Securing mechanisms for preventing access to a firearm by unauthorized users, and safety housing for use therewith
First Claim
1. A securing mechanism for locking a firearm in a housing, comprising:
- two or more cooperating pivotal retaining members each having a catch surface and an engagement surface formed thereon, said retaining members being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein a cooperating portion of the housing is not constrained by said catch surfaces and the firearm can be withdrawn from the housing and a second locked position wherein said catch surfaces engage and constrain the cooperating portion of the housing to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from the housing;
said engagement surfaces configured so that, when the cooperating portion of the housing and said engagement surfaces are moved into engagement with each other while said retaining members are in said first unlocked position, the cooperating portion of the housing contacts said engagement surfaces and moves said retaining members to said second locked position;
a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining members and adapted to secure said retaining members in said second position; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from the housing.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A securing mechanism for use in a holster, gun safe, base station, recharging/docking station, gun rack, or other safety housing for a firearm or other item, including one or more retaining members that engage the trigger guard, barrel, or other part of the firearm to prevent withdrawl of the firearm from the safety housing by anyone other than an authorized user of the firearm. The securing mechanism includes a biometric identification mechanism such as a fingerprint sensor for scanning fingerprint information of a prospective user of the firearm, and a processor for comparing the scanned biometric information with stored biometric information of an authorized user and releasing the retaining member only if the scanned biometric information matches that of the authorized user.
81 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A securing mechanism for locking a firearm in a housing, comprising:
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two or more cooperating pivotal retaining members each having a catch surface and an engagement surface formed thereon, said retaining members being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein a cooperating portion of the housing is not constrained by said catch surfaces and the firearm can be withdrawn from the housing and a second locked position wherein said catch surfaces engage and constrain the cooperating portion of the housing to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from the housing;
said engagement surfaces configured so that, when the cooperating portion of the housing and said engagement surfaces are moved into engagement with each other while said retaining members are in said first unlocked position, the cooperating portion of the housing contacts said engagement surfaces and moves said retaining members to said second locked position;
a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining members and adapted to secure said retaining members in said second position; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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10. A safety device for a firearm comprising:
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a housing for receiving at least a portion of the firearm;
two or more cooperating pivotal retaining members each having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining members being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein a cooperating portion of said housing is not constrained by said catch surfaces and the firearm can be withdrawn from said housing and a second locked position wherein said catch surfaces engage and constrain said cooperating portion of said housing to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said housing;
a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining members and adapted to secure said retaining members in said second position, wherein said lock mechanism has a lock member with one or more lock arms that are adapted to engage and move said retaining members from said first unlocked position to said second locked position and to secure both of said retaining members in said second locked position;
wherein, each of said retaining members has at least one engagement arm extending therefrom with said catch surfaces formed thereon for engaging said cooperating portion of said housing and has a lock arm that is adapted to be engaged by at least one of said lock arms of said lock mechanism; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24)
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19. A safety device for a firearm, comprising:
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a housing for receiving at least a portion of the firearm;
at least two cooperating pivotal retaining members each having a catch surface formed thereon, said retaining members being moveable between a first unlocked position wherein a cooperating portion of said housing is not constrained by said catch surfaces and the firearm can be withdrawn from said housing and a second locked position wherein said catch surfaces engage and constrain said cooperating portion of said housing to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said housing;
a lock mechanism operatively coupled to said retaining member and adapted to secure said retaining member in said second position, wherein said lock mechanism comprises a lock member that is movable between a first unlocked position permitting said retaining members to pivot to said first unlocked position and a second locked position securing said at least two retaining members in said second locked position; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said housing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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25. A safety device for a firearm, comprising:
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a housing for receiving at least a portion of the firearm, said housing comprising a base and a carrier for holding the firearm, said base including a catch, said carrier movably coupled to said base, wherein said carrier moves under the force of gravity to a first unlocked position at least partially outside of the base wherein the firearm can be withdrawn from said carrier from a second locked position with the firearm inaccessible within the base;
at least two movable retaining members each having at least one catch surface, at least one engagement surface, and at least one lock surface defined thereon, wherein said engagement surfaces are positioned between said catch surfaces and said lock surfaces;
said retaining members moveable between a first unlocked position wherein said housing base catch is not constrained by said retaining member catch surfaces so that said housing carrier moves to said first unlocked position and a second locked position wherein said retaining member catch surfaces engage and constrain said housing base catch in said second locked position to prevent withdrawal of the firearm from said housing;
said engagement surfaces configured so that, when said housing base catch and said retaining member engagement surfaces are moved into engagement with each other while said retaining members are in said first unlocked position, said housing base catch contacts said retaining member engagement surfaces and moves said retaining members to said second locked position;
a lock mechanism comprising a lock member that is movable between a first unlocked position permitting said retaining members to pivot to said first unlocked position and a second locked position engaging both of said retaining member lock surfaces and securing both of said retaining members in said second locked position; and
means for identifying an authorized user of the firearm and releasing said lock mechanism to permit withdrawal of the firearm from said housing. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification