LOCK FOR CHAMBERS AND MAGAZINES OF WEAPONS

Abstract: A lock for use with firearms having a chamber and a magazine well communicating therewith for securing such firearms against unauthorized firing including a chamber pin element arranged to be placed in the chamber and a locking assembly for lockingly retaining the chamber pin element in the chamber, the locking assembly being disposed at least partially within the magazine well, the locking assembly preferably being automatically lockable upon tampering therewith along the shear line thereof.

Description: LOCK FOR CHAMBERS AND MAGAZINES OF WEAPONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to gun locks generally and more particularly to chamtier and magazine locks and to mechanisms for preventing unauthorized opening of such locks. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of gun locks are known in the patent literature. The following patents and published patent applications are believed to represent the state of the art: U.S. Patents: 5,488,794; 5,465,519 5,450,685 5,419,069 5,410,832 5,361,526; 5,357,704 5, 331, 759 5,241,769 5,239, 767 5,231,236; 5,115,589 5,044, 105 4,965,952 4,835,894 4,761,906; 4,709,496 4,672, 762 4,654,992 4,619,062 4,532,729; 4,576,021 4,528, 765 4,461, 108 4,398,366 4,276,707; 4,266,356 3,774,333 3,605,311 3,504,818 3,378,943; 3,137,957 3,089, 272 2, 997,802 2, 763,081 2,327,334; 1,728,902 1,572, 122 Published PCT Patent Applications: WO 92/15835; 92/13249; 92/10714; 92/06345; 88/09475; 88/06264; 86/00396; 82/02941; UK Published Patent Appli¬ cations: 2,238,604; 2,234,047; 2,215,822; 2,220,253; German Offenlegungsschrift DE 4119617; DE 3323501; DE 2920679; DE 2908066; German Patent 602163; European Published Patent Application 0163912. The most relevant references are believed to be U.S. Patents 5,331,759; 5,231,236; 4,761,906, 4,709,496; 3,089,272 and Published PCT Application WO 88/09475. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved gun lock which is secure, easy to use and eco¬ nomical to manufacture. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a lock for use with firearms having a chamber and a magazine well communicating therewith for securing such firearms against unauthorized firing including: a chamber pin element arranged to be placed in the chamber; and a locking assembly for lockingly retaining the chamber pin element in the chamber, the locking assembly being disposed at least partially within the magazine well. Preferably, the locking assembly is substan¬ tially surrounded and nearly completely enclosed by the magazine well. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chamber pin element comprises a chamber pin portion and a locking portion extending generally perpendicular to said chamber pin portion. The locking portion may include a single lock¬ ing pin or multiple locking pins. Preferably, the locking assembly comprises a padlock body defining a housing and at least one locking recess for receiving the locking portion. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking assembly comprises a lock having a cylinder and which automatically locks upon tampering with the cylinder. There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lock operated by a key, the lock being actuable by cutting a portion of the lock so as to actuate the lock without the key, the lock including: a locking element inside the lock, the locking element being movable to a locking position wherein the lock is substantially prevented from being actuated, regardless of any attempt to actuate the lock by the key; an actuating device connected to the locking element, the actuating device being located in the lock such that cutting of the portion of the lock also cuts a portion of the actuating device, thereby causing the actuating device to move the locking element to the locking position. It is noted that throughout the specification and the claims that the term "actuation" refers both to locking and unlocking. The term "cutting" refers to any method of destroying such as by drilling, cutting, mill¬ ing or grinding, for example. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock further includes a hous¬ ing and a plug rotatably mounted in the housing, a shear line being formed between the plug and the housing, wherein the actuating device is located sufficiently close to the shear line such that cutting along the shear line also cuts a portion of the actuating device, thereby causing the actuating device to move the locking element to the locking position. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock further includes a shackle having at least one leg, the at least one leg having a notch, wherein the locking element engages the notch in the locking position. Further in accordance with a preferred embodi¬ ment of the present invention, the actuating device is a biasing device which, when not cut, applies a retaining force on the locking element so as to prevent the lock¬ ing element from moving to the locking position, and wherein cutting of the biasing device removes the retain- ing force and causes the locking element to move to the locking position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed de¬ scription, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a partially cut away exploded view illustration of part of a firearm and a lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified exploded illustration of the lock of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partially cut away illustration of the firearm and lock of Fig. 1 in a locked condition; Fig. 4 is a simplified illustration of a lock constructed and operative in accordance with an alterna¬ tive embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a partially cut away illustration of the firearm of Fig. 1 and lock of Fig. 4 in a locked condition; Fig. 6 is a simplified illustration of a lock constructed and operative in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a partially cut away illustration of the firearm of Fig. 1 and lock of Fig. 6 in a locked condition; Fig. 8A is a sectional illustration of a key- operated lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a locked orientation; Fig. 8B is a sectional illustration taken along lines 8B - 8B in Fig. 8A; Fig. 9A is a sectional illustration of the lock of Fig. 8A in an unlocked orientation; Fig. 9B is a sectional illustration taken along lines 9B - 9B in Fig. 9A; and Fig. 10 is a simplified sectional illustration of the lock of Fig. 8A, taken along lines X - X in Fig. 8A, with a locking element not in locking engagement with a notch in a shackle of the lock of Fig. 8A; Fig. 11 is a simplified sectional illustration of the lock of Fig. 8A, taken along lines X - X in Fig. 8A, with a locking element in locking engagement with a notch in a shackle of the lock of Fig. 8A; and Fig. 12 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a portion of the lock of Fig. 8A, showing a portion of an actuating device used in the lock of Fig. 8A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Figs. 1 - 3, which illustrate a firearm and a lock therefor constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The firearm 20, here shown to be an M-16 rifle, may be any suitable firearm, having a chamber 22 and a magazine well 23 communicating therewith. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a lock for preventing unauthorized firing of firearm 20 which lock includes a chamber pin element 24 arranged to be placed in the chamber 22 and a locking assembly 26 for lockingly retaining the chamber pin element 24 in the chamber 22. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock¬ ing assembly is disposed at least partially within the magazine well 23. As seen particularly in F g. 3, the locking assembly is substantially surrounded by magazine well 23 and is nearly completely enclosed thereby. This arrange¬ ment makes it nearly impossible to forcibly disengage the locking assembly 26 from the chamber pin element 24 without simultaneously damaging the firearm to an extent which prevents it from being used in a normal manner. As seen particularly clearly in Fig. 2, the chamber pin element 24 preferably comprises a chamber pin portion 30 and a locking portion 32 extending generally perpendicular to the chamber pin portion 30. The chamber pin portion 30 preferably includes a forward portion 34, and an intermediate portion 36, from an underside of which extends the locking portion 32. The locking portion 32 is preferably formed with a series of peripheral depressions 38 which facilitates locking thereof by the locking assembly 26. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the locking portion 32 comprises a single pin. Preferably, forward portion 34 has an external cross-sectional dimension corresponding to the cartridge dimension for each given weapon and the intermediate portion 36 has a larger external cross-sectional dimen¬ sion defining a shoulder 39 which seats against a corre¬ sponding shoulder 40 at the rear of the chamber 22. Preferably the forward end of the forward portion 34 is beveled to enhance ease of insertion and removal thereof. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking assembly comprises a padlock body of any suitable type. A particularly suit¬ able type of padlock body suitable for this purpose is Model No. 28273001, commercially available from Mul-T- Lock Ltd. of Yavne, Israel, and which has a reinforced housing 42 defining a single locking recess 44 for accom¬ modating a single locking pin. Preferably the external cross-sectional dimensions of the locking assembly are quite close to the internal cross-sectional dimensions of magazine well 23. Reference is now made to Figs. 4 and 5 which illustrate a lock constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an extensible locking element 50 is provided including a forward portion 52, an intermediate portion 54 and an extensible rear portion 56. A first locking pin 58 extends perpendicularly from intermediate portion 54 and a second locking pin 60 extends perpendic¬ ularly from extensible rear portion 56. In use, during insertion of the locking element 50 into locking engagement with a firearm, extensible rear portion 56 is pushed fully forward towards forward portion 52, as shown in phantom lines in Fig. 4, in order to enable the forward portion 52 to be inserted into the chamber via magazine well 23. Once the forward portion 52 is seated in the chamber 22, the extendible rear portion is pulled back such that the spacing between locking pins 58 and 60 is such as to correspond with the spacing of a conventional padlock body 62, such as Model No. 28270036, commercially available from Mul-T-Lock Ltd. of Yavne, Israel. Reference is now made to Figs. 6 and 7 which illustrate a lock constructed and operative in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present inven¬ tion. In this embodiment, an extensible locking element 70 is provided including a forward portion 72 and an intermediate portion 74. First and second locking pins 76 and 78 extend perpendicularly from intermediate por¬ In contrast to the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5, here the first and second locking pins 76 and 78 are relatively close together and the forward portion 72 is relatively short, so as to enable the locking element of Figs. 6 and 7 to be inserted into the chamber without undue difficulty. In this case a padlock body 80 having a pair of closely spaced locking pin receiving sockets 82 is em¬ ployed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, any of the padlock bodies of the present invention may be provided with a locking assembly which is automatically lockable upon tampering therewith along the shear line thereof, as will now be described with reference to Figs. 8A - 12. Reference is now made to Figs. 8A - 8B, which illustrate a key-operated lock 105 constructed and opera¬ tive in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Key-operated lock 105 in the illus¬ trated embodiment includes locking element 50, described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, although it is appreciated that lock 105 may be readily adapted for chamber pin element 24 (Figs. 1 - 3) and locking element 70 (Figs. 6 and 7) as well. Key-operated lock 105 preferably comprises a housing 110, typically including a hardened outer shell 112 and an inner portion 114 disposed within outer shell 112, as seen in Figs. 8A and 9A. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, lock 105 includes a removable shackle 120 which is formed with at least one leg 122. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two legs 122, each being formed with an inwardly facing notch 124 and each corresponding to a locking pin of the locking element of either of the embodiment of Figs. 4 & 5 or of the embodi¬ ment of Figs. 5 and 6. Shackle receiving bores 126 are provided in housing 110 for accommodating the legs 122 of shackle 120. Alternatively, shackle 120 may comprise only one leg 122 and housing 110 may be provided with only one receiving bore 126. Lock 105 preferably includes a locking mecha¬ nism 130 which comprises first and second locking members 132 and 134. Locking members 132 and 134 are arranged in mutually slidable arrangement and are urged axially apart by means of a spring 136, shown in Figs. 8B and 9B. Locking mechanism 130 is arranged for selectable locking engagement with notches 124 in legs 122 of shackle 120, as seen in Fig. 8A. Locking mechanism 130 is operated by a lock cylinder 140 which includes a plug 142 defining a keyway 141 in which a key 144 may be inserted, as seen in Fig. 8A. Lock cylinder 140 may be entirely conventional and is commercially available from Mul-T-Lock Ltd. of Yavne, Israel. Plug 142 includes a plurality of plug pins 145 which are arranged for sliding movement with respect to housing pins 146 which are spring-loaded in a hive 148 of lock cylinder 140, as seen in Figs. 8A and 9A. Insertion of key 144 into keyway 141 aligns plug pins 145 and housing pins 146 along a shear line 149, thereby allowing turning of plug 142 and actuating locking mechanism 130 of lock 105, as is now described. The locking mechanism 130 is arranged in opera¬ tive engagement with a pair of driving protrusions 150 and 152 of the cylinder 140. By turning key 144 in the direction of an arrow 160, as shown in Fig. 9A, protru¬ sion 150 is moved generally laterally in the direction of an arrow 162, thereby pushing locking member 134 against spring 136 in the direction of arrow 162, as shown in Fig. 9B. The turning of key 144 in the direction of arrow 160 simultaneously moves protrusion 152 in the direction of an arrow 164, opposite to the direction of arrow 162, thereby pushing locking member 132 against spring 136 in the direction of arrow 164, as shown in Fig. 9B. In the orientation of Figs. 9A and 9B, legs 122 of shackle 120 may be removed from bores 126. In the foregoing description, lock 105 is actuated by key 144. Unscrupulous individuals may actuate lock 105 by cutting a portion of lock 105, for example, by cutting along shear line 149 which allows plug 142 to turn freely without the use of key 144. Reference is now additionally made to Figs. 10 12. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, lock 105 includes a locking element 170 which is connected to an actuating device 172. Actu¬ ating device 172 preferably includes a biasing device, such as a spring 180 which has an elongate tail 182. Spring 180 is connected to locking element 170, and an end 184 of tail 182 is anchored to housing 110, as seen in Fig. 10. Tail 182 preferably lies in a groove 186 formed in hive 148 along shear line 149, as seen in Fig. 12. Referring to Figs. 8A, 8A and 10, it is seen that a leg 122 of shackle 120 has formed therein a notch 190. Locking element 170 is adapted to be urged into notch 190, as is now described. As seen in Fig. 10, actuating device 172 ap- 11 plies a retaining force on locking element 170 in the direction of an arrow 192, so as to prevent locking element 170 from moving into notch 190. By cutting along shear line 149, tail 182 is also cut, thereby removing the retaining force and causing locking element 170 to move in the direction of an arrow 194 into locking en¬ gagement with notch 190, as seen in Fig. 11. It is appreciated that once locking element 170 is in locking engagement with notch 190, shackle 120 cannot be removed from housing 110 even if plug 142 were to be rotated in an effort to actuate locking mechanism 130 and move locking members 132 and 134 out of locking engagement with notches 124 of shackle 120. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims: C L A I M S 1. A lock for use with firearms having a chamber and a magazine well communicating therewith for securing such firearms against unauthorized firing comprising: a chamber pin element arranged to be placed in the chamber; and a locking assembly for lockingly retaining the chamber pin element in the chamber, said locking assembly being disposed at least partially within the magazine well. 2. A lock according to claim 1 and wherein said locking assembly is substantially surrounded by said magazine well. 3. A lock according to either of claims 1 and 2 and wherein said locking assembly is nearly completely enclosed by said magazine well. 4. A lock according to any of the preceding claim and wherein said chamber pin element comprises a chamber pin portion and a locking portion extending generally perpendicular to said chamber pin portion. 5. A lock according to claim 4 and wherein said locking portion comprises a single locking pin. 6. A lock according to claim 4 and wherein said locking portion comprises two locking pins; 7. A lock according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said locking assembly comprises a padlock body defining a housing and at least one locking recess for receiving said locking portion. 8. A lock according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said locking assembly comprises a lock having a cylinder and which automatically locks upon tampering with the cylinder. 9. A lock operated by a key, said lock being actuable by cutting a portion of said lock so as to actuate said lock without said key, said lock comprising: a locking element inside said lock, said lock¬ ing element being movable to a locking position wherein said lock is substantially prevented from being actuated, regardless of any attempt to actuate said lock by said key; an actuating device connected to said locking element, said actuating device being located in said lock such that cutting of said portion of said lock also cuts a portion of said actuating device, thereby causing said actuating device to move said locking element to said locking position. 10. A lock according to claim 1 and wherein said lock further comprises: a housing; and a plug rotatably mounted in said housing, a shear line being formed between said plug and said hous¬ ing, wherein said actuating device is located sufficient¬ ly close to said shear line such that cutting along said shear line also cuts a portion of said actuating device, thereby causing said actuating device to move said lock¬ ing element to said locking position.

Inventors: MARKBREIT DANI, MAUSETH ARILD, MARKBREIT, DANI, MAUSETH, ARILD
Applicants: MARKBREIT DANI, MAUSETH ARILD, MUL T LOCK TECHNOLOGIES LTD, MUL T LOCK U S A INC, MARKBREIT, DANI, MAUSETH, ARILD, MUL-T-LOCK TECHNOLOGIES LTD., MUL-T-LOCK U.S.A., INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: F41A
IPC codes: F41A17