Weapons firing safeties and methods of operating the same

• US 20070180749A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Original Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Inventors: Roth, Marc, Schumacher, Michael, Beckmann, Rudi
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/70.10
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder

Abstract

Weapons safety systems and methods of operating the system are described. An example weapons safety system in which the enabling of a weapon to shoot is controlled by means of an exchange of identification between the weapon and an enabling apparatus. An example weapon includes a weapon identification code and a safety device. An example enabling apparatus that is designed to capture the weapon identification code and to transmit an enabling signal to the safety device in the weapon includes a control unit. The control unit controls the enabling device and includes an identification memory that includes at least one registered weapon identification. Upon receiving a control signal from the enabling apparatus, the weapon transmits an identification signal that contains the weapon identification code. In addition, the enabling apparatus sends a weapon-enabling signal if the weapon identification code matches at least one of the registered weapon identification. Furthermore, the enabling apparatus may change the identification code.

Claims

20. A shooting facility comprising:

a shooting area; and

a weapon safety system in which the enabling of a weapon to shoot is controlled by means of an exchange of identification between a weapon and an enabling apparatus, the system comprising;

a weapon comprising;

a weapon identification code; and

a safety device; and

an enabling apparatus, wherein the enabling apparatus is designed to capture the weapon identification code and to transmit an enabling signal to the safety device in the weapon, wherein a control unit controls the enabling device and includes an identification memory that includes at least one registered weapon identification;

wherein, upon receiving a control signal from the enabling apparatus, the weapon transmits an identification signal containing the weapon identification code;

wherein the enabling apparatus sends a weapon-enabling signal if the weapon identification code matches at least one of the registered weapon identification; and

wherein the enabling apparatus may change the identification code.

21. A shooting facility as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

an intermediate block that has with a writing/reading device for capturing the weapon identification codes, which is coupled to the enabling apparatus in a controllable fashion, and the control unit is designed in such a manner that the intermediate block only releases a gate for entering or exiting the either shooting facility or the shooting area if the weapon identification code captured at the intermediary block matches at least one of the registered weapon identifications.

23. A weapon for use in a weapon safety system that includes an enabling apparatus with a memory that includes at least one registered weapon identification, the weapon comprising:

a weapon identification code; and

a safety device; and

wherein, upon receiving a control signal from the enabling apparatus, the weapon transmits an identification signal containing the weapon identification code, and wherein the weapon receives a weapon-enabling signal to enable the weapon to shoot if the weapon identification code matches at least one of the registered weapon identification, and wherein the enabling apparatus may change the identification code.

1. A weapon safety system in which the enabling of a weapon to shoot is controlled by an exchange of identification between a weapon and an enabling apparatus, the system comprising:

a weapon comprising;

a weapon identification code; and

a safety device; and

an enabling apparatus, wherein the enabling apparatus is designed to capture the weapon identification code and to transmit an enabling signal to the safety device in the weapon, wherein a control unit controls the enabling device and includes an identification memory that includes at least one registered weapon identification;

wherein, upon receiving a control signal from the enabling apparatus, the weapon transmits an identification signal containing the weapon identification code;

wherein the enabling apparatus sends a weapon-enabling signal if the weapon identification code matches at least one of the registered weapon identification; and

wherein the enabling apparatus may change the identification code.

2. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 1, wherein the enabling apparatus further includes an entry device for the registration of the weapon identification.

3. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 2, further comprising a weapon identification carrier, wherein the weapon identification code is located on or in the weapon identification carrier, and wherein the weapon identification carrier is either an active transponder or a passive transponder.

4. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 3, wherein the weapon identification carrier is coupled to the safety device, and wherein energy of the signal transmitted by the enabling apparatus activates the weapon identification carrier, and wherein, upon activation, the weapon identification carrier either:

transmits the weapon identification code to the enabling apparatus; and

/or

uses the received enabling signal to activate the safety device to enable the weapon to shoot.

5. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 4, wherein the safety device and the weapon identification carrier are equipped with a shared power supply

6. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 5, wherein the power supply is a battery or an accumulator.

7. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 1, wherein the weapon further includes a regulation element and a trigger mechanism, wherein the safety device acts on the trigger mechanism through the regulation element.

8. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 7, wherein the regulation element is an electromagnetic element

9. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 7, wherein the trigger mechanism includes a trigger rod.

10. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of weapons with weapon identification codes, and wherein the enabling apparatus further includes an antenna through which a simultaneous exchange of the weapon identification codes with one or more of the plurality of the weapons.

11. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 10, wherein the enabling apparatus further includes a plurality of antennas, and the exchange of the weapon identification codes with one or more of the weapons occurs through a particular one of the antennas.

12. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 1, wherein during the exchange of the weapon identification, the location of the weapon is determined and the weapon-enabling signal is sent depending on the location of the weapon.

13. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a computer.

14. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 1, wherein the identification memory further includes at least one registered user identification, and the system further comprises:

a user identification code that is associated with a weapon user, wherein the enabling apparatus only transmits a weapon-enabling signal if the user identification code matches at least one registered user identification.

15. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 14, wherein the enabling apparatus further includes an entry device for the registration of the user identification.

16. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 14, wherein the user identification code is located on or in a user identification carrier.

17. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 16, wherein the user identification carrier is either an active transponder or a passive transponder.

18. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 14, wherein the enabling apparatus further includes a plurality of antennas, and the exchange of the user identification code with one or more of the users occurs through a particular one of the antennas.

19. A weapon safety system as defined in claim 14, wherein during the exchange of the user identification, the location of the user is determined and the weapon-enabling signal is sent depending on the location of the user.

24. A shooting facility as defined in claim 20, wherein the identification memory further includes at least one registered user identification, the system further includes a user identification code that is associated with a weapon user, wherein the enabling apparatus only transmits a weapon-enabling signal if the user identification code matches at least one registered user identification, and the shooting facility further comprises:

an intermediate block that has with a writing/reading device for capturing user identification codes, which is coupled to the enabling apparatus in a controllable fashion, and the control unit is designed in such a manner that the intermediate block only releases a gate for entering or exiting the either shooting facility or the shooting area if the user identification code captured at the intermediary block matches at least one of the registered user identifications.

25. A weapon as defined in claim 24, wherein the weapon identification carrier is coupled to the safety device, and wherein the signal energy transmitted by the enabling apparatus activates the weapon identification carrier, and wherein, upon activation, the weapon identification carrier either:

transmits the weapon identification code to the enabling apparatus; and

/or

uses the received enabling signal to activate the safety device to enable the weapon to shoot.

26. A weapon as defined in claim 25, wherein the safety device and the weapon identification carrier are equipped with a shared power supply

27. A weapon as defined in claim 26, wherein the power supply is a battery or an accumulator.

28. A weapon as defined in claim 23, wherein the weapon further includes a regulation element and a trigger mechanism, wherein the safety device acts on the trigger mechanism through the regulation element.

29. A weapon as defined in claim 28, wherein the regulation element is an electromagnetic element

30. A weapon as defined in claim 28, wherein the trigger mechanism includes a trigger rod.

24-1. A weapon defined in claim 23, further comprising a weapon identification carrier, wherein the weapon identification code is located on or in the weapon identification carrier, and wherein the weapon identification carrier is either an active transponder or a passive transponder.

31. A method for enabling a weapon to shoot comprising:

transmitting a control signal from an enabling apparatus;

receiving the control signal at a weapon;

transmitting a weapon identification code from a weapon;

receiving the weapon identification code at the enabling apparatus;

comparing the weapon identification code to one or more registered weapon identifications; and

transmitting an enabling signal to the weapon if the weapon identification code matches one more of the registered weapon identifications, wherein the enabling apparatus may change the identification code.

32. A method as defined in claim 31, further comprising activating a safety device to enable the weapon to shoot.

33. A method as defined in claim 32, wherein the step of activating the safety device further includes activating a trigger mechanism through a regulation element.