Abstract:
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting user activation of a button disposed on a trigger lock, communicating with a token located within a proximity of the trigger lock in response to the detection, receiving a user identifier from the token during the communication, determining whether the received user identifier is valid, and unlocking the trigger lock if the user identifier is determined to be valid. Provided that the token is located within the proximity and is valid, the user is only required to make a single contact with the trigger lock to unlock the trigger lock. Unauthorized access to the trigger of a firearm is thereby prevented while permitting an authorized user to quickly use the firearm.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/102,502 filed Jan. 12, 2015; the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings: 
       FIG. 1  shows a disassembled trigger lock ready for attachment to a firearm. 
       FIG. 2  shows an overhead view of a trigger lock attached to a firearm. 
       FIG. 3  shows a side elevation view of a trigger lock. 
       FIG. 4  shows internal hardware components of a trigger lock. 
       FIG. 5  shows a process for periodically waking a trigger lock processor to check battery voltage and receive signals. 
       FIG. 6  shows a process for reading nearby user keys. 
       FIG. 7  shows a process for programming a trigger lock to accept a new user key. 
       FIG. 8  shows the use of a relay device to unlock several devices using a single authentication check. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An overview of an embodiment of a Rapid Access Trigger Lock System  100  is described with reference to  FIG. 1 . Rapid Access Trigger Lock System  100  may include a trigger lock comprising a primary section  102  and a secondary section  104 . A firearm  106  may be provided with a trigger guard  108  and a trigger  110 . Primary section  102  and secondary section  104  may be configured to lock together to sandwich trigger guard  108  thereby preventing access to trigger  110  when the trigger lock is in a locked state. When placing the trigger lock onto a firearm, a locking bolt housing  112  may be guided through trigger guard  108  and inserted into a grooved cavity  114 . Primary section  102  and secondary section  104  both may include a rubberized cushion  116  shaped to form a seal around trigger guard  108  when the trigger lock is in a locked state. 
     The structure of the trigger lock may provide the means for removably securing a trigger lock to a firearm such that the trigger cannot be accessed or the firearm fired while the trigger lock is in the locked state. In the present embodiment, a locking bolt may be used to securely attach primary section  102  to secondary section  104 . However, alternative means for removably securing a trigger lock to a firearm are possible in other embodiments. Furthermore, although this embodiment depicts a two-piece trigger lock, alternative single and multi-piece trigger locks are possible in other embodiments. The body of primary section  102  and secondary section  104  may be metallic in some embodiments. Alternatively, other materials providing the requisite strength to provide support and prevent tampering are possible. 
     Primary section may further comprise a button  118 , a user interface  120 , and a radio frequency communication interface  122 . Rapid Access Trigger Lock System  100  may further include an access key  124  containing a radio-frequency identifier (RFID)  126 . In order to unlock a locked trigger lock, a user may position access key  124  within proximity to communication interface  122 . While access key  124  is in proximity to communication interface  122 , the user may press button  118  and thereby activate a trigger lock interrogation program which may transmit an interrogation signal. Any nearby access keys  124  within proximity range of the interrogation signal may provide a response signal via RFID  126  containing the identifier of access key  124 . The trigger lock may receive the identifier and may perform authentication on the identifier. If the identifier is valid, the trigger lock may transition to an unlocked state. In the present embodiment, button  118  may be sized such that the user would only require one finger to press button  118 . Therefore, provided that a valid access key  124  is within proximity range of the trigger lock, the trigger lock may be unlocked with only a single point of contact by the user. 
     Rapid Access Trigger Lock System  100  may provide rapid access to a secured firearm in the case of an emergency without requiring the user to perform a complex procedure under stress. In the present embodiment, access key  124  is depicted as a bracelet. Access keys  124  may be a wearable article such as a bracelet or a watch; however, access key  124  may be any article that contains RFID  126 . In alternative embodiments, access key  124  may take the form of a ring as will be discussed in further detail below. By providing RFID  126  within an article worn by the user, the user may be relieved of the burden of trying to find the article to carry to the trigger lock during an emergency. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2  the trigger lock is shown in the locked state from an overhead view facing downward towards the top of the slide of firearm  106 . Primary section  102  has been inserted through the trigger guard of firearm  106  and mated with secondary section  104 . To secure the trigger lock to the firearm, primary section  102  may be rotated 90 degrees to lock into the grooves of grooved cavity  114 . Although the present embodiment depicts primary section  102  being rotated into a locked position such that primary section  102  is oriented parallel to the slide of firearm  106 , in alternative embodiments primary section may be locked into a different orientation. Such alternate orientations may include where primary section  102  is rotated into a locked position such that primary section  102  is oriented parallel to the grip of firearm  106 . In the present embodiment, a locking bolt is used to secure primary section  102  to secondary section  104  but other securing mechanisms are possible in alternative embodiments. For instance, there may be a clamshell type securing mechanism which when activated closes over the trigger guard of firearm  106  preventing access to the trigger. Also, the clamshell mechanism may have teeth which extend into the trigger guard which prevent movement of the trigger while the clamshell mechanism is secured. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3  a side elevation view of the trigger lock is depicted. The user may interact with components located on primary section  102  such as button  118 , for providing user input, and user interface  120 , for providing output to the user. In some embodiments, button  118  may be recessed so that the user may locate and activate button  118  using their sense of touch only. Recessed button  118  permits a user to unlock a firearm in the dark or while maintaining visual focus in another direction. User interface  120  may be an LED and provide a range of visual feedback to the user by flashing unique patterns. Alternatively, user interface  120  may be a display, a vibrator or any other device to communicate with a user. Communication interface  122  may be provided for sending and receiving signals including RFID interrogation signals. Communication interface  122  may house communication equipment for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals. Where the body of primary section  102  is metallic in some embodiments, communication interface  122  may include a durable, hard plastic covering which provides less attenuation of the signals. 
       FIG. 4  depicts the internal hardware components of the trigger lock disposed in primary section  102 . The trigger lock may comprise microprocessor  402 , database  404 , main battery  406 , backup battery  408 , servo motor  410 , locking bolt  412 , transceiver  414  for a wireless personal network, e.g., Bluetooth®, RF transceiver  416 , and battery access door  418 . The trigger lock may be implemented using microprocessor  402  which processes stored software instructions to perform the functions of the trigger lock described in this specification. Although the present embodiment uses a microprocessor, any computing device capable of processing software instructions may be used in alternative embodiments. Database  404  may be used to store authorized identifiers and may be referenced by microprocessor  402  during identifier authentication. Main battery  406  may provide electrical power to the trigger lock for use in performing the functions of the trigger lock described in this specification including those of button  118  and user interface  120 . Backup battery  408  may be provided in some embodiments which provides backup power to database  404  to prevent erasure of authorized identifiers in the event that main battery  406  is exhausted. Alternatively, database  404  may be stored in a non-volatile memory, eliminating the need for backup power. In the present embodiment, servo motor  410  may be provided to rotate locking bolt  412  to enable locking and unlocking of the trigger lock. In the present embodiment, locking bolt  412  may be disposed within locking bolt housing  112 . As described above, other locking mechanisms may be provided in alternative embodiments. Communication interface  122  may include Bluetooth® transceiver  414  and RF transceiver  416 . RF transceiver  416  may be used to perform RF interrogation on nearby access keys  124 . In some embodiments, Bluetooth® transceiver  414  may be provided to communicate area unlock signals as will be described in greater detail below. Although the present embodiment employs transceivers, other means of communicating electromagnetic signals, such as transmitter/receiver pairs may be used in alternative embodiments. Battery access door  418  may be used to insert and remove main battery  406  and may positioned to allow access in both locked and unlocked states. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5  a periodic wake-up process is depicted. In order to conserve battery life, microprocessor  402  may enter a low-power hibernation mode while the trigger guard is not being operated. However, microprocessor  402  may wake-up periodically to check the voltage of main battery  406  and to detect whether any area unlock signals are present. The concept of area unlock signals will be discussed further below. The periodic wake-up process may begin when a “power down” timer expires and microprocessor  402  powers up at block  502 . Microprocessor  402  may then read the voltage of main battery  406  at block  504 . It may be determined whether the voltage of main battery  406  is below a threshold at block  506 . If the voltage of main battery  406  is below the threshold, microprocessor  402  may instruct user interface  120  to flash, display or otherwise indicate a “low battery” signal at block  508 . Microprocessor  402  may then check for an area unlock signal at block  510 . It may be determined whether an area unlock signal has been received at block  512 . If an area unlock signal has been received at block  512 , microprocessor  402  may instruct servo motor  410  to unlock the trigger lock at block  514 , instruct user interface  120  to flash, display or otherwise indicate an “unlocked” signal at block  516 , and initiate an “open lock” timer at block  518 . At the expiration of the “open lock” timer, microprocessor  402  may instruct servo motor  410  to re-lock the trigger lock at block  520 . The “open lock” timer may provide a window during which the user can disassemble the trigger lock and remove it from the firearm. If the user fails to remove the trigger lock from the firearm during the window, the trigger lock may re-lock to prevent unauthorized access to the firearm trigger. If at block  512  it is determined that an area unlock signal has not been received, or if the trigger lock is re-locked at block  520 , microprocessor  402  may start the “power down” timer and re-enter the low-power hibernation mode at block  522 . As an alternative to the “power down” timer described above with regard to block  502 , the arrival of area unlock signal may trigger exit of the low power state. Although the present embodiment depicts performing the read voltage and voltage determination at blocks  504  and  506  respectively, prior to performing area unlock signal check and determination at blocks  510  and  512  respectively, this process may be performed in a different order or simultaneously in alternate embodiments. Similarly, although the present embodiment depicts blocks  514 ,  516 , and  518  occurring in a particular order, this process may be performed in a different order or simultaneously in alternate embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 6  a key read process  600  is depicted. Key read process  600  may begin when the user presses button  118  in block  602 . Next, microprocessor  402  may power up from a low-power hibernation mode in block  604 . Microprocessor  402  may then perform an RF interrogation process to read any nearby access keys  124  in block  606  and start a “read” timer in block  608 . Microprocessor  402  may determine whether an access key  124  is read during the window provided by the “read” timer at block  610 . If the “read” timer expires without an access key  124  being read, microprocessor  402  may instruct user interface  120  to flash, display or otherwise indicate a “no key” signal at block  612  and re-enter the low-power hibernation mode at block  630 . Alternatively, if it is determined at block  610  that an access key  124  is read during the window provided by the “read” timer, microprocessor  402  may determine whether RFID  126  provided by access key  124  is invalid at block  614 . If microprocessor  402  determines that RFID  126  is invalid at block  614 , microprocessor  402  may instruct user interface  120  to flash, display or otherwise indicate a “bad key” signal at block  616  and re-enter the low-power hibernation mode at block  630 . Alternatively, if it determined at block  614  that RFID  126  is not invalid, microprocessor  402  may determine whether valid RFID  126  is a master key in block  618 . As discussed in more detail below, a master key may be a type of access key  124  which permits a user to program microprocessor  402  to accept a new access key  124 . If microprocessor  402  determines at block  618  that RFID  126  is a master key, microprocessor  402  may then perform a new user key creation process  700  at block  632 . Once new user key creation process  700  is completed, microprocessor  402  may re-enter the low-power hibernation mode at block  630 . Alternatively, if microprocessor  402  determines at block  618  that RFID  126  is not a master key, microprocessor  402  may instruct servo motor  410  to unlock the trigger lock at block  620 , instruct Bluetooth® transceiver  414  to transmit an “area unlock” signal (as will be discussed in further detail below) at block  622 , instruct user interface  120  to flash, display or otherwise indicate an “unlocked” signal at block  624 , and initiate an “open lock” timer at block  626 . At the expiration of the “open lock” timer, microprocessor  402  may instruct servo motor  410  to re-lock the trigger lock at block  628 . The “open lock” timer may provide a window during which the user can disassemble the trigger lock and remove it from the firearm. If the user fails to remove the trigger lock from the firearm during the window, the trigger lock may re-lock to prevent unauthorized access to the firearm trigger. If the trigger lock is re-locked at block  628 , microprocessor  402  may re-enter the low-power hibernation mode at block  630 . Although the present embodiment depicts performing read access keys at block  606  prior to performing the start “read” timer block  608 , this process may be performed in a different order or simultaneously in alternate embodiments. Similarly, although the present embodiment depicts blocks  620 ,  622 ,  624 , and  626  occurring in a particular order, this process may be performed in a different order or simultaneously in alternate embodiments. Further, although the present embodiment provides a particular process for detecting an RFID identifier and distinguishing between unauthorized, authorized, and master key identifiers, this process may be performed using a different order in alternative embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 7  new user key creation process  700  is depicted. Using process  700 , a user may add a new access key  124  with a new unique identifier stored in RFID  126  to the list of authorized access keys stored in database  404 . To facilitate this function, the user may be provided with a unique master key. The unique function of the master key may be to initiate process  700  when the master key is presented as access key  124  during key read process  600 . Process  700  may be initiated upon a determination that the master key has been detected from key read process  600  at block  702 . Once process  700  is initiated at block  702 , microprocessor  402  may initiate a “key read” timer, instruct user interface  120  to display or indicate a “present new key” signal, and interrogate nearby keys at block  704 . In response to the “present new key” signal, the user may position the new access key  124  within proximity to communication component  122 . If the “key read” timer expires without an access key  124  detected by microprocessor  402 , process  700  may end and microprocessor  402  may return to key read process  600  at block  710 . If an access key  124  is detected at block  704  but the RFID  126  identifier is already stored in database  404 , microprocessor  402  may instruct user interface  120  to display or indicate an “already stored” signal at block  706 . Next, process  700  may end and microprocessor  402  may return to key read process  600  at block  710 . If an access key  124  is detected at block  704  and that access key  124  contains a new RFID  126  identifier, microprocessor  402  may add the RFID  126  identifier to database  404  and instruct user interface  120  to display or indicate a “key added” signal at block  708 . Next, process  700  ends and microprocessor  402  may return to key read process  600  at block  710 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8  a process for providing an area unlock signal is depicted. In some embodiments, a user may have the ability to unlock a plurality of nearby trigger locks, or other devices, with a single contact of a first trigger lock. When a user presses button  118  of first trigger lock  802  while positioning a valid access key  124  within proximity of first trigger lock  802 , first trigger lock  802  may broadcast an area unlock signal  804  in addition to unlocking first trigger lock  802 . In this embodiment, access key  124  takes the form of a ring worn by the user; however, access keys  124  may take other forms as described above. In the present embodiment, area unlock signal  804  sent from first trigger lock  802  may be received by a relay device  806 . Relay device  806  may be a cellular telephone in some embodiments; however other devices which can receive and broadcast electromagnetic signals may perform the role of relay device  806  in alternative embodiments. Alternatively, no relay device may be necessary and area unlock signal  804  broadcasted from first trigger lock  802  may independently unlock nearby trigger locks, or other devices. Upon receiving area unlock signal  804 , relay device  806  may transmit a relay signal  808  to secondary trigger locks  810  and  812 . Relay signal  808  may be identical to area unlock signal  804  in some embodiments or different from area unlock signal  804  in alternative embodiments. Relay signal  808  and area unlock signal  804  may be encrypted to provide additional protection from unauthorized access. In some embodiments, relay device  806  may be activated only by signals from those first trigger locks  802  that relay device  806  has been paired with. Similarly, only those secondary trigger locks  810  and  812  may be activated which have been paired with relay device  806 . Upon receiving relay signal  808 , secondary trigger locks  810  and  812  unlock. In the present embodiment, secondary trigger locks take the form of trigger lock  810  attached to a single firearm and/or lock  812  attached to a gun rack. Relay signal  808  may be received by one or more secondary trigger locks and each secondary trigger lock may unlock one or more firearms in alternative embodiments. Additionally, relay device  806  may be configured such that a user could initiate the relay signal  808  directly from the device  806 , e.g., opening a trigger lock directly from a cellular telephone. 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.