Vertical mount hand gun case

April 24, 1962

3,031,069

R. C. HIRSCH

VERTICAL MOUNT HAND GUN CASE

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Filed May 27, 1960

Sheets-Sheet 1

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April 24, 1962

R. C. HIRSCH

3,031,069

VERTICAL MOUNT HAND GUN CASE

Filed May 27, 1960

Sheets-Sheet 2

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United States Patent Office

3,031,069

Patented Apr. 24, 1962

3,031,069

VERTICAL MOUNT HAND GUN CASE Richard C. Hirsch, 3525 Jackson Ave., Alexandria, Va.

Filed May 27, 1960, Ser. No. 32,498

Claim. (Cl. 206—16) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266)

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a vertical mount handgun case and more particularly to a means for storing a plurality of standard types of revolvers or pistols in a vertical position on one wall of a case where they will be readily accessible and convenient to reach by the user.

The type of storing in present use is a tray carrying all the guns which is pulled out of the case before the particular gun is to be used. Particularly, when a plurality of guns are stored, this is annoying and clumsy at best, and also consumes time especially, in competijj tive shooting matches, as the competitors have to reS move their weapon from the tray and hold it until all ^r have completed their turn at shooting.

। The present invention has for a primary object a case in which a plurality of gun mount brackets are hung in a vertical position, side by side, on one side of a gun case.

Another object is to provide a gun mount bracket that will serve as such or as a gun rest.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the gun case, the lid being open and showing a plurality of brackets in stored position therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1, and through the central wall of the gun case and showing a bracket carrying a pistol and the manner in which the bracket is held in the case;

FIG. 3 is a side view illlustrating a bracket removed from the case and resting on one of its faces, the bracket being in position to be used as a gun rest;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the brackets, illustrating the manner in which it is supported in the case;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of one of the brackets;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the gun case;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7—7 of ^J FIG. 6, the brackets being removed;

, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified bracket *5 fabricated from wire; and, _t ' FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the bracket of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the gun case generally. The case 1 consists of a box having an open end and a central wall 2, side walls 3, bottom wall 4 and top wall 5. Reference character 6 indicates a closure attached to the case 1 by hinges 36 which may be locked in its closed position by a suitable means such as lock 7 or swung to the top of the case and secured by hook and eye 8 to side walls 3. The inner side of closure member 6 may be used for supporting a spotting scope 9.

It will be observed from FIGS. 1 and 7 that central wall 2 is off-set forwardly from the rear of case 1 and a shelf 10 placed, in this off-set between side walls 3 and abutting central wall 2 to provide compartments 11 and 12 for additional accessory storage. Only one shelf is illustrated in FIG. 1 but more may be installed, if desired. Compartments 11 and 12, are enclosed with an appropriate closing member 34 attached by hinges 35 to the rear of case 1, along the bottom edge of such member. This may include reduction in depth or elimination of storage compartments 11 and 12 in rear of case 1 and/or construction of storage shelves in the front section of said 5 case above the space required for the spotting scope, when the lid is closed, by reducing the number of weapon brackets.

A bracket retainer foot rail 13 is provided and extends along bottom wall 4 between end walls 3, and is spaced 10 forwardly from central wall 2 for a purpose to be later apparent.

The central wall 2 of case 1 is provided with hanger hooks 14 for a purpose also to be apparent later.

A plurality of gun mount brackets indicated generally 15 by 15 are shown in FIG. 1 and are supported on the central wall 2 by hooks 14 and foot rail 13 (see FIG. 2), in side by side relation.

.. While only four brackets are shown in FIG. 1, as many brackets, arranged in rows, may be placed in 20 case 1, depending upon its size.

Each bracket consists of a backstrap 16 having a small rectangular slot 17 for receiving a hook 14 and an elongated rectangular slot 18 below slot 17 to permit clearance of higher front sights of a weapon 19 when in posi25 tion in bracket 15 (see FIG. 4). Small slot 17 is offset to clear the barrel of weapon 19 so as not to impede entry of a hook 14 therein.

A gun template indicated by 19 is fixed at right angles to the upper end of backstrap 16. Template 19 defines 30 a portion 20 which has the same width as backstrap 16, and a tapering portion 21. A cut out 22 in portion 2® is provided for the purpose of inserting weapon W and is of a contour adapted to receive the particular type of weapon to be stored therein.

Backstrap 16 is provided with inwardly curved side edges 23 to reduce the weight of the bracket and to provide a gripping portion for handling the bracket.

A pair of corner braces 24 are provided to support backstrap 16 and template 19.

A bracket base 25 is fixed to the lower end of backstrap 16 and is provided with a concave groove 26 in its upper end for a purpose to be apparent later. A concave notch 27 is provided in the forward edge of template 19 for a purpose also to be apparent later.

A backstrap yoke 28 having a rounded notch 29 is provided to hold the weapon barrel in a position substantially parallel to the backstrap. The yoke 28 is fixed to the backstrap 16 and is disposed between slot 18 and corner braces 24.

The gun bracket of FIGS. 1-5 may be made of plywood or like material and is easily cut out to quicldy form the component parts which may be also quickly assembled by screws, glue or other means.

If desired, the entire bracket can be made from heavy 55 gauge wire or light weight sheet metal as shown in FIGS.

and 7. In this form, the wire can be quickly bent and the components welded together to form the bracket and parts of FIGS. 6 and 7 which are similar to parts of FIGS. 1-5 and are indicated by like reference char₆₀ acters followed by letter “a.

In the form shown by FIGS. 8 and 9, the gun template may be made adjustable to accommodate different size weapons. An elongated U-shaped member 30 welded to the upper portion of the bracket serves as the wider ₆₅ portion of the cut out portion 22 of FIGS. 1-5 while a plate 31 is slidably mounted on member 30 and is tightened thereon by a screw 32. A notch 33 serves as the narrower portion of the opening. By moving the plate back and forth, a snug fit can be obtained to help 7θ support the weapon W in the bracket.

In use, the brackets 15 are adapted to the particular size weapon with which they are to be used and are

3,031,069 hung on the hooks 14 in case 1 in side by side relation as shown in FIG. 1. The foot of each bracket is inserted in the space between central wall 2 and foot rail 13 by a downward and circular movement of the bracket against the wall 2, the hooks 14 being intercepted by slots 17 after which the brackets will drop about one fourth of an inch to the floor of the case.

To place a weapon for support in one of the brackets, the weapon is merely inserted, barrel downward (see FIG. 2) through cut out 22. The barrel will then rest against yoke 28 and will assume a substantially parallel piston with central wall 2 of case 1. The stock of the weapon will prevent the weapon from falling through the cut out 22. If the weapon is equipped with a tall fore sight, the sight will be received in slot 18 and no damage will occur thereto.

To remove a weapon, the weapon is grasped by the stock, the fingers of the user’s hand being wrapped around tapered portion 21 of template 19 and the bracket and weapon lifted out of the case. The other hand of the user then grasps the backstrap by the curved cut out portion 23 and the shooting hand releases the tapered portion 21 but retains the grasp on the weapon and lifts it out of the bracket through cut out 22 by tilting the stock slightly forward to prevent the forward sight from engaging any part of the bracket.

If the weapon is to be used for awhile, the bracket 15 may be placed on a flat surface, such as a table top, with the backstrap resting on the surface. The weapon W can now be placed in the bracket as shown in FIG. 3 for later use.

The gun case 1 with the gun supporting brackets 15 serve to provide a convenient means for storing pistols and like weapons for storage or transportation to a target range.

One or more weapons may be taken out of the case at a time depending upon the number of shooters, and the brackets serve as rests for each gun not being used and further protects the gun against scratches, etc. Also when the weapon is resting on the bracket, there is less chance of a gun being accidentally discharged through carelessness.

Variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concept of the present invention.