Locks – Special application – For portable articles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-13
2001-08-28
Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Special application
For portable articles
C109S051000, C109S052000, C248S551000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279359
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to safe assemblies, and, in particular, to safe assemblies which can be detachably mounted on a support surface. Specifically, the present invention relates to a dislodge lever assembly capable of disengaging the safe assembly from a mounting plate secured to a support surface in an efficient manner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In light of an ongoing debate about whether a firearm in the home is more likely to protect or endanger a family of its owner and an owner herself, it is imperative that a firearm safe be securely mounted to a support surface to prevent its relocation by unauthorized persons. The art does supply a number of small portable safes, which may be mounted on support surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,021 (Ferraro) discloses a portable safe for containing guns including a receptacle which has a bottom providing a mounting plate. The mounting plate has a mounting hole for use in attaching the safe to other structures. A pressure sensitive pad is affixed to the mounting plate at the mounting hole and is positioned to be overlapped by the head of a mounting screw. When unauthorized forceful pulling is applied to the portable safe seeking to dislodge it from the other structures, a bolt head of a fastener mounted on the mounting plate applies a force to a pad that sets off an alarm system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,342 (Prinz) describes a security container specifically adapted to be mounted to the undersurface of a table, counter or other like structure, in a manner which will support and removably dispose the security container in a position where it is not readily visible. The security container is comprised of a mounting means removably securing the container to the bed frame and comprising two brackets each of which has an elongated mounting arm attached at a common, corresponding end of a head portion. Such attachment of the mounting arms occurs by a plurality of bolt and nut connectors passing through appropriately aligned apertures in the arms into a top of the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,466 (Cislo) teaches a safe for pistols having a fastener which allows it to be locked to any of standard bed frames supports. The safe is securely fastened to a bed frame by means of a detachable bracket which can be fixed to the frame only from the safe's interior by using conventional fasteners, such as bolts and screws.
All of the above discussed prior references teach conventional fastening means for attaching a mounting bracket to a housing that requires a screwdriver to dislodge the safe from the mounting bracket or a support surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With a dislodge lever assembly in accordance with the invention one can detach a safe from a mounting plate securing the safe to a support surface without use of a screwdriver or any other tools.
This is achieved by one release lever assembly of the invention by providing a safe with an opening receiving a mounting plate, sometimes referred to as a mounting bracket, and a latching element positioned with respect to the opening to releasably engage the mounting bracket. The latching element may be actuated only from an interior of the safe and includes a release lever pivotal to clear the opening upon applying an external force to allow the mounting bracket to slide through the opening out of engagement.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a lockable enclosure, which is securely attached to a support surface.
Another object of the invention is to provide the lockable enclosure, which is detachable from the support surface for further travel or relocation.
Still another object of the invention is to provide the lockable enclosure with a release lever assembly for detaching the lockable enclosure from the support surface.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a latching element actuatable from an interior of the lockable enclosure in order to release a mounting bracket from engagement.
The above and other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description of the invention with references made to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1203282 (1916-10-01), Uth
patent: 1240981 (1917-09-01), Kohl
patent: 1682135 (1928-08-01), Mann, Jr.
patent: 1796502 (1931-03-01), Boucher
patent: 1869302 (1932-07-01), Brosnan
patent: 3741132 (1973-06-01), Blower
patent: 4249684 (1981-02-01), Miller et al.
patent: 4398470 (1983-08-01), Williams et al.
patent: 4987836 (1991-01-01), Owen
patent: 5607102 (1997-03-01), Walsh et al.
patent: 344006 (1921-11-01), None
patent: 636800 (1936-10-01), None
patent: 147121 (1936-10-01), None
patent: 1017185 (1952-12-01), None
Gall Lloyd A.
Mossberg Safe Systems, Inc.
St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens LLC
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