Abstract:
A firearm locking device for blocking the chamber of a firearm rendering it impossible to load a live cartridge into the chamber. The firearm locking device comprises a cylindrical body, having the size and shape of the chamber for the firearm. The firearm locking device has an integral means for diametrical expansion providing a locking interference fit in the chamber and a key activated means for retracting said diametrical expansion to allow removal of the firearm locking device from the chamber. The firearm locking device does not have the external circumferential grooves or ridges required for extraction from the chamber by the extraction mechanism of the firearm thus preventing removal from the chamber except with a key.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to a firearm locking device which renders a firearm inoperable by way of blocking the introduction of live ammunition into the chamber of the firearm. The firearm locking device is intended to be used in all firearms including rifles, shotguns, handguns and other projectile firing weapons such as would be used for military applications.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The storage and transport of firearms is constantly becoming more restricted. There are many types of locking devices for firearms currently available. The most common, the trigger lock, renders the trigger of the firearm inoperable by a clamping device that surrounds the trigger and trigger guard and thus locks the trigger in place. Other firearms with moveable trigger guards, such as the lever action rifles cannot be locked with a trigger guard lock and a cable lock passing through the opened action must be employed.  
           [0003]    Common problems with the trigger lock arise from the great variety of styles and shapes of triggers and trigger guards. Some of the configurations cannot be rendered inoperable with a trigger lock. Live ammunition can still be chambered even with a trigger lock in place. The use of trigger locks detracts from the esthetic beauty of firearms, particularly many older valuable firearms displayed for their artistic quality. Most trigger locks are made from low strength alloy castings and require little effort to break and remove from the firearm.  
           [0004]    The cable lock system requires that a steel cable be passed through the action of a firearm and be locked into a typical padlock body. This requires that the firearm action must remain open during transport or storage since the cable prevents it from closing. It is still possible in many cases to insert live ammunition into the chamber of the firearm and there is a possibility that accidental discharge could occur. Further, as with other external firearm locks, the cable detracts from the esthetic beauty of the firearm when it is on display and increases the chances of damage to the external firearm surfaces from lock abrasion. The steel wire cable of a cable lock is easily cut using bolt cutters or other cutters.  
           [0005]    It is the intent of this invention to provide a hidden locking device which is not easily removable, does not detract from the esthetics of a firearm, and renders the firearm inoperable by preventing the loading of ammunition into the chamber of the firearm.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The firearm locking device comprises a cylindrical body having an outer surface shaped to exactly match the inside surface shape of the chamber of a firearm, said cylindrical body having a circumferential expandable section which, after insertion into said chamber, is mechanically expanded to grip the inside surface of said chamber and thereby becomes locked within said chamber preventing the insertion of live ammunition into said chamber thus rendering said firearm “Safe”. Said firearm locking device thereby prevents the firearm from being fired. Said firearm locking device is concealed from view when locked within said chamber and does not detract from the appearance of the firearm on display. Said firearm safety device can be removed from said chamber of said firearm by deactivation of the circumferential expandable section of its cylindrical body using a key inserted into one end of said firearm locking device. The firearm locking device herein described relates to all firearms, including shotguns, rifles, and handguns of all types and calibers or gages as well as all military weapons including cannons.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a view of the opened breech end of a break action shotgun showing a cutaway section of the chamber with the firearm locking device locked within the chamber.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a simple screw type mechanism inserted into the chamber of a firearm but not yet locked into the chamber.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a simple screw type mechanism inserted into the chamber of a firearm showing the screw being driven by the key.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a simple screw type mechanism inserted into the chamber of a firearm showing a diametrically expanded elastomeric polymer section of the firearm locking device locked in intimate contact with the inner walls of the chamber.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a tapered plug - elastomeric polymer expansion mechanism and a key and tumbler type actuator inserted into the chamber of a firearm but not yet locked into the chamber.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a tapered plug - elastomeric polymer expansion mechanism and a key and tumbler type actuator inserted into the chamber of a firearm and locked.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a tapered plug - solid shoe expansion mechanism and a key and tumbler type actuator inserted into the chamber of a firearm but not yet locked into the chamber.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a tapered plug - solid shoe expansion mechanism and a key and tumbler type actuator inserted into the chamber of a firearm and locked.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a split wedge expansion mechanism inserted into the chamber of a firearm but not locked.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view A-A through the center of a firearm locking device with a split wedge expansion mechanism inserted into the chamber of a firearm and locked.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of a firearm locking device with a linear compression plug-spring catch expansion mechanism locked into the chamber of a firearm. This embodiment is shown with a rifle chamber on section A-A.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of a firearm locking device with a linear compression plug-spring catch expansion mechanism unlocked and ready to be retracted from the chamber of a firearm. This embodiment is shown with a rifle chamber on section A-A  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of a firearm locking device with a wedge over cone expansion mechanism locked in the chamber of a firearm. This embodiment is shown with a rifle chamber on section A-A.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view through the center of a firearm locking device with a wedge over cone expansion mechanism unlocked and ready to be retracted from the chamber of a firearm. This embodiment is shown with a rifle chamber on section A-A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    Referring to FIG. 1, the firearm locking device is shown inserted into the chamber  1 , of a break action firearm  9  with a barrel  7 , said firearm  9  having the action open and part of the chamber  1  cut away for clarity. The compression screw  5  is shown tightened into the locked position by key  6 , urging breech plug  2  toward the barrel plug  4 , thereby longitudinally compressing the expandable plug  3  causing said expandable plug  3  to elastomerically increase in diameter and circumferentially grip the inside surface of said chamber  1 , locking said firearm locking device in the chamber  1 . The firearm extraction mechanism  8  is shown in contact with the rimless smooth cylindrical wall of breech plug  2 . Extraction mechanism  8  therefore is unable to grip breech plug  2  and extract said firearm locking device from chamber  1 .  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 2, the firearm locking device is shown inserted into chamber  1  with compression screw  5  partly retracted to allow extraction and insertion of said firearm locking device into or out of the chamber  1 . The key  6 , having engagement means is shown in FIG. 3 driving the compression screw  5  into barrel plug  4  urging breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  linearly toward each other along the longitudinal axis of the invention and into expandable plug  3  causing expandable plug  3  to distort outwardly and circumferentially grip the inside walls of chamber  1 . FIG. 4 shows expandable plug  3  in intimate contact with the walls of chamber  1 , thereby locked within the chamber  1 . Referring to FIG. 5, the embodiment of the invention is shown with a typical key  6  inserted into a typical tumbler lock  16  as part of the locking mechanism. The tumbler lock in this embodiment locks the sliding tapered plug  2 A to the barrel plug  4  by a push and turn operation. Pushing the tumbler lock  16  with attached tapered plug  2 A causes the tapered portion of tapered plug  2 A to engage the elastomeric expandable plug  3  and force said expandable plug  3  to move outwardly toward the walls of chamber  1 . Tapered plug  2 A is shown locked to barrel plug  4  by a “T” shaped locking head  15 . “T” shaped locking head  15  locks tapered plug  2 A to breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  preventing movement of elastomeric expandable plug  3  in a longitudinal direction and directing all distortion of the elastomeric expandable plug  3  outwardly toward the inside walls of chamber  1 . Breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  can be unitized when the tapered plug  2 A or similar expansion mechanism is employed since the squeezing action of the movement of breech plug  2  toward barrel plug  4  is not required to distort the elastomeric expandable plug  3  toward the walls of chamber  1 . FIG. 6 shows the invention of FIG. 5 locked in the chamber  1  with elastomeric expandable plug  3  distorted to achieve intimate contact with the walls of chamber  1 .  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 7, the embodiment of the invention is shown with a typical key  6  inserted into a typical tumbler lock  16  as part of the locking mechanism. The tumbler lock in this embodiment locks the sliding tapered plug  2 A to the barrel plug  4  by a push and turn operation. Pushing the tumbler lock  16  with attached tapered plug  2 A causes the tapered portion of tapered plug  2 A to engage the moveable shoe(s)  17  and force said moveable shoe(s)  17  to move outwardly toward the walls of chamber  1 . Moveable shoe(s)  17  is engaged onto the walls of chamber  1  by mechanical displacement caused by the impinging taper of tapered plug  2 A. Tapered plug  2 A is shown locked to barrel plug  4  by a “T” shaped locking head  15 . “T” shaped locking head  15  locks tapered plug  2 A to breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4 . Breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  can be unitized when the tapered plug  2 A or similar expansion mechanism is employed since the squeezing action of the movement of breech plug  2  toward barrel plug  4  is not required when moveable shoe plug(s)  17  are embodied. FIG. 8 shows the invention of FIG. 7 locked in the chamber  1  by moveable shoe plug(s)  17  in intimate contact with the walls of chamber  1 .  
         [0024]    Referring to FIG. 9, the firearm locking device is shown inserted into chamber  1  with compression screw  5  partly retracted to allow extraction and insertion of the firearm locking device into or out of the chamber  1 . The key  6 , having engagement means is shown in FIG. 10 driving the compression screw  5  into barrel plug  4  urging breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  linearly toward each other. In this embodiment of the invention breech plug  2  has a tapered section sloping angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis if the invention. The barrel plug  4  also has a tapered section sloping angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the invention and is aligned with respect to breech plug  2  such that said tapered sections of breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  mate together and slide outwardly in an opposing fashion away from the longitudinal axis of the invention as they are driven closer together by the compression screw  5 . The outward opposing movement of breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  directed by their impinging tapers brings both into intimate contact with the walls of chamber  1 , thereby locking the invention within the chamber  1  by wedge action.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 shows the embodiment of FIG. 9 in the locked position. The action of compression screw  5  in bringing the breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  together to wedge into the chamber  1  can also be accomplished by other engagement means and it is the intent of this invention to encompass all such means for engagement.  
         [0026]    The embodiment of the invention in FIG. 11 shows the firearm locking device in the chamber  1  of a firearm, said firearm being chambered for a rifle cartridge instead of a shotgun cartridge as in previous FIG. 1 through FIG. 10. Barrel plug  4  is shown extended into breech plug  2  and locked under tension onto locking ledge  15  on breech plug  2  by spring catch(s)  10 . The spring catch protector  1   1  is part of barrel plug  4  and prevents the spring catch(s)  10  from being released from the locking ledge  15  on breech plug  2  by tampering. Key  6  is shown with a typical hollow cylindrical key extension  13  which fits over spring catch protector  11  and into cylindrical key recess  12 .  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 12, key  6  is shown inserted into cylindrical key recess  12 . Cylindrical key extension  13  engages spring catch  10  upon insertion of key  6  into cylindrical key recess  12 , moving spring catch  10  away from locking ledge  15  and releasing barrel plug  4  from its locked position in breech plug  2 . This releases the compressive force (tension) being applied by the locked union of breech plug  2  and barrel plug  4  on elastomeric expandable plug  3 , allowing the previously distorted elastomeric expandable plug  3  to retract back to its original undistorted shape and releasing elastomeric expandable plug  3  from contact with the inside wall of chamber  1 . Breech plug  2  is now free to extend past the breech end of the chamber  1 , as shown in FIG. 12, providing means for extracting the unlocked firearm locking device from the chamber  1 .  
         [0028]    Referring to FIG. 13, the firearm locking device is shown locked in a chamber of a rifle with breech plug  2  extended over barrel plug  4  in a tapered female configuration along the longitudinal axis of the firearm locking device. Barrel plug  4  is shown in a tapered male configuration along the longitudinal axis of the firearm locking device displacing the tapered section of breech plug  2  via contact with elastomeric “O” ring  14  to engage the interior wall of chamber  1 . Elastomeric “O” ring  14  is not necessary to the function of the taper engagement in this embodiment but serves as a cushion to ease retraction of the firearm locking device. FIG. 14 shows the firearm locking device of FIG. 13 in the unlocked position. Key  6  with hollow cylindrical extension  13  has been inserted into cylindrical key access  12  and has released spring catch(s)  10  from their engaged positions on locking ledge  15  allowing breech plug  2  to move outward from chamber  1  and disengage the tapered section of breech plug  2  from the tapered section of barrel plug  4  and “O” ring  14 , releasing it from locking engagement with the interior wall of chamber  1  and permitting retraction of the firearm locking device from the chamber  1  of the firearm.  
         [0029]    The chamber  1  on some firearms may be small, as in the case of the 0.22 caliber rimfire chamber and the firearm locking device may need to be extended into the barrel portion of the firearm in order to accommodate a locking mechanism. Muzzle loading firearms do not have a specific chamber and the breech end of a muzzle loader is only accessible from the muzzle end of the barrel  7 . In the case of the muzzle loader and small caliber firearm the firearm locking device may extend into the barrel  7  or be in the barrel  7