Gun vault with retractable handle

Abstract

The present invention provides for a gun vault that can safely transfer a firearm within the public area that is easy to carry and can secure easily and quickly to various surfaces or objects. The gun vault comprises a first component, illustrated as a gun vault top half connected to a second component, illustrated herein as a gun vault bottom half, which when coupled together provides an interior constructed and arranged to store internal functional hardware as well as one or more firearms, such as a handgun and magazine clip. The gun vault further includes a removable and variably positionable handle, which allows for the gun vault to be secured to objects or surfaces, such as a seat of a car or some type of fixed pole, quickly and easily. To prevent unauthorized access, the gun vault may further include a locking assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gun vault comprising:
 a top member, including a top plate and a plurality of side surfaces to define an interior cavity;   a bottom member, said bottom member including a top plate and a plurality of side surfaces to define an interior cavity, said top member and said bottom member being hingedly connected along one side for movement between an open position and a closed position;   a lock assembly for selectively securing said top member to said bottom member;   a handle member secured to either said top member or said bottom member whereby said gun vault and any contents within said interior cavity may be carried by grasping said handle member;   said combined interior cavity of said top member and said bottom member being sized for containing a gun.   
     
     
         2 . The gun vault of  claim 1  wherein said hinge is a concealed hinge, whereby no portion of said concealed hinge is visible from outside said gun vault while said gun vault is in a closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The gun vault of  claim 2  wherein said concealed hinge includes a first hinge plate secured to an interior surface of said top member, a second hinge plate secured to an interior surface of said bottom member, one of said first or said second hinge plates including a curved portion, said curved portion extending away from said interior surface to create a concave area, said concave area sized to traverse around a perimeter surface of said top or said bottom member during opening of said gun vault. 
     
     
         4 . The gun vault of  claim 2  wherein at least one extension member is secured to an inner surface of said plurality of side surfaces of either said top member or said bottom member, said at least one extension member extending above the perimeter of said plurality of side surfaces, said at least one extension member sized to extend into the opposite of said top or said bottom member to provide overlapping engagement while said gun vault is in a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The gun vault of  claim 4  including at least two of said extension members, whereby each said extension member extends partially around said perimeter of said inner surface of said plurality of side surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The gun vault of  claim 1  wherein a portion of said handle is disengageable from said gun vault and reattachable to said gun vault, whereby said handle may be secured around a fixed object. 
     
     
         7 . The gun vault of  claim 6  wherein said handle includes a first elongated member, a second elongated member, said first elongated member oriented generally parallel to said second elongated member and connected with a base member to form U-shaped handle, said first and said second members securable to said top or said bottom member, said base member defining a hand grip. 
     
     
         8 . The gun vault of  claim 7  wherein said first and said second elongated members slidably engage said top or said bottom member for securement thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The gun vault of  claim 8  wherein each of said first and said second elongated members includes a plurality of apertures for variable positioning with respect to said top or said bottom member. 
     
     
         10 . The gun vault of  claim 9  wherein said bottom member includes an opening for each of said first and said second elongated members, whereby a portion of each of said first and said second members is inserted into said interior cavity for securement to said bottom member. 
     
     
         11 . The gun vault of  claim 10  wherein openings are separated by a raised lip, said raised lip including a surface shaped similarly to an inner surface of said base member, whereby said handle may assume a substantially flush orientation with a bottom surface of said bottom portion. 
     
     
         12 . The gun vault of  claim 10  wherein an inner surface of said bottom member includes a pair of elongated handle brackets secured thereto, a first end of each said elongated handle bracket aligned with one of said openings for said first and said second elongated members, each said elongated handle bracket being constructed and arranged to form an inner channel for covering said first and said second elongated members when inserted into said bottom member. 
     
     
         13 . The gun vault of  claim 12  including at least one locking member for securing said handle member in a desired position, said locking member extending through at least one of said elongated handle brackets and at least one of said apertures through said first and said second elongated member. 
     
     
         14 . The gun vault of  claim 13  wherein said at least one locking member is removable and replaceable, whereby the locked position of said handle may be adjusted. 
     
     
         15 . The gun vault of  claim 14  wherein said at least one locking member is a spring pin assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The gun vault of  claim 15  including a spring pin assembly for each of said first and said second elongated members. 
     
     
         17 . The gun vault of  claim 1  wherein said locking assembly includes a cam member having at least one slide channel for causing movement of at least one locking member during rotation thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The gun vault of  claim 17  wherein said cam member includes two said slide channels each said slide channel cooperating with a separate locking member for causing movement of each said locking member. 
     
     
         19 . The gun vault of  claim 17  wherein said cam member includes three said slide channels each said slide channel cooperating with a separate locking member for causing movement of each said locking member. 
     
     
         20 . The gun vault of  claim 7  wherein said base member is flexible.