Portable gun rack
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention is sporting goods and the invention relates more particularly to firearms and still more particularly to shotguns and rifles. 
     It is common for shotguns and rifles to be carried in a canvas or leather bag which maintains the firearm in a clean and safe environment. Such gun cases, however, are cumbersome to open for removal of a firearm or to replace a firearm therein. Thus, if the user wishes to practice with several different firearms, it is not convenient to remove one firearm while replacing another firearm. Also, in many locations the gun case can become soiled if placed on the ground. 
     The classic approach to such portable gun rack is to use a spike such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,878 where several guns can be supported on a rack which has been driven into the ground. Another such rack is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,969. Other portable gun racks are free-standing such as that shown in design U.S. Pat. No. 162,207 or utility U.S. Pat. No. 2,251,271. Tripod stands for golf bags are well known and such stands are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,752,114, 2,751,176, 4,620,682, 4,798,357 and 5,156,366. Such technology has never been applied to a portable gun rack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable gun rack for transporting and supporting several firearms such as shotguns or rifles. The portable gun rack has an elongated rack frame which has a butt support shelf held near the bottom and a barrel support arm held near the top. The frame preferably has a carrying handle and first and second legs pivotally held along the frame. The legs are moved from a closed position where they lie adjacent the frame to an open position where they are pivoted outwardly from the frame. Leg actuating means move the legs from a closed position to an open position and an actuating foot extends from the bottom of the gun rack. When the foot is rested against the ground the legs are pivoted outwardly to provide a stand for the portable gun rack. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the front, right side and top of the portable gun rack of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the gun rack of FIG. 1 with its legs in a closed configuration. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of the gun rack of FIG. 1 with the legs in a closed configuration. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The gun rack of the present invention is shown in an open or free-standing position in FIG. 1 and indicated generally by reference character 10. Gun rack 10 has an elongated rack frame 11 which has a front 12 and a rear 13, a top 14 and a bottom 15. Bottom 15 is shown in FIG. 2. 
     Gun rack 10 has a butt support shelf 16 with four shaped recesses 17. A barrel support arm 18 has four barrel support recesses 19. A firearm 20 has a barrel 21, a stock 22 with a butt 23. Butt 23 is held in one of the shaped recesses 17. Barrel 21 rests in one of the barrel support recesses 19. In this way, the firearm 20 can be readily carried by holding handle 24 and yet may be easily rested in the gun rack as it is in a standing position such as that shown in FIG. 1. 
     The gun rack 10 is caused to be free-standing by its support on butt support shelf 16 and on first leg 25 and second leg 26. As shown best in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the leg such as leg 26 is pivotally held at its pivoted end 27 in a hinged piece 28. Hinged piece 28 has a pair of slots 29 and 30. A pivot pin 31 is positioned across slot 29 and pivotally holds first leg 25. Similarly, pivot pin 32 is held across slot 30 and pivotally holds second leg 26. First leg 25 has a foot 33 and second leg 26 has a foot 34 which contacts the ground as shown in FIG. 2. A leg actuating means, generally indicated by reference character 36, is a U-shaped length of spring steel which has a first arm 37 pivotally connected at 38 to first leg 25. Second arm 39 is pivotally connected at 40 to second leg 26. Leg actuating means 36 is generally U-shaped and when in a relaxed configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 6, has its first terminus 41 passed through an opening at 38 in leg 25 and its second upper terminus 42 also is passed through an opening at 40 in second leg 26. The base of the U-shaped member comprises a foot 43 shown best in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. Foot 43 contacts the ground as shown in FIG. 5 and urges first arm 37 and second arm 39 upwardly which moves first leg 25 and second leg 26 outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1. The U-shaped leg actuating means 36 is held in a guide channel member 44 and passes through an opening 45 therein shown best in FIG. 4, but also shown in FIG. 5. This permits the leg actuating means 36 to move upwardly and downwardly in guide channel member 44, but retains it close to frame 11. Because the first and second arm are biased toward a closed position when the portable gun rack is lifted by its carrying handle 24 the biasing action tends to close the first and second legs together to the closed position shown in FIG. 5 and 6. Thus, the device is easily converted to a compact closed configuration when lifted. 
     It is preferred that the rack carry at least two guns and four is the preferred number. In this way a compact and easily transported rack may be constructed which allows the sportsman to readily carry his firearms and yet, retain them in a clean and safe position when not in use. While the U-shaped leg actuating means 36 provides a particularly efficient way of actuating the opening of the legs, many other leg actuating mechanism&#39;s are known which also can be used in place of that shown. The important feature is the positioning of the leg actuating means on the rear of a gun rack. 
     The present embodiments of this invention are thus to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.