AU5052800A

AU5052800A - Fire arm with a fire enabling system

Info

Publication number: AU5052800A
Application number: AU50528/00A
Authority: AU
Original assignee: FN Herstal SA
Current assignee: FN Herstal SA
Priority date: 1999-08-06
Filing date: 2000-08-03
Publication date: 2001-02-08
Also published as: HUP0002911A2; HU0002911D0; IL137502A0; BR0003348A; EP1074810A1; PL341856A1; JP2001066094A; TW510962B; ZA200003916B; BE1013084A3; CA2316740A1; HUP0002911A3

Description

Our Ref:7512750 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): FN Herstal, S.A.

Voie de Liege 33 B-4040 Herstal Belgium Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Fire arm with a fire enabling system Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 Fire arm with a fire enabling system.

The invention concerns a fire arm with a fire enabling system, whereby the fire arm contains a firing mechanism with a trigger and other elements, and the enabling system contains an electric control element which can co-operate with a piece of the firing mechanism, such that it can prevent or allow the loading of said mechanism, depending .on the case.

:Such a fire arm with an enabling system is described in American patent No. 5.704.153. The electric control 15 element is an electric solenoid controlling a core forming a stop which can lock the control rod which is connected to the trigger and which carries the hook working in conjunction with the sear.

20 The electric control element is fed by a source of current through an electronic monitoring device, such that the electric element puts the stop in the release position when a coded signal, identifying a shooter who is authorized to shoot with the fire arm, is received by the transmitter/receiver of radiowaves to which the monitoring device is connected.

The monitoring device and the power supply of the electric control element are activated as soon as the shooter activates a switch which puts the electronic laser aiming system into operation.

Such a system with an electric control element controlling a stop which locks the firing mechanism consumes relatively much energy and in particular has a restricted reliability.

As long as the signal for the firing is not received, the stop locks the control rod and thus prevents the trigger from being activated. It is not excluded that a shooter squeezing the trigger with much strength succeeds to force the firing mechanism or to break or distort the stop.

The invention aims to remedy these disadvantages and to provide a fire arm with a fire enabling system which is more reliable and whose electric control element can be made such that it consumes little energy.

:This aim is reached in that the electric control element is a disconnection element which can disconnect a mechanical 15 piece of the firing mechanism or which can prevent this piece from being connected when it is already disconnected, thus preventing that the movement of the trigger can arm said firing mechanism.

Thus, instead of a locking action, the electric control element provides for a disconnection without preventing the movement of the trigger.

The electric control element is preferably connected to an electronic monitoring system which checks whether certain conditions are met.

This monitoring system may contain means for identifying an authorized shooter and/or means for recognizing a place and/or means for monitoring environmental parameters.

The above-mentioned identification means may contain a device transmitting an identification signal, which is worn by an authorized shooter, whereby the monitoring device is capable of checking this signal.

In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiments of the invention are described as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 represents a schematic section of a part of a fire arm equipped with a fire enabling system according to the invention, in rest position; figure 2 represents a view similar to that in figure 1, but at the moment when the trigger is being squeezed, when all the shooting conditions are met; figure 3 represents a view similar to that in figure 15 1, but at the moment when the trigger is being squeezed, when the shooting conditions are not met.

eeo* The fire arm, a part of which is represented in the figures, is a pistol, containing a frame 1 in which is 20 mounted a firing mechanism of which only the trigger 2, the control rod 3 and the hook 4 of the striker are represented.

The trigger 2 revolves around a shaft 5 mounted in the frame 1, and it is connected in a revolving manner by a shaft 6 to an extremity of the control rod 3 whose other extremity forms a hook 3A which can work in conjunction with the hook 4 of the striker.

The control rod 3 rests with its jagged top edge on a pin 7 mounted on the frame 1, whereas a spring which is not represented here, surrounding the shaft 6, forces the control rod 3 to move away from the trigger 2, such that, when the trigger 2 moves backward, the extremity forming the hook 3A is moved, according to a first movement, usually upward due to the effect of the spring, after which, according to a second movement, it is moved to the front of the fire arm.

The extremity of the control rod 3 forming the hook 3A is situated in front of an electric control element, i.e. an electromagnet 8 which can attract the control rod 3 when current is supplied to it by a source of current 9, for example batteries, and thus prevent the above-mentioned first upward movement.

The feeding takes place by means of an electronic monitoring system 10 which checks whether certain ooo conditions are met.

One of these conditions is the correct identity of the shooter, whereby said monitoring system 10 contains identification means consisting, in the given example, of a device 11 worn by the shooter which transmits an 20 identification signal, whereby the monitoring device can check this signal.

*The electric control element 8, the source of current 9 and the monitoring system 10 thus form an enabling system, whereby this system works as follows: Figure 1 represents the fire arm and the enabling system in rest position. The extremity forming the hook 3A of the control rod 3 is situated in its lower position, near the electromagnet 8 which is not being fed.

As soon as a pressure is exerted on the trigger 2 or in any other way whatsoever, the monitoring system 10 is activated, and it checks whether the shooting conditions are met, i.e. whether a correct signal is received from the transmitting device 11.

If this is the case, the monitoring system will prevent the electromagnet 8 from being fed.

As soon as the trigger is squeezed, the extremity forming the hook 3A of the above-mentioned control rod 3 first moves upward and catches the hook 4, as represented in figure 2.

When the trigger 2 is pressed more backward, the control :rod 3 moves to the front of the fire arm, carrying along .the hook 4 which will activate the spring of the striker 15 which is temporarily being withheld, but which will be released later on.

If, however, the identity of the shooter cannot be established or is incorrect, which implies that the shooter is not authorized to shoot with this fire arm, the monitoring system 10 allows the electromagnet 8 to be fed.

As a result, the latter attracts the control rod 3 which remains disconnected.

When said control rod 3 moves forward, it will not carry along the hook 4, and the striker cannot be activated, so that it is impossible to shoot.

The trigger 2 can still move normally, but without any effect. As the firing mechanism is disconnected, no piece whatsoever of this mechanism can be forced.

Instead of or on top of the correct identity of the shooter, other conditions may have to be met in view of any authorized use of the fire arm.

Such a condition is the recognition of a place or a geographic site. If the monitoring system 10 does not recognize a specific place, the electromagnet 8 will cause the disconnection or prevent the connection of the control rod 3.

The monitoring system 10 can also be designed such that environmental parameters are monitored, for example the light, in which case it is possible to prevent any firing S. when there is not enough light.

It is clear that the firing mechanism may have another design than the one described and that the electromagnet 8 15 can control other disconnectable pieces of the firing mechanism.

Instead of attracting a piece of the firing device in order to change its course, it is possible to move a piece so as to provoke the disconnection, for example a shaft around which revolves another piece.

.Instead of an electromagnet 8, other electric control elements can be provided, such as an electric micro engine.

The invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiments represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, many modifications can be made to the abovedescribed fire arm while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Document2-)3/08/X -6a Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of 10 suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

0 00

Claims

2. Fire arm according to claim i, characterized in that the electric control element is connected to an electronic 20 monitoring system (10) which checks whether certain conditions are met. o 3. Fire arm according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the monitoring system (10) contains means for identifying an authorized shooter.
4. Fire arm according to claim 3, characterized in that the above-mentioned identification means contain a device transmitting an identification signal which is to be worn by an authorized shooter, whereby the monitoring device (10) is capable of checking this signal. Fire arm according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitoring system (10) contains means for recognizing a place and/or means for monitoring environmental parameters.
6. Fire arm according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical piece which is controlled by the electric control element is a piece of the firing mechanism.
7. Fire arm according to claim 6, characterized in that the mechanical piece which is controlled by the electric control element is the control rod which is S. connected to the trigger
8. Fire arm according to any of the preceding claims, 15 characterized in that the electric control element is an electromagnet.
9. A fire arm with a fire enabling system, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this THIRD day of AUGUST 2000 FN Herstal, S.A. By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE