Patent Publication Number: US-8991087-B2

Title: Firearm trigger lock

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application 61/650,644 filed May 23, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to trigger locks for firearms. 
     II. Description of Material Art 
     Many people own firearms, both rifles and handguns. Indeed, many people maintain ready access to a firearm at night to repel a possible intruder into the home. This is particularly true in high-crime areas. 
     A primary disadvantage of having ready access to a firearm at night for self-protection is that the firearm may be unintentionally discharged. For example, children who see the handgun and do not understand its danger may accidentally pull the trigger on the firearm and hurt themselves or others. 
     In order to reduce the chances of an unintentional discharge of the firearm, there are a number of previously known trigger locks which are attached to the trigger guard around the trigger. When attached to the trigger guard, these trigger locks prevent actuation of the trigger and thus prevent the accidental or unintended discharge of the firearm. 
     These previously known trigger locks are typically key operated and can be removed from the firearm only after insertion of the appropriate key for the trigger lock. As such, these previously known trigger locks are highly effective in preventing accidental discharge of the firearm by children or other unauthorized users of the firearm. 
     A primary disadvantage of these previously known key operated trigger locks, however, is that it can take a relatively long time to find the key, insert the key into the lock, and remove the trigger lock from the firearm. Consequently, in the event of an intruder into the home, there may be simply insufficient time to remove the trigger lock in order to successfully repel an intruder in the home. This is especially true since, during a high-tension situation such as the detection of a home intruder, the authorized user of the firearm may very well experience difficulty not only in locating the key for the trigger lock, but inserting the key into the lock due to his or her nervous condition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of trigger locks by providing a finger or thumbprint operated trigger lock for a firearm. In brief, the trigger lock of the present invention comprises a first and second housing part where at least one of the housing parts has a shackle insertable through the trigger guard and into the other housing part. Consequently, with the shackle positioned through the trigger guard and into the other housing parts, the housing parts are positioned on opposite sides of the trigger guard thus shielding the trigger from actuation. Furthermore, the shackle extending through the trigger guard itself prevents actuation or firing of the trigger by mechanically blocking the trigger from being squeezed to a firing position. 
     A latch is mounted to one of the housing parts and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In its locked position, the latch engages the shackle and secures the housing parts together. Conversely, in its unlocked position, the latch releases the shackle so that the housing parts may be separated from each other. 
     A fingerprint scanner on one of the housing parts generates an output signal when swiped by a fingerprint. A processor receives the output signal from the scanner when swiped and is programmed to identify an authorized user of the gun. When the authorized user is identified, the processor generates an output signal to activate a mechanism to move the latch to its unlocked position. 
     The processor also preferably stores at least a plurality of sequential finger swipes to memory for subsequent download upon command of an authorized user. In addition, the processor optionally transmits a wireless signal, such as a Wi-Fi signal, each time the fingerprint scanner is swiped. The Wi-Fi system may then transmit a text message, telephone signal, email, or the like to notify the authorized user of the fingerprint swipe. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention attached to the trigger guard of a firearm; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating the operation of the present invention with respect to a pistol; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a partial sectional and partial diagrammatic view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagrammatic view illustrating the circuitry of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     With reference first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a firearm  10 , such as a pistol, is shown having a trigger  12  and a trigger guard  14  around the trigger. In the conventional fashion, actuation of the trigger  12  by squeezing the trigger discharges the gun. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a trigger guard  20  in accordance with the present invention includes a first housing part  22  and a second housing part  24 . At least one of the housing parts, shown as housing part  24  in  FIG. 3 , includes a shackle  26  which is insertable through the trigger guard  14  of the gun  10  as shown in solid line in  FIG. 3 . With the shackle  26  positioned through the trigger guard  14  and against the other housing part  22 , the housing parts  24  and  22  are positioned on opposite sides of the trigger guard  14  and shield the trigger  12  from actuation. In addition, the shackle  26  itself when positioned through the trigger guard  14  mechanically blocks actuation of the trigger  12 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , the housing parts  22  and  24  are movable between a locked position, illustrated in solid line in  FIG. 3 , and an unlocked position, illustrated in phantom line in  FIG. 3 . In its locked position, the housing parts  22  and  24  are locked together with the shackle  26  through the trigger guard  14  and effectively prevent use or discharge of the gun  10 . Conversely, with the housing parts  22  and  24  in their unlocked position, the housing parts  22  and  24  may be separated from each other, removed from the trigger guard  14 , and normal operation of the gun  10  may ensue. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , although any conventional means may be employed to selectively lock the housing parts  22  and  24  together, or to release them, in the preferred embodiment of the invention a stationary latch  30  is secured to one housing part  24 . Conversely, a pivotal latch  32  is mounted in the other housing part  22  so that the latch  32  is pivotal about a pivot pin  34 . 
     The stationary latch  30  includes a hook  36  at its free end and, similarly, the pivotal latch  32  includes a hook  38  at one end. The hooked ends  36  and  38  of the stationary latch  30  and pivotal latch  32  engage and lock together when the shackle  26  is inserted against, onto, or into the housing part  22 . The pivotal latch  32 , however, is movable between a locked position, shown in solid line in  FIG. 3 , and an unlocked position, shown in phantom line in  FIG. 3 . In its locked position, the latch  32  secures the two housing parts  22  and  24  together. Conversely, in its unlocked position shown in phantom line, the hooked ends  36  and  38  of the latches  30  and  32 , respectively, disengage and permit the housing parts  22  and  24  to be separated from each other. 
     In order to move the pivotal latch  32  between its locked and unlocked positions, a solenoid  40  is contained in the housing part and mechanically coupled to the end of the pivotal latch  32  opposite from its hooked end  38 . Thus, extension or retraction of the solenoid simultaneously pivots the pivotal latch  32  as desired. 
     Other types of latch mechanisms to selectively lock the housing parts together may be used without deviation from the scope or spirit of the invention. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 4 , a circuit  42  controls the operation of the solenoid  40 . The circuit  42  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4  and includes a processor  44  having an output control line  46  to control the actuation of the solenoid  40 . A fingerprint sensor  48  (see also  FIG. 1 ) is mounted on the housing part  22  and, when swiped by a fingerprint, generates an output signal representative of that fingerprint to the processor  44 . Furthermore, as used in this patent, the term “fingerprint” shall expressly include thumbprints. 
     The processor  44  is programmed, after proper training, to recognize the fingerprint of an authorized user or authorized users. Upon receipt of the swipe of the fingerprint from an authorized user, the processor  44  generates an output signal on output line  46  to the solenoid  40  in order to move the pivotal latch  32  to its unlocked position. Preferably, the processor  44  will keep the pivotal latch  32  in its unlocked position for a period of time, e.g. several seconds, to permit the housing parts  22  and  24  to be removed from the gun  10  as desired. 
     As an added feature of the present invention, in the event that the sensor  48  is swiped by someone other than an authorized user, the processor  44  stores the information relating to the fingerprint in available memory  50 . That fingerprint information may then be subsequently downloaded through an output port  52 , such as a USB port, upon a subsequent command by an authorized user. For example, the processor  44  may store a plurality of fingerprint swipes by unauthorized users in the memory  50  for subsequent download through the port  52 . Such a download would enable the unauthorized users to be identified. 
     In the event that the fingerprint sensor  48  is swiped by the fingerprint of an unauthorized user, the processor  44  optionally activates a transmitter  54  to generate a wireless signal. That wireless signal can include, for example, a Wi-Fi signal, telephone signal, Bluetooth signal, and/or the like. The Wi-Fi signal can then be used to contact the authorized user of the gun by sending a text message, email, or the like. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a simple and yet effective trigger lock for a gun. A primary advantage of Applicant&#39;s invention is that it requires neither a key nor combination, both of which can be lost or forgotten. Furthermore, during an emergency situation, the trigger lock may still be easily activated by simply swiping one&#39;s fingerprint over the sensor. 
     Having described my invention, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those having skill in the art without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.