Electromechanical trigger guard protective enclosure

• US 9,810,500 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2013
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gun Guardian, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gun Guardian, LLC
• Inventors: Murphy, II, William Lewis, Harvey, Robert Vail
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOMBERG, BENJAMIN S
• Application Number:
  US13/732,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20140182180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 42 7007
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/06 Electric or electromechanical safeties F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/54 Protecting-caps for trigger guards; Trigger locking pieces mounted on, or within, the trigger guard

Abstract

The electromechanical trigger guard protective enclosure is a safety device intended to prevent access to the trigger of any firearm with an accessory rail. The present invention has a keypad, which activates the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism either covers the trigger or slides open revealing the trigger for use. The protective enclosure is affixed to the accessory rail on a gun, ensuring that it is able to be used at all times, preventing any inability to properly enclose the trigger. This protective sheath allows for the weapon to remain loaded and ready to fire at all times, aiding greatly in times of self-defense.

Claims

1. A system for restricting access to a firearm trigger of a weapon having an accessory rail, said system comprising:

a stationary sheath having a central enclosure that is defined by a forward facing end, a backward facing end, a top end, a bottom end, and an outside surface,

said stationary sheath further including a pair of protrusions that are disposed along the top end thereof, said protrusions being configured to removably engage the accessory rail of the weapon, so as to position the backward facing end of the stationary sheath at a location adjacent to the firearm trigger;

a unitary and generally U-shaped non-stationary sheath that is in communication with the backward facing end of the stationary sheath;

a rechargeable and portable power source that is positioned within the central enclosure of the stationary sheath;

a user input component that is positioned along the outside surface of the stationary sheath; and

an electromechanical drive system that is positioned within the central enclosure of the stationary sheath, said drive system being in communication with each of the user input component, the power source and the non-stationary sheath, and is configured to selectively transition the non-stationary sheath between at least one of a deployed position and a retracted position upon receiving an instruction from the user input component,

the electromechanical drive system comprising;

a motor;

a lead screw that is in communication with the motor; and

an elongated threaded shaft this is positioned centrally along a longitudinal axis of the non-stationary sheath, said threaded shaft being connected to each of the lead screw and the unitary and generally U-shaped non-stationary sheath,

wherein the threaded shaft is configured to receive a rotational force from the lead screw and to impart a linear force onto a center portion of the generally U-shaped non-stationary sheath; and

wherein in the retracted position, the non-stationary sheath is positioned within the central enclosure of the stationary sheath, and in the deployed position, the non-stationary sheath extends outward from the backward facing end of the stationary sheath and is configured to fully enshroud the firearm trigger of the weapon.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an accessory rail that is mounted along the bottom end of the stationary sheath.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external port on the outside surface of the stationary sheath for recharging the power source.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pin that is in communication with the stationary sheath, said pin functioning to lock the stationary sheath to a trigger guard of the weapon.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of setscrews that are positioned along the stationary sheath, said setscrews being configured to engage the accessory rail of the weapon and to lock the stationary sheath thereon.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of openings that are disposed along the nonstationary sheath, said openings being positioned so as to align with the plurality of setscrews when the system is in the retracted position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein in the deployed position, the plurality of openings are not aligned with the plurality of setscrews.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the user input component comprises:

an access keypad that is positioned along the outside surface of the stationary sheath.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the access keypad is illuminated.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the access keypad includes functionality for biometric identification.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of an audible and visual alert that is configured to automatically activate upon the occurrence of a reserve power situation.