Gun case with enhanced gun securement means

Abstract

A gun carrying case that comprises a pair of side panels that define a gun receiving compartment with one side of the panels defining an opening to the gun receiving compartment. The gun case includes a first locking device for locking a closure zipper in a closed condition, and a second locking device in the form of a metal cable trained in serpentine fashion between the side panels below the zipper for redundantly locking the side panels in a closed condition notwithstanding unauthorized opening or tampering with the zipper. The bottom of the gun receiving compartment is defined in part by a U-shaped bullet penetration resistant layer, and a gun is securable within the case with a muzzle pointed downwardly into the U-shaped layer for retaining any errant discharge that might occur from the gun while in the case.

1 . A gun carrying case comprising:
 a pair of side panels that define a gun receiving compartment, one side of each of said side panels defining an opening to said gun receiving compartment,   zipper strips along the sides of said side panels that define said opening,   a zipper interlock slide slidable along said zipper strips in one direction for interlocking and closing said zipper strips and said opening of said gun receiving compartment and in an opposite direction for separating said zipper strips and opening said gun receiving compartment,   a first locking device for locking said zipper interlock slide in position closing said gun containing compartment,   a second locking device for redundantly locking the sides of said side panels that define said opening to said gun receiving compartment in a closed position, and said second redundant locking device being operable for maintaining the sides of said panels that define said opening to said gun compartment in a sufficiently closed condition for preventing removal of a gun from the compartment notwithstanding separation of the zipper strips by movement of the slide to a compartment opening position or unauthorized separation of the zipper strips.   
     
     
         2 . The gun case of  claim 1  in which said first and second locking devices each is key operated. 
     
     
         3 . The gun case of  claim 1  in which said second locking device is a metal cable trained between the sides of said panels that define the opening to said gun receiving compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The gun case of  claim 3  in which said metal cable is trained in serpentine fashion between the sides of said panels that define the opening to said gun receiving compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The gun case of  claim 4  in which the sides of said panels that define the opening to said gun receiving compartment are formed with a plurality of grommets, and said metal cable is trained in serpentine fashion through said grommets for retaining the ends of the panels in close relation to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The gun case of  claim 5  including a selectively disengageable cable retaining lock for preventing removal of said cable from a trained position through said grommets. 
     
     
         7 . The gun case of  claim 6  in which said cable is formed with a loop at a free end thereof, and said cable retaining lock is a padlock size larger than said grommets that is engageable with an end loop of the cable for preventing removal of the cable from the grommets, and said padlock is selectively disengageable and removable from the cable loop for enabling withdrawal of the cable from a trained position through said grommets and opening of the sides of said panels that define said end receiving compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The gun case of  claim 5  in which one of said panels has a closure flap foldable over an outer side of the other panel for concealing said zipper locking device and the grommets on one of said side panels. 
     
     
         9 . The gun case of  claim 1  in which said second locking device secures the top sides of said side panels together at a location below said zipper strips. 
     
     
         10 . The gun case of  claim 1  in which at least one of said side panels is formed with a ballistic-resistant layer of material effective for impeding and containing an errant round from a gun discharge into the side panel of the gun case. 
     
     
         11 . The gun case of  claim 10  in which an outer face of one of said panels has a target indicia. 
     
     
         12 . A gun carrying case comprising:
 a pair of side panels that define a gun receiving compartment, one side of each of said side panels defining an opening to said gun receiving compartment,   a releasable closure device along the sides of said side panels that defines said opening for releasably securing the gun receiving compartment in a closed condition,   a first locking device for releasably locking the closure device in a gun compartment closing condition,   a second locking device for redundantly locking the sides of said side panels that define said opening to said gun receiving compartment in a closed position, and said second redundant locking device being operable for maintaining the sides of said panels that define said opening to said gun compartment in a sufficiently closed condition for preventing removal of a gun from the compartment notwithstanding unauthorized opening of said releasable closure device.   
     
     
         13 . The gun case of  claim 12  in which said metal cable is trained in serpentine fashion between the sides of said panels that define the opening to said gun receiving compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The gun case of  claim 13  in which the sides of said panels that define the opening to said gun receiving compartment are formed with a plurality of grommets, said metal cable is trained in serpentine fashion through said grommets for retaining the ends of the panels in close relation to each other, and a selectively disengageable cable retaining lock for preventing removal of said cable from a trained position through said grommets. 
     
     
         15 . The gun case of  claim 12  in which said second locking device secures the top sides of said side panels together at a location below said zipper strips. 
     
     
         16 . The gun case of  claim 12  in which at least one of said side panels is formed with a ballistic-resistant layer of material effective for impeding and containing an errant round from a gun discharge into the side panel of the gun case, and an outer face of one of said panels has a target indicia. 
     
     
         17 . A gun carrying case comprising:
 a pair of side panels that define a gun receiving compartment, an upper side of each of said side panels defining an opening to said gun receiving compartment, said gun receiving compartment having an internal gun support and retention arrangement for supporting the gun with a muzzle of the gun pointed to a bottom of the gun receiving compartment, said support and retention arrangement including a retention strap for securing about the gun to retain it with the muzzle pointed downwardly into said gun receiving compartment, and said gun receiving compartment having a U-shaped layer of a bullet penetration resistant material for containing an errant discharge of the gun while in the gun case.   
     
     
         18 . The gun carrying case of  claim 17  in which said gun support and retention arrangement includes a separate upwardly opening pocket formed in said gun receiving compartment for receiving and supporting the muzzle of a gun positioned in the compartment in a downwardly pointed direction. 
     
     
         19 . The gun carrying case of  claim 18  in which said retention strap is affixed at one end to a side wall of the compartment and has a free end for positioning about a handle of a gun within the gun receiving compartment, and said free end having a releasable fastener for securing the strap within the compartment in a gun retaining condition. 
     
     
         20 . The gun carrying case of  claim 17  in which said bullet penetration resistant layer has a J-shaped cross sectional configuration with a front leg extending upwardly and encompassing a front side of said gun receiving compartment and a rear leg extending upwardly a lesser distance than said front leg and encompassing a part of a rear side of said compartment. 
     
     
         21 . The gun carrying case of  claim 17  including a bullet diffusing layer of material disposed in adjacent overlying relation to the front leg of said U-shaped bullet penetration resistant layer.