Gun-Holstering Ballistic-Shielding Briefcase

Abstract

A briefcase is disclosed that is adapted for holstering a gun, as well as for providing an interior space for other items and for providing ballistic protection to a user. The briefcase includes a pair of oppositely disposed five-sided hinged case halves. A pair of case locks may be included in a handle so as to maintain the briefcase in the closed position until the locks are disengaged. A gun holster includes an elongated rigid door flap that is pivotally attached at one end thereof proximate to one short end of an elongated door aperture formed in one side edge of one case half. The door flap is fixed to one side of a gun pocket, the other side of which is fixed to an elongated inner wall that is pivotably attached to the briefcase. In a closed position, the outer surface of the door flap is substantially flush with an outer surface of the briefcase. In an open position, the gun pocket and the door flap extend outwardly therefrom, the gun being presented in the gun holster outside of the briefcase and readily accessible for use. A plurality of ballistic shields may be included, each shield for mounting against the largest interior side of each case half via a mounting means. As such, the briefcase may also be used as a ballistic shield when the briefcase is in its fully open position.

1 . A briefcase for holstering a gun and containing other items, comprising:
 a pair of oppositely disposed five-sided case halves each hinged together at corresponding sides thereof, the sixth and open side of each of the two case halves coming together when the briefcase is in a closed position to define a substantially closed interior space;   a gun holster comprising an elongated door flap pivotally attached at one end thereof proximate to one end of an elongated door aperture formed in one side edge of one of the case halves, the door flap including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface fixed to one side of a gun pocket, the other side of the gun pocket fixed to an elongated inner wall that is pivotably attached at one end thereof proximate to the one end of the elongated door aperture;   whereby with the gun holstered in the gun holster, the door flap in a closed position such that the outer surface thereof is substantially flush with an outer surface of the one case half, and with the briefcase in the closed position, the door flap may be placed in an open position such that the door flap, gun, and inner wall all pivot outwardly to present the holstered gun for ready access.   
   
   
       2 . The briefcase of  claim 1  wherein the one end of the elongated door aperture is one of the short ends thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The briefcase of  claim 1  wherein the one side edge of one of the case halves is adjacent to the sixth and open side of the one of the case halves. 
   
   
       4 . The briefcase of  claim 1  further including a rigid, arcuate guide track projecting inwardly from the one side edge of the one case half, the arc of the arcuate guide track having a focal point generally coincident to a pivot point of the door flap and the inner wall, the guide track and an arcuate guide aperture formed therein and capturing a guide pin fixed to and projecting laterally from the inner wall, such that the inner wall and the gun holster are guided in their pivoting movement from their closed position to their open position. 
   
   
       5 . The briefcase of  claim 1  further including a handle means formed in one side edge of the one case half opposite the hinged side, the briefcase further including a door latch actuator adjacent the handle, the door latch actuator comprising a spring-biased button that is mechanically connected to a door latch fixed adjacent the gun holster, such that a person carrying the briefcase with a hand may depress the button of the door latch actuator to allow the gun holster to assume its open position. 
   
   
       6 . The briefcase of  claim 5  wherein the gun holster is spring biased to assume the open position, whereby upon actuation of the door latch actuator the gun holster springs out into the open position. 
   
   
       7 . The briefcase of  claim 1  wherein the gun pocket further includes at least one flexible strap and the inner wall and the door flap may pivot independently, whereby with the gun pocket empty the gun holster may be placed into a collapsed position to increase the volume of the closed interior space available for the other items. 
   
   
       8 . The briefcase of  claim 5  further including a pair of case locks, such that with the briefcase in the closed position the case locks may be engaged to keep the briefcase in the closed position, and such that with the case locks disengaged the briefcase halves may be pivoted with respect to each other to open the briefcase. 
   
   
       9 . The briefcase of  claim 8  wherein each case lock further includes a combination lock means to prevent disengagement of the lock unless a pre-set combination is displayed. 
   
   
       10 . The briefcase of  claim 8  wherein each case lock further includes a key lock means to prevent disengagement of the lock unless a pre-set key is engaged therewith. 
   
   
       11 . The briefcase of  claim 1  further including a plurality of ballistic shields, each shield for mounting against a large interior side of each case half with a mounting means, whereby the briefcase may be used as a ballistic shield when the briefcase is in an open position. 
   
   
       12 . The briefcase of  claim 11  wherein the mounting means is at least one ballistic shield fastener that cooperate with at least one aperture in each case half. 
   
   
       13 . The briefcase of  claim 6  wherein a coil spring is included adjacent a pivot of the door flap and the inner wall, the spring force being adjustable via a spring force adjustment means adjacent the coil spring. 
   
   
       14 . The briefcase of  claim 7  wherein the flexible strap includes a length adjustment means and wherein the inner wall of the gun holster is larger than the elongated door aperture, such that the extent to which the door flap extends outwardly from the case half when in the open position may be adjusted by the flexible strap length adjustment means. 
   
   
       15 . The briefcase of  claim 11  further including an open locking means adjacent to at least one hinge means of at least one of the case halves, whereby when the case is in a fully open position such that the ballistic shields achieve substantially coplanar alignment, the open locking means may be actuated to keep the case in the fully open position. 
   
   
       16 . The briefcase of  claim 15  further including an interior handle located adjacent to at least one hinge means of at least one of the case halves, whereby the briefcase may be held from the interior handle with the briefcase locked in the fully open position. 
   
   
       17 . The briefcase of  claim 5  further including an interior handle located opposite the handle means of the one side edge of the one case half, whereby the briefcase may be held from the interior handle when the briefcase is locked in the fully open position. 
   
   
       18 . The briefcase of  claim 15  wherein the hinge means includes a detent for at least temporarily halting the opening of the briefcase when one of the case halves becomes substantially orthogonal to the other case half. 
   
   
       19 . The briefcase of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the ballistic panels includes a ballistic window co-aligned with a window pane formed in at least one of the case halves. 
   
   
       20 . The briefcase of  claim 11  wherein the mounting means comprises at least one hook-and-loop type strap such that each ballistic shield may be removed from the briefcase and secured with the hook-and-loop type strap to an object.