Compact gun safe

Abstract

A gun safe for storing guns in a generally upright position is provided. The gun safe comprises an interior compartment which is defined by a top wall, one or more side walls, and a bottom wall. The top wall has at least one opening through the top wall to provide support for a barrel of a gun positioned within the gun safe, with the barrel extending through the opening to the exterior of the gun safe.

1 . A gun safe for storing at least one gun in a generally upright position, said gun safe comprising: 
 an interior compartment defined by a bottom wall, one or more side walls, and a top wall, wherein the top wall has at least one opening defined in the top wall to provide support for a barrel of a gun positioned within the gun safe in a generally upright position, the barrel extending through the opening to outside of the interior compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The gun safe of  claim 1 , wherein said top wall has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are positioned adjacent to one another to define the at least one opening through the top wall.  
   
   
       3 . The gun safe of  claim 2 , wherein one of said first and second portions of said top wall form a door that is hinged to the gun safe to allow access to the interior compartment of said gun safe.  
   
   
       4 . The gun safe of  claim 3 , wherein the door is hinged to one of the side walls.  
   
   
       5 . The gun safe of  claim 2 , wherein one of said first and second portions of said top wall is integrally formed with an upper portion of the side wall to form a door.  
   
   
       6 . The gun safe of  claim 5 , wherein said door is hinged to a lower portion of said side wall to allow access to the interior compartment of said gun safe.  
   
   
       7 . The gun safe of  claim 5 , wherein said door is hingedly coupled with an adjacent side wall to allow access to the interior compartment of said gun safe.  
   
   
       8 . The gun safe of  claim 7 , wherein said door is hinged to a top edge of the adjacent side wall to allow access to the interior compartment of said gun safe.  
   
   
       9 . The gun safe of  claim 5 , wherein the upper portion of said side wall forming said door is about the upper one third of said side wall.  
   
   
       10 . The gun safe of  claim 9 , wherein said door hinge is positioned about 24 inches from the bottom wall of the gun safe.  
   
   
       11 . The gun safe of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall has an upper surface for contacting the butt of the gun positioned within the gun safe in a generally upright position.  
   
   
       12 . The gun safe of  claim 11 , wherein at least one recess is formed in the upper surface of the bottom wall, wherein the at least one recess conforms to the shape of a gun butt.  
   
   
       13 . The gun safe of  claim 1 , wherein said opening conforms to the shape of a gun barrel.  
   
   
       14 . The gun safe of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism.  
   
   
       15 . The gun safe of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective lining on one or more of the bottom wall, one or more side walls, and top wall within the interior compartment to cushion a gun positioned within the gun safe in a generally upright position.  
   
   
       16 . The gun safe of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastening strap within the interior compartment for retaining a gun with a barrel that extends through the opening to the outside of the interior compartment.  
   
   
       17 . The gun safe of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage compartment defined within or positioned exterior to the interior compartment.  
   
   
       18 . The gun safe of  claim 17 , wherein said storage compartment is lockable.  
   
   
       19 . A gun safe for storing at least one gun in a generally upright position, said gun safe comprising: 
 an interior compartment defined by a bottom wall, one or more side walls, and a top wall, wherein the top wall has at least one opening through the top wall to provide support for a barrel of a gun positioned within the gun safe in a generally upright position, the barrel extending through the opening to outside of the interior compartment;    wherein said top wall has a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions are positioned adjacent to one another to define the at least one opening through the top wall;    wherein one of said first and second portions of said top wall is integral with an upper portion of a side wall to form a door; and    wherein the door is hinged to a lower portion of said side wall to allow opening of said gun safe.    
   
   
       20 . The gun safe of  claim 19 , further comprising a locking mechanism.  
   
   
       21 . A cabinet for storing at least one upstanding item in a generally upright position, said cabinet comprising: 
 an interior compartment defined by a bottom wall, one or more side walls, and a top wall, wherein the top wall has at least one opening through the top wall to provide support for an upstanding item positioned within the cabinet in a generally upright position, the upstanding item extending through the opening to outside of the interior compartment.    
   
   
       22 . The cabinet of  claim 21 , wherein said top wall has a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions are positioned adjacent to one another to define the at least one opening through the top wall, wherein one of said first and second portions of said top wall is integrally formed with an upper portion of a side wall to form a door, and wherein the door is hinged to a lower portion of said side wall to allow access to the interior compartment of said cabinet.  
   
   
       23 . The cabinet of  claim 21 , further comprising a locking mechanism.