Patent Publication Number: US-11022392-B2

Title: Child firearm safety lock allowing adult proficiency training

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to firearms and firearm safety. Particularly, the present invention relates to devices and methods for locking a firearm to minimize the risk from unauthorized use or the possibility of discharge, while also reducing firearm damage during training exercises. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
     Gun owners often purchase firearms for the purpose of self-defense and protection. Proper use of a firearm requires comfort, confidence, and skill. To build comfort, confidence, and skill with one&#39;s firearm, training and practice is often required. A user needs to practice inserting and removing the magazine, operating the slide, and otherwise operating the gun in a safe setting. Self-defense and protection training may also require practicing different scenarios where a user may need to use its firearm. 
     Firearm safety is an important part of gun ownership. There are two primary types of safety locks for firearms: trigger locks and cable locks. Trigger locks can be installed within the trigger guard of the firearm and prevent the trigger from being pulled by blocking access to the trigger when locked. Because the trigger lock blocks access to the trigger, someone training on the firearm is unable to get the feel of the trigger during various training exercises. Cable locks comprise a cable and a padlock, similar to a lock for a bicycle. One end of the cable is permanently fixed to the padlock, and the other end of the cable may engage with the padlock when the cable lock is in the locked position. With the slide of the firearm open, the cable is inserted into the magazine compartment, out through the ejection port, and looped back down along the grip until it the other end is engaged with the padlock. Because the cable lock blocks the magazine compartment, someone training on the firearm cannot train on inserting and removing a magazine clip into the gun. Because the cable lock is inserted with the slide of the firearm open, the cable lock prevents someone from practicing opening and closing the slide during training exercises. Firearm storage in this condition keeps the hammer or striker mechanism and slide springs in tension, causing unnecessary wear. Additionally, portions of the cable of the cable lock may extend outwardly from the chamber in a way that blocks the firearm&#39;s sights. Trigger locks and cable locks, while disabling the firearm from discharging a round, do not provide a user with full access to important features of the firearm to allow a user to train on these features. 
     In some instances, a user may want to practice with their firearm in what is commonly referred to as a “dry fire” exercise or “dry firing.” When dry firing the firearm, the user can simulate firing the weapon without ammunition. Both the trigger and the hammer or striker fully operate without ammunition. In some circumstances, dry firing a firearm may cause unnecessary wear or internal damage to the barrel, the firing pin, the hammer or the striker of the firearm. 
     Thus, there is a need in the art for a safety mechanism to prevent live ammunition from being loaded, while simultaneously allowing a person to safely train on aspects and features of the firearm for use in various tactical and self-defense scenarios. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. 
     The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to an improved safety lock for a firearm that allows a user to use various features of the gun in training exercises to improve a user&#39;s skill and confidence with the firearm. The safety lock may comprise a casing at a first end; a releasable locking member at a second end; and a flexible member between the first end and the second end. The casing may be sized appropriately for the firearm based on the firearm&#39;s caliber. In at least one embodiment, the casing may be hollow to allow for attachment of the flexible member to the casing. In some embodiments, the casing may comprise a retrieval feature to assist with removing the safety lock from the firearm. In some embodiments, the flexible member may comprise metal, plastic, or other suitable material. In some embodiments, the flexible member may have a coating to facilitate smooth insertion and retrieval from the barrel of the gun. In some embodiments, a tool will be provided to assist with removal of the safety lock from the firearm. In some embodiments, a protective sheath may be provided to cover at least the end of the locking member during insertion and removal of the safety lock device from the firearm, preventing any metal-on-metal contact with the chamber and rifling within the barrel. In some embodiments, the releasable locking member has a security feature that enables the locking member to be released from the flexible member. In some embodiments, the releasable locking member may comprise a padlock body. The flexible member may comprise a tip at the second end for engagement with the releasable locking member. When installed, the safety lock may allow the firearm to be used in “dry fire” exercises while minimizing damage to the firing pin since the safety lock uses a casing. The safety lock may provide users with substantial functionality of the firearm during training exercises, except the extraction cycle and the loading of live ammunition. 
     In at least one embodiment, a locked firearm comprising: a chamber, a muzzle end, a barrel extending from the chamber to the muzzle end, and a lock extending along the barrel from the chamber to the muzzle end. The lock may comprise a shell casing at a first end positioned in the chamber; and a flexible member connected to the shell casing, the flexible member extending along the barrel; and a locking member at a second end. The locking member may be removably engaged with the flexible member. In some embodiments the firearm has sights, and the sights are unobstructed by the lock in a locked position. The lock may still permit a user to insert and remove a magazine clip of the locked firearm. The lock may permit the user to safely operate the slide (also known as “racking” the slide) of the locked firearm, which is particularly desirable for certain types of firearms such as striker fired firearms which may need to be cocked. For hammer fired firearms, it may not be necessary to cock such firearms, but use of the slide and slide stop can be an important function when loading a firearm. The lock may permit a user to operate the trigger of the locked firearm. The lock may also permit a user to operate at least one of the factory-installed safety and the slide of the locked firearm. 
     In at least one embodiment, a method of locking a firearm may comprise retracting a slide of the firearm to expose a chamber of the firearm; inserting an end of a flexible member into the chamber; feeding the flexible member through a barrel of the firearm until a tip of the flexible member is exposed from a muzzle of the firearm and a hollow casing attached to the flexible member is positioned into the chamber; and then engaging a locking member with the tip. 
     While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. As will be realized, the various embodiments of the present disclosure are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various embodiments of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with Figures that are displayed within the text below of this application. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a firearm lock of the present invention, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the firearm lock of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the firearm lock of  FIG. 1 , with the locking member removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a firearm with the firearm lock partially installed. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the firearm in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is side view of the firearm in  FIG. 4  with the firearm lock in the safe position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a novel and advantageous firearm lock that allows a person to train on all aspects of the gun, even though the firearm is preventing a user from discharging a round. While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       FIGS. 1-2  show one embodiment of a firearm lock  100  of the present invention. The firearm lock  100  comprises a casing  102  at a first end  104 , a locking member  106  at a second end  108 , and a flexible member  110  between the casing  102  and the locking member  106 . In some embodiments, the casing  102  may be similar to a casing from ammunition of the type and caliber suitable for the firearm. The casing may be sized in a range of calibers from .22 to .45. For example, the casing may comprise a casing similar to ammunition of one or more of the following calibers: .22 rimfire, .22 magnum, .380, .22, .40, 9 mm, 10 mm, .45, .38, .357, .308, and others. For shotguns, the casing may comprise a casing similar to ammunition of one or more of the following calibers: 410 gauge, 20 gauge, 12 gauge, and others. For rifles, the casing may comprise a casing similar to ammunition in the range of the following calibers: .223 through .50 BMG. In at least one embodiment, the casing may have a diameter between about 0.17 inches and 0.51 inches. In some embodiments, the casing may be hollow. The hollow casing, in all embodiments, does not contain any primer or gunpowder. In some embodiments, the casing may be an actual casing used for ammunition, but without any primer or gunpowder. Actual casings used for ammunition typically have an extraction groove at one end of the casing. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the extraction groove has been removed from the casing  102  near the first end  104 . In other embodiments, the casing  102  may still have the extraction groove. In some embodiments, the casing  102  may comprise metal. In some embodiments, the casing  102  may comprise plastic that is suitable to prevent damage to the barrel. In some embodiment, the casing  102  may comprise a retrieval feature for easy removal of the firearm lock from the chamber. In some embodiments, the casing  102  is fixedly engaged to one end of the flexible member  110 . In one embodiment, the casing  102  may be welded, glued, or otherwise attached to the first end of the flexible member  110 . The flexible member  110  may have a diameter less than or equal to the diameter of the casing  102 . The flexible member  110  may comprise metal or a polymer. The flexible member  110  may have a polymer coating, a lubrication coating, or a protective sheath to assist with feeding the flexible member  110  into the barrel of the firearm. In at least one embodiment a portion of the flexible member  110  may comprise a cleaning feature to assist with cleaning the barrel of the gun. In at least one embodiment, the cleaning feature may be positioned near the second end of the flexible member. The locking member  106  may comprise a padlock body  112  having a case  114 . The locking member  106  may have a security feature  116  to engage the locking member  106  into a locked position relative to the flexible member  110 . The security feature  116  may comprise a keyhole for use with a key, a combination dial, a keypad, a fingerprint sensor, a wireless or Bluetooth device, sensor, or any other suitable security mechanism to verify the user and secure the locking member. The locking member  106  may comprise at least one engagement port  118  at a first end of the locking member  106  for engaging the flexible member  110  with the locking member  106 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking member  106  may have two engagement ports  118 . In at least one embodiment, a first engagement slot  118  may have a first diameter and a second engagement port  118  may have a second diameter so that the locking member  106  may be used with flexible members of different diameters, and therefore with firearms of different calibers. 
       FIG. 3  shows the firearm lock  100  of  FIG. 1  with the locking member  106  removed. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the flexible member  110  has a tip  120  that may be removably engaged with the locking member  106 . The tip may comprise metal, polymer, rubber, or other suitable material. In at least one embodiment, the tip  120  may comprise a cleaning feature to assist with cleaning the barrel of the gun. The tip  120  releasably engages with an engagement port  118  of the locking member  120 . 
       FIGS. 4-6  show one method of the present embodiment for locking the firearm using one embodiment of the firearm lock of the present disclosure.  FIGS. 4-5  show cross-sectional views of a firearm  200  with the firearm lock  202  partially installed.  FIG. 6  shows the firearm  200  with the firearm lock  202  in the locked, safe position. Firearm lock  202  comprises a casing  204 , a locking member  206 , and a flexible member  208  between the casing  210  and the locking member  206 . The flexible member  208  has a tip  212  for engaging with the engagement port  214  of the locking member  206 . 
     To lock the firearm  200  in the safe position, the slide  222  is retracted to expose the chamber  224 . The chamber  224 , in a preferred embodiment, is empty when the slide  222  is initially retracted. If the firearm still has ammunition in the magazine  226  or the chamber  224 , the ammunition should be removed prior to locking the firearm. With the chamber  224  empty, the flexible member  208 , which is fixedly attached to the casing  204 , may be inserted into at least one the chamber  204  with the tip  212  first. In some embodiments, the flexible member  208  may be inserted into the ejection port or the opening of the magazine. The flexible member  208  may then be pushed longitudinally along the barrel  228  until the tip  212  of the flexible member protrudes from the muzzle end  230  of the firearm  200 , and is visibly exposed at the muzzle end  230  of the firearm, as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 . When the tip  212  of the flexible member  208  is visibly exposed at the muzzle end  230  of the firearm, the casing  204  is positioned in the chamber  224  of the firearm, as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 . The engagement port  214  on the locking member  206  may then be engaged with the tip  212  at the muzzle end  230  of the firearm. The user may then operate the security feature  216  of the locking member  206  until the firearm lock  202  is in the locked position, and thus the firearm  200  is in a safe position. While in the safe position, the firearm lock extends between the chamber  224  and the muzzle end  230  of the firearm, preventing a round from being loaded into the chamber  224  and fired through the barrel  228  of the gun. 
     Because the casing  204  is selected based upon the caliber of ammunition for the firearm  200 , the diameter of the casing  204  of the firearm lock prevents the firearm lock  202  from being pulled from the muzzle end  230  along the barrel  228  when the firearm lock  202  is in the locked position. The diameter of the casing  204  is too large to move further down the barrel  238  and out the muzzle end  230  of the firearm  200 . 
     While in the safe position, the sights  232  on the weapon are unobstructed by the firearm lock  202 . While in the safe position, the slide  222  is free to move forwards and backwards. While in the safe position, a user may operate the trigger  234  safely to “dry fire” the firearm  200 . While in the safe position, the firearm lock  202  does not obstruct the user from handling the grip  236  as the user normally would. While in the safe position, the user can practice inserting and removing magazines  226  from the firearm  200 . Thus, with the firearm lock  202  in the safe position within the firearm  200 , the user can practice various self-defense and tactical scenarios with the firearm to help build the user&#39;s skill set, the user&#39;s familiarity with the firearm, and the user&#39;s confidence with the firearm. 
     To remove the firearm lock  202 , a user first operates the security feature  216  of the locking member  206  until the locking member  206  is disabled. The locking member  206  may then be disengaged with the tip  212  of the flexible member  208  of the lock  202 . The slide  222  can be positioned to expose the chamber  224 , and the casing  204  and the flexible member  208  can then be withdrawn from the firearm through the chamber  224  and pulled out at least one of the ejection port or the opening for the magazine, or any other entry point for the chamber. In some embodiments, the casing may comprise a retrieval feature, such as a grip or notch, to assist a user with extracting the hollow casing and the flexible member from the barrel of the firearm. 
     Although the description and figures herein show the firearm lock for use with a particular handgun or pistol, it is contemplated by the invention described herein that the firearm lock may be modified for suitable use in any handgun, shotgun, rifle, or other types of firearms. In at least one embodiment for use in a shotgun, rifle, or other long-barreled firearm, the lock may be modified to use a longer flexible member between the casing and the tip. In embodiments for use in a shotgun, rifle, or other long-barreled firearm, the flexible member may be stiffer or more rigid than the flexible member used in other embodiments for the firearm lock for the handgun or pistol. It is worth noting, however, that the firearm lock described herein is not suitable for use with revolvers or as a dry fire device for revolvers. 
     As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination, embodiment, or composition that is “substantially free of” or “generally free of” an element may still actually contain such element as long as there is generally no significant effect thereof. 
     In the foregoing description various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various embodiments were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.