Firearm alarm having remote indicator

• US 5,715,623 A
• Filed: 08/16/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Earl H. Mackey III
• Original Assignee: Earl H. Mackey III
• Inventors: Mackey, Earl H. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHELLIAH, MEENA A
• Application Number:
  US08/699,121
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 42/1.01, 42/70.01, 42/66, 340/506, 340/539, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 42/1.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/06 Electric or electromechanical safeties F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for producing an audible alarm signal upon the handling of a firearm is provided comprising a transmitter unit adapted for connection to the firearm and producing a non-audible signal when the firearm is handled and a discrete receiver unit which may be positioned at a location remote from the transmitter unit for receiving the non-audible signal and producing an audible alarm signal when the protected firearm is handled. The transmitter unit may be adapted to be received into the chamber of the firearm to be protected or it may be adapted for connection to the exterior of the firearm to be protected.

Claims

1. A firearm safety apparatus, comprising:

(a) a transmitter unit adapted for connection to a firearm for producing a non-audible signal when the firearm is handled;

(b) a receiving circuit for receiving said non-audible signals from said transmitter unit, said receiving circuit having a first output when said non-audible signal is received from said transmitter and having a second output when said non-audible signal is not received from said transmitter;

(c) an alarm circuit connected to said receiving circuit for receiving said outputs from said receiving circuit and powering a sound generator having;

(i) a latch sub-circuit for powering said sound generator to produce said audible alarm signal when said non-audible signal from said transmitter unit is received by said receiving circuit and, after said receiving circuit has received said non-audible signal, for continuing to power said sound generator when said non-audible signal is not received by said receiving circuit until a reset signal is received by said latch sub-circuit; and

(ii) a reset sub-circuit connected to said latch sub-circuit for producing a reset signal;

(d) a sound generator connected to said alarm circuit for producing said audible alarm signal when the firearm is handled; and

(e) a power source to supply electrical power to said receiving circuit, alarm circuit, and sound generator.

2. A firearm safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reset sub-circuit produces a reset signal in response to a manual input by the user.

3. A firearm safety apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reset sub-circuit automatically produces a reset signal a predetermined time interval after said receiving circuit stops receiving said non-audible signal from said transmitter unit after having first received said non-audible signal.

4. A firearm safety apparatus, comprising:

(a) a transmitter unit adapted for connection to a firearm for producing a non-audible signal when the firearm is handled having;

(i) a housing adapted for connection to a firearm;

(ii) a position-responsive switch enclosed within said housing, said position-responsive switch having a first output when in a first position, and a second output when in a second position;

(iii) a control circuit enclosed within said housing and connected to said position-responsive switch for powering a transmitting circuit;

(iv) a transmitting circuit enclosed in said housing and connected to said control circuit for producing said non-audible signal in the form of a radio transmission when the firearm is moved from a first position to a second position; and

(v) a power source enclosed in said housing to supply electrical power to said position-responsive switch, control circuit, and transmitting circuit;

(b) a receiving circuit for receiving said non-audible signals from said transmitter unit, said receiving circuit having a first output when said non-audible signal is received from said transmitter and having a second output when said non-audible signal is not received from said transmitter;

(c) an alarm circuit connected to said receiving circuit for receiving said outputs from said receiving circuit and powering a sound generator;

(d) a sound generator connected to said alarm circuit for producing said audible alarm signal when the firearm is handled; and

(e) a power source to supply electrical power to said receiving circuit, alarm circuit, and sound generator.

5. A firearm safety apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a first tuning screw extending through said housing on said transmitter unit and connected to said transmitting circuit for selecting the frequency of said non-audible signal produced by said transmitting circuit; and

a second tuning screw positioned on said receiver unit and connected to said receiving circuit for adapting said receiving circuit to receive the non-audible signal of the transmitter unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said radio transmission is an FM radio signal in the frequency range of about 88 MHZ to about 108 MHZ.

7. The firearm safety apparatus of claim 4 wherein said radio transmission is an AM radio signal.

8. A firearm safety apparatus, comprising:

(a) a transmitter unit adapted for connection to a firearm for producing a non-audible signal when the firearm is handled having;

(i) a housing adapted for connection to a firearm;

(ii) a position-responsive switch enclosed within said housing, said position-responsive switch having a first output when in a first position, and a second output when in a second position;

(iii) a control circuit enclosed within said housing and connected to said position-responsive switch for powering a transmitting circuit;

(iv) a transmitting circuit enclosed in said housing and connected to said control circuit for producing said non-audible signal in the form of an ultrasonic acoustic signal when the firearm is moved from a first position to a second position; and

(v) a power source enclosed in said housing to supply electrical power to said position-responsive switch, control circuit, and transmitting circuit;

(b) a receiving circuit for receiving said non-audible signals from said transmitter unit, said receiving circuit having a first output when said non-audible signal is received from said transmitter and having a second output when said non-audible signal is not received from said transmitter;

(c) an alarm circuit connected to said receiving circuit for receiving said outputs from said receiving circuit and powering a sound generator;

(d) a sound generator connected to said alarm circuit for producing said audible alarm signal when the firearm is handled; and

(e) a power source to supply electrical power to said receiving circuit, alarm circuit, and sound generator.