SECURE SMARTPHONE-OPERATED GUN LOCK WITH MEANS FOR OVERRIDING RELEASE OF THE LOCK

• US 20150184964A1
• Filed: 12/08/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl F. Milde Jr
• Original Assignee: Karl F. Milde Jr
• Inventors: MILDE, KARL F. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,303,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control

Abstract

A gun locking and unlocking device, which may be configured to be disposed on or in a gun to alternatively prevent or enable firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether security data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as data stored in the data memory. One or more separate electronic gun key devices are provided to transmit gun lock/unlock data to the data receiver of the gun lock device. The logic device responds to a gun control signal transmitted by one of the gun key devices to enable firing when the received security data and the data stored in memory are substantially similar. The logic device automatically locks the gun when the gun is located more than a prescribed distance from the gun key device.

Claims

1. Apparatus for locking and unlocking a gun to control its use, the apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a gun lock device configured to be disposed on a gun and responsive to at least one electric signal to select between two operative states, a locked state which prevents the gun from firing and an unlocked state which enables firing, said gun lock device comprising;

(1) a data receiver for receiving (i) a gun control signal that specifies one of a locked and an unlocked state, and (ii) gun security data;

(2) a data memory for storing gun security data; and

(3) a first logic device, coupled to the data receiver and to the data memory, for comparing gun security data received by the data receiver with gun security data stored in the data memory, and for producing the at least one electric signal to actuate the gun lock device in dependence upon the state specified by the gun control signal and upon whether the stored gun security data and the received gun security data are substantially similar;

wherein the first logic device is operative to cause the gun lock device to either enable the gun to be fired or to prevent the gun from being fired in response to the gun control signal in dependence upon whether the stored gun security data and the received gun security data are substantially similar; and

(b) an electronic gun key device having a data transmitter for transmitting a first gun control signal and first gun security data to the data receiver, said gun key device comprising;

(1) a first input device, for inputting information from a first putative authorized person who wishes to control the gun; and

(2) a second logic device, coupled to each of the data transmitter and the first input device, for generating gun security data defined by the first putative authorized person for transmission to the data receiver;

wherein the first putative authorized person is recognized as a person authorized to control the gun in the event the transmitted gun security data is substantially similar to gun security data stored in the data memory; and

wherein at least one of said gun lock device and said gun key device include means for determining the distance between said gun lock device and said gun key device and wherein said first logic device is further operative to set the gun lock device in the locked state when said distance exceeds a prescribed distance.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said prescribed distance is in the range of five to ten feet.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said means for determining the distance between said gun lock device and said gun key device includes:

a first GPS locater located in the gun lock device and coupled to said first logic device, and

a second GPS locater located in the gun key device and coupled to said second logic device;

wherein the second logic device is operative to produce a signal representing the location of the gun key device, as determined by the second GPS locater, for transmission to the data receiver; and

wherein said first logic device is operative to set the gun lock device in a locked state and prevent the gun from firing when said gun key device is greater than said prescribed distance from the gun lock device.

4. Apparatus for locking and unlocking a gun to control its use, the apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a gun lock device configured to be disposed on a gun and responsive to at least one electric signal to select between two operative states, a locked state which prevents the gun from firing and an unlocked state which enables firing, said gun lock device comprising;

(1) a data receiver for receiving (i) a gun control signal that specifies one of a locked and an unlocked state, and (ii) gun security data;

(2) a data memory for storing gun security data; and

(3) a first logic device, coupled to the data receiver and to the data memory, for comparing gun security data received by the data receiver with gun security data stored in the data memory, and for producing the at least one electric signal to actuate the gun lock device in dependence upon the state specified by the gun control signal and upon whether the stored gun security data and the received gun security data are substantially similar;

wherein the first logic device is operative to cause the gun lock device to either enable the gun to be fired or to prevent the gun from being fired in response to the gun control signal in dependence upon whether the stored gun security data and the received gun security data are substantially similar; and

(b) an electronic gun key device having a data transmitter for transmitting a first gun control signal and first gun security data to the data receiver, said gun key device comprising;

(1) a first input device, for inputting information from a first putative authorized person who wishes to control the gun; and

(2) a second logic device, coupled to each of the data transmitter and the first input device, for generating gun security data defined by the first putative authorized person for transmission to the data receiver;

wherein the first putative authorized person is recognized as a person authorized to control the gun in the event the transmitted gun security data is substantially similar to gun security data stored in the data memory; and

wherein at least one of said gun lock device and said gun key device include means for sensing an emergency gun control command, either to lock or unlock the gun, and wherein said first logic device is further operative to set the gun lock device in the locked or unlocked state, respectively, when said emergency gun control command is received.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said emergency gun control command is a voice command, and wherein said means for sensing said emergency gun control command includes a microphone and means, coupled to said microphone, for recognizing said emergency gun control command.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said emergency gun control command includes a command for locking the gun.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said emergency gun control command includes a command for unlocking the gun.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said microphone and means, coupled to said microphone, for recognizing said emergency gun control command are located in said gun lock device.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein said microphone and means, coupled to said microphone, for recognizing said emergency gun control command are located in said gun key device.