System and method for monitoring handling of a firearm or other trigger-based device

• US RE44,786 E1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Force Science Institute, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Force Science Institute, Ltd.
• Inventors: Lewinski, William J., Hudson, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US13/435,282
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 434/11, 434/16, 434 18- 22, 434/247, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/365, 89/410.3, 89/7, 891/99, 733/790.2
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/06 Electric or electromechanical safeties F41A17/04, F41A17/08 take precedence

Abstract

Hand position monitoring systems and methods for use with firearms. The hand monitoring system monitors a hand position of a firearm user and includes a sensor assembly and a controller. The sensor assembly acquires hand position information (e.g., index or trigger finger position information) of a firearm user and electronically communicates the hand position information for review and/or analysis.

Claims

1. A hand position monitoring system for use with a firearm including a grip, a frame, and a trigger, the system comprising:

a sensor assembly connected to a firearm, the sensor assembly including;

a sensor for acquiring hand position information of a firearm user grasping the grip with a hand of the firearm user, the information including;

an index trigger finger of the firearm user'"'"'s hand in contact with the frame apart from the grip and the trigger;

an interface in electronic communication with the sensor, the interface for receiving and electronically communicating the hand position information; and

an indicator in electronic communication with the interface, wherein the interface is adapted to prompt operation of the indicator based upon the hand position information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes an LED.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller in electronic communication with the interface of the sensor assembly, the controller including;

a data storage device for storing the hand position information, and

a processor for evaluating the hand position information.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly further includes a second sensor disposed on the trigger for acquiring hand position information of the firearm user.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising a simulator including:

a display screen;

a speaker; and

a computing device programmed with predetermined firearm discharge training scenarios including;

a first scenario in which the user'"'"'s index trigger finger should remain on the frame,

a second scenario in which the user'"'"'s index trigger finger should lift from the frame and be placed in contact with the trigger.

6. A method of monitoring a hand position of a firearm user comprising:

prompting the user to grasp a firearm with a hand of the user, the firearm including a grip, a handle, and a trigger;

acquiring, via a sensor connected to the firearm, hand position information during a non-firing time period in which the trigger is not actuated, the acquired hand position information indicative of a user'"'"'s first hand position relative to the firearm;

automatically determining whether the user'"'"'s first hand position during the non-firing time period corresponds to a first desired hand position based upon the acquired hand position information, wherein the first desired hand position includes the index trigger finger of the user'"'"'s hand in contact with the frame and not in contact with the trigger or the grip; and

communicating the determination of whether the user'"'"'s first hand position corresponds to the first desired hand position.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein communicating the determination includes actuating an LED.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the acquired hand position information is indicative of a presence or absence of the index trigger finger of the user'"'"'s hand in contact with the frame of the firearm.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sensor is located on the frame, immediately adjacent the trigger to establish that the index finger is correctly positioned relative to the firearm whenever the firearm is being grasped by the user but not being fired.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein communicating the determination includes automatically prompting operation of an indicator associated with the firearm in response to a determination that the index trigger finger of the user'"'"'s hand is not in contact with the sensor.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

subjecting the user to a discharge scenario including an improper discharge event in which the firearm should not be fired;

monitoring the acquired hand position information during the discharge scenario; and

evaluating whether the acquired hand position information is indicative of the user acting correctly during the discharge scenario.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the discharge scenario is an actual situation experienced by the user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the discharge scenario is a hypothetical situation presented to the user.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

identify a change in a manner in which the user grasps the firearm to a second user'"'"'s hand position; and

automatically determining whether the second user'"'"'s hand position corresponds with the first desired hand position based upon the acquired hand position information.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

automatically determining whether the determined second user'"'"'s hand position corresponds with a second desired hand position, the second desired hand position including the index trigger finger of the user'"'"'s hand being in contact with the trigger of the firearm.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

subjecting the user to a simulated discharge scenario including a proper discharge event; and

determining whether a timing of a change from the first user'"'"'s hand position to the second user'"'"'s hand position corresponds with a timing of the proper discharge event.

17. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

placing a firearm user in a discharge scenario including a discharge event;

receiving simulation information related to whether the discharge event is a proper or an improper discharge event; and

automatically evaluating the acquired hand position information and the simulation information to determine whether the first user'"'"'s hand position corresponds to the first desired hand position.

18. A method of monitoring a user handling a trigger-based device, the operation of which includes actuating a trigger with an index trigger finger of the user as part of a triggering event, the method comprising:

associating at least one sensor with a frame portion of the device immediately adjacent, but not on the trigger at which the index trigger finger of the user is expected to reside when handling the device during periods other than a triggering event;

acquiring hand position information from the sensor indicative of a hand position of the user relative to the device including indicating the index trigger finger of user'"'"'s hand in contact with the frame and not in contact with the trigger; and

evaluating a manner in which the user handles the device based upon the acquired hand position information and communicating the results of said evaluation.

20. A system comprising:

a trigger-based device comprising a frame and a trigger operable by a trigger finger of a user;

means for sensing the trigger finger proximate to a predetermined region of the frame where the trigger finger is expected to be positioned when the user handles the device during periods other than during a triggering event;

means for acquiring hand position information from the sensing means, said hand position information comprising information indicative of a position of the trigger finger relative to the predetermined region; and

means for indicating information about a manner in which the user handles the trigger-based device in response to the acquired hand position information.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the trigger-based device comprises a firearm.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the trigger-based device comprises a tool operable by a trigger.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the trigger-based device comprises a power drill.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the trigger-based device comprises a crossbow.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the indicating means operates during at least one time interval other than a trigger event.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the sensing means comprises a proximity sensor.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the sensing means comprises a sensor responsive to force or pressure exerted by the user on a portion of the frame.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the sensing means comprises a sensor responsive to motion of the trigger finger being proximate to the predetermined region without actuating the trigger.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the sensing means comprises means for remotely imaging and tracking the hand position of the user relative to the trigger based device.

30. The system of claim 20, further comprising a simulator including:

means for presenting a simulation scenario to the user; and

a computing device programmed with predetermined trigger actuation training scenarios and coupled to the presenting means for presenting the simulation training scenario, the simulation training scenario comprising;

a first scenario in which the user'"'"'s trigger finger should remain proximate to the predetermined region but not in contact with the trigger, and

a second scenario in which the user'"'"'s trigger finger should be placed in contact with the trigger.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein the indicating means further indicates information about the manner in which the user handles the device in association with temporal information relative to a trigger event.

32. The system of claim 20, further comprising means for locking the trigger against inadvertent actuation in response to the sensing means detecting the trigger finger proximate to the predetermined region of the frame.