GUN TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR UTILITY VEHICLE
A gun transport system is described for safely and securely transporting guns in a bed of a utility vehicle. The gun transport system comprises a support frame that mounts to the sidewalls of the vehicle bed and two or more gun cases that can be releasably secured to the support frame. The support frame includes two frame sections that are pivotally connected at one end to a sidewall of the vehicle bed and pivotally connected to one another at the opposite end. The three-point pivot arrangement enables the support frame to fit vehicle beds of varying width. The support frame supports the gun cases at an angled position so that the gun cases are easily accessible from the sides of the vehicle and the front end of the gun case pointing upwardly.
1 . A gun case comprising:
a main body having an enclosed forward section configured to receive a barrel of a gun and an open rearward section configured to receive a stock of the gun;
the rearward section of the main body comprising sidewalls having a cut out section that extends below a longitudinal plane of the gun to provide access from the sides of the gun case to the gun stored in the gun case; and
a lid pivotally connected to the forward section of the main body so that the lid rotates about an axis parallel to a transverse plane of the gun, said lid being movable in a vertical plane between a closed position and an open position.
2 . The gun case of claim 1 wherein the main body is configured to support the gun in an upright position.
3 . The gun case of claim 2 further comprising a first pad in the rearward end of the main body to support the stock of the gun, a second pad in the forward end of the main body to support the barrel of the gun, and a third pad in the lid to contact a top of the gun between the first and second pads.
4 . The gun case of claim 3 wherein the positions of the first and third pads are adjustable.
5 . The gun case of claim 1 wherein the main body of each gun case comprises:
a hook element configured to engage with a support frame; and
a catch element spaced from the hook element and configured to be engaged by the quick release binding on the support frame.
6 . The gun case of claim 1 further comprising a sliding hinge assembly configured to hold the lid of the gun case in an open position.
7 . The gun case of claim 6 wherein the lid, when open, is movable between an unlocked position in which the lid can rotate between open and closed positions, and a locked position in which the lid is locked in the open position.
8 . A gun case comprising:
a main body having an enclosed forward section configured to receive a barrel of a gun and an open rearward section configured to receive a stock of the gun;
a lid pivotally connected to the forward section of the main body so that the lid rotates about an axis parallel to a transverse plane of the gun, said lid being movable between a closed position, and an open position; and
a hook element formed on the main body configured to engage with a support frame; and
a catch element formed on the main body and spaced from the hook element and configured to be engaged by the quick release binding on the support frame.
9 . The gun case of claim 8 wherein the main body is configured to support the gun in an upright position.
10 . The gun case of claim 8 further comprising a first pad in the rearward end of the main body to support the stock of the gun, a second pad in the forward end of the main body to support the barrel of the gun, and a third pad in the lid to contact a top of the gun between the first and second pads.
11 . The gun case of claim 10 wherein the positions of the first and third pads are adjustable.
12 . The gun case of claim 8 further comprising a sliding hinge assembly configured to hold the lid of the gun case in an open position.
13 . The gun case of claim 12 wherein the lid, when open, is movable between an unlocked position in which the lid can rotate between open and closed positions, and a locked position in which the lid is locked in the open position.
14 . A gun case comprising:
a main body having an enclosed forward section configured to receive a barrel of a gun and an open rearward section configured to receive a stock of the gun;
a lid pivotally connected to the forward section of the main body so that the lid rotates about an axis parallel to a transverse plane of the gun, said lid being movable between a closed position, and an open position; and
a hook element formed on the main body configured to engage with a support frame; and
sliding hinge assembly configured to hold the lid of the gun case in an open position.
15 . The gun case of claim 14 wherein the main body is configured to support the gun in an upright position.
16 . The gun case of claim 14 further comprising a first pad in the rearward end of the main body to support the stock of the gun, a second pad in the forward end of the main body to support the barrel of the gun, and a third pad in the lid to contact a top of the gun between the first and second pads.
17 . The gun case of claim 15 wherein the positions of the first and third pads are adjustable.
18 . The gun case of claim 14 further comprising a sliding hinge assembly configured to hold the lid of the gun case in an open position.
19 . The gun case of claim 18 wherein the lid, when open, is movable between an unlocked position in which the lid can rotate between open and closed positions, and a locked position in which the lid is locked in the open position.