Handgun locking and unlocking apparatus

In a gun having handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination comprising:

• (a) first means carried by the gun for selectively disabling or enabling said action,
• (b) second means carried by the gun for controlling said first means and including coding means having at least two members which are independently actuable by the gun user's finger or fingers,
• (c) said second means including a grip bar operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between said coding means and said gun action, and actuable between two states characterized as:
• (i) a first position in which the coding has been automatically cleared, and the gun action is normally disabled, and
• (ii) a second position in which the gun action is enabled after predetermined finger actuation of said coding means,
• (d) said second means including a multicombination mechanical lock means associated with said coding means, said lock means also having a clearing or scrambling means being operatively connected to said grip bar.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) a particular member being operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) an advanced position in which the coding means is cleared, and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) said particular member is a safety grip bar located in the said surface, to be finger gripped,
• (g) said safety grip bar spaced from the coding means and extending between the trigger and the handle, to be manually gripped by the gun user,
• (h) said coding means members comprising push buttons,
• (i) and means normally urging the grip bar to said advanced position, the bar also having a selected position in which it is blocked from movement to said retracted position until the coding means is placed in predetermined finger operated coded state,
• (j) said selected and retracted positions being successively closer to the handle, than said advanced position.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) a particular member being operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) an advanced position in which the coding means is cleared, and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) said first means including a first blocking rod having an extended position in which it blocks hammer movement, and a retracted position in which it unblocks hammer movement, and actuating means operatively connecting said particular member and said blocking rod to move the rod between advanced and retracted positions in response to movement of said particular member between said positions, said particular member comprising a grip bar,
• (g) said actuating means including:
• (x.sub.1) a rotary element operable to retract the blocking rod in response to element rotation,
• (x.sub.2) said particular member adapted to effect rotation of said rotary element in response to member movement to said retracted position;
• and there also being blocking structure movable between blocking position in which said block rod movement to said retracted position is blocked, and unblocking position in which block rod movement to retracted position is enabled, said blocking structure being responsive to said coding means.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) a particular member being operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) an advanced position in which the coding means is cleared, and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) said first means including a first blocking rod having an extended position in which it blocks hammer movement, and a retracted position in which it unblocks hammer movement, and actuating means operatively connecting said particular member and said blocking rod to move the rod between advanced and retracted positions in response to movement of said particular member between said positions, said particular member comprising a grip bar,
• (g) said actuating means including
• (x.sub.1) a rotary element operable to retract the blocking rod in response to element rotation,
• (x.sub.2) said particular member adapted to effect rotation of said rotary element in response to member movement to said retracted position, and there also being blocking structure movable between blocking position in which member movement to said retracted position is blocked, and unblocking position in which member movement to retracted position is enabled, said blocking structure being responsive to said coding means.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) a particular member being operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) an advanced position in which the coding means is cleared, and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) there being lost motion connection between the first means and the particular member.

In a hand gun having a handle, barrel, and action including hammer and trigger, the said action having a disabled state in which the hammer and trigger are non-responsive to trigger pull and an enabled state in which the hammer is responsive to trigger pull, the combination comprising

• (a) finger operated coding means on the gun, and
• (b) an element operatively connected in disabling-to-enabling relation between said coding means and said action, and movable between a first position in which the coding means has been scrambled and the action is disabled, and a second position in which the action is enabled and in response to predetermined finger operated coding of said means,
• (c) said coding means including at least one selector located above the level of the finger grip area of the handle,
• (d) said action including a first blocking rod having an extended position in which it blocks hammer movement, and a retracted position in which it unblocks hammer movement, and actuating means operatively connected with said blocking rod and said coding means to enable rod movement to retracted position, in response to actuation of said means, there being a spring normally urging the blocking rod toward extended position.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means carried by the gun for selectively disabling or enabling said action,
• (b) second means carried by the gun for controlling said first means and including coding means having at least two members which are independently actuable by the gun user's finger or fingers,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as
• (i) a first state in which the handle is released by the user so that the coding means is cleared, with said gun action then being disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable gun action,
• (d) and including means for counting a number of incorrect coding attempts and clearing of the coding means, also having means for preventing the gun action from being enabled in response to said counting means counting a specified number of incorrect coding attempts and clearing of coding means,
• (e) and including action lockout means including a ratchet, associated with the handle.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means carried by the gun for selectively disabling or enabling said action,
• (b) second means carried by the gun for controlling said first means and including coding means actuable by the gun user's finger or fingers,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as
• (i) a first state in which the handle is released by the user so that the coding means is cleared, with said gun action then being disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable gun action,
• (d) and including means carried by the gun for locking the gun to a gun mount, and having a first position in which the gun is locked to the mount and the coding means is cleared, and a second position in which the gun is unlocked from the mount and the coding means has been finger actuated to enable the gun action.

In a hand gun having handle, barrel, and action including hammer and trigger, the said action having a disabled state in which the hammer and trigger are non-responsive to trigger pull, and an enabled state in which the hammer is responsive to trigger pull, the combination comprising

• (a) finger operated coding means on the gun, and
• (b) a part operatively connected in disabling-to-enabling relation between said coding means and said action, and movable between a first position in which the coding means is scrambled and the action is disabled, and a second position in which the action is enabled and in response to predetermined finger operated coding of said coding means,
• (c) said coding means including multiple selectors characterized in that when said selectors are finger released, the coding is scrambled whereby said element is then placed in disabling relation to said action,
• (d) and including means, including electronic circuitry, for maintianing the gun action in enabled state, without electrical power usage.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means is cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) there being means to place said coding means in cleared state in response to finger release of said members,
• (e) there being warning means associated with the gun handle to indicate a lockout state of the action,
• (f) and including action lockout mechanism associated with the handle.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including:

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) and wherein a particular member is operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) an advanced position in which the coding means is cleared, and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) said first means including a first blocking rod having an extended position in which it blocks hammer movement, and a retracted position in which it unblocks hammer movement, and actuating means operatively connecting said particular member and said blocking rod to effect rod movement between advanced and retracted positions in response to movement of said particular member between said positions,
• (g) and wherein said actuating means comprises a solenoid operatively connected to the blocking rod.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user,
• (e) a particular member being operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) an advanced position in which the coding means is cleared and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) and means for locking ammunition normally loaded into gun from being removed or loaded, said locking means for ammunition being responsive to operation of said coding means causing said first means to enable said gun action.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user,
• (e) a particular member being operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) and advanced position in which the coding means is cleared, and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) and mechanical means for counting a number of incorrect coding attempts and clearing of the coding means, and also having means for preventing the gun action from being enabled in response to said counting means counting a specified number of incorrect coding attempts and clearing of coding means.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including:

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternatively two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) and wherein a particular member is operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) an advanced position in which the coding means is cleared, and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) and including mechanical means for counting a number of incorrect coding attempts and clearing of the coding means, also having means for preventing the gun action from being enabled in response to said counting means counting a specified number of incorrect coding attempts and clearing of coding means,
• (g) and including a warning means associated with the gun handle to indicate a lockout state of the action,
• (h) and including lockout mechanism including a ratchet.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) and including means for locking and unlocking of a surface of the gun to an external mount, said locking and unlocking being responsive to operation of said coding means.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination comprising:

• (a) a first means carried by the gun for selectively disabling or enabling said action,
• (b) second means carried by the gun for controlling said first means and including coding means having at least two members which are independently actuable by the gun user's finger or fingers,
• (c) said second means including an element operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between said coding means and said gun action, and actuable between two states characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means is cleared, and the gun action is normally disabled, and
• (ii) a second state in which the gun action is enabled after predetermined finger actuation of said coding means,
• (d) said second means also having means to cause said first means to selectively maintain the gun action in an enabled state,
• (e) and including means for lighting an area of the gun external surface proximate the coding means and in response to element movement.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause a first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) and including a key override operable to unlock locking covers associated with said handle.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including:

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at lesat two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action.
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from said surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) and including means, including electronic circuitry, for maintaining the gun action in enabled state, without electric power usage.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination including:

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including independently functioning finger actuable members, at least two of said members defining a coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately, two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said members have been finger actuated in a sequence to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped by the user, and said members being spaced from sa1id surface and to be visible to the user as he grips the gun handle,
• (e) and wherein a particular member is operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between the coding means and said action and movable between two positions characterized as:
• (i) an advanced position in which the coding means is cleared, and the action is disabled, and
• (ii) a retracted position in which said action is enabled,
• (f) and including means for counting a number of incorrect coding attempts and clearing of the coding means, also having means for preventing the gun action from being enabled in response to said counting means counting a specified number of incorrect coding attempts and clearing of coding means,
• (g) and including resettable electronic lockout means associated with said circuitry and said grip bar,
• (h) and including a key override and switch means associated with said lockout means to reset said lockout means.

In a gun having a handle, barrel, and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination comprising:

• (a) a first means carried by the gun for selectively disabling or enabling said action,
• (b) second means carried by the gun for controlling said first means and including coding means actuable by the gun user's finger or fingers,
• (c) said second means including an element operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between said coding means and said gun action, and actuable between two states characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means is cleared, and the gun action is normally disabled, and
• (ii) a second state in which the gun action is enabled after predetermined finger actuation of said coding means,
• (d) said second means also having means to cause said first means to selectively maintain the gun action in an enabled state,
• (e) and including means for locking and unlocking of a surface of the gun to an external mount, said locking and unlocking being responsive to operation of the coding means.

In a gun having a handle, barrel, and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination comprising:

• (a) a first means carried by the gun for selectively disabling or enabling said action,
• (b) second means carried by the gun for controlling said first means and including coding means actuable by the gun user's finger or fingers,
• (c) said second means including an element operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between said coding means and said gun action, and actuable between two states characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means is cleared, and the gun action is normally disabled, and
• (ii) a second state in which the gun action is enabled after predetermined finger actuation of said coding means,
• (d) said second means also having means to cause said first means to selectively maintain the gun action in an enabled state,
• (e) and including key means operable to unlock locking covers associated with said handle.

In a gun having a handle, barrel, and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination comprising:

• (a) a first means carried by the gun for selectively disabling or enabling said action,
• (b) second means carried by the gun for controlling said first means and including coding means having at least two members which are independently actuable by the gun user's finger or fingers,
• (c) said second means including an element operatively connected in disabling to enabling relation between said coding means and said gun action, and actuable between two states characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means is cleared, and the gun action is normally disabled, and
• (ii) a second state in which the gun action is enabled after predetermined finger actuation of said coding means,
• (d) said second means also having means to cause said first means to selectively maintain the gun action in an enabled state,
• (e) said element carried by the gun to be movable between a retracted position corresponding to said second state, and an advanced position corresponding to said first state, so that it is assured that the previous coding entries are cleared upon element reaching advanced position from the retracted position,
• (f) said element comprising a grip bar mechanically operatively coupled to said first means to maintain the first means in an enabled state in which said gun action is enabled by coding means having been correctly activated,
• (g) said handle having a surface to be finger gripped, and said grip bar is located at and proximate said surface to be gripped by the finger or fingers of the gun user for moving the grip bar to said retracted position,
• (h) said independently actuable members comprising push buttons located at the side of the gun generally above the level of finger or hand gripped extent of the handle, and within reach of the user's thumb,
• (i) and including catch mechanism operable to retain the grip bar in said retracted position until the bar is squeezed, thereby enabling return of the bar to said advanced position, and a spring urging the bar toward said advanced position.

In a gun having a handle, barrel and action including a hammer and trigger, the combination comprising:

• (a) first means for controlling the operation of said action,
• (b) and second means for controlling said first means and including finger coding means,
• (c) said second means having, alternately two states between which it is actuable, and characterized as:
• (i) a first state in which the coding means has been cleared and said gun action is disabled, by said first means,
• (ii) and a second state in which said coding means have been finger actuated to cause said first means to enable said gun action,
• (d) and including means, including electronic circuitry, for selectively maintaining the gun action in enabled state, without electric power usage.