Patent Application
20180135930
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Society as a whole has put an enormous value on safety. Whether it is automobiles, playground equipment, or food products, ensuring the safety of the consumer (and those in the vicinity of the products) has been given paramount weight in today's social climate. Of particular interest is the securement and safety of firearms. While gun safety has always been at the forefront of a responsible gun owner's responsibilities, the securement and protection of firearms has reached a fevered crescendo with the increase in gun violence brought about from gunmen using stolen or borrowed weapons.
It is no longer sufficient enough to be a responsible firearm owner and safeguard against accidental or inadvertent firing while the weapon is in possession of the intended user. It is now necessary to do whatever possible to avoid use of the weapon by unauthorized users. Taking a precaution such as storing the unloaded firearm in a locked gun vault or safe in an obscure area of the home is perhaps the best safeguard, however, it may not always be a practical option.
For those who carry firearms throughout their daily lives for various reasons (self defense, predatory securement, etc.), it is not possible to have the weapon safely locked away in a secure vault location at all times. These people require a portable method for securing their weapon while in transit—still ensuring quick access to the firearm as needed.
A variety of objects have been created to address this scenario, however the currently available solutions do not provide the desired end result without some form of issue or deficiency. As an example, there are some gun locks that have a keyed locking mechanism that is inserted and secured within the firearms trigger enclosure. While this secures the trigger area, it does not provide access at a moment's notice (must locate key, insert key, remove locking mechanism, and store mechanism prior to having both hands ready to aim and fire the weapon). Furthermore, the mechanism must be installed through the trigger enclosure, potential resulting in discharging of the weapon during installation or removal of the locking mechanism.
Another common solution involves retrofitting the firearm with aftermarket safety device components (specialized handgrips, numerical keypads, biometric scanners) that replace original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, thus nullifying the original warranty. Oftentimes, this retrofitting results in a non-visible securement, rendering confirmation of weapon securement difficult (and non-obvious to others inspecting the weapon).
Yet other solutions require complex electromechanical components that may fail due to electrical issues, power supply issues, or software/hardware integration issues at inopportune times.
It is the aim of the present invention to provide an improved means for securing a firearm.
The present invention relates to protection and securement of a firearm. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a means for securing a class of firearms referred to as long guns, and any derivative thereof. Long guns are a class of firearm that includes common weapons such as rifles and shotguns. The National Firearms Act defines long guns as guns having a barrel length in excess of 16″ for rifles and 18″ for shotguns. It is the intent of the present invention to provide a method for safely securing a firearm in an easy, efficient and portable method whereby completely sealing off access to the trigger guard enclosure of a long gun, thus preventing the unauthorized firing of the weapon. Furthermore, as the apparatus used for the sealing of the trigger guard enclosure is permanently affixed to the firearm, the complexity of safety system securement and storage while the weapon is in firing mode is reduced.
Traditionally, firearms have built-in safety mechanisms that, when engaged, prevent the weapon from firing. While the built-in safety has prevented countless accidental discharges, it is easily bypassed and does not provide a secure, fully enclosed guard that restricts unauthorized access to the trigger. The safety mechanism may be disengaged unassumingly, resulting in an unintended weapon firing when an uneducated weapon handler depresses the trigger. The present invention fully encloses the trigger and trigger guard, ensuring that regardless of the state of the safety mechanism, it is not possible for the weapon handler to access the trigger and inadvertently fire a round.
Unlike much prior art, the present invention is permanently secured to the long gun. There are many advantages to having the weapon securement method affixed to the firearm in a permanent fashion. The most significant advantage is the fact that the safety of the weapon is increased because the safety guard can never be misplaced or forgotten. With the device permanently attached, securing the weapon is always possible. A second advantage of having the present invention permanently affixed to the weapon is that the likelihood for tampering or altering of the device is greatly reduced, since the weapon will never be out of the weapon handler's possession. With the possibility of tampering being greatly reduced, the safety of the weapon is increased. Yet another advantage of having the present invention affixed to the weapon is the ability to reduce the likelihood of faulty use and securement. The user will have a reduced number of options and variables for use of the present invention based on the secured orientation and location in reference to the long gun.
With these improvements on the existing prior art, the present invention provides tremendous value to any firearm owner, civilian or military.
The present invention, the Long Gun Stock with Sliding Trigger Enclosure, discloses a novel approach to securing and restricting access to the trigger guard enclosure of a “hunting style” long gun. In an effort to fully disclose all aspects of the present invention, definitions for critical terms are provided for reference. All definitions are specific to the present invention and solely for the purpose of providing a clear description of the present invention. The terms may have alternative meanings when used in different context outside the scope of this description.
A firearm, for the purposes of this description, relates to a mechanical device intended for aiming and discharging a bullet or other projectile in a given direction with the intent of hitting a desired target. A long gun is defined as a firearm having an extended barrel length and intended to be fired when rested against the handler's shoulder while being aimed and handled with both hands—one hand steadying the barrel of the firearm while the other hand is discharging the weapon. A long gun derivative would be any firearm with a rifle style lower and/or upper receiver that may not fall within the previously provided definition of a long gun. A handgun is defined as a firearm that is aimed and fired using a single hand as opposed to being supported by bracing against a shoulder and steadying the weapon with a second hand. A firearm trigger is a spring-loaded protrusion that is mechanically connected to the firing sequence necessary to discharge a projectile from the weapon. The trigger is usually depressed by the handler's index finger on the dominant hand. The trigger guard enclosure is defined as the area immediately surrounding the trigger bordered with a solid frame (often molded flat metal) capable of protecting the trigger from accidental depression (long gun operator typically leaves their trigger finger outside of the trigger guard enclosure until they are ready to fire the weapon). A handgrip is a protrusion extending outward from the main body of the firearm intended to provide a means for grasping and directing the weapon. A safety or safety catch is a mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm. A gun stock, alternatively referred to as a butt stock or shoulder stock, is the part of a firearm to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached. The gun stock is normally held against the shooter's shoulder during firing. The gun stock is typically comprised of two separate non-connected components: the rear portion that is affixed to the handler's shoulder and connects to the weapon frame; and the fore-end, which serves as a handhold for the non-firing hand and support for the barrel of the weapon. In some cases, both components are formed from a single piece of material, but they are commonly produced separately. For the purposes of this description, the long gun has a longitudinal axis extending from the shoulder stock to the tip of the weapon's barrel. The tip of the barrel is defined as the front of the long gun, with the heel of the gun stock being the rearward most portion of the weapon if considered along the longitudinal axis. The long gun is defined as being upright when held in a position such that the trigger area is beneath the barrel of the firearm and the longitudinal axis is approximately parallel to the ground.
The present invention is described in the preferred embodiment as an after-market replacement for the original equipment manufacturer's provided gun stock, however, it should be understood that an alternative embodiment allows for the gun stock to be included as a part of a firearm manufacturer's original equipment offering.
The present invention is comprised of three primary components: a non-stationary external gun stock housing (grip surface) capable of sliding along the longitudinal axis of the gun stock, a stationary internal gun stock frame that is secured to the frame or receiver of the weapon, and a locking mechanism. The internal frame, once permanently affixed to the long gun, remains in a fixed location relative to the other portions of the long gun. The manufacturer's provided gun stock is removed and the present invention is permanently affixed to the long gun body using the same screw and screw receiver threads.
There is a safety mechanism that does not allow for access to the screw while the present invention is in a deployed state covering the trigger enclosure.
In the preferred embodiment, the external gun stock housing is a hollow member having a “U” shaped profile, with an interior shape molded to match the outer mold line of the internal gun stock frame. The external gun stock housing has protrusions molded into its profile projecting inwardly acting as integrated rails. These integrated rails mate with matching indentions on the face of the internal frame member, allowing for the external housing to slide longitudinally along the surface of the internal gun stock frame. At a predetermined distance, the external housing locks into a non-stationary state with the internal frame. The preferred embodiment relies on purely mechanical means for the locking of the two components together, but alternative embodiments could include electrically powered solutions as well as magnetically charged alternatives. The external face of the exterior housing has a means for releasing the locking mechanism using only the user's dominant trigger hand. Additionally, the exterior surface of the housing may include grooves, indentions, or other features to facilitate better graspability by the firearm operator. The external gun stock housing may be formed out of wood, metal, plastic or other material used in mass production.
Like the external gun stock housing, the internal gun stock frame may be formed out of wood, metal, plastic or other material used to achieve mass production quantities. The internal gun stock frame may be either hollow or solid. In the preferred embodiment, the gun stock frame is hollow, allowing for the internal cavity to be used for storage of miscellaneous items (additional rounds of ammunition, cleaning tools, survival kit, etc.). Additionally, the locking mechanism components are housed in the forward portion of the stock frame, reducing ease of access for tampering while the external housing is in the deployed state. The aft end of the gun stock frame may have an absorbent quality to aid in the absorption of the recoil impact against the operator's shoulder. The primary purpose of the gun stock frame is to provide a structural unit capable of supporting the long gun during firing impact into the operator's shoulder as well as providing a rigid structural base for deployment and securement of the external gun stock housing over the trigger guard enclosure.
A locking mechanism is needed to ensure that the external gun stock housing remains in the intended location (either deployed or retracted). The locking mechanism is activated by user input. Input may consist of aligning a proper sequence of numbers on a purely mechanical lock (located on the external face of the external housing); alternatively, it may consist of a biometric sensor system capable of verifying fingerprints or other unique physical traits. In it's simplest form, the latch motion can be engaged with the press of a single mechanical button. The locking mechanism is designed for passive engagement, ensuring that the external housing remains in the deployed state at all times unless a physical input is received resulting in the release of the lock, and thus, release of the external housing.
Installation of the present invention is direct. As mentioned previously, the present invention is intended to be a replacement for the manufacturer provided shoulder stock on long guns. The manufacturer provided stock must be unscrewed from the gun body. Once removed, the present invention can be fastened to the gun body with the same manufacturer provided screw. Once the present invention is initially screwed on securely, it is ready for use. While the attachment screw opening is accessible at all times, the head of the screw is only accessible while the external housing is in a retracted state. In the deployed state, the movement of the external housing forces a metal tab to release, fully covering the surface of the area directly above the screw head, greatly reducing the possibility of removing the present invention while in the deployed state.
Use of the present invention is intended to be straightforward to reduce any confusion during times of duress and chaos typically associated with the discharging of a firearm. Once the unit is installed, it can be operated effortlessly. By providing the necessary authorization code (whether it be biometric, alphanumeric or environmental), the locking pins will release, allowing the operator to move the external housing axially toward the rear of the shoulder stock until it comes to rest with the rear face of the external housing being flush with the rear face of the internal frame of the firearm. Once the unit has arrived at the intended location, the unit will not be locked in the final stationary position, allowing the handler to quickly deploy the external housing without no other input than a pushing the external housing towards the tip of the weapon until it reaches the locked position. While in the retracted position, the handler, will have access allowing removal or relocation of the components or the present invention in entirety. The friction between the external housing rails and the internal frame can be adjusted, allowing for the external housing to be deployed simply by rotating the weapon in such a manner that the housing slides with gravity, or the frictional tension between the two components can be adjusted to resist the free motion provided by gravity dependent upon the user's parameters.
An alternative embodiment would allow for the present to be installed as a replacement for a collapsible long gun shoulder stock. In this embodiment, the external housing would extend axially rearward beyond the rear face of the internal frame. This variation would provide means for locking the external housing not only when it is enshrouding the trigger guard enclosure, but also when the external housing is in the fully retracted state to allow for the housing to act as a traditional length shoulder stock when desired.
The present invention may be configured with a remote sensing telemetry unit. The purpose of the telemetry unit is to notify an unsuspecting firearm owner of unauthorized attempts at accessing the firearm trigger enclosure. Various modes and settings can be created to notify a particular remote device (owner's cellular phone, owner's alarm system, police network) upon a variety of inputs including, but not limited to, incorrect authorization code, successful opening of device, physical tampering of unit and low battery charge status. The telemetry unit is designed as a digital notification and safeguard adding a final layer of safety to the present invention.
As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.
It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.
