Remote control weapon lock

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9879932-B2
Application number	US-201615166745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	Feb 6, 2013
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

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 by any unauthorized person, said apparatus comprising:
(1) a gun lock device configured to be installed on a gun, said gun lock device including:
(a) an electric gun lock configured to be disposed on said gun and responsive to an electronic command signal to select an unlocked state from among at least two operative states, including a locked state which prevents firing the gun and said unlocked state which enables firing;
(b) a first data receiver for receiving a gun control signal containing first gun security data;
(c) a first data memory for storing second gun security data representing biologic personal information of at least one authorized person, permitted to select said unlocked operative state; and
(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 electronic command signal to select said unlocked state when said first gun security data and said second gun security data are substantially the same, in response to receipt of said gun control signal;

(2) a gun key device for controlling the gun lack device, said gun key device, disposed separate and apart from aid gun and comprising:
(a) a first data transmitter for transmitting said gun control signal to said first data receiver;
(b) a second data memory for storing biologic personal information of a putative authorized person who wishes to control the gun, said biologic personal information identifying said putative authorized person; and
(c) a second logic device, coupled to each of said first data transmitter and said second data memory, for generating said gun control signal, including said first gun security data, from said biologic personal information stored in said second data memory for transmission to said first data receiver;
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 first data memory, thereby to prevent unauthorized use of the gun.

2. The locking 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 first data memory include a pseudo-random number.

3. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first gun security data generated by said second logic device includes biologic data identifying a bodily aspect of a putative authorized person who wishes to control the gun for comparison with said second gun security data stored in said first data memory that includes biologic data identifying a bodily aspect of an authorized person who is permitted to control the gun.

4. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said gun key device includes a keypad, coupled to the second logic device, for inputting a gun control command for transmission to said gun lock device, and wherein said first logic device is operative to generate said electronic command signal from said gun control command when said first gun security data and said second gun security data are substantially the same.

5. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic command signal produced by said first logic device causes said gun lock device to select said unlocked state for a first duration of time and thereafter to select said locked state.

6. The locking 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.

7. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said gun key device includes a camera, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting an image of a bodily aspect of said putative authorized person and wherein biologic personal information is represented by said inputted image.

8. The locking apparatus of claim 7 , 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.

9. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said gun key device includes a microphone coupled to said second logic device, and wherein said second logic device is operative to produce an audio signature of the putative authorized person and to generate said first gun security data therefrom, wherein the audio signature represents said biologic personal information.

10. The locking apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said gun control signal includes a gun control command for selecting the operative state of the gun lock from speech inputted to said microphone by said putative authorized person.

11. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said gun key device includes an alphanumeric keyboard, coupled to said second logic device, for inputting an alphanumeric password; wherein said second logic device is further operative to store said password in said second data memory and to generate said gun control signal, including said first gun security data, from said biologic personal information and said password stored in said second data memory for transmission to said first data receiver; whereby said putative authorized person is recognized as an authorized person only in an event that both said inputted putative alphanumeric password and said biologic personal information of said putative authorized person represented by said first gun security data matches both said alphanumeric password and said biologic personal information of said authorized person represented by said second gun security data.

12. The locking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein
(1) said second data memory is further operative to store both
(i) an alphanumeric password selected by and pertaining to a putative authorized person, and
(ii) information representing said biologic personal information pertaining to said putative authorized person

as said first gun security data; and
(2) said first data memory is further operative to store both
(i) an alphanumeric password selected by and pertaining to said authorized person, and
(ii) biologic information pertaining to said authorized person

as said second gun security data;

whereby said first logic device is responsive to said first and second gun security data to select said unlocked state only if both the biologic personal information and the alphanumeric password pertaining to said putative authorized person and received by said first data receiver are substantially similar to the respective stored biologic personal information and the alphanumeric password pertaining to the authorized person stored in said first data memory.

13. The locking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
(i) said gun lock device further includes a second data transmitter;
(ii) said gun key device includes a second data receiver;
(iii) said second logic device is operative to cause said first data transmitter to transmit an interrogation signal to said first data receiver;
(iv) in response to said interrogation signal, said first logic device is operative to

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

• F41A17/063 Primary

  comprising a transponder · CPC title

• F41A17/46

  Trigger safeties, i.e. means for preventing trigger movement (F41A17/02 - F41A17/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• F41A17/22

  acting on the trigger · CPC title