US3027674A

US3027674A - Safety lock for revolvers

Info

Publication number: US3027674A
Application number: US819055A
Authority: US
Inventors: James F Mahan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-06-09
Filing date: 1959-06-09
Publication date: 1962-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1979-04-03

Description

April 3, 1962 J. F. MAHAN SAFETY Loox FOR REvoLvERs Filed June 9, 1959 United States Patent 3,827,674 SAFETY LOCK FR REVLVERS James F. Mahan, 21 Standish St., Cambridge, Mass. Filed .lune 9, 1959, Ser. No. 819,055 7 Claims. (Cl. ft2-66) This invention relates to safety mechanisms for revolver type weapons and is particularly concerned with a new and improved safety gun lock which may -be installed in the revolver or similar weapon in very much the same manner as loading the same with a cartridge. This application is a continuation-in-part of my cepending application Serial No. 768,222, tiled October 20, 1958, `which itself is a continuation of my application Serial No. 708,538, filed January 13, 1958, now abandoned.

There has been a long-felt need for a simple locking device for revolvers to render them useless in the hands of children or of adults who are unfamiliar with weapons. Gun dealers particularly need such a device which, when installed in a revolver, permits handling of the firearm by a prospective purchaser while preventing abuse of the same by carelessly flipping open and slamming shut of the cylinder or by dry firing in the store. lt is evident that this need is not met by any locking type of gun rack or storage container, since the gun itself is not completely free to be shown or handled while held in a container or rack; also the tiring mechanism itself is not locked by any of the usual containers or racks. Locks heretofore proposed for mounting on the gun itself have been heavy, complicated and bulky, changing the balance and feel of the revolver so as not to lill the needs of a gun dealer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and greatly simplified device for locking a revolver type weapon, one which is easy to install and remove by one knowing the secret of its use and which will notchange the balance or materially add to the weight or interfere with handling or aiming of the weapon, but which, when in place, is hidden from sight but will nevertheless completely lock the weapon against operation of any of its mechanism, baffling the would-be tamperer.

My novel safety locking device is featured by the provision of a spring-holding member, such as a casing, constructed and arranged to fit a chamber of the cylinder of a revolver. The spring-holding member is provided with means for anchoring it in the firing chamber of the revolver against forward movement. A plunger and a spring are mounted on the member, the plunger being retractable against the force of the spring to a position where, when the device is inserted in the chamber, it will be wholly within the chamber, thus permitting opening and closing of the cylinder. With the cylinder closed and the chamber containing the device in registry with the barrel, the spring presses the plunger to an extended position protruding into the bore, thereby locking the revolver against both rotation and opening of the cylinder and preventing cooking of the weapon, since the firing mechanism is interconnected with the cylinder rotating mechanism.

According to the invention, the casing and the plunger are prevented from separating from each other by suitable means. For example, the rim of the casing may be crimped to provide an abutment coacting with a shoulder formed on the plunger or the spring may be locked at one end to the casing and be attached at the other end to the plunger.

Still further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawfice ings, in which like numerals refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in elevation of one form of my novel safety locking device illustrating the three components thereof, the casing being shown partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device of FG. 1 in assembled condition;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of a revolver showing in broken lines the novel device of the invention installed in a chamber of the cylinder thereof;

1G. 4 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 3 showing in full lines the mode of operation of my novel locking device when locked and in broken lines the manner in which the plunger thereof may be retracted by the thumb permitting closing of the cylinder;

FiG. 5 is a view similar to FG. 4 showing how the locking plunger of the device may ybe retracted by pressing with a rod introduced through the muzzle when the cylinder is closed to unlock the cylinder;

FlG. 6 is a view similar to FlG. 1 of a modified form of the device according to the invention; and PEG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a still further modified form of the device of the invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a spring-holding member for use according to the invention comprises a casing indicated by the numeral 10. This casing carries means, as shoulder 11, for anchoring it in the tiring chamber 13 of a revolver. Conveniently it may comprise a cartridge case of appropriate caliber. The locking rod or plunger is indicated by the numeral 12, and the coil spring by the numeral 14. The shaft or plunger 12 ts movably within the spring 14 and the latter is forced into the casing 10 resting against the base 16 thereof. The outer end portion of the plunger 12 is provided with a somewhat rounded head 18 and a circumferential groove 20 and shoulder 22. The endmost forward coil 24 of the spring 14 is forced over the shoulder 22 and locks itself securely in the groove 20. With respect to the other end 25 of the spring 14, if the casing 10 is of the usual .22 cal. cartridge, a slight internal groove 27 is found in the cartridge case base into which will spring the last coil of the helical spring 14 to be held firmly thereby. Alternative means for suitably mounting the plunger, spring, and casing will be hereinafter disclosed in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7.

The novel locking device of the invention is shown in assembled condition in FG. 2. It will be observed that the spring 14 is in a relaxed condition, the end 25 held in the groove 27, and the shaft 12 is in its extended position. Pushing the shaft 12 into the casing will cause the spring 14 to be compressed, the movement of the shaft being limited by the base 1o.

Referring tto FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings, t-he manner of installing and removing the locking device of the invention will become apparent. The device is placed in one of the empty chambers of the cylinder as shown in broken .lines (FIG. 4), the head 18 of the shaft is then depressed with the fingernail or thumbnail and the cylinder closed with the chamber which contains the device in registry with the barrel 26, as shown in full lines in FIG. 4 and in broken lines in FIG. 3. The spring 14 expands and causes the head 18 of the shaft 12 to extend into the bore. In this condition the gun is securely locked by the shaft, since the cylinder of a modern double action revolver is revolved one step when the hammer is cocked or the trigger pulled. Thus, if the cylinder is locked against movement, the yhammer cannot be retracted nor can the trigger be pulled.

To unlock the gun and to remove the locking device it is only necessary to insert a cleaning or other suitable rod 30 into the barrel from the muzzle while simultaneously operating the Alatch 32 with the thumb and pressing against the side of the cylinder 34 with the index finger (FIG. 5). When the rod 30 has pressed the plunger 12 back out of the chamber and into the casing a sufficient distance, its head 18, which is preferably rounded to facilitate the action, then clears the rear edge of the barrel 26 permitting opening of the Icylinder to the position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 5.

In the modification shown in FIG. 6 the casing 10a is a used Icartridge case of langer th-an .22 cal. (although this modification is also applicable to smaller calibers if desired). A small slot 29 is cut in the wall near the base 16 and when the spring 14 is installed, the end turn 25 will protrude into the slot and be held thereby. If necessary, this end turn 25 may be sprung radially outwardly prior to installation to assure its snapping into locked position. In this embodiment I have substituted a. standard bullet 12a for the plunger 12. Its circumferential grooves a will receive and hold the spring 14 and its normally rounded nose 18a permits it to function in the same manner as the plunger 12 of the previous embodiment.

In FIG. 7 I have illustrated still another embodiment of my novel device wherein the plunger 12b is somewhat differently shaped, enlarged near one end at 13 to provide a circumferential shoulder 20b. The enlarged base portion 13 slides into the casing 10b compressing the spring 14 against the `base 16. The rim 15 of the casing is then crimped inwardly to serve as an abutment coacting with the circumferential locking surface for-med by the enlarged pontion 13 of the plunger 12b to hold the latter in place. In this form of the invention the spring 14 is loosely held in the casing 10b and there is no need for its ends to interconnect the plunger and casing.

It will be appreciated that my novel safety device furnishes a simple inexpensive and yet positively acting lock which, when in place, effectively prevents any tampering with the revolver by unauthorized persons. Danger of accidental shootings by children and other persons unfamiliar with firearms is reduced. In the sporting goods store the dealer will very much appreciate the simple and yet effective means by which he can lock his revolvers to prevent abuse by customers or unauthorized dry tiring, while still permitting them physically to handle the guns.

An important advantage of my revolver lock is its concealment within the gun whereby its mode of operation is not apparent tothe 4uninitiated. I have found that even firearm experts are completely bailied by my device and are unable to open the cylinder of ya thus locked revolver Without instruction as to the secret Thus, gun dealers and others using Ithe novel lock may feel quite secure that customers in the store or children or visitors in the home will not readily solve the problem of unlocking the locked weapon. Yet to unlock the same lby the use of a rod is but the work of a moment when one knows how. It is evident that my device could be adapted to require a special type of rod or key to unlock it, but my experience with guns indicates that `gun collectors do not favor locking devices requiring a key. Keys `are easy to lose and might not be handy when the gun is needed.

While I have herein disclosed and described presently preferred forms vof the invention, it will nevertheless be understood that the same is susceptible of various modifications and changes within the skill of the art. Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific form disclosed and described herein but only by the proper scope to be afforded to the appended claims.

I claim: l. In combination with a gun having a barrel `and a member provided with at least one cartridge-holding chamber, said member being movable transversely of the axis of said barrel from la closed position wherein said chamber is in registry with said barrel to an open position out of registry therewith for loading and unloading, a safety locking device for said gun adapted to be installed in said chamber for preventing movement of said member `from said closed to said open position, said device comprising a casing fitting said chamber and a plunger and spring mounted in said casing, said plunger being retractable against said spring from an extended to a retracted position, the overall length of said device with said plunger extended being ygreater than that of said chamber so that said plunger when so extended will pro- -trude into said barrel and ilock said member in registry therewith, and the overall length of said device with said plunger retracted being no greater than that of said chamber so that said member can be moved between its open and closed positions, said device including means preventing said plunger and casing from coming apart.

2. In combination with a revolver having a cylinder containing a firing chamber and a barrel in which the cylinder is movable transversely of the axis of the barrel from a closed position wherein the firing chamber is in registry with said barrel to an open position out of registry therewith for loading and unloading, a safety locking device for said revolver adapted to be installed in said firing chamber for preventing movement of said cylinder from said closed to said open position, said device comprising a spring-holding member for insertion in said firing chamber, means on said spring-holding member for anchoring the same in said chamber against forward movement, a plunger mounted on said springholding member for movement to and from a normal extended position and a retracted position, said plunger projecting beyond the forward end of said chamber when in its said extended position, and means delimiting the movement of said plunger in the direction of said extended position including a spring member on said springholding member for urging said plunger away from said retracted position and a shoulder on said plunger coacting with one of said members, whereby said plunger when in normal extended position will protrude from said tiring chamber into the barrel of said revolver locking the same together and when retracted will permit relative transverse movement between the same.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein a portion of said spring member is connected to said shoulder and another portion thereof is connected to said spring-holding member.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said spring-holding member comprises a hollow casing receiving said spring member and a portion of said plunger, said spring member having a portion thereof connected to said shoulder and said casing having a recess receiving and holding another portion of said spring member, and wherein said anchoring means comprises an external shoulder formed on the rear portion of said casing.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plunger is provided with at least one circumferential groove forwardly of said first-named shoulder receiving the first-named portion of said spring member whereby the said connection therebetween is effected.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said shoulder on said plunger coacts with a portion of said spring-holding member.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spring-holding member comprises a hollow casing, the portion whereof which coacts with said shoulder on said plunger comprising inwardly crimped portions of the rim thereof, and wherein said anchoring means comprises an external shoulder formed on the rear portion of said casing.

(References on following page) References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wesson Dec. 22, 1896 Beckwith Feb. 17, 1903 Hale Dec. 15, 1914 5 Boyce May 18, 1926 6 Allen June 22, 1943 Parker Aug. 17, 1943 Slockbower Jan. 4, 1949 Porter Sept. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Nov. 17, 1905