DE29808935U1 - Device for securing small arms - Google Patents

Description

PATENTAN WALT«*::**· :**::*!"I*";*!!* 0-33330GuIe ₁ SlOh, Vennstraße

·· ··· · . « ··· · * Telephone: (0 52 41)130 54

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Dipl.-Ing. Gustav Meldau

Dipl.Phys. Dr. Hans-Jochen Strauß Date: 19.05.98

Dipl.-Ing. Hubert FlÖtOttO Our reference: H 2238 jS

Mister

Iradj Hessabi

145 Brightmoor Ct

Las Vegas/Henderson, NV

89014 USA

Device for securing handguns

The invention relates to a device for securing handguns.

The possession and use of handguns are subject to strict regulations. In many countries, a permit is required to purchase a handgun and also to own and use it. Unauthorized persons, especially children, are thus prevented from owning and using handguns, as unauthorized use can cause significant harm to those affected, even leading to loss of life. Owners of handguns are therefore required by law to store them safely and prevent unauthorized use.

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This is where the invention comes in, which is based on the task of specifying a locking device of the aforementioned type in which the unlocking of the lock is simplified, does not require a special key or number combination, and which should also be effective, simple and cost-effective.

In order to effectively prevent unauthorized use of the handgun, the trigger itself is locked with the device, which consists of two halves that can be connected to one another and are arranged on the outside of the handgun, overlapping the trigger guard. By folding these two halves together, the trigger guard and trigger lever are covered. In addition, the trigger lever itself is blocked by a bolt that extends between the two halves and which - adapted to the shape of the trigger lever - rests against it with a certain form fit so that it is not possible to pull the trigger. The lock that holds the two halves of the locking device together is provided between these two halves and works together with the two halves in such a way that after the locking device has engaged, they cannot be removed without unlocking it. It is also possible to lock the trigger guard in the pulled position, so that manipulation that could trigger a shot is also impossible. The bolt can be formed by the locking device itself.

To prevent one of the two halves from becoming misplaced, both halves are connected to one another using a hinge. After unlocking the locking device, the locking device is removed as a whole, put away as a whole and then put back on the handgun as a whole to be secured again.

In the simplest case, the locking device is a lock with a key or a lock with a combination. To remove it, the lock must be opened. Even if the key is not available or the combination is not remembered, the handgun can be used as a "dummy" and can be used as a psychological weapon.

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The locking device advantageously has electronics that are equipped with a microprocessor and a program and data memory and that are programmed for recognition. Speech recognition is suggested as a means of recognition. To do this, the authorized person enters a key word in advance, which is digitized by a processor with speech recognition and stored in the data memory. If the locking device of the lock is to be released during use, the code word (which matches the key word) is entered. If this code word, which has been processed using speech analysis and digitized, matches the stored key word, the locking device opens so that the locking device can be removed and the handgun can be used.

Due to the characteristics of the speech recognition, it is ensured that only the person whose code word matches the key word stored in the memory is recognized as an authorized person and the handgun is released, especially since all people have a characteristic speech rhythm that enables identification.

For speech analysis, it is advantageous to record the key word spoken by the authorized person as a command, divided several times per second (for example 5 times). Each of these word parts is checked for amplitude and the largest amplitude is recorded in each case. For testing, the code word entered to open the lock is divided in the same way into word parts of equal size, the largest amplitude occurring in this word part is then compared with the corresponding amplitude of the stored command, whereby relative values are advantageously used for comparison, such as the differences between the highest amplitudes of one word part and that of the following word part. This relativization makes the command independent of the absolute volume of the spoken code word, and also largely independent of the speed of speech, which in critical situations is usually only spoken very quietly and quite quickly, while the key word command is regularly given at a normal volume and usual speaking speed.

When comparing the code word with the entered key word, the highest amplitudes of the first part of the word are determined with that of the second part of the word, the second part of the word with that of the third part of the word, etc. These differences are already stored for the key word specification; they can therefore be compared without further ado. If these ratios match - within specified limits - the code word input is recognized as matching the key word and thus as correct. If there is a match, the lock and thus the bolt opens; if there is no match, the lock remains closed and the handgun cannot be used.

The lock itself has a locking bar that works together with an electromagnetically operated locking bolt. When a match is established, a magnetic switch retracts this locking bolt, releasing the locking bar and allowing the two halves of the locking device to be separated or opened up and removed.

The essence of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 7;
Fig. 01: Handgun with locking device

(partially cut);

Locking device, perspective diagram;

Details locking device,

Locking device opened (view),

Locking device opened (cut),

Locking device, side view (partially cut);

Wiring diagram of electronic lock;

Examples Language analysis of a code word,

Spectrum keyword,

Spectrum code word,

Compressed to word length "key word"

Spectrum code word,
Fig. 5d: Amplitude comparison.

Fig. 02: Fig. 03: Fig. 3a: Fig. 3b: Fig. 3c: Fig. 04: Fig. 05: Fig. 5a: Fig. 5b: Fig. 5c:

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Figure 1 shows a pistol 1 as a handgun with a handle 2 and barrel 3, with a magazine 4 containing the cartridges inserted in the handle 2. The barrel 3 can be retracted in the usual way for cocking and loading, it is guided in a barrel guide 5. The trigger 6 has a trigger guard 7 and a trigger lever 8 arranged therein. A locking device 10 is placed over the trigger 6 so that the trigger lever 8 cannot be operated. This locking device, shown in perspective in Figure 2, consists - as can be seen in Figures 3 - of a first shell part 11 and a second shell part 16, which can be joined together in the selected representation. Both joined shells 11 and 16 enclose the trigger 6 so that the trigger lever 8 itself is not accessible and actuation of the trigger 6 is prevented.

The first shell part 11 contains the locking device 12 with a locking bolt 12.1, which interacts with a locking bar 17 of the second shell 16 of the locking device 10 and holds both shell parts 11 and 16 together. This locking device 12 is designed in such a way that it engages in the shape of the trigger lever in a form-fitting manner and blocks the actuation of the trigger lever. This also effectively prevents "printing" with the locking device 10 in place.

The locking device is advantageously designed as a lock with a trigger magnet 13 that interacts directly with the locking bolt 12.1. In order to be able to operate these trigger magnets 13, batteries 14 are provided, which are also housed in the first shell 11. The first shell 11 also contains the electronics 20 (a schematic circuit diagram is shown in Figure 4) with a processor 21 for speech recognition and a comparison processor 22 as well as a data memory 24. A microphone 26 allows the input of a code word, whereby the switch 26.1 is pressed when entering.

This code word is sent as an electronic signal to the speech recognition processor 24 and is processed using speech analysis and stored as a file in the data storage device 24. The

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Key word entered; to store the key word, switch 26.2 is pressed (switch 26.1 can also be equipped with two switching stages for this purpose), so that the key word processed by speech analysis in the speech recognition processor 21 is sent to another part of the data memory 24. Both speech spectra are stored in the data memory, where the length of the code word is first compared with that of the key word. Deviations are overcome by compressing or stretching the code word to the length of the key word. The two signals, which have been adjusted in terms of duration, are then compared in the comparison processor 22, which, if they match, activates the control switch 25 so that the electromagnet 13 of the locking device 12 is excited, the locking bolt 12.1 is retracted and the locking bar 17 is released, whereby the two halves 11 and 16 of the locking device 10 can be removed. A program memory 23 contains the program lines necessary for this sequence, which - as is usual in data processing - are processed one after the other.

For the speech-analytical treatment of the speech input, the signal recorded by the microphone is divided into time periods, the maxima in each of the intervals are compared with the maxima of the following interval and the comparison value is stored in the data memory. A typical example of such a comparison analysis is shown in Figure 5: The (normally spoken) key word produced the spectrum shown in Figure 5a during the speech analysis, with the temporal length of the spectrum being 1.8 s. The code word (spoken more quietly and slowly in the example) produces a spectrum - Fig. 5b - that is 2.2 s long after the speech-analytical processing. This spectrum is brought to the same time period of 1.8 s - Fig. 5c - for comparison. The amplitude ratios of successive word parts are now calculated and compared; by focusing on ratios of the absolute height of the amplitude heights, the comparison becomes independent of the volume. The result of the deviations of corresponding relationships - Fig. 5d - shows that - apart from the beginning and end of the word - there is sufficient agreement and agreement can be assumed.

Claims (1)

PATENT ATTORNEYS JJ &idigr;&idigr;!!.&iacgr;&idigr;** D-33330 Gütersloh, Vennstraße ·· · · · . ·. ».· . . Telephone: (0 52 41)130 54 ,I..*..* *..·..,· ..**..· Fax: (05241)12961 Dipl.-Ing. Gustav Meldau Dipi.Phys. Dr. Hans-Jochen Strauß Date: 19.05.98 Dipl.-Ing. Hubert Flötotto Our reference: H 2238 jS Protection claims 01. Device for securing handguns, characterized by a two-shell design which spans the trigger guard (7) of a handgun (1), wherein both shells (11, 16) can be connected to one another, and by a locking device (12) which fixes the two shells together in the connected state, wherein one of the shells (11; 16) has a locking bolt (12.1) which can be actuated by means of a lock and the other of the shells (16; 11) has a locking bracket (17) which interacts with the locking bolt (12.1). 02. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that both shells (11, 16) are hinged together so that they can be opened. 03. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking device (12) is shaped such that it can be placed against the trigger lever (8) with a certain positive fit in order to block the actuation of the trigger lever (8). &eegr; 2238 04. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking device has electronics programmed for speech recognition, which is provided with at least one microprocessor and a program and data memory. 05. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that a microphone (26) for entering the code word is inserted in one of the shells (11; 16). 06. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that a switch (26.1) is provided on one of the shells (11; 16) for entering the key word via the microphone (26).