabinet 101 during assembly. The flanges 122, 124 preferably extend the full length or height of the panel 120 and are uniform in cross section along their length. The flange leg 126 is perforated to effect joining of the side panels 120 to the back panel 140 with mechanical fasteners as described below. Either the leg 127 or bight 129 could be perforated with through holes to allow mounting of a leaf 148 of the hinge 131 thereto. The perforations can have a square shape to accomodate the use of a carriage type bolt as a portion of a mechanical fastener. The flanges 122, 124 and 141 extend along substantially the entire length of the side panels 120 and back panel 140 on opposite side edges thereof.

As shown in FIG. 7, lips 112 and 152 extend along the periphery 111 of the top panel 110 and the periphery 151 of the bottom panel 150 respectively. The top and bottom panels can be of substantially identical construction and size, and thus be interchangeable. The lips 112, 152 each include a plurality of holes 113, 153 that cooperate with corresponding holes 158 and 149 along the side panels 120 and back panel 140. The holes 113, 153, 158 and 149 are sized to allow a fastener 160 to be inserted therein and affixed, as shown in FIG. 7. The flanges 122, 124 can also be provided with holes 159 to effect joinder of the panels 120 with the panels 110, 140 and 150 with fasteners 160. The heads of the fasteners 160 are preferably inside the firearm cabinet 101, and if not, are preferably rounded to resist tampering. The fasteners 160 are preferably comprised of high strength carriage bolts 161 and locking flange nuts 168. Castle nuts could also be used. The carriage bolt 161 includes a rounded head, square shoulder, and threaded end as described above. The fasteners 160 are as described above for the fasteners 60.

The cabinet, 1 or 101, can be provided with gun holders 180, such as foam blocks with U-shaped notches suitably secured to the panels 120, 140. Adhesive securement, fasteners, or the like, can be used to hold the gun holders in place. One or more shelves 185 can also be suitably mounted inside either safe, preferably in the upper portion of the interiors 3, 103.

The top and bottom panels 110, 150 can be of substantially the same construction and interchangeable. As seen in FIG. 7, the bottom panel 150, and hence the top panel 110, respectively, can each be provided with a flange 190 similar to the flange 124 having an arm 191 forming a door stop like arm 128, see FIG. 7. The arm 191 on the top panel 110 and the arm 191 on the bottom panel 150 extend toward one another, and the arms 128 on the opposite side panels 120 extend toward one another. Opposite ends of the flange 190 form a notch 209 to accommodate receipt of opposite ends of the flanges 124 therein. The top and bottom panels 110, 150 can be of substantially identical construction, and thus interchangeable.

The latch assembly 134 can be of similar design, and the latch assembly 134 will be described. The latch assembly 134, FIG. 8, includes a pair of elongate bolts 201 mounted to a rotatable handle 203. The handle 203 is rotatably mounted to the panel 130, and has a lock 204 operably associated therewith and accessible from the exterior of the cabinet 101. The bolts 201 have distal end portions 205, each selectively engageable with a portion of the cabinet to releasably retain the panel 130 in a closed position. As seen in the cabinet 101, the distal end portions 205 are held in place by retainers 210 (such as illustrated in FIG. 10), one adjacent the top panel 110 and one adjacent the bottom panel 150 and secured to the upper and lower portion of the door assembly 130. The bolts 201 can engage an interior surface of the respective lips 112 and 152 when in an extended position, making their mounted positions noncritical and allowing for right and left hinged opening of the door assembly 130, When the bolts 201 are moved to a retracted position, the door assembly 130 can be moved to an open position.

In a preferred embodiment, the width of the back panel 140 is sufficient to allow the panels 120 to fit between the flanges 141 for nesting in a kit package.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown, It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein,

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A firearm cabinet comprising: a top panel having first lip extending from a marginal edge portion thereof;a bottom panel having a second lip extending from a marginal edge portion thereof;a pair of side panels having a first flange along a rear side edge of a first main panel portion and a second flange along a front side edge of the first main panel portion, said first and second flanges forming generally U-shaped front and rear channels opening toward one another;a back panel having a second main panel portion having first and second attachment members each extending along a respective opposite side edge thereof, each attached to a respective said first flange, said first lip and second lip each being attached to the side panels and back panel with mechanical fasteners; anda door assembly including a hinge along one side edge of a door and a latch assembly configured to selectively lock the door in a closed position.

2. The cabinet as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first and second channels extend along the length of the side panels, and wherein the back panel having a second main panel portion and the first and second attachment members extending along the length of the back panel and inwardly from the second main panel portion, said first and second attachment members each forming a second channel opening toward the second main panel portion, each said second channel being in interlocking engagement with a respective said side panel rear channel, securing the side panels to the back panel.

3. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein the back panel attachment members each including a third flange extending along the length of and inwardly from the second main panel portion and being generally perpendicular thereto, said second flanges each having a plurality of through apertures, said first flanges each including a first bight and a first leg, said first legs each including a plurality of through first apertures aligned with a plurality of through third apertures in each said third flange and including a plurality of mechanical fasteners each extending through a pair of aligned first and third apertures securing the back panel to said side panels.

4. The cabinet of claim 3 wherein the second flange having a second bight and a second leg, said second leg being generally perpendicular to its respective first main panel portion, said hinge having a first leaf attached to the second leg with a plurality of mechanical fasteners.

5. The cabinet of claim 4 wherein the second flanges each including an arm extending from a respective said second leg toward the opposite said second flange forming door stops.

6. The cabinet of claim 5 wherein the top and bottom panels being of substantially identical construction.

7. The cabinet of claim 6 wherein the top and bottom panels each having a fourth flange along the front edge thereof, wherein the fourth flanges each having a fourth bight, a fourth leg and a fourth arm, said fourth arms each extending from a respective said fourth leg toward the opposite said fourth flange forming door stops.

8. The cabinet of claim 7 wherein the latch assembly including a pair of bolts each having a portion positioned internally of an inside surface of a respective said fourth arm when the latch assembly is in a door locking position.

9. The cabinet of claim 3 wherein the mechanical fasteners securing the back panel to the side panels having a head and a shank, at least a portion of the shank being threaded and a portion having an outer shape configured to fit in a respective said through aperture to resist rotation of the mechanical fastener in the through aperture.

10. The cabinet of claim 9 wherein the mechanical fasteners including carriage bolts and castle nuts.

11. The cabinet of claim 9 wherein the mechanical fastener heads being positioned between the first leg and the first main panel.