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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to a firearm safety devices, and in
particular, to devices to store and lock firearm with alarm mechanisms to
detect access to the stored firearm.
2. Background Art
Firearm usage for sport, hunting and defense has led to a proliferation of
registered firearms, extending from handguns to rifles and shotguns. In
the hands of the general public, such firearms are often left unattended,
loaded, and/or in an easily accessible place. This presents a hazard for
children and other unenlightened persons who may have access to the
device. There have been many efforts to retain and store firearms and give
warning of unauthorized access by way of a variety of containers, safes,
rifle racks, and even certain kinds of holsters armed with some security
lockout means. However, no simple yet effective device has been found
which locks and protects the firearm, and alarms when the weapon is
removed without authority. Firearms are increasing in number throughout
the U.S. for many reasons, e.g. sporting, collecting, and protection. This
increase also has led to an increase of accidental injuries and deaths.
Unfortunately, many of these are children who have access to the firearm
and mishandle this potentially dangerous device. This creates the need for
a firearm security and containment system that acts not only as a safe or
lock box, but also acts as an early alert for potentially dangerous
situations that may arise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has a repository for holding a firearm such as a
handgun, rifle, or shotgun. The repository is lockable but allows easy
access to an authorized user. The device includes a switch to detect when
a weapon is in the repository and a switch to detect if the device has
been opened. The switches may be wired (hard wired or via transmission
means) to alarms or recording devices.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm safety receptacle
which is easily accessible to an authorized user but unaccessible to
unauthorized users.
It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm safety receptacle
with a switch for detecting the status of the receptacle.
It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm receptacle which
signals when a firearm is removed.
It is an object of the invention to provide a firearm receptacle which
records the status of the device, either onboard or remotely.
It is an object of the invention to provide a device for retrofitting a
holster with a device for recording the status of the holster.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a side prospective view of one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 1B is a back perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a.
FIG. 2A is a schematic showing details of the bracket, locks and switches.
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of one embodiment showing the slotted back
plate.
FIG. 3A is a detail of a "u" bracket.
FIG. 3B is a detail of one embodiment of a bed clamp.
FIG. 3C is a back view detail of a holster belt loop and belt plate.
FIG. 3D is a side view detail of a holster belt loop and belt plate.
FIG. 4 is front perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a detail of the locking arm of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6A is a perspective side view of a holster embodiment of the invention
FIG. 6B is a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A.
FIG. 7 is a cross section through line 2--2 of FIG. 6A.
FIG. 8 is a cross section through line 3--3 of FIG. 6A
FIG. 9A is a side prospective view of one embodiment of the invention
attached to a holster.
FIG. 9B is a front prospective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9A.
FIG. 9C is a detail of the junction member of the embodiment shown in FIG.
9A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device suitable for a handgun is a mount for a holster, the holster
being attached to the mount (either removably or fixedly). As shown in
FIG. 1A, the device 100 includes a plate 110, which is a rigid support
plate which can be fabricated from many available materials such as wood,
plastic, or metal, e.g. stainless, aluminum, or painted steel. This plate
110 can be anchored to a solid surface such as a bed frame, wall, desk,
counter or even inside a vehicle as will be discussed later. In addition
to the support plate 110, a protective shield 111 is attached to plate 110
and forms an enclosure between plate 110 and shield 111 in which a holster
may be placed, as is shown, to protect and secure the firearm from
external tampering. The rigid shield 111 is located on one side of the
plate 110 and forms a top and one side of an enclosure, blocking top and
side removal of a handgun 102 and/or the holster 103 when attached to the
plate 110 in the locked position. Shield 111 may also be closed on the
back side, as shown, and the bottom (not shown). When the firearm 102 is
placed in the device as is shown in FIG. 1A, the firearm 102 may not be
removed from the top because the device 100 does not allow proper hand
position or adequate space to allow the gun 102 to be withdrawn from the
holster 103. Additionally, as will be described, the firearm 102 may not
be removed from the open side of the shield 111 unless unlocked.
Shown in FIG. 2A are details of the device 100. Attached to the plate 110
is a bracket 113 for mounting the holster. The shown bracket 113 is
pivotally mounted at 117 on the plate 110 through use of a bearing (not
shown). The bracket 113 has an elongated section 114 which serves as the
locking bracket. As will be described, the holster attaches to the bracket
113. The elongated section 114 terminates in a 90 degree bend to form a
locking section 118 (better seen in FIG. 1B). The locking section 118 has
a hole therethrough. Mounted below the locking section 118 is a solenoid
112. Solenoid 112 is designed, when activated, to move plunger 119 through
opening in locking section 118. Additionally, "U" shaped bracket 130 with
an opening therethrough may be attached to plate 110 so that solenoid
plunger 119, when locked, penetrates both bracket 130 and extended
bracket. The "U" shaped bracket is added for strength. One configuration
of the "U" shaped bracket is shown in FIG. 3A (the solenoid is not shown
in this figure for purposes of clarity).
The solenoid 112 can be powered by a battery, an AC, AC/DC power source, or
be mechanically operative. When the containment system is used at home,
office, or building (places where 120 volt AC is available), an AC to DC
transformer is preferred to power the system to avoid the possibility of
electrical shock. In order to accommodate this system in a mobile unit
such as a vehicle, the power needed to run the system can be adapted to
any connection suitable for 12 volt DC connection.
The solenoid 112 can be key activated, or programmable keypad activated, or
a remote controlled lock release such as is used in vehicles today, a
fingerprint scan, a voice recognition device or other means. The solenoid
112, when activated, pins locking section 118 to plate 111, thereby
locking bracket 113 in the vertical position and preventing rotation.
Disengagement of the solenoid 112 withdraws plunger 119, and allows
bracket 113 to rotate for possible removal of firearm or positioning of a
holster attached to bracket 113.
As an added security measure, a second lock is included on the device 100
to prevent unauthorized access. This lock includes is a notch 121 in the
top of the bracket 113 and a release lever 122. The release lever 122 is
pivotally mounted to plate 110 and has a 90 degree bend at its distal end
which is designed to engage notch 121 in bracket 113, thus preventing
rotation of the bracket 113 when engaged with release lever 122. As shown,
release lever 122 is spring loaded by spring 116 to bias the lever 122
into the locked position.
When the solenoid 112 is disengaged and release lever 122 is pressed,
bracket 113 is pivoted, allowing rotation of the bracket 113. Thus, when a
holster is attached to the bracket 113, the holster may be rotated into a
position where the shield 111 does not block access to a firearm in the
holster. Details of the wiring runs are not included in the drawings.
Generally, the wires will be run on the back side of the device. Shown in
FIG. 2B is slotted back plate 123. Slotted back plate 123 attaches to back
of plate 110 (as shown, slotted plate 123 slidably engages plate 110 with
side slots 123a) to protect wires, screw heads, etc. from tampering.
An important feature of the invention is that the bracket 113 be moveable
with respect to the shield 111. As shown, bracket 113 pivots with respect
to the shield 111. Alternatively, bracket 113 could be linearly slidable
with respect to the shield 111 (or alternatively, the shield 111 could be
linearly slidable with respect to the bracket 113) or, the shield 111
could be hinged to the plate 110, and hence moveable with respect to the
bracket 113. Movement is necessary to enable the holster, when mounted on
the bracket 113 to be moved with respect to the shield 111 between two
positions, a locked position where the shield 111 blocks access to the top
of the holster, and a released position where the shield 111 does not
block access to the top of the holster.
Switches may be used on the device 100, such as locking switch 140 and
status switch 150, which may work complementary with a security system.
The locking switch 140 is designed to sense the release of bracket 113
from the locked position. As shown in FIG. 2, the locking switch 140
senses the release of thumb release lever 115. Alternatively, locking
switch 140 could sense the change in status of the solenoid 112. The
locking switch 140, as shown, is a contact type switch mounted on the
plate 110 in a fashion to be activated when release lever 115 is moved
from the locked to the released position. The locking switch 140 may be
connected to an audible alarm, a silent alarm, connected to a home
security system, or be tied into a recordation system which records the
status of the switch.
The status switch 150 detects the presence or absence of a firearm in the
holster when the holster is mounted on the bracket 113. As shown, status
switch 150 is a contact type switch mounted on the bracket 113. The
embodiment shown is designed to operate with holsters having open barrel
ends, so that the barrel end of a firearm, when located in the holster,
protrudes from the holster and contacts secondary alarm switch 150, thus
providing an indication that a firearm is present. The status switch 150
could be a proximity sensor (ferrous/non-ferrous), a magnetic switch or
other type of switch. The status switch 150 could be located elsewhere on
the device (such as near the handle end of a holster on the bracket 113)
dependent on the type of holster deployed. Again, this status switch 150
could be designed to notify a remote location of a change in holster
status by automatic dialing system, home-monitoring system, or to a police
station.
The locking and status switches can be configured to complement each other.
According to user discretion, one or both switches may be selectively
wired to alarms. For instance, an owner of a home security system may
choose to select the status switch to activate an audible alarm only at
night, but may select both switches to activate an audible alarm during
the day when the children may be in the house and in the room where the
firearm is unsupervised. In any event, the switches may be monitored by a
private security company or police station. In the absence of a home
security system the primary alarm switch can be wired to a battery
operated audible alarm. The status could then be wired to the phone line
using a pre-programmed emergency number, such as a panic button. This
would alert the authorities that a threatening condition has occurred.
This configuration can be used singularly or together to complement each
other.
Shown in FIG. 3B is an attachment device 135 for attaching the plate 110 to
a bed frame 131, having a "L" shaped box springs support member 190.
Attachment device has a first and a second bracket. As shown, plate 110
has a 90 degree bottom bend 106 which rests on bed frame 31, and extends
beyond bed frame 31. The first bracket 137 is "L" shaped and bolts to the
underside of the plate 110 on the bottom bend 106. The second bracket 136
is "S" shaped and bolts to the first bracket 137, sandwiching the bed
frame 131 between the two brackets without the need to drill through the
bed frame. For other installations, such as a water bed, car mount, etc.,
other shapes of the plate 110 and/or brackets may be needed to ease
installation.
Finally, shown in FIG. 3C is the body side view of holster 103 showing belt
loop 180. Also shown is belt plate 151, a plate which is designed to be
inserted into belt loop 180. Belt plate 151 has a series of threaded holes
therethrough which align with holes in bracket 113. In this fashion,
holster 103 can be attached to device 100 by inserting belt plate 151 into
the holster belt loop 180 (like threading a belt), then securing belt
plate 151 to locking bracket 113 with screws through bracket 113 into belt
plate 151. Alternatively, the holster 103 could be directly attached to
bracket 113 by screws into threaded slots in holster 102. Alternatively, a
simple receptacle could be attached to bracket 113, into which a holster
102 or firearm could be placed (not shown). As an added safety precaution,
it is preferred that the holster be a safety retention holster, such as a
triple retention holster as made by various manufacturers (e.g. Michael's
of Oregon, P.O. Box 13010, Portland, Oreg.; Bianchi Int'l, 100 Calle
Cartez, Temecula, Calif.). FIG. 3D shows a side view of the belt plate 151
in use in holster 103.
Another function of the present invention is the provision of a mechanical
release lock which may be used to retain a rifle or shotgun in a
receptacle. The design for such a system is used to accommodate both
styles allowing weapons with or without scopes. As shown in FIG. 4, the
long gun receptacle 200 has a solid base 209 with a central supporting
beam 201. The device may have a means to attach to another item, such as a
bracket 208 for attaching beam 201 to a wall or other fixed structure.
Again materials for fabrication can be wood, plastic, or metal (stainless
steel, aluminum, painted metal). The firearms in reference are stationed
on either side of the beam 201. Two cross braces, top brace 202 and bottom
brace 203, extend perpendicular to the vertical support beam 201. On each
brace, suitable retaining mechanisms are used to secure the firearm in
position. The top brace 202 supports an electronic hinged barrel lock 207,
available from Santa Cruz Associates, 2301 Tucker Rd., Hood River, Oreg.
The barrel lock 207 is key activated, and may be opened with or without
power to the lock.
Bottom brace 203 consists of two arms, a first hinged arm 210 and a second
fixed arm 211. Hinged arm is long "L" shaped arm, while fixed arm is a
shorter "U" shaped arm. The hinged arm 210 opens toward the front of the
device 200, and when closed, the hinged arm 210 overlaps the fixed arm
211, as shown in FIG. 5, forming a first "U" shaped area 212 and a second
"U" shaped area 213. Each arm has an opening 219 therethrough, the opening
formed by cutting a tab 216 in the material of the arm, and bending the
tab rearwardly. The openings in the two arms are positioned to align
within the first "U" shaped area, as shown in FIG. 5. Each tab 216 has a
hole 217 therethrough, each hole aligned with another hole 221 on one leg
of the "U" shaped fixed arm 211. The bottom brace is 203 is positionable
along beam 201, (such as by arms to beam 201 with bolts 261, shown in FIG.
5) and a desired position for bottom brace 203 along beam 201 is so that
"U" shaped area 213 encloses the trigger area of a weapon stored therein,
thus creating a lockable trigger guard 270.
Located in first "U" shaped opening 212 is a solenoid activated plunger
215. The plunger 215, when the solenoid is activated, extends through
holes 217 in the tabs 216 and also the hole 221 on one leg of the fixed
arm. Thus, when the solenoid is activated, the two arms 210 and 211 are
locked together by action of the plunger 215.
As shown in FIG. 4, on the base 209 of device is a triangular stop 230.
Stop 230 is open on the front side, and as shown, has three legs which
slide matingly into holes in base 209. Butt of rifle is placed on base and
partially supported by stop 230. Stop 230 may have a cover to protect the
stock of a rifle placed therein. The stop 230 prevents rearward movement
of the firearm in the device. However, in the event of power failure, the
weapon can be removed from the device by: (1) manually opening the
electronic lock 207 (key override); (2) removing stop 230 from the base
209 (by pulling upwardly on stop 230); and (3) moving stock end of weapon
rearward and muzzle end of weapon forward. In this fashion, it is not
necessary to open the hinged arm 210, which generally will not operate
without power.
The device 200 includes two switches; a status switch 251 and a locking
switch 252. As shown on FIG. 4, status switch 251 is a contact switch
located on base 209 within triangular area of stop 230. When a rifle is
placed in the device 200, the butt of rifle will engage status switch 251,
thus providing an indication that a rifle is in the device. Locking switch
252 is a switch to indicate that the device is locked, and may be located
to indicate the status of the trigger guard lock 270 or the status of the
barrel lock 207. As shown in FIG. 5, locking switch 252 is another contact
type switch positioned on the fixed arm 211, and designed to be closed
when hinged arm 210 contacts fixed arm 211. Other embodiments for a
locking switch 252 could be used, such as a contact switch operated by
action of plunger 214 when the solenoid is activated, or a switch
indicating that the barrel lock is closed or open. As above, proximity
switches, magnetic types of switches, or other types switches can be used.
This hinged trigger guard 270 traps the firearm and protects against
trigger tampering. In operation, the solenoid lock and the barrel lock can
be wired in series so that both open in response to the same signal,
either by operation of a key, numerical entry from a keypad, etc. When
both locks are open, the gun can be easily removed.
Another embodiment of the invention is a device for monitoring the status
of a holster. FIGS. 6A and 6B shows a receptacle 1, in this instance a
holster 10, sized to receive a firearm, shown as a handgun 11. Receptacle,
as used in this document, is meant to encompass any apparatus adapted to
store a firearm, such as the slots in a gun cabinet, or a rifle rack for
use in a truck, or a rifle carriage for use in local police armories etc.
Firearm has a muzzle 9 and a butt 8. Shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is
releasable retention device 20 for retaining a firearm in an engaged
position in the receptacle 1. As shown in FIG. 6B, retention device 20 is
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