Security system for firearms and method

• US 6,429,769 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonardo Fulgueira
• Original Assignee: Leonardo Fulgueira
• Inventors: Fulgueira, Leonardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/665,825
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.33, 340/5.54, 340/539, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 49/38, 49/45, 42/700.6, 42/701.1
• US Class Current: 340/5.33
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/06 Electric or electromechanical safeties F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A portable security system for protecting a firearm includes a firearm engaging module including a module alarm circuit having a power source, an alarm activation switch, an alarm arming mechanism, a wireless alarm signal transmitter, and a connecting mechanism for connecting the module to the firearm, an alarm monitoring system, and wireless alarm signal relaying device operationally connected to an alarm monitoring system including a telephone link to a monitoring station for alerting appropriate persons when an alarm signal is received from the alarm signal transmitter. The security system preferably additionally includes a panic button alarm signal activation mechanism for causing the transmission of an alarm signal to the alarm signal receiver without displacement of the firearm engaging module. The system further includes wireless alarm signal converting and relaying means located in the vicinity of the gun including a time delay clock to permit user entry of an alarm code to send an alarm deactivation signal to deactivate the alarm before it sounds. The security system preferably still additionally includes an audio alarm sounding device operationally connected to the alarm signal relaying device. The monitoring station is optionally a home security station. The portable firearm is optionally a firearm having a firearm trigger encompassed by a trigger guard, and the connection mechanism includes an engaging mechanism for engaging the trigger guard.

Claims

1. A portable security system, comprising:

a firearm having a firearm trigger;

a firearm engaging module including connecting means locking said firearm engaging module to said firearm and including a trigger access obstructing structure obstructing access to said firearm trigger and a module alarm circuit having a power source, a motion activated alarm switch activated by combined motion of said firearm and said module, alarm arming means, and a wireless alarm signal transmitter,

an alarm monitoring system,

and wireless alarm signal relaying means operationally connected to an alarm monitoring system including a telephone link to a monitoring station for alerting appropriate persons when an alarm signal is received from said alarm signal transmitter, said wireless alarm signal relaying means comprising a delay time clock delaying alarm activation for a certain length of time to permit an authorized user of the firearm to enter an alarm code and thereby cause said alarm signal transmitter to transmit a deactivation signal to said wireless alarm signal relaying means to deactivate the alarm.

2. The security system of claim 1, additionally comprising a panic button alarm signal activation means for causing the transmission of an alarm signal to the alarm signal receiver without displacement of the firearm engaging module.

3. The security system of claim 1, additionally comprising audio alarm sounding means operationally connected to said alarm signal relaying means.

4. The security system of claim 1, wherein said monitoring station is a home security station.

5. The security system of claim 1, wherein the firearm has a trigger guard encompassing said firearm trigger, and wherein said connection means comprises engaging means for engaging the trigger guard, including a structure for lockingly and releasibly fitting through the trigger guard and confining and retaining the trigger against pivoting.

6. The security system of claim 5, additionally comprising a release button blocking assembly, comprising:

a sliding plate having a sliding plate end;

a blocking arm pivotable between, and out from between, said release button and said sliding plate end,

a guide box;

and a pivot shaft substantially perpendicular to and connected to said blocking arm on which said pivot shaft pivots, substantially parallel to said sliding plate and said guide box.

7. The security system of claim 1, wherein the firearm has a firearm trigger encompassed by a trigger guard, and wherein said connection means comprises:

a latching plate having a trigger guard abutting segment with at least one perpendicular cylindrical protrusion for fitting into the trigger guard of the firearm adjacent to the firearm trigger for blocking trigger movement, said latching plate also having a perpendicular engaging segment integral with and bent out of alignment with the guard abutting segment and having a lateral edge with a series of plate locking teeth,

a housing containing a guide bore and a sliding plate within said guide bore, said sliding plate having a channel recessed into one plate face with a channel side wall having a series of locking channel teeth, said sliding plate being slidingly mounted into said guide bore within said module housing and abutting a first coil spring at one guide bore end which biases said sliding plate channel teeth into engagement with said plate locking teeth,

a lock release button port at the opposing end of said guide bore and a lock release button protruding through said housing and positioned to contact said sliding plate, such that depressing said release button toward said housing against the biasing of said coil spring displaces said sliding plate and thereby disengages said plate teeth from said channel teeth such that said latching plate is freed for removal from said housing and from the trigger guard,

and a release button blocking assembly for preventing said release button from displacing said sliding plate.

8. The security system of claim 6, additionally comprising:

a tab notch in said sliding plate,

a locking tab connected to said pivot shaft such that said locking tab removably fits into said tab notch,

a combination lock engagingly and operationally mounted to said pivot shaft and locking tab, and including combination wheels.

9. The security system of claim 1, wherein said alarm arming means comprises an electronic code entry pad, memory means for storing a pre-set code, and microprocessor means for comparing an entered code with said pre-set code.

10. The security system of claim 1, wherein said motion activated alarm switch comprises a tilt switch.

11. The security system of claim 1, additionally comprising a global positioning system activating and homing means connected to said module.

12. A method of operating a security system firearm engaging module comprising a trigger access obstructing structure for obstructing operation of said firearm trigger and a module alarm circuit having a power source, a motion activated alarm switch, alarm arming means, a wireless alarm signal transmitter, and connecting means for connecting said module to the firearm;

an alarm monitoring system; and

wireless alarm signal relaying means operationally connected to an alarm monitoring system including a telephone link to a monitoring station for alerting appropriate persons when an alarm signal is received from said alarm signal transmitter, said wireless alarm signal relaying means comprising a delay time clock delaying alarm activation for a certain length of time to permit an authorized user of the firearm to enter a code and thereby cause said alarm signal transmitter to transmit an alarm deactivation signal to said wireless alarm signal relaying means to deactivate the alarm;

comprising the steps of;

locking the module to a firearm having a firearm trigger such that said trigger access obstructing structure obstructs access to said trigger;

arming the alarm circuit with the arming means such that combined movement of said firearm and said module activates said motion alarm switch and thereby activates said alarm circuit to generate an alarm;

causing substantially immediate transmission of an alarm signal to said wireless alarm signal relaying means upon alarm circuit triggering.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising the additional step of:

causing alarm generation after passage of the present length of time with said time delay.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising the additional step of:

deactivating the alarm upon receipt of an alarm deactivation signal.

15. A portable security system for protecting a firearm having a firearm trigger, comprising:

a firearm engaging module including a trigger access obstruction structure for obstructing operation of said firearm trigger and a module alarm circuit having a power source, a motion activated alarm switch, alarm arming means, a wireless alarm signal transmitter, and connecting means for connecting said module to the firearm,

an alarm monitoring system,

and wireless alarm signal relaying means operationally connected to an alarm monitoring system including a telephone link to a monitoring station for alerting appropriate persons when an alarm signal is received from said alarm signal transmitter.

16. A portable security system for protecting a firearm having a firearm trigger, comprising:

a firearm engaging module including connecting means locking said firearm engaging module to the firearm and including a trigger access obstructing structure obstructing operation of the firearm trigger and a module alarm circuit having a power source, a motion activated alarm switch activated by combined motion of the firearm and said module, alarm arming means, and a wireless alarm signal transmitter,

an alarm monitoring system,

and wireless alarm signal relaying means operationally connected to an alarm monitoring system including a telephone link to a monitoring station for alerting appropriate persons when an alarm signal is received from said alarm signal transmitter, said wireless alarm signal relaying means comprising a delay time clock delaying alarm activation for a certain length of time to permit an authorized user of the firearm to enter an alarm code and thereby cause said alarm signal transmitter to transmit a deactivation signal to said wireless alarm signal relaying means to deactivate the alarm.