Handgun mini-vault

• US 9,530,266 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hornady Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Hornady Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Delattre, Thomas, Carson, David, Romeo, Michael, Cunningham, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Boswell, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Amanda L
• Application Number:
  US14/174,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20140245934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 109/63, 109/45, 109/48, 109/47, 109 50- 53, 109/54, 109/58, 70/57, 70/58, 70/63, 704/67, 704/68, 704/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/04 Closure fasteners locks E05B
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/06 Containers for carrying smallarms, e.g. safety boxes, gun cases F41C33/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for firearm storage; and more particularly, a safe and secure handgun mini-vault apparatus for a loaded handgun that allows an authorized user rapid, unobstructed and effortless access to the handgun. The handgun mini-vault system of the present invention not only provides for relative ease of assembly and aesthetically appealing appearance, it also permits access to the handgun without the need to manually manipulate a locking device. The locking system of the present invention utilizes RFID technology to allow authorized users to open the mini-vault by simply waiving an RFID chip in proximity to the mini-vault interrogator.

Claims

1. A firearm storage device comprising:

a box assembly having a plurality of side walls and an opening to a hollow inner cavity sized to contain a firearm;

a door assembly sized and shaped to cover said opening, said door assembly hingedly connected to said box assembly for movement between an open position and a closed position, said open position allowing access to said hollow inner cavity and said closed position preventing access to said hollow inner cavity, said door assembly having a latch assembly for retaining said door assembly in said closed position;

a radio frequency identification device for presentation in proximity to said box assembly;

a release assembly positioned within said box, said release assembly including an interrogator for wireless communication with said radio frequency identification device, said interrogator in electrical communication with an electric motor, said electric motor including an output shaft secured to an offset arm to cause rotation thereof through a predetermined path, said offset arm, including a follower pin, said follower pin in mechanical engagement with a release lever, said release lever in mechanical engagement with said latch assembly to cause movement of a portion of said latch assembly to release said latch assembly in response to passing said radio frequency identification device in proximity to said interrogator without requiring physical contact with said box assembly or said door assembly, whereby said door assembly is moved from said closed position to said open position providing access to said hollow inner cavity.

2. The firearm storage device of claim 1 wherein said box is parallelepiped in shape having five side walls and one open side.

3. The firearm storage device of claim 1 further including a weapon cartridge, said weapon cartridge pivotally secured to a bottom surface of said door assembly to pivot less than said door assembly, whereby said weapon cartridge is presented midway between said door assembly and said box assembly.

4. The firearm storage device of claim 3 wherein said weapon cartridge is a box like structure having an open center chamber, said center chamber including foam fillers that are constructed and arranged to generally conform to the shape of a firearm, whereby said firearm is easily inserted and removed from said cartridge.

5. The firearm storage device of claim 4 wherein said weapon cartridge is removable from said door assembly and replaceable thereto.

6. The firearm storage device of claim 1 including at least one spring member positioned to bias said door assembly to an open position, whereby said at least one spring is in a compressed position while said door assembly is in said closed position, said spring causing said door assembly to pop open automatically upon release of said latch assembly.

7. The firearm storage device of claim 1 wherein said latch assembly includes a frame member, said frame member providing a mounting structure for the components of said latch assembly that is easily secured to an inner surface of said door assembly.

8. The firearm storage device of claim 7 wherein said latch assembly includes a cam member for moving at least one lock pin from a locked position to an unlocked position, said cam member rotatably secured to said frame member, said cam member including at least one cam slot, said at least one lock pin having a first end in cooperation with said at least one cam slot, whereby rotation of said cam produces linear movement of said at least one lock pin.

9. The firearm storage device of claim 8 wherein said cam member includes a reset slot, said reset slot constructed and arranged to cooperate with a reset pin to retain said at least one lock pin in an unlocked position until said at least one lock pin passes a catch plate secured to said box assembly, whereby said at least one lock pin is released to said locked position securing said door assembly.

10. The firearm storage device of claim 1 wherein said box assembly includes a battery compartment, said battery compartment in electrical communication with said release assembly for operation thereof.

11. The firearm storage device of claim 1 wherein said box assembly includes a power inlet jack, said power inlet jack including a power cord constructed and arranged for electrical communication with a power outlet, said power inlet jack in electrical communication with said release assembly for operation thereof.

12. The firearm storage device of claim 1 including a wristband, said wristband including said radio frequency identification device secured therein for wireless operation of said firearm storage device.

13. The firearm storage device of claim 1 including a key fob, said key fob including said radio frequency identification device secured therein for wireless operation of said firearm storage device.

14. The firearm storage device of claim 1 including a credit card, said credit card including said radio frequency identification device secured therein for wireless operation of said firearm storage device.

15. A firearm storage device comprising:

a box assembly having a plurality of side walls and an opening to a hollow inner cavity sized to contain a firearm;

a door assembly sized and shaped to cover said opening, said door assembly hingedly connected to said box assembly for movement between an open position and a closed position, said open position allowing access to said hollow inner cavity and said closed position preventing access to said hollow inner cavity, said door assembly having a latch assembly for retaining said door assembly in said closed position, said latch assembly including a frame member, said frame member providing a mounting structure for the components of said latch assembly that is easily secured to an inner surface of said door assembly, said latch assembly includes a cam member for moving at least one lock pin from a locked position to an unlocked position, said cam member rotatably secured to said frame member, said cam member including at least one cam slot, said at least one lock pin having a first end in cooperation with said at least one cam slot, whereby rotation of said cam produces linear movement of said at least one lock pin, said cam member includes a reset slot, said reset slot constructed and arranged to cooperate with a reset pin to retain said at least one lock pin in an unlocked position until said at least one lock pin passes a catch plate secured to said box assembly, whereby said at least one lock pin is released to said locked position securing said door assembly;

a radio frequency identification device for presentation in proximity to said box assembly;

a release assembly positioned within said box, said release assembly including an interrogator for wireless communication with said radio frequency identification device, said interrogator in electrical communication with an electric motor, said electric motor mechanically connected to said latch assembly to cause movement of a portion of said latch assembly to release said latch assembly in response to passing said radio frequency identification device in proximity to said interrogator without requiring physical contact with said box assembly or said door assembly, whereby said door assembly is moved from said closed position to said open position providing access to said hollow inner cavity.

16. The firearm storage device of claim 15 wherein said electric motor includes an output shaft secured to an offset arm to cause rotation thereof through a predetermined path, said offset arm constructed and arranged to cause release of said latch assembly.

17. The firearm storage device of claim 16 wherein said offset arm includes a follower pin, said follower pin in mechanical engagement with a release arm, said release arm constructed and arranged to cause release of said latch assembly.