Firearms – Safety mechanism – Firearm lock
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-08
2004-01-20
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3641)
Firearms
Safety mechanism
Firearm lock
C042S070010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06678984
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority of German Patent Application 100 37 227.9, filed Jul. 31, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to weapon safeguarding systems and processes that prevent an unauthorized use of weapons. In particular, the present invention relates to a weapon safeguarding system and a weapon safeguarding process in which the authorization (authority for use) of a user is verified prior to a release of weapons for firing. The present invention is also concerned with systems and processes for identifying users and, in particular, with systems and processes for the action-integrated identification of users.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The prior state of the art is represented by one or more of the following patents. U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,179 discloses a safety mechanism for a weapon, wherein a specialized scanning mechanism is built into the trigger of the weapon. The scanning mechanism reads the unique fingerprints of a user of the weapon for an user identification. Here, only by biometrical data of a user are used for his/her identification. A transmission in the true sense of the word of data to the weapon is not disclosed. Moreover, this safety mechanism includes only one scanning mechanism.
Comparable thereto, U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,852 discloses an electronic weapon safety system wherein, by means of a fingerprint sensing and verification circuitry, fingerprints of a user are sensed and verified for a user identification. Again, biometrical data are employed for user identification, but no data transmissions as such. Further sensing means responding to a physical contact by a user are not disclosed.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,234,271 and 6,363,647 disclose comparable firearm safety systems. The safety systems are operated in response to user identifying data which are transmitted as wireless signals for example as radio frequency (rf) signals. Means for receiving such user identifying signal will allow a use of a firearm with this safety system if the received data indicate that the current user is authorized for using the firearm. Further means for receiving such user identifying data are not disclosed.
Comparable thereto, US-2001/0033228 A1 employs wireless transmitted user identifying data signals transmitted from a remote unit for verifying the authorization of a user wanting to use a weapon. For a wireless transmission of user identifying data to a weapon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,812 discloses a ring to be worn by a user of the weapon. The ring includes means for generating transponder signals as user identifying data.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,343,140 B1 discloses a mechanism for use in combination with a weapon, wherein the mechanism determines a present biometric signature of a user who desires to use the weapon. This mechanism only allows a use of a weapon if the currently sensed biometric signature of the user is recognized. In particular, electric and/or magnetic properties of the skin of a user are employed as biometric signature. User identifying data transmitted from a user terminal via the body of a user are not disclosed. Further, it is not disclosed to use further means for receiving user identifying data beside the named mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,815 B1 discloses a system for limiting the use of weapons. Here, controlling the use of a weapon is accomplished by means of a base unit. Weapons used in combination with the base unit do not include itself any means for verification of a user identity to provide for a use of the weapon by authorized users only.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,300 131 discloses a locking container for weapons. The locking container includes means for scanning of biometric data of a user and means for verifying the identity and authorization of a user. In case a biometric data of a user, in particular a fingerprint, indicates that the user is allowed to use a weapon locked in the container, the container can be opened by the user. Further, it is contemplated that, in case of a successful verification of biometric data of a user, the locking container enables, beside an unlocking of the locking container, an operation of a weapon having electronic controls. Further means for receiving user identifying data are not disclosed. Further, this locking container serving as security unit is not attached to a weapon to being controlled. Rather it encloses such a weapon.
EP-0 976 897 A1, GB-2 306 725 A, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,359,322, 5,204,672, 5,811,897, 5,172,967 and GB-2 129 176 disclose systems and methods for identification of a user. These prior art documents do not relate to security systems for weapons.
Portable firearms, including and not limited to handguns and rifles (hereinafter “weapons”) are traditionally safeguarded against undesirable, unintentional use or discharge. It is important to guard against the accidental operation of the trigger in case the trigger is subjected to a shock or other vibration. A conventional safeguard is a mechanical trigger lock. However, such locks do not prevent unauthorized persons from using the weapons because the mechanical lock can be opened at any time and by anyone. Other safeguards against an unauthorized use of weapons are lockable locking devices on the movable, shot-discharging components (e.g. hammer, slide, cylinder), or the ammunition or ammunition-bearing components (cylinder, magazine) can be removed. Although such safeguards render the make it difficult to use a weapon, they do not constitute a genuine safeguard because the weapons can still be operated by persons in possession of appropriate keys, ammunition or ammunition-bearing components. Owners of weapons with locks often do not use the locks because the locks are inconvenient. Before the weapon can be used the locking devices has to be removed, or the weapons have to be loaded, in order to bring them back into a state in which they are ready for operation. The time required for enabling a weapon may be critical and short as in the case of emergency situations in the event of an attack and in the case of operations by the police or the military.
In order to safeguard weapons against unauthorized use while still providing simultaneous rapid availability, so-called personalized weapons have been proposed. Such weapons are also as “smart guns”. Personalized weapons have safeguarding devices that enable the weapons to be used only by authorized users. Examples of personalized weapons are (a) weapons with devices for recording fingerprints or impressions of the ball of the thumb, (b) weapons with internal locking mechanisms that are unlocked by a magnet carried by an authorized user, and (c) weapons with devices for entering user codes and with locking devices that are connected to a receiver and unlocked in response to a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter carried by an authorized user.
Safeguards that depend upon devices for recording fingerprints or impressions of the ball of the thumb are unreliable. If the fingerprint or the impression of the ball of the thumb has been changed, for example by reason of a slight injury, there is no guarantee that the weapons will be released, even in the case where they are being used by authorized users. Such safeguards will not release the weapon if the user wears gloves because the fingerprint or the impression of the ball of the thumb cannot be recorded through the glove. Another disadvantage is the complex, cost-intensive and trouble-prone structure of such safeguarding devices. A modification of these recording devices, in which the force generated by the finger or by the ball of the thumb is recorded and compared with a predetermined force, also does not guarantee a reliable release of these weapons, since the force actually generated by a user may vary greatly in relation to the predetermined force, particularly in emergency situations.
Others have propose using speech-recognition devices but are also unsatisfactory. Simple speech-recognition devices do not permit unequivocal identification of different users having similar speech and more compl
Rapp Bernhard
Richter Wolfgang
Chambers Troy
FitzGerald Esq. Thomas R.
Poon Peter M.
R2 AG
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