Firearms safety device

• US 6,912,807 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SimonsVoss Technologies GmbH (Allegion PLC), Armatix GmbH
• Original Assignee: Armatix GmbH
• Inventors: Meyerle, Herbert, Dietel, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREENE, DANIEL LAWSON
• Application Number:
  US10/618,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 42/701.1, 42/96
• US Class Current: 42/70.11
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/06 Electric or electromechanical safeties F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/44 Safety plugs, e.g. for plugging-up cartridge chambers , barrels, magazine spaces

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety device and a securing method, in particular for securing firearms against unauthorised use. A device according to the invention is provided with at least one clamping or locking portion that is insertable into a barrel 100 of a firearm and is optionally lockable and/or unlockable or permanently clampable therein and/or detachable therefrom. Moreover, it is provided with a control unit, such as an electronic authentication means that is capable of authenticating a user and, if the user is authorized, makes at least one clamping portion clampable within the barrel of the weapon or detachable therefrom. The safety device is completely insertable into the barrel.

Claims

1. A firearms safety device for securing a firearm against unauthorised use, comprising:

at least one locking portion that is insertable into a barrel and/or a cartridge chamber of the firearm and is optionally lockable and/or unlockable therein and optionally clampable within and/or detachable from the barrel;

a control unit which is capable of authenticating a user and, upon authentication of the user, locks and/or unlocks or clamps at least the locking portion within the barrel of the firearm and or makes the safety device detachable;

the safety device being designed such that it is completely insertable into the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber for putting the firearm at safe;

wherein the control unit is electronic and is arranged within an area within the safety device which is protected against unauthorised manipulation.

7. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the safety device is provided with at least one armouring which protects the safety device against unauthorised manipulation from outside.

8. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein said safety device is provided with a first armouring protecting said safety device, if inserted into the barrel, against unauthorised manipulation from the barrel-muzzle end and a second armouring protecting said safety device, if inserted into the barrel, against unauthorised manipulation from the cartridge chamber end.

9. The safety device according to claim 7, wherein at least one armouring is provided with a ceramic material or diamond.

10. The safety device according to claim 7, wherein an essentially axial mechanical energy manipulatively applied from outside to the armouring is absorbed by means behind the armouring such that the resultant force on the armouring is reduced which is thus prevented from breaking into pieces.

11. The safety device according to claim 10, wherein the safety device is designed such that the manipulatively applied mechanical energy is used to increase the clamping force applied to the safety device within the barrel.

12. The safety device according to claim 10, wherein the safety device is designed such that the manipulatively applied mechanical energy is used to destroy the barrel.

13. The safety device according to claim 10, wherein the means for absorbing the essentially axial mechanical energy is part of the armouring itself.

14. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is provided with at least one clamping means that is lockable within the barrel of a weapon such that the safety device cannot be removed from the barrel.

15. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is provided with at least one clamping means that can be actuated from outside via an actuator, wherein unlocking is possible only if an inactivation is lifted by the control unit.

16. The safety device according to claim 15, wherein the actuator is designed such that it merely gives the user the necessary degree of freedom for an authorised actuation of the locking portion from outside and, if not activated, this degree of freedom cannot be used for removing or manipulating the safety device.

17. The safety device according to claim 15, wherein the actuator is provided with a predetermined breaking point that is designed and dimensioned such that the actuator is permanently inactivated in case of an unauthorised manipulation.

18. The safety device according to claim 15, wherein armouring is part of the actuator.

19. The safety device according to claim 17, wherein an actuation can be established by rotating armouring.

20. The safety device according to claim 14, wherein the clamping means comprises at least one expandable clamping jaw.

21. The safety device according to claim 20, wherein the clamping means comprises at least one expanding means that expands the clamping jaw(s) upon actuation of the actuator.

22. The safety device according to claim 21, wherein the expanding means is provided essentially within the clamping jaw and comprises at least one wedge surface that is movable with respect to a respective surface of the clamping jaw so that it can be expanded.

23. The safety device according to claim 21, wherein the expanding means comprises at least one expanding thread which can be moved axially with respect to the respective surface of the clamping jaw by actuation of the actuator.

24. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping portion is provided with at least one clamping means that is clampable within the barrel/cartridge chamber of a weapon, wherein its clamping effect is increased as the force, such as tension, pressure and/or rotation, applied to an end accessible from outside increases.

25. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein an activation means comprises an actuator that is controllable via a control unit, a spindle that is rotatable via the actuator and a deactivation element that is operable via the spindle, wherein, if operated (the safety device being in a state in which it cannot be removed), the deactivation element prevents an expanding thread from being rotated.

26. The safety device according to claim 25, wherein a mechanical potential has to be overcome for operating the deactivation element.

27. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises electronic means that essentially authenticates a user.

28. The safety device according to claim 27, wherein the electronic means is supplied with energy from outside via an electric connection, preferably galvanically, capacitatively or inductively.

29. The safety device according to claim 28, wherein the authentication data are also exchanged via said connection.

30. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein a device is provided that inhibits/diverts the manipulatively applied electric energy such that no opening is possible.

31. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the device inhibiting/diverting manipulatively applied energy comprises an element for blowing in case of manipulatively applied energy, which inhibits or interrupts the current supply.

32. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the device inhibiting/diverting manipulatively applied energy is designed such that manipulatively applied energy is led past the actuator.

33. The safety device according to claim 30, wherein the device inhibiting/diverting manipulatively applied energy is designed such that manipulatively applied energy is preset to be led to the actuator such that it is operated towards inactivation.

34. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein a second actuator and a second expanding thread are provided via which and via a respective inner thread in a second expanding cone said second expanding cone is axially movable and wherein said second expanding thread is rotatable via its inner end.

35. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein a second locking portion, which is at first separate from the remaining safety device, is insertable into and clampable or lockable within the barrel of the weapon, wherein said second locking portion is no longer de-clampable/unlockable upon insertion of the first locking portion.

36. The safety device according to claim 35, wherein the remaining safety device is insertable into the barrel of the weapon up to the second locking portion, wherein the remaining safety device can be clamped/locked with the barrel and/or the second locking portion.

37. The safety device according to claim 35, wherein the second locking portion is designed such that it can be arranged within the cartridge chamber and the barrel.

38. Safety device according to claim 1, further comprising:

operating means for coupling the operating means to a transmission means of the safety device and for transmitting an authorisation request to the safety device and/or a force for locking and/or unlocking or clamping and/or removing the safety device from the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber.

39. The operating means according to claim 38, wherein the coupling means comprises an engagement means and the transmission means is formed by an armouring of the safety device so that the engagement means (5) can engage with and rotate the armouring.

40. The operating means according to claim 39, wherein the coupling means comprises contacting means via which an authorisation means is transmitted to the safety device.

41. The operating means according to claim 40, moreover comprising gripping means which a user can rotate and which subsequently transmits the rotation to the transmission means of the safety device via the coupling means.

42. The operating means according to claim 38 which is capable of examining whether the safety device has been correctly inserted according to predetermined criteria by monitoring the mechanical parameters during operation and/or by reply from the control unit.

43. The operating means according to claim 38 comprising an electronic control means that is programmable by a computer and, if necessary, transmits the authorisation request to the contacting means.

44. A method for securing a firearm against unauthorised use, in particular comprising a safety device according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:

providing at least one locking portion;

inserting the entire safety device and the locking portion into the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber of the firearm;

providing a control unit authenticating the user and, if the user is authorised, locking and/or unlocking or clamping the locking portion in the barrel of the firearm and/or detaching the safety device;

transmitting an authentication code to the control unit; and

optionally locking and/or unlocking or optionally clamping the locking portion and/or removing the safety device from the barrel.

45. A method for securing a firearm against unauthorised use, in particular comprising a safety device according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:

providing at least one locking portion;

providing a control unit that is capable of authenticating a user and, if the user is authorised, locks and/or unlocks or clamps at least the locking portion in the barrel of the firearm and/or makes the safety device detachable; and

providing an activation means which, upon authentication by the control unit, enables or prevents locking and/or unlocking or clamping and/or detachment via the transmission means.

46. A method for securing a firearm against unauthorised use, in particular comprising a safety device according to claim 1, comprising the following steps:

providing at least one locking portion;

inserting the safety device and the locking portion into the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber of the firearm; and

providing a severance protection means in the locking portion, wherein the severance protection means comprises at least one inclined element within the locking portion which is positioned and designed such that it at least partially radially expands the locking portion upon locking or clamping in case of an essentially axial force caused by manipulation so that the locking portion is locked or clamped farther down in the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber.

2. A firearms safety device for securing a firearm against unauthorised use, comprising:

at least one locking portion that is insertable into a barrel and/or a cartridge chamber of the firearm and is optionally lockable and/or unlockable therein and optionally clampable within and/or detachable from the barrel;

a transmission means for coupling to an operating means via which a user can optionally lock and/or unlock or clamp said safety device from outside and/or make it detachable;

a control unit that is capable of authenticating a user; and

an activation means which, upon authentication by the control unit, enables or prevents locking and/or unlocking or clamping and/or detaching via the transmission means;

wherein the control unit is electronic and is arranged inside the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber and therefore within an area protected against unauthorised manipulation.

4. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the activation means comprises a deactivation means.

3. A firearms safety device for securing a firearm against unauthorised use, comprising:

at least one locking portion that is insertable into a barrel and/or a cartridge chamber of the firearm and is optionally lockable and/or unlockable therein and optionally clampable within and/or detachable from the barrel;

a severance protection that is arranged in the locking portion and comprises at least one inclined element provided in said locking portion which inclined element is designed and positioned such that it expands the locking portion upon locking or clamping at least partially radially in case of an essentially axial force caused by manipulation so that the locking portion is locked or clamped even farther down the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber;

a control unit that is capable of authenticating a user;

wherein the control unit is electronic and is arranged inside the barrel and/or the cartridge chamber and therefore within an area protected against unauthorised manipulation.

5. The safety device according to claim 3, wherein the severance protection means is provided with a plurality of plate-shaped, inclined elements with graded expansibility.

6. The safety device according to claim 5, wherein the elements with lower expansibility generate a counterforce that is necessary to expand the elements with higher expansibility in case of an axial force caused by manipulation.