GB2369876A

GB2369876A - Firearm with user information input means

Info

Publication number: GB2369876A
Application number: GB0025161A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Emil Mazzotta
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-13
Filing date: 2000-10-13
Publication date: 2002-06-12
Also published as: GB0025161D0

Abstract

A firearm such as a handgun 10 comprises a stock 11, a barrel 12, a cocking lever 13, a trigger 14, sights 15, 16 and a lock means which is associated with a user-information input means 17 (eg. a keypad). The locking mechanism comprises a solenoid-activated pin, biassed in to locking engagement with the root of trigger 14 when no electric power is supplied to the solenoid. Upon the entry of a personal code via keypad 17, in addition to an associated display being given on LCD 18, power is supplied to the solenoid via a transistor switch which is energised by a current from a microprocessor. A removable personal identity module (SIM card) 19 which contains pre-programmed personal identity information for a particular user (and with which the information entered by the user into keypad 17 is compared) is engaged in cavity 20. Upon the entry of a correct code, the microprocessor activates the transistor switch and with draws the pin from engagement with the trigger root, allowing the gun to be fired. The gun includes a battery power source.

Description

Firearms This invention relates to firearms especially but not exclusively for sporting or recreational use and is intended to provide a firearm which cannot be used except by the owner or another authorised person.

In recent years, there have been various well-publicised instances of firearms being stolen by mentally-disturbed people and discharged in places such as schools, with tragic consequences. As a result and in an attempt to restrict the availability of such weapons, there has arisen a demand for the use of firearms for sporting or recreational use to be subject to greater control or even banned altogether and indeed, in the UK, it is now an offence to use or to keep a breech-loading handgun or pistol and to use or to keep an unlicensed rifle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a firearm which if stolen or otherwise acquired by an unauthorised person cannot be fired.

According to one aspect of the invention, a firearm includes a lock means associated with information user-input means, whereby the lock means disables the firearm if the user is not authenticated by the input information.

The lock means may comprise a mechanical locking element movable between lock and release positions and preferably biassed to the lock position, movement to the release position being controlled for example by a solenoid.

In one embodiment, the means for inputting user information comprises a keypad and optionally an associated display, for example a liquid crystal display, and the lock means is associated with a microprocessor which compares the input information with master information stored in a memory and generates a"release"command if the input information matches the master information. The microprocessor preferably defaults to prevent firing by failing to generate a"release"command in the absence of input information or on the input of incorrect information, thereby maintaining the lock condition and disabling the firearm.

The memory may comprise a removable personal identity module (a"SIM card") similar to that commonly used in mobile telephones, Such a removable module can of course be kept remote from the firearm when the firearm is not intended to be used as an additional safeguard against abuse but it may nevertheless be desirable for the firearm to contain a memory facility with means to interrogate and accept or reject the removable module on insertion thereof, whereby not only must the module itself be correct but also must the user-input information.

Of course, in a simpler embodiment, the user-input information may be contained on the removable module which thus acts as an electronic key to activate the firearm for use.

Optionally, the memory is able to receive, store and yield information relating to the firing history of the firearm. This facility could be of assistance to the security forces in determining whether, for example, a particular gun had been used at a particular time.

The microprocessor output is preferably connected to a transistor which controls the supply of a working current to a solenoid for activation of the lock means to the release position.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates diagrammatically a handgun including disablement means according to the invention.

The drawing illustrates a handgun shown generally at 10 and consisting of a stock 11, a barrel 12, cocking lever 13, trigger 14 and sights 15,16. The gun incorporates a locking mechanism comprising a solenoid-activated pin which is biassed into locking engagement with the root of the trigger 14 in the absence of electric power supplied to the solenoid.

Power to the solenoid is supplied through a transistor switch which is energised by current from a microprocessor on entry of a personal code via keypad 17 associated with a readout LCD 18. A removable personal identity module 19 is engageable in cavity 20 and carries pre-programmed personal identity code information with which the keypad-entered code is compared to verify, or otherwise, the authenticity of the would-be user. If the code entered via the keypad is correct, the microprocessor sends a signal which activates the transistor switch and withdraws the pin from engagement with the trigger root, thereby enabling the gun to be fired. The gun includes a suitable power source, generally a battery.

Claims

Claims 1. A firearm including a lock means associated with information user-input means, whereby the lock means disables the firearm if the user is not authenticated by the input information.
2. A firearm according to claim 1, in which the lock means comprises a mechanical locking element movable between lock and release positions.
3. A firearm according to claim 2, in which the locking element is biassed to the lock position.
4. A firearm according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which movement of the locking element to the release position is controlled by a solenoid.
5. A firearm according to any proceeding claim, in which the means for inputting user information comprises a keypad and optionally an associated display.
6. A firearm according to claim 5, in which the lock means is operatively associated with a microprocessor which in use compares the input information with master information stored in a memory and generates a"release"command if the input information matches the master information.
7. A firearm according to claim 6, in which the microprocessor defaults to prevent firing by failing to generate a"release"command in the absence of input information or on the input of incorrect information.
8. A firearm according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which the memory comprises a removable personal identity module.
9. A firearm according to claim 8, in which the firearm contains a memory facility with means to interrogate and accept or reject the removable module on insertion thereof.
10. A firearm according to any of claims 6 to 8, in which the user-input information is contained on the removable module.
11. A firearm according to any of claims 6 to 11, in which the memory is able to receive, store and yield information relating to the firing history of the firearm.
12. A firearm according to any of claims 6 to 11, in which the microprocessor output is connected to a transistor which controls the supply of a working current to a solenoid for activation of the lock means to the release position.
13. A firearm substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.