Abstract:
The present invention provides an integral firearms safety lock that safely provides locking capabilities in a firearm. The integral firearms safety lock ensures that a firearm is unable to fire by a simple manual manipulation of a locking mechanism. Moreover, an integral firearms safety lock is provided that contacts and locks a firing pin safety thereby preventing any unauthorized firing of the firearm.

Description:
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/483,653 filed on Jul. 1, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a safety lock for use in a firearm. In particular, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a lock that is integrally connected to the firing pin safety so as provide an efficient integral firearms safety lock mechanism. 
   2. Background 
   In recent years, due to an increase in the number injuries and deaths resulting from accidental gun discharges, many organizations are looking for solutions to reduce and eliminate these incidences. Moreover, the trend of injuries and deaths has been of an increasing concern since many of the incidences occur with children. 
   Manual safeties are provided on many firearms available today. The manual safeties provide a way for a firearm user to manually actuate a switch located on the firearm to prevent an unexpected firing of the firearm. The safety can prevent a firearm from discharging in a situation where it is mishandled while, being holstered, or jostled when located near a person&#39;s body. By actuating the manual safety switch, the firing mechanism of the firearm is blocked so it cannot move to fire a bullet. 
   However, the use of a manual safety is only recommended as a preventative measure when the firearm is being handled (but not fired) and is not especially helpful to prevent unauthorized use of the firearm. For example, if the firearm is placed in the hands of a person inexperienced in firearm handling (e.g., a child), the child could accidentally or otherwise release the manual safety of the firearm thereby enabling the firing of the firearm by actuation of the trigger. 
   There continues to be a need for a mechanism to prevent unauthorized use of a firearm. In response to this need as well as to recent laws requiring a locking mechanism, firearm safety locks have been proposed to solve this problem and to provide an additional, manner of locking a firearm. A firearm lock provides the specific advantage that it can only be actuated by a unique key associated with the lock, and unauthorized users (e.g., thieves, children, or the like) are unable to inadvertently or purposefully unlock the firearm. 
   Many types of firearm safety locks have been provided in order to ensure safety. For example, some safety locks can be inserted into a portion of a firearm to prevent the firearm from firing. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,592 to Reed, a non-integral firearm safety lock is inserted into a firearm&#39;s firing chamber ejector and loading port, and is expanded and locked to prevent the weapon from being fired. Once the firearm safety lock is inserted into the firearm&#39;s open chamber, a key is used to expand a locking plate that is forced downward, fills and seals the loading port, which disables the weapon. While this type of lock secures the weapon, there is an inordinate amount of manual manipulation required to actually lock the firearm. 
   Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,470 to Strahan discloses an integral firearm safety lock that employs a locking element formed to directly prevent the firing pin from moving to strike a bullet. While the locking of the firearm is simpler than the lock described above, there are several disadvantages to employing this locking element that is in direct contact with the firing pin. For example, when employing a screw to lock the firing pin, as Strahan does, there is no certainty that a manual action (rotation of the screw) will lock the device. In other words, a person can attempt to lock the device, by rotating the screw, and feel that the device has been locked, when in actuality, the screw has not actually contacted the firing pin to prevent firing. What is needed is an integral firearm lock that provides maximum protection as well as certainty of locking. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides an integral firearms safety lock that is able to safely provide locking capabilities in the firearm and to ensure that a firearm can be made unable to fire by a simple manual manipulation of a locking mechanism. Moreover, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an integral firearms safety lock is provided that contacts and locks a firing pin safety thereby preventing any unauthorized firing of the firearm. 
   In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an integral firearms safety lock for preventing movement of a firing pin safety is disclosed. The integral firearms safety lock comprises a locking shaft and a detent pin. The locking shaft further includes a recess and a contact area while the detent pin contacts the locking shaft in a contact area. The locking shaft can be rotated between an unlocked position and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the locking shaft permits movement of the firing pin safety and, in the locked position, the locking shaft contacts the firing pin safety to prevent its movement. 
   In further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the contact area of the locking shaft includes a first detent including a first stop and a second detent including a second stop. Also, the detent pin is positioned in the first detent when the locking shaft is in an unlocked state and is positioned in the second detent when the locking shaft is in a locked state. 
   In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the locking shaft and the detent pin are integral to the firearm. Additionally, the locking shaft further includes a chamfer to enable removal of the locking shaft from the firearm. 
   In accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for locking a firearm so as to be unable to fire is disclosed. The method comprises inserting a tool into an end of a locking shaft located in the firearm. The tool is used to rotate the locking shaft from an unlocked position to a locked position. A radial portion of the locking shaft rotates into a groove located in a firing pin safety. In the locked position, the locking shaft contacts the firing pin safety to prevent movement of the firing pin safety. The tool is removed from the end of the locking shaft. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other aspects, features and advantages of this invention will be described in relation to the following figures in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a conventional firearm wherein exemplary embodiments of the present invention can be employed; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of various parts associated with the slide of a conventional firearm in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the integral firearms safety lock mechanism and associated parts provided in a firearm slide in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram depicting the integral firearms safety lock of the present invention in an unlocked position in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the integral firearms safety lock of the present invention in an unlocked position in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5A  is diagram depicting the integral firearms safety lock of the present invention in a locked position in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 5B and 5C  are perspective views of the integral firearms safety lock of the present invention in a locked position in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the integral firearms safety lock of the present invention between the locked position and the unlocked position in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a firearm safety lock mechanism and method for use. Although specific embodiments will be illustrated and described herein with regard to its implementation within handguns, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that such a system and method would also be advantageous, for example, for any type of firearm in which a slide is employed. Additionally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention that generally relate to firearm safety locks. 
   In the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a conventional firearm  100  (e.g., a handgun) is shown. The firearm  100  includes, among many other parts, a grip  110 , a trigger  120  a front sight  130  a rear sight  140 , a magazine catch  150  and a slide  180 . Providing more specificity,  FIG. 2  depicts a partial exploded view of the conventional firearm  100  described generally above with regard to  FIG. 1 . Specifically,  FIG. 2  discloses some of the integral parts associated with the function of a safety lever  225 . As is shown, the firearm  100  also includes a pivot pin  210  for a sear  220  and safety lever  225 , an ejector  215 , sear spring  230  and roll pin  235 . Additionally, several parts are located within the slide  180 . Specifically, a firing pin safety  240  and firing pin safety spring  245 , a firing pin  250  and associated firing pin spring  255  as well as a firing pin bolt  260  are illustrated. For the purpose of urging firing pin  250  rearward, spring  255  is provided, one end of which abuts against an internal surface of the slide  180  and the other end of which abuts against a surface of the firing pin  250 . 
   In normal operation, when a firearm user wishes to discharge the firearm  100 , the trigger  120  is pulled. When the trigger  120  is pulled, the firearm  100 , through actuation of a plurality of known mechanical parts that comprise the firing mechanism of the firearm, manually actuates the safety lever  225 . The safety lever  225  rotates around the pivot pin  210  and contacts the firing pin safety  240 . The firing pin safety  240  is then forced to move upward against a bias provided by the firing pin safety spring  245 . The movement of the firing pin safety  240  upward enables the firing pin  250  to be actuated and thereby cause firing of the firearm  100 . Conversely, when the firing pin safety  240  is unable to or is prevented from moving upward, the firing pin  250  is unable to move to allow discharge of the firearm  100 . 
     FIG. 3  provides an exploded view of a slide  300  that includes the integral firearms safety locking mechanism provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The integral firearms safety locking mechanism of the present invention includes a locking shaft  310  for insertion into a hole  340  and a detent pin  320  and associated detent pin spring  330  for insertion into a hole  350  located on the slide  300  as the detent pin  320  secures the locking shaft  310  in either a locked or unlocked position. The detent pin spring  330  applies tension between the locking shaft  310  and the detent pin  320 . 
   In accordance with the present invention,  FIG. 3  also illustrates that the firing pin safety  240  includes a cutout portion  360  (shown in more detail in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B ) to which the locking shaft  310  abuts, when the safety locking mechanism is locked. As is well known, firing pin  250  is disposed in a hole  257  formed in slide  300 . When the integral safety lock of the present invention is in a locked position, the firing pin safety  240  is unable to move upward and thus is unable to free the firing pin  250  to move and fire a bullet. 
     FIG. 4A  illustrates the integral safety lock mechanism of the present invention in an unlocked state. Locking shaft  310  lies transversely across the shaft of the firearm in the hole  340 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The locking shaft  310  includes a detent pin contact area. The detent pin contact area includes two detents  415  and  417  located at the end of the locking shaft  310  inserted into hole  340  (not shown in  FIG. 4A ). Each detent includes a stop,  421  and  419  (see  FIG. 5A ) respectively, to prevent further movement of the detent pin  320  as the locking shaft is rotated. 
   The two detents  415  and  417 , located on the insertion end of the locking shaft  310  enable the locking shaft  310  to be rotated from an unlocked state to a locked state and from a locked state to an unlocked state. The stops are situated approximately 90 degrees apart, and the field of movement of the locking pin when moving from a locked state to an unlocked state and from an unlocked state to a locked state. The use of detent pin  320  and detent pin spring  330  places a downward bias on the detent pin  320  enabling the locking shaft to stay in either the locked or unlocked position as well as to stay positioned in the hole  340 . Additionally, detent pin  320 , in one exemplary embodiment of the invention, includes a tapered end  425  to provide the locking mechanism a smooth transition from one state to another. 
   The locking shaft  310  also includes a recess  410  located on a longitudinal portion of the locking shaft  310 . The recess  410  provides a passage through the locking shaft for the firing pin safety  240  when the safety locking mechanism is unlocked. As shown in  FIG. 4A , when the detent pin  320  is in detent  415 , the recess is positioned so as to permit movement of the firing pin safety and, as a result, firing of the firearm  100 . 
   Located on one exterior end of the locking shaft is an indentation  405  (e.g., a uniquely shaped recess) which allows a tool to interface and rotate the shaft. The tool (e.g., a key) enables only authorized personnel to lock and unlock the integral firearms safety lock of the firearm  100 . The locking shaft also includes a recess  410  that allows free movement of the firing pin safety  240 . 
     FIG. 4B  provides a perspective view of the locking pin in an unlocked state. Specifically, when the locking pin  310  is in the unlocked position, the firing pin safety  240  is free to move through recess  410  of the locking pin  310 . As discussed above, when a user pulls the trigger  120 , the firearm  100 , actuates the safety lever  225 . The safety lever  225  rotates around the pivot pin  210  and contacts the firing pin safety  240 . The firing pin safety  240  is then forced to move upward against a bias provided by the firing pin safety spring  245 . When the integral firearms safety locking mechanism is unlocked as described above, the movement of the firing pin safety  240  upward is not inhibited, which enables the firing pin  250  to be actuated to cause firing of the firearm  100 . 
     FIG. 5A  provides a view of the locking shaft  310  in a locked position. Locking occurs when a key (discussed above) or another like object, is inserted into the indentation  405  located on the face of the locking shaft  310 , mounted in the slide  300 , and rotated 90 degrees from the unlocked position. The internal safety lock holds the detent pin  320  in the detent  417  under a spring tension. By restricting the safety lock to 90 degrees of movement between unlock and lock or vice versa, a user easily knows that the firearm is either in the locked or unlocked position. All a user needs to do is rotate the key from one position (either locked or unlocked) 90 degrees to the other position (either unlocked or locked) to the stops placed at the ends of the detents. 
   As the locking shaft  310  rotates, recess  410  is rotated so as to face away from the end of the firing pin safety  240 . As a result, the locking shaft  310  now blocks movement of the firing pin safety  240 . More specifically, when the key is being used to place the locking shaft into the locked state, the radial part of the locking shaft  310  will rotate into a groove  360  located in the firing pin safety  240 , thus restricting its movement. Since the movement of the firing pin safety  240  is restricted, the safety lever  225  is also restricted, preventing a discharge of the firearm  100 . 
   The firearm  100  can again be unlocked when a key is inserted into the indentation  405  located on the face of the locking shaft  310 , mounted in the slide  300 , and rotated 90 degrees in the opposite direction. As the locking shaft rotates the radial part of the shaft is positioned in the slide, creating an open path for the firing pin safety  240 , thus allowing the firing mechanism to be unrestricted.  FIGS. 5B and 5C  provide different perspective views of the interaction of the locking shaft  310  and the firing pin safety  240 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the locking shaft  310  can also include a chamfer  600  (also illustrated in  FIG. 4B ) which can include a 45 degree angle cutout on the ridge between the two detents  415  and  417 . This midpoint position between the two detent positions on the locking shaft  310  is the required position for the detent pin  320  in order for removal of the locking shaft  310  from the slide  300  of the firearm. 
   It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, an integral firearms safety lock. While this invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. For example, the exact location of the integral firearms safety lock can be varied, for example, based on the type of firearm. Furthermore, the key can be any device that is adapted to cooperate with the locking shaft to facilitate locking and unlocking. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations that are within the spirit and scope of this invention.