U.S. patent application number 10/459924 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-08 for portable firearms having identification marks.
Invention is credited to Holtzknecht, Dirk, Mauch, Ernst, Schumacher, Michael.
Application Number | 20040003528 10/459924 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7667070 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040003528 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holtzknecht, Dirk ; et
al. |
January 8, 2004 |
Portable firearms having identification marks
Abstract
Portable firearms having identification marks and methods of
making the same are disclosed. An example firearm includes a first
identification number visibly located on the firearm; and a second,
hidden or disguised identification number associated with the first
identification number to facilitate identifying the firearm if the
first identification number is destroyed, changed, or damaged.
Inventors: |
Holtzknecht, Dirk;
(Schramberg, DE) ; Mauch, Ernst; (Dunningen,
DE) ; Schumacher, Michael; (Fluorn-Winzeln,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GROSSMAN & FLIGHT LLC
Suite 4220
20 North Wacker Drive
Chicago
IL
60606-6357
US
|
Family ID: |
7667070 |
Appl. No.: |
10/459924 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10459924 |
Jun 12, 2003 |
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PCT/EP01/14599 |
Dec 4, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/1.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 17/063
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/1.01 |
International
Class: |
F41A 009/53 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 14, 2000 |
DE |
DE 100 62 239.9 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A firearm comprising: a housing; a first identification number
visibly located on the firearm; and a second identification number
hidden in the firearm.
2. A firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein the second
identification number is associated with the first identification
number to permit identification of the firearm even if the first
identification number is destroyed.
3. A firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein the second
identification number comprises a bar code in a recess associated
with a hammer of the firearm.
4. A firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein the second
identification number is hidden in a magazine box of the
firearm.
5. A firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein the second
identification number is stored on an information storage
medium.
6. A firearm as defined in claim 5 wherein the information storage
medium is hidden in a bore in the housing.
7. A firearm as defined in claim 6 wherein the bore is closed by a
lid.
8. A firearm as defined in claim 5 wherein the identification
medium comprises an electronic chip.
9. A firearm as defined in claim 8 wherein the electronic chip
comprises a transponder.
10. A firearm as defined in claim 9 wherein the transponder is
cylindrical.
11. A firearm as defined in claim 9 wherein the transponder is
inductively energized by a scanner to read the second
identification number.
12. A firearm as defined in claim 11 wherein the transponder is
read without removing the transponder from the firearm.
13. A firearm as defined in claim 11 wherein the firearm is
dimensioned to be inserted in its entirety into the scanner such
that the person scanning the firearm need not know where the
transponder is located within the firearm to obtain the second
identification number.
14. A firearm as defined in claim 11 wherein a portion of the
firearm is dimensioned to be positioned within the scanner to read
the second identification number.
15. A firearm as defined in claim 5 wherein the identification
medium is located in an interior of the housing.
16. A firearm as defined in claim 5 wherein the housing is plastic
and the identification medium is embedded in the plastic of the
housing.
17. A firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein the at least one of the
first and second identification numbers is hidden in a bore in the
housing.
18. A firearm as defined in claim 17 wherein the bore is closed by
a lid.
19. A firearm as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second
identification numbers are different.
20. A firearm comprising: a housing; a first identification number
visibly located on the firearm; and a second identification number
located on the firearm, the second identification number being
disguised so as not to appear as an identification number.
21. A firearm as defined in claim 20 wherein the second
identification number comprises omissions of fields in checkering
of a portion of the housing.
22. A method of manufacturing a firearm comprising: placing a first
identification number in a visible location on a firearm; inserting
a transponder storing a second identification number in a hidden
location within the firearm; and recording the second
identification number in association with the first identification
number.
23. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein the transponder is
preprogrammed.
24. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein inserting the
transponder storing the second identification number in the hidden
location within the firearm comprises inserting the transponder in
a recess defined in the firearm.
25. A method as defined in claim 24 further comprising covering the
recess with at least one of a lid and paint.
26. A method as defined in claim 22 wherein inserting the
transponder storing the second identification number in the hidden
location within the firearm comprises injecting the transponder
into a plastic portion of the firearm when the plastic portion is
being molded.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent arises from a continuation of international
patent application serial number PCT/EP01/14599, which was filed on
Dec. 4, 2001 and has a priority date of Dec. 12, 2001.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to firearms, and, more
particularly, to portable firearms having first and second
identification marks and methods of making the same.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is known to stamp a unique weapon number into the frame
or butt of a firearm for the purpose of tracking ownership and/or
use of the weapon. Firearms are well known (see, for example, DE-OS
44 33 337) which, along with the usual stamped weapon number,
include an electronic chip which also contains all the necessary
information for uniquely identifying the weapon. In these known
firearms, the chip is easily identifiable and can be removed, if
desired, so that the weapon becomes indistinguishable from a weapon
which never had a chip.
[0004] In most countries the identification numbers of handguns and
other firearms are registered such that, if a lost weapon is found
or if a weapon is used in a criminal act, its origin can be
confidently ascertained by accessing a database associating weapon
numbers with weapon owners. In this way it can be determined which
authorized person (e.g., a weapons dealer, a soldier, a civilian)
was the last authorized person to acquire the weapon. This
information can be used to return a lost weapon to its rightful
owner, or, in the case of criminal activity, to identify a person
that mis-used a weapon. If the weapon was lost or stolen, this fact
would ordinarily be on record.
[0005] For registration purposes every weapon is assigned a unique
weapon or identification number as mentioned earlier. The weapon or
registration number is typically a unique identification code
consisting of numbers and/or letters which is stamped into the main
part of the firearm. For example, the identification number may be
stamped into the butt of an automatic pistol. Identification
numbers are equivalently referred to herein as "number,"
"registration number," "weapon number," "serial number," and
"identification number." In most countries, even weapons which, for
whatever reason, were manufactured with no number, are required to
be subsequently stamped with a recorded identification number
uniquely identifying the weapon.
[0006] If the butt of a firearm is made of metal, the registration
number is usually stamped a considerable depth into the butt, so
that the simple filing down of the number does not prevent it from
being restored and read later. However, if the corresponding
section of the butt is cut out or stamped over multiple times with
similar stamped letters, reproduction of the number may be rendered
impossible, or at least made very difficult.
[0007] If the handle of a firearm is made of plastic, a metal plate
bearing a registration number may be embedded into the handle. This
plate can typically, however, be milled out without rendering the
weapon useless such that at least a few shots can still be
fired.
[0008] To at least render it difficult to prevent the
identification of a weapon, it is well known to stamp at least
parts of the identification number in multiple (or even all)
possible parts of the weapon. However, this measure originally
served the purpose of avoiding accidental interchange of the
individual parts of two or more weapons during, for example, the
cleaning of military weapons.
[0009] A small number of authorized persons illegally pass on their
weapons to unauthorized persons. If such a weapon is found, its
authorized person can be easily traced on the basis of the
identification number, provided this has not been made impossible
by means of removing the number or rendering it illegible.
[0010] While it is true that using electronic identification codes
or devices in weapons is already well known (see, for example, WO
98/04880, DE 40 22 038 and DE 39 11 804), the presence of these
devices in a firearm are not disguised or otherwise hidden and,
thus, these devices are subject to frustration through tampering
and/or removal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of an example automatic firearm
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the firearm of
FIG. 1 taken from direction II in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of an example automatic handgun. The
example handgun of FIG. 1 includes a housing 1, which is made
predominantly of plastic and onto which a trigger guard 3 is molded
in one piece.
[0014] To give the hand that is not holding the handle of the
pistol during shooting and which additionally supports the pistol
in the beginning a reliable contact surface, the trigger guard 3
has a front handle surface. Since this contact surface runs in a
generally straight line and protrudes to the front on the underside
of the weapon, the trigger guard 3 has a bulge in front and at the
bottom to prevent slippage during handling or firing, as is
recognizable with other pistols of this type. This bulge protrudes
out from the surface of the weapon that is visible in FIG. 1.
[0015] In the illustrated example, a pocket or cross-bore is
located in this bulge. A small transponder 5 is seated in this
cross-bore as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably the transponder 5 is
cemented in this cross-bore. A lid 7 is seated above the
transponder 5. The lid 7 terminates flush with the external surface
of the trigger guard 3.
[0016] The illustrated pistol, (e.g., its muzzle, butt, and/or
housing 1), includes an ordinary, openly visible, serial number 9.
This serial number 9 is visible from below and is stamped onto a
metal plate (not shown), which is poured or set into the plastic
material of the housing. To facilitate viewing of the serial number
9, this metal plate is exposed at the bottom of the housing 1 and,
thus, may be ground down from below using a grinding tool similar
to an end mill mounted in a milling machine to the point that the
serial number is completely removed and also can no longer be
reconstructed.
[0017] If the serial number 9 is removed, the housing 1 is held
with its trigger guard 3 in a scanning device (not shown), which
gathers the information that is stored on the transponder 5. This
information was already scanned at the factory during the
production of the weapon and stored in association with the
corresponding serial number 9. The obliterated serial number 9 can
therefore be obtained at any time, even if it has been removed
without a trace and/or with no hope of physical reconstruction.
[0018] The transponder 5 is preferably located in a place that is
as far as possible from the metal parts of the weapon, such that
scanning can take place undisturbed. However, this is not
necessary, and it is also definitely possible to place the
transponder 5 in any other area (e.g., preferably in areas that
cannot be easily removed). Locating the transponder 5 in the
trigger guard 3 has a disadvantage in that the trigger guard 3 can
be easily sawed off should the presence of the transponder 5 in
that structure become known.
[0019] From the foregoing, persons of ordinary skill in the art
will appreciate that a portable firearm has been provided which may
always be uniquely identified, even if efforts have been undertaken
to make the physical serial number stamped on the weapon
illegible.
[0020] There is basically no possibility of completely avoiding the
removal, stamping over or obliterating of a physical serial number
or the removal or erasure of an undisguised chip, as mentioned
earlier. For this reason, the illustrated firearm includes a
second, unique identification number which is independent of the
first identification number. The second identification number is
attached to the weapon, but hidden in a secret place, whose
existence is preferably unknown to the dealer and the customer.
Indeed, the existence of this secret place is preferably known only
to the manufacturer and, if necessary, to the governmental
authorities responsible for law enforcement. Alternatively, the
second identification number may comprise seemingly harmless
elements which are not identifiable as identification media.
[0021] Preferably, the manufacturer only makes it known that he is
able to identify a weapon even when its number has been removed,
mutilated or made illegible. The manufacturer keeps secret the
manner in which this identification occurs. If a weapon is sent to
the manufacturer by a court or police authority, then the
manufacturer determines the secret identification number and can,
identify the owner of the weapon on the basis of the manufacturer
records. The weapon is then sent back to the authorities and they
are simultaneously informed of the original number, which may or
may not be identical to the secret identification number. The
secret second identification number can remain where it is in the
weapon.
[0022] The impression results that the first, generally visible and
illegally removed number has been made legible again by means of a
special method. The fact that the identification was made on the
basis of a secret, second code is not obvious. The criminal will,
thus, make an effort to remove the visible number as thoroughly as
possible, but will not search for a second identification. For this
reason, it is not necessary to hide the second identification
number with special care, but rather it is sufficient to keep the
normal user from finding out about it.
[0023] Preferably, the second identification number contains
information from which the original serial number which is
physically attached to the weapon can be derived.
[0024] This second identification number may be arranged in a
hidden place, for example in the magazine box. Alternatively, this
second identification number may not be recognizable as an
identification number. For example, the second identification
number may be implemented as a bar code in the recesses for holding
and operating the hammer, or as omissions of fields in the
checkering of the firearm stock. At least in the latter case, a
user can see the second identification number without realizing
that it is a unique identification of the weapon.
[0025] Placing the identification number at a hidden site of the
weapon involves all kinds of difficulties. For this reason it is
preferred that the second identification number is located on an
identification medium that can be manufactured outside of the
weapon (even at a separate company). After the identification
medium is provided with the second identification number, it is
then attached to or in the weapon, (preferably, to or in the butt
or the housing), whereby the attachment is considerably simplified.
The identification medium can be provided in such a way that the
identification is not visible from the outside and/or is not
recognizable without assistance. The identification medium can
optionally be separated from the firearm for scanning (if an the
medium is electronic) and/or reading of the second identification
number.
[0026] However, it can also be of advantage to have the
identification medium hidden by a lid that protects the
identification medium from detection, removal, and/or inadvertent
or intentional damage. This lid may optionally be removed to read
the second identification number. The lid also protects the
identification medium from outside influences; particularly from
gun oil, which could damage or even disintegrate it.
[0027] To better prevent the discovery of the second (e.g., hidden
and/or disguised) identification medium, the second identification
medium may be attached in the interior of the weapon (e.g., in its
housing or butt). Preferably, a recess or bore is defined in the
weapon housing to receive the identification medium. This recess or
bore is preferably closed by the inserted identification medium
itself or by the above-mentioned lid in such a way that it cannot
be recognized that an identification medium is hidden in this
place. This recess is preferably attached to a massive area of the
housing (e.g., the butt) and only open to one side, so that the
inserted identification medium cannot be recognized when it is
covered by a lid, paint or its own surface, even upon an attentive
examination of the weapon.
[0028] The second (e.g., hidden) identification medium can be quite
small, so that the weapon housing (e.g., the butt) offers countless
opportunities to accommodate the second identification medium. The
recess or bore, can be designed as a through recess or through
hole, or a blind hole. In the case of a through hole, the hole may
be provided on both sides with a lid or similar camouflage, so that
the second identification medium can be easily pushed out of the
recess or hole for reading and/or replacement when desired.
[0029] Preferably the second identification medium is embedded in
the plastic of a plastic housing of the firearm. The second
identification medium may be cemented in place in a recess. If the
identification medium forms a projection, it may give the
impression of a reinforcement or some other important functional
part of the housing (e.g., the butt) and will, with great
certainty, not be removed by a criminal, since this person will
view the identification medium as being essential for the function
of the weapon, particularly for the fatigue strength of the
housing.
[0030] The second identification medium can be an engraved metal
plate that must be removed to be read. However, the second
identification medium is preferably designed as an electronic chip;
even more preferably, as a transponder. In the case of the
identification medium being implemented by a chip such as a
transponder, it should not have its own power supply. On the
contrary, the chip and/or transponder should be inductively
energized and supplied with power by the scanner during the
scanning process. Preferably, the chip and/or transponder can be
scanned at a distance, but at the same time the chip and/or the
transponder preferably has very small dimensions and can store
considerable amounts of information. In such circumstances, the
chip and/or transponder can be embedded in its entirety in a
plastic housing (e.g., a butt or muzzle), even while it is
scanned.
[0031] The scanner may receive the firearm housing in its entirety
or may only receive a portion thereof (e.g., the butt) during a
reading operation to thereby hide the precise location of the
second identification medium from the person operating the scanner.
The scanner may also have several sensors or antennae, and it does
not have to be recognizable which of the sensors or antennae are
excited/energized with queries, again to hide the precise location
of the second identification medium from the person operating the
scanner. Thus, even during a reading or scanning operation, it may
not be detectable where in the firearm the chip or transponder is
located. Consequently, it is possible to supply the authorities
with scanners by means of which portable firearms incorporating the
second hidden identification number can be examined to determine
the second identification number without revealing the location of
the second identification medium, because the scanners may be
constructed to not provide any inference as to the area of the
weapon in which the chip or transponder is seated.
[0032] It is also conceivable to inject a chip, transponder or
other readable identification medium into the weapon housing (e.g.,
the butt or muzzle) during its production; provided this ID medium
is sufficiently temperature-resistant so as to not be damaged by
the cooling material housing the same.
[0033] In the preferred example shown in the drawings, the
transponder is cylindrical or angular and sits in the housing. It
could, for example, be seated in a pocket or blind bore. Such a
pocket bore can be inserted into the housing with the simplest of
resources. When the transponder is seated in the bore, the pocket
bore is closed/sealed by the transponder itself or by a plug such
that the transponder is no longer recognizable as such. Any
remaining visible traces may just as well be the traces of a mold
plug.
[0034] Since the transponders are preferably quite small, a bore
with approximately 2.5 mm diameter and 10 mm length is sufficient.
Such a bore can be placed in quite a few areas of an existing
firearm housing. If a housing is specially created to hide the
transponder, further options for the accommodation of the
transponder can be created.
[0035] It is possible to synchronize the second (e.g., secret)
identification number to the first (e.g., visible identification
number), so that the first and second identification numbers are
identical. However, this is often very difficult to achieve and
would moreover break the links in the chain of secrecy, since in
this way more persons would come into contact with the secret
identification than are absolutely necessary. Accordingly, the two
identification numbers are preferably different. For example,
preprogrammed transponders are preferably supplied and inserted
into the weapons with little effort. Then the transponders are
scanned by means of a scanning device and assigned the stamped
number of the weapon in a list or database. However, the scanning
device can, as already noted above, be designed in such a way that
it is not possible to infer the location of the transponder from
it. Therefore, particularly if multiple possible locations are
present in the firearm housing, the person scanning the firearms to
create the database associating the first and second identification
may not even be aware of the location of the transponder.
[0036] From the foregoing, persons of ordinary skill in the art
will also appreciate that a method for manufacturing a portable
firearm as described earlier has been disclosed. For example, a
preprogrammed, cylindrical transponder is placed in a suitable
recess of a firearm housing. The firearm housing is provided with a
first identification number. The second identification number is
then read from the transponder via a scanning device and stored in
a list or database in association with the first identification
number. This example method has the advantage that the best
possible secrecy is guaranteed, so that no information about the
location of the second identification number reaches the outside
from the company. The public, including the authorities, only needs
to know that the manufacturer is even able to read completely
removed numbers. Outsiders do not need to be aware of the fact that
this happens in a roundabout way via the secret second
"number".
[0037] The transponder inserted into the recess, for example a
pocket bore, is preferably covered by a lid or paint or poured or
injected at the beginning. Then, if the bore or recess that
receives the transponder is exposed to an outer surface, regular or
additional surface finishing of the housing can be performed, so
that the recess or bore is undetectably hidden. An example firearm
is consequently created that has, in addition to the normal visible
serial number, a transponder or chip in a hidden location with
identifying information which is associated with the visible serial
number. Since the public is unaware that such a transponder or chip
exists, and since it is not visible, it will in all probability
remain undetected, even if the visible serial number of the weapon
is removed or rendered unrecognizable. As a result, the serial
number can be reconstructed at any time.
[0038] Although certain example methods and apparatus have been
described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not
limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,
apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the
scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine
of equivalents.
* * * * *