FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The technology herein relates generally to the storage of guns and/or fishing rods in vehicles, and more particularly to locking storage units for the same mounted in a pickup truck bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Gun and fishing rod racks for vehicles are well known. Generally, such racks mount the guns or fishing rods inside and/or outside the vehicle. For instance, U.S. Patent No. 5,815,976 to Jernigan, et al. shows a series of sleeve holders mounted to a connector plate that connects directly to an exterior bumper of a vehicle. U.S. Patent No. 6,986,446 to Murray et al. shows a gun mount apparatus that securely attaches to one or more of the seat frames inside the vehicle. Other apparatuses for mounting hunting equipment to vehicles, such as U.S. Patent 7,559,444 to Church, show rotatable locking mechanisms to secure a hunting bow or rifle to the rear of an all terrain vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In various example embodiments, the technology described herein provides an apparatus for storing guns (; ^' . e. , rifles, shotguns and the like) and fishing rods on a vehicle. The apparatus can be mounted inside a storage unit that is part of the vehicle, i.e., one that is part of a pickup truck bed. Optionally, the storage unit can be a locking storage unit. An example of such a locking storage unit is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0074532 Al to Dupret, et al. Such storage units provide additional storage in a sidewall of a bed of a pickup truck without reducing overall storage space in the bed itself. The opaque, locked unit deters theft and protects the items from damage.

[0004] The apparatus consists of two upright stands. The stands are adjustable to provide variable length storage and can be rotated about a vertical axis to provide storage for more than one type of item. For instance, in a first configuration, the stands comprise a pair of opposing U-shaped brackets for holding guns. The U-shaped brackets each form a channel with isolating fingers to secure guns, and have covers to hold the guns in each channel. The isolating fingers on the brackets provide stabilization for variable sized items, and are padded to prevent degrading the stored items. In a second configuration, achieved by rotating the stands 90 degrees, the stands provide a plurality of fishing rod slots.

[0005] The stands are mountable to a table in a plurality of positions, to provide variable length storage. In one embodiment, the stands are fastened directly to the table. Screws or other fasteners on the base of the stands hold the stands to the table. In another embodiment, the stands are seated within a track. Spring loaded thumbscrews, for example, hold the stands to the table in this embodiment, but when unscrewed, allows the stands to be rotated within the track to change the configuration of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The technology is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, and in which:

[0007] FIGs. 1A and IB show perspective views of a first embodiment of a gun and fishing rod holder in a first (gun holding) configuration and a second (fishing rod holding) configuration, respectively.

[0008] FIG. 2 shows a top down view of the gun and fishing rod holder in the first (gun holding) configuration.

[0009] FIG. 3A shows a side view of the gun and fishing rod holder in the second (fishing rod holding) configuration.

[0010] FIG. 3B shows a side view of the gun and fishing rod holder in the first (gun holding) configuration.

[0011] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the gun holding side of a stand of the FIGs. 1 A-1B gun and fishing rod holder. [0012] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the fishing rod holding side of a stand of the FIGs. 1 A- 1B gun and fishing rod holder.

[0013] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the gun holding side of a stand of the FIGs. 1 A- 1B gun and fishing rod holder ith an engaged cover.

[0014] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a stand of a track-equipped second embodiment of a adjustable long gun and fishing rod holder in a first (gun holding) configuration.

[0015] FIG. 8 shows a top down view of the track-equipped second embodiment of the adjustable long gun and fishing rod holder in the first (gun holding) configuration.

[0016] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the FIGs. 1 A- IB gun and fishing rod holder being installed in _. a storage unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Before describing the disclosed embodiments of the technology in detail, it is to be understood that the technology is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown here since the technology is capable of other embodiments. Also, the

terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

[0018] FIGs. 1 A and IB show a first embodiment of a gun and fishing rod holder θθ in a first (gun holding) configuration and second (fishing rod holding) configuration, respectively.

Holder 100 consists of a table 1 10 having a plurality of stabilizers 1 12 and fastening points 1 16. A pair of stands 120a and 120b are releasably secured to the table at certain fastening points 1 16. FIG. 1 A shows stands 120a and 120b mounted in a first, gun holding configuration, and FIG. IB shows stands 120a and 120b mounted in a second, fishing rod holding configuration.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a top-down view of the holder 100 of FIG. 1 A, with table 110 secured to a surface 198. e.g. , a floor of a storage unit 190 (FIG. 9). Table 1 10 is affixed to floor 198 by a plurality of locking points 1 18, using bolts or screws, scrivets, or other known fastening devices. As shown in FIG. 2, stands 120a and 120b each also have a plurality of fastening points 126. Stands 120a and 120b are installed on table 1 10 by aligning fastening points 116 and 126, and inserting fasteners, such as, e.g., screws or scrivets. In this manner, the length d between stands 120a and 120b, in a longitudinal direction of the table, can be adjusted to accommodate different sized guns and fishing rods. A plurality of stabilizers 1 12 are arranged about an outside edge of the table 110 for securing holder 100. FIG. 3 A shows a side view of holder 100 in the second, fishing rod holding configuration, showing fishing rod 180 mounted thereon. FIG. 3B shows a side view of holder 100 in the first, gun holding configuration, showing gun 182 mounted thereon. As can be seen, the holder 100 accommodates and protects a gun 182 with a scope 183.

[0020] The two spaced apart stands 120a, 120b hold and stabilize the guns and fishing rods mounted thereon, where a first stand 120a supports/holds a portion of the supported gun or rod and the second spaced apart stand 120b supports/holds another portion of the same gun or rod. For example, one end of a gun is held by one stand 120a while the other end of the gun is held by the other spaced stand 120b. In this manner the holder is configured to support a plurality of guns and fishing rods.

[0021] Stands 120a, 120b are configured so that they can be installed in one of two configurations. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary stand 120, as it would be installed on table 1 10 in the first, gun holding configuration as shown in FIG. 1 A. Stand 120 comprises a cross-shaped supporting column 124 and circular base 122. Of course it is understood that the shapes of supporting column 124 and base 122 are exemplary, and that supporting column 124, for example, could be cylindrical and base 122 rectangular, or any other suitable shape.

[0022] A pair of U-shaped channels 140a and 140b are formed by carrier 130, which is attached to the top of supporting column 124. In a preferred embodiment, carrier 130 is formed from a single piece of plastic, metal, hardened rubber, or resilient material, e,g., an overmolded rubber structure. It is, however, understood that carrier 130 could be formed of a pair of U-shaped brackets machined, coated or otherwise fabricated. Isolating fingers 135 in the channels 140a, 140b provide stabilization for guns held therein, and are preferably formed of a flexible and resilient padding, such as rubber, or neoprene, so as to not degrade the guns. The fingers 135 are configured and positioned to hold and stabilize a portion of a gun therein, to isolate the gun from the vibrations inherent to being transported in the vehicle. This is beneficial for protecting more delicate accessories such as gun scopes 183 (FIG. 3B). A knob 131 and plurality of flanges 132 provide attachment points for a rubber cover or retention strap 136 (as shown in FIG. 6), which further secures any guns within the channels 140a, 140b. Of course it is understood that the rubber cover 136 is a retaining member, and may take other forms so long as it secures the gun within the U- shaped channels 140a and 140b.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows stand 120 rotated 90 degrees in the second, fishing rod holding configuration as shown in FIG. IB. A plurality of fishing rod slots 160a-d, 162a-b of differing size (slots 160a-d are larger to accommodate larger diameter rods) are arranged about an upside-down U-shaped support 150 perpendicularly to carrier 130. Of course, it is understood that rod holders 160a-d, 162a-b could all be of different, or the same sizes, depending on need. As can be seen in FIGs. 4 and 5, carrier 130 is arranged over top support 150, but support 150 could also be arranged over top carrier 130. Each fishing rod slot 160a-d, 162a-b has resilient material fingers or retention flaps 165, e.g. , rubber or neoprene to hold and stabilize the fishing rods therein while not degrading the rods.

[0024] FIGs. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of a gun and fishing rod holder 200. In this embodiment, holder 200 is equipped with a track 21 1 that runs lengthwise across table 210. As shown in FIG. 7, stand 220 is mounted in an upside-down T-shaped aperture in a track 21 1 , permitting the stand to be moved longitudinally along the track 21 1. A complementary protrusion 223 on the stand 220 extends downward to engage the upside-down T-shaped aperture. In this manner, track 21 1 keeps stand 220 attached to table 210. Stand 220 is held secure to table 210 by a plurality of fasteners 226, e.g., thumbscrews that engage fastening points 216 on table 210. Like the first embodiment the second embodiment has a plurality of locking points 218 for attaching the table 210 to a surface 198, e.g. , the floor of a storage unit (FIG. 9). When the fasteners 226 are not engaged, stand 220 is free to rotate about its center (shown by arrow 214) to change holder 200 from a first, gun holding to a second, fishing rod holding configuration. Optionally, the thumbscrews can be spring-loaded so they do not actually come out of the base 222. [0025] FIG. 9 shows the stabilizers 1 12 of the FIG. 1A holder 100 aligning with corresponding notching 192 on interior sidewalls of a storage unit 190. When lid 194 is closed, the items stored on holder 100 can be secured out of sight. Optionally, lid 194 can be locking, providing the items with further protection from theft and damage.

[0026] It should be understood that although the first and second configurations of the described embodiments hold long guns with scopes and fishing rods, configurations for holding other items, such as bows or sporting equipment (e.g., hockey and lacrosse sticks) are possible.

[0027] Although this technology has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples can perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the technology and are intended to be covered by the following claims.