Electronic weapon safety system

• US 6,185,852 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronald F. Whalen
• Original Assignee: Ronald F. Whalen
• Inventors: Whalen, Ronald F., Anthony, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buckley, Denise J.
• Application Number:
  US09/179,360
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 42/701.1, 42/700.1, 42/700.2, 42/700.3, 42/700.4, 42/700-- 7
• 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 gun safety system for use with a gun having a barrel, a handle and a safety latch structured for movement from a first disabled position wherein the firing mechanism is inoperable to a second enabled position wherein the firing mechanism operable, comprising a substantially flat main housing attached to the gun handle over the safety latch and having voice and finger print sensing and verification circuitry and means for blocking access to the gun safety latch. The voice and finger print sensing and verification circuitry includes a sensing integrated circuit, having a finger print image surface matrix and a microphone sound sensor, and an authentication integrated circuit electrically interconnected to the sensing integrated circuit, structured to compare the gun user'"'"'s voice pattern and finger print image to those stored in memory. The means for blocking the safety latch includes a bimetallic strip centrally disposed within a cavity, a capacitor electrically interconnected to a battery, the authentication integrated circuit and the strip, and a substantially flat blocking disk. The blocking disk is sized and shaped to cover access ports in the main housing so that in the absence of user authentication the safety latch is inaccessible. Upon user authentication, the blocking disk moves away from the access ports rendering the safety latch accessible.

Claims

1. A gun safety system for use with a gun having a handle, a barrel, a firing mechanism and a safety latch comprising:

a main housing mounted to a first side of the gun handle over a safety latch, said main housing including means for blocking access to said safety latch structured for movement from a first blocked position wherein said safety latch is inaccessible to a second unblocked position wherein said safety latch is accessible, said main housing further including means for verifying an authorized user operably connected to said means for blocking access to said safety latch, whereby said means for blocking access to said safety latch moves from said first blocked position to said second unblocked position upon verification of an authorized user and returns to said first blocked position upon absence of verification of an authorized user;

wherein said means for blocking access to said safety latch comprises a stored energy circuit electronically interconnected to said means for verifying an authorized user, a generally horizontally disposed strip having a first end constructed of a first metal and a second end constructed of a second dissimilar metal electrically interconnected to said stored energy circuit, and a substantially flat blocking member seated above said strip, said strip and said blocking member being structured and disposed so that in the absence of verification of an authorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user, said blocking member covers said safety latch and upon verification of an authorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user, said stored energy circuit releases its stored energy causing said first and second ends of said strip to expand at different rates, said strip to bend away from its horizontal position and said blocking member to fall away from said safety latch, thereby making said safety latch accessible to said authorized user.

2. A gun safety system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for verifying an authorized user comprises a voice recording and comparison circuit structured to record a voice sample from a source and compare said voice sample with at least one stored authorized voice sample to determine whether said source is authorized to fire said gun.

3. A gun safety system as recited in claim 2 wherein said voice recording and comparison circuit comprises a microphone structured to record said voice sample and a comparison circuit structured to compare said voice sample with said at least one stored authorized voice sample.

4. A gun safety system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for verifying an authorized user comprises a finger print scanning and comparison circuit structured to scan a finger print sample from a source and compare said finger print sample with at least one stored authorized finger print sample to determine whether said source is authorized to fire said gun.

5. A gun safety system as recited in claim 4 wherein said finger print scanning and comparison means comprises a sensor structured to scan said finger print sample and a comparison circuit structured to compare said finger print sample with said at least one stored authorized finger print sample.

7. A gun safety system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an audible alarm signal operably connected to said means for verifying an authorized user and structured to produce an audible alarm upon indication of an unauthorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user.

8. A gun safety system as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for remotely engaging said safety latch.

9. A gun safety system as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for remotely engaging said safety latch comprises a signal stored in said voice recording and comparison means, whereby upon receipt of such signal, said means for blocking access to said safety latch moves to said first blocked position.

6. A gun safety system for use with a gun having a handle, a barrel, a firing mechanism and a safety latch comprising:

a main housing mounted to a first side of the gun handle over a safety latch, said main housing including means for blocking access to said safety latch structured for movement from a first blocked position wherein said safety latch is inaccessible to a second unblocked position wherein said safety latch is accessible, said main housing further including means for verifying an authorized user operably connected to said means for blocking access to said safety latch, whereby said means for blocking access to said safety latch moves from said first blocked position to said second unblocked position upon verification of an authorized user and returns to said first blocked position upon absence of verification of an authorized user;

wherein said means for blocking access to said safety latch comprises a stored energy circuit electronically interconnected to said means for verifying an authorized user, a generally vertically disposed strip having an upper end constructed of a first metal and a lower end constructed of a second dissimilar metal electronically interconnected to said stored energy circuit, and a substantially flat blocking member attached to said upper end of said strip, said strip and said blocking member being structured and disposed so that in the absence of verification of an authorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user, said blocking member covers said safety latch and upon verification of an authorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user, said stored energy circuit releases its stored energy causing said upper and lower ends of said strip to expand at different rates and said strip to bend away from its vertical position, thereby moving said blocking member away from said safety latch and making said safety latch accessible to said authorized user.

10. A gun safety system for use with a gun having a handle, a barrel, a firing mechanism and a safety latch comprising:

a main housing mounted to a first side of the gun handle over a safety latch, said main housing including means for blocking access to said safety latch structured for movement from a first blocked position wherein said safety latch is inaccessible to a second unblocked position wherein said safety latch is accessible, said main housing further including means for verifying an authorized user operably connected to said means for blocking access to said safety latch, whereby said means for blocking access to said safety latch moves from said first blocked position to said second unblocked position upon verification of an authorized user and returns to said first blocked position upon absence of verification of an authorized user; and

said means for verifying an authorized user including a voice recording and comparison circuit structured to record a voice sample from a source and compare said voice sample with at least one stored authorized voice sample to determine whether said source is authorized to fire said gun;

wherein said means for blocking access to said safety latch comprises a stored energy circuit electrically interconnected to said means for verifying an authorized user, a generally horizontally disposed strip having a first end constructed of a first metal and a second end constructed of a second dissimilar metal electrically interconnected to said stored energy circuit, and a substantially flat blocking member seated above said strip, said strip and said blocking member being structured and disposed so that in the absence of verification of an authorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user, said blocking member covers said safety latch and upon verification of an authorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user, said stored energy circuit releases its stored energy causing said first and second ends of said strip to expand at different rates, said strip to bend away from its horizontal position and said blocking member to fall away from said safety latch, thereby making said safety latch accessible to said authorized user.

11. A gun safety system as recited in claim 10 wherein said voice recording and comparison circuit comprises a microphone structured to record said voice sample and a comparison circuit structured to compare said voice sample with said at least one stored authorized voice sample.

12. A gun safety system as recited in claim 10 wherein said means for verifying an authorized user further includes a finger print scanning and comparison circuit structured to scan a finger print sample from said source and compare said finger print sample with at least one stored authorized finger print sample to determine whether said source is authorized to fire said gun.

13. A gun safety system as recited in claim 12 wherein said finger print scanning and comparison means comprises a sensor structured to scan said finger print sample and a comparison circuit structured to compare said finger print sample with said at least one stored authorized finger print sample.

15. A gun safety system as recited in claim 10 further comprising an audible alarm signal operably connected to said means for verifying an authorized user and structured to produce an audible alarm upon indication of an unauthorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user.

16. A gun safety system as recited in claim 10 further comprising means for remotely engaging said safety latch.

17. A gun safety system as recited in claim 16 wherein said means for remotely engaging said safety latch comprises a signal stored in said voice recording and comparison means, whereby upon receipt of such signal said means for blocking access to said safety latch moves to said first blocked position.

14. A gun safety system for use with a gun having a handle, a barrel, a firing mechanism and a safety latch comprising:

a main housing mounted to a first side of the gun handle over a safety latch, said main housing including means for blocking access to said safety latch structured for movement from a first blocked position wherein said safety latch is inaccessible to a second unblocked position wherein said safety latch is accessible, said main housing further including means for verifying an authorized user operably connected to said means for blocking access to said safety latch, whereby said means for blocking access to said safety latch moves from said first blocked position to said second unblocked Position upon verification of an authorized user and returns to said first blocked position upon absence of verification of an authorized user; and

said means for verifying an authorized user including a voice recording and comparison circuit structured to record a voice sample from a source and compare said voice sample with at least one stored authorized voice sample to determine whether said source is authorized to fire said gun;

wherein said means for blocking access to said safety latch comprises a stored energy circuit electrically interconnected to said means for verifying an authorized user, a generally vertically disposed strip having an upper end constructed of a first metal and a lower end constructed of a second dissimilar metal electrically interconnected to said stored energy circuit, and a substantially flat blocking member attached to said upper end of said strip, said strip and said blocking member being structured and disposed so that in the absence of a verification of an authorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user, said blocking member covers said safety latch and upon verification of an authorized user by said means for verifying an authorized user, said stored energy circuit release its stored energy causing said upper and lower ends of said strip to expand at different rates and said strip to bend away from its vertical position, thereby moving said blocking member away from said safety latch and making said safety latch accessible to said authorized user.