Abstract:
A novel smart holster for retaining firearms, facilitating substantially immediate uninhibited access to qualified and authorized personnel, thereby preventing removal of the firearm by an unauthorized individual and geared towards aiding in any weapon retention technique including a holster and wireless remote unit. It is understood that the terns “receiver” and “transmitter” are used for the sake of clarity, in order to indicate whether a particular component resides on the wireless remote unit (“transmitter”) or on the holster (“receiver”), as preferably both the remote unit and the holster feature a transceiver. The holster may optionally be incorporated with a mechanical lock and remote unit, which can either be installed as a complete system, or retrofitted on existing holsters with minimal modification.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The subject application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/101,994, filed on Jul. 15, 1998, which is currently pending and which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     
       FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to security of firearms and, in particular, it concerns a security lock for firearm storage, which selectively releases the firearm to an authorized user.  
           [0003]    Law enforcement officers and other security personnel are often exposed to considerable risk that a firearm may be misappropriated and used against them. The risk is particularly acute in the case of handguns carried in a holster during riots or other supervision of antagonistic individuals or crowds at close quarters.  
           [0004]    A plurality of weapon retention techniques have been developed by many Law Enforcement Trainers (LET&#39;s), which implement hand-to-hand combat and martial arts techniques.  
           [0005]    Furthermore, many manufacturers have attempted to create varying degrees of security mechanisms incorporated into the holster design. Current nomenclature refers to such holsters as Level I, Level II and Level III safety holsters. Characteristically, Level I safety holsters generally require manipulation of a single retentive mechanism such as a thumb strap. Level II holsters usually require a sequential two-step action to draw a weapon from the holster such as opening a thumb snap and thereafter raking the weapon at a predetermined angle to clear the handgun from the holster.  
           [0006]    Presently, Level III holsters are considered as the most retentive holster style. A latent deficiency of such holsters is their robust cumbersome construction and difficulty of manipulation.  
           [0007]    For an Officer to “present” a firearm, the officer usually has to perform the following a complicated manual of arms under an immediate and otherwise unavoidable risk of death or great bodily harm.  
           [0008]    By way of example, most Level III holsters require a thumb snap to be opened prior to a lower trigger-finger snap being opened and followed by an awkward forward and backward displacement of the firearm prior to clearing the weapon from the holster.  
           [0009]    The difficulty in drawing a firearm from such a holster is exacerbated when individuals of a relatively smaller physique attempt to draw a firearm from a class III holster. It is not uncommon for such individuals to “miss” the manipulation of the trigger-finger snap, resulting in failure to present the firearm.  
           [0010]    It is manifestly clear that complex motor skills under extreme stress situations have led to many officers loosing their lives.  
           [0011]    It is, of course, known to provide secure storage for firearms and other weapons. Typically, such storage entails locking die firearm within a cabinet, or otherwise securing it by use of a padlock. However, such techniques cannot be used in a situation in which instant access to the firearms is required.  
           [0012]    There is therefore a need for a smart holster for retaining firearms, facilitating substantially immediate uninhibited access to qualified and authorized personnel, thereby preventing removal of the firearm by an unautliorized individual and geared towards aiding in any weapon retention technique.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The present invention is a smart holster for retaining firearms, facilitating substantially immediate uninhibited access to qualified and authorized personnel, thereby preventing removal of the firearm by an unauthorized individual and geared towards aiding in any weapon retention technique.  
           [0014]    The smart holster optionally incorporates an electromechanical device, either incorporated with a mechanical lock or alternatively embodied as an electrical lock, which is controlled through a wireless device such as a ring with a transmitter, for example. The resulting electromechanical lock is preferably fitted with a set of one or more “smart” features, such as being able to identify an authorized user, determine, communicate, monitor and/or alter the state of the lock through the wireless device, for example. The system of the present invention preferably enables the smart feature(s) and the wireless device control to be incorporated into an existing holster.  
           [0015]    According to the teachings of die present invention there is provided, a smart holster lock system for facilitating access to qualified and authorized personnel and thereby preventing removal of the firearm by an unauthorized individual, including: a wireless communication unit communicating with a remote unit a locking unit for securing a firearm in the holster and the locking unit being responsive to being activated by the wireless communication unit, and an identification unit electrically attached to the communication unit for identifying authorized remote units.  
           [0016]    According to yet further teachings of tie present invention there is provided, a smart holster system, including: a holster including: a remote wireless receiver for receiving an instruction; a locking unit module for being activated by the wireless transceiver upon receipt of the instruction; and an identification unit for identifying user authorized to remove a firearm from the holster, and a wireless remote unit for controlling the locking unit, the remote unit including a wireless transmitter for transmitting the instruction to the wireless receiver.  
           [0017]    Hereinafter, the term “wireless device” refers to any device, which is capable of transmitting a signal to a receiver, which is not electronically or electrically wired to the wireless device. A preferred example of a wireless device is a transmitter in a ring worn on the hand of a user.  
           [0018]    Hereinafter, the term “mechanical lock” refers to a firearm securing mechanism, which contains only mechanical (physical) components, such as any mechanical mechanism geared towards securing a firearm in a holster.  
           [0019]    Hereinafter, the term “electrical lock” refers to a firearm securing mechanism, which is operated through electrical components, such as electrically charged magnets or any electrical mechanism geared towards securing a firearm in a holster.  
           [0020]    Hereinafter, the term “electromechanical lock” refers to a firearm securing mechanism, which combines these electrical and mechanical components. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram view of the smart holster according to the present invention, and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a side view of the smart holster according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    The present invention is a novel smart holster for retaining firearms, facilitating substantially immediate uninhibited access to qualified and authorized personnel, thereby preventing removal of the firearm by an unauthorized individual and geared towards aiding in any weapon retention technique.  
         [0025]    The principles and operation of a smart holster for retaining firearms, facilitating substantially immediate uninhibited access to qualified and authorized personnel, according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the smart holster according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a holster  120  including a locking unit  122  for securing firearms.  
         [0027]    For the purpose of readily securing and releasing firearms from holster  120 , an identification unit  124  is electronically attached to locking unit  122  for identifying authorized users and facilitating substantially immediate uninhibited access to qualified and authorized personnel, thereby preventing unauthorized insertion and removal of firearms from holster  120  by an unauthorized individual.  
         [0028]    Identification unit  124  is electronically attached to a wireless communication unit  126  such that wireless communication unit  126  can readily communicate with a remote unit  128 .  
         [0029]    Preferably, remote unit  128  includes a coding module  130  for creating unique codes to a multiplicity of remote units  128 . Thus, authorized access is limited to those individuals authorized subsequently to wireless communication unit  126  identifying authorized coding modules  130 .  
         [0030]    Due to many law enforcement agencies requiring weapon qualification prior to officers being allowed to carry and use certain classes of weapons, a plurality of coding modules can be used to create a class of users. For example, Sergeants in a police department or military unit may be qualified to use handguns, sub-machineguns and shotguns whole corporals may be qualified to carry and use handguns only.  
         [0031]    Thus, all sergeants carrying remote units  128  will have access to all handguns, sub-machineguns and shotguns in the department or unit. Similarly, all corporals carrying remote units  128  will have access to all handguns in the unit but not to sub-machineguns and shotguns.  
         [0032]    Preferably, wireless communication unit  126  is programmed to identify remote unit  128  and open locking unit  122  when remote unit  128  is brought within a predetermined distance of holster  120 .  
         [0033]    More preferably, remote unit  128  is attached to, or integrally formed with a ring worn on the authorized user&#39;s hand (not sown in FIG. 1).  
         [0034]    Especially preferred, wireless communication unit  126  differentiates between proximity of remote unit  128  consistent with drawing a firearm from holster  120  and proximity or remote unit  128 , which is inconsistent with drawing a firearm from holster  120 . For example, during an ensuing weapon retention struggle, the hands of the authorized user may be brought proximally to holster  120  for the purpose of implementing a variety of weapon retention techniques but without the user intending to unlock locking unit  122 .  
         [0035]    Preferably, remote unit  128  and identification unit  124  can be readily programmed to create any class of authorized having substantially immediate uninhibited access to firearms in holster  120 .  
         [0036]    Law Enforcement departments often assign an experienced officer to a rookie as a Training Officer (TO&#39;s”). Preferably, remote unit  128  carried by a TO would facilitate access to both the TO&#39;s firearms and the rookie&#39;s firearms while remote unit  128  carried by the rookie will only facilitate access to the rookie&#39;s firearms.  
         [0037]    Creating classes of authorized users substantially prevents wrongful accusations being brought against officers that officers used a firearm they were not qualified to use.  
         [0038]    Preferably, holster  120  is constructed substantially of plastic, nylon or Kydex®. Thus, occasioning on a perpetrator attempting to disarm an officer, the officer can perform any weapon retention technique while the firearm is secured in holster  120 . Such a construction will also be effective against modern disarming techniques, whereby all individual holds the firearm or holster  120  and abruptly drops downwards in an attempt to shear holster  120  from the officer&#39;s belt.  
         [0039]    Due to the holster  120  being substantially rigid in construction and the firearm is secured by locking unit  122 , even if a perpetrator succeeds in shearing holster  120  from the gun-belt, the firearm is secure in holster  120  and cannot be fired by the perpetrator. Occasioning on an officer carrying a backup firearm, the officer can then use the backup firearm to incapacitate the perpetrator.  
         [0040]    Typically, power is supplied to some, or all, components of holster  120  from a battery power source  132 . Battery power source  132  may be of any conventional battery design or combination thereof, and either disposable or rechargeable. Additionally, or alternatively, an external battery pack (not shown in FIG. 1) may be provided to allow highly extended periods of continuous use without requiring battery replacement or recharging.  
         [0041]    Preferably, a hand-mounted transmitter unit  134  for transmitting codes from coding module  130  is included in remote unit  128 .  
         [0042]    Transmitter unit  134  transmits identification codes to a receiver and processor unit  136  included in wireless communication unit  126 , along a path generally designated “χ” FIG. 1.  
         [0043]    When transmitter unit  134  is brought sufficiently close to holster  120 , receiver and processor unit  136  receives and processes the transmitted signal to identify the code originating from coding module  130 . Once the signal is identified, receiver and processor unit  136  actuates unlocking of locking unit  122  from a locked state in which it secures the firearm in holster  120  to an unlocked state in which locking unit  122  facilitates substantially immediate uninhibited access to the firearm in holster  120 .  
         [0044]    In use, locking unit  122  is generally operative to lock firearm  12  within holster  120 , thereby preventing an unauthorized party from disarming the user. However, when the authorized user reaches toward holster  120  to draw the firearm from holster  120 , hand-mounted transmitter  134  is brought into proximity with receiver and processor unit  136 , thereby allowing identification of the characteristic transmitted signal and subsequent unlocking of locking unit  122  and facilitating authorized access to the firearm.  
         [0045]    Thus, smart holster  120  achieves a high weapon retention level of against unauthorized removal of a firearm from holster  120  while allowing instant access to the authorized user and substantially eliminating the risk of “fumbling” commonly encountered by level III holsters.  
         [0046]    Typically, when the firearm is not accommodated by holster  120 , locking unit  122  in its unlocked state for a predetermined period, or until a firearm is inserted into holster  120 .  
         [0047]    Preferably, locking unit  120  includes a firearm detector  138  for detecting an insertion of a firearm into holster  120  for substantially immediate locking of locking unit  120  to secure the firearm.  
         [0048]    Preferably, occasioning on a partial draw or unlocking of locking unit  120  without drawing the firearm, firearm detector  138  detects that unlocking mechanism is unlocked and the firearm is accommodated by holster  120 , substantially immediately thereafter, locking unit  120  locks the firearm in holster  120 .  
         [0049]    Preferably, firearm detector  138  includes a micro-switch  140  readily operated by the muzzle or trigger guard of a firearm being inserted into holster  120 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 2 shows the smart holster components shown in FIG. 1 in an especially preferred embodiment of holster  120 .  
         [0051]    Holster  120  shown is of a belt slide configuration with at least one belt loop  144 , however the smart holster of the present invention can be readily manufactured and incorporated in any holster configuration, regardless whether holster  120  is a security holster, duty holster or an inside the waistband (IWB).  
         [0052]    Like above, for the purpose of readily securing and releasing a firearm  142  from holster  120 , a locking unit secures firearm  142  in holster  120 . An identification unit  124  is electronically attached to locking unit  122  for identifying authorized users and facilitating substantially immediate uninhibited access to qualified and authorized personnel, thereby preventing unauthorized insertion and removal of firearm  142  from holster  120  by an unauthorized individual.  
         [0053]    Here as well, identification unit  124  is electronically attached to a wireless communication unit  126  such that wireless communication unit  126  can readily communicate with a remote unit  128 .  
         [0054]    Preferably, remote unit  128  includes a coding module (not shown in FIG. 2) for creating unique codes to a multiplicity of remote units  128 . Thus, authorized access is limited to those individuals authorized subsequently to wireless communication unit  126  identifying authorized coding modules.  
         [0055]    Preferably, wireless communication unit  126  is programmed to identify remote unit  128  and open locking unit  122  when remote unit  128  is brought within a predetermined distance of holster  120 .  
         [0056]    More preferably, remote unit  128  is attached to, or integrally formed with a ring  128  worn on an authorized user&#39;s hand  146 .  
         [0057]    Especially preferred, at least one ring  128  is worn on the trigger finger of the user for enhanced reliability of differentiating between an actual firearm draw and proximity of ring  128  when the user does not intend to draw the firearm  142 .  
         [0058]    Especially preferred, wireless communication unit  126  differentiates between proximity of ring  128  consistent with drawing firearm  142  from holster  120  and proximity or ring  128 , which is inconsistent with drawing firearm  142  from holster  120 . For example, during an ensuing weapon retention struggle, hands  146  of the authorized user may be brought proximally to holster  120  for the purpose of implementing a variety of weapon retention techniques but without the user intending to unlock locking unit  122 .  
         [0059]    Preferably, ring  128  and identification unit  124  can be readily programmed to create any class of authorized having substantially immediate uninhibited access to firearm  142  in holster  120 .  
         [0060]    Law Enforcement departments often assign an experienced officer to a rookie as a Training Officer (TO&#39;s”). Preferably, ring  128  carried by a TO would facilitate access to both the TO&#39;s firearm  142  and the rookie&#39;s firearm  142  while ring  128  carried by the rookie will only facilitate access to the rookie&#39;s firearm  142 .  
         [0061]    Creating classes of authorized users substantially prevents wrongful accusations being brought against officers that officers used a firearm they were not qualified to use.  
         [0062]    Preferably, holster  120  is constructed substantially of plastic, nylon or Kydex®. Thus, occasioning on a perpetrator attempting to disarm an officer, the officer can perform any weapon retention technique while firearm  142  is secured in holster  120 . Such a construction will also be effective against modem disarming techniques, whereby an individual holds firearm  142  or holster  120  and abruptly drops downwards in an attempt to shear holster  120  from the officer&#39;s belt.  
         [0063]    Due to the holster  120  being substantially rigid in construction and firearm  142  is secured by locking unit  122 , even if a perpetrator succeeds in shearing holster  120  from tie gun-belt, firearm  142  is secure in holster  120  and cannot be fired by the perpetrator. Occasioning on an officer carrying a backup firearm, the officer can then use the backup firearm to incapacitate the perpetrator.  
         [0064]    Typically, power is supplied to some, or all, components of holster  120  from arm battery power source  132 . Battery power source  132  may be of any conventional battery design or combination thereof, and either disposable or rechargeable. Additionally, or alternatively, an external battery pack (not shown in FIG. 1) may be provided to allow highly extended periods of continuous use without requiring battery replacement or recharging.  
         [0065]    Like above, ring  128  transmits identification codes to a receiver and processor unit  136  included in wireless communication unit  126 , along a path generally designated “χ” in FIG. 2.  
         [0066]    When ring  128  is brought sufficiently close to holster  120 , receiver and processor unit  136  receives and processes the transmitted signal to identify die authorization code originating from ring  128 . Once the signal is identified, receiver and processor unit  136  actuates unlocking of locking unit  122  from a locked state in which it secures firearm  142  in holster  120  to an unlocked state in which locking unit  122  facilitates substantially immediate uninhibited access to firearm  142  in holster  120 .  
         [0067]    In use, locking unit  122  is generally operative to lock firearm  142  within holster  120 , thereby preventing an unauthorized party from disarming the user. However, when die authorized user reaches toward bolster  120  to draw firearm  142  from holster  120 , ring  128  is brought into proximity with receiver and processor unit  136 , thereby allowing identification of the characteristic transmitted signal and subsequent unlocking of locking unit  122  and facilitating authorized access to firearm  142 .  
         [0068]    Thus, smart holster  120  achieves a high weapon retention level of against unauthorized removal of firearm  142  from holster  120  while allowing instant access to tie authorized user and substantially eliminating the risk of “fumbling” commonly encountered by Level III holsters.  
         [0069]    Typically, when firearm  142  is not accommodated by holster  120 , locking unit  122  in its unlocked state for a predetermined period, or until firearm  142  is inserted into holster  120 .  
         [0070]    Preferably, locking unit  120  includes a firearm detector  138  for detecting an insertion of firearm  142  into holster  120  for substantially immediate locking of locking unit  120  to secure firearm  142 .  
         [0071]    Preferably, occasioning on a partial draw or unlocking of locking unit  120  without drawing firearm  142 , firearm detector  138  detects that unlocking mechanism is unlocked and firearm  142  is accommodated by holster  120 , substantially immediately thereafter, locking unit  120  locks firearm  142  in holster  120 .  
         [0072]    Preferably, firearm detector  138  includes a micro-switch  140  readily operated by the muzzle or trigger guard of firearm  142  being inserted into holster  120 .  
         [0073]    Preferably, a cable  148  is attached to locking unit such that when locking unit  122  is unlocked, cable  148  can be readily removed from locking unit  122 , Conversely, when locking unit  122  is locked, cable  148  can is secured and cannot be removed from locking unit  122 . Thus, a single operation of opening locking unit  126  also releases cable  148 , thereby facilitating rapid deployment of users, when required. Furthermore, users can attach holster  120  to fixed items such as desks preventing theft of firearm  142 .  
         [0074]    It is common for police officers returning to their desk to secure their handguns in their desk. Thus, securing firearm  142  to an officer&#39;s desk is readily performed.  
         [0075]    Preferably, cable  148  is also attached to a lock  150  for securing holster  120  to a fixed object such as a desk.  
         [0076]    Although the present invention has been described in terms of handguns and firearms, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be used with any firearm, rifle, sub-machinegun, shotgun, sniper-rifle, pistols, revolvers and handguns.  
         [0077]    It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.