Patent ID: 12235059

DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. Other embodiments of the disclosure will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. In some instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the disclosure.

As used herein, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings given below, unless a different meaning is clearly intended by the contest in which such term is used.

The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” and similar referents used herein are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural unless their usage in context indicates otherwise.

As used in this disclosure, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers ingredients or steps.

The term “connected,” “attached to” or similar expression may indicate that the elements are directly connected to each other or connected through other components.

Referring first toFIGS.1,2, and3, which shows various views of the first lock body1.

The first lock body1includes a protective layer2, which may be made of rubber or elastomers. The protective layer2make it more difficult for water and debris to enter the inside of the lock.

A latch10is disposed in the receptacle15, and the latch10can be seen from the top of the first lock body1. The latch10is operatively connected to a bias member11that biases the latch10toward the interior of the receptacle15. The bias member11is a spring. In some embodiments, the bias member may be other resilient member or structure.

A first positioner12and a second positioner13are disposed on the top surface102of the first lock body1, both protruding from the top surface102of the first lock body1. The first positioner12is disposed closer to the edge of the top surface102than the second positioner13. For example, the first positioner12may be disposed on the edge of the top surface102of the first lock body1. The second positioner13has a sloped surface to facilitate positioning. In some embodiments, the positioner13has a flat surface.

One or more resilient protrusions14are disposed on the top surface102of the first lock body.

A fingerprint reader4is disposed on the bottom of the first lock body1. The fingerprint reader4is operatively connected to a controller3disposed in the housing101of the first lock body1. The fingerprint reader4may be a semiconductor fingerprint sensor.

An LED indicator light5is disposed adjacent the fingerprint reader4. For example, the LED indicator light5may be disposed around the fingerprint reader4. The LED indicator light5is operatively connected to the controller3.

An actuator7is disposed in the housing101of the first lock body1. For example, the actuator may be a motor.

A mechanical key mechanism8is disposed in the housing101of the first lock body1. The keyhole801is accessible from the bottom of the first lock body1such that the trigger lock may be opened in certain circumstances, for example, when the battery is depleted, preventing the user from unlocking the trigger lock by using fingerprint.

A USB port9is disposed on the side of the first lock body, which is operatively connected to the controller3. The USB port may be in the form of Type-C, Micro USB or other form. The USB port9may be used to update the firmware of the controller3.

The battery24is disposed in the housing101of the first lock body1. The battery24is operatively connected to the USB port9for charging. In some embodiments, the battery24may be charged by induction charging.

The battery24is also operatively connected to the actuator7and the controller3. The battery may be a rechargeable battery, for example, lithium, NiMH, or NiCad battery.

Reference is now made toFIGS.4and5.

The second lock body19includes a housing191. A protective band20is disposed on the top surface192of the second locking body19.

A lock rod16extends from the top surface192of the second lock body19. Notches161are configured on the rod16.

A groove162is configured on the side of the rod16away from the notches161. A pusher17is disposed in the groove162, and the pusher17is partially exposable from the rod16. The pusher17is movable along the groover162. The pusher17is operatively connected to a bias member18that biases the pusher17away from the housing191of the second lock body19. In some embodiments, the bias member18is a spring.

An outer positioner21is disposed on the top side of the second lock body19, which is in the form of a protrusion. An inner positioner22is disposed on the top surface192of the second lock body19, which is in the form of a protrusion. The top of the inner positioner22is sloped. In some embodiments, the top of the inner positioner22is flat. The outer positioner21is closer to the edge of the top surface192of the second lock body19than the inner positioner22.

Movable rods23are disposed in the housing191and the shafts are exposable from the top surface192of the second lock body19.

Reference is now made toFIG.6, which illustrates the trigger lock100attached to the firearm25.

When installed, the positioner12is positioned in front of the trigger guard251.

Reference is now made toFIG.7, which shows a sectional view of the trigger lock in the locked position.

The rod16is inserted in the receptacle15. The bias member11biases the latch10towards the rod16such that the teeth1001of the latch10engage the notches161of the rod16such that the trigger lock100is in the locked position. The rod16passes through the trigger guard251to prevent the trigger from being activated. To put the trigger lock100in the locked position, the lock rod16is pushed into the receptacle15and engages the latch10.

The top of the latch10is disposed in the receptacle15below the top surface102of the first lock body1, i.e., lower than the top opening of the receptacle15. As such, foreign objects cannot be inserted in the receptacle15to push the latch10to pick the trigger lock100.

The rod16, notches161and the latch10may be adjusted such that the user can adjust how tight the trigger lock100is when the trigger lock100is in the locked position. For example, the resilience of the bias member11and the bias member18, each independently, may be adjusted.

The top of the second positioner13is in contact with the top of the inner positioner22. With the outer positioner12disposed in front of the trigger guard251, the movement of trigger lock100relative to the trigger guard is limited.

The actuator7is operatively connected to the latch10such that it may withdraw the latch10from the rod16.

The mechanical lock mechanism8is also operatively connected to the latch10. When the key (not shown) is turned in the mechanical lock mechanism8, the latch is withdrawn from the rod16.

Bias members26are disposed in the housing191between the housing191and the movable rods23, biasing the rods23away from the housing191. As such, the rods23contact the sides of the trigger guard251of various shapes and sizes so that the trigger lock100is positioned to prevent access to the trigger.

Reference is now made toFIG.8.

The controller3includes a main control unit (MCU)301, a short-range wireless module302, a wireless communication module303, an actuator control module304, and an alarm305configured to produce visual and/or audio alerts. For example, the alarm305may be a buzzer. In some embodiments, the wireless communication module303is a Thread communication module that is compliant to the Thread protocol. In some embodiments, the short-range wireless module302is a Bluetooth module.

The MCU301is configured to store fingerprints, compare scanned fingerprints with the stored fingerprints, and signal the appropriate module. The stored fingerprints may be from the fingerprint reader during the initial setup.

When the scanned fingerprint matches a stored fingerprint, the MCU301causes the actuator7to move the latch10so that unlock is effected. For example, when the actuator7is a motor, a shaft of the motor may rotate, causing the latch10to disengage from the rod16.

The MCU301may be able to store fingerprints from multiple users.

The Bluetooth module302enables Bluetooth communication between the trigger lock100and the Bluetooth enabled devices, such as smartphones.

The wireless communication module303enables communication with other wireless communication-enabled devices. For example, the wireless communication module303may be compliant with the WIFI protocol for connecting with other WIFI-enabled devices.

The actuator control module304is operatively connected to the actuator7such that it can signal the actuator to move the latch10to unlock the trigger lock100. The actuator control module304may also signal the actuator to release the force on the latch10such that the latch10would return to the locked position.

The alarm305is operatively connected to the main control unit301and produces alert when a predetermined condition is met. For example, when the MCU301recognizes that the scanned fingerprint does not match stored fingerprints. The alarm305is operatively connected to the LED indicator light5such that a visual alert may be provided by causing the LED indicator light5to flash a red light. The alarm305may also periodically produce audio signal when the charge of the battery24is lower than a predetermined level.

The controller3also includes a battery control module306to check the status of the battery24and control the battery24. The battery control module306is operatively connected with the LED indicator light5. When the battery charge is lower than a predetermined level, the battery control module306may cause the LED indicator light to provide a signal, for example, by producing a red light. When the battery24is being charged, the battery control module306may cause the LED indicator light5to provide a signal, for example, by flashing red light. A green light may also be provided by the LED indicator light5when the battery24is fully charged.

In some embodiments, the controller3also includes a WIFI module to enable WIFI communication with other devices.

Reference is now made toFIG.9, which shows the trigger lock100as a part of a network.

The Bluetooth module302enables the trigger lock100to be connected to a Bluetooth-enabled device300such as a smartphone in a certain range, for example, 5 meters. As such, the trigger lock100may be controlled from an authorized app on the device300by the authorized user. Alert may also be sent from the trigger lock100to the device300.

When the Bluetooth-enabled device300is beyond a certain range from the trigger lock100, the direct Bluetooth communication between the trigger lock100and the device300is lost. The trigger lock100then communicates with a Bluetooth gateway and/or a Thread router200, which is in turn connected to a WIFI router that communicates with the internet, such that the trigger lock100connects to a user device300such as a smartphone. The user then can control the trigger lock100from the user device300, for example, from an app on a smartphone. Alerts may also be sent from the trigger lock100to the device300.

When the trigger lock100and the user device300are not connected, the main control module301stores events and alerts and transmits such events and alerts to the user device300next time the trigger lock100and the user device300are connected.

The connection between the trigger lock100and the user device300may also enable a message or to be sent to the user device300when the battery level is lower than a predetermined level.

A method for using the trigger lock100is also provided.

Before the first use of the trigger lock100, the authorized user has the fingerprint reader4read the fingerprints of the desired fingers, and the fingerprints are stored in the MCU301of the controller3. Multiple fingerprints from multiple users may be stored in the MCU301. In some embodiments, the fingerprints may be read at the user device300and transmitted from the user device300to the MCU301to be stored there.

In some embodiments, the trigger lock100is connected to the device300, for example, by Bluetooth and/or the internet, and the settings of the trigger lock100may be managed from an app on the device300. For example, the stored fingerprints, authorized users, the time period during which the trigger lock100may be unlocked, and other functions may be managed from the app on the device300. In addition, by joining the network, the trigger lock100becomes a part of the Internet of Things (IOT), and smart functions may be provided through the interactions between the trigger lock100and the network.

After setting up the trigger lock100, only authorized fingerprints or the authorized users may unlock the trigger lock100.

When the user intends to unlock the trigger lock100, the user puts the finger on the fingerprint reader4. The scanned fingerprint is sent to the MCU301of the controller3. If the scanned fingerprint matches a fingerprint stored in the MCU301, the MCU301signals the actuator control module304, which causes the actuator7to move the latch10away from the rod16such that the trigger lock100is unlocked. The bias member18pushes the pusher17, which pushes against the first lock body1, thus facilitating the separation of the first lock body1and the second lock body19.

When the MCU301determines that the scanned fingerprint matches a fingerprint stored in the MCU301, the MCU301may cause the LED indicator light5to light up, for example, in green.

If a scanned fingerprint does not match a stored fingerprint, the trigger lock100remains locked. The alarm305will produce alerts and an alert will be sent from the MCU301of the trigger lock100to the user device300, either by Bluetooth when the device300and the trigger lock100are in the predetermined range or through the internet when the trigger lock100and the device300are beyond the predetermined range.

In some embodiments, the user may issue an unlock command from an app on the device300, and the command is transferred to the MCU301, which causes the trigger lock100to unlock by movement of the actuator7as described earlier.

After the first lock body1and the second lock body19are separated, the actuator7releases the force applied on the latch10such that the latch10is biased by the bias member11to return to the locking position, ready to engage the rod16again.

In some embodiments, the MCU301will log each instance that a fingerprint is read, for example, for later identifying the person who attempted to unlock the trigger lock100. The MCU301may also transfer information about each attempt to unlock the trigger lock to the app on the device300so that a record is created and kept.

In some embodiments, the MCU301may be configured to issue an alert to the app on the device300when a fingerprint is read that does not match the fingerprints stored in the MCU301for a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period of time, for example, three or five times in two minutes. When the device300is not connected to the trigger100, for example, when one of trigger lock100or the device300is offline or out of range of each other, the MCU301retains the information and transfers the information to the device300when they are connected next time. The MCU may also cause the alarm305to produce audio and/or visual alerts.

As a part of the IOT, smart functions may be provided. For example, when the trigger lock100and the device300are in the same residence, the trigger lock100and the device300are connected by Bluetooth or local network such that the alert may be sent to the device300from the trigger lock100, or the trigger lock may be unlocked by sending the command from an app on the device300. When the device300and the trigger lock100are not in the same residence, the trigger lock100and send the alert and/or records to the device300or receive instructions from the device300by the connection through a mobile or WIFI network600by the Bluetooth gateway or Thread router200that is connected to the internet through a WIFI router400, cloud server500.

In certain circumstances, for example, when the battery24is depleted, the trigger lock100may be unlocked using a key through the mechanical lock mechanism8. A key inserted in the keyhole801is rotated, causing the latch10to disengage from the rod16such that the trigger lock100is unlocked.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.