Patent Publication Number: US-7908779-B2

Title: Handgun safety

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a handgun comprising at least one barrel, at the rear of each barrel a cartridge chamber for receiving a cartridge, a manually actuatable gun lock for each cartridge chamber for cocking a hammer against the force of a spring and a trigger for releasing the hammer and for firing a cartridge. 
     The special field of application of the handgun according to the invention (small arms or long guns) are hunting weapons, sporting guns, as well as service weapons of police and military. 
     Handguns have principally at least one barrel. Hunting weapons can have to a total of four barrels. At the rearward end of the barrel there is a cartridge chamber for receiving a cartridge. Each barrel has correlated therewith a manually actuatable gun lock. This gun lock has a hammer that is cocked against the force of a spring. By actuating the trigger, the hammer can be released so that as a result of the spring force it accelerates forwardly and actuates the firing pin so that the cartridge is fired. Aside from such manually actuated gun locks there are also so-called double-action mechanisms. 
     Whether the gun lock of the handgun is cocked and the weapon is thus ready to be fired cannot be monitored objectively in known weapons. The shooter can optionally adjust a white or red marker; but this is entirely up to the shooter. The gun lock can be cocked but the marker must not have been actuated because no person-independent forced mechanism is present. 
     Based on this the invention has the object to provide a handgun with a person-independent manipulation-safe visual control indicating whether the handgun is ready to be fired or not. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The technical solution is characterized in that the gun lock/gun locks each have an electric or electronic sensor device correlated therewith for recognizing whether the hammer of the correlated gun lock is cocked, and/or the cartridge/cartridges each have correlated therewith an electric or electronic sensor device for recognizing whether a cartridge is inserted into the cartridge chamber, and the sensor device or devices have correlated therewith at least one light that illuminates when the hammer of the gun lock is cocked and/or when a cartridge is inserted in the cartridge chamber. 
     Accordingly, a handgun, in particular a hunting weapon with improved visual control is provided in regard to whether the weapon is ready to be fired or not. The principal idea of the invention resides in that the gun lock has correlated therewith an electric or electronic sensor device. This sensor device can also be a purely mechanically operating part, for example, a switch or push button. It is decisive that subsequently an electric or electronic processing is performed leading to an electrically operated light being actuated. As soon as the hammer of the gun lock has been cocked, a correlated light illuminates. When at this time a cartridge is in the cartridge chamber, the weapon is ready to be fired and a shot could go off. In this basic version of the invention, the light illuminates even when the hammer has been cocked but there is no cartridge in the cartridge chamber so that even with the gun lock cocked there is no risk that a shot could go off. The sensor device that is correlated with the hammer can assume two different positions. On the one hand, the sensor device can be in the area of the hammer when it is cocked. On the other hand, the sensor device can also be in such position when the hammer is not cocked. With a corresponding processing electronic unit the appropriate signals are then processed. Alternative to (or also in addition to) the sensor device correlated with the gun lock, the respective cartridge chamber can have correlated therewith a sensor device. This means that the light illuminates when a cartridge is located in the cartridge chamber. This creates a potential risk in particular when the gun lock is cocked. Only when no cartridge is in the cartridge chamber, there is no risk, not even for a cocked gun lock. The advantage in using a light resides in that, as a result of its illumination power, it is readily noticed and, in particular, can also be seen at a distance by a third party. Preferably, a red light is used because in case of hunting weapons this color cannot be seen by animals. As a whole, a reliably operating visual control is provided that increases the safety of handguns, in particular hunting weapons as well as sporting guns at shooting events. In this connection, an electronic visual safety system with its illumination device visually indicates the loading state and fully ready state. Should the visual electronic safety device be inoperative because of lack of power, the unit can be bridged, for example, by means of a manual slide. 
     A preferred embodiment proposes that the gun lock/gun locks each have an electric or electronic sensor device correlated therewith for recognizing whether the hammer of the respective gun lock is cocked, and the cartridge/cartridges each have an electric or electronic sensor device for recognizing whether a cartridge is in the cartridge chamber, wherein the light only provides a signal when a cartridge is in the cartridge chamber and when the hammer of the gun lock is cocked. The principal idea resides in that the indicator device is active and the light illuminates as soon as a cartridge is located in the cartridge chamber and at the same time the gun lock is cocked. The visual indicator device remains active until all gun locks are fired or uncocked. When all gun locks are fired or uncocked and the casing is still in the chamber, the indicator is inactive. The cocked gun locks thus provide a primary safety mechanism that ensures activation of the safety system while the casing in the cartridge chamber provides a secondary function. 
     The sensor device can be formed by very different elements, for example, by mechanical contacts or switches, by photocells, or magnets. 
     The sensor device for the hammer is arranged between the housing of the handgun and the hammer. 
     The sensor device for the cartridge is preferably arranged at the breech face of the chamber. This means that the sensor device is arranged at a location close to the hammer so that the contact sensing is provided at the breech face of the cartridge chamber in the area of the head of the casing of the cartridge. 
     All sensor devices have a common visual indicator. When the light is illuminated, it is apparent that the weapon is ready to be fired. 
     An alternative is proposed in that all sensor devices have their own light, respectively. In this way it is possible to recognized whether a cartridge is in the barrel. Moreover, it can be recognized wether the gun lock is cocked. Preferably, in this embodiment variant also a superordinate general light is provided that illuminates when the weapon is basically ready to be fired. For example, it can be possible that all barrels have cartridges inserted (so that all corresponding lights are illuminated) but that the gun locks are not cocked so that there is no readiness to fire. 
     The light is an LED or a CET. Using CETs in comparison to LEDs has the advantage that they require a lot less power. 
     Preferably, the light is provided on the ridge of the stock of the handgun. This has the advantage that the light is in the immediate visual field of the shooter and therefore cannot be overlooked. 
     A further embodiment proposes that the hammer has a mechanical locking device that secures the hammer in the uncocked position. In this way, there is the possibility that the gun lock cannot be cocked or can be cocked only after the locking device has been released. 
     This mechanical locking device preferably is electrically operated by means of a battery. 
     In this connection, the locking device is in the locked position when in a currentless state. This means that without battery, i.e., when no electric power is supplied, the weapon is not ready to be fired. 
     A further embodiment proposes that the corresponding electrical power supply can be sealed. When the battery compartment without battery being installed is sealed, there is no possibility to convert the weapon into the ready-to-fire state because the locking device blocks cocking of the gun lock. This battery compartment is preferably arranged in the stock or grip. In this state, in which no battery is within the battery compartment, the manual locking or unlocking action of the gun lock cannot be actuated so that the gun lock cannot be cocked in any way. When however in the battery compartment a battery is installed, the manual locking or unlocking action of the gun lock can be actuated in any case whether the battery is full or empty. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       One embodiment of a handgun according to the invention in the form of a so-called double-barreled shotgun will be disclosed with the aid of the drawing. The only FIGURE shows a schematic longitudinal section view of the weapon. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The weapon shown schematically in the only FIGURE has a housing  1  having connected thereto to the right in the drawing a stock  2  with stock ridge  3  and to the left a cartridge chamber  4  with adjoining barrel. The cartridge chamber  4  is limited by a breech face  5  where the hammer is located. Since the illustrated embodiment concerns a double-barreled shotgun, there are a total of two chambers  4  in over/under arrangement. 
     In the housing  1  there are two adjacently positioned angulated gun locks  6  each having a hammer  7  that is pivotably supported. By actuating a slide  8  on the stock ridge  3  by means of a lever mechanism the respective hammer  7  can be transferred against the force of a spring  9  into a cocked position in which it is pivoted to the rear and in which the respective hammer  7  is positionally fixed. By actuating one of two triggers  10  the correlated hammer  7  can be released so that, as a result of the force of the spring  9 , it is suddenly moved forwardly in the direction of the breech face  5  of the chamber  4  and actuates the percussion cap of the cartridge. 
     The two hammers  7  each have a sensor device  11  correlated therewith and arranged in the housing  1  in the area of the stock ridge  3 . i.e., above the hammer  7  in the uncocked state. These sensor devices  11  can be of a purely mechanical but also a visual, electric or magnetic type. In any case, the two sensor devices  11  are connected to an electronic unit  12  that is located in the stock together with a battery  13 . 
     A second sensor device  14  is arranged at the breech faces  5  of the two chambers  4 , respectively. These two sensor devices  14  are in communication with the electronic unit  12 . These sensor devices  14  can be designed in the same ways as the sensor devices  11  but can also be of a different kind. 
     A light  15  is connected to the electronic unit  12  and arranged on the stock ridge  3 . 
     Finally, the two hammers  7  each have a mechanical locking and unlocking device  16  that defines a locking pawl. This locking and unlocking device  16  is electrically actuated wherein in the currentless state the locking and unlocking device  16  secures the respective hammer  7  in its position so that the hammers  7  cannot be transferred into the cocked state. 
     The Function is as Follows: 
     In the uncocked state of the weapon the two hammers  7  are in the forward position. The sensor devices  11  recognize that the two hammers  7  are in this inoperative position. The light  15  is not illuminated in this state. 
     As soon as a cartridge is inserted into one of the two cartridge chambers  4 , the correlated sensor device  14  recognizes this and transmits a corresponding signal to the electronic unit  12 . The same holds true when a further cartridge is inserted into the second chamber  4 . However, the light  15  will still not illuminate In this case. 
     Only when one of the two hammers  7  or both hammers  7  are cocked by means of the slide  8  and this is detected by the sensor devices  11 , a corresponding signal of the electronic unit  12  will trigger a control command so that the light  15  will be illuminated because in this state the weapon is ready to be fired. 
     When a round is now fired and the corresponding hammer  7  moves forwardly, this is recognized by the correlated sensor device  11 . Since however the second hammer  7  is still cocked and the weapon is still ready to be fired, the light  15  continues to illuminate. Only once the second round has been fired and the second hammer  7  is in the uncocked position, there is no longer any danger so that the light  15  will be extinguished. 
     This means that the light  15  always illuminates when fire readiness is provided. 
     The locking and unlocking device  16  blocks the correlated hammer  7 . This blocking action occurs always when the locking device  16  is in the currentless state. Once the battery  13  is removed from the battery compartment and the battery compartment is sealed, actuation of the weapon is no longer possible. Only when a battery  13  is inserted in the battery compartment (whether full or empty), the locking and unlocking device  16  can be manually bridged or actuated. This is important in particular in regard to hunting weapons when in cold weather the battery cannot provide enough electric power. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  housing 
           2  stock 
           3  stock ridge 
           4  cartridge chamber 
           5  breech face 
           6  gun lock 
           7  hammer 
           8  slide 
           9  spring 
           10  trigger 
           11  sensor device 
           12  electronic unit 
           13  battery 
           14  sensor device 
           15  light 
           16  locking and unlocking device