U.S. patent application number 09/799957 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-23 for quick-release gun lock.
Invention is credited to Luna, Cruz, Ross, Larry.
Application Number | 20020059746 09/799957 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22834880 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020059746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ross, Larry ; et
al. |
May 23, 2002 |
Quick-release gun lock
Abstract
A Quick-release Gun Lock is disclosed. The gun lock comprises a
base that cooperates with the gun's extractor, a pliable and
expandable portion attached to the base for expanding to create an
interference fit with the gun's bore, and a compression shaft that,
when rotated, will force the expandable portion outwardly to create
the interference fit. The device may further include a cam hub that
interacts with the compression shaft to provide the desired
interference fit with less than one rotation.
Inventors: |
Ross, Larry; (Idyllwild,
CA) ; Luna, Cruz; (San Jacinto, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Karl M. Steins
Steins & Associates
Suite 120
2333 Camino del Rio South
San Diego
CA
92108
US
|
Family ID: |
22834880 |
Appl. No.: |
09/799957 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09799957 |
Mar 5, 2001 |
|
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09223067 |
Dec 29, 1998 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/70.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 17/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/70.11 |
International
Class: |
F41A 017/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lock for firearms, said firearms comprising a chamber having
inner walls, a recoiling slide and at least one extracting finger
attached to said slide, said lock comprising: a base engageable
with at least one said extracting finger; at least one expandable
portion adjacent to said base, each said expandable portion being
expandable to engage said walls to prevent said slide from
recoiling; and a compression shaft in engagement with said base and
said expandable portion to compress said expandable portion.
2. The lock of claim 1, wherein: said lock is further comprised by
at least one said expandable portion comprising an expandable
section formed from at least two expansion members separated by at
least one domed washer, said expandable section is further defined
by a base end and an opposing tip end, said base end being adjacent
to said base; and said lock further comprises a compression head
adjacent to said tip end and in cooperation with said compression
shaft to compress said expandable portion.
3. The lock of claim 1, wherein: said expandable portion comprises
a socket formed therein and at least one retractable ball bearing
members retained therein; and said lock further comprises a core
member formed to be accepted within said socket to cooperate with
said one or more retractable ball bearing members; whereby pressing
said core member into said socket forces said retractable ball
bearing members into to said chamber walls or said barrel
walls.
4. The lock of claim 1, wherein: said base is further comprises
with at least one channel formed therein; and said expandable
portion comprises at least one finger member, each said finger
member comprising an elongate member received within one said
channel.
5. The lock of claim 4, wherein: said finger members each further
comprise a tip, said tips configured to expand into said chamber or
barrel walls when said compression shaft exerts pressure against
each said finger member.
6. The lock of claim 5, wherein: said base defines a center
longitudinal axis and a radial direction, and each said channel is
aligned to extend along said longitudinal axis while sloping from
said center an in a radial direction.
7. The lock of claim 6, wherein said expandable portion comprises:
three finger members in substantially equal spaced relation around
said base and each received within a said channel; and a biasing
member for retaining said finger members to said compression
shaft.
8. A lock for firearms, said firearms comprising a chamber having
inner chamber walls and a barrel having inner barrel walls, a
recoiling slide and at least one extracting finger attached to said
slide, said lock comprising: a base engageable with at least one
said extracting finger; at least one expandable portion adjacent to
said base, each said expandable portion being expandable to engage
said barrel walls to prevent said slide from recoiling; and a
compression shaft in engagement with said base and said expandable
portion to compress said expandable portion.
9. A lock for firearms, said firearms comprising a chamber having
inner chamber walls and a barrel having inner barrel walls, said
lock comprising: a base insertible in said chamber; at least one
expandable portion adjacent to said base, each said expandable
portion being expandable to engage said barrel walls whereby said
base is located in said chamber and said expandable portion is in
said barrel; and a compression shaft in engagement with said base
and said expandable portion to compress said expandable
portion.
10. A lock for firearms, said firearms comprising a chamber having
inner chamber walls and a barrel having inner barrel walls, said
lock comprising: a base insertible in said chamber, said base
further defined by a sloped face; a head member adjacent to said
base, said head member defined by a sloped face, said sloped face
formed to cooperate with said sloped base face, whereby said base
sloped face and said head member sloped face are substantially in
contact with one another; and a compression shaft in engagement
with said base and said head member to slide said sloped faces
against one another to compress said base and said head member into
said chamber or said barrel.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/223,067 filed Dec. 29, 1998, now
pending.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to tamper-proof locks for
firearms and, more specifically, to a Quick-release Gun Lock.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Guns and other firearms have been in use by society for
protection and recreation for centuries. In recent years, with
escalating crime levels, and particularly in attacks at the home,
people have contemplated arming themselves. To have a weapon in the
home can provide a feeling of security for many people.
Historically, there have been two problems with keeping a firearm
in the home: (1) preventing children from getting injured while
playing with a loaded gun, and (2) preventing an intruder from
getting to the weapon first and using it against the victims. As a
result, even if a person does keep a gun in the home, it is usually
not loaded. An unloaded gun can actually be more dangerous than a
loaded one, since it can usually only be a deadly bluff to the
future invader. What is needed is a device that permits a gun to be
loaded and ready for use, while still preventing injury to
children, as well as keeping an intruder from using the gun against
the victims.
[0006] Semi-automatic weapons have become particularly popular for
self-defense purposes because they can fire quicker and they hold
more rounds than a revolver. While other prior devices have
attempted to solve the gun safety problem for revolvers or rifles,
none has been effective for semi-automatic weapons. FIGS. 1 through
5 will introduce the reader to the problems with locking
semi-automatic pistols.
[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a conventional semi-automatic pistol 10. The
pistol 10 comprises two major structures: the handle portion 12 and
the slide 14. The slide 14 is permitted to slide along the handle
portion 12 during the operation of the pistol 10.
[0008] FIG. 2 depicts the pistol 10 with the slide 14 in the recoil
position, such as is the case when the slide 14 recoils immediately
after a shot is fired. As can be seen, the slide 14 has traveled
towards the left with respect to the handle portion 12. The barrel
16 is exposed in this position, and the spent shell exit 18 is open
to the chamber (see FIG. 3). If a shot had just been fired, the
spent shell casing would have been drawn out of the chamber by the
extractor (see FIG. 3), which is attached to the slide 14. The
extractor (see FIG. 3) also ejects the spent shell casing out of
the chamber through the spent shell exit 18.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway side view of the typical
semi-automatic pistol 10, depicting some of the inner workings as
pertinent to the present invention. The slide 14 is in the recoil
position in this view to depict what happens immediately after the
spent shell casing has been ejected. The position shown could also
be the result of manually cocking the pistol by grasping the slide
14 with the hand and pushing it to the left with respect to the
handle portion 12.
[0010] When the slide 14 is cocked, a round 20 is dispensed by the
magazine 22 into the vicinity of the chamber 24. The chamber 24 is
the end of the barrel 16 from where rounds 20 are fired. The
chamber 24 may be of larger diameter than the center of the barrel
16 (i.e. the bore 26), or the bore 26 may be the same diameter from
the tip of the barrel 16 to the chamber 24.
[0011] FIG. 4 depicts the pistol 10 once the slide 14 has returned
to the uncocked or ready position. When the slide 14 travels
forwardly, it forces the round 20 into the chamber 24; the
mechanism that accomplishes this is not pertinent to this
discussion, and is therefore not shown. If one can imagine that the
bullet has been fired out through the bore 26, and that now the
round 20 is actually a spent shell casing, we can proceed to
understanding the functioning of the pistol 10.
[0012] While a round is in the chamber 24, it is engaged by the
extractor 28. As described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2,
when a shot is fired, the slide 14 would recoil by traveling to the
left. Since the extractor 28 is attached to, and travels with, the
slide 14, when the slide 14 recoils, the extractor 28 will remove
the spent shell casing (imagine as the round 20) by pulling it
backward and out of the chamber 24. Once free from the chamber 24,
the spent shell casing (imagine as the round 20) will be aligned
with the spent casing exit (see FIG. 1), through which it is
ejected through, also by the extractor 28.
[0013] FIG. 5 further shows how the extraction process operates.
FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway top view of the pertinent components of
the pistol. As can be seen, the extractor 28 is a spring-loaded
"finger" that grabs onto the groove 30 that is located at the
bottom of the spent shell casing (imagine as the round 20).
[0014] Rockwood, U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,596, discloses a "Safety Plug
for Firearm Chamber" that is, essentially, a two-piece unit that
fits into the chamber and thereafter prevents a round from being
loaded. There are at least three problems with the Rockwood device
as it applies to semi-automatic pistols. First, the device would be
easily removed from the pistol by an intruder or child, by simply
jamming a stick into the barrel and poking the device out through
the spent casing exit. Second, the device cannot be hidden from the
potential intruder in order to prevent its removal. All that the
intruder has to do is to cock the slide and look into the spent
shell exit to see the device and therefore determine how to remove
it. Third, there is no quick way to remove the two-piece Rockwood
device. If the device is inserted with an interference fit, as
described (see Column 3, line 3), it must be jammed out by a stick
inserted into the barrel--this process could take more time than is
available in an emergency situation. What is needed is a locking
device for semi-automatic and automatic pistols that is disguised
while in use to prevent unauthorized users from removing it. The
device should also be extremely quick and easy to remove in case of
emergency.
[0015] Another device, the "Safety Device for Firearms" disclosed
in S. Pula et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,918, is unworkable for the
semi-automatic or automatic weapon. The Pula device has at least
three problems with its design. First, the design is extremely
complicated, and therefore not cost-effective. In order for this
device to gain wide-spread popularity, and therefore use and
protection, it must be reliable but also fairly inexpensive. The
Pula device is cost-prohibitive as designed. Second, the Pula
device, like the Rockwood device, is difficult and slow to remove.
Presumably, (although the removal process is not disclosed by Pula)
the device is removed by unscrewing the plug 18, by engaging the
tool 23 with either the front or rear kerf 20 and 21, respectively.
The device is then poked or shaken out of the chamber. Again, the
time to execute these steps may not be available. Third, the Pula
device must be made from metal in order to provide the necessary
durability to the expanded segments 17. The insertion of a metal
device into the chamber that is then pressed outwardly into the
bore walls, may actually mar the surface of the chamber and damage
the gun. What is needed is a low-cost, reliable, quickly-removable
gun lock that will not damage the inner workings of the gun.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the
prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a Quick-release Gun Lock. It is a further object that the gun lock
the chambering and firing actions of automatic weapons, while still
permitting the triggering action to work. It is a still further
object that the locking device be easily installed through the
gun's spent shell exit, and that it be quickly released via a tool
inserted into the bore, and ejected via the spent shell exit. It is
a still further object that the device be concealed from view to
prevent tampering. It is yet another object that the device be
manufactured from low-cost designs and materials and that the
device not cause damage to the inner workings of the weapon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The objects and features of the present invention, which are
believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the
appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization
and manner of operation, together with further objects and
advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of
which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical semi-automatic pistol
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of the pistol of FIG. 1, with the
slide in the recoiled position;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the pistol of FIG. 2, with
the slide in the recoiled position;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view the pistol of FIG. 1, with the
slide in the extended position;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a cutaway top view of the barrel of the pistol of
FIG. 4;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway top view of the barrel of FIG.
5, depicting a preferred locking device of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
the present invention of FIG. 6;
[0025] FIGS. 8A and 8B are a pair of cutaway side views of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 6 and 7;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0030] FIGS. 13A and 13B are cutaway side views of yet another
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The following description is provided to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the
best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his
invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles
of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to
provide a Quick-release Gun Lock.
[0032] The present invention can best be understood by initial
consideration of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway top view of a
preferred locking device 32 of the present invention when installed
in a typical chamber 24 of a semi-automatic or automatic weapon. As
can be seen, the locking device 32 is expanded against the walls of
the bore 26, like the Pula device, but the present invention has
another benefit. There is a groove 34 that is formed in the locking
device 32 that is very similar to the groove 30 found on a
conventional round 20 (see FIGS. 1-5). If one returns to FIG. 4, it
can be appreciated that if the round 20 was "stuck" in the chamber
and prevented from being removed, the extractor 28 could not pull
the round 20 out of the chamber 24, and the slide 14 (which is
attached to the extractor 28) could not be cocked or recoiled.
Since the slide 14 could not be cocked, it would be impossible to
look through the spent shell exit (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to determine
what was preventing the slide (see FIGS. 1 and 2) from moving.
Since the device 32 could not be viewed, it is very likely that an
unauthorized user would not be able to determine how to load the
gun or be able to remove the locking device 32. This is a
significant benefit over the prior devices.
[0033] Another critical advantage must be appreciated. In order to
remove the locking device 32, one need only release the force
pressing against the walls of the chamber 24, and then cock the
slide. When the slide is cocked now, the extractor 28 will pull the
locking device 32 out of the chamber 24 via the groove 34, and the
locking device 32 will be ejected through the spent casing exit
(see FIG. 2), just like a spent casing. As this is done, a new
round will be loaded into the chamber 24 when the slide is
released. This process is extremely quick, with no wasted
movement.
[0034] FIG. 7 gives further detail of the present invention. FIG. 7
is a perspective view of the preferred locking device 32 of FIG. 6.
This preferred embodiment comprises a base 36, preferably of brass
or aluminum or other material that is strong, yet will not damage
the gun by its use. The groove 34 is cut in the base 36, much the
same as in a round of ammunition. Attached to the base 36 is an
expandable portion 38, made preferably of rubber or other pliable
material that will deform under pressure, and then return to its
original configuration once the pressure is released. At the end of
the expandable portion 38 is a compression disc 40 and a socket 42.
The operation of the device 32 is best understood by now
considering FIG. 8.
[0035] FIGS. 8A and 8B is a pair of partial cutaway side views of
the locking device of FIG. 7. View "A" depicts the device in a
relaxed or unexpanded condition, such as prior to locking the gun.
View "B" depicts the device in an expanded condition, such as when
the device is installed and locked inside the chamber of a gun (see
FIG. 6).
[0036] The socket 42 is the tip of the compression shaft 44. The
compression shaft 44 runs through a bore in the center of the
expandable portion 38 and terminates in a threaded portion 46. The
threaded portion 46 engages the threaded tube 48 that is formed
within the base 36. As can be seen, therefore, one need merely to
turn the socket 42, which will turn the compression shaft 44,
thereby causing the threaded portion 46 to bore into the threaded
tube 48, and causing the expandable portion 38 to be compressed by
the compression disc 40. When compressed, the expandable portion 38
is configured to expand outwardly (such as into the walls of a
firing chamber). When the compressing forces are removed, the
expandable portion 38 will return to its original configuration,
permitting the device to be removed quickly by simply cocking the
slide.
[0037] The compression disc 49 may be made from conventional rigid
materials, such as in a washer. The socket 42 could be keyed to
accept only the owner's tool (inserted down the barrel of the
weapon) to engage and disengage the device. The expandable portion
38 of this embodiment is preferably made from rubber or other
material which will expand laterally when its ends are compressed,
and then return to its original configuration once the compressive
forces are removed. It must be appreciated that an expandable
portion 38 made from rubber is a novel solution, since it is easy
to machine to the proper dimensions to fit into the chamber (i.e.
no tight manufacturing tolerances). The rubber also expands greatly
under little or no compression, which means that a tight
interference fit can be created by barely turning the compression
shaft 44. If we now turn to FIG. 9, we can examine yet another
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of another preferred
embodiment 90 of the present invention, wherein the expandable
portion 38A is actually located within the gun barrel 26 (rather
than the chamber 24). The purpose of this advancement is to prevent
tampering to the device 90 by attempting to pound the device 90 out
of the chamber 24 by pounding a screwdriver or other device down
the barrel 26 (onto the device 90). If this was attempted on one of
the previous devices (e.g. as disclosed in the parent applications
to this application), the tamperer could succeed in removing the
gun locking device; since this new embodiment 90 is longer, this
will no longer be possible. Should this type of tampering be
attempted, the device 90 can only be driven until the slide
(automatic weapon) reaches it's full-back position (as depicted in
FIG. 2, above), at which time the device 90 will still remain in an
interference fit with the barrel 26, thereby preventing the gun
from being fired.
[0039] Furthermore, this device 90 is very suitable for use as a
lock for revolver-type weapons; since the device 90 will extend out
from the revolving chamber carriage and into the barrel 26, it will
be impossible to load a round into the chamber or barrel. Now
turning to FIG. 10, we can examine another preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention 100, namely, another device
intended to prevent tampering by pounding the device 100 out with a
screwdriver or the like. In this embodiment, there are a pair of
expandable portions 38a and 38b, which are configured to expand
outwardly when pressed together by the two cone-shaped ends 31 and
43. While these components alone will successfully lock the gun, it
is through the addition of the discs 102A and 102B that will
provide the tamper-resistance. Should a tamperer attempt to remove
the device 100 by pounding an object down the barrel of the gun and
onto the end 41 or screw 42, it will cause extreme compression on
the expandable portions 38, as well as the domed washers 102, which
will in turn force the edges of the domed washers 102 outward and
into the sides of the chamber or barrel (depending upon whether the
device 100 is the appropriate length such that the washers 102
reside in the chamber or barrel. Since the washers 102 are
preferably made from a harder material than the expandable portions
38, they will provide a more positive interference fit with the
walls of the barrel/chamber, possibly even to the point of damaging
the barrel/chamber permanently. In this case of tampering,
permanent damage is preferable to the tamperer being able to defeat
the safety device 100. If we continue on and turn to FIG. 11, we
can examine yet another preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0041] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred
embodiment 110 of the present invention. This device 110
essentially comprises a pair of end pieces 36B and 41B, each formed
with cooperating sloped faces 112 and 114, respectively, such that
when the compression shaft 44 is tightened, the faces 112 and 114
will be driven together, which will cause them both to slide
relative to one another until both are pressed against the walls of
the chamber or barrel of the firearm. Should a tamperer attempt to
pound this embodiment of the device 110 out of the chamber, it will
cause the end piece 41B to be driven an extreme amount into the
wall of the chamber/barrel, causing a more positive interference
fit and/or permanent damage to the firearm. FIG. 12 depicts yet
another novel advancement to prevent tampering with the locking
device.
[0042] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred
embodiment of the present invention 120. In this embodiment 120,
the end piece 41C is further formed with a socket 124 formed
therein to cooperatively receive a core member 122 therein. The end
piece 41C is further formed with at least one ball bearing 126
(preferably spring-loaded to a retracted position) recessed
therein. This one or more ball bearing 126 is configured to be
pressed outwardly when the core member 122 is pressed into the
socket 124 (such as by normal compression through tightening the
compression shaft 44). If undue pressure is exerted upon the core
member 122, such as by over-tightening the compression shaft 44 or
by pounding a foreign device onto it, it will cause the one or more
ball bearings 126 (which are made from a material that is harder
than the gun chamber/barrel, to actually create dents in the wall
of the chamber/barrel; the result will be a very position fit, and
probably permanent damage to the chamber/barrel. Finally, another
alternate embodiment is presented in FIGS. 13A and B.
[0043] FIGS. 13A and 13B are cutaway side views of yet another
preferred embodiment 130 of the present invention. As shown here,
the alternate base 36 is formed with two or more channels 138
therein. These channels 138 are provided to each accept a finger
member 132 within it. The finger members 132 are held to the
compression shaft 44B by a biasing member 134, such as a spring or
rubberized ring. The finger members 132 are further formed with
notches therein to cooperate with a ring 136 extending from the
compression shaft 44B, to drive the finger members 132
longitudinally along the channels 138 when the compression disc
(also known herein as the end piece or compression head 41) 41D
travels in and out (longitudinally), such as by tightening or
loosening the compression shaft 44B. When tightened sufficiently,
the compression shaft 44B will force the finger members 132 into
the walls of the chamber/barrel.
[0044] Should someone attempt to pound out the device 130 from the
firearm, then (as shown in FIG. 13B), the tips 140 of the finger
members 132 will be driven outwardly by an exaggerated amount,
which will provide a very substantial interference fit with the
walls of the chamber/barrel, and possibly even causing permanent
notches (and damage) to the barrel/chamber.
[0045] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred
embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that,
within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be
practiced other than as specifically described herein.
* * * * *