Remote control weapon lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9377259-B2
Application number	US-201414542889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Feb 6, 2013
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A battery-powered trigger-locking device, which is configured to be disposed on a gun with a trigger for firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as data stored in the memory. If a data match is indicated, the logic device causes an electromagnetic device to move a trigger-locking member to an unlocked position, permitting the gun to be fired. A separate electronic gun key is provided to transmit gun unlock data to the data receiver of the trigger-locking device. This gun unlock data may be a password, a long pseudo-random number or biologic data identifying the gun owner or some other person who is licensed or otherwise authorized to fire the gun.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Locking apparatus for preventing use of a gun or other weapon by any unauthorized person, said apparatus comprising:
(1) a gun lock configured to be installed on a gun, said gun lock including:
(a) an electric gun lock device configured to be disposed on a gun and responsive to at least one electronic lock command signal to select among at least two operative states, including a locked state which prevents firing the gun and an unlocked state which enables firing;
(b) a data receiver for receiving a gun control signal containing first gun security data;
(c) a data memory for storing second gun security data representing biologic personal information of at least one authorized person, permitted to select said operative state;
(d) a first logic device, coupled to the data receiver and to the data memory, for
(i) generating said first gun security data from said received gun control signal;
(ii)comparing said first gun security data with said second gun security data stored in said memory, and
(iii) producing said at least one electronic lock command signal to select one of said operative states of said gun lock device, provided that said first gun security data and said second gun security data are substantially the same, in response to receipt of said gun control signal; and

(e) at least one tamper detecting device, situated in proximity to said gun lock device, for detecting external manipulation of at least one of (1) said first logic device, and (2) said gun lock device;
wherein said tamper detecting device generates a tamper signal upon the detection of said external manipulation and wherein said tamper signal causes said gun lock device to remain in said locked state for a duration of time; and

(2) a gun key device for controlling the gun lock device, said gun key device comprising:
(a) a data transmitter for transmitting said gun control signal to said data receiver;
(b) an input device for inputting personal information from a putative authorized person who wishes to control the gun; and
(c) a second logic device, coupled to each of said data transmitter and said input device, for generating said gun control signal representing said first gun security data from said personal information for transmission to said data receiver;
whereby said first logic device is operative to cause said gun lock device to select one of said operative states when the first gun security data inputted by said input device are substantially the same as the second gun security data stored in said data memory; and
whereby said putative authorized person is recognized as an authorized person only in the event that said first gun security data transmitted by said gun key device substantially matches said second gun security data stored in said data memory;
thereby to prevent unauthorized control of the gun.

2. The gun lock apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first gun security data generated by said second logic device and the second gun security data stored in said data memory include a pseudo-random number.

3. The gun lock apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said input device include a sensor for inputting biologic personal information identifying the putative authorized person, and wherein said first gun security data generated by said second logic device includes biologic data identifying a putative authorized person who wishes to control the gun for comparison with said second gun security data stored in said data memory that includes biologic data identifying an authorized person who is permitted to control the gun.

4. The gun lock apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said input device includes a camera for inputting an image of a bodily aspect of a putative authorized person and wherein biologic personal information is represented by said inputted image.

5. The gun lock apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said bodily aspect of said putative authorized person is selected from the group consisting of:
a facial image;
an image of an iris;
a retinal image;
a fingerprint;
a palm print; and
an image of veins of a hand;
and wherein said second logic device is operative to process said image and to generate said first gun security data therefrom.

6. The gun lock apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said input device includes a microphone, and wherein said second logic device is operative to process a voiceprint of the putative authorized person as personal information and to generate said first gun security data therefrom.

7. The gun lock apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said input device includes a keypad for a person to input said personal information.

8. The gun lock apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said second logic device produces an electronic command signal for transmission to said data receiver which causes said gun lock device to select said unlocked state for a first duration of time and thereafter to select said locked state.

9. The gun lock apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said first duration of time is selected from the group consisting of:
(i) less than 1 minute;
(ii) a range of time from 1 minute to 5 minutes;
(iii) a range of time from more than 5 minutes to 30 minutes;
(iv) more than 30 minutes;
(v) 30 minutes to 24 hours;
(vi) 1 day to 1 week; and
(vi) 1 week to 1 month.

10. The gun lock apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said input device includes an alphanumeric keyboard and said first and second gun security data include an alphanumeric password;
wherein:
(i) said putative authorized person may input a putative alphanumeric password via said keyboard; and
(ii) said putative authorized person is recognized as an authorized person only in the event said inputted putative alphanumeric password represented by said first gun security data matches an authorized alphanumeric password represented by said second gun security data.

11. The gun lock apparatus of claim 10 , wherein
(1) said input device is further operative to input biologic personal information identifying said putative authorized person;
(2) said second logic device is operative to cause said first gun security data to represent both
(i) information representing said inputted password, and
(ii) information representing said biologic personal information; and
(3) said data memory is further operative to store both
(i) an alphanumeric password pertaining to an authorized person and
(ii) biologic information identifying said authorized person as said second gun security data;
whereby said first logic device is operative to select the unlocked state only if both the inputted biologic personal information and the inputted alphanumeric password pertaining to said putative authorized person are substantially similar to the respective stored biologic personal information and alphanumeric password pertaining to the authorized person.

12. The gun lock apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a battery for providing power to said electric gun lock device.

13. The gun lock apparatus of claim 12 , wherein said electric gun lock device is further operative to select said locked state in the event of a battery depletion.

14. The gun lock apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said data memory comprises at least one write-once-only element,
thereby to prevent degradation of the data stored in said memory and to prevent the data stored in said memory from being changed.

15. The gun lock apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said write-once-only element is selected from the group consisting of:
PROM;
EPROM; and
EEPROM.

16. The gun lock apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said data memory further stores data identi

Assignees

• Milde Karl F Jr
• Matos Jeffrey A

Inventors

• Milde Jr Karl F
• Matos Jeffrey A

Classifications

• F41A17/066

  having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control · CPC title

• F41A17/22

  acting on the trigger · CPC title

• F41A17/063 Primary

  comprising a transponder · CPC title