FIREARM MAINTENANCE

• US 20110067282A1
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: STEVENS, John K., WATERHOUSE, Paul, AUGUST, M. Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,223,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/1.03
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/01 Counting means indicating the number of shots fired
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 29/00 Cleaning or lubricating arrangements injecting fluids into barrels or cartridge chambers F41A13/04 ; ammunition for cleaning purposes F42B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/00 Accessories or details not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A method for identifying, tracking, and monitoring a firearm includes steps of: attaching a low frequency radio tag to the firearm; storing, in the data storage device of the radio tag, identification data relating to the firearm; and reading the identification data from the transceiver by interrogating the radio tag. The radio tag includes a shot sensor, a shot count register for tracking the number of shots fired and cadence registers for tracking the intervals between shots.

Claims

4-1. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio tag further comprises at least one sensor operable to generate a status signal upon sensing a pre-determined status condition.

15. A method for identifying, tracking and monitoring a firearm, said method comprising steps of:

attaching a low frequency radio tag to the firearm, said radio tag comprising

a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz,

a transceiver operatively connected to said antenna, said transceiver being operable to transmit and receive data signals at said low radio frequency,

a data storage device configured to store data comprising identification data for identifying said radio tag,

a processor operable to process data received from said transceiver and said data storage device and to send data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon said identification data stored in said data storage device;

a shot count register operatively coupled with the processor for tracking a number of shots fired, wherein the shot count register is incremented each time a shot is fired;

a plurality of cadence registers operatively coupled with the processor for tracking an interval between shots;

a shot sensor for detecting when a shot has been fired from the firearm;

a timing mechanism for recording time used to determine the shot cadence; and

a connector for an energy source for activating said transceiver and said processor;

storing, in the data storage device of the radio tag, data comprising identification data relating to said firearm;

reading the identification data from the transceiver of the radio tag by interrogating said radio tag with radio frequency interrogation signals at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz via said tag antenna; and

transmitting the identification data and the shot count data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the identification data from the radio tag to a central data processor.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising a step of:

generating a report detailing the transmitted data.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the unique identifier is used as a key to access data about the firearm.