Firearm maintenance

• US 8,223,019 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2009
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visible Assets Incorporated (NOV, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, John K., Waterhouse, Paul, August, M. Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US12/510,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/01 Counting means indicating the number of shots fired
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 29/00 Cleaning or lubricating arrangements injecting fluids into barrels or cartridge chambers F41A13/04 ; ammunition for cleaning purposes F42B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/00 Accessories or details not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A method for identifying, tracking, and monitoring a firearm includes steps of: attaching a low frequency radio tag to the firearm; storing, in the data storage device of the radio tag, identification data relating to the firearm; and reading the identification data from the transceiver by interrogating the radio tag. The radio tag includes a shot sensor, a shot count register for tracking the number of shots fired and cadence registers for tracking the intervals between shots.

Claims

1. A system for tracking shots fired from a firearm, the system comprising:

a low frequency networked radio tag coupled with the firearm, said radio tag configured to receive and send data signals, the radio tag comprising;

a modem;

a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 300 kilohertz;

a transceiver operatively connected to the tag antenna, said transceiver configured to transmit and receive data signals at the low radio frequency;

a data storage device configured to store data comprising identification data for identifying the firearm and shot count data;

a processor configured to process data received from the transceiver and the data storage device and to transmit data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon the identification data stored in said data storage device;

a shot count register operatively coupled with the processor for tracking a number of shots fired, wherein the shot count register is incremented each time a shot is fired;

a plurality of cadence registers operatively coupled with the processor for tracking an interval between shots;

a shot sensor for detecting when a shot has been fired from the firearm;

a timing mechanism for recording time used to determine shot cadence; and

a connector for a power source to power the processor and the transceiver.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the radio tag is embedded in a handle of the firearm.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the radio tag is housed in a waterproof casing.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the identification data comprises an internet protocol address, and the processor is operable for communication with an internet router using said internet protocol address, such that at least a portion of the identification data can be transmitted through the internet router to be viewable through a web browser.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data store for storing firearm performance parameters.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio tag further comprises an onboard crystal used for data encryption.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising the energy source operable for activating the transceiver and the processor.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a reader in operative communication with the tag antenna, said reader configured to receive data signals from the radio tag.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one field antenna disposed at an orientation and within a distance from the radio tag that permits effective communication therewith at the low radio frequency.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one field antenna comprises a large loop, wherein a distance from the at least one field antenna to the tag does not exceed a major dimension of said large loop.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one field antenna is positioned vertically.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter in operative communication with the tag antenna, said transmitter being operable to send data signals to the radio tag.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the reader, and at least one field antenna, and a transmitter are combined into a handheld device configured for reading and transmitting signals to and from the radio tag.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a central data processor in operative communication with the reader.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio tag further comprises at least one sensor operable to generate a status signal upon sensing a pre-determined status condition.

15. A method for identifying, tracking and monitoring a firearm, said method comprising steps of:

attaching a low frequency radio tag to the firearm, said radio tag comprising a tag antenna operable at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz, a transceiver operatively connected to said antenna, said transceiver being operable to transmit and receive data signals at said low radio frequency, a data storage device configured to store data comprising identification data for identifying said radio tag, a processor operable to process data received from said transceiver and said data storage device and to send data to cause said transceiver to emit an identification signal based upon said identification data stored in said data storage device;

a shot count register operatively coupled with the processor for tracking a number of shots fired, wherein the shot count register is incremented each time a shot is fired;

a plurality of cadence registers operatively coupled with the processor for tracking an interval between shots;

a shot sensor for detecting when a shot has been fired from the firearm;

a timing mechanism for recording time used to determine the shot cadence; and

a connector for an energy source for activating said transceiver and said processor;

storing, in the data storage device of the radio tag, data comprising identification data relating to said firearm;

reading the identification data from the transceiver of the radio tag by interrogating said radio tag with radio frequency interrogation signals at a low radio frequency not exceeding 450 kilohertz via said tag antenna; and

transmitting the identification data and the shot count data.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting step comprises transmitting the identification data from the radio tag to a central data processor.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising a step of:

generating a report detailing the transmitted data.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the unique identifier is used as a key to access data about the firearm.