Patent Application
20140102999
A. Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the present invention relate to a handgun rack, and more particularly, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a customizable storage rack for replaceably mounting either on a top or on a bottom of a shelf, for storing handguns, and for positioning the handguns at customizable distances from each other.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous innovations for handgun racks have been provided in the prior art, which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in the art, and which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they differ from the embodiments of the present invention in that they do not teach a customizable storage rack for replaceably mounting either on a top or on a bottom of a shelf, for storing handguns, and for positioning the handguns at customizable distances from each other.
(1) U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,587 to Kondziolka.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,939,587—issued to Kondziolka on Jun. 7, 1960 in U.S. class 211 and subclass 64—teaches a toy gun rack adapted to be affixed to a wall or the like. The rack includes a support member having apparatus for affixation to the wall, a shelf member attached to the support member and having a plurality of gun barrel cradles that are positioned on the shelf member to be generally horizontal when the support member is affixed to the wall and is open along the side of the shelf member away from the wall, and apparatus attached to one end of the members to bear against an upper portion of gun barrels in the cradles.
(2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,328 to Thompson.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,328—issued to Thompson on Feb. 23, 1993 in U.S. class 248 and subclass 309.2—teaches a bracket for alternate mounting from downwardly facing horizontal surface or a vertical surface, and the bracket rotatably supports a sleeve therefrom in any one of four different elevated positions relative to the bracket, with the sleeve being inclined and supporting a horizontal support rod therefrom of a diameter end length to have the barrel of a revolver telescoped thereover, with the free end of the support rod extending through the revolver barrel and at least substantially the full length of one of the cartridge chambers in the associated revolver cylinder.
(3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,276 to Pierce.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,276—issued to Pierce on Apr. 2, 1996 in U.S. class 211 and subclass 64—teaches a stand for storing multiple handguns, which includes a base and a vertical panel perpendicular to the base. The vertical panel contains a number of slots, with a follower behind the panel and studs extending through the panel to engage a threaded cavity in the follower. The stud and the follower slide in the slot and are locked in place by a stop ring on the stud. The barrel of a handgun slides over the stud and the heel of the grip may rest on the base.
(4) U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,557 to Jarock.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,557—issued to Jarock on Jun. 22, 1999 in U.S. class 294 and subclass 15—teaches an apparatus for handling a handgun. The handgun includes a barrel with a cylindrical cavity having a selected internal diameter. A handle has a selected length with a grip end and a platform end. The grip end is sized and shaped to be grasped by a human hand. The handle has a handle diameter. A platform has a flat and plate shape with a center point, a periphery, and a platform diameter extending from across the platform through the center point. The platform diameter is greater than the handle diameter. An elongate member extends through the center of the platform and into the handle. The elongate member is selectively engaged to the handle and to the platform. A first rod has a first selected circumference and is rigidly mounted to the platform near the periphery. A second rod has a second selected circumference different from the first selected circumference and is rigidly mounted to the platform near the periphery. The first selected circumference and the second selected circumference are sized so that at least the first rod or the second rod fits relatively snugly within the cavity of the handgun barrel.
(5) U.S. Pat. No. 7,735,253 to Giebel et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,735,253—issued to Giebel et al. on Jun. 15, 2010 in U.S. class 42 and subclass 70.11—teaches a device for the storage of a gun, which has a base, a safety unit for the secure storage of the gun on the base, and a controller. The safety unit can be inserted at least partially into the barrel and/or a cartridge chamber of the gun and includes a first safety section that can be brought into a safety state in which the safety unit is secured in the gun, and into a release state in which the safety unit can be separated from the gun, and the controller brings the first safety section into its release state when a user authorization is received.
(6) U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,332 to Giebel et al.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,020,332—issued to Giebel et al. on Sep. 20, 2011 in U.S. class 42 and subclass 70.11—teaches a device for the storage of a gun, which includes a base, a safety unit for the secure storage of the gun on the base, and a controller. The safety unit can be inserted at least partially into the barrel and/or a cartridge chamber of the gun and includes a first safety section that can be brought into a safety state in which the safety unit is secured in the gun, and into a release state in which the safety unit can be separated from the gun, and the controller brings the first safety section into its release state when a user authorization is received.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for handgun racks have been provided in the prior art, which are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, nevertheless, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the embodiments of the present invention as heretofore described, namely, a customizable storage rack for replaceably mounting either on a top or on a bottom of a shelf, for storing handguns, and for positioning the handguns at customizable distances from each other.
Thus, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a customizable storage rack for replaceably mounting either on a top or on a bottom of a shelf, for storing handguns, and for positioning the handguns at customizable distances from each other, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
Briefly stated, another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a customizable storage rack replaceably mounted either on a top or on a bottom of a shelf, stores handguns, and positions the handguns at customizable distances from each other. The customizable storage rack includes a body, mandrels, and attaching apparatus. The body is replaceably mounted either on the top or on the bottom of the shelf. The mandrels are replaceably attached to the body, store the handguns, and position the handguns at customizable distances from each other. The attaching apparatus is operatively connected to the body, and replaceably mounts the body either on the top or on the bottom of the shelf.
The novel features considered characteristic of the embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The embodiments of the present invention themselves, however, both as to their construction and to their method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of the embodiments of the present invention when read and understood in connection with the accompanying figures of the drawing.
The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to
The overall configuration of the customizable storage rack 10 can best be seen in
The customizable storage rack 10 comprises a body 20, mandrels 22, and attaching apparatus 24.
The body 20 is for replaceably mounting either on the top 12 or on the bottom 14 of the shelf 16.
The mandrels 22 are replaceably attached to the body 20, are for storing the handguns 18, and are for positioning the handguns 18 at customizable distances from each other.
The attaching apparatus 24 is operatively connected to the body 20, and is for replaceably mounting the body 20 either on the top 12 or on the bottom 14 of the shelf 16.
The specific configuration of the body 20 can best be seen in
The body 20 comprises a front 26, a pair of sides 28, a top 30, and a back 32.
The front 26 of the body 20 has a lower edge 34, an upper edge 36, and a pair of side edges 38, and is rectangularly shaped.
Each side 28 of the body 20 has a forward edge 40, an upper edge 42, and a rear edge 44.
The top 30 of the body 20 has a forward edge 46, a rear edge 48, and a pair of side edges 50, and is rectangularly shaped.
The back 32 of the body 20 has an upper edge 52, a lower edge 54, and a pair of side edges 56, and is rectangularly shaped.
The top 30 of the body 20 extends rearwardly from the front 26 of the body 20, with the forward edge 46 of the top 30 of the body 20 coinciding with the upper edge 36 of the front 26 of the body 20, with the top 30 of the body 20 being horizontally oriented, and with the front 26 of the body 20 being rearwardly slanted from the lower edge 34 of the front 26 of the body 20 to the upper edge 36 of the front 26 of the body 20.
The back 32 of the body 20 extends perpendicularly downwardly from the top 30 of the body 20, with the upper edge 52 of the back 32 of the body 20 coinciding with the rear edge 48 of the top 30 of the body 20, and with the back 32 of the body 20 being vertically oriented.
Each side 28 of the body 20 extends rearwardly from the front 26 of the body 20 to the back 32 of the body 20 and upwardly to the top 30 of the body 20, with the forward edge 40 of each side 28 of the body 20 coinciding with an associated side edge 38 of the front 26 of the body 20, with the upper edge 42 of each side 28 of the body 20 coinciding with an associated side edge 50 of the top 30 of the body 20, and with the rear edge 44 of each side 28 of the body 20 coinciding with an associated side edge 56 of the back 32 of the body 20.
The body 20 further comprises an open bottom 58 and each side 28 of the body 20 further having a bottom edge 60.
Each side 28 of the body 20 further extends downwardly from the open bottom 58 of the body 20 to the bottom edge 60 of an associated side 28 of the body 20 so as to form a pair of side extensions 62.
Each side extension 62 of each side 28 of the body 20 is rectangularly shaped, and is coplanar with an associated side 28 of the body 20.
The front 26 of the body 20 further has a plurality of through bores 64.
The plurality of through bores 64 of the front 26 of the body 20 are so disposed so as to provide parallel rows of through bores 66, and are so sized so as to receive the mandrels 22, respectively.
The back 32 of the body 20 further has a plurality of through bores 68.
The plurality of through bores 68 of the back 32 of the body 20 are so disposed so as to provide parallel rows of through bores 70, and are so sized so as to receive the mandrels 22, respectively.
The specific configuration of the attaching apparatus 24 can best be seen in
The attaching apparatus 24 comprises a pair of mounting plates 72.
The pair of mounting plates 72 of the attaching apparatus 24 are rectangularly shaped, are a same length as, and extend perpendicularly outwardly from, the pair of side extensions 62 of the pair of sides 28 of the body 20, respectively, at a pair of junction lines 74, respectively, and are for resting on or being attached to either the top 12 or the bottom 14 of the shelf 16.
The attaching apparatus 24 further comprises a pair of mounting tubes 76.
The pair of mounting tubes 76 of the attaching apparatus 24 extend along the pair of junctions lines 74 of the attaching apparatus 24, respectively, and are of a same length as the pair of mounting plates 72 of the attaching apparatus 24, respectively.
The attaching apparatus 24 further comprises a pair of J-shaped hooks 78. The pair of J-shaped hooks 78 of the attaching apparatus 24 are for hooking over the shelf 16.
Each J-shaped hook 78 of the attaching apparatus 24 has a shank 80, a bend 82, and a point 84.
The shank 80 of each J-shaped hook 78 of the attaching apparatus 24 extends pivotally and collinearly from within an associated mounting tube 76 of the attaching apparatus 24, with the bend 82 of an associated J-shaped hook 78 of the attaching apparatus 24 and the point 84 of the associated J-shaped hook 78 of the attaching apparatus 24 being for hooking over the shelf 16.
The shank 80 of each J-shaped hook 78 of the attaching apparatus 24 is maintained replaceably, pivotally, and collinearly from within an associated mounting tube 76 of the attaching apparatus 24 by a pair of nuts 86.
The pair of nuts 86 of the attaching apparatus 24 straddle an associated mounting tube 76 of the attaching apparatus 24.
The specific configuration of the mandrels 22 can be best seen in
Each mandrel 22 is replaceably secured in any through bore 64 of the front 26 of the body 20 and any through bore 68 of the back 32 of the body 20, extends upwardly therefrom, and is for being received in the barrel 19 of an associated handgun 18.
Each mandrel 22 comprises a peg 88.
The peg 88 of each mandrel 22 is slender, elongated, and cylindrically shaped, and has a proximal end 90 and a distal end 92.
The proximal end 92 of the peg 88 of each mandrel 22 is threaded, and is replaceably secured in any through bore 64 of the front 26 of the body 20 and any through bore 68 of the back 32 of the body 20 by a nut 93 engaging the proximal end 92 of the peg 88 of an associated mandrel 22.
Each mandrel 22 further has a stop ring 94.
The stop ring 94 of each mandrel 22 is collinearly disposed, positioned just forward of the proximal end 90 of the peg 88 of an associated mandrel 22, and provides a stop of how far the proximal end 92 of the peg 88 of the associated mandrel 22 enters any through bore 64 of the front 26 of the body 20 and any through bore 68 of the back 32 of the body 20, with the proximal end 92 of the peg 88 of the associated mandrel then being threadably received by the nut 93 of the associated mandrel 22, and with the distal end 92 of the peg 88 of the associated mandrel 22 for being received by the barrel 19 of an associated handgun 18, while the stop ring 94 of the associated mandrel 22 provides additional protection for the barrel 19 of the handgun 18.
Each mandrel 22 is made from thermoplastic, and the peg 88 of each mandrel 22 has a diameter. The thermoplastic of each mandrel 22 is for preventing any damage to the rifling of the barrel 19 of the handgun 18 when the handgun 18 is being stored on an associated mandrel 22, and is sandable to customize the diameter of the peg 88 of each mandrel 22 to fit an associated handgun 18.
The thermoplastic of each mandrel 22 is polyoxymethylene (POM) whose molecular formula is (CH2O)n. Polyoxymethylene (POM) is sold under the tradenames DELRIN®, CELCON®, HOSTAFORM®, etc. DELRIN® is a registered trademark of DuPont™.
Polyoxymethylene (POM) is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts that require high stiffness, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability.
Referring now to
The overall configuration of the customizable storage rack 110 can best be seen in
The customizable storage rack 110 comprises a body 120, mandrels 122, and attaching apparatus 124. The body 120 is for replaceably mounting either on the top 112 or on the bottom 114 of the shelf 116. The mandrels 122 are replaceably attached to the body 120, are for storing the handguns 118, and are for positioning the handguns 118 at customizable distances from each other. The attaching apparatus 124 replaceably attaches the mandrels 122 to the body 120.
The body 120 comprises a tube 126.
The tube 126 of the body 120 is straight, vertically oriented, and has a bottom 128.
The body 120 further comprises a mounting disk 130.
The mounting disk 130 of the body 120 is disposed on the bottom 128 of the tube 126 of the body 120, and is for replaceably mounting the body 120 either on the top 112 or on the bottom 114 of the shelf 116.
The mounting disk 130 of the body 120 has through bores 157.
The through bores 157 of the mounting disk 130 of the body 120 are spaced therearound, and are for receiving fasteners for replaceably fastening the body 120 either on the top 112 or on the bottom 114 of the shelf 116.
The tube 126 of the body 120 has a plurality of through bores 158.
The plurality of through bores 158 of the tube 126 of the body 120 are diametrically oriented therethrough, and are spaced-apart axially therealong.
The attaching apparatus 124 comprises brackets 172.
Each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 comprises a collar 174.
The collar 174 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 snugly, replaceably, and movably receives the tube 126 of the body 120, and is replaceably affixed thereto at predetermined elevations therealong.
The collar 174 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 has a through bore 176.
The through bore 176 of the collar 174 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 is diametrically oriented therethrough, and is alignable with any one of the plurality of through bores 158 of the tube 126 of the body 120 so as to allow the collar 174 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 to be replaceably affixed to the tube 126 of the body 120 at predetermined elevations therealong.
Each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 further comprises a fastener 177.
The fastener 177 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 passes through the through bore 176 of the collar 174 of an associated bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 and through a desired through bore 158 of the tube 126 of the body 120 so as to allow the collar 174 of the associated bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 to be replaceably affixed to the tube 126 of the body 120 at a predetermined elevation therealong.
Each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 further comprises three wings 178.
Each wing 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 is rectangular-shaped, and has an inner boundary 180.
The three wings 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 extend radially outwardly from the collar 174 of an associated bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124.
The three wings 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 are attached to the collar 174 of an associated bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 at the inner boundary of each wing 178 of the associated bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124.
The three 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 are spaced-apart from each other by angles of 120°.
The three wings 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 are tilted in a same direction relative to the collar 174 of an associated bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 at an angle that is greater than 45° but less than 90° so as to mimic the appearance of a propeller.
Each wing 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 has a plurality of through bores 182.
Each mandrel 122 is replaceably secured in any through bore 182 of each wing 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124, and is for being received in the barrel 119 of an associated handgun 118.
Each mandrel 122 comprises a peg 188.
The peg 188 of each mandrel 122 is slender, elongated, cylindrically shaped, and has a proximal end 190 and a distal end 192.
The proximal end 192 of the peg 188 of each mandrel 122 is threaded, and is replaceably secured in any through bore 182 of each wing 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124 by a nut 193 engaging the proximal end 192 of the peg 188 of an associated mandrel 122.
Each mandrel 122 further has a stop ring 194.
The stop ring 194 of each mandrel 122 is collinearly disposed, positioned just forward of the proximal end 190 of the peg 188 of an associated mandrel 122, and provides a stop of how far the proximal end 192 of the peg 188 of the associated mandrel 122 enters any through bore 182 of each wing 178 of each bracket 172 of the attaching apparatus 124, with the proximal end 192 of the peg 188 of the associated mandrel 122 then being threadably received by the nut 193 of the associated mandrel 122, and with the distal end 192 of the peg 188 of the associated mandrel 122 for being received by the barrel 119 of an associated handgun 118, while the stop ring 194 of the associated mandrel 122 provides additional protection for the barrel 119 of the handgun 118.
Each mandrel 122 is made from thermoplastic, and the peg 188 of each mandrel 122 has a diameter. The thermoplastic of each mandrel 122 is for preventing any damage to the rifling of the barrel 119 of the handgun 118 when the handgun 118 is being stored on an associated mandrel 122, and is sandable to customize the diameter of the peg 188 of each mandrel 122 to fit an associated handgun 118.
The thermoplastic of each mandrel 122 is polyoxymethylene (POM) whose molecular formula is (CH2O)n. Polyoxymethylene (POM) is sold under the tradenames DELRIN®, CELCON®, HOSTAFORM®, etc. DELRIN® is a registered trademark of DuPont™.
Polyoxymethylene (POM) is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts that require high stiffness, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described as embodied in a customizable storage rack for replaceably mounting either on a top or on a bottom of a shelf, for storing handguns, and for positioning the handguns at customizable distances from each other, nevertheless, they are not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the embodiments of the present invention illustrated and their operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the embodiments of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the embodiments of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt them for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the embodiments of the present invention.
