U.S. patent application number 10/278259 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for atv mounted gun case.
This patent application is currently assigned to Flambeau Products Corporation. Invention is credited to Hammill, Robert N., Sauey, Jason C..
Application Number | 20040079660 10/278259 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32106518 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040079660 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sauey, Jason C. ; et
al. |
April 29, 2004 |
ATV mounted gun case
Abstract
A gun case for transporting and storing a gun with forward and
rear portions. The gun case includes a forward housing with rigid
side walls that form a cavity configured to receive the forward
portion of the gun. The gun case also includes a rear housing with
rigid side walls that form a cavity configured to receive the rear
portion of the gun. The rear housing is pivotally coupled to the
forward housing for movement between an open position providing
access to the cavities and a closed position capable of securing
the gun within the gun case.
Inventors: |
Sauey, Jason C.; (Chagrin
Falls, OH) ; Hammill, Robert N.; (Kent, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David B. Smith
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
100 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee
WI
53202-4108
US
|
Assignee: |
Flambeau Products
Corporation
Middlefield
OH
|
Family ID: |
32106518 |
Appl. No.: |
10/278259 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/317 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 33/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/317 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A gun case for storing a gun having rear and forward portions,
the gun case comprising: a forward housing having rigid side walls
generally forming a cavity configured to receive the forward
portion; a rear housing having rigid side walls generally forming a
cavity configured to receive the rear portion; and a pivotal
interconnection structure coupling the forward housing and rear
housing for relative rotation between an open position providing
access to the cavities and a closed position capable of securing
the gun within the gun case.
2. The gun case of claim 1, wherein the forward and rear housings
include foam padding and tear resistant fabric covering the foam
padding.
3. The gun case of claim 1, wherein the walls of the forward
housing include an indented step, and wherein the rear housing
includes a portion that couples with the indented step of the
forward housing.
4. The gun case of claim 1, wherein the pivotal interconnection
structure couples the forward and rear housings for translation and
rotation relative to each other.
5. The gun case of claim 4, wherein the pivotal interconnection
structure includes an integrally formed slot in the forward
housing, the rear housing coupled to the slot for translation and
rotation relative to the forward housing.
6. The gun case of claim 5, wherein the rear housing includes a pin
coupled with the slot to allow translation and rotation of the rear
housing relative to the forward housing.
7. The gun case of claim 1, wherein the forward housing includes a
first hole and the rear housing includes a second hole, the holes
being substantially aligned when the rear housing and the forward
housing are in the closed position.
8. A gun case for storing a gun having rear and forward portions,
the gun case comprising: a main housing having rigid side walls
generally forming a cavity configured to receive the forward
portion; an end cap having rigid side walls generally forming a
cavity configured to receive the rear portion; and a pivotal
interconnection structure coupling the main housing and the end cap
for relative translation and rotation between an open position
providing access to the cavities and a closed position capable of
securing the gun within the gun case.
9. The gun case of claim 8, wherein the pivotal interconnection
structure includes an integrally formed slot in one of the main
housing and end cap, and wherein the other of the main housing and
end cap includes a pin coupled with the slot.
10. The gun case of claim 9, wherein the slot is formed in the main
housing, and wherein the end cap includes the pin coupled to the
slot for translation and rotation relative to the main housing.
11. The gun case of claim 8, wherein the main housing and end cap
include foam padding and tear resistant fabric covering the foam
padding.
12. The gun case of claim 8, wherein the main housing includes a
first hole and the end cap includes a second hole, the holes being
substantially aligned when the end cap and the main housing are in
the closed position.
13. A gun case for storing a gun with rear and forward portions,
the gun case comprising: a main housing having rigid side walls
generally forming a cavity configured to receive the forward
portion, the main housing including a step defining a connecting
portion having an integrally formed slot; and an end cap having
rigid side walls generally forming a cavity configured to receive
the rear portion, the end cap including a pin coupled within the
slot such that the end cap rotates and translates relative to the
main housing for movement between an open position providing access
to the cavities and a closed position capable of securing the gun
within the gun case, the end cap including a portion that couples
with the connecting portion of the main housing in the closed
position.
14. The gun case of claim 13, wherein the main housing and end cap
include foam padding and tear resistant fabric covering the foam
padding.
15. The gun case of claim 13, wherein the main housing includes a
first hole and the end cap includes a second hole, the holes being
substantially aligned when the end cap and the main housing are in
the closed position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to cases of rigid
construction, and more particularly to cases designed to store and
transport a gun.
Background of the Invention
[0002] The fundamental purpose of gun cases is to protect guns from
physical damage during transport and storage. Gun cases of soft
construction may be considered for light-duty uses, like storage,
while gun cases of rigid construction may be considered for more
heavy-duty uses. The rigidly constructed gun cases are typically
desired for vehicle mounting applications associated with outdoor
hunting. An all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, is commonly used by
outdoor hunters for transportation during a hunt.
[0003] The rigid gun case is held by a mounting bracket attached to
the ATV to hold the gun case during transport. Most ATV bracket
designs are configured to be mounted on the front or rear of the
ATV, and can be mounted at different angles and configurations.
[0004] By nature of its intended use, the ATV transports the
outdoor hunter through harsh environments. The outdoor hunter may
encounter many obstacles during travel such as bumpy paths, rocks,
tree limbs, fallen debris, streams, hills, or valleys. Since the
gun case is mounted to the ATV, it is also exposed to the shocks
and impacts imparted by the outside environment. During transport,
it is desirable for the gun case to remain closed to secure the gun
within the case until needed by the hunter.
[0005] The rigid gun cases disclosed in the prior art are
problematic in that they are prone to inadvertent opening,
therefore allowing the gun to fall out of its case. This occurs
most often during transport, when the case experiences the most
shock and impact from the outside environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is the general object of this invention to provide a gun
case that addresses the problems associated with prior art. One
embodiment of the invention is a gun case having a rigid
construction separated into two pivotally coupled housings. A
forward housing, or main housing, has a forward cavity to receive a
forward portion of a gun. A rear housing, or end cap, has a rear
cavity to receive a rear portion of the gun. The rear housing is
coupled to the forward housing through a pivotal interconnection
structure for movement between an open position to allow easy
access to the rear portion of the gun and a closed position capable
of securing the gun in the gun case. The pivotal interconnection
structure may permit relative rotation and translation of the rear
housing relative to the forward housing between the open and closed
positions.
[0007] The forward housing may include a connecting portion that
inserts into the rear housing when the two housings are closed. The
connecting portion includes indented walls and an integral tab with
a slot. A pin coupling the rear housing with the slot allows
translation and rotation of the rear housing relative to the
forward housing. When opening the gun case from the closed
position, the pin and slot arrangement allows the rear housing to
translate and disengage from the connecting portion of the forward
housing. The pin and slot arrangement then allows the rear housing
to rotate and expose the rear portion of the gun.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention is further described with reference to
the accompanying drawings, which show preferred embodiments of the
present invention. However, it should be noted that the invention
as disclosed in the accompanying drawings is illustrated by way of
example only. The various elements and combinations of elements
described below and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged and
organized differently to result in embodiments which are still
within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a gun case embodying the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the gun case shown in
FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section view taken along line
3-3 in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIGS. 4-6 are partial side views of the gun case shown in
FIG. 1, illustrating the gun case transitioning from an open
position to a closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a rigid-wall gun case 10 having an
integrally-formed handle 20 on its top, a series of
integrally-formed tabs 22 incorporating slots 24 for connection
with a carrying strap (not shown), and a pair of integrally formed
feet 26 located on its bottom to stabilize the gun case 10 while
the gun case 10 is resting on a generally flat surface. The handle
20 is positioned along the length of the gun case 10 to coincide
with the approximate location of the center of gravity of the
combination of a gun 27 (FIG. 2) and the gun case 10.
[0014] With further reference to FIG. 2, the gun case 10 comprises
a forward housing 28 and a rear housing 30 pivotally coupled to the
forward housing 28 for movement between open and closed positions.
The two housings 28, 30 are separable from each other along a
diagonal plane 31 (FIG. 1), although it is not required that the
housings 28, 30 are separable along a plane. For example, the
housings 28, 30 can a be separable along a series of non-planar or
curved edge segments. The forward housing 28 has a cavity 32 to
receive a forward portion 34 of the gun 27, while the rear housing
30 has a cavity 38 to receive a rear portion 40 of the gun 27.
Although the gun 27 is illustrated as a rifle, the gun case 10
could also be used to house other types of guns (e.g., shotguns,
muzzleloaders, etc.). The cavity 32 is deep enough to house a
majority of the gun 27, while the cavity 38 is only deep enough to
house the rear portion 40 of the gun 27. A connecting portion 42
integrally formed with the forward housing 28 is defined by
indented walls.
[0015] With further reference to FIG. 3, both housings 28, 30
contain foam padding 44 lining their respective cavities 32, 38.
The foam padding 44 helps to absorb any shock or impact imparted to
the gun 27 by the outside environment. The foam padding 44 is also
covered with a tear-resistant fabric 46 so that the gun 27 may be
inserted and removed with ease and without damaging the fabric 46
or foam padding 44.
[0016] With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the connecting portion 42
includes an integrally-formed tab 48 with a slot 50 near the top of
the gun case 10. The rear housing 30 includes a pin 52 sized to fit
and move within the slot 50 to allow the rear housing 30 to
translate and rotate relative to the forward housing 28. In
alternate constructions, the pin 52 and slot 50 may be switched,
such that the pin 52 is included in the connecting portion 42 and
the slot 50 is included in the rear housing 30. The connecting
portion 42 and rear housing 30 include holes 54, 56 near their
respective bottoms.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows the gun case 10 in the open position, where the
rear housing 30 is being rotated downward. FIG. 5 shows the rear
housing 30 rotated into alignment with the forward housing 28 and
connecting portion 42 for closing. Finally, FIG. 6 shows the gun
case 10 in the closed position after the rear housing 30 is moved
forward parallel with the slot 50. As shown, the connecting portion
42 is completely inserted into the cavity 38. The cavity 38 snugly
receives the connecting portion 42 to create an interference fit
between the rear housing 30 and the connecting portion 42. FIG. 6
also shows the holes 54, 56 in substantial alignment when the
housings 28, 30 are in the closed position. A locking device (not
shown) may be inserted through the holes 54, 56 to fully secure the
rear housing 30 to the forward housing 28. The locking device
provides for easy access and safe storage of the gun 27. The
locking device could be a quick release fastener, a small padlock,
or any other similar device known by those skilled in the art. By
using a locking device through the holes 54, 56 in combination with
the pivotally-connected rear housing, it is less likely that the
gun case 10 will inadvertently open and expose the gun 27 to fall
out of the case 10.
* * * * *