Quick-release lockable long gun case
View Patent ↗A quick-release lockable long gun case encloses the breech, trigger guard and trigger of a long gun allowing the barrel and stock to protrude through oppositely disposed openings. A keypad may be preprogrammed with a combination that must be entered to allow access to the long gun. A key operated override mechanism is also provided. An internal chamber contains a removable insert having the outer configuration conforming to the breech, trigger guard and trigger of the long gun. The lid is hinged to the body with a spring biasing the lid in the direction of opening. The latch mechanism includes a strike attached to the lid of the long gun case and a latch mounted within the body of the long gun case. The latch is pivotable and has upper and lower structures that are balanced about the pivot point thereof. The pull points used to actuate the latch are misaligned with respect to the pivot axis of the latch so that if the long gun case is dropped or jostled, such actions will not result in undesired opening of the lid. Two alternative actuating mechanisms are provided, a motor provided with a cable windable around the shaft of the motor, and a rotatable actuator rotated when a proper key is received within a keyhole.
1. A long gun case, comprising:
a) a housing including a base defining an inner chamber and a closeable lid;
b) said chamber having a compartment shaped in general conformance with an outer configuration of a breech and trigger guard of a long gun;
c) said housing having two opposed aligned openings, one of said openings adapted to receive therethrough a stock of a long gun and another of said openings adapted to receive therethrough a barrel of a long gun;
d) a latching mechanism locking said lid in a closed position, said latching mechanism having a pivotable latch with a latching tang, said latch further including a further tang opposite said latching tang to weight balance said latch about a pivot point thereof to preclude unauthorized pivoting of said latch; and
e) an actuator associated with said latching mechanism for selectively releasing said latching mechanism to permit opening of said lid and access to said compartment.
2. The case of claim 1 , wherein said compartment is formed in an insert removably installed in said chamber.
3. The case of claim 1 , wherein said openings are formed in said base.
4. The case of claim 1 , wherein said base and lid have peripheries that interlock when said lid is closed to preclude misalignment of said lid and base when said lid is closed.
5. The case of claim 4 , wherein said base and lid interlock with a tongue and groove connection.
6. The case of claim 1 , wherein said actuator includes a keypad on an exterior surface of said housing including a plurality of buttons.
7. The case of claim 6 , wherein said keypad is on said lid.
8. The case of claim 6 , wherein each button is surrounded by an elongated channel.
9. The case of claim 8 , wherein said keypad is on said lid.
10. The case of claim 6 , wherein said actuator also includes a key operated lock.
11. The case of claim 1 , wherein said latching mechanism includes:
a) said latch mounted in said chamber and pivotable about an axis of rotation thereof;
b) said latching tang receivable in an opening of a strike mounted on said lid to latch said lid closed.
12. The case of claim 11 , wherein said latch is S-shaped.
13. The case of claim 11 , wherein said latch is biased in a direction of latching.
14. The case of claim 11 , wherein said actuator includes an electric motor having a driven shaft, and a cable attached between said driven shaft and said latch, whereby rotation of said driven shaft winds said cable thereon to release said latch.
15. The case of claim 14 , wherein said cable is attached to said latch at a pull point laterally offset from said axis of rotation of said latch.
16. The case of claim 11 , wherein said actuator includes a key operated lock.
17. The case of claim 16 , wherein said lock has a cam rotatable therewith within said chamber and a cable attached between said cam of said lock and said latch, whereby rotation of said lock tightens said cable and releases said latch.
18. The case of claim 17 , wherein said cable is attached to said latch at a pull point laterally offset from said axis of rotation of said latch.
19. The case of claim 17 , wherein said actuator further includes an electric motor having a driven shaft, and a further cable attached between said driven shaft and said latch, whereby rotation of said driven shaft winds said further cable thereon to release said latch.
20. The case of claim 19 , wherein said actuator includes a keypad on an exterior surface of said housing including a plurality of buttons.
21. The case of claim 20 , wherein entry of a preset sequence of depressions of said buttons activates said motor.
22. A long gun case, comprising:
a) a housing including a base defining an inner chamber and a closeable lid;
b) said chamber having a compartment shaped in general conformance with an outer configuration of a breech and trigger guard of a long gun, said compartment being formed in an insert removably installed in said chamber;
c) said base having two opposed openings, one of said openings adapted to receive therethrough a stock of a long gun and another of said openings adapted to receive therethrough a barrel of a long gun;
d) a latching mechanism locking said lid in a closed position, said latching mechanism including:
i) a latch mounted in said chamber and pivotable about an axis of rotation thereof;
ii) said latch including a tang receivable in an opening of a strike mounted on said lid to latch said lid closed; and
e) actuator means associated with said latching mechanism for selectively releasing said latching mechanism to permit opening of said lid and access to said compartment, said actuator means including an electric motor having a driven shaft, and a cable attached between said driven shaft and said latch, whereby rotation of said driven shaft winds said cable thereon to release said latch, said actuator also including a key operated lock, said lock having a tang rotatable therewith within said chamber and a further cable attached between said tang of said lock and said latch, whereby rotation of said lock tightens said further cable and releases said latch.
23. The case of claim 22 , wherein said base and lid have peripheries that interlock in a tongue and groove connection when said lid is closed to preclude misalignment of said lid and base when said lid is closed.
24. The case of claim 22 , wherein said actuator includes a keypad on an exterior surface of said lid including a plurality of buttons, wherein each button is surrounded by an elongated channel.
25. The case of claim 22 , wherein said latch is S-shaped and is biased in a direction of latching.
26. The case of claim 22 , wherein said cable and further cable are attached to said latch at respective pull points laterally offset from said axis of rotation of said latch.
27. The case of claim 24 , wherein entry of a preset sequence of depressions of said buttons activates said motor.
28. The case of claim 22 , further including a carrying handle.
29. A long gun case, comprising:
a) a housing including an inner chamber with a compartment shaped in general conformance with an outer configuration of a breech and firing mechanism of a long gun;
b) said housing having two opposed openings, one of said openings adapted to receive therethrough a stock of a long gun and another of said openings adapted to receive therethrough a barrel of a long gun;
c) said openings and compartment being sized and configured to preclude removal of a long gun from said housing through said openings;
d) a latching mechanism locking said lid in a closed position;
e) an actuator associated with said latching mechanism for selectively releasing said latching mechanism to permit opening of said lid and access to said compartment;
f) said latching mechanism including:
i) a latch mounted in said chamber and pivotable about an axis of rotation thereof;
ii) said latch including a tang receivable in an opening of a strike mounted on said lid to latch said lid closed.
30. The case of claim 29 , wherein said compartment is formed in an insert removably installed in said chamber.
31. The case of claim 29 , wherein said housing comprises a base and a closeable lid.
32. The case of claim 31 , wherein said compartment is located in said base.
33. The case of claim 31 , wherein said openings are formed in said base.
34. The case of claim 29 , wherein said actuator includes a keypad on an exterior surface of said housing including a plurality of buttons.
35. The case of claim 29 , wherein said actuator includes an electric motor having a driven shaft, and a cable attached between said driven shaft and said latch, whereby rotation of said driven shaft winds said cable thereon to release said latch.
36. The case of claim 35 , wherein said actuator includes a key operated lock.