Abstract:
A firearm trigger locking device with two sides and fixed hardened steel pins. The device is designed to be universal for a particular family of guns—e.g., all rifles, all shotguns, or all handguns (or all revolvers or automatic pistols)—of a given firearm manufacturer. The device further features a pin behind the trigger to prevent firing, hardened steel plates in each side sufficient in size to cover the trigger guard and prevent transverse application of a saw to the trigger guard, and a ring of hardened steel pins around the periphery of the trigger guard to prevent application of a saw between the plates. The method for producing this trigger locking device uses lateral and axial profiles of the family of firearms to develop features and feature locations that will allow it to be used with any member of the family of firearms.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims an invention which was disclosed in Provisional Application No. 60/635,128, filed Dec. 10, 2004, entitled “Universal Fixed Pin Trigger Lock”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention pertains to the field of trigger locks for firearms. More particularly, the invention pertains to a trigger lock with fixed pins designed to fit a family of firearms. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Gun manufacturers generally provide some type of trigger lock or gunlock with new firearms. Numerous locks have been developed for this purpose. Cable locks use lengths of cable extending/threaded through the action of the weapon, blocking usage. Another type of lock is the trigger guard plate lock. The trigger guard plate lock uses two “plate” sections that can be locked together from opposite sides over the trigger guard. A grooved (ratchet) cylinder on this type of lock extends from one section through the trigger guard and locks into the other section. In addition, pins can be provided that extend from one plate and fit into insertion holes in the other plate. When stationary pins (i.e., rigid and non-retractable pins) are used, they are located in such a manner as to abut parts of the trigger guard and/or to otherwise hold the plates in position on a particular fire arm. There are also retractable pin designs having retractable spring biased pins. In this type of design, some pins may be blocked by features of the firearm (such as the trigger guard and trigger), but others will fit in and around these obstructions so as to enter insertion holes in the opposite plate. There are also combinations of cable locks and plate locks. 
   Thus, there are patents and designs for trigger guard plate locks having multiple stationary pins for particular and individual firearms and there are patents and designs for trigger guard plate locks with retractable pins that will fit many different firearms. However, there are currently no trigger guard plate locks designed with multiple stationary pins for use with a whole family of firearms produced by a particular manufacturer. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The instant invention deals with a firearm locking device that is designed to be universal for a particular family of guns (e.g., all rifles, all shotguns, or all handguns) of a given firearm manufacturer, with a pin behind the triggers to prevent firing, and steel plates and other features located and sized to cover/surround the trigger guards and prevent saw insertion or other intrusive contact. Further, even though it is not unusual to have pins that run from one plate and fit into holes in the other plate, these pins have previously been laid out so as to fit the trigger/trigger guard/gun profile of only a single weapon. As part of the method of our invention, we take the profiles of all of the rifles, all of the shotguns, and/or all of the handguns of a single manufacturer and work out a pin layout that will fit, ideally, any rifle, any shotgun, and/or any handgun from that manufacturer (i.e. that is “universal” as to a particular family of firearms produced by that manufacturer). We also place a pin behind the trigger to further guard against firing. In addition, the hardened steel plates of our invention extend above, below, and beyond the trigger guard so as to prevent a saw from being transversely brought to bear on the trigger guard. (Sawing away the trigger guard is one of the most common ways of disabling and/or removing a trigger guard plate lock). Finally, we incorporate other features to prevent invasive or destructive contact with the triggers or trigger guards. And, all of these goals are accomplished while meeting or exceeding all requirements set forth in applicable standards for locks of this type (such as those set forth in California Department of Justice AB106 and ASTM F2369-04). 
   As will be appreciated, it is necessary or beneficial for gun manufacturers and others to provide locks with all firearms sold. And, it is extremely advantageous for them to be able to purchase and stock a lock that will fit a whole family or type of firearm for a manufacturer as opposed to having to buy and maintain an inventory of individualized locks for each firearm sold. The logistics and difficulty of maintaining (and neither over buying nor under buying) locks that can be used for only a single firearm can lead to costly waste and a great deal of inconvenience. Thus, our invention seeks to overcome these problems with a lock that has multiple applications for a single manufacturer, is sturdy, durable, cost efficient, meets all applicable standards, and—with the other innovations set forth herein—admirably and efficiently serves the purposes for which it is designed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  provides an exploded perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of our invention, showing the right and left sides our invention and their component parts. 
       FIG. 2  provides a perspective view from the upper right of the top and right side of the first preferred embodiment of our invention, with the two sides of our invention locked together. 
       FIG. 3  provides a perspective view from the upper left of the top and left side of the first preferred embodiment of our invention, with the two sides of our invention locked together. 
       FIG. 4  provides a view from the right side of the first preferred embodiment of our invention with its two sides locked together. 
       FIG. 5  provides a view from the front of the first preferred embodiment of our invention with its two sides locked together. 
       FIG. 6  provides a right side view of the left side of a preferred embodiment of our invention installed over and around the trigger guard of a shotgun. 
       FIG. 7  provides a more detailed right side view the left side of a preferred embodiment of our invention installed over and around the trigger guard of a shot gun. 
       FIG. 8  provides a perspective view of the right side of a preferred embodiment of our invention being joined to the left side of our invention over and around the trigger guard of a shot gun. 
       FIG. 9  provides a perspective view of the right side of a preferred embodiment of our invention after being joined to the left side of our invention over and around the trigger guard of a shotgun. 
       FIG. 10  provides an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of our invention, showing the right and left side the embodiment and their component parts. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As will be noted from review of  FIGS. 1 through 9 , the first preferred embodiment of our invention is comprised of two halves (a right side  100  and a left side  200 ) that are adapted to fit together over a trigger guard  30  and adjacent the ventral side  40  and lower lateral sides  50 ,  60  of a firearm (such as illustrated shot gun  70 ) adjacent the trigger guard  30  of said firearm. The right side  100  includes a zinc die cast right outer housing  1  and the left side, similarly includes a left outer housing  2 . Interior of these two housings  1 ,  2  there are respective polymer interfaces (right interface  3  and left interface  4 ) formed from, preferably, a sturdy polymer such as  90  Dura Santoprene®. 
   Right interface  3  and left interface  4  are adapted for non-damaging contact with portions of the trigger guard  30 , ventral side  40 , and lateral sides  50 ,  60  of a firearm such as shot gun  70 . Sandwiched between these respective outer and inner portions of sides  1 ,  2  are, respectively, a right protective plate  5  and a left protective plate  6 . These plates  5 ,  6  are formed from hardened steel to resist sawing or other penetrative efforts and extend beyond the front, back and bottom of trigger guard  30  when properly positioned thereon. In addition, plates  5 ,  6  are shaped to extend upward beyond the trigger guard adjacent and conforming to the lateral sides of a firearm such as shotgun  70 . 
   As is typical of two sided trigger locks of this type, a ratchet post assembly  80  extends from a side bearing the key slot  81  for the lock (which is right side  1  in the embodiments illustrated). Ratchet post assembly  80  is adapted and designed for insertion into a lock receptacle or lock receiver  82  in the opposite side (left side  2  in the embodiments illustrated). Likewise, in the embodiments illustrated, pins (which are numbered and discussed in more detail below) extend from left side  2  so that they can be inserted into and mate with matched pockets or holes (pin receivers) located in right side  1 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 through 9 , left side  1  is adapted to be installed over and around the trigger guard  30  of a firearm (such as shot gun  70 ). Right side  2  is, appropriately, adapted and designed to be mated and joined with left side  1  (when it is installed in the aforesaid position) so as to be likewise installed over and around trigger guard  30 . 
   However, in our invention, additional features and/or limitations provide a significant advance over prior art. It is, for example, not unusual to have pins that run from one plate (e.g., side  2 ) and fit into holes in the other plate (e.g., side  1 ). But, fixed pins have previously been laid out so as to fit the trigger/trigger guard/gun profile of only a single firearm. Alternatively, biased spring-loaded pins or movable pins that can be set for a particular firearm/configuration are not unusual. Our invention is novel and nonobvious in its use of fixed pin locks that are designed, configured and adapted to fit a plurality of firearms from a particular manufacturer. This is enabled as part of the method of our invention, as described in more detail below. 
   In the method of our invention, we take lateral profiles of regions of a plurality of firearms produced by a single manufacturer (such as, e.g., shotguns like shotgun  70 ) adjacent and around their trigger guards  30  (i.e., the same general area covered by the trigger lock of this invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 through 9 ). These profiles can then be overlaid (manually or preferably by using computer assisted techniques) and otherwise compared so as to determine the placement of features transverse to the trigger guards  30  that will serve to prevent front-to-back and up-and-down movement relative to the trigger guards  30 , and/or rotational movement of the lock relative to ratchet post assembly  80  (and/or the trigger guards  30 ). Likewise, a plurality of cross-sectional profiles of the firearms (i.e., profiles transverse to the barrel/axis of the firearms) are taken in the areas to be covered by the trigger lock of this invention. These can also be overlaid and/or otherwise compared to determine how to snugly fit the sides of the trigger lock against the sides of the firearms and their triggers to eliminate side-to-side (i.e., lateral) movement of the trigger lock. 
   The aforesaid method, working with the profiles of all of the rifles, all of the shotguns, and/or all of the handguns (or in some cases all of the automatic pistols or revolvers) of a single manufacturer, allows us to work out a pin layout that will fit, ideally, all of said rifles, shotguns and/or handguns (i.e., that is “universal” as to a family of firearms of that manufacturer). And, in some cases, can fit both rifles and shotguns of a particular manufacturer. Our method and apparatus accomplishes this in several ways. First, by elimination of vertical movement (relative to the firearms in leveled/horizontal position). Second, by elimination of anterior/posterior or front-to-back movement (relative to the firearms in leveled/horizontal position). Third, by elimination of lateral or side-to-side movement (relative to the firearms in leveled/horizontal position). Fourth, by achieving snug conformity to the stocks of the firearms. Fifth, by achieving snug conformity to the trigger guards of the firearms. Sixth, by positioning of protective plates  5 ,  6  and pins  7 ,  8 ,  8 A so as to defeat any attempt to saw away the trigger guards  30  of the firearms (removing the lock and exposing the trigger  71 ). Seventh, by positioning portions (upper edges  5 A,  6 A) of protective plates  5 ,  6  so as to effectively eliminate any ability to the insert an implement that can reach the triggers  71  or trigger guards  30  of the firearms. 
   As to the first three dimensional movement factors, blocking members are required. In our invention these are fixed members and are generally comprised of fixed pins or other fixed structural components of the invention. Blocking upward vertical movement requires upper movement blocking members that abut the firearm&#39;s ventral side  40  or are placed beneath the trigger guard&#39;s underside  31  to prevent upward movement. In the illustrated embodiments, this role is played by a rear upper pin  7 , a front upper pin  8  and the upper edges  5 A,  6 A of, respectively, plate  5  and plate  6 . (Upper edges  5 A,  6 A and upper pins  7 ,  8  are both sufficient for this purpose—the use of both provides extra redundancy to our design). Blocking downward vertical movement requires downward movement blocking members placed above the trigger guard&#39;s underside  31 . This role is played by wedge  4 A and/or inner member  4 B (which includes an inner pin  9 ) in the embodiments illustrated. 
   Blocking front-to-back movement requires the placement of additional blocking members. Rearward movement blocking members must be placed behind the rear edge  32  of trigger guard  30 , behind the rear edge of trigger  71 , and/or behind the front edge  33  of trigger guard  30 . These positions are occupied by, respectively, rear upper pin  7  (which does double duty here), wedge  4 A (and trigger pin  72 ), and inner member  4 B (with its inner pin  9 ). And, likewise, forward movement blocking members must be placed in front of the front edge  32  of trigger guard  30  or in front of the rear edge  32  of trigger guard  30 . These positions are occupied by, respectively, front upper pin  8  (which also does double duty), wedge  4 A, and trigger pin  72 . 
   Side-to-side (or lateral movement) is blocked by the assembly&#39;s snug embrace of the trigger guard  30  and the lower lateral sides  50 ,  60  of the shotgun  70 . This also (in conjunction with the fact that plates  5 ,  6  extend upward beyond the trigger guard  30  adjacent the lower sides  50 ,  60  of shotgun  70 ) effectively eliminates any ability to insert an implement from above that could reach trigger guard  30  or trigger  71 . In addition, as will be noted, protective plates  5 ,  6  also extend beyond the trigger guard  30  (anteriorly, posteriorly, and ventrally) so as to prevent a saw from being applied transversely to trigger guard  30 . The placement of trigger pin  72  behind trigger  71  provides further assurance that the firearm cannot be discharged. 
   Hardened steel parts (pins  7 ,  8  and  8 A) around and outside the circumference of trigger guard  30  serve to further secure sides  100  and  200  to each other and provide further security against any attempt to reach trigger guard  30  along the line where the sides  100 ,  200  meet. These parts can be plates and as such, can be extensions of one or both of the side plates  5 ,  6 . However, pins are the most advantageous as there are manufacturing advantages to their use and, additionally, they can fit into holes in plates  5 ,  6  (as they do in the preferred embodiments) so that there is no gap whatsoever between the pins  6 ,  8  and  8 A and plates  5 ,  6  through which a saw could be inserted. Smaller hardened steel pins  80 A extend exteriorly of plates  5 ,  6  to protect the portions of ratchet post assembly  80  extending beyond plates  5 ,  6  from being attacked by transverse application of a saw. Further, an additional hardened steel disc  82  protects the ratchet post assembly from drilling via the end of ratchet post assembly  80  opposite its key slot  81 . 
   Other features of our invention include the provision of indents  85  in interfaces  3 ,  4  to allow our invention to accommodate safeties (i.e., safety switches) for the shotguns or rifles in question. Likewise, our invention is provided with sculpted hollows  86  in interfaces  3 ,  4  to allow it to accommodate (while preferably snugly enclosing) the various trigger guards  30  of the firearms. As with the other features described above, the shape, placement and other particulars of these features are developed based on the method of our invention. Finally,  FIG. 10  provides an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of our invention providing the added security of a freely rotating hardened steel disc intermediate key slot  81  and ratchet post assembly  80 . This helps to protect against any attempt to free the lock by drilling into the ratchet post assembly  80  via key slot  81 . However, many other variations are possible without exceeding the scope of our invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.