Weapon trigger guard apparatus

Abstract

A gun rack including a support member, or lock coupled to the support member, and a weapon trigger guard apparatus having a base coupled to the support member. A trigger guard cover is pivotably coupled to the base for movement between an open position and a closed position.

1 . A gun rack comprising: 
 a longitudinally extending support member configured to be coupled to an interior surface of an automobile;    a lock coupled to the support member, the lock including a lock cover movable between an open position to permit installation and removal of the weapon from the rack and a closed position in which the lock cover locks the weapon to the support member; and    a weapon trigger guard apparatus coupled to the support member in longitudinally spaced relation to the lock, the weapon trigger guard apparatus including a base rigidly coupled to the support member and a trigger guard cover pivotably coupled to the base, the trigger guard cover being movable between an open position to permit installation and removal of the weapon from the rack and a closed position in which the trigger guard cover and the base cooperate to surround and enclose a trigger housing of the weapon, the trigger guard cover being positioned in spaced relation to the lock cover such that the trigger guard cover is independently movable relative to the lock cover.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a first latch portion and the trigger guard cover includes a second latch portion which cooperates with the first latch portion to hold the trigger guard cover in the closed position.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger guard cover includes a plate member configured to be engaged by the weapon to cause pivotable movement of the trigger guard cover to the closed position automatically as the weapon is installed onto the rack.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the trigger guard cover includes an outer surface, and the plate member extends from the trigger guard cover toward the base at an angle relative to the outer surface of the trigger guard cover.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plate member is aligned generally perpendicularly to the outer surface of the trigger guard cover.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base and the trigger guard cover each include an outer surface, and further comprising a plurality of strengthening ribs formed on inner portions of the outer surfaces of the base and the trigger guard cover to strengthen the base and the trigger guard cover.  
     
     
         7 . The gun rack of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrel rest coupled to the support member in longitudinally spaced relation to the lock and the weapon trigger guard apparatus, the lock being positioned intermediate the barrel rest and the weapon trigger guard apparatus.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger guard cover includes an outer surface and a side wall, the side wall of the trigger guard cover being formed to include first and second notched portions to receive a portion of the weapon.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the base includes an outer surface and a side wall, the side wall of the base being formed to include third and fourth notched portions configured to receive a portion of the weapon.  
     
     
         10 . A gun rack comprising: 
 a support member;    a lock coupled to the support member; and    a weapon trigger guard apparatus comprising a base rigidly coupled to the support member, a trigger guard cover pivotably coupled to the base, and an engagement member configured to engage the weapon to cause pivotable movement of the trigger guard cover relative to the base as the weapon is installed onto the rack from a first open position to permit installation and removal of the weapon from the rack to a second closed position in which the trigger guard cover and the base cooperate to substantially conceal a trigger housing of the weapon.    
     
     
         11 . The gun rack of  claim 10 , wherein the engagement member includes a plate member coupled to the trigger guard cover, the plate member configured to be engaged by the weapon to cause pivotable movement of the trigger guard cover relative to the base to the closed position automatically as the weapon is installed onto the rack.  
     
     
         12 . The gun rack of  claim 11 , wherein the trigger guard cover includes an outer surface, and the plate member extends from the trigger guard cover toward the base at an angle relative to the outer surface of the trigger guard cover.  
     
     
         13 . The gun rack of  claim 12 , wherein the plate member is aligned generally perpendicularly to the outer surface of the trigger guard cover.  
     
     
         14 . The gun rack of  claim 10 , wherein the lock includes a lock cover movable between an open position to permit installation and removal of the weapon from the rack and a closed position in which the lock cover locks the weapon to the support member, the lock cover being positioned in spaced relation to the trigger guard cover such that the lock cover is independently movable relative to the trigger guard cover.  
     
     
         15 . The gun rack of  claim 14 , wherein the base includes a first latch portion and the trigger guard cover includes a second latch portion which cooperates with the first latch portion to hold the trigger guard cover in the closed position.  
     
     
         16 . The gun rack of  claim 10 , wherein the base and the trigger guard cover each include an outer surface, and further comprising a plurality of strengthening ribs formed on inner portions of the outer surfaces of the base and the trigger guard cover to strengthen the base and the trigger guard cover.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the trigger guard cover includes an outer surface and a side wall, the side wall of the trigger guard cover being formed to include first and second notched portions to receive a portion of the weapon.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the base includes an outer surface and a side wall, the side wall of the base being formed to include third and fourth notched portions configured to receive a portion of the weapon.