Secure smartphone-operated gun lock with apparatus for preventing firing in protected directions
First Claim
1. Apparatus for locking and unlocking a gun to control its use, the apparatus comprising, in combination:
- (a) a gun lock device configured to be disposed on a gun and including a locking device responsive to at least one electric signal to select between two operative states, a locked state which prevents the gun from firing and an unlocked state which enables gun firing, said gun lock device further comprising;
(1) a data receiver for receiving (i) a gun control signal that specifies one of a locked and an unlocked state, and (ii) first gun security data;
(2) a first data memory for storing second gun security data; and
(3) a first logic device, coupled to the data receiver and to the data memory, for comparing said first gun security data received by the data receiver with said second gun security data stored in the data memory, and for producing the at least one electric signal to actuate the gun lock device in dependence upon the state specified by the gun control signal and upon whether the stored second gun security data and the received first gun security data are substantially similar,wherein the first logic device is operative to cause the gun lock device to either enable the gun to be fired or to prevent the gun from being fired, respectfully, in response to the gun control signal when and if the stored second gun security data and the received first gun security data are substantially similar, and(b) an electronic gun key device comprising a smartphone having a GPS locater ad a data transmitter for transmitting a gun control signal and said first gun security data to the data receiver, said gun key device comprising;
(1) a second data memory, for storing information about a putative authorized person who wishes to control the gun; and
(2) a second logic device, coupled to each of the data transmitter and the second data memory, for generating said first gun security data defined by the putative authorized person for transmission to the data receiver,wherein the putative authorized person is recognized as a person authorized to control the gun when and if the transmitted first gun security data is substantially similar to said second gun security data stored in the first data memory; and
wherein at least one of said gun lock device and said gun key device includes shooter protection apparatus operative to cause the gun lock device to be set in the locked state when the gun is aimed at a particular protected person or object, notwithstanding that a person authorized to control the gun has previously unlocked the gun; and
wherein said protection apparatus is operative to determine whether the gun is aimed at said protected person or object by at least one of;
(i) determining the azimuth to a GPS location of said protected person or object with respect to a GPS location of the gun, using the GPS locater of said smartphone; and
(ii) a pattern recognition of said protected person or object from an image of a location at which the gun is aimed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gun lock device, which may be configured to be disposed adjacent the trigger of a gun to alternatively prevent or enable firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether security data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as security data stored in the data memory. One or more separate smartphones are provided to transmit the security data and a gun lock/unlock signal to the gun lock device. The smartphone and the gun lock device operate together to automatically lock the gun when the gun is aimed in the direction of the authorized gun user (e.g. the gun owner) or the direction of any of the gun user'"'"'s friends who have accepted the user'"'"'s friend request from the app “Find Friends.”.
48 Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for locking and unlocking a gun to control its use, the apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a gun lock device configured to be disposed on a gun and including a locking device responsive to at least one electric signal to select between two operative states, a locked state which prevents the gun from firing and an unlocked state which enables gun firing, said gun lock device further comprising; (1) a data receiver for receiving (i) a gun control signal that specifies one of a locked and an unlocked state, and (ii) first gun security data; (2) a first data memory for storing second gun security data; and (3) a first logic device, coupled to the data receiver and to the data memory, for comparing said first gun security data received by the data receiver with said second gun security data stored in the data memory, and for producing the at least one electric signal to actuate the gun lock device in dependence upon the state specified by the gun control signal and upon whether the stored second gun security data and the received first gun security data are substantially similar, wherein the first logic device is operative to cause the gun lock device to either enable the gun to be fired or to prevent the gun from being fired, respectfully, in response to the gun control signal when and if the stored second gun security data and the received first gun security data are substantially similar, and (b) an electronic gun key device comprising a smartphone having a GPS locater ad a data transmitter for transmitting a gun control signal and said first gun security data to the data receiver, said gun key device comprising; (1) a second data memory, for storing information about a putative authorized person who wishes to control the gun; and (2) a second logic device, coupled to each of the data transmitter and the second data memory, for generating said first gun security data defined by the putative authorized person for transmission to the data receiver, wherein the putative authorized person is recognized as a person authorized to control the gun when and if the transmitted first gun security data is substantially similar to said second gun security data stored in the first data memory; and wherein at least one of said gun lock device and said gun key device includes shooter protection apparatus operative to cause the gun lock device to be set in the locked state when the gun is aimed at a particular protected person or object, notwithstanding that a person authorized to control the gun has previously unlocked the gun; and wherein said protection apparatus is operative to determine whether the gun is aimed at said protected person or object by at least one of; (i) determining the azimuth to a GPS location of said protected person or object with respect to a GPS location of the gun, using the GPS locater of said smartphone; and (ii) a pattern recognition of said protected person or object from an image of a location at which the gun is aimed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification