Apparatus and method for securely mounting a firearm to a support structure

[0002] The present invention relates broadly to the secure mounting and storage of a firearm to a support structure and, more particularly, to the secure mounting and storage of a firearm to a motor vehicle.

[0003] Because of the wide availability of sophisticated and dangerous weaponry on the street and in the hands of today's criminals, it is becoming increasingly necessary for police forces in our communities to respond in kind by carrying more powerful and dangerous firearms, such as those having high-capacity and highspeed magazines or feeding devices, for their own protection and to provide a greater deterrence to those criminals. For example, police forces now commonly purchase sub-machine guns and, in addition, the United States government recently began loaning excess military machine guns, such as the Colt M16, to police forces across the country for their use in combating this increasingly-dangerous criminal element. However, because high-capacity and high-speed magazines are no longer available to the general public, because of the potential risk that such weapons or the high-capacity or high-speed magazines used with such weapons could be stolen from police cars by the very criminal element the police are trying to combat, and because of the potential civil liability that could arise if such weapons or magazines were later used in the commission of a crime, police superiors have been hesitant to allow such weapons and magazines to be carried routinely by officers in their vehicles. Instead, most of these highly-sophisticated firearms remain locked up in storage at the police stations. In some cases, a police officer can sign out one of these weapons if he knows, beforehand, that such fire power may be needed; however, in most cases, such a weapon is needed in an emergency situation when there is not sufficient time to remove the weapon from storage.

[0004] In order to facilitate the use of such higher power firearms by law enforcement, a mounting device is required which securely retains such a high power firearm within vehicles in a relatively safe manner free from tampering or unauthorized removal. Such mounting device should be particularly suited to securely retain a firearm and prevent access to the operational elements of the firearm, such as the high-capacity and/or high-speed feeding device or magazine. Furthermore, the mounting device should be easily and relatively permanently mounted to a wall within the cabin or trunk of a vehicle, such as a police car. The mounting device should also be sturdy in construction, not overly cumbersome or difficult to use, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The mounting device should also use a manual keyed lock, rather than an electrical lock, which is easier to by-pass, or a combination lock, which is more difficult to open when the user is experiencing high stress, tension, heart rate, and/or adrenaline rush, as may be the case with a police officer attempting to thwart a crime in progress. There is a further need for a weapon-mounting device and associated locking mechanism, neither of which can be easily overcome by the application of direct blunt force impact, prying with a crowbar or similar device, or bolt cutting. The preferred embodiments of the present invention as set forth below are intended to address these needs.

[0005] Briefly described, the present invention includes: a support structure having a generally planar mounting location; at least one elongate member integral with and extending away from the support structure; a cover member having an opening through which one elongate member extends in generally orthogonal relation to the support structure; and a locking device releasably attached to the elongate member extending through the opening in the cover member such that the cover member is releasably secured in overlapping relation to the support structure for retention of the firearm when disposed between the cover member and the support structure. The support structure itself preferably comprises a wall of a motor vehicle that is preferably located in a trunk of the vehicle and includes a base member defining a generally planar mounting surface and having a back plate with padding. The cover member preferably includes a cover plate with padding disposed in spaced, parallel relation to the mounting location.

[0006] In features of the present invention, the mounting device includes a plurality of elongate members extending parallel to one another, including a locking pin and a plurality of elongate support members, the support members in turn including a guide pin for support of the cover member and a plurality of support posts for support of the firearm. The locking pin extends through the opening in the cover member for engagement with the locking device, which preferably comprises a single post meter lock. Furthermore, the locking device is preferably only attached to the cover through its releasable attachment to the locking pin. The slot pin extends through an interlocking slot formed in the cover member and includes a neck portion having a reduced thickness disposed between a head portion and a shaft portion. The interlocking slot itself is defined by the intersection of a first aperture through which the head portion is extendable with a second aperture within which the neck portion is displaceable but through which neither the neck portion nor the shaft portion are displaceable. Positioning of the neck portion within the narrower aperture defining the interlocking slot thereby locks the cover member against movement along the guide pin without first repositioning the guide pin through the larger aperture of the interlocking slot.

[0007] In other features of the present invention, either the locking pin or the guide pin, or both pins, support the firearm whether or not mounting posts are also provided. Each elongate member also includes a resilient sleeve such as a rubber sleeve for resilient, non-damaging contact with the firearm.

[0008] In yet further features of the present invention, the locking device includes a single post meter lock that fits over the end of the locking pin and, preferably, the locking device is dimensioned so that the locking device cannot be passed through the opening in the cover through which the locking pin extends; the cover member includes a guard member comprising a substantially cylindrical sleeve integral with and extending from the cover member and disposed in surrounding relation to the portion of the locking pin extending through the cover member, with the locking device being disposed within the cylindrical sleeve for protection of the locking device; a second guard member is included on the cover member similarly protecting the portion of the guide pin extending through the interlocking slot; and the cover member includes a clearance slot for the protrusion therethrough of a portion of the firearm.

[0009] The present invention also includes the method of securing a firearm to support structure, including the steps of: (1) disposing a firearm adjacent the support structure in proximity to an elongate member integral with and extending away from the support structure; (2) placing the cover member into covering relation to the firearm with a distal end portion of the elongate member extending in generally orthogonal relation to the support structure through an opening defined in the cover member, including (a) guiding transversely through a first portion of a slot defined in the cover member a second elongate member integral with and generally orthogonal to the support structure, the slot having a narrower second portion and the second elongate member including a recessed neck portion disposed between a shaft portion and a head portion, and then (b) sliding the cover member in a direction parallel to the support structure such that the recessed neck portion is disposed through the narrower second portion of the slot whereby the cover plate is fixedly retained on the second elongate member against movement orthogonal to said support structure; and (3) releasably attaching a locking device to the distal end portion of the elongate member such that the cover member is releasably secured in covering relation to the firearm disposed between the cover member and the support structure.

[0010] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference should now be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the mounting apparatus of the present invention secured to a support structure;

[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the front of the base of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the top of the base of FIG. 3;

[0015] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a side of the base of FIG. 3;

[0016] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the front of the cover of the mounting apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0017] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the front of the base of FIG. 1 having a firearm mounted thereon;

[0018] FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the front of the base of a second preferred embodiment of the mounting apparatus of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the top of the base of FIG. 8;

[0020] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a side of the base of FIG. 8;

[0021] FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the front of the cover for use with the base plate of FIG. 8; and

[0022] FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the front of the base of FIG. 8 having a firearm mounted thereon.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a first preferred embodiment 20 of the mounting apparatus of the present invention is designed to secure a Colt M-16 .223 caliber rifle (shown in phantom) and, as shown in exploded view in FIG. 2, the first preferred embodiment 20 includes a base 22, a cover 24, and a lock 56 and a key 58. The base 22 is mounted to a support structure 26 such as the inside wall of a vehicle trunk or the interior wall of a van and, as shown in FIG. 1, when the rifle is mounted on the base 22, the cover 24 is locked in spaced, parallel disposition to the base 22 with the rifle securely retained therebetween.

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 3-6, the base 22 comprises a rectangular-shaped base plate 23 constructed of a high-strength and high-integrity metal such as carbon steel or stainless steel. Padding 21 comprising foam or rubber is affixed to the base plate 23 to define a generally planar mounting surface 46 adjacent which the rifle is received. The base 22 includes two elongate, cylindrical posts 30 as well as an elongate, cylindrical guide pin 32 and an elongate, cylindrical locking pin 40, each orthogonal to the mounting surface 46 and each made from a high-strength metal such as carbon steel or stainless steel. Posts 30 and pins 32,40 are formed separately from base plate 23 and each include a flanged base (not shown), with each post 30 and pin 32,40 respectively extending through corresponding holes (not shown) formed in padding 21 and base plate 23 and with each flanged base thereof being disposed in abutment with and welded to the base plate 23. Guide pin 32 includes a shaft portion 34, a head portion 36, and a neck portion 38, the diameter of the neck portion 38 being less than the diameters of the shaft and head portions 34,36, respectively. Locking pin 40 includes a shaft portion 42 and a shackle portion 44. Posts 30, the shaft portion 34 of guide pin 32, and the shaft portion 42 of locking pin 40 each include a rubber sleeve 31 for engagement of the rifle as described in detail below. Padding 21 and base plate 23 also define multiple apertures 48 through which bolts (not shown) extend for securement of the base plate 23 to the support structure 26. Furthermore, the bolts are welded into place to provide greater strength and security to the abutment between base plate 23 and support structure 26.

[0025] The cover 24 comprises a rectangular-shaped cover plate 25 constructed of a high-strength and high-integrity metal such as carbon steel or stainless steel, and includes padding 27 affixed to the cover plate 25 to define a generally planar surface 29. The cover plate 25 and padding 27 define a clearance slot 52 and an interlocking slot 50. Interlocking slot 50 includes two intersecting apertures 50a,50bextending through cover plate 25. Furthermore, aperture 50bis larger in dimension that aperture 50asuch that the shaft portion 34 and head portion 36 of guide pin 32 are extendable through aperture 50bbut not through aperture 50a; the neck portion 38 of guide pin 32, however, is extendable within aperture 50a.

[0026] The cover 24 also includes two guard members 54,70 made of a highstrength and high-integrity metal such as carbon steel or stainless steel. Each guard member 54,70 is fixedly mounted to a front surface of the cover plate 25 and comprises a cylindrical wall, which defines a channel therein. In particular, each guard member 54,70 extends in abutment with and is welded, preferably inside the channel, to the cover plate 25. The guard member 54 is positioned about a locking pin aperture 68 defined by the cover plate 25 and padding 27 for receipt therethrough of the locking pin 40; guard member 54 thereby protects against tampering with the locking device as described in greater detail below. Guard member 70, on the other hand, protects against tampering with the guide pin 32 in its disposition through interlocking slot 50.

[0027] The first preferred embodiment 20 also includes a lock 56 and key 58 combination. The lock 56 comprises a solid brass, single post meter lock as manufactured, for example, by the Wilson Bohannan Company of Marion, Ohio, and identified as model numbers 402, 412, or 482. As is conventional, the lock 56 includes a keyhole 60 on its face into which key 58 fits and, as more fully described below, the lock 56 is designed for disposition within the guard member 54 of the cover 24 and releasably receives the shackle portion 44 of locking pin 40 therein. Furthermore, the diameter of the cylindrical body of the lock 56 is greater than the diameter of the locking pin aperture 68 in cover plate 25 such that the lock 56 is prevented from sliding through the cover plate 25 and padding 27.

[0028] In mounting the rifle onto the base 22 as shown in FIG. 7, a Colt M-16 .223 caliber rifle 28 is positioned such that each post 30 extends through the handgrip 62 whereby the firearm 28 is supported by engagement of the handgrip 62 with the rubber sleeve 31 each post 30. Furthermore, the posts 30 are configured specifically for the handgrip 62 of the firearm 28 whereby the posts 30 engage the interior ends of the handgrip 62 such that the weapon is blocked not only against rotational movement but also against transverse movement. Furthermore, the handgrip 62 also abuts the rubber sleeve 31 of the shaft portion 34 of guide pin 32 for additional support.

[0029] The firearm 28 is retained in its mounted position by the cover 24. Specifically, the cover 24 is positioned onto the base 22 by disposing the head portion 36 of the guide pin 32 fully through aperture 50band then displacing the cover 24 transverse to the base 22 such that the neck portion 38 of the guide pin 32 is disposed within aperture 50a. Since the diameters of the shaft portion 34 and head portion 36 of the guide pin 32 are not extendable through aperture 50a, the cover 24 is thereby restricted in its movement both away from and toward the base 22. Furthermore, the thickness of the cover plate 25 and padding 27 preferably corresponds to the length of the neck portion 38 whereby the cover plate is snugly received between the shaft portion 34 and the head portion 36 such that the cover 24 is immobilized against movement both away and toward the base 22. When properly positioned, cover plate 25 will be disposed in parallel, overlapping relation to the base plate 23 at a spacing that permits the firearm 28 to be lightly engaged by the padding 21 and padding 27 of the base 22 and cover 24, respectively. The cover plate 25 includes the clearance slot 52 whereby the forward assist mechanism for the rifle bolt of firearm 28 is permitted to extend beyond the cover plate 25 for proper disposition of the cover plate 25 in relation to the base 22.

[0030] To secure the firearm 28 and its operational elements against unauthorized access, the lock 56 is disposed within the channel of the guard member 54 and the locking pin 40 is arranged on the base 22 such that it extends through the locking pin aperture 68 into the channel of the guard member 54 with the shackle portion 44 thereof being engagingly received within the lock 56. The lock 56 extends completely within the guard member 54 whereby it is protected against forcible removal. Furthermore, the guard member 54 is dimensioned to receive the lock 56 in close fit therewith such that the cover 24 is precluded from movement parallel to the base 22 for repositioning of the neck portion 38 of the guide pin 32 within aperture 50b. The lock 56 thereby prevents removal of the cover 24 from the base 22. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the cover plate 25 of the cover 24 has a sufficient size to preclude access to operational elements of the firearm 28 such as the trigger, safety, magazine well, magazine release, chamber, and sighting. Not only is the weapon thus secured against unauthorized access by the cover 24, but it is also secured against tampering.

[0031] In the first preferred embodiment 20, the locking pin 40 also is arranged to extend below the trigger guard 64 of the firearm 28 adjacent the magazine 66. While pin 32 and posts 30 sufficiently support and restrict lateral movement of firearm 28 in this embodiment, the rubber sleeve 31 of the shaft portion 42 of the locking pin 40 nevertheless extends in abutment with the trigger guard 64 for further support thereof against movement.

[0032] FIGS. 8-12 illustrate another preferred embodiment of the mounting apparatus of the present invention designed specifically for use with a Heckler & Koch MP5 9 mm rifle 33, this additional preferred embodiment differing from the first preferred embodiment 20 in the omission of the clearance slot 52 which is unnecessary to accommodate the rifle 33 and in the configuration of the posts 30 and pins 32,40 on the base 22. Indeed, as shown in FIG. 12, the posts 30 and locking pin 40, in this particular configuration, abut and support the rifle 33 such that transverse and rotational movement of the rifle 33 is prevented, while guide pin 32 extends out of abutment with the rifle 33.

[0033] In view of the first and second embodiments disclosed in the Figs., it will be readily apparent to those persons skilled in the art that the posts 30 and pins 32,40 may be readily arranged on base 22 (and corresponding apertures 50,68 on cover 24) to accommodate a multiplicity of other firearms having different shapes, sizes, and arrangements of operational elements. In addition, the size and shape of the base 22 and cover 24 may be readily modified to accommodate various types of firearms having different attachments or operational elements.

[0034] Thus, for one example, with other embodiments of the present invention for use with differently-shaped firearms, one or more clearance slots 52 may be located elsewhere in cover plate 25 or even in base plate 23 to more easily accommodate the shape and operational elements of a particular firearm. Alternatively, as shown in the second preferred embodiment of the Figs., a clearance slot 52 may not even be necessary and may, therefore, be omitted.

[0035] As another example, the cover 24 could be round in shape as opposed to rectangular, provided the cover 24 be large enough to sufficiently cover all of the operational elements of a particular firearm when rotated. Moreover, in such an embodiment, the guide pin 32 and interlocking slot 50 could be omitted.

[0036] It is also contemplated within the present invention that a handle could be attached to the outside of cover 24 for ease in placing and removing cover 24 from base 22.

[0037] Furthermore, while the posts 30 are shown as being shorter in length than the pins 40,42, it is contemplated within the present invention that the posts could extend either into abutment with the interior surface of cover 24 when secured onto the base 22 or even through holes provided in the cover 24 for extension therethrough of the posts 30. It also is contemplated that mounting posts 30 could be replaced with any other suitably shaped or dimensioned member(s) for receiving and holding a firearm in place relative to the mounting location 46.

[0038] It is also contemplated that posts 30, guide pin 32, and locking pin 40 could be integrally formed or securely fastened directly to support structure 26 without the use of base plate 23. In the preferred embodiments, however, the use of base plate 23 not only allows attachment to an existing support structure such as a trunk wall of a police vehicle already in service but also permits an individual to choose an appropriate location for securing the mount to the support structure 26. In this case posts 30 and pins 32,40 could be formed as part of the base plate 23. Moreover, the guard members 54,70 could be formed as part of the cover plate 25.

[0039] The use of a meter lock in the present invention is preferable because of its simplicity, relative strength, and ease of use. Although other types of conventional locks, such as combination, electrically-actuated, keypad, or padlock locks, could be used with the present invention, a meter lock is the easiest for an authorized user to access and remove during stressful or emergency situations without having the drawbacks of being able to easily circumvent mechanically or electrically. The meter lock 56 is easy to shield from unauthorized access and tampering by using a guard member 54.

[0040] When mounted in the trunk of a police vehicle, it is preferred that the locking pin 40 and lock 56 will be oriented closer to the floor of the trunk than guide pin 32 and interlocking slot 50. Such an arrangement not only makes it easier to slide the neck portion 38 of guide pin 32 into aperture 50avia gravity, but also makes it more difficult to forcibly remove the lock 56 from guard member 54 without key 58.

[0041] It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.