Secure storage systems and methods

Abstract

A secure storage system may provide secure, portable, and rapidly accessible storage for articles such as firearms. Such a system may have a shell with first and second shell members that can be closed to keep the articles secure, or opened to provide accessibility. A locking mechanism may be used to lock the shell in the closed configuration. The locking mechanism may be controlled by a wireless receiver that receives a signal to unlock the shell. The shell may have a signal-permeable layer that enables the signal to pass through the shell. The first and second shell members may have mounting features that enable articles within the shell to be secured to the shell in a variety of positions and/or orientations. The system may also include a location sensor that detects the location of the shell and notifies the user when the shell is outside an approved zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A secure storage system comprising:
 a shell having a closed configuration in which the shell defines an interior space generally inaccessible from outside the shell, and an open configuration in which the interior space is accessible, the shell comprising:
 a first shell member comprising a first interior surface comprising a first mounting feature securable to an article to secure the article to the first interior surface; 
 a second shell member comprising a second interior surface comprising a second mounting feature securable to the article to secure the article to the second interior surface; and 
 a joint that movably couples the first shell member to the second shell member to enable the shell to move between the closed configuration and the open configuration; and 
   a locking mechanism within the interior space, the locking mechanism having a locked position in which the locking mechanism restricts motion of the shell to the open configuration, and an unlocked position in which the locking mechanism permits motion of the shell to the open configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The secure storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the first interior surface further comprises a third mounting feature positioned to cooperate with the first mounting feature to secure the article to the first interior surface, wherein the second interior surface further comprises a fourth mounting feature positioned to cooperate with the second mounting feature to secure the article to the second interior surface. 
     
     
         3 . The secure storage system of  claim 2 , wherein the first mounting feature and the third mounting feature are securable to the article in at least a first position of the article relative to the first interior surface, and a second position of the article relative to the first interior surface, wherein the first position is offset from the second position in at least one selection from the group consisting of translation and rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The secure storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising the article, wherein the article comprises a holster shaped to receive a handgun. 
     
     
         5 . The secure storage system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first mounting feature and the second mounting feature comprises a hole shaped to receive a selection from the group consisting of a protrusion on the article, and a protruding element of a fastener separate from the article. 
     
     
         6 . The secure storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the second shell member further comprises an exterior surface comprising an exterior mounting feature securable to an adjacent surface to secure the shell to the adjacent surface. 
     
     
         7 . The secure storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the second shell member further comprises an exterior surface comprising a security attachment feature comprising a locking bar and a recess defined underneath the locking bar such that a cable of a security lock can extend into the recess to encircle the locking bar. 
     
     
         8 . The secure storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first wireless receiver within the interior space, wherein the first wireless receiver receives a first signal and, in response to receipt of the first signal, initiates a first action selected from the group consisting of causing the locking mechanism to move from the locked position to the unlocked position, and causing a first notification to be transmitted to a user. 
     
     
         9 . The secure storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the first shell member comprises a first rim that extends toward the second shell member in the closed configuration and the second shell member comprises a second rim that extends toward the first shell member in the closed configuration, wherein, in the closed configuration, the first rim and the second rim abut each other. 
     
     
         10 . The secure storage system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an opening mechanism coupled to the first shell member and the second shell member to urge the shell to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration; and   a clip that is attachable to the shell to limit motion of the first shell member relative to the second shell member to a limited maximum displacement that is smaller than a nominal maximum displacement to which the first shell member is able to move relative to the second shell member without the clip in place.   
     
     
         11 . A method for storing an article, the method comprising:
 defining a selected interior surface by selecting one of a first interior surface and a second interior surface from within a shell having a closed configuration in which the shell defines an interior space generally inaccessible from outside the shell, and an open configuration in which the interior space is accessible, the shell comprising:
 a first shell member comprising the first interior surface, wherein the first interior surface comprises a first mounting feature; 
 a second shell member comprising the second interior surface, wherein the second interior surface comprises a second mounting feature; and 
 a joint that movably couples the first shell member to the second shell member to enable the shell to move between the closed configuration and the open configuration; 
   securing the article to the selected interior surface by securing the article to the mounting feature of the first and second mounting features that is on the selected interior surface;   moving the shell to the closed configuration; and   moving a locking mechanism within the interior space from an unlocked position in which the locking mechanism permits motion of the shell to the open configuration, to a locked position in which the locking mechanism restricts motion of the shell to the open configuration.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first interior surface further comprises a third mounting feature and the second interior surface further comprises a fourth mounting feature, wherein securing the article to the selected interior surface further comprises securing the article to the mounting feature of the third and fourth mounting features that is on the selected interior surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the article comprises a holster, wherein securing the article to the selected interior surface comprises securing the holster to the selected interior surface, the method further comprising inserting a handgun into the holster. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first mounting feature and the second mounting feature comprises a hole, wherein securing the article to the mounting feature of the first and second mounting features that is on the selected interior surface comprises inserting a selection from the group consisting of a protrusion on the article, and a protruding element of a fastener separate from the article, into the hole. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second shell member further comprises an exterior surface comprising an exterior mounting feature, the method further comprising securing the exterior mounting feature to an adjacent surface to secure the shell to the adjacent surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first shell member comprises a first rim that extends toward the second shell member in the closed configuration and the second shell member comprises a second rim that extends toward the first shell member in the closed configuration, wherein moving the shell to the closed configuration comprises causing the first rim and the second rim abut each other. 
     
     
         17 . A secure storage system comprising:
 a shell having a closed configuration in which the shell defines an interior space generally inaccessible from outside the shell, and an open configuration in which the interior space is accessible, the shell comprising:
 a first shell member; 
 a second shell member; and 
 a joint that movably couples the first shell member to the second shell member to enable the shell to move between the closed configuration and the open configuration; and 
   a locking mechanism within the interior space, the locking mechanism having a locked position in which the locking mechanism restricts motion of the shell to the open configuration, and an unlocked position in which the locking mechanism permits motion of the shell to the open configuration; and   wherein the first shell member comprises a first interior surface, the first interior surface comprising a first mounting feature;   wherein the second shell member comprises a second interior surface, the second interior surface comprising a second mounting feature; and   a holster shaped to receive a handgun and sized to fit within the interior space, the holster comprising a holster mounting feature securable to either of the first mounting feature and the second mounting feature.   
     
     
         18 . The secure storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the first interior surface further comprises a third mounting feature positioned to cooperate with the first mounting feature to secure the holster to the first interior surface, wherein the second interior surface further comprises a fourth mounting feature positioned to cooperate with the second mounting feature to secure the holster to the second interior surface, wherein the first mounting feature and the third mounting feature are securable to the holster in at least a first position of the holster relative to the first interior surface, and a second position of the holster relative to the first interior surface, wherein the first position is offset from the second position in at least one selection from the group consisting of translation and rotation. 
     
     
         19 . The secure storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the second shell member further comprises an exterior surface comprising an exterior mounting feature securable to an adjacent surface to secure the shell to the adjacent surface. 
     
     
         20 . The secure storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the first shell member comprises a first rim that extends toward the second shell member in the closed configuration and the second shell member comprises a second rim that extends toward the first shell member in the closed configuration, wherein, in the closed configuration, the first rim and the second rim abut each other, the secure storage system further comprising an opening mechanism coupled to the first shell member and the second shell member to urge the shell to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration.