Patent Application
20120204466
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for a firearm, and more specifically to a device and system to prevent an assailant from disarming a user operating a firearm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many citizens, including soldiers and police officers (collectively hereinafter “user”) are faced with the prospect of being disarmed by an assailant and shot with his/her own firearm (e.g. handgun, rifle, shotgun). For example, a user holding an assailant at gunpoint may suddenly have the assailant grab the firearm and redirect the firearm's muzzle away from the assailant (i.e. redirect the line of fire) as a first step in disarming/attempting to disarm the user. The assailant can then attack the user to weaken him and gain control of the firearm. This can be done in mere seconds by a trained, reality based fighting system practitioner (e.g. Krav Maga). From the time of the assailant's grabbing the user's firearm, to the assailant operating the firearm to shoot the user, the assailant may use the firearm as a club against the user (e.g. while holding onto the barrel of the firearm to drive the butt end of the firearm into the user's face). Once the user is separated from the firearm, the assailant may create space between him and the user (to prevent a user's counter-disarm) and shoot the user.
One proposed solution includes “SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY DISABLBING A WEAPON,” United States Patent Application Publication US 2011/0162514, to Osborne; Wayne Kenneth, et al. (hereinafter Osborne) which teaches an authorized person (user) activating a “remote and/or wireless switch or may be a tethered switch” that signals and activates a “disarming protection circuit” to deliver a large electrical voltage into the body of an unauthorized person, to cause the unauthorized person to release the weapon. The chief disadvantage of this concept, as the title suggests, is that the user is “REMOTE” from his firearm, and the unauthorized person has the firearm. Another disadvantage of Osborne is that it does not take into account how it is that the user became remote from his firearm in the first place. For example, a user who takes an assailant captive at gunpoint will not voluntarily surrender his firearm to the assailant, but instead will only become remote from the firearm involuntarily (e.g. after the assailant delivers a stunning blow to the user's throat or groin). In such a scenario, the chance of a user finding the switch and activating the disarming protection circuit before being shot and killed by the unauthorized person is unlikely. Yet another problem not addressed by Osborne, is how to keep an electrode (or conductive plate/sheath) electrically charged when the electrode is disposed on a moving part of the firearm (e.g. a recoiling slide of a semi-automatic handgun).
Other problems and drawbacks with prior approaches exist. Therefore remains a need for a device that assists a user in maintaining control and possession of a firearm that an assailant attempts to take away from the user.
One object of the invention is to overcome these and other drawbacks of known devices.
This disclosure describes a disarm prevention circuit apparatus for use with a firearm (e.g. handgun, rifle, or pump shotgun) that allows a user to maintain a firearm in the user's hand(s), and prevents an assailant from disarming the user by delivering a high-voltage electric shock to the assailant via at least one exposed electrode or conductive plate of a disarm prevention circuit. In this way, the disarm prevention circuit prevents a user from becoming remote from his firearm in the first place.
Apparatus comprising a disarm prevention circuit attachable to a firearm, at least one exposed electrode of said disarm prevention circuit disposed in such a way that a user of the firearm is able to operate the firearm without contacting the at least one exposed electrode when the device is attached to the firearm.
A system for maintaining control of a firearm, comprising means to impart an electric shock to a second person who interferes with a first person's operation of a firearm, wherein the first person's operation comprises the first person holding the firearm by at least one handle of the firearm, and the second person's interference comprises the second person coming into contact with the means to impart the electric shock.
An apparatus, comprising a disarm prevention circuit, the disarm prevention circuit comprising at least one exposed electrode, a first switch and a second switch wired in a series.
An apparatus, comprising a semi-automatic pistol slide, at least one exposed electrode of said semi-automatic pistol slide disposed in such a way that it is able to deliver an electric shock while the semi-automatic pistol slide recoils.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the embodiments will become readily apparent when the detailed description of the embodiment is read in conjunction with the drawing figures.
With reference to
According to one embodiment, the firearm 26 comprises a frame 32 with rail grooves 34 located in and extending along at least a portion of the frame 32, preferably parallel with a longitudinal axis “A” of the barrel 36. Preferably, the rail grooves 34 extend from about a trigger guard 38 to substantially the most forward end of the frame 32.
In a preferred embodiment, the power source 28 is attached to the firearm's frame 32 (e.g. via it's rail grooves 34). Alternatively, the power source 28 may be located in, or attached to a different location of the firearm 26, such as housed inside a stock 40 of a firearm 26, attached to a hand guard 42, etc..
The power source 28, as shown in
The DPC 20 further comprises at least one connector component 45 to carry an electric current from the power source 28 to the at least one electrode 22. The connector component 45 may be any suitable means for connecting the power source 28 to the at least one exposed electrode 22. For example, the connector component 45 may be a housing wall 46 of the power source 28 (
The at least one exposed electrode 22 is preferably insulated (e.g. with an insulating material 66) and not proximate to a handle 52 (hereinafter “1st handle”) of the firearm 26, so that a user 54 may operate the firearm 26 by the 1st handle 52 of the firearm 26 without being shocked when the electrode 22 receives an electrical current from the power source 28. In another alternate embodiment, the 1st handle 52 of the firearm 26 may be insulated, instead of or in addition to the at least one exposed electrode 22, so that the user 54 operating the firearm 26 will not be shocked.
The 1st switch 30 may be a simple “on/off”, “momentary on”, or other suitable switch 30. For example, when the power source 28 is an illumination device (as illustrated in
The at least one electrode 22 is preferably disposed proximate to the muzzle 56 of the firearm 26, so that when an assailant 58 is being held at gunpoint by a user 54, the electrode 22 will be on the firearm 26 at a point closest to the assailant 58 when the assailant 58 attempts to disarm the user 54 who is holding the firearm 26 by at least one 1st handle 52.
The at least one elongated bar 60 is illustrated as being oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the barrel 36 of the firearm 26, but other orientations are possible. Preferably the at least one elongated bar 60 has a geometry that is complimentary to an elongated slot 64 of the connector component 45 (e.g. as illustrated, a power source's 28 housing wall 46, that is likewise substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the barrel 36 of the firearm 26), so that they may slidably connect together to carry an electrical current from the power source 28 to the at least one exposed electrode 22. At least a portion of the elongated bar 60 and elongated slot 64 is preferably composed of one or more conductive materials (e.g. copper, conductive plastic, etc.). In this way, when the firearm 26 is fired and the slide 24 recoils, the at least one electrode 22 will remain electrically charged.
For purposes of illustration, the elongated slots 64 are shown open ended, however in an alternate embodiment the elongated slots 64 may be closed at least at one end (e.g. at a point closest to the muzzle 56) to prevent the connection of the at least one elongated bar 60 and elongated slot 64 from becoming dirty/degraded. The elongated bar 60 may be integral to the slide 24 (i.e. made with the slide 24 as one piece), or may be a separately manufactured part that is attached to the slide 24 (e.g. by screws, weld, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, the at least one elongated bar 60 is removably attached (e.g. by screws), so that it can be easily replaced when it becomes worn.
The removable upper portion 68 preferably slidably attaches to the firearm 26. For example, the upper portion 68 may include a clip of one piece construction (made of metal, plastic, or other suitable material, or a combination of materials) including a first leg, a second leg, and a bridging section joining the first leg and the second leg that further biases the first leg against the second leg to attach to the upper portion 68 to the firearm 26. Alternatively, the removable upper portion 68 may be made of more than one piece.
In alternate embodiment, the removable upper portion 68 may attach to a firearm's 26 picatinny, weaver, or other tactical rail 70 by at least one fastener (e.g. screw).
When the firearm 26 includes a front sight bead/blade (not shown), the removable upper portion 68 preferably includes a notch 72 to accommodate the bead/blade, so that the removable upper portion 68 and the electrode 22 may be positioned on the most forward portion of the slide 24, proximate to the firearm's 26 muzzle 56.
In this embodiment, the cover 50 attaches to a firearm 26 by sliding onto the firearm's 26 rail grooves 34. In this embodiment, it is further preferable that the DPC 20 may slide onto the firearm's 26 rail grooves 34 either end of the DPC 20 first, so that a user 54 in an emergency can attach the DPC 20 to a firearm 26 without having to consider which end of the DPC 20 to slide onto the rail grooves 34 first. In a preferred embodiment, the DPC 20, or segments of it, will have the same or similar color/pattern of the firearm's 26 surface, so that the DPC's 20 presence is not obvious to an assailant 58.
In this embodiment, the DPC 20 power source 28 may be mounted on the firearm's 26 tactical rail 70, or other suitable location (e.g. in a hollow of the firearm's stock 40. In this embodiment, 1st switch 30 and 2nd switch 80 are wired in a series 82, so that both switches 30 & 80 must be closed in order for the at least one pair of exposed electrodes 78 to shock 98 an assailant 58. The 2nd switch 80 is preferably a push button “momentary on” type switch.
When the DPC 20 is attached to a firearm 26 having at least two handles 52 & 76, the 2nd switch 80 is preferably disposed on the 2nd handle 76 of the firearm 26 to prevent the user 54 from being accidentally shocked when the 1st switch 30 is closed. For example, a user 54 who aims a firearm 26 having two handles 52 & 76 will hold the firearm 26 in both hands (i.e. one on each handle). Therefore, when the 2nd switch 80 is disposed on the 2nd handle 76 of the firearm 26, the user's 54 hand will not accidentally come into contact with the at least one exposed electrode 22 and be shocked. Alternatively, when the firearm 26 has a stock 40, the 2nd switch 80 may be disposed on the butt 84 of the stock 40, so that the user's 54 shoulder can depress the 2nd switch 80 when the user 54 places the butt 84 of the firearm 26 against the user's 54 shoulder to aim the firearm 26.
In a preferred embodiment, when the DPC 20 includes at least one pair of exposed electrodes 78, a space 86 between the pair of electrodes 78 will exist that is wide enough (e.g. approximately an inch or more depending on the voltage and environment), to prevent an arc from being created between the pair of exposed electrodes. When no arc is created, an assailant 58 will not recognize the pair of exposed electrodes 78 as such, to avoid them. When an assailant's 58 body part (e.g. a hand) closes the current path between the pair of exposed electrodes 78, a high-voltage electricity discharge will flow into the assailant 58, and prevent the firearm 26 from being taken out of the user's 54 hands.
In an alternate embodiment, the space 86 between the pair of exposed electrodes 78 is adjustable, so that when the weather is humid (for example) the space 86 may be increased to prevent a visible arc.
The transistors Q1 and Q2, take the low voltage coming across the resistor R2, and out of the power source, and controls a much larger current that is amplified and output from the various transistors Q1 and Q2. The resistor R1 is provided to protect the transistors Q1 and Q2 from too much current which may cause excessive damaging heat to the DPC 20. The large current being output from the transistors Q1 and Q2 is fed into a drive transformer T1.
The step-up or high voltage drive transformer T1 receives a pair of currents from the transistors Q1 and Q2 which flow from a pair of primary coils induces a second current in a secondary winding. The voltage ratio is electromagnetically induced into a significantly higher level. As shown from the primary and secondary winding, the voltage is significantly boosted to a substantially higher level as shown by the dramatic increase in the number of windings in the secondary coil. The boosted secondary high voltage and smaller secondary current is fed into various diodes D1-D4.
The high voltage transformers T1, T2 (discussed later) may be of any suitable type and is well known in the art. The high output voltage from the high voltage transformer T2 may be selected to deliver a sufficiently high voltage to the at least one electrode 22 that will cause an assailant 58 to release the firearm 26. High voltage transformers of this type are incorporated into commercial articles known as “stun guns” (as well as other devices, e.g. cattle prods) and act to deliver well in excess of 25,000 volts to the electrodes. Typical stun guns now commercially available deliver in excess of 1,000,000 volts to the electrodes.
In accordance with this disclosure, when an assailant 58 comes into contact (physical or electrical) with the at least one exposed electrode 22 of the DPC 20 while attempting to disarm a user 54 who is operating the firearm 26 (i.e. by holding a firearm 26 by at least one handle), the assailant's 58 disarm will be thwarted when the assailant 58 experiences a high voltage shock 98 (e.g. in the range of approximately 25,000 to approximately 1,000,000 volts being delivered through the assailant's 58 body). The range is not intended to be absolute and may be varied depending on the power source 28, embedded circuitry and intended operating environment, which may result in lower and/or higher ranges. For example, when the user 54 is a prison guard, the DPC 20 may generate a non-lethal voltage, and when the user 54 is a combat soldier, a lethal voltage.
The diodes D1-D4 are arranged as a full-wave bridge rectifier to provide full-wave rectification of the AC output of the single transformer T1 secondary winding. The incoming AC from the transformer T1 is converted into some form of a pulsating DC. Both halves of the incoming AC wave are manipulated so that both halves are used to cause output current to flow in the same direction. That full-wave bridge rectifier rectifies the undulating (AC) signal (or voltage) into a single polarity (DC) signal (or voltage); hence, the diodes D1-D4 operate on the entire incoming AC wave. The full wave rectifier shown will rectify both haves of the AC signal, thereby providing a fuller, higher voltage, DC out signal. The output voltage out of the various diodes D1-D4 is fed in series to a pair of load resistors R3 and R4.
The output current from the various diodes D1-D4 is filtered. The pulsating voltage from the various diodes D1-D4 is filtered into a steady output direct current (DC) and limited across the resistor R3 and the capacitor C1.
Likewise, the current limited across the resistor R4 activates the (silicon controlled rectifier) SCR1 and is subsequently fed into the triac Z1 and collected by the capacitor C1. The triac Z1 provides internal protection to the circuit by carrying current in both directions and is used to control the AC voltage that is to switch both direct (DC) and alternating currents (AC). The SCR1 is provided to control the DC voltage coming out of the various diodes D1-D4. The SCR and the triac Z1 will provide internal protection to the circuit by further filtering out the output current in at least the following way. The triac Z1 (two SCR's back-to-back) will allow for current control in one direction and the other in the opposite polarity. On the contrary, the SCR1 will block reverse current polarity and only allow correct polarity. The SCR1 may be a high current SCR capable of switching hundreds of amperes up to several thousand volts in a predefined direction.
The output from the capacitor C1 may be fed into the diode D5 which is used to isolate current flow, like a one way valve, by controlling (blocking or passing) its flow to supply a second capacitor C2, which in turn when charged, discharges and feeds current into a second transformer T2.
The second transformer T2 receives a current that flows across a primary coil and is induced into a secondary larger winding. As shown by the windings, the voltage ratio is transformed into a significantly higher level. That is, the voltage is significantly boosted to a substantially higher level as shown by the dramatic increase in the secondary windings in the secondary coil. The highly charged voltage coming out of the secondary windings of the second transformer(s) T2 are connected to high voltage terminals 92 which in turn may be connected to the at least one electrode 22.
The high voltage terminals 92 are made of conducting metal (or other suitable material) positioned in the DPC 20 with a space 86 between them. A high voltage differential is provided between the high voltage terminals 92. An exposed electrode 22/pair of electrodes 78 is connected through an electrode connector 94 to the high voltage terminals 92. When a portion of the assailant 58 (e.g. hand) fills the space 86, the electrical pulses will move from one electrode 22 to the other, shocking 98 the assailant 58. Alternatively, the assailant 58 may come into contact with an exposed conductive plate to receive a shock 98. Circuitries for administering an electrical shock 98 to another (and to animals) are well known by those of ordinary skill in the art, and so are not discussed in further detail.
Although this invention has been disclosed and described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred forms is only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of operation and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments that are described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of priority to provisional patent application No. 61/442,146, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, and hereby incorporates it by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61442146 | Feb 2011 | US |
