U.S. patent application number 12/008197 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-01 for integrated firearm security lock.
Invention is credited to Donald F. Corsaro, Christopher L. Fenn.
Application Number | 20100162607 12/008197 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38086061 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100162607 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Corsaro; Donald F. ; et
al. |
July 1, 2010 |
INTEGRATED FIREARM SECURITY LOCK
Abstract
The difficulties and drawbacks of previous-type systems are
overcome by the present invention which includes a locking device
for a firing spring housing in a firearm. A main housing is
provided including an internal cylindrical portion for receiving a
firing spring. A lock rod is received in the main housing, for
selectively engaging the firing spring. The lock rod is movable
between an engagement position and a disengagement position with
the firing spring. A combination disk is provided for engaging the
lock rod, to selectively fix the lock rod in one of the engagement
position and the disengagement position.
Inventors: |
Corsaro; Donald F.;
(Chardon, OH) ; Fenn; Christopher L.; (Hudson,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RANKIN, HILL & CLARK LLP
23755 LORAIN ROAD, SUITE 200
NORTH OLMSTED
OH
44070
US
|
Family ID: |
38086061 |
Appl. No.: |
12/008197 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11358425 |
Feb 21, 2006 |
7337572 |
|
|
12008197 |
|
|
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|
60740537 |
Nov 29, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/70.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 17/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/70.01 |
International
Class: |
F41A 17/00 20060101
F41A017/00 |
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A replacement mainspring assembly for selectively locking a
semi-automatic handgun: said replacement mainspring assembly
comprising: a mainspring housing configured to be received in an
associated semi-automatic handgun to replace an existing mainspring
housing without modification to the associated handgun; said
replacement housing including a pin opening configure to align with
the associated pin opening in a handle portion of the associated
hand gun, said pin opening being shaped to receive a locking pin,
said locking pin maintaining said replacement assembly in said
received position when said locking pin is positioned in said pin
opening; said replacement mainspring assembly further including an
elongated passage shaped to receive a spring assembly, said spring
assembly including a spring with a first end and a second end with
a mainspring cap on said first end shaped to receive an associate
lock rod of the associate handgun and a retainer pin on said second
end; a locking mechanism having at least two combination disks,
said locking mechanism moving between a locked condition and an
unlocked condition, when in said unlocked condition, said
associated handgun being freely operable and said locking pin being
selectively removable, when in said locked condition said locking
mechanism engaging the associated lock rod to restrict movement of
the lock rod and prevent operation of the associated handgun and
engaging said locking pin to prevent removal of said locking pin
from said pin opening thereby preventing removal of said
replacement mainspring assembly from the associate handgun.
9. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 8, wherein said
locking pin has a locking recess and said spring passage intersects
with said pin opening such that said retainer pin at least
partially enters said locking recess, said locking mechanism
engaging said retainer pin when in said locked condition such that
said retainer pin is generally fixed relative to said locking pin
to prevent removal of said locking pin from said pin opening, when
in said unlocked condition said retainer pin being moveable
relative to said locking pin to allow said selective removal of
said locking pin from said pin opening.
10. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 9, wherein said
spring urges said retainer pin into said locking recess with a
spring engagement force, said spring engagement force maintaining
the position of said locking pin in said pin opening when in said
unlocked condition while allowing selective removal of said locking
pin.
11. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 8, wherein said
mainspring cap has a locking recess and said locking mechanism
engaging said mainspring cap when in said locked condition for said
restricted movement of the associate lock rod.
12. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 11, wherein said
locking mechanism includes a rod member movable between a locked
condition and an unlocked condition, said rod member engaging said
mainspring cap when in said locked condition for said restricted
movement of the associate lock rod.
13. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 12, wherein said
rod member has a first end and a second end, said first end
engaging said mainspring cap when in said locked condition, said
second end being configured to prevent movement of said retainer
pin when in said locked condition.
14. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 13, wherein said
locking pin has a locking recess and said spring passage intersects
with said pin opening such that said retainer pin at least
partially enters said locking recess, said locking mechanism
further including a slide pin and said slide pin engaging said
retainer pin when in said locked condition such that said retainer
pin is generally fixed relative to said locking pin to prevent
removal of said locking pin from said pin opening, when in said
unlocked condition said retainer pin being moveable relative to
said locking pin to allow said selective removal of said locking
pin from said pin opening, said rod member engaging said slide pin
when in said locked condition.
15. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 14, wherein said
spring urges said retainer pin into said locking recess with a
spring engagement force, said spring engagement force maintaining
the position of said locking pin in said pin opening when in said
unlocked condition while allowing selective removal of said locking
pin.
16. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 12, wherein said
locking pin has a locking recess and said spring passage intersects
with said pin opening such that said retainer pin at least
partially enters said locking recess, said locking mechanism
further including a slide pin and said slide pin engaging said
retainer pin when in said locked condition such that said retainer
pin is generally fixed relative to said locking pin to prevent
removal of said locking pin from said pin opening, when in said
unlocked condition said retainer pin being moveable relative to
said locking pin to allow said selective removal of said locking
pin from said pin opening, said rod member engaging said slide pin
when in said locked condition.
17. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 16, wherein said
spring urges said retainer pin into said locking recess with a
spring engagement force, said spring engagement force maintaining
the position of said locking pin in said pin opening when in said
unlocked condition while allowing selective removal of said locking
pin.
18. The replacement mainspring assembly of claim 12, further
including an external rod member actuator joined to said rod member
to allow manual manipulation of said rod member between said locked
condition and said unlocked condition.
19. A replacement mainspring assembly for selectively locking a
semi-automatic handgun: said replacement mainspring assembly
comprising: a mainspring housing configured to be received in an
associated semi-automatic handgun to replace an existing mainspring
housing without modification to the associated handgun; said
replacement housing including a pin opening configure to align with
the associated pin opening in a handle portion of the associated
hand gun, said pin opening being shaped to receive a locking pin,
said locking pin maintaining said replacement assembly in said
received position when said locking pin is positioned in said pin
opening; said replacement mainspring assembly further including an
elongated passage shaped to receive a spring assembly, said spring
assembly including a spring with a first end and a second end with
a mainspring cap on said first end shaped to receive an associate
lock rod of the associate handgun and a retainer pin on said second
end configured to engage said locking pin; a locking mechanism
having at least two combination disks and a rod member movable
between a locked condition and an unlocked condition, in said
locked condition, said rod member preventing relative movement of
said mainspring cap and said retainer pin thereby preventing
operation of the associated handgun and removal of said replacement
mainspring assembly.
Description
[0001] Supplemental cross reference Provisional Patent Application
No. 60/740,537 filed on Nov. 29, 2005
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention is directed generally to the field of
firearm safety and security.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In the debate over gun control, partisans on both sides of
the issue agree that handgun-related accidents are tragic,
particularly where minors are injured or killed upon gaining access
to an unsecured weapon. According to the advocacy group "Americans
for Gun Safety" (AGS), over 40% of Americans are gun owners and
that there are an estimated 250 million guns in the US today. AGS
further noted in 2002 that an estimated 40,000 minors bring guns to
school each year. In 2004, estimates by the Department of Justice
indicated 475,000 non-fatal firearms-related incidents with the
victimization rate in minors ages 12 years and older.
[0006] The actual annual number of accidental shootings is
difficult to determine, but the above numbers clearly show the need
for improvements in handgun safety. However, the currently
available safeguards have proven to be inadequate. Typically, a
firearm security lock is a separate device that is not an
integrated part of the weapon. Such locks are typically externally
attached to the firearm to render it inoperative.
[0007] One such security device is a "trigger lock." This device is
typically formed into two halves. The trigger guard of the weapon
is then placed between the two halves. The trigger lock is then
closed and locked, typically with a key. The trigger of the weapon
can no longer be accessed, preventing the use of the weapon.
However, this device greatly limits the operability of the weapon,
since it can be a time-consuming process to remove the trigger
guard. Also, the key can be obtained by minors or other
unauthorized persons, who can open the trigger lock and obtain use
of the weapon.
[0008] Another type of security device is a "cable lock." This
device renders the weapon inoperative by pushing a steel cable
though the barrel and out the ejection port. The two ends are then
locked together by a lock. This device is also a key-locked device,
and suffers from the same deficiencies as the trigger lock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The difficulties and drawbacks of previous-type systems are
overcome by the present invention which includes a locking device
for the firing spring in a firearm. A main housing is provided
including an internal cylindrical portion for receiving a firing
spring. A lock rod is received in the main housing, for selectively
engaging the firing spring. The lock rod is movable between an
engagement position and a disengagement position with the firing
spring. A combination disk is provided for engaging the lock rod,
to selectively fix the lock rod in one of the engagement position
and the disengagement position.
[0010] The invention is intended to replace a firing spring
component or components of the weapon. It will perform the original
components functions and will also have the capability to disable
the firearm by use of a combination or a keyed locking mechanism.
The disabled firearm will not be able to fire a round, and the
weapon can not be disassembled.
[0011] As will be realized, the presently disclosed embodiments are
capable of other and different embodiments and its several details
are capable of modifications in various respects, all without
departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and
description are to be regarded as illustrative and not
restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an assembled view of the locking device in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIGS. 2A and 2B are respectively a side-detail view and a
front-sectional view along line B-B showing the locking device in
accordance with the preferred embodiment.
[0014] FIGS. 3A and 3B are respectively a front-detail view and a
side-sectional view along line A-A showing the locking device
(unlock position) in accordance with the preferred embodiment.
[0015] FIGS. 4A and 4B are respectively a front-detail view and a
side-sectional view along line A-A showing the locking device (lock
position) in accordance with the preferred embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 5 is an oblique sectional view illustrating the
operation of the locking device in accordance with the preferred
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view indicating a mainspring
housing pin in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Reference is now made to the drawing figures, where it is
understood that like reference numerals are drawn to like elements.
Examples are described herein below of various embodiments of an
integrated safety lock, preferably for use with a semi-automatic
hand gun. The present invention can be a replacement component for
use with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) handgun. However,
it can also be included with an OEM handgun or other firearm. It is
appreciated that the present invention can be adapted to other
applications as would be understood by persons having skill in the
art, all without departing from the invention.
[0019] The present invention is used in a conventional-type weapon,
e.g. an M1911 .45 caliber pistol. Such a weapon is loaded when a
round. (i.e. bullet) enters into the firing chamber. To enter the
round, a slide is pulled back from a receiver allowing a magazine
or clip that holds the rounds to push one upward into the firing
chamber.
[0020] When the slide is pulled back it also pushes back the
weapon's hammer and down on an armature (i.e. a mainspring cap)
that engages a spring to a depressed position (where the spring is
located in the main spring housing). Once the slide is returned to
the closed position the round is considered "chambered" (i.e. ready
to fire).
[0021] The hammer is held back in the firing position and the
spring in the main spring housing is held in the depressed
position. To fire the weapon, the trigger is pulled, releasing the
hammer. The tension on the spring is then disengaged, which thrusts
the mainspring cap upward and pushing the hammer forward, striking
the firing pin. In turn, the firing pin strikes the round (bullet)
allowing it to be discarded. The bullet recoil pushes the slide
back and a new round enters the chamber, returning the slide to its
closed position. If the trigger is pulled again the process repeats
and continues.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a replacement OEM main spring housing 1 in
accordance with the present invention having a locking device built
in. The main spring housing 1 is provided with one or more
combination disks 4 having numbers on the outside edge, so that a
combination can be rotatably dialed. In this illustrated
embodiment, four combination disks 4 are shown, but it is
appreciated that any suitable number of disks can also be used.
[0023] The disks 4 are rotated to select the correct sequence of
numbers needed to release the locking device and allow the locking
rod actuator 10 to slide from the locked to the unlocked positions.
The locking rod actuator 10 slides freely as long as the
combination disks have the correct sequence of numbers selected.
Once the lock rod actuator 10 is in the locked or unlocked position
the combination disks 4 are rotated to prevent undesired the
movement of the lock rod actuator.
[0024] FIGS. 2A and 2B are sectional views that show the lock rod
9, which is attached to the lock rod actuator 10 by a screw 6 in
the unlocked position. The lock rod 9 includes notches that each
receive a proximal end of a disk pin 5. The disk pin 5 includes a
proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of each disk pin 5
is directed inward toward the center of the housing 1, for
engagement with the notches of the lock rod 9. The distal end of
each disk pin 5 is directed outward from the center of the housing
1 for engagement into a depression in the combination disks 4. The
proximal and distal ends of the disk pin 5 are preferably rounded,
so as to facilitate their motion into and out of the notches and
also the depressions on the combination disks 4, as will be
presently explained.
[0025] The proximal ends of the respective disk pins 5 engage a
notch on the lock rod 9. A respective distal end of each disk pin 5
engages a corresponding depression on an interior surface of the
combination disk 4. Engagement of the proximal end with the notch
retains the lock pin, and engagement of the distal end with the
depression allows movement of the proximal end out of the notches,
releasing the lock pin.
[0026] When the combination disks 4 are turned to the correct
sequence, a depression formed on the interior surface of the disk 4
is lined up to receive a protruding distal end of a disk pin 5.
When all four disks 4 are in the proper alignment positions, the
lock rod 9 can then moved up into the "locked" position or moved
down to the "unlocked" position, which will allow the disk pins 5
to slide out of the notches in the lock rod 9 and into depressions
formed in the combination disks 4.
[0027] As particularly seen in FIG. 2B, the lock pin 9 includes
first and second notches to correspond to each disk pin 5.
Engagement of the proximal end of each disk pin 5 with the first
notch fixes the lock rod 9 in the unlocked position. When the lock
rod 9 has been displaced, engagement in enabled between the second
notch and the proximal end of the disk pin 5, thereby fixing the
lock rod in the locked position.
[0028] FIGS. 3A and 3B depict the present safety lock unit in the
unlocked position. The lock rod actuator 10 is joined to the lock
rod 9 with the screw 6, so that a sliding displacement of actuator
10 allows the lock rod 9 to be displaced. The lock rod 9 is then
retracted to allow a mainspring cap 3 to slide freely in the spring
cylinder. This unlocked position also allows a dismantle lock pin 7
to slide into a notch at the bottom end of the lock rod 9. This
allows mainspring retainer pin 2 to slide up and allow the
mainspring housing pin 12 to be pushed out, as indicated in FIG. 5.
This allows the entire replacement main spring housing 1 to be
removed and the rest of the weapon to be disassembled.
[0029] FIGS. 4A and 4B depict the present safety lock unit in the
locked position, the lock rod 9 is again pushed up using the lock
rod actuator 10. The lock rod 9 jams the mainspring cap 3, thereby
preventing the compression of the main spring 11, so that the
weapon cannot be fired. By locking the movement of the lock rod 9,
the dismantle lock pin 7 is moved into a notch on the mainspring
retainer pin 2 (as illustrated), thereby preventing the disassembly
of the weapon.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a safety locking unit mounted in an M1911 .45
caliber pistol. A mainspring housing pin 12 is locked in place by
the retainer pin 2, which is in turn retained when the dismantle
lock pin 7 is received in the notch on the retainer pin 2, which
itself is held in place by the lock rod 9 when the safety lock is
in the locked position.
[0031] As described hereinabove, the presently disclosed
embodiments solve many problems associated with previous type
solutions. However, it will be appreciated that various changes in
the details, materials, arrangements of parts and other suitable
variations as have been herein-described and illustrated in order
to explain the nature of the present embodiments may be made by
those skilled in the area within the principle and scope of this
disclosure, and will be expressed in the appended claims.
* * * * *