Securing mechanisms for preventing access to a firearm by unauthorized users, and safety housings for use therewith
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1-49. -49. (canceled)
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50. A securing mechanism for locking a firearm, comprising:
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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between a first unlocked position wherein the firearm is not constrained by said catch surface and the firearm can be withdrawn from said retaining member and a second locked position wherein said catch surface engages and constrains a cooperating portion of the firearm or of a firearm housing to prevent withdrawal of the cooperating portion from said retaining member;
at least one engagement surface configured so that, when the cooperating portion and said engagement surface are moved into engagement with each other while said retaining member is in said first unlocked position, the cooperating portion contacts said engagement surface and moves said retaining member to said second locked position;
a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retaining member in said second position, 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, 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 secure said retaining member in said second locked position, wherein said actuator comprises a rotary actuator that is adapted to impart a rotary motion to said lock member; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said retaining member. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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53. The securing mechanism of claim 52, 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 secure said retaining member in said second locked position.
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54. The securing mechanism of claim 52, wherein each of said retaining members has at least one catch arm extending therefrom with said catch surface formed thereon for engaging the cooperating portion of the housing and has a lock arm that is adapted to be engaged by at least one of said lock members of said lock mechanism.
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55. The securing mechanism of claim 52, wherein at least one of said engagement surfaces is disposed on at least one actuating arm extending from at least one of said retaining members.
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56. The securing mechanism of claim 52, wherein said retaining members, when in said second locked position, cooperate to substantially surround the cooperating portion of the housing.
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57. The securing mechanism of claim 52, 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.
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58. The securing mechanism of claim 52, further comprising the housing, wherein the securing mechanism is coupled to the housing so that when said retaining members are in said first unlocked position the firearm can be withdrawn from said housing and when said retaining members are in said second locked position the firearm is prevented from being withdrawn from said housing.
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59. A safety device for a firearm, comprising:
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a housing for receiving at least a portion of the firearm;
two or more cooperating pivotal retaining members each having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining members being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein a cooperating portion of said housing is not constrained by said catch surfaces and the firearm can be withdrawn from said housing and a second locked position wherein said catch surfaces engage and constrain said cooperating portion of said housing to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said housing;
a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining members and adapted to secure said retaining members in said second position, 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 both of said retaining members in said second locked position, wherein said lock mechanism further comprises a rotary actuator that is adapted to impart a rotary motion to said lock member to move said retaining members from said first position to said second position;
wherein each of said retaining members has at least one engagement arm extending therefrom with said catch surfaces formed thereon for engaging said cooperating portion of said housing and has a lock arm that is adapted to be engaged by at least one of said lock arms of said lock mechanism; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said housing. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62)
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Specification