Firearm with identification safety system

• US 5,915,936 A
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Charles Brentzel
• Original Assignee: John Charles Brentzel
• Inventors: Brentzel, John Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buckley, Denise J.
• Application Number:
  US08/980,710
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 42/70.11
• US Class Current: 42/70.11
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder

Abstract

A firearm with an identification safety system for preventing use by an unauthorized user. The firearm includes a barrel for discharging the firearm therethrough, a butt section connected to the barrel, a trigger connected between the barrel and butt section for initiating discharge of the firearm and a safety switch operable between a first position preventing discharge of the firearm and a second position allowing discharge of the firearm. A pressure sensor is positioned in the butt section for sensing grasping of the butt section by a palm of a user and a scanning sensor is connected for scanning a palm print of the palm of the user and generating a data signal representative of the scanned palm print upon sensing grasping of the butt section by the pressure sensor. A memory unit stores data signals representative of palm prints of authorized users and a microprocessor is connected to both the scanning sensor and the memory unit for receiving the data signal from the scanning sensor and comparing the received data signal to the data signals stored in the memory unit. The microprocessor controls the safety switch to operate in the first position upon determining the received data signal does not match any of the data signals stored in the memory unit and controls the safety switch to operate in the second position upon determining the received data signal matches one of the data signals stored in the memory unit.

Claims

1. A firearm with an identification safety system for preventing use of said firearm by an unauthorized user, said firearm with an identification safety system comprising:

a) a barrel for discharging said firearm therethrough;

b) a butt section connected to said barrel;

c) a trigger-connected between said barrel and said butt section for inititiating discharge of said firearm;

d) a safety switch operable between a first position preventing discharge of said firearm and a second position allowing discharge of said firearm;

e) a pressure sensor for sensing grasping of said butt section by a palm of a user;

f) a scanning sensor for scanning a palm print of the palm of the user and generating a data signal representative of said scanned palm print upon sensing grasping of said butt section by said pressure sensor;

g) a memory unit for storing a a plurality of data signals representative of plurality of palm prints of authorized users; and

h) a microprocessor connected to both said scanning sensor and said memory unit for receiving said data signal from said scanning sensor and comparing said received data signal to said data signals stored in said memory unit, wherein said microprocessor controls said safety switch to operate in said first position upon determining said received data signal does not match a data signal stored in said memory unit and controls safety switch to operate in said second position upon determining said received data signal matches one of said data signals stored in said memory unit;

i) an input port connected to said microprocessor;

j) means connectable to said input port for programming said microprocessor to add or withdraw authorized users to or from said memory unit comprising a program key for initiating storage of a data signal into said memory unit when a user to be authorized grips said butt, an alphanumeric keypad for attaching identification tags to data signals stored in said memory unit, a visual display for viewing said identification tags stored in said memory unit, scroll keys for scrolling through said identification tags displayed on said visual display, and an erase key for deleting an authorized user from said memory unit when an identification tag for said authorized user to be deleted is scrolled to on said visual display; and

k) said microprocessor storing a date, time and user identification in said memory unit upon determining that received data from a user handling said firearm matches one of said plurality of data signals for authorized users stored in said memory unit.

2. A firearm with an identification safety system as defined in claim 1, wherein said scanning sensor includes a plurality of individual fiber optics, each fiber optic including a scanner and being randomly positioned about said butt section.

3. A firearm with an identification safety system as defined in claim 2, wherein said plurality of individual fiber optics are bundled together to form a plurality of fiber optic groups.

4. A firearm with an identification safety system as defined in claim 3, wherein said plurality of fiber optic groups include means for digitizing said generated data signal.

5. A firearm with an identification safety system as defined in claim 1, wherein said butt section includes a rigid frame.

6. A firearm with an identification safety system as defined in claim 5, wherein said rigid frame is made of at least one of carbon graphite, steel, hard plastic or any combination thereof.

7. A firearm with an identification safety system as defined in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is an optical processor.