Patent Publication Number: US-6338217-B1

Title: Firing pin locking system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a turn-key locking mechanism for weapons, and more particularly, to an internal locking mechanism for firearms. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Weapons and firearms are very dangerous. Many firearm locking mechanisms have been introduced to reduce the possibility of injury when unauthorized users discharge them, especially children. Presently, most firearms are manufactured with built-in safety mechanisms for triggers and firing pin assembles, as well as mechanisms to prevent discharge in the event of an accidental drop. However, there is a need to place firearms in an “unlocked” or “locked” mode notwithstanding the firearm in cocked or fired position. This would allow the authorized user to activate the firearm to “unlock” or deactivate the firearm to “locked” mode, even while set in a holster. There is a need for a practical and inexpensive assembly that can be incorporated into firearms without major structural changes to lock a firearm irrespective of the firearm status. 
     There are no similar internal locking mechanisms to the best of applicant&#39;s knowledge, that may be utilized to lock a firearm regardless of the firearm status, with a key that does not require movement of a firearm slide. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide an internal locking mechanism for firearms to lock the firing mechanism, regardless of the firearm status. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a key to set the firearm in a “unlocked” or “locked” mode even if the firearm is secured in a holster. 
     It is still another object of this invention to provide a locking mechanism for firearms that includes a key, an internal locking device and a slide cover key plate. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a locking mechanism for firearms in which the internal locking mechanism is utilized as a means to prevent the movement of a firearm firing pin assembly when activated by the trigger mechanism, regardless of the firearm status. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an internal locking mechanism utilized with semi-automatic firearms that have an enclosed striker assembly. 
     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 represents an exploded view of the internal locking mechanism in the unlocked mode. 
     FIG. 2 a  shows an elevational view of the slide cover key plate indicating the firearm is in the unlocked mode. 
     FIG. 2 b  shows an elevational view of the slide cover key plate indicating the firearm is in locked mode. 
     FIG. 2 c  shows an elevational view of the rear side of the slide cover key plate. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an elevational view of a firearm in phantom showing the present invention in the cocked and locked position. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an elevational view of a firearm in phantom showing the present invention in the fired and locked position. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an elevational view of a firearm in a holster. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a key. 
    
    
     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 spacer sleeve assembly  30 , key plate assembly  60 , and key  80 . 
     As seen in FIG. 1, firing pin assembly  20  slidably journals within longitudinal channel  51  of spacer sleeve assembly  30 . Longitudinal channel  51  has fired notch  35 , seen in FIG. 3, cocked notch  41 , and assembly notch  49 . 
     Fired notch  35  is defined by side edge  36  establishing a parallel and spaced apart relationship between front edge  34  and rear edge  38  in the preferred embodiment. While firing leg  26  fills fired notch  35 , firing leg  26  is biased against front edge  34  due to the spring force exerted by spring  24  against edge  32 , seen in FIG.  3 . Cocked notch  41  is defined by side edge  42  establishing a parallel and spaced apart relationship between front edge  40  and rear edge  44  in the preferred embodiment. While firing leg  26  fills cocked notch  41 , firing leg  26  is biased against front edge  40  due to the spring force exerted by spring  24 . Assembly notch  49  allows for assembly of firing pin assembly  20  onto spacer sleeve assembly  30 . To insert firing pin assembly  20  within spacer sleeve assembly  30 , end  25  of firing pin assembly  20  is inserted at a predetermined angle along longitudinal channel  51  of spacer sleeve assembly  30  without spring  24  and spring cups  23  and  23 ′. Ends  27  and  27 ′ are respectively aligned with assembly notch  49 , defined by side edges  48  and  48 ′ establishing a parallel and spaced apart relationship between front edges  46  and  46 ′ respectively and rear edge  50  in the preferred embodiment, seen in FIG.  3 . Once received by spacer sleeve assembly  30 , firing pin assembly leg  26  is slid against front edge  34  where spring  24  is placed over end  25  and retained by spring cups  23  and  23 ′ against stopper surface  22 , seen in FIG.  3 . 
     Cylindrical spacer sleeve assembly  30  is manufactured from a durable material such as stainless steel, or a material of similar characteristics. 
     Key plate assembly  60  has exterior face  66  and interior face  68 , seen in FIG. 2 c.  Key hole  64  allows access for an authorized user to trespass key plate assembly  60  with key  80 . Key end  82  cooperatively fits into recess  57  of rear exterior surface  58 . Through hole  62 , provides notice when indicator  56  is properly aligned, indicating that the firearm is ready to discharge, as depicted in FIG. 2 a.  Additionally, through hole  62 , provides notice when indicator  59  is properly aligned, indicating that the firearm is locked and will not discharge, as depicted in FIG. 2 b.    
     While in the unlocked mode, as presently depicted, firing leg  26  slidably journals within spacer sleeve assembly  30  biased against longitudinal edge  52 . During operation of the firearm, firing pin leg  26  slidably journals along longitudinal channel  51 , thus cycling between front edge  34  after the firearm is discharged to a predetermined distance approaching rear edge  44  when cocked. 
     Seen in FIG. 2 a  is a representation of slide cover key plate assembly  60  in the unlocked mode, as represented in FIG.  1 . Indicator  56 , seen through through-hole  62  is of sufficient contrast to exterior face  66 , to allow an authorized user to visually determine that firearm F, seen in FIG. 3, is ready to discharge. Key hole  64  allows access of key  80 , shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Seen in FIG. 2 b  is a representation of slide cover key plate assembly  60  in the locked mode, as represented in FIG.  3 . Indicator  59 , seen through through-hole  62  is of sufficient contrast to exterior face  66 , to allow an authorized user to visually determine that firearm F, seen in FIG. 3, is locked and will not discharge. Key hole  64  allows access of key  80 , shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Seen in FIG. 2 c  is a representation of the rear side of key plate assembly  60 . Interior face  68  has recess  65  shaped to cooperatively receive rear exterior surface  58  of spacer sleeve assembly  30 , seen in FIG.  1 . Recess  65  has protrusions  63  axially mounted thereon having mating cooperative characteristics with recess  57  to provide notice to the user by way of a slight resistance when the user rotates spacer sleeve assembly  30  selectively from an unlocked mode, as seen in FIG. 2 a,  to a cocked and locked or fired and locked mode, as seen in FIG. 2 b,  and vice-a-versa. Firearm F, seen in FIG. 3, has a protrusion, not seen, that aligns with recess  67  for additional key plate assembly  60  stability. 
     As seen in FIG. 3, firearm F is in the cocked and locked position. An authorized user utilizes key  80 , inserting it into key hole  64  of key plate assembly  60 . Key  80  is shaped to cooperatively fit into recess  57 , seen in FIG. 1, of spacer sleeve assembly  30 . The user inserts key  80 , then turns in a clockwise direction, thereby rotating spacer sleeve assembly  30  to a locked mode position wherefore firing pin assembly leg  26  rests in cocked notch  41 , upon side edge  42 , seen in FIG. 1, between front edge  40  and rear edge  44 , thereby preventing the movement of firing pin assembly  20  when activated by trigger T of firearm F. To remove key  80 , seen in FIG. 1, the user turns the key in a counter-clockwise direction until key end  82  is aligned with key hole  64  and removed. The user may acknowledge the locked position of firearm F, by viewing indicator  59  through through-hole  62  as seen in FIG. 2 b.    
     When firearm F is in the unlocked mode, firing leg  26  slidably journals within spacer sleeve assembly  30  along longitudinal channel  51 , biased against longitudinal edge  52 . To place in the unlocked mode, the user inserts key  80 , then turns in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby rotating spacer sleeve assembly  30  to an unlocked mode position, thereby allowing for the movement of firing pin assembly  20  when activated by trigger T of firearm F. To remove key  80 , seen in FIG. 1, the user turns the key in a clockwise direction until key end  82  is aligned with key hole  64  and removed. The user may acknowledge the unlocked position of firearm F, by viewing indicator  56  through through-hole  62  as seen in FIG. 2 a.    
     Firearm F may be of any variety of semi-automatic firearms that have an enclosed striker assembly. Such a firearm may be a “GLOCK”, without limitation to this specific brand. 
     As seen in FIG. 4, firearm F is in the fired and locked position. Similar to the sequence performed when placing the firearm in a cocked and locked position, an authorized user utilizes key  80 , inserting it into key hole  64  of key plate assembly  60 . Key  80  is shaped to cooperatively fit into recess  57 , as seen in FIG. 1, of spacer sleeve assembly  30 . The user inserts key  80 , then turns in a clockwise direction, thereby rotating spacer sleeve assembly  30  to a locked mode position wherefore firing pin assembly leg  26  rests in fired notch  35 , upon side edge  36 , seen in FIG. 1, between front edge  34  and rear edge  38 , thereby preventing the movement of firing pin assembly  20  when activated by trigger T of firearm F. To remove key  80 , seen in FIG. 1, the user turns the key in a counter-clockwise direction until key end  82  is aligned with key hole  64  and removed. The user may acknowledge the locked position of firearm F, by viewing indicator  59  through through-hole  62  as seen in FIG. 2 b.    
     As seen in FIG. 5, firearm F is set in holster H. Without removing firearm F from holster H, the authorized user may place firearm F in an unlocked or locked mode. 
     As seen in FIG. 6, key  80  has key end  82 . Key end  82  may be of any shape or design to complement recess  57  of spacer sleeve assembly  30  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     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.