Vehicle mounted locking firearm support

• US 6,360,931 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Big Sky Racks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Big Sky Racks, Inc.
• Inventors: Morford, Ted
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/545,918
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 224/402, 224/535, 224/536, 224/311, 224/314, 224/315, 224/320, 224/321, 224/324, 224/547, 224/549, 224/550, 224/551, 224/557, 224/568, 224/569, 224/570, 224/571, 224/913, 211/64
• US Class Current: 224/551
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/14 for supporting weapons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/913 Carrier for rifle or shotgun

Abstract

Modular, firearm support cradles, an assembled rack and means for securing the cradles and rack to a variety of vehicle configurations. The rack includes a longitudinal frame member and from which project multiple padded cradles. Strap fasteners and lock means respectively restrain firearms and sundry paraphernalia to the cradles and rack. A telescoping expander bar assembly and mating extension arms permit a vehicle ceiling mount and/or roll bar mount of the rack. Cradles having sleeves which mate to the expander bar assembly facilitate user tailored mountings. A clamp plate assembly and mating extension arms permit a vertical divider mount of the rack.

Claims

1. Firearm support apparatus for securing a firearm inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle support including first and second members mounted to extend and retract in relation to one another and further including attachment means for securing an end of each of the first and second members to the motor vehicle; and

(b) a cradle support rigidly mounted to said vehicle support and including i) a longitudinal member mounted to extend parallel to the vehicle support, ii) a cradle mounted to said longitudinal member and having a firearm support recess exposed transverse to said longitudinal member, iii) lock means mounted to said longitudinal member and displaced laterally of said cradle for containing a portion of a firearm in a clamp space, and iv) wherein said firearm support recess and said clamp space are oriented to support a firearm to extend parallel to said vehicle support.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said attachment means includes means for varying the separation of said vehicle support from a mounting surface of the passenger compartment.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second members is tubular and the other of said first and second members is mounted to telescope within the other.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a second cradle mounted to said longitudinal member and having a firearm support recess exposed transverse to said longitudinal member and wherein said longitudinal member is mounted between the cradles.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a mounting plate secures said lock means to said longitudinal member.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein first and second brackets are mounted to distal ends of said first and second members for securing the first and second members to a ceiling of the passenger compartment and wherein said vehicle support, said cradle and said lock means are aligned substantially coplanar with the ceiling.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lock means includes a body and a retainer arm and wherein said retainer arm is mounted to pivot at said body, whereby a firearm mounted in the clamp space is encircled and latched to said body.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including means for remotely releasing said retainer arm from latched engagement to said body.

9. Firearm support apparatus for securing a firearm inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle support including first and second members mounted to extend and retract in relation to one another and further including a plurality of mounting brackets to secure an end of each of the first and second members to the motor vehicle;

(b) a cradle support rigidly mounted to said vehicle support and including i) a longitudinal member mounted to extend parallel to the vehicle support, ii) a cradle rigidly mounted to said longitudinal member and having a firearm support recess exposed transverse to said longitudinal member, iii) a plate secured to said longitudinal member and displaced laterally of said cradle, iv) lock means secured to said plate for containing a portion of a firearm in a clamp space, and v) wherein said firearm support recess and said clamp space are oriented to contain a firearm in adjacent, parallel relation to said vehicle support.

10. Firearm support apparatus for securing a firearm in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle support including first and second members mounted to extend and retract in relation to one another and further including attachment means for securing an end of each of the first and second members to the motor vehicle; and

(b) a cradle support rigidly mounted to said vehicle support and including i) a longitudinal member mounted to extend parallel to the vehicle support, ii) first and second cradles rigidly mounted to said longitudinal member and each having a firearm support recess exposed transverse to said longitudinal member, iii) lock means displaced between said first and second cradles and secured to said longitudinal member for containing a portion of a firearm in a clamp space, and iv) wherein said first and second cradles and said lock means are oriented to support a firearm in adjacent, parallel relation to said vehicle support.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lock means comprises a body and a retainer arm and wherein said retainer arm is mounted to pivot at said body, whereby a firearm mounted in the clamp space is encircled and latched to said body.

12. Firearm support apparatus for securing a firearm in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle support including first and second members mounted to extend and retract in coaxial telescoping relation to one another and further including a plurality of brackets mounted to distal ends of the first and second members for securing the distal ends of the first and second members to a motor vehicle to substantially span a ceiling of the passenger compartment; and

(b) a cradle support rigidly mounted to said vehicle support and including i) a longitudinal member mounted to extend parallel to the vehicle support, ii) a cradle mounted to said longitudinal member and having a firearm support recess exposed transverse to said longitudinal member, iii) a lock comprising a body and a retainer arm, wherein the retainer arm is mounted to pivot at said body and latch a firearm in a clamp space, and iv) wherein said firearm support recess and said clamp space are oriented to support a firearm in adjacent, parallel relation to said vehicle support and such that said vehicle support, said cradle and said lock lie, substantially coplanar to the ceiling.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including a second cradle mounted to said longitudinal member and having a firearm support recess exposed transverse to said longitudinal member and wherein said longitudinal member is mounted between the cradles.

14. An apparatus for adjustably supporting and securing a firearm adjacent the interior ceiling of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle support having;

a) a longitudinal length with a first end and a second end,

b) at least a first member and a second member disposed between the first end and the second end,

c) wherein the second member is mounted so as to be movable with respect to the first member such that the longitudinal length of the vehicle support can extend or retract during mounting adjustment of the apparatus, and

d) attachment means for securing the first and second ends to the motor vehicle, and

a firearm cradle support, rigidly mounted to the vehicle support, having;

e) a longitudinal member mounted to extend parallel to the vehicle support,

f) a first cradle, mounted to the longitudinal member, having a recess for supporting a firearm, that recess having an exposed opening which is transverse to the longitudinal member,

g) lock means, mounted to the longitudinal member and displaced from the first cradle along the length of the longitudinal member, for containing a portion of the firearm in a clamp space, and

h) wherein the recess and the clamp space are oriented so as to support a firearm to extend generally parallel to the vehicle support.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein a second cradle is mounted to the longitudinal member at a location displaced from the first cradle and from the lock means, the second cradle having a recess for supporting a firearm, that recess having an exposed opening which is transverse to the longitudinal member.