ZA200405481B - Safety device for a handgun. - Google Patents

Description

Safety Device for a Hand Gun : The invention relates to a safety device for a hand gun in which an outwards, open-laying component is interfused by a striker, which is movable relative to this component up to the firing position for the firing of a cartridge (preamble of claim 1).

Safety devices for hand guns are known but have, in part, considerable disadvantages. They often require an expendable source of energy, without which the weapon cannot be armed.

Others are so voluminous that they require their own special weapon constructions. Still others have dials or suchlike with numbers or symbols that require good lighting and visibility conditions in order to be set. When set on the shooting stand, the setting procedure can be observed by another person and then reproduced if need be.

The purpose of safety devices is to prevent the use of the weapon by unauthorized persons.

However, it is unnecessary and also often very unsafe if the authorization is checked right before the firing of a shot. As a general rule, it is sufficient if the weapon is already released for use at the beginning of a situation in which the firing of a shot can be assumed. Such situations exist, for example, on the shooting stand, on hunting grounds, or suchlike. In certain situations it is namely important that the weapon be used immediately, without prior unlocking causing a delay or demanding the attention of the shooter. For this reason, some shooters still prefer weapons without a safety, for example most revolvers, or weapons with grip safety. If such a shooter is equipped, for example, with a weapon that is only released after a positive check of the shooter's fingerprint sample and if the shooter’s hand has to be positioned exactly and without a glove for this check, and if this process also takes a certain period of time, the shooter will then strive to bypass the safety device. But a weapon with a bypassed safety can then be used by unauthorized persons at any time.

The object of the invention is to attenuate the above disadvantages at least partially.

According to the invention, it is suggested that a locking device is arranged in the component in the initially named type of safety device, by means of which the striker can optionally be immobilized at least insofar as it cannot be moved into the firing position, whereby the locking device can only be deactivated by means of a key or code.

For semi-automatic pistols, safeties are known that immobilize the strikers. The invention is differentiated from these safeties in that the safety can only be unlocked by means of a counter- piece, i.e. a key in the broadest sense, or better, by means of a code.

AMENDED SHE :

For this, the striker does not necessarily need to be fixed in the secured state. It can also be moved out of the hammer alignment or a cover can be moved between the hammer and striker.

This cover protects the striker from the blow of the hammer.

Sometimes it is advantageous if the safety device can be activated in the shortest possible time or in the easiest possible manner; for example then when the shooter is forced to give away the weapon from its immediate area of influence or when there is an acute danger that the weapon might be lost.

It should also be prevented that an unauthorized person, i.e., a youth that lives in the same rooms in which the weapon is stored, learns how to unlock a weapon simply by examining the unlocked weapon. On the other hand, the situation may require that the weapon be relinquished for use to someone other than the owner, for example, on the shooting stand. This other person should also not be able to determine the unlocking information. On the other hand, use by a third person is hardly possible without interfering with the safety, if the owner's fingerprint is first checked and the weapon is only released for firing if this print is provided.

But, the safety device should be as simple as possible, and, to the extent possible, already existing weapons should be able to be retrofitted, and, naturally, they should be as light and cheap as possible.

« WG 03/058148 PCT/EP02/14595

The weapon according to the invention should be simple, should be unlockable in the dark or without eye contact, but should also be able to be relinquished for use to third parties and should in particular be able to be locked very quickly and in as unnoticeable a manner as possible.

Preferably, the weapon according to the invention should be designed such that the aforementioned objects are all solved at least partially.

The above objects are solved in that, in the initially named safety - at least one push button is arranged in an accessible and depressible manner on the outside of the component and affects a switch body that can be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the striker to its gradual rotation, - the switch body has a non-round bore hole interfused by a striker and - the striker has at least one radial projection or at least one radially projecting part, the outer contour of which together with that of the striker is complementary to the non-round bore hole, so that this part can only pass the non-round bore hole when the switch body is located in a certain pivot position (claim 1).

The striker is thereby locked by a safety lock. But the safety lock is not set with a number dial and cannot be controlled through electrical sensing devices. But rather it can only be unlocked in that the push button or the push buttons are pressed a certain number of times. This can also take place in the dark or be performed by a person that is not familiar e.g. with the symbols of a

AMENDED SHEET number dial. Even if the weapon is not used for years, the safety lock can be used again right away without the need for a battery.

If the switch body or switch bodies is/are placed in the correct pivot position, then the weapon can be used by anyone. But if the pushbuttons of the ready-for-use weapon are pressed again, then it is once again rendered unusable. Thus, it is possible to lock a weapon very quickly, even unnoticed, so that it cannot be used by an unauthorized person.

Since the safety lock only locks the striker, any weapon function can be performed on the secured weapon. Thus, it may appear to an authorized person that the weapon is not locked. But shooting is in no way possible.

The weapon can be any hand gun, for example a Kipplauf shotgun, in the basquill of which the pushbutton(s) is/are attached. These pushbuttons can, for example, sit under a decorative plate and be invisible under normal conditions. Thus, increased safety is created before children are placed in the possession of weapons and thereby cause damage. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in that the hand gun is a semi-automatic weapon and in that the component is the at least partially open-lying lock of this semi-automatic pistol (claim 2).

In a modern military and functional pistol, usually of the Colt-Browning system, the lock, namely the so-called slide, is, as a rule, completely free and the magazine shaft is located between the

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WG 03/058148 PCT/EP02/14595 back end of the barrel and the hammer. Thus, with this type of pistol, an overall length is generally available in the direction of fire that at least corresponds with the length of the magazine shaft. This overall length is sufficient for at least three pushbuttons with dedicated mechanics lying next to each other in the direction of fire.

Each switch body can be designed as a uniform body, e.g. like a gear rod, but also like a group of individual discontiguous elements, e.g. spheres, of which one is a bit smaller than the others.

Each switch body is preferably designed as a transversely-toothed lock washer with latch toothed wheels, whereby a lock is attached that holds the lock washer in the received switch position (claim 3).

The lock washer is easiest and most reliably formed in the space that is available in a pistol slide.

In particular, the lock washer requires only very little space in the axial and radial direction. The limited radial and axial space generally available is thus best used for the lock washer.

Three lock washers are preferably provided (claim 4). When using the invention in semi- automatic pistols, a slide can be created whose length is used fully but does not exceed that of a common slide. Thus, an optimal slide can be created that can be easily exchanged for a common slide.

Of course, such a weapon is only secure like e.g. a safe with a permutation lock, which can be opened at the latest after trying all permutations.

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But, it cannot be counted on here that an unauthorized person has several hours to try out all permutations. Thus, it is extremely unlikely that an unauthorized person who temporarily acquires the weapon finds the right permutation to unlock the weapon in a few quick tries. Even an unauthorized relative, like a youth, cannot use the weapon of the authorized person; not even when the weapon is stored in an inaccessible manner and he/she acquires it at best temporarily.

Each lock washer could, like certain other switch bodies, be constantly relayed by pressing the push button. The relaying of the unlocked weapon would also continuously secure this even directly. The unlocking could be checked by pressing on the striker or by an indicator device. But this is insecure because even an authorized would also see the indicator device. If the indicator device were designed as a counter, the advantage that the weapon can be unlocked without eye contact would be lost. Thus, in accordance with the invention, a further development suggests that a reset device be assigned to each lock washer (claim 5). Thus, the safety lock can be displaceable into a defined starting position by a simple influence. From this, the unlock setting is possible through the simple counted pressing of the individual push buttons quickly, exactly, and without eye contact.

Before setting the weapon to be unlocked, the safety lock is displaced into the defined starting position for reasons of precaution so that the unlock setting succeeds without a doubt in each case. :

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WG 03/058148 PCT/EP02/14595

Insofar as several lock washers are provided, each one can be assigned its own reset device.

This has the advantage that then when an inaccuracy befalls the shooter when setting a lock washer this lock washer can be set again separately. In accordance with the invention, it is preferred that the reset devices of all lock washers have a common confirmation device (claim 6).

It has namely been determined that the setting of the push buttons generally takes place without error so that the individual resetting of lock washers is unnecessary. On the other hand, when using only one reset device for all lock washers, it cannot happen that a lock washer is not reset by accident before the setting.

The mechanical setting requires a reset spring. In this case, an end stop is preferably assigned to each lock washer (claim 7). This ensures that no reset spring is overused by faulty operation and thus the safety lock can continue to function without incident for decades.

The reset spring must be stable and durable, but can only occupy very little space. It is thus preferred in accordance with the invention that each reset spring consists of a wire spring that is wrapped around the lock washer assigned to it or a component attached to it (claim 8). Such a wire spring can be long enough in order to not be overstressed and to be simultaneously housed in an extremely space-saving manner by being wrapped around the component or suchlike. One end of the wire spring must be attached to a stationary part, for example to the slide. The end of

AMENDED SBEET the spring, which extends tangentially away from the named component, can moreover be used as the end stop for the lock washer.

The latch teeth can wear out or get dirty. At any rate, the attained position shifts by a rotation angle relative to the target position. But, the target position should be adhered to as strictly as possible in order to ensure the most precise definition possible for the release position. The safety lock should be implemented as precisely as possible in order to prevent an unauthorized person from opening the safety lock simply by putting stress on the striker or by carefully switching through the lock washers, as is possible for example with a cheap bicycle lock.

Furthermore, the reaching of each switch position should accompanied by a quiet by clearly audible sounds or by a detectable vibration of the weapon in order to make it clear to the shooter that the corresponding switch position has indeed been reached. Thus, in accordance with the * invention, it is suggested that a star wheel, the catch bearing of which can be changed, is assigned to the lock washer or to each lock washer By changing the contact of the star wheel, the encoding can be changed (claim 9).

When turned, each ratchet wheel takes along a radial projection, which can only penetrate the star wheel in a certain position. Thus, the pivot position of each ratchet wheel must be adjusted to that of corresponding star wheel in order to be able to move the striker. The radial projection is attached to the striker namely in a relocatable but axially immobile manner. Only when all radial projections can move axially into the assigned star wheels, can the striker also move axially.

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If the thus-secured striker is pressed and held, the star wheels can also be adjusted by adjusting the ratchet wheels. The weapon is thereby newly encoded.

The invention is explained in greater detailed using an exemplary embodiment and the attached drawings. The drawings show:

Figure 1 a pistol according to the invention, seen from behind and from the left;

Figure 2 the same pistol, seen from behind and from the right;

Figure 3 a longitudinal cut through the back part of the slide and a safety lock;

Figure 4 a view of the striker, seen from at an angle from behind, with parts of the safety lock;

Figure 5 a view of the striker with parts of the safety lock, seen from the other side;

Figure 6 a cross-section through the slide and the safety lock, in a secured state (safety : lock in the neutral position);

Figure 7 an illustration as in Figure 6, but when relaying the safety lock, and;

Figure 8 an illustration as in Figures 6 and 7, but when resetting the safety lock.

All of the figures show one and the same pistol or parts of it; however, the same scale was not always chosen for the figures. Where it serves the illustration, components are omitted.

Reference numbers are omitted in the individual figures in order to not overload the figures. All reference numbers and the entire description refer to all figures.

Figures 1 and 2 show a semi-automatic pistol with a grip 1, a slide 3, and a cocking piece 5 that is accessible from the outside. A safety lock sits in the back part of the slide 3. This has three control buttons 37 on the left side of the slide 3. A reset button 61 (Figure 2) is positioned on the right side of the slide 3.

If the reset button 61 is pressed in, then the safety lock is placed in the neutral position. All ’ conventional, mechanical functions of the weapon are preserved so that a charging, pulling of the trigger, etc. of the weapon is possible without an insecurity arising, even if there is a cartridge in the barrel.

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of a safety lock and Figures 4 through 8 show different views, with partially omitted components. The safety lock is attached around the strikers 15. It only allows its movement when it, or rather its parts, have an exactly defined position (open lock).

In all other positions, including in a defined neutral position, it prevents the movement of the striker, at least such a movement that brings about a firing of the cartridge.

The striker 15 is guided in the longitudinal direction in a mounting hole 17 of the slide 3 and has for this purpose a middle section 19, which slides in the bore hole 17. In order to prevent the formation of air pillows in the striker bore hole 17, longitudinal grooves can be drilled in the bore hole 17 or in the middle section 19 of the striker 15. The tip of the striker 15 is tapered. The striker has an end section 21. The back end of the end section 21 sticks out of the slide 3 towards the back; the strike of the hammer 5 during firing takes place on this end.

Three locking elements that support each other axially are arranged behind each other on the end section 21. Behind the last locking element 23, a transverse pin interfuses the striker 15.

Each locking element 23 has a bore hole and sits in a rotatable manner on the back section 21 of the striker 15. Each locking element 23 has a radially projecting nose 27, which is designed like a longitudinal ligament. A pinned or otherwise permanently attached, back-bearing cover 31 actually prevents access to the safety lock. The cover 31 is namely not exchangeable, at least for laypersons. The locking elements 23 are supported in the slide in an axially immobile manner.

In the example shown, three locking elements 23 are shown that can each take on 10 possible settings. The safety lock therefore has 10° possible variations. If four locking elements 23 are present, then there would be 10* possible variations, etc. In accordance with spatial requirements, the necessary safety, and the demanded ease of use, three locking elements each with 10 possible settings are most likely the best compromise.

An adjusting mechanism 25 sits in a rotatable manner on each locking element 23. Each adjusting mechanism is made of a ratchet wheel 33 made of metal, a star wheel 35 made of metal, a button 37 for rotating the ratchet wheel 33 and a reset spring 39 for resetting the adjusting mechanism 25. A button retaining spring 41 and a claw 43 are assigned to the button 37. These elements can be seen particularly well in Figures 7 through 9.

The ratchet wheel 33 has ten latch teeth 45 and an axially protruding end tooth 47 located next to a latch tooth. The ten latch teeth 45 have the same angular separation from one another. The reset spring 39 is a wire spring and is wrapped around a section of the adjusting mechanism 25.

The one end of the reset spring 39 is attached to the adjusting mechanism, the other end is guided upwards tangentially from the named section and is attached in the slide 3. By rotating the ’ adjusting mechanism 25 or the ratchet wheel 33 clockwise, as seen from behind, the reset spring 39 is tautened. In the rest position, in which it lies above and from which the unwinding reset spring 39 is driven counterclockwise, the end tooth 47 hits the section of the reset spring 39 affixed in the slide 39. If the ratchet wheel 33 is turned one full rotation, then the end tooth 47 hits the named section of the reset spring 39 from the other side.

The button 37 is, as seen from behind, pressed to the left through the button reset spring 41 located in the slide 3. The button 37 has a button projection 49 that can be meshed with ratchet wheel 33. If the button 37 is pressed into the slide 3, the button projection 49 grabs a latch tooth

45 and turns the ratchet wheel 33 by a bit more than one-tenth of a rotation. The claw 43, which is pressed against the ratchet wheel 33 and engages in a latch tooth 45 after the button 37 is pushed in and the ratchet wheel 33 is turned, is arranged on the other side of the ratchet wheel 33 (on the right side as seen from behind). The attained pivot position of the ratchet wheel 33 is thus held by the claw 43. Further turning of the ratchet wheel 33 in the clockwise direction is possible because the latch tooth 45, which follows the latch tooth 45 each held tight by the claw 43, then the claw 43 is pushed away towards the outside. Thus, this concerns a simple latch lock, which relays the ratchet wheel 33 around a latch tooth 45 when the button 37 is pressed.

The star wheel 35 has a number of catch groovings 51. On the top side of the slide 3, a catch body 53 is loaded downwards by a catch spring 55 such that it engages in a corresponding "grooving 51 in each engagement setting of the ratchet wheel 33. The catch groovings 51 thus ensure adherence to the exact angle position of the star wheel 35.

The ratchet wheel 33 and the star wheel 35 are provided with a continuous slit 57 in the open position, the width of which is to be measured in the circumferential direction such that the nose 27 then just fits through. The axial thickness of the named unit 33, 35 corresponds with the distance that the striker needs 15 in order to be pushed forward out of its secure position axially up until the firing of a cartridge.

Now, each star wheel 35 takes in a certain angle position, which is determined by the coding. The corresponding ratchet wheel 33 can be placed in such a position that the taken-along nose 27 of the corresponding locking element 23 can run into the slit 57 of the corresponding star wheel! 35 by pushing the button 37 one or more times. This is only one single position out of the ten possible positions of each star wheel 35.

The shooter knows the identification number to unlock his pistol. The number has as many digits as adjusting mechanisms 25. The starting position corresponds to the number zero. When the adjusting mechanism is in this starting position, then each button 37 must be depressed as many times as corresponds with the number of the corresponding position of the number. Once all adjusting mechanisms 25 are set, all noses 27 can dip into the corresponding slit 57 and the striker 15 can fire the cartridge. If just one of the adjusting mechanisms 25 is not set properly, then firing is already blocked. oo N

As already mentioned above, the claw 43 has a spring lever, called the release lever 59 below.

This lever is seated on a pivot point 60 and protrudes over it. If the end of the release lever 59 that is turned toward the claw 43 is pressed in the direction opposite the corresponding ratchet wheel 33, then the release lever 59 end with the claw 43 is Nas a result of the pressing of the release lever 59 in the pivot point Nmoved away from the ratchet wheel 33. The ratchet wheel 33 is now released and rotates back to the neutral position (number zero) under the effect of the reset spring 39. There, the already named stop between the reset spring 39 and the end tooth 47 stops the ratchet wheel 33. The lock washer is hereby reset to the starting position.

The free ends of all release levers 59 that are turned away from the claws 43 are connected together as one piece via a connection rod 63. The reset button 61, which protrudes through the wall of the slide 3 to the outside (Figure 2), sits on the exterior of this connection rod, i.e. on the side of the weapon that lies opposite the buttons 37.

If the reset button 61 is quickly pressed, then all adjusting mechanisms 25 are reset to zero, i.e., their neutral position. The weapon is secured and you cannot necessarily tell this just by looking at it, as was the case with the unlocked state.

Before unlocking the weapon, the reset button 61 is pressed in order to ensure that the safety lock is located in its starting or neutral position. Then the buttons 37 are pushed. This can be h done easily and safely in the dark and even in gloves. Eye contact is not required.

After the cocking of the weapon, one can determine whether or not the weapon is secured by the safety lock by quickly pressing a finger on the back end of the striker 15.

If the weapon is to be released from one’s hand or if one is forced to put the weapon down, then it suffices to press the reset button once in order to secure the safety lock again. It is irrelevant whether the weapon is cocked or not, or whether the slide 3 is open or not.

The buttons 37 and the reset button 61 are located in depressions of slide 3, which do not tower above them. These will not be activated by placing a weapon in a bag. But it is also possible to let the reset button spring a little bit forward so that placing a weapon in a bag also activates the reset button 61 so that the safety lock does not remain unlocked by accident.

The locking element 23 has a nose 27, which extends radially towards the outside from the front part of the locking element 23. With this nose 27, the locking element 23 sits in a ratchet wheel 33, which has a recess for this. The ratchet wheel 33 can be rotated in one of 10 different angle positions via a button 37 or a reset button 61. The locking element 23 is always rotated as well.

A star wheel 35, which also has a recess for the nose 27 of the locking element 23, sits in front of . the ratchet wheel 33. The star wheel 35 takes in one of 10 pivot positions and held in place there by the contact 53, 55. The position of the star wheel 35 is determined by the coding.

If this or any ratchet wheel 33 is placed via button 37 in the pivot position, in which its recess is aligned with star wheel 35 sitting in front of it, then all locking elements 23 and thus the striker 15 can be moved forward. The nose 27 of each locking element 23 thereby always remains engaged with the corresponding ratchet wheel 33. if the coding is adjusted, then the lock must first be unlocked and the striker 15 must be pushed

WG 03/058148 PCT/EP02/14595 forward. Now the lock together with the star wheels 35 can be placed in the zero position by means of the reset button 61. Now each ratchet wheel 33 and thus each star wheel 35 is placed in the position of a new coding by means of buttons 37.

For safety reasons, a new coding cannot be set before the old coding has been set. This guarantees that only authorized persons who know the coding can set a new combination. "Comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof.

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Claims (11)

« WG 03/058148 PCT/EP02/14595 Patent Claims

1. Safety device for a hand gun, in which a component (3) is interfused by a striker (15), which is movable relative to this component (3) up to the firing position for the firing of a cartridge, whereby - a locking device is arranged in the component (3), by means of which the striker (15) is optionally immobilized at least to the extent that it cannot be moved into the firing position, and - that the locking device can only be deactivated by means of a key or code: , wherein - at least one push button (37) is arranged in an accessible and depressible manner on the outside of the component (3) and affects a switch body (33, 35) that can be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the striker to its gradual rotation, : - the switch body (33, 35) has a non-round bore hole interfused by a striker (15), and - the locking device (23) has at least one radial projection or at least one radially projecting part (27), the outer contour of which together with that of the striker is complementary to the non-round bore hole, so that this part (27) can only pass the non- round bore hole when the switch body (33, 35) is located in a certain pivot position. AMENDED SHEET

« WE 03/058148 PCT/EP02/14595

2. Safety device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hand gun is a semi-automatic pistol and in that the component is the at least partially open-laying lock (3) of this semi- automatic pistol.

3. Safety device in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the switch body (33, 35) is designed like a lock washer (33) with latch teeth (45) and in that a lock (43) is attached that holds the lock washer (33) in the assumed switch position.

4. Safety device in accordance with claim 3, wherein three lock washers (33) are provided.

5. Safety device in accordance with claim 3 or 4, wherein each lock washer (33) is assigned to a reset device (39, 59, 61).

6. Safety device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the reset devices (39, 59) of all lock washers (33) have a common actuation device (61, 63).

7. Safety device in accordance with claim 5 or 6, wherein an end stop (39, 47) is assigned to each lock washer (33) and in that a reset spring (39) is assigned to the reset device (39, 59).

8. Safety device in accordance with claim 7, wherein each reset spring consists AMENDED SHEET wv WE 03/058148 PCT/EP02/14595 of a wire spring (39) that is wrapped around each lock washer (33) or a component connected directly to it.

9. Safety device in accordance with any one of claims 3 through 8, wherein a star wheel (35), which carries catch groovings (51) or catch projections, is assigned to the lock washer (33) rotatable regardless of the coding. :

10. Safety device including any new and inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described.

11. Safety device according to the invention, as hereinbefore generally described.

C12. Safety device as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. AMENDED SHEET