U.S. patent number 3,865,166 [Application Number 05/386,865] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-11 for weapons case.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Carl Pedro and Sons, Inc.. Invention is credited to Eugene M. Pedro.
United States Patent |
3,865,166 |
Pedro |
February 11, 1975 |
WEAPONS CASE
Abstract
A molded plastic case for protecting firearms or the like from
the elements, abrasion and scuffing. The plastic case is molded
from two mating sections which are joined by a flexible hinge that
extends part way along the mating sections. The molded sections are
rigid yet pliable enough to withstand severe abuse without ruining
the case.
Inventors: |
Pedro; Eugene M. (White Bear
Lake, MN) |
Assignee: |
Carl Pedro and Sons, Inc. (St.
Paul, MN)
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Family
ID: |
26892131 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/386,865 |
Filed: |
August 9, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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196687 |
Nov 8, 1971 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/317;
D3/262 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C
11/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45C
11/00 (20060101); A45c 011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;224/2A ;206/16R
;150/52R ;190/41Z ;D87/1R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Norton; Donald F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jacobson and Johnson
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 196,687, filed Nov.
8, 1971, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A protective elongated flexible sporting goods carrier for a
sporting goods article having a shape conforming to the outline of
an elongated article comprising: a first section made from a molded
flexible plastic, said first section having a first edge; a second
section made from a molded flexible plastic, said second section
having a second edge, said first section and said second section
substantially similar in shape and size so that each of said first
and second sections encompasses about half of an article when said
first section and said second section are closed together; a
flexible hinge, said flexible hinge connecting a portion of said
first edge and said second edge to thereby provide means for
opening and closing said first section and said second section
relative to one another so that when said article carrier is in an
open position an elongated weapon can be placed on either said
first section or said second section; a lining located on said
first section and said second section to protect the article from
abrasion from the molded flexible plastic and to cushion the
article against shocks as it is carried; flexible fastening means
connecting a first portion of said first edge of said first section
to a first portion of the second edge of said second section, said
fastening means coacting with said flexible hinge to provide an
enclosure for holding an article in the article carrier, said
article carrier having sufficient flexibility to flex or bend
without receiving permanent damage; a first molded edge piece for
covering a second portion of said first edge of said first section;
a second molded edge piece for covering a second portion of said
second edge of said second section, said first molded edge piece
and said second molded edge piece located substantially coextensive
with said flexible fastening member; and further means located on
said article carrier to allow one to carry the article carrier in
one's hand.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible fastening means
comprises a zipper.
3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said zipper connects to said
first and said second edges by stitching.
4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said edge pieces are each in
the form of a flexible molded L shaped strip.
5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said flexible hinge extends
partially along one side of said article carrier.
6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said fastening means extends
along the remaining sides of said article carrier.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved weapons case for
completely enclosing and protecting a weapon such as a rifle or
shot gun against rain, dirt and mud while it is being carried. The
case also permits the rifle to be protected against scuffing and
abrasion by the use of a molded hard plastic outer shell which acts
as a protective frame and cover.
Hunters and sporting enthusiasts generally treat their weapons with
the utmost of care and respect. They take pains to protect their
rifle against the elements as well as protect the rifle from undue
scuffing and damaging as it is being transported and handled. To
protect their weapons, some type of a protective case is often
used. Various types of protective cases have been used for
protecting a rifle, however, these cases had certain shortcomings
which made them inconvenient or caused the case to become damaged
if the rifle and case should accidentally happen to be treated
roughly. While the specification refers to rifles, it is apparent
that my weapons case is suitable for all types of weapons including
rifles and shotguns.
Briefly, there are two general types of cases, the pliable cases
which cover the rifle with a material such as a cloth or vinyl type
material and the rigid cases made from a hard material. Plastic
cases typically may be made from a plastic such as polyethylene,
co-polymers thereof and modified vinyls or cellulose plastics.
These cases have a somewhat greater advantage in that they are more
scuff resistant and provide a stiffer case to protect the rifle and
thereby take the abuse the rifle would take if the case were not
located therearound. However, these hardened cases are usually made
with metal stiffening rings around the outside which have been
susceptible to damage. The present case overcomes the shortcomings
of the prior art by providing a case which can protect the rifle,
yet the case is virtually immune to damage and rough handling when
full or empty as a pliable hinge and a flexible fastening means can
flex or bend without receiving permanent damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the invention comprises a molded plastic gun case having a
pliable flexible hinge and pliable, flexible fastening members that
allow the case to be stepped on, driven over or abused in any
manner short of tearing it apart without affecting the operability
of the case. Yet, the case is rigid enough to protect the firearm
while it is located therein. The case in its preferred form
comprises a pair of molded mating plastic shells which form the
scuff resistant and protective covering for the rifle. Located on
the edges between the two mating molded plastic shells is a pliable
flexible hinge and a fastening means which, in the preferred
embodiment, is a zipper. The flexible hinge is continuous but
extends only partially along one side of the case to allow the case
to be folded completely open. This is in contrast to prior art
cases in which a metal ring has been provided around the outside of
the case in order to provide a support for the securing and mating
edges of the plastic case. The metal rings are, as mentioned
previously, undesirable as they are quite susceptible to damage.
For example, they are easily bent which prevents the case from
closing properly. The present invention eliminates this problem by
the use of a pliable but durable case, hinge and fastening
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional front elevation view of my molded
plastic gun case;
FIG. 2 shows a top view of my molded gun case;
FIG. 3 shows a view taken along lines 3--3 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows an enlarged sectional view of the fastening means;
and
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the flexible hinge used in
my molded gun case.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally depicts
my molded plastic gun case.
Molded plastic gun case 10 comprises a molded front section 12 and
molded rear section 13 which has a pair of handles 11 attached
thereto. Located between the molded sections 12 and 13 of my gun
case are a pair of flexible edging strips 14 and 15, and a zipper
16.
Referring to FIG. 3, case 10 is shown in section with zipper 16 and
a flexible hinge 21. Located in the interior of case 10 is lining
18 for protecting the gun from abrasion from the molded plastic
case and also to cushion the gun against shocks as it is carried in
case 10. Located along the lower portion and extending partially
across the bottom of the case 10 is a flexible plastic hinge 21.
This flexible plastic hinge is more clearly shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5
shows the plastic hinge 21 in its flexed or open position when it
is attached to molded sections 12 and 13 of my gun case.
Flexible hinge 21 comprises a strip of material such as a flexible
plastic. Hinge 21 extends along the bottom of case 10 to within a
short distance of the sides of the case. The partial extension of
the hinge 21 allows case 10 to be completely opened for easy access
to anything within the case. This is in contrast to prior art cases
in which the opening is only on one end or the weapon must be slid
into a tube-like enclosure.
Hinge 21 is fastened integrally to molded case 12 and 13 through
fastening such as stitching or the like which form a one piece
unitary connection between the hinge 21 and sides 12 and 13.
Referring to FIG. 4, zipper 16 is shown in section with molded edge
pieces 14 and 15. Molded edge pieces 14 and 15 form an important
part of this invention in that they cover the exposed edges 12 and
13 of gun case 10, act as a retainer for receiving the fastening
means, as well as form an outer decorative band around case 10. As
viewed in FIG. 4, the zipper 16 is fastened to case sides 12 and 13
through fastening means 25 which in the preferred embodiment
comprise stitching. Note, the stitching forms a single unitary
connection between the strip 20, the case 12 and the zipper 16.
This occurs on both sides of the zipper. In other words, one
operation has produced a unique unitary connection which holds the
zipper and the edging piece in one rigid section. The use of this
type of structure aids in the ability of the case to withstand
shocks without breaking or coming apart as well as providing a neat
appearing, low cost case.
In order to lock the case and prevent unauthorized use of weapons,
the use of the double zippers with extending tabs as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, can conveniently be used with a padlock 28 for fastening
the two zipper tabs together. As the two zippers fasten together as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is impossible to open the case and thus
prevent anyone unauthorized from tampering with the weapon.
Another feature of my weapons case is the change in contour of the
case where beads 14 and 15 join with hinge 21. This feature is
pointed out in FIG. 1 where reference numeral 31 indicates that
flexible hinge 21 extends smoothly over the end portion of beads 14
and 15. While not only giving a pleasing appearance, this
construction aids in making a functional junction between the beads
and the flexible hinge.
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