U.S. patent application number 13/173131 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-03 for weapons storage system and kit.
Invention is credited to Mike Dvoracek, Reginald A. Lodge.
Application Number | 20130002116 13/173131 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47389916 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130002116 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lodge; Reginald A. ; et
al. |
January 3, 2013 |
WEAPONS STORAGE SYSTEM AND KIT
Abstract
In a weapons storage system or kit for constructing a weapons
storage system, sidewalls, and a top wall are provided which, when
assembled, form a cabinet. At least one weapons back panel section
has a plurality of keyhole shaped apertures in rows and columns
substantially throughout the back panel section, the at least one
back panel section being mountable in or at a rear of said cabinet.
A plurality of weapons support members each having a plurality of
outwardly extending mounting protrusions each comprising an
enlarged head and narrower neck portion are receivable in
corresponding keyhole shaped apertures of the at least one back
panel section for construction of the weapons storage system.
Inventors: |
Lodge; Reginald A.;
(Wheaton, IL) ; Dvoracek; Mike; (Downers Grove,
IL) |
Family ID: |
47389916 |
Appl. No.: |
13/173131 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/351.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/351.1 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00 |
Claims
1. A weapons storage system, comprising: a cabinet formed of four
corner posts, parallel vertical sidewalls, and a top, and each of
the four corner posts having keyhole shaped apertures; at least one
weapons back panel section having a plurality of keyhole shaped
apertures in rows and columns substantially throughout the back
panel section, the at least one back panel section being connected
to two of the corner posts at a rear of the cabinet; and a
plurality of weapons support members each having a plurality of
outwardly extending mounting protrusions each comprising an
enlarged head and narrower neck portion received in corresponding
keyhole shaped apertures of the at least one back panel
section.
2. The system of claim 1 including providing a shelf and front and
rear shelf supports for the shelf, the front shelf support
engageable with said corner posts at a front of the cabinet and the
rear shelf support engageable with said weapons back panel section,
said shelf front and rear shelf supports having mounting
protrusions each comprising an enlarged head and narrower neck
portion receivable in corresponding keyhole shaped apertures in
said corner posts or said weapons back panel section respectively,
said rear shelf support being shorter than said front shelf
support.
3. The system of claim 1 including a bottom shelf for vertically
supporting a bottom of at least one of the weapons to be stored in
the cabinet.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the bottom shelf has a sloped
floor sloping downwardly towards a rear of the cabinet.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein a stop whose position is
adjustable is provided on said sloped floor for butting against the
lateral edge of a stock of a weapon being stored.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said weapons support members
comprise a stock saddle having at least one slot for receiving and
laterally supporting a stock of a weapon to be stored and a barrel
saddle comprising at least one slot for receiving and laterally
supporting a barrel of the weapon to be stored.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said weapons support members
comprise a weapon stock supporting shelf above a bottom of the
cabinet for vertically supporting a butt end of the stock of at
least one of the weapons to be stored.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of said back panel
sections are employed to form an overall weapons back panel of the
cabinet.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said four corner posts
comprise an L-shape defined by first and second flanges at right
angles to one another, each of said first and second flanges
comprising two parallel walls, a cabinet back panel attached to a
back of one of the flanges of each rear corner post and said
weapons back panel section being attached to a front of said flange
of each of the rear corner posts, the sidewalls being welded
between the parallel walls of the first flange, and the
keyhole-shaped apertures in the corner posts being located in and
inside one of said double walls of said second flange.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of weapons support
members comprise a support member for rifles and a support member
for handguns, and wherein a shelf for carrying ammunition for the
weapons is provided above the support member for the handguns.
11. A weapons storage system, comprising: a cabinet formed of
parallel vertical sidewalls, a top wall, a base, and two vertical
front panels between which is defined a front opening of the
cabinet, and two vertical back panels between which is defined a
back opening of the cabinet; an inner rotation unit within the
cabinet and mounted to the base for rotation relative to the
cabinet, said rotation unit having two opposite sidewalls, a top
wall, a floor, and a central vertical dividing wall defining first
and second compartments at opposite sides of the dividing wall
within the rotation unit; at least one weapons back panel section
mounted parallel to and spaced from each opposite side of the
dividing wall, the two back panel sections each having a plurality
of keyhole shaped apertures in rows and columns substantially
throughout the respective back panel section; and a plurality of
weapons support members each having a plurality of outwardly
extending mounting protrusions each comprising an enlarged head and
narrower neck portion received in corresponding keyhole shaped
apertures of at least one of the back panel sections.
12. The system of claim 11 including a shelf for carrying items
related to the weapons and having tabs at each end thereof, and
louvers in the inner rotation unit sidewalls mateable with the
tabs.
13. The system of claim 11 including a bottom shelf above said
floor of said rotation unit for supporting a bottom of the weapons
to be stored in the cabinet.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein said bottom shelf comprises a
floor sloped downwardly towards said back panel section.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein an adjustable stop is provided
on said sloped floor for butting against the lateral edge of a
stock of a weapon being stored.
16. The system of claim 11 wherein said weapons support members
comprise a stock saddle having at least one slot for receiving and
laterally supporting a stock of a weapon to be stored, and a barrel
saddle comprising at least one slot for receiving and laterally
supporting a barrel of the weapon to be stored.
17. The system of claim 11 wherein said weapons support members
comprise a weapons stock supporting shelf above said floor for
vertically supporting a butt end of the stock of at least one of
the weapons to be stored.
18. The system of claim 11 wherein a plurality of said back panel
sections are employed at each opposite side of the dividing wall to
form an overall weapons back panel at each opposite side of the
dividing wall.
19. The system of claim 11 wherein said plurality of weapons
support members comprise a support member for rifles and a support
member for handguns, and wherein a shelf for storing items related
to the weapons is provided above the support member for the
handguns.
20. A weapons storage system, comprising: a cabinet formed of
parallel vertical sidewalls and a top wall; at least one weapons
back panel section having a plurality of keyhole shaped apertures
in rows and columns substantially throughout the back panel
section, the at least one back panel section being positioned
within or at a rear of the cabinet; and a plurality of weapons
support members each having a plurality of outwardly extending
mounting protrusions each comprising an enlarged head and narrower
neck portion received in corresponding keyhole shaped apertures of
the at least one back panel section.
21. A kit for constructing a weapons storage system, comprising:
four corner posts each having keyhole shaped apertures, sidewalls,
and a top wall and which, when assembled, will form a cabinet; at
least one weapons back panel section having a plurality of keyhole
shaped apertures in rows and columns substantially throughout the
back panel section, the at least one back panel section being
connectable to two of the corner posts used at a rear of the
cabinet to be assembled; and a plurality of weapons support members
each having a plurality of outwardly extending mounting protrusions
each comprising an enlarged head and narrower neck portion
receivable in corresponding keyhole shaped apertures of the at
least one back panel section for construction of the weapons
storage system.
22. A kit for constructing a weapons storage system, comprising:
sidewalls, a top wall, a base, and two front panels and two back
panels which, when assembled, will form a cabinet having a front
opening defined between said two front panels, and a back opening
defined between said two rear panels; two sidewalls, a top wall, a
floor, and a central vertical dividing wall which, when assembled,
will form an inner rotation unit to be located within said cabinet,
first and second compartments being provided at opposite sides of
the dividing wall within the rotation unit when the rotation unit
is assembled; at least first and second weapons back panel sections
configured to be mounted parallel to and spaced from each opposite
side of the dividing wall when said inner rotation unit is
assembled, the two back panel sections each having a plurality of
keyhole shaped apertures in rows and columns substantially
throughout the respective back panel section; and a plurality of
weapons support members each having a plurality of outwardly
extending mounting protrusions each comprising an enlarged head and
narrower neck portion receivable in corresponding keyhole shaped
apertures of at least one of the back panel sections for
construction of the weapons storage system.
23. A kit for constructing a weapons storage system, comprising:
side walls, and a top wall which, when assembled, will form a
cabinet; at least one weapons back panel section having a plurality
of keyhole shaped apertures in rows and columns substantially
throughout the back panel section, the at least one back panel
section being mountable in or at a rear of said cabinet; and a
plurality of weapons support members each having a plurality of
outwardly extending mounting protrusions each comprising an
enlarged head and narrower neck portion receivable in corresponding
keyhole shaped apertures of the at least one back panel section for
construction of the weapons storage system.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Weapons storage cabinets and/or racks are known for storing
weapons such as rifles, semi-automatic weapons, and hand guns. Some
of such prior art cabinets or racks can be expensive to manufacture
and some may have limited flexibility and adaptability for
different types of weapons and arrangements of the weapons.
Furthermore, some may have durability issues and/or security
issues.
[0002] Four-post storage shelving units are known in the prior art
such as shown at 10 in FIG. 1A. These units are sold as part kits
to be assembled by the customer or an assembler hired by the
customer. Such four-post shelving units 10 are typically
constructed of four metal vertical posts 11A, B, C, D having a
cross-section as shown at 11B in FIG. 1BA (which also shows the
addition of a sidewall 14 described below for FIG. 1B) and have a
plurality of metal shelves 12. The vertical posts 11A and 11B are
attached by horizontal metal spacers 100A, 100B, 100C to form a
first vertical upright assembly 102. Similarly the vertical posts
11C and 11D are attached by respective metal spacers 101A, 101B,
101C to form a second vertical upright assembly 103. In the part
kits to be assembled by the customer or an assembler hired by the
customer, the respective vertical upright assemblies 102 and 103
are shipped to the customer. The shelves rest on shelf supports
such as shown at 13 in FIG. 2 which are horizontally extending from
the left front corner post 11A to the right front corner post 11D,
and from the left rear corner post 11B to the right rear corner
post 11C, and have at each end preferably two outwardly extending
mounting protrusions 13A which are received in keyhole shaped
apertures 11 BB shown in FIG. 2 arranged in the inwardly facing
inside surface of the corner posts such as 11B. These protrusions
have an enlarged head 13AA and narrower neck portion 13AB. The
shelves 12 then rest at their front and back edges on the
horizontal lip 13AC with up-turned edge 13AD of the respective
shelf supports 13.
[0003] The storage shelving unit 10 of FIG. 1A can be converted to
a partially enclosed cabinet 8 also sold as a kit, and as shown in
prior art FIG. 1B by adding the metal sidewalls 14, 15, a top 16,
and a back wall 18. The metal sidewall 14 and the corner posts 11A
and 11B joined to the sidewall 14 form a first metal vertical
upright assembly 104 and sidewall 15 together with the respective
corner posts 11C and 11D form a second metal vertical upright
assembly 105. The vertical upright assemblies 104 and 105 are
shipped to the customer in the kit. Various items may be placed on
the shelves of the shelving unit 10 of FIG. 1A or the cabinet 8 of
FIG. 1B.
[0004] FIG. 1BC is a fragmentary cross-sectional top view showing
how the backwall 18 is attached by use of bent portions 18A and
18B. Bent portion 18B is sandwiched between the shelf support 13
and the inside surface of the corner post 11B.
[0005] As shown in FIG. 1 BA showing a horizontal cross-section
through the vertical post 11B, the keyhole-shaped apertures 11BB
running along the inside facing surface of the post 11B are mounted
on an inside wall 90B spaced from an outside wall 90A. The edge 14A
of the metal sidewall 14 (or metal spacers 100A, 100B 100C in the
case of FIG. 1A) is received in sandwich-like fashion between an
outer wall 90C and an inner wall 90D closely spaced to the outer
wall 90C, thus forming a thin slot receiving the edge 14A of the
sidewall 14 (or metal spacers 100A, 100B, 100C in the case of FIG.
1A). The sidewall 14 (or metal spacers 100A, 100B, 100C in the case
of FIG. 1A) can be secured in place by welds 1.
[0006] If two or more shelving units 10 as shown in FIG. 1A or
enclosed cabinets 8 as shown in FIG. 1B are to be joined side by
side, then at the joinder of such shelving units or cabinets the
corner posts have a different construction as shown by the
horizontal cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG. 1 BB. Here the
common corner post 3 has a back wall 91 C and two front walls 91A
and 91B having respective keyhole-shaped apertures 3A and 3B facing
inwardly. Receiving walls 91D and 91E closely spaced to each other
then receive the edge 2A of a sidewall 2 (or metal spacers in the
case of FIG. 1A) in sandwich fashion where they are welded as
indicated at 92.
[0007] It is also known in the prior art as shown in FIG. 3 to
provide a rotatable storage shelving cabinet as generally shown at
19. Such a cabinet 19 has an internal rotatable shelving unit 20
and a surrounding outer cabinet 21 formed of sidewalls 22, 23, a
top 24, and a base 6.
[0008] The rotatable unit 20 has two sidewalls 20A, 20B and a
central dividing wall 20C shown in FIG. 4, in dashed lines, which
creates a first compartment 26 at one side and a second compartment
27 at the opposite side. These compartments are shown in FIG. 4 in
dashed lines.
[0009] In each compartment 26 and 27 a plurality of the shelves 28
are arranged.
[0010] Attached to rotatable unit sidewalls 20A, 20B are first and
second channels 4, 5 at the inside thereof having respective
louvers 31A, 31B receiving respective tabs 28A, 28B of the shelves
28 as illustrated in prior art FIG. 5.
[0011] In prior art FIGS. 3 and 4 vertical front panels 32A, 32B
are provided at a front opening of the outer cabinet 21, and
vertical back panels 33A, 33B are provided at a back opening of the
outer cabinet 21. It may be appreciated when the rotatable unit 20
is turned so that one of the respective sidewalls 20A, 20B is at
the front opening and back opening of the cabinet, the shelves in
compartments 26 and 27 are not accessible from the front or back
until the rotatable unit is turned by approximately 90 degrees. In
such a secure configuration the rotatable unit can be locked in
place so that the respective sidewall 20A or 20B now serves as a
blocking front wall or back wall of the cabinet.
SUMMARY
[0012] It is an object to provide an improved weapon storage system
and kit which has improved flexibility for accommodating a variety
of different weapons configurations, is strong and durable, is
adapted for providing improved security, and has reduced
manufacturing cost.
[0013] In a weapons storage system or kit for constructing a
weapons storage system, sidewalls and a top wall are provided
which, when assembled, form a cabinet. At least one weapons back
panel section has a plurality of keyhole shaped apertures in rows
and columns substantially throughout the back panel section, the at
least one back panel section being mountable in or at a rear of
said cabinet. A plurality of weapons support members each having a
plurality of outwardly extending mounting protrusions each
comprising an enlarged head and narrower neck portion are
receivable in corresponding keyhole shaped apertures of the at
least one back panel section for construction of the weapons
storage system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1A illustrates in perspective a prior art four post
storage shelving unit;
[0015] FIG. 1B illustrates in perspective the four post shelving
unit of FIG. 1A but with sides, a back, and a top enclosing the
shelving unit to form a prior art four post storage shelving
cabinet;
[0016] FIG. 1 BA is a horizontal cross-section of a left rear
corner post of FIG. 1B taken along section line IBB-IBB in FIG.
1B;
[0017] FIG. 1 BB is a horizontal cross-section of an alternate
embodiment of a corner post where two of the cabinets such as shown
in FIG. 1B are adjacent and attached to one another side by
side;
[0018] FIG. 1BC is a fragmentary cross-sectional top view showing
how a backwall is attached in the shelving unit shown in FIG.
1B;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows in perspective a prior art shelf support as
used at a front edge and a back edge of the shelves in the shelving
unit of FIG. 1A and cabinet of FIG. 1B to support the shelves at
various adjustable shelf heights;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art rotatable
storage shelving cabinet;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an interior of one of
the sidewalls of the rotatable shelving cabinet of FIG. 3 in
greater detail and with the internal rotatable shelving unit
illustrated in dashed lines;
[0022] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective segment view illustrating
engagement of tabs of a shelf in shelf holding members formed as
louvers in the internal rotatable shelving unit of FIG. 3;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a first embodiment of an improved weapons storage
system and kit based upon a unique use of the parts of the prior
art four post storage shelving cabinet;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side view of the improved weapons storage system
and kit of FIG. 6 with one of the sides removed for clarity;
[0025] FIGS. 8A through 8I illustrate various components which may
be used in the improved weapons storage system and kit;
[0026] FIG. 9A-9E illustrate additional components which may be
used in the improved weapons storage system and kit according to
the first embodiment or in a second embodiment of FIG. 10;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
improved weapons storage system and kit based upon a unique use of
the parts of the prior art rotatable storage shelving cabinet of
FIG. 3;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a side view of the second embodiment of the
improved weapons storage system and kit shown in FIG. 10;
[0029] FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 show in perspective installation of
components which may be employed when creating the second
embodiment of the improved weapons storage system and kit of FIG.
10; and
[0030] FIG. 15A-15I illustrate in perspective various components
which may be employed in the unique use of to create the system and
kit illustrated in FIG. 10.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the
principles of the invention, reference will now be made to
preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific
language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be
understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is
thereby intended, and such alterations and further modifications in
the illustrated system and method and such further applications of
the principles of the invention as illustrated as would normally
occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are
included.
[0032] A first preferred embodiment of the improved weapons storage
system and kit of parts for assembly of said system will now be
described with respect to FIGS. 6-9. In this first embodiment, many
of the parts of the prior art four post storage shelving cabinet of
the type illustrated in FIG. 1B are used to create the improved
weapons storage system and kit for assembly thereof are shown at 35
in FIG. 6.
[0033] For the kit to assemble the system, the backwall of the
prior art cabinet FIG. 1B is retained, but may also be removed or
not used. One or more weapons unit back panel sections 36 are
employed to form an overall panel 38 serving as a mounting panel.
The number of back panel sections 36 used depends on how high the
improved weapons storage system cabinet 37 is intended to be. FIG.
8A shows one of the back panel sections 36 to create the back panel
38. The section 36 has a plurality of keyhole shaped apertures 39
arranged in rows and columns preferably throughout the back panel
section 36. A narrower portion of the keyhole shape is arranged
below a larger portion of the keyhole shape which is large enough
to accommodate insertion of the head of a mounting protrusion
discussed hereafter.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 7 with one of the sides of the cabinet
removed and not showing the front doors, the back panel sections 36
are installed to a front side of the existing back posts 11B and
11C. The previous backwall 18, instead of being removed, may be
retained from the prior art cabinet shown at FIG. 1B, providing a
more finished exterior look and added strength. The sections 36 are
now installed by the protrusions 36A, B, C, D shown in dashed lines
in FIG. 8A in the keyhole shaped apertures 11BB of the rear corner
post 11B on one side or the respective keyhole shaped apertures in
rear post 11C on the other side.
[0035] The cabinet 37 is formed of the existing sidewalls 14, 15,
backwall 18, and top 16 from the prior art cabinet FIG. 1B. Also
the existing floor 9 from the prior art unit FIG. 1B may be
retained. Also front doors 5A and 5B may be added.
[0036] Components relative to weapons storage may now be added to
the cabinet 37. These additional components may be added in various
orders, although preferably one may start with installation of a
sloped bottom shelf 40 illustrated in FIG. 8G which is installed as
shown in FIG. 7. The sloped bottom shelf 40 has a sloped top
surface 40A and on which various weapons such as an assault rifle
41 having a stock 41A may rest at a butt end 41AA. The sloped
bottom shelf rests on a front shelf support 96 attached to the
front corner posts by protrusions and keyhole-shaped apertures and
a back shelf support 97 attached to the lowest back panel section
36 by protrusions and keyhole-shaped apertures 39.
[0037] Slots 43A, 43B, 43C are provided in the sloped top surface
40A of the bottom shelf 40 as shown in FIG. 8G. These slots may
receive positioning tabs 45A, 45B, 45C of a bottom shelf stop 45
which may be installed by front lip screws 61A, 61B in a front lip
45D of stop 45 and screwed to the top surface 40A of the shelf 40
as a stop surface for the stock 41A of the weapons 41.
[0038] Instead of, or in addition to, a sloped bottom shelf 40, one
or more individual weapon stock sloped supporting shelves each of
which can accommodate and support one or more individual weapon
stocks as shown at 46 in FIG. 81 may be mounted to the lower back
panel section 36 in varying locations laterally or vertically by
engaging mounting protrusions 46A, 46B into corresponding keyhole
shaped apertures 39 of the back panel section 36. These protrusions
have a widened head mounted on a neck which are secured to the back
vertical mounting surface 46C attached at an angle to an upwardly
sloped floor portion 46D having lips 46DA and 46DB and end wall
46DC so as to form a pocket 47 receiving butt end 41AA of the stock
41A of the weapon 41.
[0039] Next, for example, a stock saddle 48 shown in FIG. 8F is
mounted and which has a vertical mounting surface 48A with mounting
protrusions 49A, B, C, for engagement in keyhole shaped apertures
39 of back panel section 36 at the bottom of the cabinet. The stock
saddle 48 has a plurality of slots 50 in a horizontal surface 48B
and at a substantial right angle to the vertical mounting surface
48A. These slots 50 have a cushioning member 51 for receiving and
not damaging the stock 41A of the weapon. The stock saddle may also
have sidewalls 48C, 48D. A plurality of stock saddles may be
employed adjacent to each other or at different levels depending on
the type of weapon and/or the dimensions of the stock for the
particular weapon being received.
[0040] Thereafter, a barrel saddle 51 shown in FIG. 8E may be
mounted to, for example, one of the central back panel sections 36,
again by use of protrusions 52A, 52B, 52C. These protrusions are
mounted on a vertical mounting surface 51A and are received in the
keyhole shaped apertures 39 of one of the central back panel
sections 36.
[0041] As also shown in FIG. 8E, a horizontal support section 51B
is provided at a right angle to the vertical mounting surface 51A
and has a slot 51C having at an edge thereof a cushioning member
53. Support sidewalls 51C, 51D are also provided. It should be
noted that these barrel saddles 51 may be located at various
locations depending upon the size of the weapon so as to receive
the gun barrel 41B of the assault weapon 41 for example as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0042] Next, for example, as also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 a handgun
bracket with clip compartment 54 as shown in FIG. 8D may be
provided for receiving handguns 55 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The handgun bracket 54 may be designed to hold one or more of a
plurality of the handguns within the same bracket 54. Individual
receiving bracket sections 54A each have a slot 54AA. Also a
corresponding clip compartment for a gun clip may be provided for
the respective handgun as shown at 54C.
[0043] Of course it is not necessary to have a handgun holder if
only assault rifles or other types of rifles, for example, are
being stored.
[0044] The handgun holder 54 has a back support wall 54D with at
least two or more protrusions 56 to be inserted in respective
keyhole shaped apertures 39 of one of the central back panel
sections 36. Thus it may be appreciated that this handgun bracket
may be mounted at different lateral locations or even different
vertical locations either above or alongside the rifles.
[0045] A shelf 12 may be installed which may, for example, be the
shelf 12 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B of the prior art. The shelf may
be installed at different vertical locations by use of
corresponding prior art front shelf supports 13 described in
connection with FIG. 2 and also shown in FIG. 8C by use of the
protrusions 13A engaging in various keyhole shaped apertures of the
front posts 11A, 11D of the prior art cabinet FIG. 1B. The back of
the shelf 12 is supported by a relatively short back shelf support
101 like the front shelf support 13 but slightly shorter. The
protrusions of shelf support 101 engage with respective
keyhole-shaped apertures 39 in the back panel section 36.
Ammunition 4 for the weapons may be stored on top of the shelf 12.
As an alternative to a standard prior art shelf 12 a special thin
shelf shown in FIG. 8B at 3 may be employed. This special thin
shelf 3 at its front may rest on the front shelf brackets 13 shown
in FIG. 8C and engaging in the front corner posts by use of
protrusions cooperating with the keyhole shaped apertures, and at
the back is supported by the slightly shorter shelf support
101.
[0046] For other configurations, additional parts such as shown in
FIGS. 9A-9E may be employed in the first embodiment of the improved
weapons storage system and kit for assembly thereof. These other
parts may be retained in similar fashion as described above to the
back panel sections 36 by use of protrusions engaging with the
keyhole shaped apertures 39 at different locations.
[0047] For example as shown in FIG. 9A, a horizontal bracket 57
holding the assault weapons 41 horizontally may be employed.
Preferably two of such horizontal brackets 57 will be employed, one
for receiving, for example, the stock 41A and the other for
receiving the barrel 41B of the weapons. For this purpose, slots
57B are provided in an outwardly protruding vertical support member
57A. One or more of such slots may be provided depending upon how
many assault weapons, for example, would be supported substantially
parallel to each other outwardly from the back panel sections 36.
These slots may also have a protective cushioning member 59. The
vertical support member 57A is attached at right angles to the
vertical mounting surface 57C having protrusions 58A, B, C.
[0048] As shown at 60 in FIG. 9B, a steel storage box may be
provided for holding various items such as parts for the weapons,
ammunition, or other items associated with the weapons. These may
be mounted by use of protrusions 61A, B, C on a back vertical
mounting surface 60A of the box 60.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 9C, a plastic tote bracket 61 and bracket
clip 63 may also be provided for holding various items associated
with the weapons. These may be mounted by use of mounting
protrusions 62A and 63A.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 9D a handgun bracket 64 without a clip
compartment may be provided for supporting handguns. Such a
compartment 64 is attached by a vertical mounting surface 64A with
corresponding protrusions 65A, B, C and a plurality of slots 66
with smaller slots 66A and larger slots 66B as illustrated for
receiving a plurality of handguns.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 9E a longer barrel saddle 67 having a slot
67A and with a construction similar to the barrel saddle described
in connection with FIG. 8E may be provided. Saddle 67 has a longer
horizontal surface for a larger weapon barrel.
[0052] A second embodiment of the improved weapons storage system
and kit for assembly of the system is shown at 68 in FIG. 10. Here
this system and kit is based on use of many of the parts of the
prior art rotatable storage shelving cabinet shown in FIG. 3, and
has an inner rotation unit 69 based on the use of parts of the
inner rotation shelving unit 20 of the prior art. That unit 20 is
changed such as by removing or not providing all the shelves, or
starting without any shelves, and installing in the inner rotation
unit 69 a first back mounting panel 70 (see FIG. 11) formed of a
plurality of back panel sections 72 such as shown in FIG. 15A, the
construction of which was previously described in connection with
FIG. 8A, and which has a plurality of keyhole shaped apertures 73.
Bottom, middle, and top back panel sections 72 may be provided,
depending on the height of the system. The back panel sections 72
are closely spaced to the inner rotation unit dividing wall 20C
(see FIG. 11) described in connection with prior art FIGS. 3 and 4,
and is mounted as more clearly shown in FIG. 12. Here the back
panel section 72 is mounted such as by screws in a side mounting
lip 72A into a slotted sidewall of the inner rotation unit 69 like
that described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4. A horizontal
spacing wall 72B is provided at a top and at a bottom of each back
panel section 72. Side mounting lip 72A and horizontal spacing wall
72B are also included in the FIG. 8A back panel section 36
described in connection with the first embodiment of FIG. 6 and in
FIG. 15A for the second embodiment. For this second embodiment as
shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and as more clearly illustrated in FIG.
12, the spacing wall 72B has an edge which rests against the inner
rotating unit dividing wall 20C. In the case of the first
embodiment the spacing wall 72B rests against the back panel 18 of
the prior art cabinet shown at FIG. 1B. The first back panel 70 is
thus positioned in a first compartment 73 to one side of the
dividing wall 20C.
[0053] Similarly, for a second compartment 74 on the other side of
the dividing wall 20C, a second back panel 71 is installed formed
of the plurality of back panel sections 72.
[0054] Thereafter, additional components may be added, but not
necessarily in any particular order. However, typically first a
sloped bottom shelf 75 is installed as shown in FIG. 14. The sloped
bottom shelf 75 is also shown in FIG. 15G has two rows of slots
75A, B in a sloped floor 75C. The construction of the sloped bottom
shelf 75 is somewhat similar to the bottom shelf shown in FIG. 8G
for the first embodiment but differs in that as most clearly shown
in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 14, the sloped floor 75C has at one side a
front wall 75D with a lower lip 75E and a back support lip 75F. The
sloped bottom shelf 75 is attached by screws in the lower lip 75E
and attached to the cabinet bottom.
[0055] A bottom shelf stop 76 shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 15H may
also be attached by screws at front lip to the sloped floor 75C as
a stop surface for the rifle stock. Positioning tabs 76A, 76B may
engage in respective slots of slot rows 75A, 75B in sloped floor
75C.
[0056] Thereafter, additional parts similar to the first
embodiment, such as the alternate sloped stock shelf 77 shown in
FIG. 15I, the stock saddle 78 shown in FIG. 15F, the barrel saddle
79 shown in FIG. 15E, and a handgun bracket with clip attachment 80
if desired as shown in FIG. 15D.
[0057] Shelves 28 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are mounted by use of
the louvers 32 and tabs 28A, 28B as previously described with
respect to prior FIG. 5 for the prior art rotor shelving unit
previously described. Also the special thin shelf 81 shown in FIG.
15B differs and is mounted by use of the louvers and use of tabs on
the end of the special thick shelf 81. This thick shelf 81 sits in
front of the back panel section 72.
[0058] Of course as maybe appreciated, the various components may
be added in either the first compartment and/or the second
compartment so that when the inner rotation unit 69 rotates, either
the first compartment may be exposed or the second compartment may
be exposed. Of course, alternately sidewalls at 82 or 83 of the
inner rotation unit 69 may be exposed at the front for added
security. The inner rotation unit 69 may be locked in place so that
access to the weapons in the first compartment or the second
compartment is prevented.
[0059] Additional components may be employed as previously
described for the first embodiment in connection with FIGS.
9A-9E.
[0060] With the present system and kit of the preferred embodiments
for improved weapons storage, many parts of an existing four post
storage cabinet or an existing rotatable unit storage cabinet may
be used for the improved weapons storage system without the
production of many new components. However the improved system and
kit provides a very flexible weapons storage system and kit which
can accommodate a wide variety of arrangements of weapons without
additional substantial manufacturing expense. Also many of the
components for the first embodiment and the second embodiment may
be common to both embodiments as previously shown and described in
the drawing figures, thus reducing expense. Thus a very flexible
and adaptable weapons storage system and kit is provided while
minimizing manufacturing cost.
[0061] Of course it is not required for the preferred embodiments
that pre-existing parts must be used since the kit and system are
also unique without use of pre-existing parts.
[0062] Although preferred exemplary embodiments are shown and
described in detail in the drawings and in the preceding
specification, they should be viewed as purely exemplary and not as
limiting the invention. It is noted that only preferred exemplary
embodiments are shown and described, and all variations and
modifications that are presently or in the future lie within the
protective scope of the invention should be protected.
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