This invention relates to the gun locking and security field and more particularly to a safe and secure case for a loaded hand gun that allows an authorized user rapid, unobstructed and effortless access to the hand gun.
Crime and violence is not confined to the urban environment, but also persists throughout suburban and rural communities. As a result, there exist a large and expanding segment of the population who choose to own hand guns for self-protection, protection of others and protection of property. For this population, immediate and unrestricted access to the hand gun is crucial, since the need typically arises only in an emergency situation, such as when an intruder enters ones dwelling. Thus, anything less than free, open, unobstructed and immediate access to the hand gun defeats the primary purpose of owning the hand gun, i.e., protection.
Wide spread gun ownership has increased the number of accidents or incidents involving the use of the hand gun by an unauthorized person. Just as the population of gun owners is growing, a strong movement to protect innocent third parties, such as children, from the dangers of an accessible loaded hand gun is gaining momentum. Children in particular are intrigued by guns and have fallen victim to accidental shootings because the gun owner has taken less than adequate measures to secure the hand gun. Just as tragic is the unfortunate trend involving school shootings, which may have been prevented had the gun owner taken measures to prevent access to the hand gun by unauthorized persons. Thus, the safety-conscious segment of the population demand virtually infallible security and safety measures to prevent the unfortunate consequences that can arise from unauthorized access to a hand gun.
Until now, no one has been able to solve the problem of effectively marrying the two competing interests of accessibilIty and safety demanded by the seemingly opposing population segments discussed above. The present invention solves this problem by offering a hand gun case that is safe and secure from unauthorized access without sacrificing rapid and unobstructed accessibility when the need arises.
The present invention solves the aforementioned problems and meets the aforementioned needs by providing a secure rapidly accessible two-part impregnable gun case that uses feature recognition to allow an authorized user immediate and unobstructed access to a hand gun.
In the preferred embodiment, a gun case is made out of a lightweight material, such as plastic, reinforced with embedded belts that cannot be readily cut. One end of the case has an access cover that is hingably attached to the case. The case attaches Lo a fixed energized base through the use of a locking mechanism that prevents the case from being moved without unlocking it from the base. The two-part case allows the user to remove the case from the base, transport and attach the case to a fixed base in a different location, such as in a motor home or vacation property. This feature facilitates portability of the case without sacrificing safety and security.
Enclosed in the case is a slide mechanism that supports the hand gun and projects it out of the case when the access door opens. The access cover opens when the lock is activated by a feature recognition system""s identification of an authorized user""s feature. It is the preferred embodiment of this invention to use fingerprint recognition, but other forms of feature recognition can be used such as voice activation.
The invention involves security measures used to meet the needs of the safety-conscious population. The case locks to a base that is securely attached to a surface in a location chosen by the authorized user. This prevents removal without unlocking the case. This is an improvement over the prior art, which generally cover secure cases that are not fixed to a surface. If an unauthorized person attempts to cut through the case or forcibly remove the case from the base, an audible alarm will sound. A further safety measure includes strategic placement within the case of a material, such as LEXAN, to absorb a bullet if the gun accidentally fires.
The invention also involves features that meet the gun owner population""s demands of immediate and unobstructed access to the hand gun by using a fully enclosed spring loaded adjustable slide mechanism, which projects the gun out of the case when the access door is opened. This allows the authorized user clean, immediate and properly oriented access to the hand gun in an emergency. The gun attaches to the slide by the use of an interchangeable dowel sized to fit a particular caliber of gun. The position of the slide is adjustable depending on the size of the gun. It is desirable that the butt of the gun be located just behind the access cover so the gun projects out to maximum reach. The springs in the slide are enclosed within the slide unit and there is no support to the butt of the gun, thus once projected, the user may cleanly grab the gun.
The present invention also caters to both the gun owner and safety conscious population by providing immediate, unobstructed, yet secure access to the hand gun through the use of feature recognition to activate the lock securing the case access cover. In the preferred embodiment, when an emergency arises, the authorized user can touch a reader board mounted on the case. If the person""s print is recognized as an authorized print, it Will activate a solenoid and unlock the access cover. This is an improvement over the prior art that teaches using a key or combination lock to prevent access by an unauthorized user. In a panic situation, fumbling with a key, possibly in the dark, or trying to remember a combination, code or sequence of button depressions is cumbersome, time consuming, and potentially life threatening. This invention also is an improvement over the prior art that teaches using a fingerprint recognition system because the prior art, requires the user to, once he or she has properly deactivated the locking mechanism, affirmatively reach into the container to retrieve the hand gun. This too, is cumbersome and time consuming depending on the orientation of the hand gun, and may also be life threatening. The feature recognition system is energized by a constant power source provided to the base, or in the event of an interruption of this source, i.e. power failure, the case contains a rechargeable battery source. A key activated manual override is provided in case there may be total failure or the energy source.
The present invention is an improvement over known prior art with particular reference to U.S. Pat. No. 1,557,339 issued to Sander. Sander describes a spring-loaded plate that attaches to both the butt and barrel of the gun, and projects the hand gun when the access door is opened. In Sander, the projecting springs are exposed and encumber access to the gun. Also, the gun butt is cradled by a two-piece mounting bracket that, due to the upturned ends, obstructs clean access to the gun and sacrifices speed.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved gun case that meets the competing societal demands of providing a secure, tamper. resistant, safe gun case without sacrificing unobstructed access to the hand gun.
It is a further object of the preferred embodiment to accommodate portability of the case without sacrificing security or safety.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the following drawings.