Firearm with safety system having a communication package

• US 6,237,271 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colt's Manufacturing IP Holding Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC (Colt Defense Holding LLC)
• Inventors: Kaminski, Kevin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/152,547
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 42/70.01, 42/70.05, 42/70.06, 42/70.08, 42/70.11
• US Class Current: 42/70.06
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/08 for inhibiting firing in a specified direction, e.g. at a friendly person or at a protected area F41A27/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/35 for illuminating the target , e.g. flash lights

Abstract

A module having a housing, a battery, control circuitry and electrical conductors. The battery and control circuitry are contained in the housing. The housing is adapted to be removably connected to the frame of a firearm. The electrical conductors are located on the housing and allow the battery and control circuit to be electrically connected to other components of the firearm. The housing can be connected at a hand grip section of the firearm and forms a substantial portion of at least one exterior side of the firearm at the hand grip section.

Claims

1. A firearm having a frame, a firing mechanism connected to the frame, the firing mechanism having a trigger, and a firing mechanism interrupter connected to the firing mechanism to prevent firing of the firearm, the interrupter comprising:

control circuitry;

a first switch electrically connected to the control circuitry to signal mechanical actuation of the first switch;

a second switch connected to the frame at a hand grip section and electrically connected to the control circuitry to signal gripping of the hand grip section of the frame by a user; and

a third electrical finger grip switch connected to the frame at the hand grip section for actuation by a same hand of the user which actuates the second switch,

wherein both the first and second switches must be actuated before the control circuitry allows the firing mechanism to fire.

2. A firearm as in claim 1 further comprising a laser sight and wherein the third switch is connected to the laser sight for actuating the laser sight.

3. A firearm as in claim 1 wherein the third switch is connected to the control circuitry and wherein the third switch must be actuated before the control circuitry allows the firing mechanism to fire.

4. A firearm having a frame, a firing mechanism connected to the frame, the firing mechanism having a trigger, and a firing mechanism interrupter connected to the firing mechanism to prevent firing of the firearm, the interrupter comprising:

control circuitry;

a first switch electrically connected to the control circuitry to signal activation of the first switch;

a second switch connected to the frame at a hand grip section and electrically connected to the control circuitry to signal gripping of the hand grip section of the frame by a user; and

a hand grip panel connected to the frame, wherein at least a portion of the control circuitry is mounted to the panel and wherein electrical connectors on the panel removably electrically connect the control circuitry to at least one of the first and second switches,

wherein both the first and second switches must be activated before the control circuitry allows the firing mechanism to fire.

5. A firearm having a frame, a firing mechanism connected to the frame, the firing mechanism having a trigger, and a firing mechanism interrupter connected to the firing mechanism to prevent firing of the firearm, the interrupter comprising:

control circuitry;

a first switch electrically connected to the control circuitry to signal activation of the first switch;

a second switch connected to the frame at a hand grip section and electrically connected to the control circuitry to signal gripping of the hand grip section of the frame by a user; and

a first hand grip panel removably connected to the frame, wherein at least a first portion of the control circuitry is mounted to the panel and the interrupter further comprises a movable bar connected to and extending from the hand grip panel,

wherein both the first and second switches must be activated before the control circuitry allows the firing mechanism to fire.

6. A firearm as in claim 5 further comprising a battery mounted in the panel.

7. A firearm as in claim 6 further comprising a second hand grip panel removably connected to the frame, the second panel having a second portion of the control circuitry therein with a transceiver, wherein the first and second portions of the control circuitry are electrically connected to each other.

8. A firearm comprising:

a frame;

a firing mechanism connected to the frame, the firing mechanism having a trigger;

a firing mechanism controller comprising communication electronics, a battery, a firing mechanism interrupter bar, and an electrically operated driver for moving the interrupter bar;

a first hand grip panel connected to the frame, the first panel having a first set of electrical components thereon including at least a portion of the communication electronics; and

a second hand grip panel connected to the frame, the second panel having a second set of electrical components thereon including the battery and the driver,

wherein the first and second sets of electrical components are electrically connected to each other.

9. A firearm as in claim 8 wherein at least one of the panels has electrical contacts thereon for making a removable electrical connection with other electrical components of the firearm.

10. A firearm as in claim 8 wherein the driver comprises a solenoid.

11. A firearm as in claim 10 wherein the interrupter bar is connected between the solenoid and a drawbar of the firing mechanism.

12. A firearm as in claim 8 wherein the controller further comprises a second battery on the first hand grip panel.

13. A firearm as in claim 8 wherein the communications electronics include a magnetic coupled transponder system reader.

14. A firearm as in claim 8 wherein the communications electronics include a radio frequency transmitter.

15. A firearm system comprising:

a firearm having a frame, a firing mechanism connected to the frame, a firing mechanism interrupter connected to the firing mechanism for preventing actuation of the firing mechanism, and a communications package connected to the frame and electrically connected to the interrupter;

a unit intended to be carried on a user, the unit having a magnetic coupled transponder for receiving a signal from the communications package and transmitting a magnetic coded analog signal to the communications package on the firearm,

wherein the firing mechanism interrupter prevents the firing mechanism from being actuated unless the communications package is within range of the transponder and receives the correct signal from the transponder.

16. A system as in claim 15 wherein the communications package comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

17. A system as in claim 15 wherein the unit further comprises a battery which powers the transponder.

18. A system as in claim 17 wherein the communications package is housed in a first hand grip panel attached to the frame of the firearm and at least a portion of the interrupter is on a second hand grip panel of the firearm.

19. A system as in claim 18 further comprising a first battery connected to the first hand grip panel and a second battery connected to the second hand grip panel.

20. A firearm system comprising:

a firearm having a frame, a firing mechanism connected to the frame, a firing mechanism interrupter connected to the firing mechanism for preventing firing of the firearm, and a first communications package connected to the frame and electrically connected to the interrupter;

a unit intended to be carried on a user, the unit having a second communications package,

wherein at least one of the communication packages is adapted to transmit coded magnetic signals and the other communications package is adapted to read the signals.

21. A system as in claim 20 further comprising means for limiting transmission of the magnetic signals from the at least one communications package to less than 180°

.

22. A system as in claim 20 further comprising means for limiting reception of the magnetic signals by the other communications package to less than 180°

.

23. A system as in claim 20 further comprising a limiter for limiting transmission of the magnetic signals from the at least one communications package to less than 180°

.

24. A firearm comprising:

a frame;

a firing mechanism connected to the frame, the firing mechanism having a trigger;

a firing mechanism controller comprising communication electronics, a battery, a firing mechanism interrupter bar, and an electrically operated driver for moving the interrupter bar;

a first hand grip panel connected to the frame, the first panel having a first set of electrical components thereon including at least a portion of the communication electronics; and

a second hand grip panel connected to the frame, the second panel having a second set of electrical components thereon, the second set comprising at least a portion of at least one of the communication electronics, or the battery, or the driver,

wherein the first and second sets of electrical components are electrically connected to each other.

25. A firearm system comprising:

a firearm having a frame, a firing mechanism connected to the frame, a firing mechanism interrupter connected to the firing mechanism for preventing actuation of the firing mechanism, and a communications package connected to the frame and electrically connected to the interrupter;

a unit intended to be carried with a user, the unit having a magnetic coupled transponder for receiving a signal from the communications package and transmitting a coded signal to the communications package on the firearm,

wherein the firing mechanism interrupter prevents the firing mechanism from being actuated unless the communications package is within range of the transponder and receives the correct signal from the transponder, wherein the communications package is at least partially housed in a first hand grip panel attached to the frame of the firearm, and wherein at least a portion of the interrupter is on a second hand grip panel of the firearm.

26. A method for communicating between a safety system in a firearm and a communicator separate from the firearm, the method comprising steps of:

the communicator receiving a first signal from the safety system of the firearm;

the communicator transmitting a second signal back to the safety system of the firearm in response to the first signal, wherein the second signal comprises a coded magnetic signal; and

reading the coded magnetic signal by the safety system.