Weapons security apparatus

• US 5,987,941 A
• Filed: 04/29/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chris J. Zocco
• Original Assignee: Chris J. Zocco
• Inventors: Zocco, Chris J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/069,503
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 70/63, 109/50-53, 109/59 R, 109/69, 109/45, 109/47, 220/334, 220/210, 206/1.5, 206/317
• US Class Current: 70/63
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/005 Devices for storing or displaying rifles, guns, pistols or elongated objects such as fishing rods storing fishing rods or the like in vehicles B60R7/08; storing guns in vehicles B60R7/14; cases for carrying guns F41C33/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 Receptacle

Abstract

Disclosed is a weapons vault specifically designed to operate within the parameters of security and restricted access systems. The said weapons vault consists of an electronic enclosure having an asymmetrical shaped hopper capable of holding a pistol or hand gun. The hopper is secured into place by a solenoid locking mechanism and through the force of gravity, the hopper can physically move the pistol or handgun outside of the electronic enclosure. Provided in the electronic enclosure is a magnetic micro switch detecting the position of the hopper in the open or closed position. The electronic enclosure is also provided with flush mounting features, and industry standard equipment for versatility of operating methods. The weapons vault can be connected to most any security or restricted access systems as an accessory capable of being programmed to effect various signals for dispatch.

Claims

1. A gun safe for use as an accessory in the security and restricted access industry, adapted to be mounted to a wall, comprising:

a box including a mounting frame for mounting the box on or within a wall, said box having a hollow interior portion partitioned by a dividing wall into a main compartment and an access compartment, situated generally side-by-side;

said main compartment houses an asymetrically shaped hopper having a first side wall which abuts a side of the box and a second side wall which abuts the dividing wall between the compartments, said hopper having a hopper opening in an upper portion of the second side wall adjacent the dividing wall which cooperates with a hopper latching mechanism, said hopper further comprising an interior portion adapted to receive and hold a handgun or pistol, said hopper being pivotally mounted to the main compartment along a horizontal axis by a horizontal axle mounted to a lower portion of the main compartment, such that upon actuation of the hopper latching mechanism, the hopper is released to rotate downwardly under the influence of gravity from a first closed position within the main compartment to a second open position allowing access to the interior portion of the hopper and permitting withdrawal of the handgun therein through a top opening in the hopper;

said access compartment comprising an access panel with an electronic keypad thereon which actuates said hopper latching mechanism, the hopper latching mechanism including a 12 volt DC solenoid mounted within an upper portion of the access compartment and having an armature engageable with the opening on the second side wall of the hopper, the solenoid armature has a spring bias and a rounded, cam shaped distal end which is automatically reset to engage the hopper opening when the hopper is brought to the first closed position, and upon energization of the solenoid, the armature is retracted from the hopper opening;

the access compartment further comprises an access panel cover hingedly mounted along a vertical axis to one side of the box and covering the access panel and compartment;

said hopper further comprising a magnet element fixed to a lower portion of said second side wall to cooperate with an indicator microswitch mounted to the access compartment;

a terminal strip is mounted to the access compartment to allow connection to electrical components;

whereby, in operation, the access panel cover is opened to allow access to the keypad and upon energization of the solenoid, the solenoid armature is retracted from the hopper opening and the hopper is released to pivot downwardly allowing access to the handgun therein.