Security apparatus for a firearm

• US 6,286,242 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corporation (Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corporation (Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klebes, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomson, M.
• Application Number:
  US09/595,164
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 42/84, 42/701.1, 42/700.1, 42/700.6
• US Class Current: 42/84
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/58 Electric firing mechanisms F41A17/10, F41A17/12 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a security apparatus for a firearm including a frame, a power source, a firing chamber adapted to receive a round of ammunition having a primer oriented adjacent a distal end thereof, and a trigger assembly for selectively initiating communication between an ignition system and the primer. The security apparatus further comprises an authorization device for selectively generating a pass signal indicating that an operator of the firearm is an authorized operator, and a firearm sensor for selectively generating a control parameter signal indicating an operational mode of the firearm. An electronically programmable locking device receives the authorization signal and the control parameter signal, and permits communication between the ignition system and the primer only if the authorization signal generates the pass signal and the control parameter signal indicates the firearm is in a standby mode.

Claims

1. A security apparatus for a firearm including a frame, a power source, a firing chamber adapted to receive a round of ammunition having a primer oriented adjacent a distal end thereof, and a trigger assembly for selectively initiating communication between an ignition system and said primer, said security apparatus comprising:

an authorization device for selectively generating a pass signal indicating that an operator of said firearm is an authorized operator;

a firearm sensor for selectively generating a control parameter signal indicating an operational mode of said firearm;

an electronically programmable locking device for receiving said pass signal and said control parameter signal, wherein said programmable locking device permits communication between said ignition system and said primer only if said authorization device generates said pass signal and said control parameter signal indicates said firearm is in a standby mode; and

wherein said security apparatus is contained in a selectively removable module adapted to be inserted into and removable from said firearm.

2. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said authorization device includes an authorization sensor for receiving data external to said firearm, said external data being indicative of said operator; and

said authorization sensor generating an authorization signal in dependence upon said external data.

3. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 2 wherein:

said authorization device includes a database of authorized operators, wherein said authorization device compares said authorization signal to said database and outputs said pass signal to said programmable locking device only if said authorization signal corresponds to one of said authorized operators in said database.

4. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 3 wherein:

said authorization device outputs a fail signal to said programmable locking device if said authorization signal does not correspond to one of said authorized operators in said database; and

said programmable locking device prohibits communication between said ignition system and said primer in response to receipt of said fail signal.

5. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 3 further comprising:

an authorization key for enabling alteration of information corresponding to said authorized operators in said database, said authorization key selectively communicating a predetermined password to said programmable locking device.

6. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 2 wherein:

said authorization sensor is a fingerprint scanning device located adjacent a grip portion of said firearm, wherein said fingerprint scanning device is adapted to receive fingerprint images of said operator.

7. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 5 wherein:

said programmable locking device permitting said authorization key to alter information corresponding to said authorized operators in said database only if said predetermined password is accepted by said programmable locking device.

8. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 5 wherein:

said firearm includes a grip portion having a magazine well for accepting an ammunition magazine therein; and

said authorization key selectively integrates with said magazine well, wherein insertion of said authorization key in said magazine well enables communication between said authorization key and said authorization device.

9. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said firearm sensor comprises a battery sensor for determining whether a battery is present in said firearm;

said battery sensor outputting said control parameter signal indicating that said firearm is in said standby mode when said battery is determined to be present in said firearm; and

said battery sensor outputting said control parameter signal indicating that said firearm is in a sleep mode when said battery is determined not to be present in said firearm.

10. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 9 wherein:

said battery sensor further comprises an energy detection means for monitoring a power level of said power source to determine whether said power source is equal to or above a predetermined power level;

said battery sensor permitting said output of said control parameter signal indicating that said firearm is in said standby mode when said power level is equal to or above said predetermined power level; and

said battery power sensor outputting a warning signal to said operator when said power level is below said predetermined power level.

11. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said firearm sensor comprises a chamber sensor for determining whether said round of ammunition is present in said firing chamber;

said chamber sensor outputting said control parameter signal indicating that said firearm is in said standby mode when said round of ammunition is determined to be present in said firing chamber; and

said chamber sensor outputting said control parameter signal indicating that said firearm is in a sleep mode when said round of ammunition is determined not to be present in said firing chamber.

12. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 11 wherein:

said chamber sensor further determines a defective state of said round of ammunition present in said firing chamber by evaluating a voltage drop across said round of ammunition; and

said programmable locking device prohibits communication between said ignition system and said primer when said voltage drop indicates that said round of ammunition is defective.

13. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said firearm sensor comprises a grip sensor for determining whether said operator is gripping said firearm with an intent to fire;

said grip sensor outputting said control parameter signal indicating that said firearm is in said standby mode when said operator is determined to be gripping said firearm with said intent to fire; and

said grip sensor outputting said control parameter signal indicating that said firearm is in a sleep mode when said operator is determined not to be gripping said firearm with said intent to fire.

14. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 13 wherein:

said grip sensor comprises an integrated array of sensors positioned about an exterior surface of a grip portion of said firearm.

15. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 13 wherein:

said programmable locking device prohibits communication between said ignition system and said primer when said firearm is in said sleep mode.

16. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said firearm sensor comprises a battery sensor for determining whether a battery is present in said firearm and if said battery is above a predetermined power level, a chamber sensor for determining whether said round of ammunition is present in said firing chamber and if said round of ammunition is defective, and a grip sensor for determining whether said operator is gripping said firearm with an intent to fire; and

said firearm sensor outputs said control parameter signal indicating that said firearm is in said standby mode only when said battery sensor determines that said battery is present in said firearm and is above said predetermined power level, and said chamber sensor determines that said round of ammunition is present in said firing chamber and is not defective, and said grip sensor determines that said operator is gripping said firearm with said intent to fire.

17. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said programmable locking device maintains said firearm in a sleep mode when said firearm is not in said standby mode; and

said programmable locking device prohibits communication between said ignition system and said primer when said firearm is in said sleep mode.

18. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said programmable locking device verifies that said authorization device is generating said pass signal and said control parameter signal is indicating that said firearm is in said standby mode, before said ignition system is permitted to generate a firing signal in response to an actuation of said trigger assembly.

19. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 16 wherein:

said programmable locking device verifies that said authorization device is generating said pass signal, before permitting communication of a firing signal to said primer in response to an actuation of said trigger assembly; and

said programmable locking device verifies that said battery sensor continues to determine that said battery is present in said firearm and is above said predetermined level, said chamber sensor continues to determine that said round of ammunition is present in said firing chamber and is not defective, and said grip sensor continues to determine that said operator is gripping said firearm with said intent to fire, before permitting communication of a firing signal to said primer in response to an actuation of said trigger assembly.

20. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said trigger assembly initiates communication of a firing signal from said power source to said primer in response to an actuation of said trigger assembly; and

said programmable locking device prohibits communication of a successive firing signal within a predetermined time period after initiation of said firing signal.

21. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 20 wherein:

said predetermined time period is approximately 150 milliseconds.

22. A security apparatus for a firearm according to claim 1 wherein:

said programmable locking device is a microprocessor having volatile and non-volatile memory sections.

23. A method of operation for a security apparatus of a firearm, said method comprising the steps of:

initiating a cold start routine thereby beginning a preliminary sequence of procedures, said cold start routine indicating one of a battery replacement and a first time handling of said firearm;

performing a self-diagnostic test to determine the integrity of various firearm components;

disabling a firing capability of said firearm regardless of a result of said self-diagnostic test; and

establishing a sleep mode in which said security apparatus is inactive until an interrupt signal is received corresponding to a signal indicating that a body of said firearm has been engaged by an operator.

24. The method of operation for a security apparatus of a firearm according to claim 23, said method further comprising the steps of:

displaying the results of said self-diagnostic test on a display apparatus;

detecting if a round of ammunition is in a firing chamber of said firearm and displaying a corresponding indicator on said display apparatus; and

detecting if a power source of said firearm has a predetermined amount of energy and displaying a corresponding indicator on said display apparatus.

25. A method of operation for a security apparatus of a firearm, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a sleep mode in which said security apparatus is inactive until an interrupt signal is received, said firearm being incapable of firing when said firearm is in said sleep mode;

detecting the pressure of an operator'"'"'s grip on said firearm and outputting said interrupt signal in dependence thereon;

determining whether said firearm is in a ready to fire status;

enabling a firing capability of said firearm in response to a positive determination of said ready to fire status, and reestablishing said sleep mode in response to a negative determination of said ready to fire status; and

initiating a firing signal in response to actuation of a trigger assembly when said firearm is in said ready to fire status.

26. The method of operating a security apparatus of a firearm according to claim 25, said method further comprising the steps of:

performing a self-diagnostic test to determine the integrity of various firearm components; and

displaying the results of said self-diagnostic test on a display apparatus.

27. The method of operating a security apparatus of a firearm according to claim 26, said determination of said ready to fire status comprising the steps of:

performing an authorization routine for determining if said operator is authorized to fire said firearm; and

detecting a status of a firearm sensor array for determining if said firearm is prepared to fire.

28. The method of operating a security apparatus of a firearm according to claim 27, said authorization routine comprising the steps of:

initiating operation of a fingerprint scanner integral to said firearm;

receiving an image of said operator'"'"'s fingerprint and generating an input signal thereby;

comparing said input signal to a prestored signal corresponding to an authorized operator; and

authorizing said operator to fire said firearm if said input signal corresponds to said prestored signal.

29. The method of operating a security apparatus of a firearm according to claim 27, said authorization routine comprising, the steps of:

determining if an authorization key has been integrated with said firearm, thereby indicating that a new authorized operator may be designated by said security apparatus;

verifying that said authorization key is communicating a predetermined access code to said security apparatus;

enabling operation of a fingerprint scanner integral to said firearm;

receiving an image of said operator'"'"'s fingerprint and generating an input signal thereby; and

storing said input signal as corresponding to one of a plurality of possible authorized operators.

30. The method of operating a security apparatus of a firearm according to claim 27, said detection of said firearm sensor array to comprise the steps of:

detecting if a round of ammunition is in a chamber of said firearm;

detecting if a battery is present in said firearm and has a predetermined amount of power; and

detecting if an ammunition magazine is present in said firearm.

31. The method of operating a security apparatus of a firearm according to claim 27, said method further including the steps of:

placing said firearm in said ready to fire status only if said operator is determined to be said authorized operator and said firearm sensor array determines that said firearm is prepared to fire, wherein said sleep mode is otherwise reestablished.

32. The method of operating a security apparatus of a firearm according to claim 25, said method further including the steps of:

determining if said firearm is in said ready to fire status;

detecting the absence of said operator'"'"'s grip on said firearm;

waiting a predetermined time period to detect the presence of said operator'"'"'s grip on said firearm; and

establishing said sleep mode if said predetermined time period elapses without detecting the presence of said operator'"'"'s grip on said firearm.