Patent Publication Number: US-6339892-B1

Title: Trigger locking mechanism with slidable plate

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention. 
     The present invention relates to a weapon&#39;s trigger locking mechanism, and more particularly, to the type that prevents access to the trigger area. 
     2. Description of the Related Art. 
     Many designs for trigger locking mechanisms have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a slidable plate that prevents access to the trigger area preventing its activation. The present invention provides a device for readily and effectively preventing the unauthorized use of a weapon. Additionally, it can be installed on a variety of weapons with different configurations for the trigger area. 
     Applicant believes that the closest reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 2,590,516 issued to Maruja Acosta de von Breymann in 1952 for a trigger safety for firearms. Breymann&#39;s patent provides a safety device for a trigger that covers the guard and trigger area. However, it differs from the present invention because the Breymann&#39;s patent presents separately a locking mechanism and a guard as different form of safety mechanisms. Breymann&#39;s patent does not disclose a slidable plate in the locking mechanism and it requires the use of a block requiring a high degree of custom work. 
     Other patents describing the closest subject matter provide for a number of more or less complicated features that fail to solve the problem in an efficient and economical way. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a safety locking mechanism for a weapon&#39;s trigger that prevents access to the trigger area preventing its activation. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a locking mechanism that can be readily mounted and unmounted from a weapon. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism that is adaptable to weapons with different configurations of the trigger area. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a device that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
     Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the present invention showing the secured weapon in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is a representation of an isometric view of the invention with cover removed so that the internal components can be seen. 
     FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the present invention from one end, with the slidable plate in fully retracted position. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the device shown in the previous figure, from the opposite end, and with the slidable plate fully distended. 
     FIG. 5 show a front elevational view of the headed post when slidable plate (shown partially) is fully distended. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral  10 , it can be observed that it basically includes housing  20  containing locking assembly  40  (actuated by key K), fixed plate assembly  60  rigidly mounted to and extending from one end of housing  20 . Connecting opening  42  in side wall  41  exposes the key hole of locking assembly  40  to receive key K. Slidable plate  80  is retractable within housing  20  and adapted to protrude out in a parallel and spaced apart relationship with respect to fixed plate assembly  60 . Cover  22  is mounted to housing  20  with rivets  23  passing through openings  27 . The resulting structure is volumetrically efficient and an effective security device. 
     The separation between distended slidable plate  80  and fixed plate assembly  60  is such that trigger guard G is received inbetween. In this manner, trigger T and its surrounding area can not be accessed, either intentionally or by accident. Plate  80  is spring loaded urging it to protrude out of housing  20 . A user can then, after unlocking mechanism  10 , push plate  80  in until locking pin  100  is lodged inside openings  25  and  82  locking it in place, as best seen in FIG.  4 . Wall  26  is positioned parallel to cover  22  and spaced apart therefrom defining a lateral opening  29 . Cut out  28  of wall  26  permits finger member  88  to engage spring  30 . Member  88  is rigidly and perpendicularly mounted to the underside of slidable plate  80 . When plate  80  slides inwardly, finger member  88  coacts with spring  30  compressing the latter. 
     Fixed plate assembly  60  includes headed post  64  and removable curved body  62  mounted on surface  61 . In the preferred embodiment screw  63  is used to keep body  62  removably mounted to plate assembly  60 . When plate  80  slides out, slot  86  receives shank  65  of headed post  64 . Head  66  is above slot  86  when plate  80  is fully distended. The underside  66 ′ of head  66  and recess  67  sandwich the edge defining slot  86  to minimize movement of the distended plate  80 , as best seen in FIG.  5 . Removable curved body  62  is cooperatively mounted on surface  61  at a sufficient distance to coact with trigger T immobilizing it. Curved body  62  is removable and it has a cooperative configuration for the design of the weapon being protected. Thus, body  62  and post  64  coacting with guard G immobilize device  10 . 
     Slidable plate  80  also includes stopper leg  85  on one end  87  that prevents the former from sliding out completely when retracted. The other end  89  has a tab  84 , in the preferred embodiment, extending preferably perpendicularly thereto and it is used to provide a surface to push slidable plate  80 . Tab  84  is cooperatively received by slot  24  when sidable plate  80  is fully distended. 
     The foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.