Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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I~&~ Field of InveDtion
The invention relates to the security of firearms and provides a positive method of
locking and preventing the loading and firing of a firearm without requiring the
5 diDa~ llJly~ partial destruction, or permanent ~ iril -l;.... of the firearm.
Discussion of Prior Art
10 Several firearm safety devices have been developed and marketed which attempt to
increase the safety and security of an unattended firearm in some way.
The ;ull~ lwal devices which have been recently marketed are:
Trigger Lock.
Cylinder Lock.
Cable Lock.
Bore-Blocker, and Bore-Plug variants.
Strap "Locks", and variants.
20 The Trigger Lock is a device which fits through the trigger guard of a firearm and
prevents .. ~ of the trigger. The device does not prevent the loading or
cycling of the firearm. It is usable on any firearm which has a distinct trigger guard
of suitable ' The device does not generally interfere with the storage and
2~ ~23~
transpon of the firearrn, howeYer it would prevent the storage of a handgun type
firearm in a holster, limiting the ,.1,~ for Military, Police, Security Guard, or
some types of ~U~ iLiv~ shooting use.
5 The Cylinder Lock is a device which has application to swing out cylinder revolvers
or revolving rifles only. The device is placed in one cylinder of the revolver when
the cylinder is in the loading (swung out) position. The device does not contain a true
lock, although current liUIIIIII~ I designs could be modified to do so, and it prevents
the normal storage or carrying of the firearm. In addition, the use of the Cylinder
10 Lock type of security devices would severely mar the exterior finish of the firearm
where contact occurs. This would seriously degrade the appearance of the firearm
and could lead to corrosion or damage where a the exterior finish was worn or
damaged.
15 The Cable Lock, in its many variants, is a locking cord which is fitted through the
action or magazine well of the firearm. The Cable Lock relies on the cable jamming
the bolt or some other key pan of the firearrn and preventing it from cycling or
locking in the firing position. This type of device is very susceptible to the design of
the firearrn. In general, it will work on pump action or semi-automatic firearms. It
20 will not work well on many bolt action firearms because these firearms do not have
the restrictive geometry required to ensure safety. Also, the camming action of the
rifle bolt as it closes can be used to degrade the cable eventually allowing the normal
closing of the bolt. The Cable Lock will not work at all on most manual firearms
3~
since the geometry on which the lock relies is not present. The use of the cable lock
on revolver type firearms is limited at best. It can obstruct a single cylinder and
perhaps limit the cylinder rotation during the firing cycle of the firearm, but it is not
generally suitable to render the firearm inoperative.
The Bore-Blocker is a device which attempts to block the actual bore of the firearm.
The device relies on a , ' of the component parts and thus is not a lock. It
is intended to prevent young children from operating a firearm so equipped because
the ", ~ , requires .".--1f~1.1P strength. It could have application to a number
10 of firearms types since it attempts to block the bore rather than hinder the
This device could also prevent the loading of the chamber of the firearm.
The variants of the Bore Blocker type security device are the Bore Plug devices.
These devices rely on engaging a part of the firearm geometry and using this
to secure a plug in the bore of the firearm. Several means have been
tried to achieve this goal, including the use of expanding pins which engage the bore
and which would lead to marking and serious df~ Li~ of the firearms bore surface
with even normal use. The firearm bore would be severely damage should an attempt
be made to remove the device, even through the efforts of some one handling the
20 firearm and being unfamiliar with the device installed. Other variants of the Bore
Plug extend through the bore and engage some parts of the firearrn chamber with
expanding collet type means or multiple fingers of material. These do not necessarily
block the loading of the firearm, and their use would seriously diminish the finish and
2~3~9
thus firing accuracy of the bore of the firearm.
The Strap Lock type of firearms safety device is essentially made up of bands of
rubber or like material which are placed over key parts of the firearm to hinder the
5 loading or l ' of the firearm's action. These straps may be of a non-
e~panding type which are fitted and secured in place and must be cut free in order to
access the firearm. Neither type of Strap Lock contains an actual lock means, but
they are simply intended to prevent very weak persons (such as young children) from
accessing the firearm easily or to provide short term hindrance of the action of the
10 firearm.
None of these previous devises have been widely accepted by firearm owners. The
devices all :~rc-lmrli~h some aspect of the desired result, but none of the devices
provide definite security for the firearm owner against ' i...,l loading and
15 firing.
Several patents have been taken out in areas relating to the security of firearms.
Canadian Patent 1219482 entitled EXTERNALLY VISIBLE SAFETY DEVICE FOR
20 EiIREARMS, issued to Johnson describes a device which fits into the magazine well of
a firearm and blocks the bolt from travelling forward into battery. This device is held
in place by the magazine catch of the firearm and is intended as a range safety
accessory. It is not a lock and may be readily removed by unskilled persons.
~239~
Canadian Patent 1197719 entitled PrREARM SAPETY APPARATUS AND
METHOD POR USING SAME, issued to Bayn describes a device which is designed
to fit into the breech or muzzle of a firearm and be held in place by a frangible strap.
The strap is secured in place and must be cut to release. This is not a ~ ly
5 durable or reusable security method.
Canadian Patent 1073256 entitled RIFLE BOLT LOCKING APPARATUS, issued to
Dubeil describes a device intended to lock the bolt of a rifle in place and prevent the
loading or cycling of the action of the rifle. This type of device prevents the
10 operation of the ætion but does not positively identify or prevent the previous loading
of, or discharge of the previously loaded cartridge.
Canadian Patent 945411 entitled TRIGGER SAPETY DEVICE issued to Sperling,
places a block behind the trigger of the firearm. The device may be fitted or locked,
15 as in the Trigger Lock previously described, in place. This device does not insure
that the firearm can not be loaded or ~--ir--
F.Y:lrnin~ir.n of the United States Patents shows a number of other patents have beenissued in this area.
U.S. Patent 5241770 entitled GUN LOCKING APPARATUS issued to Lambert,
places a plug through the bore of the firear~n and uses an expanding means to engage
the chamber of the firearm. This device would not prevent the cycling or loading of
2~
all types of firearms and the locking means is exposed where it could easily be cut
free releasmg the firearm for use. U.S. Patent 5001854 to Durman is a variant of this
type of design with the same drawbacks.
U.S. Patent 5239767 entitled HIGH SECURITY GUN LOCK DEVICE issued to
Briley et al, places an extension through the bore of the firearm to engage a modified
dummy round in the chamber of the firearm. A complex manually . ' ' lock
is used to secure the device in place. The lock is fully exposed and can be released
through ", ~ ;"" freeing the firearm. The dummy round is modified to expand
upon attempted forced removal, and thus forcibly engage the interior of the firearm
bore causing permanent marking and damage. The means of locking the parts
together is a contracting spring collet type ;~ lIL which is not solid through the
locking plane and which could be overcome by application of sufficient force.
1~ U.S. Patent 5171924 entitled FLAGGED FIREARMS LOCK METHOD AND
APPARATUS issued to Honey et al, places an expanding plug through the bore from
the chamber. The plug is designed to be completely contained within the firearm and
to push a warning flag forward from the muzzle when the firearm is loaded. This
could be dangerous because it requires the firearm be loaded in order to fully engage
the device and the device does not prevent the discharge of the firearm. Discharging
the firearm with the plug in place could result in severe personnel injury. The device
does not provide a secure locking means for retaining the device in plæe, rather it is
manually inserted and removed without aid. U.S. Patent 5179234 to Cvetanovich is
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also a variant of this type of design.
U.S. Patent 4908971 entitled SAFETY LOCK FOR ~IREARMS issued to Chaney,
places a friction fitting plug into the bore of the firearrn, which engages a plug in the
5 chamber. The device is fitted and retained solely by friction and is not a lock in that
no key or, ' is required to release it. Eurther, the device protrudes
S~ icallLly from the muzzle of the firearrn in order that it may be grasped for
remoYâl, and this limits the storage of the firearm in much the same manner as the
device of Briley et al. U.S. Patents 4999940, 4969284, and 4783924 also describe
10 variants of the bore block device with various drawbacks that cause these designs to
not meet the needs of the invention described herein.
In addition, a number of patents have been issued for plug type devices, including
U.S. Patents 5231236, 5115589, 5054223, 5048211, 5044105, and 4827649. These
15 devices do not secure the firear~ns from both the chamber and muzzle and they depend
on the friction of tines or sealing rings to remain in place and to resist forceable
removal. These designs are considered not, rr- 1,~ secure and they are generally
designed in a manner that could cause UlUl~,eooal~y damage to the firearm during their
normal use.
There are additional designs, predating those indicated, which have been studied but
they do not meet the needs of the firearm lock design stated herein. Significant work
in the area of external firearms safety devices has only recently begun and an
invention of the type described herein will exceed the utility of these previous devices.
Each of the devices mentioned can contribute to increasing the safety of a firearm
and/or to reducing the possibility of an accidental discharge. However, none of the
ideas fully meets the goals of positively resisting tampering and ' ' removal,
5 of hmdering or preventing the loading and firing of the firearm, and of being easily
removed and reliably reinstalled from a variety of firearm models and all types of
cartridge firing firearm designs.
10 Objects aod Advantages
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:
(a) to provide a firearm lock which is durable and reusable;
1~ (b) to provide a firearm lock which can be easily installed and removed;
(c) to provide a firearm lock which will prevent or hinder the loading and firing of
live when installed in the firearm;
(d) to provide a firearm lock which will not interfere will normal L~ JulL~liu
and storage of the firearm;
20 (e) to provide a firearm lock which will not mark or degrade the exterior finish of
the firearm in which it is installed;
(f) to provide a firearln lock which will not mark or degrade the interior finish of
the firearm in which it is installed;
(g) to provide a firearrn lock which will prevent or hinder the cycling of the action
of the firearrn when installed in the firear n;
(h) to provide a firear~n lock which can be easily adapted to fit various firearrn
types, calibers, and barrel lengths; and,
5 (i) to provide a firearm lock which will be adaptable to all types of cartridge firing
firearm actions.
~urther objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a
cul~;dcla~iull of the drawings and ensuing description of it.
Drawing Figures
Eiigure 1 shows a ~cl~e~,~ivc view of the invention before installation in the firear n.
Pigure 2 shows a section view of the invention partially in place in the firearm.
I;igure 3 shows a section view of the invention fixed in place in the fireartn.
20 ~igure 4 shows a section view of the invention with the lock located outside of the
firear n's barrel.
Figure 5 shows a section view of an alterrlate ClllbO-IilllCll~ of the invention utilising a
2142~
12
rotating locking element.
Reference Numerals In Drawings
Equivalent parts in alternate . ' - ' have the same numbers, but alphabetic
suffixes are added:
10 Chamber blocking device
10 lZ Extractor~,.~;,~,~,..,.~..l feature
14 Through hole
16 F..~"."~...~..~ surfaces
18 Alignment guide
20 Bore blocking device
15 22 Bore block
24 Locking bar
26 Locking bar tip
28 Lock body
30 Lock
20 32 Bore protector
34 Muzzle protector
40 Muzzle cover
90 ~irearm barrel
2~ 9~
13
92 Firearm bolt
94 Firearm extractor
96 Firearm muzzle device
Description of Invention - Figures 1
A typical ~ ' of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1.
10 The firearm lock is comprised of a chamber blocking device 10 which exterior
~llG~ iull takes the form of a cartridge suitable to the firearm and fits into the
firearm's chamber amd prevents the loading or firing of live , and a bore
blocking device 20 which fits into the barrel of the firearm and locks to the chamber
block 10. In the preferred ~llIL ' a durable material such as a corrosion
resistant steel is used for the chamber block 10, a bore block 22, a locking bar 24, a
locking bar tip 26, and a lock body 28. A lock 30 is a suitable ~oll....~ lly
available lock. In detail:
The chamber block 10 has a grooved 16 hole 14 through it's centre. The hole 14
20 allows the insertion of the locking bar tip 26 into the chamber block 10. The grooves
16 are made to engage the locking bar tip 26. The grooves 16 are designed to prevent
the locking bar tip 26 from being withdrawn by pushing, pulling, twisting, rotating, or
a .~ ... of IIIU~. ' of the two assemblies relative to one another. The
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14
grooves 16 may be designed to allow for multiple t~ r~ points to facilitate the
al~ mm~ n of differing barrel 90 lengtbs.
The bore blocking device 20 is comprised of a bore block 22 which contains a locking
bar tip 26 and moumts a lock body 28. A locking bar 24 engages a lock 30 and fits
within the bore block 22. The locking bar 24 slides inside of the bore block 22 under
the influence of the lock 30 causing the locking bar tip 26 to be fixed m l --~;~ L. -- -';
with the chamber block 10 and to thus fix the bore block 20 in place relative to the
chamber block 10.
The bore blocking device 20 contains elements, the lock body 28 and muzzle cover40, which contact the muzzle of the firearm in a manner which prevents the complete
firearm lock assembly from being drawn partially or completely rearward through the
barrel 90 of the firearm.
The chamber block 10 contains a feature 12 which engages the extractor of a firearm
94 and prevents or hinders the drawing of a bolt 92 to the rear once the firearm lock
is secured in place.
Description of Inventioll - Figllre 4
An alternate ~ l,o~ of the invention is shown in Figure 4 where a lock 30a is
~23~g
placed outside of a barrel 90 of a firearm. A lock body 28a covers the muzzle toprevent cycling of the firearm. The lock 30 remains outside of the barrel 90. This
- ' is p~,.; ' '~, applicable to firearms with a muzzle device 96 which
makes access to the muzzle of the barrel 90 with the key difficult.
The remaining ~ of the invention remain the same.
Description of Invention - Pigure 5
An second alternate t~ bol" of the invention is shown in Figure 5. A chamber
block l0b is designed to accept a multiple pinned locking bar tip 26b. A bore block
22b is formed to maintain the position of the locking bar tip 26b relative to the
chamber block l0b. A lock 30b is a ~ullh..~., ''~l available rotating-type lock.
The remaining ~~ -~ ~ of the invention remain the same.
Operation - Fignres 2 and 3
20 The manner of operating the firearm lock is simple and easily mastered.
The chamber blocking device l0 is placed into the chamber of the firearm. The bolt
92 of the firearm is closed and the extractor 94 engages the rim of the chamber block
~ 9;~
16
10. The bore blocking device 20 is slid completely into the barrel 92 of the firearm.
The lock 30 is actuated to fix the device in place.
Pigure 2 shows the chamber block 10 in place in the firearm barrel 90. The firearm
5 bolt 92 has been closed and ti3e firearm extractor 94 has engaged the chamber block
10. The bore block 20 is partially inserted in the barrel 90. The lock 30 is in the
released position allowing the locking bar tip 26 to contract amd fit into the chamber
block 10.
E~igure 3 shows the bore block 20 completely in place. The lock 30 has been actuated
and the locking bar 24 has moved to force tne locking bar tip 26 to engage the
chamber block 10.
The bore protector 32 and the muzzle protector 34 can be seen between the bore block
20 and the firearm's barrel 90. The bore protector 32 can be fixed or can be movable
to cover the locking bar tip 26 during installation of the bore block 20 to fully protect
the barrel of the firearm from damage. The muzzle protector 34 can be fixed or
moveable and may be of varying thickness to provide an ~ . fit to the
firearm's barrel length.
Removal of the firearm lock is I . ' ' I by operating the lock 30 to release the
locking bar 24. The bore block 20 is withdrawn from the firearm. The bolt 92 of the
firearm is cycled to the rear and the chamber block 10 is removed from the chamber
1 7
of the firearln by the extractor 94 or by angling the firearm to cause the chamber
block 10 to slide free.
Operation of the alternate .~ b- ' is identical to the manner described herein.
Surmnal y, R~ ~ ' nnd Scope
Accordingly, the reader will see that the Pirearm Lock can be used to quickly, easily,
~U~ ly, and effectively lock any firearm. In addition, the Eiirearm Lock
provides positive, visible proof that the subject firearm is safe and cannot be fired. A"
P uLll~ llolt:, the l~irearm Lock has the additional advantages in that;
it can be easily ' .:d for all calibers and barrel lengths;
it provides a positive lock preventing tampering with the firearln through
15 preventing the cycling of the action of the firearm;
it provides a means of safely handling firearms during the training of
novice shooters;
it provides a means of safely training Police or other security personnel in
the use of firearms in an interactive (role playing) ~lvilolull~lL with maximum safety
20 for all p~h Li~ ,llt~,
it does not depend on the firearm's action type or external physical
geometry to operate correctly and effectively.
2~ ~2~9
18
Although the description above contains several ~ iri~ . these should not be
construed as limitmg the scope of the invention, but as merely providing il!i i,.~;.,..
of the some of the presently preferred ~ ' ' of the invention. For example,
the bore blocking device could be made using a flexible bore block to allow use in
5 related ~ requiring the positive closure of a straight or non-straight bore;
the locking bar tip could have different shapes such as squared or rounded gripping
surfaces; etc.
Thus the scope of the mvention should be determined by the appended claims and
10 their legal e4uiv ' rather that by the examples given.
