1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fire arms, and more particularly, to a gun safe permanently mounted to a fixed surface.
2. Description of Related Art
Many people in the United States own firearms for various reasons. Some people own firearms for protection, while others own firearms for hunting or other competitive activities. Special problems are encountered for those persons that carry or transport these firearms. If a person transports a firearm within a vehicle, in most localities, the firearm must be locked in a contained area, such as a trunk of a vehicle.
Additionally, the transportation of firearms while traveling on a motorcycle is particularly difficult due to the lack of secure space on the motorcycle. On a motorcycle, it is quite common for the rider to hide the firearm in a satchel or bag attached to the motorcycle. However, since the satchel or bag is easily breached by anyone, the rider typically removes the firearm from the hiding area and carries it with him. The task of carrying the weapon when leaving the motorcycle unattended is tedious and, at times, illegal (such as when carrying the firearm onto certain premises where carrying firearms are forbidden).
The carriage of firearms by commercial pilots has now been authorized. However, the firearm must be secured in a locked box within the cockpit. This locked box is portable, enabling the pilot to carry the firearm through the airport. Since the locked box is not secured to the cockpit, the pilot must remove the firearm from the aircraft when leaving the aircraft. Thus, existing devised lock boxes suffer from the disadvantage of not allowing the pilot to leave the firearm in the cockpit.
There are several different ways currently used to secure firearms. First, there are lock boxes where one may store the firearm with a lock, which may be opened by a key or a combination. The use of these lock boxes are especially useful at a person's home, but unsuitable for use on a motorcycle. Since the lock box, by its nature, is easily transportable, it also can be stolen quite easily.
Another way of securing a firearm is to lock the firearm in a storage area having a lock, such as a gun cabinet. But the use of gun cabinets are not possible on a motorcycle. There are also locks which are affixed directly to the gun which prevents the gun from being fired. However, these locks do not prevent the firearm from being stolen, but rather, merely prevents the discharge of the firearm.
A device is needed which properly secures a gun in a fixed location. The device must be securely fastened to a surface, such as a surface of a motorcycle. Thus, it would be a distinct advantage to have an apparatus which safely and efficiently stores the firearm on a motorcycle or in a cockpit of any aircraft. It is an object of the present invention to provide such a device.
In one aspect, the present invention is a gun safe affixed to a surface for securely storing a gun. The gun safe includes a main body having an opening leading to an interior storage area. The main body is affixed to the surface. A planar surface area extends out from the main body. A cover covers the opening of the main body and the planar surface area. The gun safe also includes a locking mechanism for locking the cover to the main body and the planar surface area. The gun is positioned within the interior storage area and the cover covers the gun. The locking mechanism locks the cover in a closed configuration.
In another aspect, the present invention is a gun safe affixed to a surface of a motorcycle for securely storing a gun. The gun safe includes a surface integral to the motorcycle and a main body having an opening leading to an interior storage area. The main body is affixed to the motorcycle surface. A planar surface area extends out from the main body. A cover covers the opening of the main body and the surface area. In addition, the gun safe includes a locking mechanism for locking the cover to the main body and the planar surface area.
In still another aspect, the gun safe is affixed to a surface for securely storing a gun and includes a main body having an opening leading to an interior storage area. The main body is affixed to the body by a plurality of bolts running through openings in a planar surface area extending out from the main body. The bolts are inserted into the surface. In addition, the gun safe includes a locking mechanism for locking the cover to the main body and the planar surface area. The interior of the gun safe may be coated with a rubberized matting to protect the gun.
The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction with the accompanying specification, in which:
A gun safe permanently affixed to a surface is disclosed.
An inner surface 41 of the main body 14, the hinged cover 16, and the planar surface area 30 may be layered with a rubberized matting 42 to protect the gun 12 from any direct contact with the gun safe, thereby preventing damage to the gun. The inner surface 41 and the planar surface 30 form a flat contact surface 43 which is affixed to a surface (e.g., motorcycle surface). The hinged cover 16 includes a downward wall 17 originating from an edge of the cover. The downward wall contacts the planar surface 30 when in the closed configuration.
Bolts (not shown) may be inserted through the openings 32. The bolts may pass through the openings and into a fixed planar surface area, such as a motorcycle or an inner wall of a cockpit. The bolts enable the gun safe to remain in a fixed position and prevent the theft of the gun safe and its contents. When the hinged cover 16 is closed, the inside of the gun safe where the bolts are located is not accessible. Therefore, the bolts cannot be removed without opening the hinged cover. It should be understand by those skilled in the art that any mechanism may be utilized which securely fastens the gun safe to a fixed surface.
With reference to
With the gun safe in the closed position, the gun stored within the gun safe is secured. The gun cannot be taken without opening the hinged cover 16. The hinged cover is configured so that in the closed position, the junctions between the surfaces of the gun safe are flush. Having the surfaces of the gun safe flush prevents someone from forcing the gun open with a crowbar. Additionally, the gun safe cannot be removed from the fixed surface (motorcycle or inner wall of the cockpit) without opening the hinged cover. Alternatively, the gun safe may be affixed to any surface, such as a motorized vehicle or a fixed surface.
The present invention provides many advantages over existing devices. The gun safe provides a storage container which is affixed to a desired surface in such a manner that the gun safe cannot be removed without opening the gun safe. The gun safe is constructed of a material that prevents the forced entry into the interior of the gun safe. The gun safe is small enough to be affixed to a fixed surface having a small surface area.
It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device shown and described has been characterized, as being preferred, it will be readily apparent that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2706036 | Neal | Apr 1955 | A |
3369721 | Lentz | Feb 1968 | A |
3464606 | Nordeen | Sep 1969 | A |
3625405 | Kezar et al. | Dec 1971 | A |
3731818 | Young | May 1973 | A |
4081117 | Crane | Mar 1978 | A |
D310304 | Carmichael | Sep 1990 | S |
5056342 | Prinz | Oct 1991 | A |
5114060 | Boyer | May 1992 | A |
5168994 | Beletsky et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
5375440 | Patterson | Dec 1994 | A |
5437366 | West et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
D368249 | Ferrer | Mar 1996 | S |
5701770 | Cook et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
5829586 | Mermell | Nov 1998 | A |
6000592 | Clanin | Dec 1999 | A |
6082601 | Standish | Jul 2000 | A |
6260300 | Klebes et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6354476 | Alderman | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6405861 | Siler et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6513689 | Vincenzo | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6570501 | Bushnell et al. | May 2003 | B1 |
6601680 | Japchen | Aug 2003 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20040238581 A1 | Dec 2004 | US |