Firearms – Safety mechanism – Firearm lock
Patent
1999-01-12
2000-12-05
Jordan, Charles T.
Firearms
Safety mechanism
Firearm lock
F41A 1700
Patent
active
061549967
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a locking device to be locked in the bolt cavity of a firearm in order to make it non-functional, comprising a housing which contains a lock cylinder which is operable by means of a key which is introducible through an opening in the housing, said lock cylinder at its inner end being provided with a follower, said housing further containing two locking members, each in the form of at least one steel ball, which are received movably in a guide in the housing extending transversally of the longitudinal direction of the firearm, to be moved between a position in which they are withdrawn into the housing and a position in which they extend partly from either side of the housing, said housing also having a wedge member, which by means of said follower is movable in a direction transversally of said guide and which by pivoting of the follower in the locking direction pushes said blocking members to the extending position.
Such a locking device is known for instance from SE-B-433 980. In this case the housing containing the lock cylinder is provided with a cylindrical portion to be introduced into the breech of the firearm through the casing ejection port of the firearm, a fact that limits the dimensions and strength of the locking device. The part of the housing of the device containing the locking cylinder will furthermore be accessible through the casing ejection port, e.g. for attacks by means of a burglary tool or the like. In addition, the device is intended primarily for firearms having a Mauser mechanism and is not particularly suited for the typical breech design of present-day military weapons. Finally, the wedge member of the locking device according to SE-B-433 980 has a rather complex shape, as has its track, necessitating considerable manufacturing costs. The wedge member has to be positively pulled by the lock cylinder follower from the locking position, and if e.g. attempts have been made to forcibly remove the locking device from the firearm, the wedge member may be jammed so that the key of the lock may not be able to transmit a sufficient force to open the locking device without breaking.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a locking device of the type mentioned in the introductory paragraph, the locking device providing high security against unauthorized removal from the firearm and, in addition, being well suited for use in military firearms.
This is obtained according to the invention in that the wedge member comprises a steel ball.
The fact that both the wedge member and the blocking members are steel balls, preferably ball bearing balls, with their smooth and hard surface, high strength, low cost and small production tolerances, will facilitate a simple, inexpensive, robust, easy to assemble, reliable and functional locking device. There is no possibility of the spherical wedge member getting jammed in locking position, and the only force required for operating the key for unlocking the device is essentially that of rotating the lock cylinder and its follower. As soon as the follower has been brought into the open position, the blocking members will push the wedge member back as required to release the locking device from the firearm.
Further advantageous features of the present invention are characterized in that it can have one or more of the following features: cooperating with the wedge member upon rotation of the follower; longitudinal groove, preferably with a semicircular cross-section which has a larger depth than the flattening; longitudinal groove cannot be brought to face the wedge member; acted upon a common follower; or its housing is shaped to fit into a magazine well in the firearm.
For better understanding of the invention it will be described more closely with reference to the exemplifying embodiments shown, in part schematically, in the appended drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a locking device according to the invention in the locked position,
FIG. 2 is a section along the line II--II in FIG.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4384420 (1983-05-01), Von Muller
patent: 4398366 (1983-08-01), Wernicki
patent: 4672762 (1987-06-01), Nilsson
patent: 4827649 (1989-05-01), Sheehan
patent: 5054223 (1991-10-01), Lee
patent: 5138785 (1992-08-01), Paterson
patent: 5465519 (1995-11-01), Blanck
patent: 5659993 (1997-08-01), Watson, Jr. et al.
Buckley Denise J.
Jordan Charles T.
TrioVing AS
LandOfFree
Locking device for firearms does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Locking device for firearms, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Locking device for firearms will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-949604