Firearm holster lock with fingerprint identification means

• US 6,320,975 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regina Vieweg
• Original Assignee: Thomas Vieweg
• Inventors: Vieweg, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAWAN, SHEELA C
• Application Number:
  US09/298,026
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 382/115, 382/126, 382/124, 224/193, 224/244, 224/587, 224/243, 211/4, 250/227.11
• US Class Current: 382/124
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0227 having a strap or other restraining element only covering the hammer or a part of the upper part of the small arm
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/029 combined with electronic devices, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/70 Operating mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed is a retaining device for lockingly receiving a firearm wherein the firearm has a barrel, barrel sight, grip, hammer and trigger guard. The retaining device comprises a holster having a closed forward portion and an open rearward portion. A guide channel is positioned within the holster for accepting the barrel and trigger guard of the firearm. A fingerprint identification means has a fingerprint input device positioned upon the external surface of the holster at an intermediate extent. Further provided is a comparison means for comparing an inputted fingerprint with a stored fingerprint image, and a signal generating means for generating a first signal when an inputted fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint and a second signal when an inputted fingerprint fails to match a stored fingerprint. The signal generating means is in electrical communication with and controls a firearm retaining means. The firearm retaining means has a first orientation securing the firearm within the holster and a second orientation allowing the firearm to be removed. The retaining means is in electrical communication with and responsive to signals from the signal generating means.

Claims

1. A retaining device for selectively lockingly receiving a firearm, wherein the firearm has a barrel, barrel sight, grip, hammer and trigger guard, the retaining device comprising, in combination:

a holster having a closed forward portion and an open rearward portion, a guide channel positioned within the holster for accepting the barrel and trigger guard of the firearm;

a first solenoid-activated lunger secured upon an internal surface of the holster proximate the closed forward portion, a plunger having a first engaged orientation and a second disengaged orientation;

a second solenoid-activated plunger secured upon the internal surface of the holster proximate to the opened rearward portion, the plunger having a first engaged orientation and a second disengaged orientation;

a steel-reinforced hammer strap adapted to be secured about the hammer of the firearm, the strap having a proximate end secured to the opened rearward portion of the holster and a distal end, a first lock secured to the distal end of the strap and adapted to be mechanically coupled to a second lock positioned upon an external surface of the holster adjacent the opened end;

a fingerprint identification means having a fingerprint input device positioned upon the external surface of the holster at an intermediate extent, a comparison means for comparing an inputted fingerprint with a specific stored fingerprint image, and a signal generating means for generating a first signal when an inputted fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint and a second signal when an inputted fingerprint fials to match a stored fingerprint, a signal generating means being in electrical communication with the first and second solenoid-activated plungers as well as the first and second magnetic locks;

the signal generating means functioning such that when the first signal is generated, the first and second solenoid-activated plungers are activated and the first and second locks are selectively activated;

the holster functioning such that when a firearm is placed in the interior of the holster and the first and second plungers are placed in the first engaged orientation and the first and second locks are coupled the firearm is secured, thereafter the firearm can only be retrieved by a user inputting a desired fingerprint image.

2. A retaining device for selectively lockingly receiving a firearm wherein the firearm has a barrel, barrel sight, grip, hammer and trigger guard, the retaining device comprising, in combination:

a holster having a closed forward portion and an open rearward portion, a guide channel positioned within the holster for accepting the barrel and trigger guard of the firearm;

a fingerprint identification means having a fingerprint input device positioned upon the external surface of the holster at an intermediate extent, a comparison means for comparing an inputted fingerprint with a specific stored fingerprint image, and a signal generating means for generating a first signal when an inputted fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint and a second signal when an inputted fingerprint fails to match a stored fingerprint;

a signal generating means for generating first and second signals being in electrical communication with a firearm retaining means;

an alarm which is in electrical communication with the signal generating means and which is activated when the second signal is generated; and

firearm retaining means having a first orientation securing the firearm within the holster and a second orientation allowing the firearm to be removed, the retaining means being in electrical communication with and responsive to signals from the signal generating means.

3. The device as described in claim 2 wherein the firearm retaining means takes the form of a first solenoid-activated plunger secured upon an internal surface of the holster proximate the closed forward portion, the plunger having a first engaged orientation and a second disengaged orientation.

4. The device as described in claim 3 wherein the firearm retaining means also includes a second solenoid-activated plunger secured upon the internal surface of the holster proximate to the opened rearward portion, the plunger having a first engaged orientation and a second disengaged orientation.

5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the firearm retaining means also includes a reinforced hammer strap adapted to be secured about the hammer of the firearm, the strap having a proximate end secured to the opened rearward portion of the holster and a distal end, a first lock secured to the distal end of the strap and adapted to be mechanically coupled to a second lock positioned upon an external surface of the holster adjacent the opened end.