Firearm safety system

• US 8,966,797 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black Bart, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Black Bart, Inc.
• Inventors: Carlson, Trevor Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US13/827,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20140259841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 42/10.1, 42/66, 42/700.1, 42/700.4, 42/700.5, 42/701.1, 42/700.8, 89/271.2
• US Class Current: 42/1.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/06 Electric or electromechanical safeties F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/08 for inhibiting firing in a specified direction, e.g. at a friendly person or at a protected area F41A27/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/56 Sear safeties, i.e. means for rendering ineffective an intermediate lever transmitting trigger movement to firing pin, hammer, bolt or sear F41A17/02 - F41A17/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/10 Triggers; Trigger mountings
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/25 having only slidably-mounted striker elements, i.e. percussion or firing pins
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/66 Breech housings or frames; Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers

Abstract

A firearm safety system and method is described herein. The system may include a tracking system, a smart firearm and/or a smart magazine, and a smart tracking unit. The tracking system is in communication with satellites that monitor specific locations, a smart firearm and a portable electronic device. The tracking system includes an internal geographical database of specific monitored locations. The smart firearm includes a microprocessor and a receiver. The motor operates in response to a signal received, which may indicate that the firearm is approaching a no gun safety zone, whereby the signal causes the microprocessor to operate the automatic safety lock to prevent the apparatus from operating. The receiver monitors signals and receives location data from the satellites. The method of operating a smart firearm includes receiving a signal at the at least one receiver and responding to the signal by locking the automatic safety lock.

Claims

1. A firearm safety apparatus comprising:

a gun frame housing a first microprocessor;

a first receiver in communication with the first microprocessor, wherein the first receiver is configured to receive a signal;

at least one motor in communication with the first microprocessor;

a trigger;

a sear mechanically connected with the trigger;

a striker mechanically connected with the sear and being operable to selectively contact an associated bullet to thereby shoot the associated bullet from the gun frame;

a first safety lock in communication with the first microprocessor and the at least one motor;

a magazine frame housing a second microprocessor and a feed member configured to selectively communicate the associated bullet to the gun frame;

a second receiver in communication with the second microprocessor, wherein the second receiver is configured to receive the signal; and

a second safety lock in communication with the second microprocessor;

wherein the at least one motor is configured to selectively operate the first safety lock to prevent the striker from operating in response to the signal received by the first receiver;

wherein the second safety lock is configured to selectively prevent the feed member from communicating the associated bullet to the gun frame in response to the signal received by the second receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first safety lock is configured to prevent the sear from engaging the striker whereby the gun frame is unable to operate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first receiver is configured to receive location data from at least one satellite.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising at least one transmitter configured to communicate with the first microprocessor and the first receiver, wherein the at least one transmitter is configured to transmit a signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a tracking unit in communication with the first microprocessor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tracking unit includes an internal geographical database of specific monitored locations.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the specific monitored locations include schools.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the specific monitored locations include federal buildings.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first safety lock comprises a bar.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first safety lock is configured to selectively permit the gun frame to operate and to selectively prevent the gun frame from operating.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the specific monitored locations include a designated no gun safety zone around the locations.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first receiver is capable of receiving geographic coordinate signals and the first microprocessor is capable of matching the geographic coordinate signals with a stored geographical database of specific monitored locations.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the first receiver is adapted to receive a second signal indicating that the apparatus is approaching a no gun safety zone; and

the first microprocessor is configured to operate the first safety lock responsive to the second signal received by the first receiver.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is configured to receive location data from at least one satellite.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a transmitter configured to communicate with the second microprocessor and the second receiver, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a tracking unit in communication with the second microprocessor, wherein the tracking unit includes an internal geographical database of specific monitored locations.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a portable electronic device configured to communicate with the tracking unit;

wherein the portable electronic device is configured to one or more of;

selectively operate the first safety lock to prevent the striker from operating in response to the signal received by the first receiver, and selectively prevent the feed member from communicating the associated bullet to the gun frame, and

wherein when the apparatus approaches a specific location being monitored, the portable electronic device is capable of producing a warning signal, and further wherein when the apparatus enters into the specific location being monitored, the apparatus is configured to be locked down upon entering the specific location being monitored.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second receiver is capable of receiving geographic coordinate signals and the second microprocessor is capable of matching the geographic coordinate signals with a stored geographical database of specific monitored locations.