Firearms protected from unauthorized use

• US 7,155,855 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Original Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Inventors: Schumacher, Michael, Mauch, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US10/763,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20050000139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 42/700.1, 42/701.1
• US Class Current: 42/70.01
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder

Abstract

Firearms protected from unauthorized use. A disclosed firearm comprises a housing having a handle; a safety located in the housing to selectively prevent firing; and a module removably attachable to the handle and containing an electronic identification device to identify an authorized user. The electronic identification device controls the safety to prevent firing by unauthorized persons and to permit firing by the authorized user.

Claims

1. A firearm comprising:

a housing having a handle;

a safety to selectively prevent firing;

a first module removably attachable to the handle, the first module containing an electronic identification device identifying a first authorized user, the electronic identification device controlling the safety to prevent firing by unauthorized persons and to permit firing by the first authorized user when the first module is attached to the handle; and

a second module removably attachable to the handle in place of the first module such that the first and second modules are interchangeable, the second module interacting with the safety when the second module is attached to the handle to affect the ability to fire the firearm, wherein the second module releases the safety for all users.

2. A firearm as defined in claim 1, further comprising a memory associated with the electronic identification device.

3. A firearm as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic identification device is powered by current generated by movement of a first part of the firearm relative to a second part of the firearm.

4. A firearm as defined in claim 3, wherein the first part comprises a magnet carried by a magazine.

5. A firearm as defined in claim 4, wherein the magazine is stored in the handle.

6. A firearm as defined in claim 3, wherein the first part comprises a breech or a structure that is movable together with the breech.

7. A firearm as defined in claim 1, further comprising a piezoelectric element positioned in at least one of the housing and the first module such that recoil stress caused by firing of a shot causes the piezoelectric element to generate current to power the electronic identification device.

8. A firearm as defined in claim 7 wherein the recoil stress is a result of movement of a recoil spring, a breech, or a powder-gas driven device.

9. A firearm as defined in claim 1, further comprising a magazine having an identification code which is read and recorded by the electronic identification device.

10. A firearm as defined in claim 9 wherein the electronic identification device evaluates the identification code associated with the magazine to identify the first authorized user.

11. A firearm as defined in claim 1, further comprising a microphone coupled to the electronic identification device.

12. A firearm as defined in claim 11, wherein the electronic identification device comprises a voice recognition device or a word recognition device.

13. A firearm as defined in claim 12, wherein the voice recognition device is structured to recognize a normal voice, a whisper and a hoarse voice of the first authorized user.

14. A firearm as defined in claim 12, wherein the word recognition device is structured to recognize a word spoken in a normal voice, a whisper and a hoarse voice of the first authorized user.

15. A firearm as defined in claim 12, wherein the microphone is connected with a memory which records data indicative of spoken commands from the first authorized user.

16. A firearm as defined in claim 15, further comprising a timer or time signal receiver, and wherein the data indicative of the spoken command comprises a firing time.

17. A firearm as defined in claim 11, wherein the microphone is connected with a memory which records data reflecting firing of shots.

18. A firearm as defined in claim 17, further comprising a timer or time signal receiver, and wherein the data reflecting firing of shots comprises a firing time.

19. A firearm as defined in claim 17, wherein more than one user is the authorized user, and the data reflecting flung of shots comprises an identification of a shooter of the shots.

20. A firearm as defined in claim 2, wherein the memory stores an event indicative of a maintenance requirement of the firearm.

21. A firearm as defined in claim 1, wherein the electronic identification device comprises a sensor for iris recognition, the sensor being directed toward an expected location of an aiming eye of a user attempting to fire the firearm.

22. A firearm as defined in claim 1, wherein the safety prevents firing when the first module is removed from the firearm.

23. A firearm as defined in claim 1, further comprising a contact sensor which activates the safety the contact sensor is released.

24. A firearm as defined in claim 2, wherein the firearm has a firearm identification number and the firearm identification number is written to the memory to record connection of the module to the firearm.

25. A firearm comprising:

a housing having a handle;

a safety located in the housing to selectively prevent firing;

a first module removably attachable to the handle and containing an electronic identification device to identify an authorized user, the electronic identification device controlling the safety to prevent firing by unauthorized persons and to permit firing by the authorized user; and

a second module for installation in place of the first module, wherein the second module releases the safety for all users.