Firearm trigger proximity alarm

A proximity alarm for a firearm having a trigger and a trigger guard is disclosed. The proximity alarm is for detecting when an object, such as a user's finger, enters the space between the trigger and the trigger guard, whereupon the proximity alarm alerts the user and any surround individuals that the object is in a position to depress the trigger to fire the firearm. An embodiment for mounting the proximity alarm onto an existing firearm is disclosed, as well as another embodiment wherein the proximity alarm is incorporated into the firearm itself to form a total firearm safety system. In the first embodiment, the proximity alarm includes an enclosure mounted proximate to the trigger guard of the firearm. The enclosure includes a firearm mounting means and at least one proximity sensor cooperating in such a way that an included proximity sensor is positioned to detect the object entering between the trigger and the trigger guard. The proximity alarm further includes an alarm circuit electrically connected to the proximity sensor and housed in the enclosure or, in the embodiment wherein the proximity alarm is incorporated into the firearm, within the firearm itself. The alarm circuit includes a power source, such as a battery, and an alarm means, such as an audio alarm, a visual alarm, or a tactile alarm. The alarm means may further include a wireless transmitter that transmits an alarm signal to a remote alarm unit for remote monitoring of the firearm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to firearm safety devices, and more particularly to a Firearm Trigger Proximity Alarm.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Firearm accidents can be particularly devastating, and therefore much effort has been put forth on firearm safety devices. Nearly all self-loading firearms, for example, have a safety lock mechanism that prevents the firearm's trigger from being depressed unless the safety is in an off position. Clearly one drawback of relying on such a safety mechanism alone is that the user of the firearm might forget which position the safety is in, and thus be either unable to fire the weapon when it is necessary due to inadvertently leaving the safety in its “on” position, or accidentally discharging the firearm while believing that the safety was on while it was actually off.

Several devices have been designed to alert the user while the safety in a firearm is in the off position. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,692 to Guild on May 16, 1989, teaches such a device, as does U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,518 to Blaser on Nov. 14, 1995. Such devices are well suited for alerting the gun user and individuals nearby that the gun's safety is in the off position and that therefore the gun is in a ready-to-fire state. However, such devices do not indicate that the user of the gun is about ready to shoot. Indeed, until the user is ready to shoot it is common practice that the user's trigger finger remains in front of the gun's trigger guard. Knowing that the gun's safety is off is not nearly as vital as knowing that the user's finger is on the trigger and in a position to fire.

Other types of firearm safety devices serve to warn users and bystanders that a gun is in a raised position, often indicative of impending use thereof. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,775,940 to Dworzan et al. on Aug. 17, 2004; 5,508,683 to Hall on Apr. 16, 1996; 5,715,623 to Mackey, III, on Feb. 10, 1998; and US Patent Application 2002/0174588 to Danner et al. on Nov. 28, 2002 all teach firearm safety devices that include some form of motion sensing device and an associated alarm to warn of a gun being raised into a firing position or to prevent a gun from discharging in the event of sudden motion of the gun or jarring thereof. But there are many situations where the raising of the gun barrel may occur without the intent to fire the weapon. For example, when military troops are traversing obstacles or when law enforcement personnel are jumping over a fence, or the like, a gun may become elevated in normal course. At such times a gun alarm does not accurately signal the intent of the gun user. Thus, the elevation of the gun barrel is not always the best indicator as to the intent of the user.

Other firearm status sensing devices are known in the art, such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,147 to Haefeli et al. on Oct. 12, 2004. Such a device is a system for sensing the state of spaces within the firearm for computerized or automated control, and is limited to internal spaces such as the gun barrel and firing chambers. This type of device is best suited for large caliber weapons such as cannons, tank weapons, and the like.

Firearm safety relies on a series of rules that, when followed, will avoid injury to the firearm user and others. One of the most important of these rules is that the gun operator keep his fingers and other objects outside of the trigger guard until he is ready to fire. Unfortunately, in stressful combat situations or during intensive training simulations, even experienced shooters may fail in this regard as a result of poor training, negligence, or loss of fine motor control. In training new shooters, instructors may fail to adequately monitor the shooters under their instruction in time to warn the novice to remove their finger from the trigger area.

Gunmakers, such as Glock and Savage, have used a “Safe Action System” or a “Accu-trigger System” to ensure that the trigger cannot move unless the operator pulls a lever, which is essentially a second trigger, mounted into the first trigger. This type of system reduces the chance of a sideways or angled intrusion into the trigger guard causing the firearm to discharge.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,829 to McMoore on Mar. 8, 2005 teaches a tactile indicator that the operator's finger is outside of the trigger guard, in hopes that the operator, not feeling this tactile indicator, will realize that his finger may be located dangerously close to the trigger. Such a device, however, relies heavily on the operator realizing his finger is not in a safe position, and does not actively indicate or alert the operator that his finger may be in an unsafe position.

No prior art device exists for detecting when a person's finger enters the space adjacent a weapon's trigger between the trigger and the trigger guard. Such a device would alert the user, who may be unaware of his finger positioning, particularly in an intense situation, and also alert bystanders who can judge a more proper course of action knowing that the gun user's finger has been positioned on the gun's trigger.

There are proximity sensors for detecting hand or finger position within a machine operating area, such as the well-known safety curtain devices exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,844 to Schatz et al on Oct. 2, 2001. Such devices are well-suited for preventing accidents by shutting down machinery when a user's hand enters a dangerous area. However, such devices are not well-suited for use with or mounting on a firearm. U.S. Pat. No. 6,429,769 to Fulgueira on Aug. 6, 2002 teaches a firearm device that includes a wireless radio link to an electronic receptor that takes an action in response to the firearm being discharged, such as by calling emergency services personnel, or the like. Such a device does nothing, however, before the weapon is discharged and thus may not be able to warn of improper finger positioning on the weapon until too late.

Therefore, there is a need for a firearm-mounted proximity alarm that warns both the user of the firearm and bystanders that the user's finger has been moved into position adjacent to the trigger and that the weapon is therefore ready to be fired. Such a needed device would not interfere with the firing of the weapon when desired, and would be either mountable on existing firearms or made integral therewith. Such a needed device would provide a variety of alarm means as necessary for any particular type of weapon or situation, and would be durable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a proximity alarm for a firearm having a trigger and a trigger guard. The proximity alarm is for detecting when an object, such as a user's finger, enters the space between the trigger and the trigger guard, whereupon the proximity alarm alerts the user and any surrounding individuals that the object is in a position to depress the trigger to fire the firearm.

Two preferred main embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, an embodiment for mounting the proximity alarm onto an existing firearm, and another embodiment wherein the proximity alarm is incorporated into the firearm itself to form a total firearm safety system. In the first embodiment, the proximity alarm includes an enclosure mounted proximate to the trigger guard of the firearm. The enclosure includes a firearm mounting means and at least one proximity sensor cooperating in such a way that the at least one proximity sensor is positioned to detect the object entering between the trigger and the trigger guard. Such a proximity sensor may be an optical sensor, an electrical capacitive sensor, a mechanical switch, or the like.

The proximity alarm further includes an alarm circuit electrically connected to the at least one proximity sensor and housed in the enclosure or, in the embodiment wherein the proximity alarm is incorporated into the firearm, within the firearm itself, such as within a grip or frame of the firearm. The alarm circuit includes a power source, such as a battery, and an alarm means, such as an audio alarm, a visual alarm, or a tactile alarm. The alarm means may further include a wireless transmitter that transmits an alarm signal to a remote alarm unit for remote monitoring of the firearm.

The present invention is a firearm-mounted proximity alarm that warns both the user of the firearm and bystanders that the user's finger has been moved into position adjacent to the trigger and that the weapon is therefore ready to be fired. The present device does not interfere with the normal firing of the weapon when such is desired, and can be either mountable on existing firearms or made integral therewith. The present invention provides a variety of alarm means as necessary for any particular type of weapon or situation, and is durable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate a proximity alarm10for a firearm20that has a trigger25and a trigger guard26. The proximity alarm10is for detecting when an object60, such as a user's finger, enters the space between the trigger25and the trigger guard26, whereupon the proximity alarm10alerts the user and any surrounding individuals that the object60is ready to depress the trigger25to fire the firearm20.

Two preferred main embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, an embodiment for mounting the proximity alarm10onto an existing firearm20(FIGS. 1,4, and6), and another embodiment wherein the proximity alarm10is incorporated into the firearm20itself to form a total firearm safety system300(FIG. 9). In the first embodiment, the proximity alarm10includes an enclosure30mounted proximate to the trigger guard26of the firearm20. The enclosure30includes a firearm mounting means40, such as a friction mount (not shown), set screws45(FIG. 3), or the like. Clearly the firearm mounting means40may be readily adapted for use with various types and structures of firearms20without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the mounting means40may be adapted for mounting the enclosure30to an existing trigger guard with a friction mounting means or clamp (not shown). Alternately, a slotted rail with set screws45may be used for mounting the proximity alarm10to firearms20having an accessories rail280(FIGS. 1 and 3), wherein the mounting means40comprises an accessory rail mounting means290as is known in the art. Or, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 6, the proximity alarm10may be incorporated into a removable trigger guard26on some firearms such as the M16 series rifles.

In all of the embodiments of the invention, however, the proximity alarm10may be mounted to the firearm20, at least one proximity sensor50is fixed substantially within or on the housing30or the trigger guard26, and positioned to detect the object60entering between the trigger25and the trigger guard26. Such a proximity sensor50may be an optical sensor100such as an infrared110emitter and a photodiode120combination, such as the HSDL-9100 Miniature Surface-Mount Proximity Sensor manufactured by Agilent Technologies, or the like. The photodiode120is positioned to receive reflected infrared light130from the object60when the object60enters the space between the trigger25and the trigger guard26.

Alternately, the proximity sensor50may be an electrical capacitive sensor140(FIGS. 1 and 9), wherein the object60by entering between the trigger25and the trigger guard26detectably changes the electrical capacitance between two elements of the sensor140. One such element of the sensor140may be the trigger25itself with the firearm20acting as electrical ground. Alternately, the sensor140may be electrically isolated from the firearm20.

In another embodiment of the invention, the proximity sensor50may be a mechanical switch150(FIGS. 6-8). The switch50is positioned so as to be actuated when the object60enters the space between the trigger25and the trigger guard26. The switch150in its normally closed position includes a plate155adapted to substantially fill the space between the trigger25and the trigger guard26.

The proximity alarm10further includes an alarm circuit70electrically connected to the at least one proximity sensor50and housed in the enclosure30or, in the embodiment wherein the proximity alarm10is incorporated into the firearm20, within the firearm20itself, such as within a grip23or frame22(FIG. 9). The alarm circuit70includes a power source80, such as a battery, and an alarm means90, such as an audio alarm160, a visual alarm170such as a flashing warning light180, or a tactile alarm190such as a vibration means200, which may include a motor and an offset weight, for example, in contact with a user's body and adapted for alerting the user tactilely (FIG. 9). The alarm circuit70may include a microprocessor system for interpreting sensor data, determining if an alarm condition exists, and the like.

The alarm means90may further include a wireless transmitter210that transmits an alarm signal to a remote alarm unit220(FIG. 9). The remote alarm unit220includes an enclosure230housing an alarm signal receiving means240, a remote alarm means250, and a power source260, all electrically connected so as to activate the remote alarm means250whenever the remote alarm unit220receives the alarm signal from the alarm means40. Such a remote alarm unit220may include a belt clip so as to be worn on a user's belt, as illustrated, or may be incorporated in a user's head's-up display, hearing protection device, wristwatch, or the like.

The remote alarm means250may include the audio alarm160, the visual alarm170, or the tactile alarm190. As such, a trainer or other observer may be alerted when the firearm operator has placed his finger on or near the trigger25. Indeed, the remote alarm unit220may distinguish between alarm signals from a plurality of alarm means40, whereby a trainer may be alerted as to which of his students, for example, is causing an alarm condition. Such a plurality of alarm means40include a unit code number or other distinguishing means encoded into the alarm signal transmission.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the exact placement of the sensors and even the types of proximity sensors used may be varied according to methods common in the art. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.