US 9,175,915 B2Granted

Apparatus and methods for safe use and storage of firearms and weapons

OwnerThomas Danaher Harveyinventor

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Abstract

A lock for a firearm or weapon is disclosed that enables the weapon when control is established by a user while the weapon is in a storage location or holding device. The weapon remains operable as long as the user continuously remains in control but is disabled until returned to the storage location or device if the user relinquishes control. Storage and user zones are defined by weapon location or input devices such as a grip safety. Mechanical devices or signals transfer the zone determinations to a logic device. When the logic device, which may be mechanical, electronic or implemented in other way, determines that the weapon is considered to be both in the storage zone and the user zone and it causes transition to an operable state. The logic device causes transition to an inoperable state if the weapon is determined not to be in either zone.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a first zone tester with a first zone;
a second zone tester with a second zone;
a device implementing a state machine with an operational state and a non-operational state wherein the device is configured such that:
(a) when the state machine is in the operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the second zone then the state machine enters the non-operational state,
(b) when the state machine is in the operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is within the second zone then the state machine remains in the operational state,
(c) when the state machine is in the operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the second zone then the state machine remains in the operational state,
(d) when the state machine is in the non-operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the second zone then the state machine remains in the non-operational state,
(e) when the state machine is in the non-operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is within the second zone then the state machine remains in the non-operational state, and
(f) when the state machine is in the non-operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is within the second zone then the state machine enters the operational state;
and
a weapon with one or more functions wherein a function of the weapon is not operational when the device implementing the state machine is in the non-operational state.

8 more elements

A method of controlling a function of a weapon:

comprising
determining the status of the weapon with a first zone tester with a first zone;
determining the status of the weapon a second zone tester with a second zone;
providing the determinations to a device implementing a state machine with an operational state and a non-operational state wherein the device is configured such that:
(a) when the state machine is in the operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the second zone then the state machine enters the non-operational state,
(b) when the state machine is in the operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is within the second zone then the state machine remains in the operational state,
(c) when the state machine is in the operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the second zone then the state machine remains in the operational state,
(d) when the state machine is in the non-operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the second zone then the state machine remains in the non-operational state,
(e) when the state machine is in the non-operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is not within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is within the second zone then the state machine remains in the non-operational state, and
(f) when the state machine is in the non-operational state and the first zone tester determines that the weapon is within the first zone and the second zone tester determines that the weapon is within the second zone then the state machine enters the operational state;
and
disabling a function of a weapon with at least one function when the state machine is in the non-operational state;
and
enabling the function when the state machine is in the operational state.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/311,311Filed 22 Jun 2014
Published: US 2015/0247692 A13 Sep 2015
Granted: 3 Nov 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F41A 17/00
Safety arrangements
F41A 17/063
Electric or electromechanical safeties: comprising a transponder
F41A 17/20
Safety arrangements, e.g. safeties: grip or stock safeties, i.e. safeties disengaged by clasping the grip or stock
F41C 33/0272
Holsters, i.e. cases for pistols having means for being carried or worn, e.g. at the belt or under the arm: having means for facilitating or…