Patent Grant
9032657
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).
The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of firearm safety and more specifically relates to a fingerprint recognition safety system for use with firearms.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many individuals in modern society own and shoot firearms. A firearm is a portable gun, being a barreled weapon that launches one or more projectiles often defined by the action of an explosive. The first firearms in the world were invented in 13th century China when the man portable fire lance was combined with projectiles such as scrap metal, broken porcelain, or darts/arrows. The technology gradually spread through the rest of East Asia, South Asia, Middle East and then into Europe. In older firearms, the propellant was typically black powder, but modern firearms use smokeless powder or other propellants. Most modern firearms have rifled barrels to impart spin to the projectile for improved flight stability.
Firearms have various safety mechanisms to prevent accidental discharge. These features, however, do not prevent unauthorized users from disengaging the safety mechanisms and using the firearms. Additionally, most safety features currently on the market can be turned ‘off’ if desired, so accidental use and misuse of guns by children, teens, and adults continue to be an unfortunate and devastating part of life in today's society. A safe solution is desirable.
Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,179 to Adams; U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,265 to Pathak; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,104,313 to Wolfe. This art is representative of firearm safety devices. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed.
Ideally, a firearm safety device should provide safety, reasonable ease of use and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable fingerprint recognition safety system to greatly reduce the occurrence of accidental weapons discharge and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known firearm safety art, the present invention provides a novel fingerprint recognition safety system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a greatly increased safety system for firearms to reduce the possibility of accidental discharge.
A fingerprint recognition safety system is disclosed herein, in a preferred embodiment, comprising: a fingerprint recognition safety assembly for use with a firearm having an encoded circuit board with a CPU processor, a recognition software program, and a battery chip. The fingerprint recognition safety assembly further comprises a trigger sensor, a safety pin, a readiness indicator, and a charging port assembly having a charging cable, and a first and second connector in preferred embodiments. The fingerprint recognition safety assembly uses recognition technology, which is able to scan the firearm owner's fingerprint and unlock the safety pin, thereby allowing the firearm owner to utilize the firearm. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of fingerprint scanning, recognition, information communication, verification, locking and unlocking means for pins as described herein, methods of authorization and use enabling and restriction will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.
The fingerprint recognition safety assembly technology is universal (as designed), and is able to be retrofitted to an existing firearm. Alternately, the system may be manufactured OEM. The fingerprint recognition safety assembly comprises an encoded circuit board, a trigger sensor, a safety pin, a readiness indicator, and a charging port assembly in communicative cooperation, to digitally recognize the fingerprint of a firearm owner.
The encoded circuit board comprises a CPU processor, recognition software, and a battery chip in combination. The recognition software has memory capability for storing parameters (positive indicators) of the firearm owner's fingerprint, and prevents the firearm from discharging unless the fingerprint is recognized and authorized. The fingerprint recognition safety assembly protects from unintended use of a firearm in this way. The recognition software of the encoded circuit board allows the fingerprint recognition safety assembly to unlock the safety pin upon recognition of the fingerprint of the firearm owner. The encoded circuit board may have the firearm owner's private information from a concealed weapons permit to be verified to allow use of the firearm.
A battery chip powers the encoded circuit board, and in combination with the trigger sensor and charging port assembly, are completely embedded within the confines of the firearm and thus cannot be by-passed and alternately disabled without disassembling the firearm. The fingerprint recognition safety assembly renders the firearm un-usable if the fingerprint recognition safety assembly is tampered with, and then must be taken to a professional gunsmith, and the owner's private information verified to re-establish use of the firearm by resetting after tampering has occurred.
The trigger sensor may comprise light sensors in preferred embodiments for scanning the fingerprint of the firearm owner to prevent un-authorized use of the firearm. Upon recognition of the fingerprint of the firearm owner, the safety pin slides to an unlocked position to allow ‘normal’ use of the firearm. The readiness indicator allows the firearm owner to visually determine when the fingerprint recognition safety assembly is in a locked and unlocked condition, and uses LEDs to visually alert the firearm owner of readiness of the firearm.
The charging port assembly preferably comprises a charging cable with two connectors to allow charging of the battery chip on the encoded circuit board. The first connector is removably attached to the encoded circuit board, the second connector uses a USB-type connector to charge the battery chip of the encoded circuit board when the firearm is in a stored condition. The second connector of the charging cable is embedded within the grip of the firearm and is able to removably receive a charging apparatus for charging of the battery chip. The encoded circuit board allows the trigger sensor to recognize the fingerprint of the firearm owner and unlock the safety pin, thereby unlocking the trigger to allow the firearm owner to utilize the firearm.
The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a fingerprint recognition safety system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.
The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, fingerprint recognition safety system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.
The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.
As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a firearm safety device and more particularly to a fingerprint recognition safety system as used to improve the general safety and use of firearms and reduce the possibility of accidental discharge.
Generally speaking, the fingerprint recognition safety system of the present invention provides firearm users with a safe and effective way to prevent unauthorized firearm use. This product may comprise fingerprint recognition technology built into a firearm's trigger. Inside the trigger is a chip, encoded with the firearm owner's individual information from their concealed weapons permit and their fingerprint. The chip can continuously scan the trigger for the encoded information while locking the firearm's safety in place. There is an indicator on the side of the firearm that readily shows when the firearm is locked and alternately when it is ready for firing. The encoded chip can be connected to a battery chip, which can be connected to a specially designed safety pin that locks the ‘safety’ in place. When recognition is made, the pin can release the safety, allowing the weapon to ‘fire’. At the bottom of the firearm's grip can be a charging port. When stored on a gun rack or in a holster, a USB-type connection can be inserted into the port to charge the battery.
This technology is designed to be ‘universal’ and thus can be retrofitted for virtually any (modern) existing firearm, regardless of the make or model. The assembly, as designed, is also completely embedded inside the firearm, and cannot be ‘turned off’. If an unauthorized user tampers with the technology, the firearm will ‘lock up’, requiring a person to take the firearm to a professional gunsmith, prove their identity, and show their ownership papers.
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in
Fingerprint recognition safety system 100 in a preferred embodiment comprises fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 having encoded circuit board 110 with CPU processor 109, a fingerprint recognition software program, and battery chip 111. Fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 further comprises trigger sensor 112, safety pin 114, readiness indicator 116, and charging port assembly 120 (having charging cable 122, first connector 124 and second connector 126). Fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 uses fingerprint recognition technology, which is able to scan the firearm owners fingerprint and unlock safety pin 114, thereby allowing the firearm owner to utilize firearm 106.
Referring now to
Fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 technology is designed to be universal, as previously mentioned, and is able to be retrofitted to an existing firearm 106. Fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 comprises encoded circuit board 110, trigger sensor 112, safety pin 114, readiness indicator 116, and charging port assembly 120 in communicative cooperation, the present invention able to digitally recognize the fingerprint of a firearm owner.
Encoded circuit board 110 comprises CPU processor 109, fingerprint recognition software and battery chip 111 in combination. The fingerprint recognition software has memory capability for storing parameters of the firearm owner's fingerprint, and prevents firearm 106 from discharging unless the fingerprint is recognized and authorized. Fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 protects from unintended use of firearm 106. The fingerprint recognition software of encoded circuit board 110 allows fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 to unlock safety pin 114 upon recognition of the fingerprint of the firearm owner. Encoded circuit board 110 has the firearm owner's private information from a concealed weapons permit to allow use of firearm 106.
Referring now to
Battery chip 111 powers encoded circuit board 110, and in combination with trigger sensor 112 and charging port assembly 120, are completely embedded within the confines of firearm 106 and cannot be by-passed and alternately disabled without disassembling firearm 106. Fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 renders firearm 106 un-usable if fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 is tampered with. Firearm 106 then must be taken to a professional gunsmith, and the firearm owner's private information be verified to re-establish use of firearm 106 by ‘resetting’ after tampering has occurred.
Trigger sensor 112 preferably comprises light sensors 113 for scanning the fingerprint of the firearm owner to prevent un-authorized use of firearm 106. Other suitably equivalent fingerprint recognition means may be used. Upon recognition of the fingerprint of the firearm owner, safety pin 114 slides to an unlocked condition to allow use of firearm 106.
Referring now to
Readiness indicator 116 allows the firearm owner to visually (and readily) determine when fingerprint recognition safety assembly 104 is in a locked or an unlocked condition, and uses LEDs to visually alert the firearm owner of readiness of firearm 106.
Charging port assembly 120 comprises charging cable 122 with first connector 124 and second connector 126 to allow charging of battery chip 111 on encoded circuit board 110. First connector 124 is removably attached to encoded circuit board 110, second connector 126 uses a USB-type connector 128 to charge battery chip 111 of encoded circuit board 110 when firearm 106 is in a stored condition. Second connector 126 of charging cable 122 is embedded within grip 108 of firearm 106 and is able to removably receive a charging apparatus for charging of battery chip 111.
Encoded circuit board 110 allows trigger sensor 112 to recognize the fingerprint of the firearm owner and unlock safety pin 114, thereby unlocking the trigger to allow the firearm owner to utilize firearm 106.
Fingerprint recognition safety system 100 may be sold as kit 440 comprising the following parts: at least one encoded circuit board 110 at least one trigger sensor 112; at least one safety pin 114; at least one readiness indicator 116; at least one charging port assembly 120; and at least one set of user instructions. Fingerprint recognition safety system 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of firearm applications (which may be retro-fit or OEM). Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.
Referring now to
A method of use 500 preferably comprises step one 501 gripping a firearm, step two 502 placing index finger on trigger sensor, step three 503 scanning fingerprint, step four 504 utilizing firearm, step five 505 removing index finger from trigger sensor, step six 506 storing firearm. The method may further comprise step seven 507 charging the battery chip (as needed).
It should be noted that step 507 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in
It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶ 6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.
The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/760,311, filed Feb. 4, 2013 which application is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 5579909 | Deal | Dec 1996 | A |
| 5603179 | Adams | Feb 1997 | A |
| 5915936 | Brentzel | Jun 1999 | A |
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| 6421943 | Caulfield et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 6499243 | Herzog | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| 6711843 | Klebes | Mar 2004 | B2 |
| 6823621 | Gotfried | Nov 2004 | B2 |
| 6874265 | Pathak | Apr 2005 | B1 |
| 8104313 | Wolfe | Jan 2012 | B2 |
| 20040031180 | Ivanov | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| 20130019510 | Kemmerer et al. | Jan 2013 | A1 |
| 20140202058 | Zhou | Jul 2014 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61760311 | Feb 2013 | US |
