U.S. patent application number 10/977072 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-23 for j-style gun rack for a safe.
Invention is credited to Lesperance, Christopher L..
Application Number | 20050133473 10/977072 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35041817 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050133473 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lesperance, Christopher L. |
June 23, 2005 |
J-style gun rack for a safe
Abstract
A gun rack including a gun barrel support and a lower support
for retaining a gun in an upright position is provided. The gun
barrel support has a retaining recess defined therein for retaining
a barrel of the gun, wherein the retaining recess is J-shaped.
Further, the gun barrel support has a front wall portion, a back
wall portion and at least two side wall portions. The retaining
recess includes an access portion, an intermediate portion and a
receiving portion. The access portion extends from the front wall
portion toward the back wall portion. The intermediate portion
extends from the access portion toward one of the side wall
portions. The receiving portion extends from the intermediate
portion toward the front wall portion. Further, the receiving
portion includes a rest area to retain the barrel of the gun. The
lower support includes a recess for retaining the stock of the
gun.
Inventors: |
Lesperance, Christopher L.;
(Honeoye, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dennis B. Danella, Esq.
Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP
Suite 200
39 State Street
Rochester
NY
14614-1310
US
|
Family ID: |
35041817 |
Appl. No.: |
10/977072 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60516332 |
Oct 31, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 81/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/064 |
International
Class: |
A47F 007/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A gun rack for retaining at least one gun in a generally upright
position, the gun having a barrel and a stock portion, said gun
rack comprising: a gun barrel support having a first retaining
recess defined therein for selectively retaining the gun barrel,
wherein said first retaining recess is J-shaped.
2. The gun rack as recited in claim 1, wherein said gun barrel
support has a front wall portion, a back wall portion and at least
two side wall portions.
3. The gun rack as recited in claim 2, wherein said first retaining
recess includes: a first access portion that extends from said
front wall portion toward said back wall portion; a first
intermediate portion that extends from said first access portion
toward one of said side wall portions; and a first receiving
portion that extends from said first intermediate portion toward
said front wall portion, wherein said first receiving portion
includes a first rest area.
4. The gun rack as recited in claim 3, further comprising a second
retaining recess, wherein said retaining recess includes: a second
access portion that extends from said front wall portion toward
said back wall portion; a second intermediate portion that extends
from said second access portion toward the other of said side wall
portions; and a second receiving portion that extends from said
second intermediate portion toward said front wall portion, wherein
said second receiving portion includes a second rest area.
5. The gun rack as recited in claim 4, wherein said first and
second access portions are a common access location.
6. The gun rack as recited in claim 1, further comprising a lower
support having a support base and at least one recess formed in
said support base, wherein said recess is adapted to selectively
receive the gun stock portion.
7. The gun rack as recited in claim 6, further comprising a stand
that is coupled with said support base.
8. The gun rack as recited in claim 7, wherein said stand is
pivotally coupled with said support base.
9. The gun rack as recited in claim 7, wherein said stand includes
a support foot and an adjustment mechanism, wherein said adjustment
mechanism is adapted to adjust the position of said support foot
relative to said support base.
10. A gun rack for retaining at least one gun in a generally
upright position, the gun having a barrel and a stock portion, said
gun rack comprising: a gun barrel support having a base, an
extension member, a connecting member, and a retention lip, wherein
said extension member extends outwardly from said base, wherein
said connection member extends in a direction that is generally
perpendicular to said extension member, and wherein said retention
lip extends toward said base thereby forming a retaining recess for
selectively retaining the gun barrel.
11. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein said extension
member extends in a direction that is perpendicular to said
base.
12. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein said connecting
member extends parallel to said base.
13. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein said retention lip
is perpendicular to at least one of said connection member and said
base.
14. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein said retention lip
is parallel with said extension member.
15. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein said retaining
recess is J-shaped.
16. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, wherein said gun barrel
support has a front wall portion, a back wall portion and at least
two side wall portions, wherein said retaining recess includes: an
access portion that extends from said front wall portion toward
said back wall portion; an intermediate portion that extends from
said access portion toward one of said side wall portions; and a
receiving portion that extends from said intermediate portion
toward said front wall portion, wherein said receiving portion
includes a rest area.
17. The gun rack as recited in claim 10, further comprising a lower
support having a support base and at least one recess formed in
said support base, wherein said recess is adapted to selectively
receive the gun stock portion.
18. The gun rack as recited in claim 17, further comprising a stand
that is coupled with said support base.
19. A gun rack for retaining at least one gun in a generally
upright position, the gun having a barrel and a stock portion, said
gun rack comprising: a gun barrel support having a front wall
portion, a back wall portion and at least two side wall portions,
said gun barrel support having a first retaining recess defined
therein for selectively retaining the gun barrel, wherein said
first retaining recess includes: a first access portion that
extends from said front wall portion toward said back wall portion;
a first intermediate portion that extends from said first access
portion toward one of said side wall portions; and a first
receiving portion that extends from said first intermediate portion
toward said front wall portion, wherein said first receiving
portion includes a first rest area.
20. The gun rack as recited in claim 19, wherein said first
retaining recess is J-shaped.
21. The gun rack as recited in claim 19, further comprising a
second retaining recess, wherein said retaining recess includes: a
second access portion that extends from said front wall portion
toward said back wall portion; a second intermediate portion that
extends from said second access portion toward the other of said
side wall portions; and a second receiving portion that extends
from said second intermediate portion toward said front wall
portion, wherein said second receiving portion includes a second
rest area.
22. The gun rack as recited in claim 21, wherein said first and
second access portions are a common access location.
23. The gun rack as recited in claim 19, further comprising a lower
support having a support base and at least one recess formed in
said support base, wherein said recess is adapted to selectively
receive the gun stock portion.
24. The gun rack as recited in claim 23, further comprising a stand
that is coupled with said support base.
25. The gun rack as recited in claim 24, wherein said stand is
pivotally coupled with said support base.
26. The gun rack as recited in claim 24, wherein said stand
includes a support foot and an adjustment mechanism, wherein said
adjustment mechanism is adapted to adjust the position of said
support foot relative to said support base.
27. A gun rack for retaining at least one gun in a generally
upright position, the gun having a barrel and a stock portion, said
gun rack comprising: a gun barrel support having a front wall
portion, a back wall portion and at least two side wall portions,
wherein a retaining recess is defined in said gun barrel support
for selectively retaining the gun barrel, and wherein said
retaining recess includes: an access portion that extends from said
front wall portion toward said back wall portion; an intermediate
portion that extends from said access portion toward one of said
side wall portions; and a receiving portion that extends from said
intermediate portion toward said front wall portion, wherein said
receiving portion includes a rest area; a lower support having a
support base and at least one recess formed therein, wherein said
recess is adapted to selectively receive the gun stock portion; and
a stand pivotally coupled with said support base, and wherein said
stand includes a support foot and an adjustment mechanism, wherein
said adjustment mechanism is adapted to adjust the position of said
support foot relative to said support base.
28. The gun rack recited in claim 27, wherein said retaining recess
is J- shaped.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/516,332, filed on Oct. 31, 2003.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a rack for holding guns
located within an enclosure, safe or storage cabinet. More
particularly, the present invention is directed to a gun barrel
support having a J-shaped retaining recess that holds a firearm in
position within the enclosure. Further, the present invention is
directed to a gun barrel support having a J-shaped retaining recess
that is used in conjunction with a lower support to hold the
firearm in a generally upright position within the enclosure.
[0004] Many types of gun racks for rifles, shotguns and other long
firearms are well known in the art. In fact, some gun racks are
configured to hold one or more guns within an enclosure or safe.
Typically, these gun racks are mounted on the side wall of the safe
and have a U-shaped groove adapted to hold the barrel of the gun.
In, particular, the gun barrel is placed within the U-shaped
groove, and the remaining portion of the gun is positioned at an
angle so that the gun stock rests near the center of the floor of
the safe.
[0005] While prior gun racks adapted for use inside a safe are
capable of retaining a plurality of guns, these gun racks have a
number of drawbacks and deficiencies. For instance, the placement
of the gun stocks near the center of the floor occupies valuable
storage space within the safe. Angling the gun barrel toward the
side wall with the stock near the center of the floor makes the gun
stock susceptible to sliding thereby causing the gun barrel to be
unintentionally removed from the gun rack. If the gun stock were to
be slid toward the sidewall of the safe, the gun barrel has a
tendency to tip over, or otherwise be removed from the U-shaped
groove.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a gun rack that
adequately holds a gun in an upright position within an enclosure.
There is a further need in the art for a gun rack that adequately
holds a plurality of guns while maximizing space within an
enclosure. The present invention fills these needs as well as other
needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In order to overcome the above stated problems and
limitations there is provided a gun rack for retaining at least one
gun in a generally upright position within an enclosure, wherein
the gun has a barrel and a stock portion. The gun rack includes a
gun barrel support and a lower support.
[0008] The gun barrel support includes a front wall portion, a back
wall portion and at least two side wall portions, wherein a
J-shaped retaining recess is defined in the gun barrel support for
selectively retaining the gun barrel. The retaining recess includes
an access portion, an intermediate portion and a receiving portion.
The access portion extends from the front wall portion toward the
back wall portion. The intermediate portion extends from the access
portion toward one of the side wall portions. Further, the
receiving portion extends from the intermediate portion toward the
front wall portion, wherein the receiving portion includes a rest
area for the gun barrel. The lower support has a support base and
at least one recess formed therein to selectively receive the gun
stock portion of the gun.
[0009] The gun rack of the present invention may also include a
stand that is pivotally coupled with the support base. The stand
includes a support foot and an adjustment mechanism that is adapted
to adjust the position of the support foot relative to the support
base. The stand provides additional support to the lower support
when the gun rack is mounted to the door of the enclosure.
[0010] The use of the J-shaped gun barrel support and lower support
allow the guns to be positioned in an upright position within the
enclosure thereby maximizing the amount of available storage space
within the enclosure. Further, the use of the J-shaped gun barrel
support and lower support securely position the guns within the
enclosure, which reduces the chance that the guns will slide and be
inadvertently removed from the gun rack.
[0011] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the
present invention will be set forth in part in the description
which follows, and will in part become apparent to those in the
practice of the invention, when considered with the attached
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become
apparent and be better understood by reference to the following
description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a gun rack in
accordance with the present invention mounted to a door of a
safe;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front view of the gun rack shown in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a top view of the gun rack shown in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the
gun rack shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of the gun rack shown in FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in
FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a stand shown in FIG. 1;
and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the stand in a
horizontal position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly
FIGS. 1-3, reference numeral 8 generally designates a gun rack for
holding one or more guns 9 in a generally upright position in
accordance with the present invention. Gun rack 8 may include a gun
barrel support 10 and a lower support 12. Gun barrel support 10 and
lower support 12 may be mounted to the surface of an interior wall
14 or the inside surface of a door 16 of an enclosure 18, such as a
gun safe, to store a plurality of guns while maximizing space
within the enclosure. In general, gun barrel support 10 has at
least one J-shaped retaining recess defined therein to hold a gun
barrel portion 20 of gun 9, and lower support 12 that is adapted to
hold a stock portion 22 of gun 9.
[0022] With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, gun barrel
support 10 includes a front wall portion 24, a back wall portion
26, a pair of side wall portions 28, 30, a top surface 32, and a
bottom surface 33. Back wall portion 26 may be fixedly or removably
coupled with door 16, as best seen in FIG. 1, or interior wall 14
of enclosure 18. Retaining recess 34 is formed or defined in gun
barrel support 10 for holding gun barrel 20 in an upright
position.
[0023] Specifically, retaining recess 34 includes an access portion
36, an intermediate portion 38, a receiving portion 39, and a rest
area 40 adapted to receive gun barrel 20. It will be understood
that retaining recess 34 has a width that allows a gun barrel to be
slid and retained therein. Access portion 36 generally extends from
front wall portion 24 toward back wall portion 26 to a point in
between front and back wall portions 24, 26. Intermediate portion
38 generally curves from the end of access portion 36, or otherwise
extends in a straight manner, toward one of side wall portions 28,
30. Receiving portion 39 generally extends from intermediate
portion 38 toward front wall portion 24, but preferably ends before
extending all the way to front wall portion 24. As such, retaining
recess 34 may be J-shaped as defined in top surface 32 of gun
barrel support 10.
[0024] Further, rest area 40 is a surface located in retaining
recess 34 that the gun barrel 20 rests on to prevent the gun barrel
20 from tipping over toward the central portion of the enclosure
18. Resting gun barrel 20 on rest area 40 allows for stock portion
22 of the gun to be positioned closer to the enclosure door 16 or
wall 14, thereby occupying less of the available storage space
within the enclosure.
[0025] The configuration of access portion 36, intermediate portion
38 and receiving portion 39 results in the formation of an
extension member 41, a connecting member 43, and a retention lip 45
formed in gun barrel support 10 that prevents gun barrel 20 from
being removed from retaining recess 34. In particular, extension
member 41 extends outwardly from a base 47 of the gun barrel
support 10, preferably at a generally perpendicular angle from base
47. Connecting member 43 extends from extension member 41 in a
direction that is generally perpendicular to extension member 41,
wherein an interior surface of connecting member defines at least a
portion of rest area 40. Connecting member 43 may also extend
generally parallel to base 47. Further, retention lip 45 extends
from connection member 43 toward base 47, preferably, but not
necessarily, in a direction that is generally perpendicular to
connection member 43, and generally parallel with extension member
41. However, retention lip 45 does not extend to base 47 so that
gun barrel 20 may be selectively retained within retaining recess
34.
[0026] It will be understood and appreciated that retaining recess
34 may shaped in other configurations so long as the relative
positions of access portion 36, intermediate portion 38, receiving
portion 39, and rest area 40 are formed in accordance with the
description provided above. Further, it is within the scope of the
present invention to form access portion 36a in one of side wall
portions as best illustrated by the retaining recess located
closest to side wall portion 28 in FIG. 3.
[0027] As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, lower support 12 may be coupled
with the door 16 of enclosure 18, or with wall 14 of enclosure 18
(not shown). In particular, lower support 12 includes a support
base 48 having one or more recesses 50 defined therein that are
adapted to receive gun stock 22. Recesses 50 may extend at an angle
relative door 16 or wall 14 as best seen in FIG. 1. Furthermore,
recesses 50 are of a depth that will retain stock portion 22 within
the confines of lower support 12. The retention of the stock
portion 22 within recess 50 prevents stock portion 22 from slipping
out of recess 50 and moving into a center portion of enclosure 18.
The retention of the stock portion 22 in conjunction with the
retention of the gun barrel portion 20 in the gun barrel support
10, as described above, allows the gun to be stored in an upright
position and reduces the amount of space necessary to store the gun
within an enclosure.
[0028] As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, lower support 12 mounted
to door 16 may include a stand 52 to provide support to lower
support 12. Stand 52 includes a housing 54, an adjustment mechanism
56 and a support foot 58. Housing 54 is either fixedly or pivotally
coupled with support base 48 and may be configured to be positioned
horizontally so that door 16 may be closed, as best seen in FIG. 8.
Housing 54 is a tube-like member or sleeve that may have threads
located within its bore. Support foot 58 is adjustably coupled to
housing 54 so that it may be extended and retracted with respect to
housing 54 using adjustment mechanism 56. The adjustable nature of
support foot allows stand 52 to be positioned in contact with an
external support surface 60 to stabilize lower support 12.
Adjustment mechanism 56 may include a threaded rod 62 threadably
received within the bore of housing 54 and a fly nut 64 positioned
on the end of threaded rod 62 to allow for the extension and
retraction of support foot 58 by rotation of the threaded rod 62
with respect to housing 54.
[0029] As best seen in FIGS. 4-6, an alternative gun rack 8'
including an alternative gun barrel support 42 and lower support 66
is also within the scope of the present invention. Gun barrel
support 42 includes a configuration where two retaining recesses
34a, 34b are combined with one another to share a common access
portion 36. However, retaining recess 34a, 34b provide separate
intermediate portions 38a, 38b that extend from common access
portion 36 toward opposite side wall portions 28, 30. In addition,
receiving portions 39a, 39b extend from intermediate portions 38a,
38b toward front wall portion 24 to form rest areas 40a, 40b as
described above. The configuration of retaining recesses 34a, 34b
in gun barrel support 42 results in two J-shaped recess positioned
adjacent to one other. Further, a pair of an extension members,
connecting members and retaining lips are formed in accordance with
the discussion set forth above so that they are mirror images of
each other to form a portion of gun barrel support 42 that may hold
two or more gun barrels 20.
[0030] It will be understood and appreciated that one or more
single retaining recesses 34 may be used alone or in conjunction
with one or more combined retaining recesses 34a, 34b on the same
gun barrel rack 10 as best seen in FIG. 5. In addition, as best
seen in FIG. 4, lower support 66 may include one or more legs 46
that allow lower support 66 to be placed on the floor 44 of
enclosure 18 rather than be mounted to wall 14 or door 16. Further,
as best seen in FIG. 6, one or more recesses 68 may extend at a
perpendicular angle relative to door 16 or wall 14 of enclosure
18.
[0031] In use, the door 16 is opened to allow access to the
interior compartment of enclosure 18. If a user desires to place
one or more guns 9 in gun rack 8, 8' that is mounted on door 16, as
seen in FIG. 2, then stand 52 may be pivoted to a vertical position
relative to support base 48 as best seen in FIG. 7. Adjustment
mechanism 56 may then be manipulated until support foot 58 is in
contact with external surface 60. This will provide support for
lower support 12, 66 while door 16 is in the open position.
[0032] Once stand 52 is in place, gun stock 22 may be positioned in
recess 50, 68 formed in lower support 12, 66. The gun barrel 20 is
then inserted into retaining recess 34, 34a, 34b. Specifically, gun
barrel 20 is inserted through access portion 36 and moved toward
back wall portion 26. Gun barrel 20 is then moved through
intermediate portion 38, 38a, 38b toward one of the side wall
portions 28, 30 depending on which direction the retaining recess
is formed, and then is moved toward front wall portion 24 through
receiving portion 39, 39a, 39b until gun barrel 20 is placed in
contact with rest area 40, 40a, 40b. At this point, gun 9 is
securely positioned within gun rack 8, 8' in a generally upright
position. It will be understood that more guns may be placed in gun
rack 8, 8' using similar methodology. Further, the gun may be
removed from retaining recess 34, 34a, 34b by reversing the
procedure set forth above.
[0033] Once the one or more guns are positioned in gun rack 8, 8',
door 16 may be closed. Before closing door 16, adjustment mechanism
56 may be rotated until support foot 58 is no longer in contact
with external support surface 60. In particular, as best seen in
FIG. 8, stand 52 is rotated to a generally horizontal position
relative to support surface 60 so that door 16 may be closed.
[0034] The present invention overcomes and ameliorates the
drawbacks and deficiencies in the prior art. Specifically, the use
of the J-shaped gun barrel support and lower support allow the guns
to be positioned in an upright position within the enclosure
thereby maximizing the amount of available storage space within the
enclosure. Further, the use of the J-shaped gun barrel support and
lower support securely position the guns within the enclosure,
which reduces the chance that the guns will slide and be
inadvertently removed from the gun rack.
[0035] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions
thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and
scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the
description of the preferred versions contained herein.
[0036] All features disclosed in the specification, including the
claims, abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or
process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except
combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are
mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification,
including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by
alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar
purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly
stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a
generic series of equivalent or similar features.
* * * * *