Abstract:
Firearm safety block devices and methods of use increase the pressured needed to pull back on triggers to cause a firearm to discharge the first shot A block member can be mounted on the firearm at different locations such as above, inside the trigger and behind the trigger. The invention can provide different block members having frangible areas that are broken or bent at selected side imposed pressures. Breaking, shearing or bending the block members is required to operate the firing mechanism as needed to cause the firearm to discharge. A spent frangible block member can be removed and replaced. When the firearm safety block is not applicable the block member can be removed.

Description:
This invention is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/205,651 filed Jul. 25, 2002, now abandoned. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to safety devices for firearms, and in particular to methods and apparatus for using a passive trigger locking mechanism that requires selected pressure to break or bend open in order to operate the firearm so that the firearm remains immediately useable for adults and not for children. 
   BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
   Thousands of accidental deaths and injuries occur every year from the use of firearms by both experienced adult handlers and children. It is essential that firearms be locked away or kept in a locked state when the firearms are being used for personal protection in households where children and visitors can be present. Generally, the locks available for firearm protection include those that use a key. In order to keep the firearm in an accessible state, the key must be kept usually in a hidden, but readily available location. Often this hidden location is a place that can be discovered by curious children which unfortunately is the setting for the disaster that is repeated thousands of times annually. 
   Firearms are often accidentally discharged by rough handling or by being dropped while being moved. Experienced and trained users while under stressful situation discharge their firearms hastily only when there is only a perceived need for extreme force. 
   Various proposals have occurred over the years for locking triggers. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,503,953 to Lind; U.S. Pat. No. 2,505,227 to Charters; U.S. Pat. No. 2,945,316 to Mulno; U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,433 to Rogers et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,694 to Schaefer; U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,047 to McDonnell, U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,559 to Soblewski; U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,725 to Cravener; U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,626 to Brandt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,576 to Troncoso et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,618 to Justice, Sr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,605 to Nishioka; U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,185 to Justice, Sr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,178 to Justice; U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,578 to Kay; U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,396 to Shapiro; U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,816 to Saltz; Des. No. 196,842 to Schaefer; However, these references are limited to only locking the firearm triggers and the like, and preventing the firearms from being used while the locks are in place. Users of these lock devices would have physically remove portions of the lock to operate the firearm, which takes extra time and effort. 
   New firearms are being produced today that allow for increasing the finger pressure needed to fire the firearm. However, these firearms must be initially manufactured with modified triggers for adjusting finger pressure, and also do not intended to break apart when a pressure is exceeded. Existing firearms cannot be retrofitted. 
   This invention is not intended to solely replace gun and trigger locks, but it is to provide an additional and/or last defense against accidental discharge of the firearm. The invention is to make a firearm unusable by children. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A primary objective of the invention is to provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that does not require the user to have to disassemble in order to operate the firearm. 
   A secondary objective of the invention is provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that does not delay the operation of the firearm when used by adults. 
   A third objective of the invention is to provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that can be easily retrofitted into existing firearms or built into new firearms. 
   A fourth objective of the invention is to provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that can be easily removed and replaced as needed or desired. 
   A fifth objective of the invention is to provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that reduces or eliminates the accidental discharge of the firearm. 
   A sixth objective of the invention is to provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that requires selective excessive force pressure to use. 
   A seventh objective of the invention is to provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that does not require a key or combination to use. 
   An eighth objective of the invention is to provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that is intended to be replaced after each use. 
   A ninth objective of the invention is to provide a passive safety mechanism for firearms that renders the firearm unusable by most children but still operable by most adults. 
   An inexpensive, easy to assemble and use passive safety trigger block that can be both supplied by the firearm maker or added to firearms in service. Quick and easily remove and replace is yet another feature of invention. Safety is achieved by substantially increasing the amount of force necessary to pull the trigger the initially. Depending on needs, this force requirement would be increased from low pressure to such pressure that only a strong adult could pull the trigger. After the safety block is overcome the firearm will operate normally. The safety block is a block member blocking a firing mechanism and the trigger. The block member can be sheared and broken when a selected pressure has been reached. After which the block member is replaced for future applications. An alternative embodiment allows for the block member to become bent to thereby permitting operation of the firing mechanism. The selected amount force required to bend or shear the block member is reliably accomplished by its configuration and materials. 
   Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a block element, according to preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1A  is an end view of the block element of  FIG. 1  along arrow  1 A. 
       FIG. 2  is a left side view of a firearm having the safety block, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of a firearm having a safety block, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of a firearm having a safety block of  FIGS. 2 and 2A  in a post broken state. 
       FIG. 3  is a left side view of a firearm having a safety block, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of a firearm having a safety block, of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of a firearm having a safety block of  FIGS. 3 and 3A  in a broken or bent state. 
       FIG. 4  is a left side front view of a firearm having a safety block, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of the firearm having a safety block of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view of the firearm having a safety block of  FIGS. 4 and 4A  in a broken or bent state. 
       FIG. 5  is a left side view of a firearm having the safety block, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view of the firearm with a safety block of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of the firearm having a safety block of  FIGS. 5 and 5A  in a broken or bent state. 
       FIG. 6  is a left side view of a firearm having a safety block, according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of the firearm having a safety block of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of the firearm having a safety block of  FIGS. 5 and 5A  in a broken or bent state. 
       FIG. 7  shows a side view of another variation of a block member for use with the subject invention. 
       FIG. 7A  shows the head cap end of the block member of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a kit bag having different block members for use with the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
   The American Medical Association, Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, December 1995 issue reported that researchers have determined that approximately “92 percent” of firearms are known to have “trigger-pull settings of 10 pounds or less” and approximately “63 percent have a trigger pull setting of less than five pounds.” The article went on to mention that “at least 85 percent of three to four year olds could fire a gun using two fingers with a trigger-pull setting of less than five pounds.” 
   Thus, there is a need to have settings of at least approximately 5 to approximately 10 pounds, and preferably greater than approximately 10 pounds or more to restrict small children from firing a firearm. For older children, settings of approximately 15 pounds, approximately 20 pounds, approximately 25 pounds, approximately 30 pounds, or greater would also be helpful to restrict the child user from being able to pull a trigger to fire a firearm. 
     FIG. 1  represents a preferred embodiment of the safety block invention that has a block member  30  with a leading end  34  followed by the frangible section  32  then on to a external threads  33  finished with a cap head  38  preferably with a shaped opening  36  having torque features, the torque features can include a non-circular and non-conventional opening for allowing a user to insert the block member with a tool  39  having an end that mateably insertable into the shaped opening  36 .  FIG. 1A  is an end view of the block element  30  of  FIG. 1  along arrow  1 A. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 1A , the block member  30  can preferably have a cylindrical tubular shape and be formed from a solid material, a hollow material, and the like. The material can include a continuous material such as all metal, all aluminum, and the like. Alternatively, the material can be a continuous all plastic, all fiberglass, and the like. Additionally, the block member can be a combination of materials such as a metal longitudinal cylinder with the frangible section being plastic, and the like. Still furthermore,  FIG. 7  shows another version of the block member. 
   As described below, when being used the block member  30  can break apart when a threshold shear pressure value against the frangible portion  32  has been reached. Alternatively, the block member  30  can bend. Table 1 shows a comparison of the estimated finger strengths of child and along with block member being a 1/16″ or a ⅛″ solid diameter shaped pin 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 1 
             
             
                 
             
             
                 
               average 
                 
                 
             
             
               average 
               finger 
               Block member A 
               Block member B 
             
             
               two finger 
               strength 
               shear pin 1/16″ dia 
               shear pin ⅛″ dia 
             
             
               strength child 
               adult 
               steel with groove 
               acrylic with groove 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               6 in/lbs 
               25 in/lbs 
               10 to 75 in/lbs 
               8 to 50 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   First Embodiment 
     FIG. 2  shows the block member  30  located into the trigger  40  of a common firearm. The frame  10  of a conventional firearm has an extended L-shaped trigger  40  having pivotable about point  42  with a hole  44  by located orthogonal to the movement direction  60 .  FIG. 2A  represents a cross-sectional view through frame  10  with trigger  40  in an open free position, with frame  10  having an internal threaded hole  12  aligned to hole opening  44 . A block member  30  leading end  34  located in hole  44  can be screwed into internal thread hole  12  located in frame  10  which can have a clear hole  14 .  FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIGS. 2 and 2A  showing the results of the trigger  40  of  FIG. 2  being pulled in direction of arrow P with upper portion  43  of trigger  40  movement shown by arrow  60  thereby causing block member  30  to be bent or fractured at preferably at frangible section  32  whereby trigger safety is overcome. 
   Second Embodiment 
     FIG. 3  is another embodiment of locating the blocking member  30  above a trigger  40 . Referring to  FIG. 3  the present invention a safety block is represented in a common firearm  90  having a frame  10  with a block member  30  above an extended L-shaped trigger  40 . Trigger  40  of the firearm can have an envelope portion  46  which can move upward in the direction of arrow  60 . Frame  10  can have a hole opening  44  orthogonal to direction of trigger movement  60 . 
     FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of frame  10  with block member  30  leading end by in near proximity  18  to an upper leading edge of the trigger envelope  46 . A frangible section  32  can be attached to the frame  10  by fasteners  33  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and can be preferably positioned between trigger  40  and frame  10 . The trigger  40  is shown in a free unused position in  FIG. 3A . 
     FIG. 3B  is another cross-sectional view of  FIGS. 3 and 3A  showing frame  10  with a block member  30  in a bent or broken state. Trigger  40  can be pulled in the direction of arrow P thereby moving leading edge  46  upward in the direction of arrow  60  thereby overcoming the safety block of the invention by bending or breaking a frangible section  32  and displacing leading end  34  of the blocking member. 
   Third Embodiment 
     FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the present invention with the safety block invention behind a trigger  40  in a conventional handgun. Here, the novel safety block employed in a common firearm  90  having a frame  10  with a trigger guard  70  circumscribing a trigger area  70  with an extended trigger  40  dispersed therein. An extended trigger  40  can have a protrusion  50  with a surface  36  orthogonal to the movement  60  of the trigger. A trigger guard  70  can have a lug portion  52  with an internal threaded hole opening  37  aligned proximally to surface  36  when the trigger is in the free unused position. The block member  30  can be screwed into internal threaded hole  37 . 
     FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of the trigger guard  70  showing the trigger  40  in the free position with a frangible section  32  of the block member  30  preferably being located in gap  54  between protrusion  50  and lug  52 . The frangible section  32  is shown with the first end  34 . 
     FIG. 4B  shows another cross-sectional view of  FIGS. 4 and 4A  of a trigger guard  70  having a trigger  40  pulled in the direction of arrow P thereby breaking or bending the block member  30  preferably at the frangible section  32 . When a selected pulling pressure is reached the passive firearm safety block is thereby overcome. 
   Fourth Embodiment 
     FIG. 5  shows another preferred embodiment of using the novel safety block as a retrofit attachment to a firearm. Here, the safety block invention is employed in a common firearm  90  having a frame  10  with a trigger guard  70  circumscribing a trigger area  72  with an extended trigger  40  dispersed therein. A stationary plate  80  with an internally threaded hole  37  located orthogonal to the movement  60  can be retained on a rear portion of trigger guard  70 . A Moving plate  81  can be retained on the rear of the trigger  40  and has a hole opening  38  approximately aligned, with the trigger in free position, to internal threaded hole  37 . Plate  81  can be clamped between head  31  of block member  30  and stationary plate  80 . 
     FIG. 5A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5  showing trigger guard  70  showing trigger  40  in a free unused position with moving plate  81  and stationary plate  80  retained on the trigger guard  70 . The external thread first end  34  of block member  30  can be screwed into internal threaded hole  37  and frangible section  32  can be located approximately at the joint area  39 . 
     FIG. 5B  is another cross-sectional view of  FIGS. 5 and 5A  of the trigger guard  70  with trigger  40  pulled in the direction of arrow P. Frangible pin  30  is sheared or bent at frangible section  32  thereby overcoming the passive firearm safety block. 
   Fifth Embodiment 
     FIG. 6  represents the block member  30  of the present invention a safety block employed inside the lower trigger portion of a common firearm  90 . Trigger  140  operates by sliding in slot  144  in front side of handle  12  extending from main frame  10 . An internally threaded  37  hole somewhat orthogonal to the direction of movement  60  is located in close proximate to handle  12 . 
     FIG. 6A  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6  showing trigger  40  located in slot  144  in handle  12 . First end  34  is followed by a frangible section  32  of a block member  30  is extending from trigger  140 . Head  31  can have a recess to permit entry into slot  144 . 
     FIG. 6B  is another cross-sectional view of  FIGS. 6 and 6A  showing trigger  40  moved in slot  144  in the direction shown by arrow P. Thereby first end  34  impinges on handle  12  and is fractured to become broken or bent at preferably at frangible section  32  whereby passive firearm safety block is overcome. 
   Sixth Embodiment 
     FIG. 7  shows a side view of another variation of a block member  300  for use with the subject invention.  FIG. 7A  shows the head cap end of the block member of  FIG. 7 . Block member  300  can include a longitudinal cylindrical type body having a head cap end  380  with a selected shape opening  360  that can be shaped to accept a torque tool therein. Block member  300  can include a threaded side portion  330  and distal end portion  340  that can have smooth sides. Frangible portion  320  can be a grooved mid-section having a smaller diameter than the threaded portion  330  and the distal end portion  340 . Block member  300  can be a stainless steel type body with shaft portions  330  and  340  having a minimum diameter of approximately 0.06 inches having a rating of 75,000 PSI (pounds per square inch). The diameter of the root portion  325  of the frangible portion  320  along with stress area in square inches, tension strength and shear strength in pounds per square inch is shown in TABLE 2. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
             
           
             
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 2 
             
             
                 
             
             
               Diameter in inches 
               Stress Area 
                 
                 
             
             
               of Root V 
               Square Inch 
               Tension Strength 
               Shear Strength 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
             
           
        
         
             
               .032 
               .0128 
               960 
               480 
             
             
               .020 
               .0013 
               94 
               47 
             
             
               .015 
               .0007 
               53 
               26.5 
             
             
               .010 
               .0003 
               23 
               11.5 
             
             
               .009 
               .00025 
               19 
               9.5 
             
             
               .008 
               .0002 
               15 
               7.5 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Referring to Table 2, it would be preferable to break and not bend the V frangible portion  320  of the block member, and that 0.008 inch diameter and above would be preferable minimum diameters for the frangible portion of the block member  300 . 
   While the block member  300  of  FIGS. 7 and 7A  and Table 2 are shown and described as being stainless steel. The block member  300  can be formed from other materials. For example, an aluminum 2024-T3 (rated at approximately 40,000 PSI) similar shaped block member for the same diameters listed in Table 2 would have stress area, tension strength and shear strength at approximately half the amounts for stainless steel. 
     FIG. 8  shows a version  400  of a kit bag  410  having different block members  420  for use with the invention. The bag/compartment  410  can house different block members  420  each having different breaking or bending frangible portions so that a user can select a block member that can break/bend at different amounts, such as but not limited to approximately 10 pounds, approximately 15 pounds, approximately 20 pounds, etc. 
   Although the preferred block member is cylindrical the invention can be practiced with other shapes, such as but not limited to square, rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, oval, and other selected shapes. 
   While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.