Enclosure for gun cleaning tools and materials

Abstract

An enclosure for gun cleaning tools, accessories and parts is formed from a lower box that supports a hinged lid that can be opened to expose the box interior. A removable storage tray with separate compartments is disposed at the top, beneath the lid. The interior of the box has a lower floor upon which a pair of rifle cradles can be stored. When deployed, the cradles are removably coupled to receptacles disposed on opposite ends of the floor. Each cradle has a pair of spaced-apart ears separated by a V-shaped notch into which a rifle (or other long gun) may be pressed. A rifle to be serviced is temporarily mounted by the cradles above the box in a secure, easy-to-reach position. Gun cleaning items may be accessed conveniently from the removed tray, or from an optional drawer slidably mounted in a compartment at the box bottom.

1 . An enclosure for containing diverse items including gun cleaning materials and tools, the enclosure comprising: 
 a box having a top, a pair of spaced apart ends, and an interior;    a selectively deployable lid that can be opened to expose the box interior;    a pair of selectively deployable rifle cradles for holding a long gun to facilitate servicing, each cradle comprising a notch for receiving at least part of said gun;    a pair of spaced apart receptacles disposed within the box interior at opposite box ends for selectively receiving and captivating the cradles; and,    wherein the cradles comprise a generally rectangular base adapted to slide into a receptacle.    
   
   
       2 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 1  wherein: 
 each cradle comprises a cradle top that is integral with the cradle base and thicker than the cradle base;    a ledge is formed between the cradle base and the cradle top;    the receptacles comprise tops; and,    the cradle ledge contacts the receptacle tops when the cradles are deployed.    
   
   
       3 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 2  wherein the receptacles comprise jaws and notches for captivating the cradle bases.  
   
   
       4 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 3  further comprising a generally rectangular storage tray removably disposed at the top of the box within the box interior, the tray comprising a divider defining a plurality of spaced-apart compartments.  
   
   
       5 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 3  further comprising a storage drawer slidably associated with the box for containing diverse gun cleaning parts, supplies, or materials, and wherein the enclosure has a drawer volume section in which the drawer slides.  
   
   
       6 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 5  further comprising a magnet for urging the drawer to a closed position.  
   
   
       7 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 3  further comprising cloth gloves attached to the cradles for preventing marring or scratching of the long gun being serviced.  
   
   
       8 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 3  further comprising a separate cradle storage volume for storing the cradles when the lid is closed  
   
   
       9 . An enclosure for containing diverse items including gun cleaning materials and tools, the enclosure comprising: 
 a box in the general form of a parallelepiped, the box having a top, a pair of spaced apart ends, and an interior;    a selectively deployable lid that can be opened to expose the box interior;    a generally rectangular storage tray removably disposed at the top of the box within the box interior, the tray comprising a removable divider defining a plurality of spaced-apart compartments;    a pair of selectively deployable rifle cradles for holding a long gun to facilitate servicing, each cradle comprising a notch for receiving at least part of said gun; and,    a pair of spaced apart receptacles disposed within the box interior at opposite box ends for selectively receiving and captivating the cradles, the receptacles comprising tops that support the tray.    
   
   
       10 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 9  wherein the cradles comprise a top that is integral with the base and thicker than the base, and wherein a ledge is formed between the cradle base and the cradle top, the cradle ledge contacting the receptacle tops when the cradles are deployed.  
   
   
       11 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 10  wherein the receptacles comprise jaws and notches for captivating the cradle base.  
   
   
       12 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 11  further comprising cloth gloves attached to the cradles for preventing marring or scratching of the long gun being serviced.  
   
   
       13 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 11  wherein the enclosure comprises: 
 a storage drawer slidably associated with the box;    a front;    an internal divider wall;    a floor;    a shelf; and,    a drawer volume section in which the drawer slides, the drawer volume section defined between the front of the box, the floor, the shelf and the internal dividing wall.    
   
   
       14 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 13  further comprising a separate cradle storage volume for storing the cradles when the lid is closed, the cradle storage volume defined between the rear of the box, the floor, and the internal dividing wall.  
   
   
       15 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 14  including a magnet for urging the drawer to a closed position.  
   
   
       16 . An enclosure for containing diverse items including gun cleaning materials and tools, the enclosure comprising: 
 a box having a top, a pair of spaced apart ends, and an interior;    a lid hinged to the box that can be opened to expose the box interior;    a pair of selectively deployable rifle cradles for holding a long gun to facilitate servicing, each cradle comprising a notch for receiving at least part of said gun;    a pair of spaced apart receptacles disposed within the box interior at opposite box ends for selectively receiving and captivating the cradles;    wherein the cradles are adapted to slide into the receptacles and the receptacles comprise jaws and notches for captivating the cradles;    a storage tray removably disposed at the top of the box upon the receptacles, the tray comprising a plurality of spaced-apart compartments;    a storage drawer slidably associated with the box; and,    wherein the enclosure has a drawer volume section in which the drawer slides.    
   
   
       17 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 16  further comprising a magnet for urging the drawer to a closed position.  
   
   
       18 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 16  further comprising cloth gloves attached to the cradles for preventing marring or scratching of the long gun being serviced.  
   
   
       19 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 16  further comprising a separate cradle storage volume for storing the cradles when the lid is closed  
   
   
       20 . The enclosure as defined in  claim 16  wherein the enclosure comprises: 
 a front and a rear;    an internal divider wall;    a floor;    a shelf;    a storage volume for storing the cradles when the lid is closed, the cradle storage volume defined between the rear of the box, the floor, and the internal dividing wall; and,    wherein the drawer volume section is defined between the front of the box, the floor, the shelf and the internal dividing wall.