US20020059746A1

US20020059746A1 - Quick-release gun lock

Info

Publication number: US20020059746A1
Application number: US09/799,957
Authority: US
Inventors: Larry Ross; Cruz Luna
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-12-29
Filing date: 2001-03-05
Publication date: 2002-05-23

Abstract

A Quick-release Gun Lock is disclosed. The gun lock comprises a base that cooperates with the gun's extractor, a pliable and expandable portion attached to the base for expanding to create an interference fit with the gun's bore, and a compression shaft that, when rotated, will force the expandable portion outwardly to create the interference fit. The device may further include a cam hub that interacts with the compression shaft to provide the desired interference fit with less than one rotation.

Description

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/223,067 filed Dec. 29, 1998, now pending.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to tamper-proof locks for firearms and, more specifically, to a Quick-release Gun Lock.

2. Description of Related Art

Guns and other firearms have been in use by society for protection and recreation for centuries. In recent years, with escalating crime levels, and particularly in attacks at the home, people have contemplated arming themselves. To have a weapon in the home can provide a feeling of security for many people. Historically, there have been two problems with keeping a firearm in the home: (1) preventing children from getting injured while playing with a loaded gun, and (2) preventing an intruder from getting to the weapon first and using it against the victims. As a result, even if a person does keep a gun in the home, it is usually not loaded. An unloaded gun can actually be more dangerous than a loaded one, since it can usually only be a deadly bluff to the future invader. What is needed is a device that permits a gun to be loaded and ready for use, while still preventing injury to children, as well as keeping an intruder from using the gun against the victims.

Semi-automatic weapons have become particularly popular for self-defense purposes because they can fire quicker and they hold more rounds than a revolver. While other prior devices have attempted to solve the gun safety problem for revolvers or rifles, none has been effective for semi-automatic weapons. FIGS. 1 through 5 will introduce the reader to the problems with locking semi-automatic pistols.

FIG. 1 depicts a conventional

semi-automatic pistol

10. The pistol 10 comprises two major structures: the handle portion 12 and the slide 14. The slide 14 is permitted to slide along the handle portion 12 during the operation of the pistol 10.

FIG. 2 depicts the

pistol

10 with the slide 14 in the recoil position, such as is the case when the slide 14 recoils immediately after a shot is fired. As can be seen, the slide 14 has traveled towards the left with respect to the handle portion 12. The barrel 16 is exposed in this position, and the spent shell exit 18 is open to the chamber (see FIG. 3). If a shot had just been fired, the spent shell casing would have been drawn out of the chamber by the extractor (see FIG. 3), which is attached to the slide 14. The extractor (see FIG. 3) also ejects the spent shell casing out of the chamber through the spent shell exit 18.

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway side view of the typical

semi-automatic pistol

10, depicting some of the inner workings as pertinent to the present invention. The slide 14 is in the recoil position in this view to depict what happens immediately after the spent shell casing has been ejected. The position shown could also be the result of manually cocking the pistol by grasping the slide 14 with the hand and pushing it to the left with respect to the handle portion 12.

When the

slide

14 is cocked, a round 20 is dispensed by the magazine 22 into the vicinity of the chamber 24. The chamber 24 is the end of the barrel 16 from where rounds 20 are fired. The chamber 24 may be of larger diameter than the center of the barrel 16 (i.e. the bore 26), or the bore 26 may be the same diameter from the tip of the barrel 16 to the chamber 24.

FIG. 4 depicts the

pistol

10 once the slide 14 has returned to the uncocked or ready position. When the slide 14 travels forwardly, it forces the round 20 into the chamber 24; the mechanism that accomplishes this is not pertinent to this discussion, and is therefore not shown. If one can imagine that the bullet has been fired out through the bore 26, and that now the round 20 is actually a spent shell casing, we can proceed to understanding the functioning of the pistol 10.

While a round is in the

chamber

24, it is engaged by the extractor 28. As described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, when a shot is fired, the slide 14 would recoil by traveling to the left. Since the extractor 28 is attached to, and travels with, the slide 14, when the slide 14 recoils, the extractor 28 will remove the spent shell casing (imagine as the round 20) by pulling it backward and out of the chamber 24. Once free from the chamber 24, the spent shell casing (imagine as the round 20) will be aligned with the spent casing exit (see FIG. 1), through which it is ejected through, also by the extractor 28.

FIG. 5 further shows how the extraction process operates. FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway top view of the pertinent components of the pistol. As can be seen, the

extractor

28 is a spring-loaded “finger” that grabs onto the groove 30 that is located at the bottom of the spent shell casing (imagine as the round 20).

Rockwood, U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,596, discloses a “Safety Plug for Firearm Chamber” that is, essentially, a two-piece unit that fits into the chamber and thereafter prevents a round from being loaded. There are at least three problems with the Rockwood device as it applies to semi-automatic pistols. First, the device would be easily removed from the pistol by an intruder or child, by simply jamming a stick into the barrel and poking the device out through the spent casing exit. Second, the device cannot be hidden from the potential intruder in order to prevent its removal. All that the intruder has to do is to cock the slide and look into the spent shell exit to see the device and therefore determine how to remove it. Third, there is no quick way to remove the two-piece Rockwood device. If the device is inserted with an interference fit, as described (see Column 3, line 3), it must be jammed out by a stick inserted into the barrel—this process could take more time than is available in an emergency situation. What is needed is a locking device for semi-automatic and automatic pistols that is disguised while in use to prevent unauthorized users from removing it. The device should also be extremely quick and easy to remove in case of emergency.

Another device, the “Safety Device for Firearms” disclosed in S. Pula et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,836,918, is unworkable for the semi-automatic or automatic weapon. The Pula device has at least three problems with its design. First, the design is extremely complicated, and therefore not cost-effective. In order for this device to gain wide-spread popularity, and therefore use and protection, it must be reliable but also fairly inexpensive. The Pula device is cost-prohibitive as designed. Second, the Pula device, like the Rockwood device, is difficult and slow to remove. Presumably, (although the removal process is not disclosed by Pula) the device is removed by unscrewing the

plug

18, by engaging the tool 23 with either the front or rear kerf 20 and 21, respectively. The device is then poked or shaken out of the chamber. Again, the time to execute these steps may not be available. Third, the Pula device must be made from metal in order to provide the necessary durability to the expanded segments 17. The insertion of a metal device into the chamber that is then pressed outwardly into the bore walls, may actually mar the surface of the chamber and damage the gun. What is needed is a low-cost, reliable, quickly-removable gun lock that will not damage the inner workings of the gun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Quick-release Gun Lock. It is a further object that the gun lock the chambering and firing actions of automatic weapons, while still permitting the triggering action to work. It is a still further object that the locking device be easily installed through the gun's spent shell exit, and that it be quickly released via a tool inserted into the bore, and ejected via the spent shell exit. It is a still further object that the device be concealed from view to prevent tampering. It is yet another object that the device be manufactured from low-cost designs and materials and that the device not cause damage to the inner workings of the weapon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which: [0017]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical semi-automatic pistol [0018]
FIG. 2 is a side view of the pistol of FIG. 1, with the slide in the recoiled position; [0019]
FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the pistol of FIG. 2, with the slide in the recoiled position; [0020]
FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view the pistol of FIG. 1, with the slide in the extended position; [0021]
FIG. 5 is a cutaway top view of the barrel of the pistol of FIG. 4; [0022]
FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway top view of the barrel of FIG. 5, depicting a preferred locking device of the present invention; [0023]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 6; [0024]
FIGS. 8A and 8B are a pair of cutaway side views of the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIGS. 6 and 7; [0025]
FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0026]
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0027]
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0028]
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and [0029]
FIGS. 13A and 13B are cutaway side views of yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0030]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Quick-release Gun Lock. [0031]
The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway top view of a [0032] preferred locking device 32 of the present invention when installed in a typical chamber 24 of a semi-automatic or automatic weapon. As can be seen, the locking device 32 is expanded against the walls of the bore 26, like the Pula device, but the present invention has another benefit. There is a groove 34 that is formed in the locking device 32 that is very similar to the groove 30 found on a conventional round 20 (see FIGS. 1-5). If one returns to FIG. 4, it can be appreciated that if the round 20 was “stuck” in the chamber and prevented from being removed, the extractor 28 could not pull the round 20 out of the chamber 24, and the slide 14 (which is attached to the extractor 28) could not be cocked or recoiled. Since the slide 14 could not be cocked, it would be impossible to look through the spent shell exit (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to determine what was preventing the slide (see FIGS. 1 and 2) from moving. Since the device 32 could not be viewed, it is very likely that an unauthorized user would not be able to determine how to load the gun or be able to remove the locking device 32. This is a significant benefit over the prior devices.
Another critical advantage must be appreciated. In order to remove the [0033] locking device 32, one need only release the force pressing against the walls of the chamber 24, and then cock the slide. When the slide is cocked now, the extractor 28 will pull the locking device 32 out of the chamber 24 via the groove 34, and the locking device 32 will be ejected through the spent casing exit (see FIG. 2), just like a spent casing. As this is done, a new round will be loaded into the chamber 24 when the slide is released. This process is extremely quick, with no wasted movement.
FIG. 7 gives further detail of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the [0034] preferred locking device 32 of FIG. 6. This preferred embodiment comprises a base 36, preferably of brass or aluminum or other material that is strong, yet will not damage the gun by its use. The groove 34 is cut in the base 36, much the same as in a round of ammunition. Attached to the base 36 is an expandable portion 38, made preferably of rubber or other pliable material that will deform under pressure, and then return to its original configuration once the pressure is released. At the end of the expandable portion 38 is a compression disc 40 and a socket 42. The operation of the device 32 is best understood by now considering FIG. 8.
FIGS. 8A and 8B is a pair of partial cutaway side views of the locking device of FIG. 7. View “A” depicts the device in a relaxed or unexpanded condition, such as prior to locking the gun. View “B” depicts the device in an expanded condition, such as when the device is installed and locked inside the chamber of a gun (see FIG. 6). [0035]
The [0036] socket 42 is the tip of the compression shaft 44. The compression shaft 44 runs through a bore in the center of the expandable portion 38 and terminates in a threaded portion 46. The threaded portion 46 engages the threaded tube 48 that is formed within the base 36. As can be seen, therefore, one need merely to turn the socket 42, which will turn the compression shaft 44, thereby causing the threaded portion 46 to bore into the threaded tube 48, and causing the expandable portion 38 to be compressed by the compression disc 40. When compressed, the expandable portion 38 is configured to expand outwardly (such as into the walls of a firing chamber). When the compressing forces are removed, the expandable portion 38 will return to its original configuration, permitting the device to be removed quickly by simply cocking the slide.
The compression disc [0037] 49 may be made from conventional rigid materials, such as in a washer. The socket 42 could be keyed to accept only the owner's tool (inserted down the barrel of the weapon) to engage and disengage the device. The expandable portion 38 of this embodiment is preferably made from rubber or other material which will expand laterally when its ends are compressed, and then return to its original configuration once the compressive forces are removed. It must be appreciated that an expandable portion 38 made from rubber is a novel solution, since it is easy to machine to the proper dimensions to fit into the chamber (i.e. no tight manufacturing tolerances). The rubber also expands greatly under little or no compression, which means that a tight interference fit can be created by barely turning the compression shaft 44. If we now turn to FIG. 9, we can examine yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of another [0038] preferred embodiment 90 of the present invention, wherein the expandable portion 38A is actually located within the gun barrel 26 (rather than the chamber 24). The purpose of this advancement is to prevent tampering to the device 90 by attempting to pound the device 90 out of the chamber 24 by pounding a screwdriver or other device down the barrel 26 (onto the device 90). If this was attempted on one of the previous devices (e.g. as disclosed in the parent applications to this application), the tamperer could succeed in removing the gun locking device; since this new embodiment 90 is longer, this will no longer be possible. Should this type of tampering be attempted, the device 90 can only be driven until the slide (automatic weapon) reaches it's full-back position (as depicted in FIG. 2, above), at which time the device 90 will still remain in an interference fit with the barrel 26, thereby preventing the gun from being fired.
Furthermore, this [0039] device 90 is very suitable for use as a lock for revolver-type weapons; since the device 90 will extend out from the revolving chamber carriage and into the barrel 26, it will be impossible to load a round into the chamber or barrel. Now turning to FIG. 10, we can examine another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the [0040] present invention 100, namely, another device intended to prevent tampering by pounding the device 100 out with a screwdriver or the like. In this embodiment, there are a pair of expandable portions 38 a and 38 b, which are configured to expand outwardly when pressed together by the two cone-shaped ends 31 and 43. While these components alone will successfully lock the gun, it is through the addition of the discs 102A and 102B that will provide the tamper-resistance. Should a tamperer attempt to remove the device 100 by pounding an object down the barrel of the gun and onto the end 41 or screw 42, it will cause extreme compression on the expandable portions 38, as well as the domed washers 102, which will in turn force the edges of the domed washers 102 outward and into the sides of the chamber or barrel (depending upon whether the device 100 is the appropriate length such that the washers 102 reside in the chamber or barrel. Since the washers 102 are preferably made from a harder material than the expandable portions 38, they will provide a more positive interference fit with the walls of the barrel/chamber, possibly even to the point of damaging the barrel/chamber permanently. In this case of tampering, permanent damage is preferable to the tamperer being able to defeat the safety device 100. If we continue on and turn to FIG. 11, we can examine yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another [0041] preferred embodiment 110 of the present invention. This device 110 essentially comprises a pair of end pieces 36B and 41B, each formed with cooperating sloped faces 112 and 114, respectively, such that when the compression shaft 44 is tightened, the faces 112 and 114 will be driven together, which will cause them both to slide relative to one another until both are pressed against the walls of the chamber or barrel of the firearm. Should a tamperer attempt to pound this embodiment of the device 110 out of the chamber, it will cause the end piece 41B to be driven an extreme amount into the wall of the chamber/barrel, causing a more positive interference fit and/or permanent damage to the firearm. FIG. 12 depicts yet another novel advancement to prevent tampering with the locking device.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the [0042] present invention 120. In this embodiment 120, the end piece 41C is further formed with a socket 124 formed therein to cooperatively receive a core member 122 therein. The end piece 41C is further formed with at least one ball bearing 126 (preferably spring-loaded to a retracted position) recessed therein. This one or more ball bearing 126 is configured to be pressed outwardly when the core member 122 is pressed into the socket 124 (such as by normal compression through tightening the compression shaft 44). If undue pressure is exerted upon the core member 122, such as by over-tightening the compression shaft 44 or by pounding a foreign device onto it, it will cause the one or more ball bearings 126 (which are made from a material that is harder than the gun chamber/barrel, to actually create dents in the wall of the chamber/barrel; the result will be a very position fit, and probably permanent damage to the chamber/barrel. Finally, another alternate embodiment is presented in FIGS. 13A and B.
FIGS. 13A and 13B are cutaway side views of yet another preferred [0043] embodiment 130 of the present invention. As shown here, the alternate base 36 is formed with two or more channels 138 therein. These channels 138 are provided to each accept a finger member 132 within it. The finger members 132 are held to the compression shaft 44B by a biasing member 134, such as a spring or rubberized ring. The finger members 132 are further formed with notches therein to cooperate with a ring 136 extending from the compression shaft 44B, to drive the finger members 132 longitudinally along the channels 138 when the compression disc (also known herein as the end piece or compression head 41) 41D travels in and out (longitudinally), such as by tightening or loosening the compression shaft 44B. When tightened sufficiently, the compression shaft 44B will force the finger members 132 into the walls of the chamber/barrel.
Should someone attempt to pound out the [0044] device 130 from the firearm, then (as shown in FIG. 13B), the tips 140 of the finger members 132 will be driven outwardly by an exaggerated amount, which will provide a very substantial interference fit with the walls of the chamber/barrel, and possibly even causing permanent notches (and damage) to the barrel/chamber.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. [0045]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A lock for firearms, said firearms comprising a chamber having inner walls, a recoiling slide and at least one extracting finger attached to said slide, said lock comprising:

a base engageable with at least one said extracting finger;

at least one expandable portion adjacent to said base, each said expandable portion being expandable to engage said walls to prevent said slide from recoiling; and

a compression shaft in engagement with said base and said expandable portion to compress said expandable portion.

2. The lock of claim 1, wherein:

said lock is further comprised by at least one said expandable portion comprising an expandable section formed from at least two expansion members separated by at least one domed washer, said expandable section is further defined by a base end and an opposing tip end, said base end being adjacent to said base; and

said lock further comprises a compression head adjacent to said tip end and in cooperation with said compression shaft to compress said expandable portion.

3. The lock of claim 1, wherein:

said expandable portion comprises a socket formed therein and at least one retractable ball bearing members retained therein; and

said lock further comprises a core member formed to be accepted within said socket to cooperate with said one or more retractable ball bearing members;

whereby pressing said core member into said socket forces said retractable ball bearing members into to said chamber walls or said barrel walls.

4. The lock of claim 1, wherein:

said base is further comprises with at least one channel formed therein; and

said expandable portion comprises at least one finger member, each said finger member comprising an elongate member received within one said channel.

5. The lock of claim 4, wherein:

said finger members each further comprise a tip, said tips configured to expand into said chamber or barrel walls when said compression shaft exerts pressure against each said finger member.

6. The lock of claim 5, wherein:

said base defines a center longitudinal axis and a radial direction, and each said channel is aligned to extend along said longitudinal axis while sloping from said center an in a radial direction.

7. The lock of claim 6, wherein said expandable portion comprises:

three finger members in substantially equal spaced relation around said base and each received within a said channel; and

a biasing member for retaining said finger members to said compression shaft.

8. A lock for firearms, said firearms comprising a chamber having inner chamber walls and a barrel having inner barrel walls, a recoiling slide and at least one extracting finger attached to said slide, said lock comprising:

a base engageable with at least one said extracting finger;

at least one expandable portion adjacent to said base, each said expandable portion being expandable to engage said barrel walls to prevent said slide from recoiling; and

9. A lock for firearms, said firearms comprising a chamber having inner chamber walls and a barrel having inner barrel walls, said lock comprising:

a base insertible in said chamber;

at least one expandable portion adjacent to said base, each said expandable portion being expandable to engage said barrel walls whereby said base is located in said chamber and said expandable portion is in said barrel; and

10. A lock for firearms, said firearms comprising a chamber having inner chamber walls and a barrel having inner barrel walls, said lock comprising:

a base insertible in said chamber, said base further defined by a sloped face;

a head member adjacent to said base, said head member defined by a sloped face, said sloped face formed to cooperate with said sloped base face, whereby said base sloped face and said head member sloped face are substantially in contact with one another; and

a compression shaft in engagement with said base and said head member to slide said sloped faces against one another to compress said base and said head member into said chamber or said barrel.