Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6526684
-
Patent Number
6,526,684
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, April 5, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 4, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Carone; Michael J.
- Smith; Kimberly S
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A firearm safety device invention for handguns is disclosed. The safety device (10) prevents accidental firing of a gun by children, but is easily removable by an adult in 5 to 10 seconds even in pitch darkness. The safety device includes a lock sleeve (26) with an expandable end plug (30) which is inserted through the muzzle (16) of a gun barrel (14). With the end plug positioned in the firing chamber, a lock rod (24) is inserted into the lock sleeve to force expansion of the linear slotted (32) end plug sufficiently to prevent the safety device from being removed from the barrel. Withdrawal of the lock rod from the lock sleeve to allow removal of the safety device is prevented by a knurled cap (22) which is threadedly attached to a knurled enlarged end portion (28) of the lock sleeve. Since the safety device is able to rotate freely in its assembled position in the gun, any attempt to unscrew the knurled cap without holding the enlarged end portion of the lock sleeve stationary will be unsuccessful. A child will not be able to remove the knurled cap since he or she will hold the gun in one hand while fiddling with the knurled cap with the other hand.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to safety for firearms, specifically a device to securely block the chamber and barrel of a firearm to prevent its firing.
BACKGROUND: DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Children and other people are injured or killed by accidental shootings from loaded firearms which do not have preventative safety devices and which have been carelessly placed or stored where children can gain access to them. A recent publication estimated that 44 million Americans keep 65 million handguns in their homes.
Inventors and firearms manufacturers are working to develop and market “Personalized Smart Guns”, ones that only the owner can fire. Patented inventions disclose a wide variety of safety lock systems, including finger print recognition, radio control, and magnetic control. Gun owners are not enthusiastic about using smart guns, with batteries, electronics, and magnets, because of the added cost and their questionable reliability for functioning properly in emergency situations.
For existing firearms and those still being sold, numerous patented safety devices to childproof these firearms have been invented and some are now on the market. Most of these safety devices either prevent access to the trigger or prevent a cartridge from being chambered or fired.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,392,552 and 5,561,935 both issued to McCarthy are examples of the “clam shell” type trigger lock, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,341 issued to Cervantes is an example of “block” type trigger lock. A variety of locks, including key, dial roller, combination, illuminated digital and etc. are used to prevent removal of trigger safety devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,476 issued to Hetrich, U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,753 issued to Bielman, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,971 issued to Chaney are examples of safety devices that have a dummy cartridge to block the chamber which is held in place by a key controlled barrel rod.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,294 issued to Knopp, U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,099 issued to Mathew, U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,144 issued to Thurber, U.S. Pat. No. 5,001,854 issued to Derman, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,211 issued to Hepp are examples of safety devices which block the barrel and cartridge chamber by use of rods and rod removal keys, etc.
One concern about trigger locks and blocks is that a careless gun owner will leave a live cartridge in the chamber of the gun and a child might cock the hammer into its firing position. The child might then continue to monkey around the trigger or drop the gun possibly causing it to fire. Also, gun owners are concerned with the effects gun locks have on their sense of security. Today's locks are mechanical devices requiring keys, combinations, etc., things that a person might not easily remember or locate in the middle of the night during an emergency situation.
The barrel block safety devices that attach to a dummy cartridge in the chamber assure that a live cartridge can not be chambered and fired. Generally a key rod fastens and unfastens the barrel block from the dummy cartridge. The amount of time required to find and use the key rod to remove the block from the gun barrel, remove the dummy cartridge and load the gun is of great concern to the gun owner.
The barrel block safety devices that go through the barrel and enter the dummy cartridge are locked in place by various means to prevent chambering a live cartridge. All have a removal system using a key rod, a cable, or a digital padlock, which causes an unacceptable delay for the gun owner.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,615, for a child resistant container and safety closure, has provided background technology for an alternate embodiment of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a firearm safety device for handguns and is designed to prevent accidental firing of a gun. The gun can not contain a live cartridge in the firing chamber with the safety device in position; however, the safety device can be removed quickly, even in the dark, by following a proper removal procedure which is childproof.
The safety device includes a lock sleeve with an expandable end plug, which is inserted through the muzzle of a gun barrel. With the end plug positioned in the firing chamber, a lock rod is inserted into the lock sleeve to force expansion of the linear slotted end plug sufficiently to prevent the safety device from being removed from the barrel. Withdrawal of the lock rod from the lock sleeve to allow removal of the safety device is prevented by a knurled cap, which is threadedly attached to a knurled enlarged end portion of the lock sleeve. Since the safety device is able to rotate freely in its assembled position in the gun, any attempt to unscrew the knurled cap without holding the knurled enlarged end portion of the lock sleeve stationary will be unsuccessful. A child will not be able to remove the knurled cap since he or she will hold the gun in one hand while fiddling with the knurled cap with the other hand.
OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES
It is an object of my invention to provide a firearm safety device which may be easily applied to any handgun to prevent its firing by children and also be easily and quickly removed by the owner for emergency or other use.
It is also an object of my invention to provide a firearm safety device which, when positioned in a handgun, prevents a cartridge being in the firing chamber. Many other firearm safety devices such as clam shell type trigger guards, barrel locks, and trigger blocks are not designed to prevent a cartridge from being in the firing chamber. It is an accepted fact that dropping a loaded gun can sometimes result in its discharge.
Another object of my invention is to provide such a firearm safety device which is installable and removable entirely from the muzzle end of a gun barrel, without any scratching or other damage to the firearm.
Yet another object of my invention is to provide a firearm safety device of simple, rugged construction and with a high reliability of working properly.
Still another object of my invention is to provide a firearm safety device made of tough plastic material which can be inexpensively molded using current production machines and techniques.
A further object of my invention is to provide a firearm safety device which is childproof but can be removed from a firearm by an adult in 5 to 10 seconds, in pitch darkness using only a small physical force.
Another object of my invention is to provide a firearm safety device that when positioned in a handgun will extend out of the muzzle of the gun barrel as an indication that the firearm safety device is positioned within the handgun.
Still another object of my invention is to provide a firearm safety device which is adapted to be used with handguns of various types, i.e. revolver, semiautomatic and others and adapted to all different calibre handguns with different length barrels.
It is also an object of my invention to provide a firearm safety device which, in addition to being childproof, includes a secondary security system to prevent firing by unauthorized older children and adults.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side view, partly in cross-section, illustrating the firearm safety device invention assembled in the cylinder and barrel of a revolver handgun.
FIG. 2
is a rear broken away and phantom view of the revolver, showing an end view of the safety device invention in the firing chamber.
FIG. 3
is an assembly diagram of the safety device invention, shown in
FIG. 1
, as applicable to a semiautomatic handgun.
FIG. 4
is a side view, partly in cross-section, of the safety device invention assembled in the firing chamber and barrel of a relatively large calibre semiautomatic handgun.
FIG. 5
is a side view, partly in cross-section of the safety device invention assembled in the firing chamber and barrel of a relatively small calibre semiautomatic handgun.
FIG. 6
is an assembly diagram of the safety device invention with an alternate embodiment showing another cap closure system.
FIG. 7
is an enlarged, partly broken away, assembly diagram of the safety device invention alternate embodiment shown in FIG.
6
.
FIG. 8
is an assembly diagram of the safety device invention with another alternate embodiment showing the addition of a lock clip and padlock.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
|
10 firearm safety device
|
12 revolver handgun
|
14 barrel
|
16 muzzle
|
18 bore
|
20 firing chamber
|
22 knurled cap
|
24 lock rod
|
25 circular cavity
|
26 lock sleeve
|
27 thread
|
28 knurled enlarged end portion
|
30 end plug
|
32 linear slot
|
34 small end portion
|
36 shoulder
|
37 shoulder
|
38 cylinder
|
40 semiautomatic handgun
|
42 hole
|
44 thread
|
46 junction
|
48 firearm safety device
|
50 lock sleeve
|
52 lock rod
|
54 knurled cap
|
56 lock ring
|
58 enlarged end portion
|
60 extending tab
|
62 male thread
|
64 female thread
|
66 peripheral wall
|
68 neck groove portion
|
70 knurled outside surface
|
72 peripheral wall
|
74 outside serrated surface
|
76 small split
|
78 alignment bar or abutment
|
80 arcuate slot or recess
|
82 axis alignment shoulder
|
84 inside serrated surface
|
86 axis offset shoulder
|
88 longitudinal serration
|
89 lock clip
|
90 side rail
|
91 shackle
|
92 lock
|
93 hole
|
|
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS.
1
-
5
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly
FIG. 1
, it can be seen that a firearm safety device according to the invention is designated generally by the numeral
10
. As will become apparent herein, firearm safety device
10
is intended to serve as a firing chamber lock mechanism, securing the barrel and firing chamber of the firearm with which it is employed. Firearm safety device
10
shown in the assembly drawing of
FIG. 1
, for a revolver handgun
12
, has a barrel
14
extending to a muzzle
16
. A bore
18
extends axially into barrel
14
from muzzle
16
in standard fashion. As will become further apparent herein, bore
18
typically terminates at a firing chamber
20
of revolver handgun
12
.
Firearm safety device
10
includes a knurled cap
22
with a lock rod
24
positioned in a circular cavity
25
of knurled cap
22
. As shown, lock rod
24
is inside a lock sleeve
26
which is assembled in bore
18
. Knurled cap
22
is threaded to a mating thread
27
on a knurled enlarged end portion
28
of lock sleeve
26
, as shown in FIG.
3
. An end plug
30
on lock sleeve
26
is positioned in firing chamber
20
, preventing insertion of a cartridge into firing chamber
20
. A number of linear slots
32
in end plug
30
provide the flexibility needed in the insertion and removal of end plug
30
from bore
18
. As further shown in
FIG. 1
, lock sleeve
26
can not be removed from barrel
14
as lock rod
24
, in touching contact with end plug
30
, prevents the diametrical contraction of end plug
30
necessary for removal from barrel
14
. Removal of lock rod
24
from lock sleeve
26
allows for contraction of end plug
30
and easy removal of lock sleeve
26
from barrel
14
. As shown, a small end portion
34
of lock rod
24
extends the outside diameter of end plug
30
to a diameter more than the inside diameter of bore
18
but slightly less than the inside diameter of firing chamber
20
, which allows free axial movement of end plug
30
within firing chamber
20
but prevents removal from barrel
14
.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that most of the firing chamber
20
has a slightly greater inside diameter than bore
18
, the departure between the firing chamber
20
and bore
18
being defined by a shoulder
36
of the firing chamber
20
adapted for contacting the rim of a cartridge, and a shoulder
37
of the end plug
30
.
FIG. 2
is a rear view of a cylinder
38
, in revolver handgun
12
, showing end plug
30
of firearm safety device
10
positioned in firing chamber
20
. Lock rod
24
forces diametrical expansion of end plug
30
to a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of firing chamber
20
and sufficiently more than the inside diameter of bore
18
of barrel
14
, preventing removal of firearm safety device
10
from revolver hand gun
12
.
FIG. 3
is an assembly diagram of firearm safety device
10
disclosed and described in FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2
as applied to a semiautomatic handgun
40
. Firearm safety device
10
invention is designed to be used on most any type of handgun, i.e. revolver handgun
12
, semiautomatic handgun
40
and others. The firearm safety device
10
is also designed to fit a wide range of handgun barrel lengths, since the knurled cap
22
end of firearm safety device
10
protrudes an inch or more from muzzle
16
of barrel
14
. This allows firearm safety device
10
to be used in handguns with different length barrels. A stretched out, longer version of the invention can be made for use in handguns with extra long barrels.
Firearm safety device
10
is also designed for use in handguns of different calibres. The smallest calibre handgun which firearm safety device
10
can be used with must be slightly larger than the outside diameter of lock sleeve
26
, to allow free axial movement of end plug
30
within firing chamber
20
. The largest calibre handgun in which the firearm safety device
10
can be used is limited by the maximum diameter expansion of end plug
30
. This maximum diameter occurs when the diameter of small end portion
34
of lock rod
24
is the same as the diameter of the rest of lock rod
24
.
Firearm safety device
10
as designed covers a range of calibres spread apart by about 0.10 inches. To fit all calibre handguns, from say .22 to .50 calibre, about three different sizes of firearm safety device
10
would be necessary. For the small calibres, such as .22 and .25, it may be necessary to manufacture lock rod
24
from metal instead of plastic in order to provide added rigidity to firearm safety device
10
.
When assembling lock sleeve
26
into bore
18
of barrel
14
, end plug
30
which is flexible is easily guided into bore
18
. Lock sleeve
26
is then pushed until end plug
30
fully enters firing chamber
20
. With lock sleeve
26
in place, lock rod
24
is then fully inserted in a hole
42
of lock sleeve
26
to allow small end portion
34
of lock rod
24
to enter and expand end plug
30
of lock sleeve
26
. After lock rod
24
is positioned in lock sleeve
26
, a thread
44
on knurled cap
22
can be screwed together with thread
27
on the knurled enlarged end portion
28
of lock sleeve
26
.
When removal of firearm safety device
10
is attempted, without first withdrawing lock rod
24
, shoulder
37
of end plug
30
of lock sleeve
26
will abut against shoulder
36
of firing chamber
20
preventing removal of firearm safety device
10
.
FIG. 4
shows firearm safety device
10
positioned in firing chamber
20
a
and barrel
14
a
of semiautomatic handgun
40
a
which is of larger calibre than semiautomatic handgun
40
shown in FIG.
3
. In
FIGS. 4 and 5
, elements which are not interchangeable, but similar to those shown in
FIG. 3
, are identified with the same numerals followed by the letter “a”. As shown in
FIG. 4
, small end portion
34
has a diameter equal to the rest of lock rod
24
which causes the fill outside diameter expansion of end plug
30
. The flexibility needed in end plug
30
for expansion or contraction is provided by linear slots
32
in lock sleeve
26
, as previously discussed.
A junction
46
, between knurled cap
22
and knurled enlarged end portion
28
of lock sleeve
26
, is a nearly invisible circular line where knurled cap
22
and knurled enlarged end portion
28
are joined. As assembled, firearm safety device
10
is free to rotate axially and also have some limited movement laterally as designed, but can not be removed from barrel
14
a
without following the proper removal procedure. A child attempting to remove firearm safety device
10
will rotate, push and pull knurled cap
22
but will be unsuccessful since the child will hold the handgun in one hand and try to remove knurled cap
22
with the other hand. It is highly unlikely the child will hold knurled enlarged end portion
28
stationary with one hand while unscrewing the tightly attached knurled cap
22
with the other hand, which is the proper removal procedure.
FIG. 5
shows firearm safety device
10
positioned in firing chamber
20
a
and barrel
14
a
of semiautomatic handgun
40
a
which is of smaller calibre than that shown in FIG.
4
. As shown, lock rod
24
has a minimum diameter small end portion
34
which causes the outside diameter expansion of end plug
30
of lock sleeve
26
. Linear slots
32
in lock sleeve
26
provide the flexibility required for expansion of end plug
30
.
Firearm safety device
10
for revolver handgun
12
shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, and semiautomatic handguns
40
and
40
a
shown in
FIGS. 3
,
4
, and
5
are basically the same. The only difference is, that for each different calibre handgun, small end portion
34
of lock rod
24
will necessarily have a correspondingly different diameter. As designed, firearm safety device
10
allows all of the different calibre matching lock rods
24
to interchangeably fit in circular cavity
25
of knurled cap
22
.
DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS, FIGS.
6
,
7
AND
8
FIG. 6
is an assembly diagram of a firearm safety device
48
showing an alternate embodiment of the invention utilizing a different childproofing method of securing a lock sleeve
50
of firearm safety device
48
in semiautomatic handgun
40
a.
This different childproofing system as shown has a lock rod
52
, a knurled cap
54
, a lock ring
56
, and an enlarged end portion
58
which attach together to prevent removal of firearm safety device
48
. The alternate embodiment replaces knurled cap
22
and enlarged end portion
28
of firearm safety device
10
, as shown in
FIGS. 1
,
4
, and
5
. All of the other design features of firearm safety device
10
and
48
are the same and have been adequately described herein.
A detailed description of the alternate embodiments is provided below, based on
FIG. 7
which is an enlarged detailed assembly diagram of the portions of
FIG. 6
which show design changes in the alternate childproofing method.
FIG. 7
is an enlarged assembly diagram showing the portion of firearm safety device
48
, shown in
FIG. 6
, which contains all of the design changes of the alternate embodiment. As shown, firearm safety device
48
consists of knurled cap
54
, lock rod
52
, lock ring
56
, and enlarged end portion
58
of lock sleeve
50
. An extending tab
60
on lock ring
56
is exposed and is designed to be held stationary during knurled cap
54
removal procedure. As shown, enlarged end portion
58
of lock sleeve
50
contains a male thread
62
. A female thread
64
, located inside a peripheral wall
66
of knurled cap
54
, is contoured to freely fit male thread
62
. Enlarged end portion
58
further has a neck groove portion
68
, centrally located between male thread
62
and a circular knurled outside surface
70
, which is intentionally formed with its axis offset from the central axis of male thread
62
. Lock ring
56
is also formed to provide a same axis offset between the inside of a peripheral wall
72
and an outside serrated surface
74
. Lock ring
56
rotatably engages neck groove portion
68
of enlarged end portion
58
. A small split
76
in lock ring
56
allows lock ring
56
to be sprung open sufficiently to freely slide over male thread
62
into neck groove portion
68
of enlarged end portion
58
of lock sleeve
50
. A radially disposed alignment bar or abutment
78
formed on neck groove portion
68
of enlarged end portion
58
is confined and surmounted by an arcuate slot or recess
80
in lock ring
56
. With lock ring
56
engaged with neck grove portion
68
of enlarged end portion
58
and rotated clockwise, alignment bar or abutment
78
will be abuttingly engaged by an axis alignment shoulder
82
of arcuate slot or recess
80
. The axis, described above for lock ring
56
and enlarged end portion
58
, will then be in alignment with each other in accordance with an object of the invention. In this alignment position, outside serrated surface
74
of lock ring
56
will be concentric with an inside serrated surface
84
of knurled cap
54
, and will allow knurled cap
54
to be threaded clockwise on enlarged end portion
58
. This occurs as inside serrated surface
84
is designed to be concentric with female thread
64
of knurled cap
54
. With knurled cap
54
threaded tightly to enlarged end portion
58
, lock rod
52
will be securely contained within lock sleeve
50
, preventing removal of firearm safety device
48
. The proper manner of unthreading knurled cap
54
from enlarged end portion
58
is to hold extending tab
60
stationary. With extending tab
60
stationary, axis alignment shoulder
82
of lock ring
56
cannot rotate away from alignment bar or abutment
78
, thus maintaining alignment as knurled cap
54
is unthreaded. The slight contact between outside serrated surface
74
and inside serrated surface
84
does not impede easy removal of knurled cap
54
. When attempting to unthread knurled cap
54
from enlarged end portion
58
in an improper manner, i.e. by not holding extending tab
60
of the lock ring
56
to maintain necessary alignment, the counterclockwise rotation to unthread knurled cap
54
will cause lock ring
56
to rotate out of alignment. With lock ring
56
moving out of alignment into the safety or grip locking position against knurled cap
54
, removal of the knurled cap
54
is prevented. Lock ring
56
rotates because of the initial light contact between outside serrated surface
74
and inside serrated surface
84
. As lock ring
56
rotates counterclockwise, axis alignment shoulder
82
moves away from its alignment contact position against alignment bar or abutment
78
. This movement causes the axes of lock ring
56
and enlarged end portion
58
to go out of alignment. With the offset axis of lock ring
56
moved off its alignment position, inside serrated surface
84
moves into an increasing jamming or grip locking relationship with outside serrated surface
74
, and knurled cap
54
cannot be removed from enlarged end portion
58
. In order to allow sufficient rotation of lock ring
56
to effect the grip lock of lock ring
56
and enlarged end portion
58
, the extent of arcuate slot or recess
80
is such that an axis offset shoulder
86
of arcuate slot or recess
80
can not contact alignment bar or abutment
78
of enlarged end portion
58
. A small longitudinal serration
88
on both outside serrated surface
74
of lock ring
56
and inside serrated surface
84
of enlarged end portion
58
, illustrates the configuration of these serrations.
DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS FIG.
8
FIG. 8
is an assembly diagram of firearm safety device
10
with an added secondary security system. As shown this additional secondary security system has a lock clip
89
designed to assemble over both enlarged end portion
28
and attached knurled cap
22
of firearm safety device
10
, while positioned in semiautomatic handgun
40
. A side rail
90
on the top and bottom of each side of lock clip
89
enclose enlarged end portion
28
and attached cap
22
sufficiently to prevent unscrewing and removal of knurled cap
22
from enlarged end portion
28
. Removal of knurled cap
22
is the key step in removing firearm safety device
10
from semiautomatic handgun
40
as previously disclosed.
With the lock clip
89
assembled over enlarged end portion
28
and attached cap
22
, a shackle
91
of a padlock
92
is inserted through two holes
93
of lock clip
89
to prevent removal of lock clip
89
. Padlock
92
can be of any type as long as shackle
91
has the proper length and diameter to fit through holes
93
of lock clip
89
.
Operation of the Invention
The operational procedure for installing or removing firearm safety device
10
invention from revolver handgun
12
, shown in
FIG. 1
, and semiautomatic handgun
40
, shown in
FIG. 3
, is the same.
Assume that firearm safety device
10
is positioned within revolver handgun
12
and quick removal is necessary in an emergency situation. A person following the proper removal procedure will hold revolver handgun
12
in one hand and use several fingers of the same hand to hold knurled enlarged end portion
28
of lock sleeve
26
stationary, while unscrewing and removing knurled cap
22
and lock rod
24
with the other hand. Lock sleeve
26
can then be freely withdrawn from barrel
14
of revolver handgun
12
to complete the removal of handgun safety device
10
.
Assuming now a child, in some way, has gained access to revolver handgun
12
with firearm safety device
10
positioned therein and tries to remove firearm safety device
10
. The child will be unsuccessful despite various manipulations that will be tried. Holding revolver handgun
12
in one hand and trying to push, pull, and rotate knurled cap
22
in either direction with the other hand will be unsuccessful since firearm safety device
10
is designed to move freely back and forth a half inch or so and is free to rotate in either direction. Further, the child is physically unable to hold revolver handgun
12
and use fingers of the same hand to hold knurled enlarged end portion
28
of lock sleeve
26
stationary while trying with the other hand to remove knurled cap
22
. Unscrewing knurled cap
22
is the key step in removal of firearm safety device
10
as explained above.
Efforts by two children, one holding revolver handgun
12
and the other pulling at firearm safety device
10
, will fail to remove firearm safety device
10
, as a test on a model of the invention showed that a pull of 120 pounds force was unsuccessful in removing firearm safety device
10
.
FIGS. 6 and 7
illustrate an alternate embodiment of the invention. Firearm safety device
48
is basically the same as firearm safety device
10
, since all portions that are positioned inside barrel
14
a
of semiautomatic handgun
40
a
are exactly the same as those of firearm safety device
10
. Firearm safety device
48
, however, has a different design for childproofing the safety removal system which includes knurled cap
54
, lock ring
56
and enlarged end portion
58
of lock sleeve
50
.
Assume that firearm safety device
48
is positioned within semiautomatic handgun
40
a
and quick removal is necessary in an emergency situation. A person following the proper removal procedure will hold semiautomatic handgun
40
a
in one hand and use a finger of the same hand to hold extending tab
60
of lock ring
56
stationary. With lock ring
56
stationary and in the alignment position, knurled cap
54
can then be unscrewed and removed with the other hand along with lock rod
52
, allowing lock sleeve
50
to be freely removed to complete the removal of firearm safety device
48
.
An attempt by a child to remove firearm safety device
48
in an improper manner will not be successful, despite various manipulations that will be tried. As previously discussed above, a child is physically unable to hold semiautomatic handgun
40
a
with one hand and using a finger of the same hand, hold stationary the extending tab
60
of lock ring
56
, while with the other hand fiddling with knurled cap
54
in an unsuccessful removal effort.
FIG. 8
illustrates another alternate embodiment of the invention. With firearm safety device
10
positioned within semiautomatic handgun
40
and lock clip
89
assembled over knurled enlarged end portion
28
and knurled cap
22
of firearm safety device
10
, shackle
91
of lock
92
can be positioned through holes
93
of lock clip
89
to allow lock to be locked in a conventional manner.
As previously disclosed, firearm safety device
10
provides childproofing for gun owners that require immediate access to firing their guns in emergency situations even in pitch darkness. The
FIG. 8
additional lock safety system assembled to firearm safety device
10
is primarily designed to prevent unauthorized older children and adults from firing the gun. It is recognized that the added safety obtained by using a padlock prevents the gun owner from gaining immediate access to firing the gun, since locating a key, combination etc. needed to remove the padlock takes additional time. Removal of a padlock also requires visual observation and cannot be accomplished in pitch darkness. For the above reasons, the
FIG. 8
alternate embodiment of the invention is designed primarily for gun owners, gun dealers and collectors that have guns which are not positioned or intended for protection in emergency situations.
It should be understood, while the drawings and their descriptions of the firearm safety device invention are shown for revolver and semiautomatic handguns, the invention can also be employed on nearly every cartridge type firearm including rifles and shotguns.
It should be further understood that the firearm safety device invention renders a firearm useless in so far as live ammunition is concerned and also makes it impossible to insert any foreign objects into the barrel which could cause problems. Also live cartridges can be stored safely in the firearm's magazine, clip, or cylinder to allow quick loading of the firing chamber once the firearm safety device has been removed. In addition the firearm safety device invention encourages gun owners to insect and maintain their firearms in a
A particularly important advantage of this firearm safety device invention is the short time, 5 to 10 seconds, necessary for its removal from a firearm even in pitch darkness. The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. For example, lock rod
24
positioned in circular cavity
25
of knurled cap
22
could be molded as a single plastic part with no change to the invention or its operation. Also the childproof cap safety system shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
might be replaced by a different childproof bottle cap design. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A firearm safety device for insertion in a barrel and a firing chamber of a firearm to prevent firing comprising:(a) a lock rod extending from a knurled cap; (b) a lock sleeve in which said lock rod is positioned; (c) a small end portion of said lock rod for expanding an end plug of said lock sleeve into a securing position in said firing chamber; (d) said end plug of said lock sleeve further including a plurality of linear slots to allow the diametrical expansion of said end plug; (e) means for attaching said lock rod to said lock sleeve, wherein said attachment means comprises said knurled cap and a knurled enlarged end portion tightly threadedly attached together having a nearly invisible line at a junction; (f) a shoulder of said end plug abutting a shoulder in said firing chamber thereby preventing withdrawal of said lock sleeve from said firing chamber; and (g) an additional safety system consisting of a lock clip having a plurality of side rails assembled over said knurled cap and said knurled enlarged end portion to prevent withdrawal of said knurled cap and said lock rod from said lock sleeve, said lock clip having a shackle of a lock inserted through a hole in said lock clip to prevent removal of said firearm safety device.
- 2. The firearm safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lock rod, said lock sleeve and said knurled cap are plastic.
- 3. The firearm safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lock rod and said knurled cap are a single part.
- 4. The firearm safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein said small end portion of said lock rod may have a different diameter to expand said end plug of said lock sleeve for different caliber handguns.
- 5. The firearm safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein the expanded diameter of said end plug of said lock sleeve is greater than the diameter of a bore of said barrel and less than the diameter of said firing chamber.
- 6. A firearm safety device for insertion in a barrel and a firing chamber of a revolver handgun or a semi-automatic handgun to prevent firing comprising:(a) a lock rod extending from a knurled cap; (b) a lock sleeve in which said lock rod is positioned; (c) a small end portion of said lock rod for expanding an end plug of said lock sleeve into a securing position in said firing chamber; (d) said end plug of said lock sleeve further including a plurality of linear slots to allow diametrical expansion of said end plug; (e) means for attaching said lock rod to said locks sleeve, and; (f) a shoulder of said end plug abutting a shoulder in said firing chamber preventing withdrawal of said lock sleeve from said firing chamber, wherein said attachment means securing said lock rod in said lock sleeve comprises; (i) an enlarged end portion having a neck groove portion defining an axis which is offset from a central axis defined by said enlarged end portion, said neck groove portion having an alignment abutment; (ii) a knurled cap with a lock rod attached in rotatably removable threaded engagement with said enlarged end portion for securing said lock rod in said sleeve, said knurled cap having an inner peripheral wall, said inner peripheral wall having a serrated surface and said enlarged end portion having a knurled outside surface; (iii) a lock ring with a small split having an outside serrated surface defining a central axis of said lock ring, said lock ring having an inner peripheral wall with an arcuate recess defining an axis alignment shoulder and an axis offset shoulder, said lock ring being rotatively engaged in said neck groove portion of said enlarged end portion; (iv) said lock ring having an alignment means for controlling the rotation of said lock ring wherein the rotation of a first direction causes said axis alignment shoulder of said lock ring to effect an abutting engagement with said alignment abutment of said enlarged end portion, said central axis of said lock ring aligning with said central axis of said enlarged end portion with said outside serrated surface of said lock ring being in slight touching contact with said inside serrated surface on said peripheral wall of said knurled cap thereby allowing removal of said knurled, cap, said lock rod and said sleeve; (v) wherein the rotation of said lock ring in a second direction causes said axis offset shoulder of said lock ring to approach an abutting engagement with said alignment abutment of said enlarged end portion, said central axis of said lock ring being offset from the central axis of said enlarged end portion, with said outside serrated surface of said lock ring being engaged with said inside serrated surface of said peripheral wall of said knurled cap thereby preventing removal of said knurled cap to prevent removal of said lock rod and said lock sleeve.
- 7. The firearm safety device as defined in claim 6 further includes said alignment means comprising an extending tab extending outwardly from said lock ring for effecting rotation of said lock ring.
US Referenced Citations (24)