Securing mechanisms for preventing access to a firearm by unauthorized users, and safety housing for use therewith

• US 20020158095A1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ai Vor Keller, Salus Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Safety First Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Chinn, Robert C., Vor Keller, Albert W., Fletcher, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,918,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 224/244
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0603 the detent moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0607 the detent moving pivotally or rotatively
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/04 Safeties of the combination-lock type F41A17/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 23/18 Rests for supporting smallarms in non-shooting position racks for storage A47B81/00; racks in vehicles B60R7/14
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0209 Pouch or pocket like containers for small arms covering all or most of the small arm
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0227 having a strap or other restraining element only covering the hammer or a part of the upper part of the small arm
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0263 having a locking system for preventing unauthorized or accidental removal of the small arm from the holster F41C33/0227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/029 combined with electronic devices, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/04 Special attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/041 for connecting a holster to a belt, webbing or other object
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/06 Containers for carrying smallarms, e.g. safety boxes, gun cases F41C33/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A securing mechanism for use in a holster, gun safe, base station, recharging/docking station, gun rack, or other safety housing for a firearm or other item, including one or more retaining members that engage the trigger guard, barrel, or other part of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from the safety housing by anyone other than an authorized user of the firearm. The securing mechanism includes a biometric identification mechanism such as a fingerprint sensor for scanning fingerprint information of a prospective user of the firearm, and a processor for comparing the scanned biometric information with stored biometric information of an authorized user and releasing the retaining member only if the scanned biometric information matches that of the authorized user.

Claims

1. A securing mechanism for locking a firearm, comprising:

at least one retaining member having at least one catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said retaining member and a second locked position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said retaining member;

a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retainer in said second position; and

means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said locking means to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said retaining member.

2. The securing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said at least one retaining member comprises two or more pivotal retaining members arranged in a pliers-type configuration.

3. The securing mechanism of claim 2, wherein said lock mechanism has a lock member with one or more lock arms that are adapted to engage and move said retaining members from said first unlocked position to said second locked position and to secure said retaining members in said second locked position.

4. The securing mechanism of claim 3, wherein each of said retaining members has at least one engagement arm extending therefrom with said catch surface formed thereon for engaging the firearm and has a lock arm that is adapted to be engaged by at least one of said lock members of said lock mechanism.

5. The securing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism comprises an actuator that is operatively coupled to said retaining member and that is operable to move said retaining member to said first unlocked position.

6. The securing mechanism of claim 5, wherein said lock mechanism has a lock member that is engaged by said actuator, wherein said lock member has one or more lock arms that are adapted to engage and move said retaining member from said first unlocked position to said second locked position and to secure said retaining member in said second locked position

7. The securing mechanism of claim 6, wherein said actuator comprises a rotary actuator that is adapted to impart a rotary motion to said lock member.

8. The securing mechanism of claim 7, wherein said rotary actuator includes a spring adapted so that, when said actuator is not activated, said spring rotates said lock member to a first unlocked position permitting said retaining member to pivot to said first unlocked position, and when said actuator is activated, it rotates said lock member with sufficient force to contact and pivot said retaining member to said second locked position.

9. The securing mechanism of claim 6, wherein said actuator comprises a linear actuator that is adapted to impart a linear motion to said lock member.

10. The securing mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least one of said retaining members has an actuating arm extending therefrom such that, when the actuating arm is contacted by the portion of the firearm, said retaining member pivots from said first unlocked position to said second locked position.

11. The securing mechanism of claim 1, wherein said identifying means comprises a biometric sensor selected from the group consisting of fingerprint scanners, hand scanners, retinal scanners, facial recognition scanners, and voice recognition devices.

12. The securing mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a housing that receives at least a portion of the firearm, wherein the securing mechanism is coupled to the housing so that when said retaining member is in said first unlocked position the firearm can be withdrawn from said housing and when said retaining member is in said second locked position the firearm is prevented from being withdrawn from said housing.

13. The securing mechanism of claim 12, further comprising an interlock mechanism configured to releasably lock the firearm in said housing and at the same time releasably lock said housing in a second housing.

14. The securing mechanism of claim 13, wherein said interlock mechanism includes at least one interlock arm extending from said retaining member and at least one interlock tab extending from said second housing that engages said interlock arm to constrain said housing in said second housing.

15. The securing mechanism of claim 12, further comprising a hammer guard pivotally coupled to the housing and disposed to cover a hammer of the firearm when the firearm is disposed in said housing.

16. The securing mechanism of claim 12, further comprising a lift mechanism having at least one spring disposed within said housing that biases the firearm within said housing toward an opening in said housing.

17. The securing mechanism of claim 12, further comprising an errant discharge absorption pad disposed in said housing.

18. The securing mechanism of claim 12, further comprising means for disabling the firearm secured in said housing upon sensing tampering by an unauthorized user.

19. The securing mechanism of claim 12, further comprising a sensor for detecting whether said retaining member is in said first unlocked position or said second locked position, and communicating said locked or unlocked position status to a communications system.

20. A safety device for a firearm, comprising:

a housing for receiving at least a portion of the firearm;

at least one retaining member having at least one catch surface formed thereon, said retaining member being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said housing and a second locked position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said housing;

a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retainer in said second position; and

means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said locking means to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said housing.

21. The safety device of claim 20, wherein said at least one retaining member comprises two or more pivotal retaining members arranged in a pliers-type configuration, and said lock mechanism has a lock member with one or more lock arms that are adapted to engage and move said retaining members from said first unlocked position to said second locked position and to secure said retaining members in said second locked position, and each of said retaining members has at least one engagement arm extending therefrom with said catch surface formed thereon for engaging the firearm and has a lock arm that is adapted to be engaged by at least one of said lock members of said lock mechanism.

22. The safety device of claim 21, wherein said lock mechanism comprises an actuator and a lock member that is operatively engaged by said actuator, wherein said lock member has one or more lock arms that are adapted to engage and move said retaining member from said first unlocked position to said second locked position and to secure said retaining member in said second locked position, wherein said actuator comprises a rotary or linear actuator that is adapted to impart a rotary or linear motion to said lock member.

23. The safety device of claim 20, wherein said at least one retaining member has a notch defined therein with said catch surface defined in said notch.

24. The safety device of claim 20, wherein said housing includes a portable power supply, and further comprising a docking station for receiving the holster, wherein said docking station includes a power supply for recharging the holster portable power supply.

25. The safety device of claim 24, wherein said docking station has a base and an inner sleeve that is received in said base.

26. The safety device of claim 20, wherein said housing is sized and shaped to received one or more long-barreled firearms.

27. The safety device of claim 26, wherein said housing includes a spine and includes an end cap and one or more cover plates that are coupled to the spine.

28. The safety device of claim 27, wherein said spine has perforations that receive fasteners so that said end cap and said cover plates can be positioned on said spine at varying positions.

29. The safety device of claim 26, wherein said retaining member is disposed in said housing in a position to receive a barrel of the firearm.

30. The safety device of claim 20, wherein said housing comprises a gun safe.

31. The safety device of claim 30, wherein said gun safe comprises a base and a carrier for holding the firearm, wherein said carrier is pivotally coupled to the base.

32. The safety device of claim 31, wherein said base has a pin and said carrier has a slot defined in an edge thereof that receives said pin so that said carrier pivots about said pin and said carrier can be lifted to transversely remove said pin from said slot to remove said carrier from said base.

33. The safety device of claim 31, wherein said retaining member is coupled to said carrier and said base has a catch that is releasably engaged by said retaining member.

34. The safety device of claim 31, wherein said retaining member, said locking mechanism, and said identification means are coupled to said carrier.