FIREARM SAFETY LOCK

• US 20170284755A1
• Filed: 03/28/2017
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sure Fire Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sure Fire Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Farringer, Paul Douglas, Champion, JR., Aubrey Miles, Hart, Johnathan Matthew
• Application Number:
  US15/471,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20170284755A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/54 Protecting-caps for trigger guards; Trigger locking pieces mounted on, or within, the trigger guard
• 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 33/0263 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

Abstract

A firearm safety lock that includes a rotatable locking member for being moved into a lock position against a trigger guard of the firearm responsive to movement of the firearm into a holster to prevent removal of the firearm from the holster when in the lock position. An electronic circuit is mounted on the holster and operable to cause the locking rotor to move from the lock position into an unlock position responsive to movement of a coded key paired with a code programmed in the electronic circuit into a predetermined proximity to the electronic circuit.

Claims

1. A firearm safety lock, comprising:

(a) a locking member for being moved into a lock position against a trigger guard of the firearm responsive to movement of the firearm into the holster to prevent removal of the firearm from the holster when in the lock position; and

(b) an electronic circuit operable to cause the locking member to move from the lock position into an unlock position responsive to movement of a coded key paired with a code programmed in the electronic circuit into a predetermined proximity to the electronic circuit.

2. A firearm safety lock according to claim 1, wherein the locking member comprises a locking rotor that is rotatably mounted for movement between the lock and unlock positions, and includes first and second spaced-apart lobes defining a recess for accommodating the trigger guard of the firearm in the lock position.

3. A firearm safety lock according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) the locking member comprises a locking rotor that is rotatably mounted for movement between the lock and unlock positions, and includes first and second spaced-apart lobes defining a recess for accommodating the trigger guard of the firearm in the lock position;

(b) a battery-powered solenoid; and

(c) a solenoid plunger movable by the solenoid between a lock position in which the plunger prevents rotation of the locking rotor from the lock position and an unlock position in which the locking rotor is rotatable from the lock position to the unlock position.

4. A firearm safety lock according to claim 3, and including a return spring mounted on the locking rotor to return the locking rotor to the unlock position when the plunger is in the unlock position.

5. A firearm safety lock according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit is a RFID circuit that includes a transceiver and an antenna powered by a battery for transmitting and receiving a coded radio frequency.

6. A firearm safety holster according to claim 3, wherein the electronic circuit is adapted to transmit an electromagnetic signal to the solenoid.

7. A firearm safety lock according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is positioned in a firearm-receiving pocket of a holster.

8. A firearm safety holster according to claim 1, wherein the coded key comprises a transponder that responds to an electromagnetic signal from the transceiver with a coded electromagnetic response, which if paired with the transceiver, triggers the electronic circuit to transmit a signal to the locking member.

12. A firearm safety lock according to claim 1, wherein the coded key comprises a transponder that responds to an electromagnetic signal from the transceiver with a coded electromagnetic response which, if paired with the transceiver, triggers the electronic circuit to transmit a signal to the solenoid.

9. A firearm safety lock, comprising:

(a) inner and outer holster walls defining a firearm pocket adapted for receiving and holding a firearm in a ready storage condition;

(b) a locking rotor positioned between the inner and outer holster walls for being moved into a lock position against the trigger guard of the firearm responsive to movement of the firearm into the holster to prevent removal of the firearm from the holster when in the lock position, wherein the locking rotor is rotatably mounted for movement between the lock and unlock positions, and includes first and second spaced-apart lobes defining a recess for accommodating the trigger guard of the firearm in the lock position;

(c) a battery-powered solenoid positioned on the holster and including a plunger movable by the solenoid between a lock position in which the plunger prevents movement of the locking rotor from the lock position and an unlock position in which the locking rotor is movable from the lock position to the unlock position; and

(d) an RFID circuit including a transceiver and an antenna powered by a battery for transmitting and receiving a coded radio frequency electronic signal mounted on the holster and operable to cause the locking rotor to move from the lock position into an unlock position responsive to movement of a coded key paired with a code programmed in the electronic circuit into a predetermined proximity to the electronic circuit.

10. A firearm safety lock according to claim 9, wherein the transceiver, antenna and battery are mounted on the inner wall of the holster exterior to the firearm pocket and is adapted to transmit an electromagnetic signal to the solenoid.

11. A firearm safety lock according to claim 9, wherein the locking rotor is positioned in an opening in the outer wall of the holster communicating with the firearm pocket.

13. A method of locking a firearm in a holster, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a holster having inner and outer holster walls defining a firearm pocket adapted for receiving and holding a firearm in a ready storage condition;

(b) providing a locking rotor positioned between the inner and outer holster walls;

(c) providing an electronic circuit mounted on the holster; and

(d) providing an interconnection between the locking rotor and the electronic circuit to cause the locking rotor to move from the lock position into an unlock position responsive to movement of a coded key paired with a code programmed in the electronic circuit into a predetermined proximity to the electronic circuit.

14. A method according to claim 13, and including the steps of:

(a) inserting a firearm into the holster,

(b) causing the locking rotor to move into a lock position against a trigger guard of the firearm; and

(c) unlocking the firearm from the holster responsive to movement of a coded key paired with a code programmed in the electronic circuit into a predetermined proximity to the electronic circuit to cause the locking rotor to move into the unlock position releasing the trigger guard.

15. A method according to claim 13, and including the steps of rotating the locking rotor between the lock and unlock positions, wherein the locking rotor includes first and second spaced-apart lobes defining a recess for accommodating the trigger guard of the firearm in the lock position.

16. A method according to claim 13, and including the steps of providing a battery-powered solenoid positioned on the holster and a plunger movable by the solenoid between a lock position in which the plunger prevents movement of the locking rotor from the lock position and an unlock position in which the locking rotor is movable from the lock position to the unlock position.

17. A method according to claim 16, and including the steps of providing a return spring mounted on the holster for urging the locking rotor into the unlock position when the plunger is in the unlock position.

18. A method according to claim 16, and including the step of manually overriding the solenoid by deflecting the solenoid plunger from its locked position into an unlocked position.

19. A method according to claim 16, and including the step of returning the locking rotor into the unlock position when the plunger is in the unlock position.

20. A method according to claim 19, and including the step of providing a spring that is loaded to return the locking rotor into the unlock position when the plunger is in the unlock position.