Firearm safety system with implanted computer chip

• US 6,481,140 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Marshall
• Original Assignee: William Marshall
• Inventors: Marshall, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Garone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sukman, Gabriel S
• Application Number:
  US09/724,759
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 42/700.1, 42/700.6, 42/700.7, 42/700.8, 42/701.1
• US Class Current: 42/70.11
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards

Abstract

A firearm safety system for the prevention of undesired or unauthorized discharge of a firearm by a person other than an authorized person. The safety system is made up of a computer chip which is implanted into the authorized user'"'"'s anatomy for verification of the user. The information from the computer chip is received by a sensor connected to a firearm and the information processed by a processor. If the information received from the computer chip matches that of an authorized user, the firearm can be discharged by the authorized user.

Claims

1. A firearm safety system comprising:

a computer chip implanted into the human anatomy, the computer chip having a sensor, a transponder having at least one energy coupler, and a control circuit;

a firearm having a barrel, handle, trigger, firing mechanism, and a safety switch operable between a first position preventing discharge of the firearm and a second position allowing discharge of the firearm, wherein the safety switch rests in the first position until operated to the second position;

a sensor for receiving a coded signal from the computer chip;

a memory unit for storing an authorization code representative of the coded signal received from the computer chip of an authorized user; and

a processor connected to both the sensor and memory unit for receiving the coded signal from the sensor, converting the coded signal to an authorization code, and comparing the coded signal received from the computer chip to the authorization codes stored in the memory unit, wherein the processor controls the safety switch to operate in the second position upon determining the received coded signal matches one of the authorization codes stored in the memory unit.

2. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the safety switch comprises:

a solenoid operably connected to a blocking element, the blocking element movable by the solenoid between a blocking position, whereby the blocking element blocks the safety switch from moving into the second position thereby disabling the firearm, and a retracted position whereby the safety switch is permitted to move into the second position thereby enabling discharge of the firearm.

3. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the safety switch comprises:

an electrical current conductor connected to the safety switch for moving the safety switch from the first position preventing discharge of the firearm to the second position allowing discharge of the firearm upon a current flowing through the electrical current conductor wherein the electrical current conductor comprises a length of wire having a first static length and a second static length shorter than said first static length upon the wire being heated by an electrical current flowing through the wire.

4. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is located within the trigger of the firearm.

5. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is located within the handle of the firearm.

6. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is located within the barrel of the firearm.

7. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the memory unit comprises a preprogramed chip of one or more authorized codes, such that the authorization code or codes are permanent read only codes.

8. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the memory unit comprises a replaceable chip such that the user of the firearm may replace the chip containing a first authorized user'"'"'s code with that of a second authorized user'"'"'s code.

9. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the processor and memory unit can be programmed by magnetic means to change the authorization codes.

10. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the firearm has a input port connected to the processor.

11. The firearm safety system according to claim 10, wherein the firearm has an input port for programming the processor to add or withdraw authorized users codes to and from the memory unit comprising a program key for initiating storage of an authorization code into the memory unit, an alphanumeric keypad for attaching authorization codes to be stored in the memory unit, a visual display for viewing the authorization codes stored in the memory unit, scroll keys for scrolling through the authorization codes displayed on the visual display, and an erase key for deleting an authorized user from the memory unit when an authorization code for the authorized user to be deleted is scrolled to on the visual display.

12. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply means.

13. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply to the sensor, memory unit, and processor comprises at least one battery.

14. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is activated by a movement detection system associated with the trigger of the firearm.

15. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is activated by a pressure sensor associated with the handle of the firearm.

18. The firearm safety system according to claim 1, wherein the computer chip is activated by a remote interrogator or reader.

16. A safety system kit containing a safety switch comprising:

a computer chip adapted to be implanted into the human anatomy;

a sensor for receiving a coded signal from the computer chip;

a memory unit for storing a plurality of authorization codes representative of the coded signal received from the computer chip of authorized users; and

a processor for receiving the coded signal from the sensor, converting the coded signal to an authorization code, and comparing the coded signal received from the computer chip to the authorization codes stored in the memory unit, the safety switch is operable between a first position preventing discharge of a firearm and a second position allowing discharge of the firearm, wherein the processor controls the safety switch to operate in the second position upon determining the received coded signal matches one of the authorization codes stored in the memory unit, wherein the sensor, memory unit and processor are adapted for attachment to the firearm in operable relationship to the safety switch.

19. The firearm safety system according to claim 16, wherein the computer chip having a sensor, a transponder has at least one energy coupler, and a control circuit.

20. The firearm safety system according to claim 16, wherein the computer chip is activated by a remote interrogator or reader.

17. A safety system kit containing a safety switch comprising:

a computer chip adapted to be implanted into the human anatomy; and

a firearm having;

a barrel, handle, trigger, firing mechanism, safety switch operable between a first position preventing discharge of the firearm and a second position allowing discharge of the firearm;

a sensor for receiving a coded signal from the computer chip;

a memory unit for storing a plurality of authorization codes representative of the coded signal received from the computer chip of authorized users; and

a processor connected to both the sensor and memory unit for receiving the coded signal from the sensor, converting the coded signal to an authorization code, and comparing the coded signal received from the computer chip to the authorization codes stored in the memory unit, wherein the processor controls the safety switch to operate in the first position upon determining the received signal does not match the authorization code stored in the memory unit and controls the safety switch to operate in the second position upon determining the received coded signal matches one of the authorization codes stored in the memory unit.

21. The safety system kit according to claim 17, wherein the computer chip has a sensor, a transponder having at least one energy coupler, and a control circuit.

22. The safety system kit according to claim 17, wherein the computer chip wherein the computer chip is activated by a remote interrogator or reader.