Gun security and safety system

• US 5,459,957 A
• Filed: 06/09/1994
• Issued: 10/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guy T. Winer
• Original Assignee: Guy T. Winer
• Inventors: Winer, Guy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wesson, Theresa M.
• Application Number:
  US08/257,605
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 42/70.11, 42/84
• US Class Current: 42/70.11
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control

Abstract

A security and safety mechanism for a firearm including a disabling unit that interacts with a firearm grip safety in order to enable/disable the firearm. The firearm will remain in a disabled state unless a verification means determines that a firearm user is an authorized firearm user. The security and safety mechanism utilizes voice recognition technology in order to ascertain whether a firearm user is an authorized firearm user.

Claims

1. A firearm for use only by an authorized user including a handle having first and second side grip surfaces, a barrel connected to the handle, a firing mechanism, and further comprising:

a grip safety operable between a first position whereby said firing mechanism is inoperable and a second position whereby said firing mechanism is operable such that when an authorized firearm user grasps said handle, said grip safety is caused to move from said first position to said second position thereby permitting said firing mechanism to operate;

a disabling unit comprising solenoid means operably connected to a blocking element, said blocking element movable by said solenoid means between a blocking position whereby said blocking element blocks the grip safety from moving into said second position thereby disabling the firearm and a retracted position whereby said grip safety is permitted to move into said second position thereby enabling the firearm; and

identity verification means operably connected to said solenoid means such that only when an authorized firearm user is identified by said identity verification means, said solenoid means is caused to move said blocking element from said blocking position to said retracted position in order to enable the firearm and allow for standard operation.

2. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein said identity verification means comprises:

a microprocessor;

at least one microphone; and

memory means for storing a voice sample of an authorized firearm user,

whereby during a polling period of said microphone, a voice sample is collected from a firearm user and a comparison is performed between said stored voice sample and said collected voice sample to determine within a predetermined error limit if said firearm user is said authorized firearm user.

3. A firearm according to claim 2 wherein said voice samples consist of speech recognition components and speaker recognition components such that said microprocessor will only indicate that a firearm user is an authorized firearm user if both of said components of said stored voice sample match said components of said collected voice sample within predetermined error limits.

4. A firearm according to claims 3 wherein said speech recognition components consist of a sequence of numerical numbers.

5. A firearm according to claim 2 wherein said memory means comprises a replaceable EPROM chip such that the authorized user of a firearm may be changed by replacing the EPROM chip stored with a first authorized user'"'"'s voice pattern with that of a second authorized user.

6. A firearm according to claim 1 further comprising a grip safety sensor means located in the handle such that when said handle is grasped by said authorized user thereby moving said grip safety into said second position and thereafter said handle is removed from said authorized user'"'"'s hand causing said grip safety to move to said first position, the sensor will signal a microprocessor which in turn will cause the solenoid to place the blocking element into a blocking position in order to block the grip safety from thereafter moving into said second position.

7. A firearm according to claim 1 further comprising a power supply means.

8. A firearm according to claim 7 wherein said identity verification means is located within one of said first and second side grip surfaces of said handle and said power supply means is located within the other of said first and second side grip surfaces of said handle.

9. A firearm according to claim 7 wherein said power supply comprises at least one battery.

10. A firearm according to claim 1 wherein at least one LED is located on one of said first and second side grip surfaces of said handle such that when said blocking element is in said retracted position said at least one LED indicates that the firearm has been enabled.

11. A firearm according to claim 10 wherein there are two LEDs on the handle whereby one of said LEDs indicates when said firearm is enabled and the other of said LEDs indicates when said firearm is disabled.

12. A firearm according to claim 2 wherein said microphone is located on one of said first and second side grip surfaces.

13. A firearm according to claim 1 wherein said handle is further defined by front and rear grip surfaces and wherein said grip safety is located on one of said front and rear grip surfaces.

14. A firearm according to claim 13 wherein said grip safety comprises a panel protruding from a one of said front and rear surfaces such that when an authorized firearm user grasp said handle, a portion of said authorized user'"'"'s hand will cause said panel to move from said first position to said second position.

15. A firearm according to claim 1 wherein said blocking element comprises an elongated bar.

16. A firearm for use only by an authorized user including a handle having first and second side grip surfaces, a barrel connected to the handle, a firing mechanism, and further comprising:

a safety means operable between first and second positions such that said firing mechanism will only operate when said safety means is in said second position;

a disabling unit comprising a solenoid means operably connected to a blocking element, said blocking element movable by said solenoid means between a blocking position whereby said blocking element blocks the safety means from moving into said second position thereby disabling the firearm and a retracted position whereby said safety means is permitted to move into said second position thereby enabling the firearm;

identity verification means operably connected to said solenoid means such that only when an authorized user is identified by said verification means, said solenoid means is caused to position itself such that said safety means is free to move from said first position to said second position;

said identity verification means comprising a microprocessor;

at least one microphone; and

memory means for storing a voice sample of an authorized firearm user; and

whereby during a polling period of said microphone, a voice sample is collected from a firearm user and a comparison is performed between said stored voice sample and said collected voice sample to determine within a predetermined error limit if said firearm user is said authorized firearm user.

17. A firearm according to claim 16 wherein said voice sample consists of speech recognition components and speaker recognition components such that said microprocessor will only indicate that a firearm user is an authorized firearm user if both of said components match said components of said collected voice samples within predetermined error limits.

18. A firearm according to claim 17 wherein said speech recognition component consists of a sequence of numerical numbers.

19. A firearm according to claim 16 wherein said memory means comprises a replaceable EPROM chip such that the authorized user of a firearm may be changed by replacing the EPROM chip stored with a first authorized user'"'"'s voice pattern with that of a second authorized user.

20. A firearm according to claim 16 further comprising a power supply means.

21. A firearm according to claim 20 wherein said identity verification means is located within one of said first and second side grip surfaces of said handle and said power supply means is located within the other of said first and second side grip surfaces of said handle.

22. A firearm according to claim 20 wherein said power supply comprises at least one battery.

23. A firearm according to claim 16 wherein at least one LED is located on one of said first and second side grip surfaces of said handle such that when said solenoid means is positioned so as not to prevent said safety means from moving from said first position to said second position the LED indicates the firearm is enabled.

24. A firearm according to claim 23 wherein there are two LEDs on the handle whereby one of said LEDs indicates when said firearm is enabled and the other of said LEDs indicates when said firearm is disabled.

25. A firearm according to claim 16 wherein said microphone is located on one of said first and second side grip surfaces.