Patent ID: 8919024

Claim:
Gun lock apparatus for preventing use of a trigger-operated gun by any unauthorized person, said gun lock apparatus comprising, in combination: (1) a trigger-locking device configured to be manually installed on a gun to block a trigger of the gun from firing the gun, said trigger-locking device including: (a) a trigger-blocking member configured to be manually installed on the gun in a position behind the trigger to prevent the gun from firing; (b) a movable locking member, associated with the trigger-blocking member and movable between a locked position which prevents the trigger-blocking member from being removed from the position behind the trigger of the gun and an unlocked position which enables the trigger-blocking member to be manually removed from the position behind the trigger; (c) an electromechanical device coupled to the locking member for moving the locking member between a locked position to an unlocked position in response to at least one electric signal; (d) a data receiver for receiving a gun unlock signal containing biologic identifying data; (e) a data memory for storing data including biologic identifying data identifying a person authorized to use the gun; and (f) a first logic device, coupled to the data receiver and to the data memory, for comparing said biologic identifying data contained in said gun unlock signal with biologic identifying data stored in the data memory upon receipt of the gun unlock signal, and for producing the at least one electric signal to cause the electromechanical device to move the locking member to the unlock position when the stored data and the received data are substantially the same; (2) an electronic key device, separate from the gun, having a data transmitter for transmitting the gun unlock signal to said data receiver in said trigger-locking device, said electronic key device including: (a) an input device comprising a camera for inputting biologic identifying information from a putative authorized person who wishes to unlock the gun; and (b) a second logic device, coupled to each of said data transmitter and said input device, for generating the gun unlock signal containing biologic identifying data identifying said putative authorized person and for causing said data transmitter to transmit said gun unlock signal to said data receiver; whereby said putative authorized person is recognized as an authorized person and the trigger locking device may be removed from the gun when said biologic identifying data contained in said gun unlock signal matches said biologic identifying data stored in the data memory, thereby to permit authorized operation but prevent unauthorized operation of the gun.