Firearms – Safety mechanism – Firearm lock
Patent
1990-10-23
1992-05-26
Carone, Michael J.
Firearms
Safety mechanism
Firearm lock
F41A 1702, F41A 1744
Patent
active
051155893
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention is concerned with a locking device for firearms, the device being of elongate form for axial insertion into an elongate chamber of a firearm, and comprising adjustment means located at a distal end of the device, locking means comprising opposed radially movable locking portions having respective mutually convergent inner surfaces, and operating means which is axially translatable into engagement with the said mutually convergent surfaces by the said adjustment means to move the locking portions outwards into engagement with the wall of the chamber and thereby prevent removal of the device from the chamber
The term `firearm` as used herein is intended to include shotguns, rifles and pistols for example.
Such a locking device for use with shotguns is already known from UK Patent Specification No. 2 143 623 A. However, this known device is really only suitable to prevent accidental misuse since it is relatively easy for an unauthorised person to remove the device.
Other proposals on these lines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2 530 560, 3 765 115, 3 768 189 and 4 266 356. Another British proposal is disclosed in U.K. Patent Specification 2 044 417, although in this case the lock is for the ejection port rather than the chamber.
Thus it is clear that there have been several proposals for putting a firearm out of action by inserting a body into the barrel or chamber. However, it is evident that, as far as is known, none of them has achieved any significant commercial success, if indeed any at all, and this is believed to be attributable mainly to the fact that, although they may act as a deterrent to a child using the gun, they are insufficiently secure in practice to deter a serious thief. Moreover in some cases they require modification of the firearm itself.
A general object of the present invention is to provide a form of locking device which provides a high degree of security against unauthorised use.
According to a first aspect, there is provided a locking device for firearms, the device being of elongate form for axial insertion into an elongate chamber of a firearm, and comprising adjustment means located at a distal end of the device, locking means comprising opposed radially movable locking portions having respective mutually convergent inner surfaces, and operating means which are axially translatable into engagement with the said mutually convergent surfaces by the said adjustment means to move the locking portions outwards into engagement with the walls of the chamber and thereby prevent removal of the device from the chamber, the adjustment means comprising a key-operated lock including a plurality of tumblers, a first threaded part, rotatable by the lock, and a second threaded part fast with or integral with the operating means, in threaded engagement with the first threaded part, arranged such that rotation of the first threaded part causes axial translation of the second threaded part and of the operating means.
The device can only be unlocked from the chamber by someone in possession of the correct key.
Preferably the mutually convergent inner surfaces of the locking portions converge towards the distal end of the device. Thus, any attempt to remove the device in the distal direction by exerting a force upon any part other than the locking means will tend to urge the operating member against the convergent surfaces, thereby further urging the locking portions into engagement with the walls of the chamber and increasing their locking action.
The locking means is preferably located intermediate the ends of the device, thereby reducing the risk of force being exerted on the locking means itself.
According to a further feature of the invention a locking device of the kind specified in the opening paragraph above is distinguished by the presence of tooth elements which are normally carried in a retracted position but which are arranged to move radially outwardly to engage the walls of the chamber upon application of force axially to the proximal end of the device.
This gives the add
REFERENCES:
patent: 37946 (1863-03-01), Bonanzo
patent: 2836918 (1958-06-01), Pula et al.
patent: 2937666 (1960-05-01), Maisch
patent: 3104538 (1963-09-01), Roberts et al.
patent: 3154874 (1964-11-01), Stewart
patent: 4512099 (1985-04-01), Mathew
patent: 4827649 (1989-05-01), Sheehan
Carone Michael J.
Gun Security Limited
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