Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
~ .
Device for securing a firearm and also for securing and/or storing objects
The invention relates to a device for securing a firearrT and a device for securing
and/or storing objects, as described in the preambles of claims 1 and 2.
Various safety devices for securing firearms against unauthorised removal and/orfiring are already known. Normally, firearms are stored in locked cupboards, e.g. rifle
cabinets, or in various museums or exhibitions monitored by anti-theft devices or
provided with locking devices. It is already known, to activate release l l ,ecl ,anisms
for the triggering mechanism of firearms, for example via the effect of a magnetic
field by rings or the like worn on the hand or on the trigger finger. The disadvantage
of these devices is that locking elements, such as keys or the like, always have to be
stored se~.ardtely and the existing safety devices tend to be readily visually
identifiable or easily circumvented by a criminal.
Furthermore, various ~toraye devices for objects, such as, for example, steel
cabinets, strongboxes, safe-deposit boxes in banks, hand magazines and the like,are already known in different safety designs with respect to antitheft and fire safety.
It is also known to provide electrical and/or electronic safety systems and burglar
prote~;tion systems, in particular for strongboxes or safe-deposit boxes. The
disadvantage here, is that for locking and opening such strongboxes and safes orsafe-deposil boxes locks with coi"pl ~ted keys or number codes have to be used,
which are relatively easy to reconstruct or to copy, and it is fairly easy for a malicious
third party, when said valuables containers or safes or safe-deposit boxes are
opened, to discover how they are opened.
From US 5,461,812 A a system for safeguarding a firearm from unauthorised firingis known. Said weapon system comprises a transmission unit assigned to an
authorised user of the firearm in the form of a finger ring and a receiver unit assigned
to the firearm for the iclel ,liricdlion signals emitted by the transmission unit of the
user. Furthermore, said system comprises a programn~ing device, with which the
transmission and receiving units can be programmed or coordinated with one
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
another. A shot fire from the firearm is in this case only possible after a completed
successful positive identiricdtion of an authorised user. Said identification is made by
the receiving unit in the firearm in that the latter evaluates the signals emitted by the
transmission comprising an identification number. In addition, the transmission unit
of the user is assigned a switching device by means of which the transmission unit
depending on the respective switching states is surF'.ed with electrical energy from
an energy source in the transmission unit. The switching device is desiy"ed in such
a way that the tra"s",ission unit is only supplied with electrical energy from the
energy source in the form of a battery, when the trans",ission unit is worn by a user,
and in addition a metallic object or the firearm is seized by said user for which a
metal detector is used. In addition the receiving unit in the w~eapon is assigned an
energy source which depending on a safety switch on the shot gun supplies the
electric components of the receiving unit with electrical energy. It is disadvantageous
here that the mechanical switch devices assigned to the receiving unit and the
transmission unit for the controlled energy supply to the transmission unit and the
receiving unit naturally possess a certain lack of switch safety. The correct switching
function of the two switch devices cannot be ensured for example becaus~ of
oxidation of the switch contacts on the finger ring or the switch contacts connected in
series of the metal detector. In addition by means of the manually operated switching
device for the receiving unit in the weapon incorrect operations cannot be excluded.
A serious consequence of this is that the firearm is not ready for use in an
unforeseen emergency situation, whereby the acceptance of such a device is
unlikely.
From DE 44 46 020 A1 a device for the conll~',ed release of a shot is known, in
which between an authorised user and a weapon a lrd"s"~itter-receiver system is set
up. In particular, a transmitter is assigned to the authorised user and a receiver
attached to the weapon to be safeguarded. The function of the weapon is here only
released if a predeterminable maximum distance between the weapon and the
authorised user is not exceeded and the weapon is arranged in a suitable position
relative to the authorised user. For determining the distance between the weaponand the authorised user said system comprises a device, by means of which the
distance and the spatial position of the weapon relative to the authorised user is
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
continually measured. The transmitter and receiver after the activation of the system
are continually in contact and continually check the actual distance. The activation or
free switching of the transmitter-receiver system can here also be performed by a far
remote service point or authority or even by the authorised user himself by using a
PIN, a credit card, a chip or plug. A disadvantage here is that the device for the
continual monitoring of the distance between the transmitter and receiver or formonitoring the position of the v~eapon can fail or detect false measurements, and
these can then lead to an incorrect control of the weapon. As a result of this the
authorised user is refused the use of the firearm in many cases used for personal
protection and such a system is unlikely to be popular.
From US 5,168,114 A a safety device against unauthorised firearm use is known,
which comprises a transmission unit arranged in an arm band of an authorised user
and a receiving unit interacting with said transmission unit in the firearm to be
protected. The transmission unit is here designed to emit coded radio signals and by
means of a switch to be operated manually by the user can be supplied with
electrical energy by a rechargeable battery in the transmission unit, so that a
corresponding radio signal can be emitted by the transmitter. With every switching
off of the power supply by the switching means activated as necessary, the
transmission unit and the assigned reception unit has to be recoded or readjusted.
This coding is performed by a coding device designed as a separate co",ponent bywhich also the batteries of the l,c.ns",ission unit and the reception unit can be
recharged. It is a disadvantage here that with an early or unforeseen discharge of
the battery in the transmission unit the shot release is no longer possible and a
reproyldllllllill9 or readjustment of the assigned transmission and/or receiving unit
has to be performed by the coding device, in order to reobtain a live or ready-to-fire
weapon. A further disadvantage of this battery-buffered transmission unit is that the
operating readiness of the system is dependent on the charged state of the battery.
From US 5,062,232 A an additional safety device is known for preventingunauthorised firing. Here preferably the hand surface of the fingers of the authorised
user is assigned an identification means a kind of permanent magnetic code or a
barcode. Said identification in the region of the hand surface of the user or even on a
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
3a
glove can be scanned by a suitable reading unit in the region of the handle of the
weapon. On the co.nci.li"y of the read identification with a given ide~ ca(ion the
firing is permitted in that an ele~t,ul"ayl,et in the weapon is charged with electrical
energy from a battery. The disadvantage in this case is that the pen"a"el)t magnetic
means providing the idel ,tirlcation or gener~li"g the code or the barcode is also
subject to wear after a long period of use and therefore said idenliricdliû~ means with
increasing use becomes more and more difficu~t to read or even unusable. The
reliability of the identification of the entitled user is thus with continuous use for
example by wear on the pe""anently magnetic means or by scratching the bar code
attached to the inside of the hand is decreased further and further so that the
authorised user is denied the ability to fire in certain circumstances.
From US 5 459 957 a safety device for preventing unauthorised firing with a firearm
is known in which to check an authorised user a voice recognition device is
provided. A requirement for obtaining the firing-ready state of the weapon is that the
personal identification umber (PIN) is spoken by the user. The speech signal is
received by the voice recoyl ,ition device and the received speech pattern analysed.
If there is a correspondence between the received speech pattern and the speech
pattem stored in a memory of the speech recognition device the user of the firearm
is recognised as authorised. A disadvantage here is that physical changes in state or
particular psychological changes in mood of the authorised user e.g. slight illness
nervousness panic or the like have an effect on the voice and as a result the firearm
is not rPle~sed by the voice ~coy"ition device when a shot needs to be fired.
From US 5 016 376 A a device for preventing the unauthorised firing of a gun is also
known. Said device comprises an electromagnet arranged in the weapon which can
release or lock a mechanical lock in the firearm. Said ele.;t~o",agnet is in this case
depending on a switch device loaded with electrical energy by a battery in the
firearm. The power supply of the electromagnet is performed only when a permanent
magnet designed as a finger ring is in the vicinity of the switch device and the switch
contacts connected in series in said switch device close the circuit and in this way
the battery charges the electromagnet with electric energy. The switch device is here
form by magnetic field dependent mechanical switch contacts which only on the
.. .. ..
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
3b
existence of a specific field strength enter into the closed switch state. The
disadvantage here is that the number of clearly distinguishable magnetic fields is
severely rest~icted and in this way the safety device can be avoided at relatively little
eA~.ense.
The objective of the present invention is to create a safety device for firearms which
creates the possibility of contactless iden~ilic~lion and in certain circu",stances can
also be used as a child safety devlce. Fu,lher",ore, a stordye device with a safety
device is developed, which creates the possibility of contactless idel ,tiricdtio" and in
certain circu",std"ces can be used as a child's safety device.
Said objective of the invention is achieved by the chard.;te, i:,lics described in the
characterising part of claims 1, 2 or 3. The advantage of these solutions is that a
precisely defined safety code with virtually unlimited scope for variation can be
formed, so that even an inadvertent triggering on a chance coinciding of the safety
codes or a master code is virtually impossible. In addition, the safety device can only
be deactivated when the leylt;llldte user or the latter's hand is positioned at a
precisely predetermined, comparatively short distance from the firearm and/or from
the holding or storage device or from the object. In this way a 1, iggeri, 19 by an
unauthorised third party and/or in an emergency the use of the weapon by a criminal
and also the disarming of the firearm user, in particular by public bodies, such as for
ex~,~,ple the police or the like, is not possible or achievable, as only when the
authorised user has his hand in the immediate vicinity of the firearm can the firearm
be triggered and/or used. Even if a criminal gains access to the weapon by violent
means, he will not be able to use the firearm but rather gives the person under threat
the possibility of making corresponding counter and defence measures to the
complete surprise of the criminal or attacker. Fulll,erl"ore, a lliggering by anunauthorised third party and/or in an emergency the opening by a criminal is notpossible or achievable, because only when the authorised user has his hand in the
immediate vicinity of the storage device is a triggering and/or an opening of the
locking device possible. Even if a criminal gained access by violent means to the
storage device he would not be able to deactivate the alarm system and there is thus
a further opportunity to take counter and defensive measures.
, . . . .
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
A further significant advantage is that non-battery and hence maintenance-free
transmission and/or receiving units are formed, ensuring high operational reliability
and a constant state of preparedness of the safety device. Furthermore, a release by
an unauthorised third party or in an emergency the opening by a criminal is not
possible or achievable, as only when the legitimate user has his hand in the
im",ediate vicinity of the storage device is a release and/or opening of the locking
device possible. Even if a criminal were to use violent means to gain access to the
storage device he cannot deactivate the alarm system and there is still the possibility
of taking corresponding counter and defensive measures.
In addition, a design according to claim 4 is advantageous, in that it incorporates a
one-way data transmission path and receiving units assigned to a transmission unit
permit a cost-effective design and energy-optimised operation of the safety device.
A further embodiment according to claim 5 permits the construction of a two-way
data transmission path, whereby feedback concerning the operational status of the
safety device is enabled and, if necessary by way of thus controlled display and/or
signalling devices the operating status of the safety device can be monitored at any
time.
A design according to claim 6 is also possible, as a proven and reliable wireless
energy transfer is thus enabled, and in addition the identification device to besupplied with power owing to the absence of the power-supplying primary cells, in
particular batteries, can be designed to be particularly small and light.
An advantageous design is also described in claim 7, as the control and/or operation
of the safety device according to the invention and/or device is performed by
personal objects of the authorised user, that are constantly available and do not
need to be stored separately, whereby the misplacing or loss of the transmissionand/or receiving unit of the user is almost excluded, and in addition a high degree of
protection against misuse of the safety device, by children for example is ensured.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
.
3d
Because of the particularly simple, rapid and automatic handling for the activation or
deactivation of the safety device defensive action is possible to the complete
surprise of attackers, as the attacker or criminal assumes that to remove the firearm
a complicated manipulation of coded locks or keys will be necessary. The rapid
availability and operational readiness of the firearm is also particularly advantageous
for security guards or the police, as there is no need for the manual, time-consuming
unlocking of the firearm using safety catches. Furthermore, because of the
especially simple, quick and automatic handling for the activation and deactivation of
the safety device, for a criminal the opening of the storage device cannot be
understood without considerable manipulation with code locks or keys.
Further advantageous arrangements of the user's transmission and/or receiving unit
which ensure that the transmission and/or receiving unit are extremely
inconspicuous and are always operationally ready and/or that the locking mechanism
is immediately accessible, are characterised in claim 8.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
A design according to claim 9 is also advantageous, in that thereby the distancebetween assigned transmission and/or receiving units for the removal of the firearm
and/or for discharging a shot with the firearm can be kept extremely small, thusexcluding an unintentional deactivation of the safety device. In addition, the distance
between assigned transmission and/or receiving units for the removal of objects, for
example also weapons, contained in the storage device, can be kept particularly
small, thus excluding an inadvertent deactivation of the safety device. The small
maximum distance between the transmission and/or receiving unit of the user and
the transmission and/or receiving unit assigned thereto also favours the use of a
wireless and/or no-contact power transfer device.
A further advantageous design is characterised in claim 10, as it reduces the power
consumption of the identification device yet nevertheless performs an authoriseduser check without any loss of security, if the checking intervals are kept
correspondingly short.
With the design according to claim 11 in particular a transmission and/or receiving
equipped with its own primary cell power supply can be operated at optimised power
consumption.
In the design according to claim 12 or 41 the power consumption of the identification
device can be reduced without risking the safety or function of the safety device.
In the advantageous design according to claim 13 or 14, an authorised user can be
identified without however deactivating the locking device e.g. for removal of the
firearm and/or for firing a shot, and only when the authorised user is located within
the distance range e.g. to the firearm, can the locking device be deactivated. The
authorised user is thus provided with an automatic locking and unlocking of the
firearm or the holding and/or storage device serving his own protection.
The advantageous design according to claim 15 or 16 facilitates an individual
adaptation of the transmission distance or transmission range within which a
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
deactivation of the locking devices can take place, whereby different user
requirements and e.g. different sizes of rifles or handguns can be accommodated.
A design construction according to claim 17 is also advantageous as reliable data
transmission can be selected for the respective working range of the safety device.
The circumvention of the safety device by an unauthorised third party is excluded by
the design according to claim 18, as copying or storage of the communicated
identification data by an unauthorised third party will be unsuccessful owing to the
change in identification data from one transmission to the next.
In the advantageous design according to claim 19 a circumvention of the safety
device by an unauthorised reading of the identification code is likewise prevented, as
the latter is only transmitted if the unambiguous, unmistakable identification is
assigned to the received electromagnetic alternating field.
A further advantageous design of the safety device is described in claim 20. Hereby,
regardless of the transmission ranges or reception sensitivities of the transmission
and/or receiving units, the distance between the authorised user and the holdingdevice and/or firearm is measured and incorporated in the control sequence of the
safety device. Furthermore, the distance between the authorised user and the
holding and/or storage device or the object is measured and incorporated into the
control sequence of the safety device, whereby if necess~ry particularly high
functional and operational safety of the device is achieved.
By means of the advantageous design according to claim 21 or 42, a constantly
operationally ready maintenance-free and service-free safety device is obtained,whereby attention is paid to a safety device that is functional in all operatingconditions.
A particularly advantageous design is characterised in claim 22, as thus merely by
replacing or returning the firearm to the corresponding holding device the charging
process, for example for the accumulators, can be started automatically. In addition,
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
_..
merely by closing or placing the holding and/or storage device correctly, the charging
process, for example for the accumulators can be started automatically.
In the advantageous design according to claim 23 or 43, the presence of a safetydevice is not discernible, so that it is impossible for an attacker to plan or to take
appropriate measures. Rather, the authorised user of the safety device is able to
start defensive or counter-measures particularly rapidly much to the surprise of the
attacker. In addition, it is not possible for a third party to identify the means of
opening the holding and/or storage device.
The advantageous design according to claim 24 or 44 enables by simple electricalengineering or mechanical means the activation or deactivation of the firing device or
locking device on the most suitable part of the hrearm or holding and/or storagedevice, in terms of space and construction.
In the advantageous design of a holding device for the safety device according to
claim 25 in conjunction with the safety device a particularly swift handgun
accessibility can be achieved thereby providing better chances of defence or of
overpowering criminals.
A design according to claim 26 is advantageous in that the removal of the firearm
from the holding device is checked, and the firearm can be removed automatically by
the authorised user without additional measures.
A particularly simple, cost-effective and automatic locking or unlocking of the
handgun can be achieved with the holding device according to claim 27.
The design according to claim 28 facilitates a particularly secure, high-loadable
locking of the handgun by means of parts and/or constructions found on the firearm.
The advantageous design according to claim 29 facilitates an automatic mounting
and locking of the firearm by the holding device. The sensor can also be used for
detecting the removal of the firearm from the holding device, and on recording the
....
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
.
removal times and/or period of removal via the identification device can prove useful
in clarifying criminal acts or for refuting or confirming an alibi.
Finally, a design according to claim 30 is advantageous, since hereby the handgun
can be removed by the authorised user without hindrance and rapidly from the
holding device that prevents unauthorised removal.
Furthermore, a design variant according to claim 31 is advantageous in that thereby
an unrestrictedly mobile safety device is created, which particularly for security
guards working for public authorities means a high degree of personal protection.
Because the disarming of a security guard by an unauthorised third party is
excluded, the result is increased safety for civilians in the vicinity of the security
guard.
A design according to claim 32 is also advantageous as thus a particularly
disarming-resistant pistol holster is created, which also resists violent action by an
unauthorised third party and excludes unauthorised removal of the firearm.
A positive detection of an intention to remove the firearm or the object is achieved by
the design according to claim 33, whereby inappropriate switching processes of
locking device are excluded.
A design according to claim 34 facilitates the construction of a safe and at the same
time cost-effective pistol holster with the corresponding safety device.
Further advantageous developments are described in claims 35 to 40 as the latterincrease the security on identification.
Here a design according to claim 45 is advantageous, as hereby the opening of the
holding and/or storage device is checked and the authorised user can have accessor entry thereto without additional steps.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
,.~
A particularly simple, cost-effective and automatic locking and/or unlocking can be
achieved according to claim 46.
The advantageous design according to claim 47 facilit~tes an automatic
accommodation and locking of the object by the holding and/or storage device.
Furthermore, the sensor can be used for detecting the removal of the object from the
holding and/or storage device, and can be useful on recording the removal times
and/or the period of removal via the idenliricdtion device in clearing up
inconsistencies and/or for payment purposes.
Also advantageous is a design variant according to claim 48 as thereby an
unrestrictedly mobile device is created which provides persons working in particular
in a sales department with a high degree of protection against theft and operating
comfort.
Further advantageous designs are described in claims 49 to 53, as the latter
increase security on identiricdtion and/or the safety of the device. The thus attainable
additional advantages can be taken from the detailed description of the figures.
The invention is explained in more detail below by way of embodiments illustrated in
the drawings.
Shown are:
Fig. 1 holding devices and locking devices for firearms of a safety device according to the invention in a simplified, schematic view;
Fig. 2 a block diagram of the identification device for checking authorised use
and/or the removal of firearms and/or objects from the holding and/or
storage devices in a simplified, schematic view;
Fig. 3 a firearm, in side view, partly in cross section with the safety device
according to the invention verifying the firearm use, in a much simplified,
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
schematic view;
Fig. 4 a watch with various possible arrangements of a transmission and/or
receiving unit of a safety device according to the invention, in a simplified
schematic view;
Fig. 5 a holding device of the safety device for firearms, partly in cross section
in a simplified schematic view;
Fig. 6 a user of the safety device with a pistol holster designed according to the
Inventlon;
Fig. 7 a further embodiment variant of the pistol holster of the safety device according to the invention, in a simplified schematic view;
Fig. 8 a further embodiment of a holding device designed according to the
invention with an identification device assigned thereto, in a simplified
schematic view;
Fig. 9 a further embodiment of a safety device designed according to the
invention for a firearm, in side view, in cross section and in a simplified
schematic view;
Fig. 10 a possible embodiment of a safety device according to the invention for a
firearm, in plan view and in simplified form;
Fig. 11 the safety device according to Fig. 10, in front view, in cross section and
in a simplified schematic view;
Fig. 12 a further embodiment of the locking device of the safety device according
to Fig. 10, in side view, in cross section and in a much simplified, schematic
view;
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
.
Fig. 13 the device according to the invention with holding and/or storage devices
for objects and locking devices assigned thereto, in a simplified
schematic view;
Fig. 14 a holding and/or storage device with the safety device according to
the invention verifying the opening authorisation, in a much simplified,
schematic view;
Fig. 15 a watch with various arrangement possibilities of a transmission and/or
receiving unit of a safety device according to the invention, in a simplified,
schematic view;
Fig. 16 a ring with a transmission and/or receiving unit of a safety device
according to the invention in a simplified, schematic view;
Fig. 17 a user of the device with a holding and/or storage device of portable
design according to the invention.
Firstly, it should be pointed out that in the different described embodiments the same
parts are designated by the same reference numbers or the same component
names, whereby the disclosures contained throughout the description can be applied
to the same parts with the same reference numbers or the same component names.
Furthermore, individual features in the different embodiments shown can also
present independent solutions according to the invention.
In Fig. 1 a safety device 1 for several firearms 2 to 4 is shown, which are arranged in
holding devices 5, 6 and storage box 8 in the form of a holding device 7.
Each of the holding devices 5, 6 is lockable by locking devices 9 or by a locking
device 10 for the holding device 7. The release of said locking devices 9 or 10 is
possible only by an identification device 11, for example, a microprocessor or acomputer unit, by means of electrical and/or mechanical release elements 12, 13.
Said release elements 12, 13 can either be in the form of corresponding circuit
components - controlled by program sections of the identification device 11 - and
are only used for example to interrupt or trigger the power supply for the locking
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
._
mechanism, so that the locking device 9, 10 is opened by spring force, or separate
drive elements can be provided that move the locking device 9, 10 into an open
position, so that the removal of one of the firearms 2 to 4 is possible. Said
mechanical/electrical elements which form the release elements 12, 13, can, for
example, be formed by electrically actuable tension bar magnets, drive motors, linear
drives or the like.
The safety device 1 illustrated in this embodiment also comprises locking devices 14
assigned to the firearms 2 and 4, with which a discharge of a shot can be prevented
even in a position removed from the holding device 5 or 7. Said locking devices 14
and the release elements 15 assigned thereto are incorporated respectively in the
firearms 2 and 4, so that from the outside they cannot be seen even by an
experienced observer.
Whereas the identification device 11 can be designed for all the previously saidrelease elements 12, 13 and 15 assigned to the locking devices 9, 10 and 14, it is
possible in an advantageous manner that the release elements 15 arranged in the
firearm 2, 4 are assigned their own identification device 16.
The connection between the identification device 11 and a user 17 is effected
without wires via transmission and/or receiving units 18 connected to the
identification device 11, and a transmission and/or receiving unit 19 worn by the
user. If an identification device 16 is arranged in or on the firearm 2, 4 then the latter
can comprise a further transmission and/or receiving unit 20 for the exchange ofidentification data and/or receipt of electrical power.
On the use of a single identification device to check the authorisation of a person,
said identification device is preferably line-connected with the locking devices 9, 10
to control the removal of the firearms 2, 4 and is connected wirelessly with thelocking device 14 for controlling the firing ability of the firearm 2, 4, for example via
radio.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
._
Each of the identification devices 1 1 and 16 is either line-connected via a line 21 to a
power supply system 22, for example accumulators 23, batteries or a public
electricity supply network or is supplied wirelessly with energy from the outside via
an electric alternating field 24. The identification device 11 or 16 can here either be
incor~.or~ted into the holding device 5 to 7 or arranged in a region spaced apart
therefrom that is protected against unauthorised access.
The function of such an identification device 11, 16 which can however be designed
in accordance with any identification systems or access control systems known from
the prior art, is explained in more detail by means of a schematic block diagram in
Fig. 2 with references to Fig. 1.
The identification device 1 1, 16 comprises a microcontroller 25 and a transmission
device 26 for creating the electric alternating field 24 in the desired distance range
for the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 assigned to the identification device 1 1,
16. Said alternating field 24 can be emitted continuously. However, it is also possible
that the alternating field 24 is activated depending on specific conditions, for example
when a person enters the room or the building or a protected zone, or even only
during specified time slots. Such a status determination is possible for example by
using infrared sensors 27. Of course, it is also possible for the alternating field 24 to
be created over short time periods intermittently, consecutively and/or depending on
light intensity.
If via the alternating field 24 a power supply is created in the transmission and/or
receiving unit 19 then in this way a digital circuit and/or a computer 28 can besupplied with electrical power. In this case an identification code 30 stored therein
can be read from a memory 29 and sent via an aerial 31 as an identification code 30
indicated schematically by a waved line to the identification device 11, 16.
In order to achieve greater security primarily with respect to the reading of the
identification code 30, it is also possible for the computer 28 to be provided with a
corresponding test circuit, such as, for example, an A/D converter and an
appropriate software is stored, by means of which characteristic data of the power-
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
.~ .
communicating alternating field 24 or ide"tification signals 32 shown
diagrammatically in the form of a waved line superimposed on this alternating field 24
are analysed and compared with the values stored in the memory 29.
If the comparison is positive, i.e. the data of the alternating field 24 and/or recognition
signal 32 tally with the values stored in the memory 29, then the identification code
30 is sent via the aerial 31.
A monitoring or interception and storage of the identification code 30 is virtually
impossible for an unauthorised third party preferably by the relatively short,
maximum transfer distance of the identification code 30 between the transmissionandlor receiving units 18,19, 20.
To ensure that a monitoring and/or copying of the relayed identification code 30 by
unauthorised third parties is thwarted in all circumstances, this code can be relayed,
prior to identification code 30 transmission, to an encoding and/or decoding unit 33,
34. The encoding andlor decoding units 33, 34 are formed preferably by micro-
controller 25 or computer 28 software. The identification code 30 is thus encoded
prior to transmission by encoding codes and decoded at the other end using the
same encoding code, whereby the original identification code 30 reappears. The
encoding code from the transmission point and/or the decoding code at the other end
thus vary from one transmission to the next. This means that the impression
obtained by anyone monitoring would be one of random code transfer, whereby the
recording of the transmitted data is pointless. The variable encoding and/or decoding
of the identification code 30 via the encoding and/or decoding units 33, 34 can thus
be achieved by encoding andlor decoding algorithms assigned to transmission
and/or receiving units 18, 19, 20. The encoding and decoding codes can likewise be
stored in the micro-controller 25 and/or computer 28 memory units in tabular form
and the table index incremented after each successful communications configuration
between the transmission and/or receiving units 18,19, 20 to prevent non-
coincidence of table index positions in the transmission and/or receiving units 18,19,
20. A "handshake" of this kind for checking the correct, complete data exchange
between transmission unit and/or receiving units 18,19, 20 is likewise possible by
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
, _
using an encoding algorithm, to obtain or guarantee identical loop count runs in the
encoding and/or decoding routine and hence corresponding encoding and decoding.
A thus encoded or even uncoded signal is now received, for example, by the aerial
31 of the transmission and/or receiving unit 18 and/or 20 of the identification device
11, 16, is decoded if necess~ry, and relayed for evaluation to a circuit and/or micro-
controller 25 of the identification device 1 1, 16.
Likewise assigned to identification device 11, 16 is a memory unit 35 in which
preferably several identification codes 36 can be stored which trigger a release of the
release element 12, 13 and/or 15. By means of the design of the corresponding
software or the circuitry design in the identification device 11, 16, if the identification
code 30 matches at least one identification code 36 in memory unit 35, the release
element 12, 13 or 15 can be activated.
Various potential solutions can be implemented to ensure that this activation of the
release elements 12, 13 and/or 15 following positive identification takes place only if
the leyitil,late user 17 or the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 is the minimum
possible distance away or is within a distance range of between 0 and 1000 mm,
preferably between 0 and 50 mm from the transmission and/or receiving unit 18 and
20.
It is thus possible in the electromagnetic alternating field 24 for power transmission to
be so weak that the power transferred for operation of the computer 28 for the
transmission and/o receiving unit 19 is only adequate for the user 17 if both
transmission and/or receiving units 18, 19 and 20 respectively are the requisite, pre-
determinable distance away or fall within the pre-determinable distance range.
On the other hand, it is also possible for the range of the information transmitted by
the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 on the user 17 to be so small that the latter
can only activate the identification device 1 1, 16 or be detected by the latter only
when the distance or distance range is respected.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
The distance and/or the distance range is preferably adjustable and/or
predeterminable via corresponding input devices or switches. Thus the safety
device can be adapted to the individual requirements of the user and, for example,
also because of the different types of firearms, e.g. rifles or handguns the different
dimensions and holding positions thereof can be taken into consideration.
Furthermore, various storage means of different sizes, operating positions or access
points can also be taken into consideration.
Of course, it is also possible to assign distance measuring devices 37 operating on
any basis to the transmission and/or receiving units 18, 19, 20 or provide circuitry
devices or sequencing processes, which because of the received or transmitted
radiation its intensity, frequency cycle, interference or the like detect constantly or
periodically the distance between the transmission and/or receiving units 18, 19 or
19, 20. A preferred means for determining distance, for example, involves monitoring
the duration of the signals by reference to clock pulses of the computer 28 or of the
rnicro-controller 25 or based on detection of time differences starting from
simultaneously input clock pulses or operating time values, for example, stored in
tabular form in the computer 28 and/or micro-controller 25 or in corresponding
memory units for outgoing and returning signals between the transmission and/or
receiving units 18, 19, 20. However, the use of distance meters 37 which send out
ultra-sonic signals and, from the delay in ultra-sonic signal return and by means of
physical formulae, calculate the distance to the other end or to the reflective surface.
The alternating field 24 can here have such an intensity that an adequate power
supply to the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 with the user 17 is also obtained
outside the distance range, if said transmission and/or receiving unit 19 does not
have its own power supply and is in the form of a transponder 38.
An embodiment of this type is advantageous, as the space requirement for the
computer 28 and the necessary electronic components on the user 17 can be kept
very small and their integration - as partially illustrated in Fig. 4 - in clothing and/or
items of jewellery 39 worn by the user 17, such as for example a ring, a watch strap
40, a watch housing 41, a belt buckle or the like is easily achievable.
CA 02262l00 l999-0l-26
16
The use of transponders, in particular the transponder 38, is also advantageous, in
that the latter are mainly only suitable for use at small distances from the distant end,
so that an extraneous effect or even outsider monitoring or reading the data during
data transmission, is only possible, with great difficulty, if at all.
In order to prevent the reading of the identification code 30, 36 over short or
extremely short distances, it may be necessary - mainly where several firearms 2 to
4 are being monitored by a central ide, ~ iCdliOn device 1 1 - that in the region of each
firearm 2 to 4 a separate transmission and/or receiving unit 18 is arranged so that
the firearm 2 to 4 can in fact only be removed when the hand of the user 17 is in the
immediate vicinity of the respective firearm 2 to 4 or of the respective holding device
5to7.
Thus it is ensured that even if the user 17 is in the sarne room as the identification
device 11, an unintentional removal of the firearm 2 to 4 by an unauthorised party or
by children is impossible. Furthermore, a criminal cannot appropriate the firearm 2 to
4 provided that the legitimate user 17 is not so close to one of the firearms 2 to 4,
that he is able to use it in self-defence. In addition, the user 17 can prevent the
firearm 2 to 4 from being used against him, by merely ensuring that the part of his
body to which the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 is attached, is not within the
prescribed distance from the firearm 2 to 4. On the other hand, the legitimate user 17
can use firearm 2 to 4 immediately merely by holding one of the ri,ear",s 2 to 4. This
is achieved without manual switching procedures on safety catches or safety slides
of the firearm 2 to 4, because unlocking is performed rele~sed automatically upon
reaching or coming within the maximum transmission distance and once positive
identification has been obtained.
Of course, it is also possible in addition to the automatic firearm release to use
conventional mechanical, manually operated firearm safeguards known from the
prior art, i.e. to connect them in parallel or series in active connection with the
automatic firearm release.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
~ .
Now whereas in the above the function of the identification device 11 has mostlybeen described by reference to the function of the release elements 12, 13 for the
firearms 2 to 4 mounted in holding devices 5 to 7, it should be noted that an identical
or similar function or design of the identification device 11 is also used for
identification devices 16 allocated to the firearm 2 and/or 4.
In this case, preferably the power supply system 22, in particular the accumulator
23, for operating the identification device 16 is integrated into the firearm 2 or 4 and
at the same time the user's 17 transmission and/or receiving unit 19 are also suitable
for releasing or locking the release element 15 of the locking device 14, for example,
for locking the firearm 2 or 4. Said locking device 14 need not however act on the
lock but can also act on a trigger 42 and release or lock the latter so that a shot can
be fired.
In the case of this design variant, it is, of course, also possible to arrange atransponder in the firearm 2 or 4 and allow the power supply for the identification
device 16 to come from or be triggered by the user 17. For example, it is also
possible to work with two transponders 38, both in region of the identification device
11 and in region of the firearm 2 and 4 and in rooms where such weapons are
stored, and to arrange on the body of the user 17 a separate transmission device for
the alternating field 24, so that whenever the corresponding transponders 38 arelocated in the range of said alternating field 24 the release elements 12, 13 and/or 15
can be activated.
In the case of a separate power supply via accumulators 23 in order to ensure a
continually operation-ready identification device 16 against unauthorised firing,
preferably on the holding devices 5, 6 or 7 charging devices 43 are arranged, which
charge the accumulators 23 using the full capacity or maintain fully charged state.
The charging devices 43 can thus either be in electrical contact with the
accumulators 23 or be supplied with electrical power wirelessly by means of the
electromagnetic alternating field 24. The electricity is therefore supplied automatically
with the firearms 2, 4 secured and/or accommodated by the holding devices 5, 7.
Thus, after firearms 2,4 have been removed from holding devices 5, 7, the total
CA 02262l00 l999-0l-26
18
period of use is available, which can be several days depending on the capacity of
the accumulators 23 and on the power consumption of the idenlirication device 16.
There is also no need for additional manual maintenance work, such as, for example,
the making of manual contact between the identification device 16 and the charging
device 43, as the charging process is triggered automatically by the replacement of
the firearm 2, 4 in the respective holding device 5, 7.
Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the firearm 2 according to Fig.1, whereby for the
parts already described the same reference numbers are used.
Said hrearm 2 is in this case a handgun and is depicted in the form of a rifle. Of
course, the following description suitably modified is also applicable to the handgun
shown in Fig.1.
The identification device 16 is arranged to be invisible from the outside in a slot-
shaped recess 44 in the rifle butt 45. The accumulators 23 present when the
identification device 16 has its own power supply are preferably arranged invisibly in
the recess 44 in the support region 46 of the rifle butt 45, and are accessible by the
mainly elastic buffer element 47 of the rifle butt 45. Consequently should the
accumulators 23 be defective and where the buffer element 47 and rifle butt 45 have
locking or snap connections, a rapid replacement of the accumulators is possible. In
order to avoid adversely affecting the weight ratios of the firearm 2, on the other
hand, the incorporation of storage batteries 23 in rifle butt 48 may prove beneficial,
whereby the balance of weapon 2 is altered little if at all.
The printed board of the computer unit of the identification device 16, in particular in
the form of a microco~ oller 25 with all the peripheral components is preferably also
arranged in the recess 44 of the rifle butt 45.
The locking device 14, preferably consisting of an electrically activated tension bar
magnet, is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the trigger 42. The release element
15 can be moved by the tension bar magnet and thus release or lock the trigger 42.
In order to achieve high locking forces with at the same time low unlocking forces
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
._
19
and thus low electrical power consumption, it is possible to use any locking catches
or latch mechanisms known from the prior art.
Instead of the locking device 14 acting on the trigger 42, it is also possible to release
or lock the movement of a lock 49 of the firearm 2 by means of the locking device
14, and thus enable or prevent the firing of a shot.
Depending on the pre-set or maximum desired distance between the user's 17
transmission and/or receiving unit 19 and transmission and/or receiving unit 20 - as
indicated by an arrow in Figs. 3 and 4 - and depending on the dimensions of the
firearm 2, the arrangement of the transmission and/or receiving unit 20 can vary in
the interests of achieving maximum transmission distances of a few centimetres,
whereby the use of the firearm 2 against the legitimate user 17 is excluded on the
basis of the dimensions of the firearm 2. For the embodiment of the transmissionand/or receiving unit 19 in or on a watch, which is normally worn on the left wrist,
various possible configurations are advantageous, which enable a short distance
between the assigned transmission and/or receiving units 19, 20. If the user 17
uses the left hand for triggering the firearm 2 and the watch with the transmission
and/or receiving unit 19 is on his left wrist, then the transmission and/or the receiving
unit 20 should preferably be arranged in a tapered area 50 of the rifle butt 45 directly
in front of trigger 42 in the firing direction, because when the user takes aims and
uses firearm 2 this area 50 is enclosed by the hand and the distance is thus
comparatively short.
If the user 17 uses a hnger of the right hand to pull the trigger 42, then the user's 17
left hand with the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 is used to support the rifle
butt 48. In this case the transmission and/or receiving unit 20, in order to achieve a
minimal distance - as shown by dashed lines - is located in the rifle butt 48 of the
firearm 2.
In Fig. 4 various possible arrangements of the transmission and/or receiving unit 19
for the design variant of a watch are shown.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
.~
If a transmission and/or receiving unit 19 operating without batteries, in particular a
transponder 38, is used then, if necess~ry~ the latter can also be inserted
replaceably into the watch strap 40, as transponders 38 in current use have
dimensions of just a few millimetres. Where the transmission and/or receiving unit
19 has its own power supply, it is advantageous for the latter to be incorporated into
the watch housing 41 - as shown by the dash-dotted lines - and for the electrical
power supply to be drawn from the button cell of the watch.
In addition, switch elements 51 can be arranged on the watch, which can influence
the sequence and/or status of the transmitting and/or receiving unit 19 or the whole
safety device 1.
In Fig. 5 a design variant of the holding device 7 for the firearm 4 different to Fig.1,
in particular in the form of a handgun 52, is shown. Here, only a barrel 53 of the
handgun 52 is held by the holding device 7 and at least one holding element 54, in
particular a handle 55, is freely accessible.
Said holding device 7 is secured onto a wall 56 or recessed into the wall 56 in such
a way that a front plate 57 of the holding device 7 closes flush with the wall 56 and
only an opening 58 for the barrel 53 of the firearm 4 can be seen.
A mount 59 of the holding device 7 is designed in such a way that the barrel 53 can
be accommodated and at least partly enclosed. A removal of the firearm 4 from the
holding device 7 is permitted or prevented depending on the position of a locking
device 60, 61, 62.
Each of the locking devices 60 to 62 illustrated by way of example, alone or in
conjunction with at least one other locking device 60 to 62, can facilitate or prevent
the removal of the firearm 4 from the holding device 7, whereby the locking devices
60 to 62 can be used optionally.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
The locking devices 60, 61 are located in the area around the mount 59 and by
means of electromagnetic drive elements 63, 64 lock pins 65, 66 can be moved into
or out of the inner space of the tubular mount 59.
For example, if the lock pin 65 is in the retracted position and a firearm 4 is inserted
into the mount 59, then said lock pin 65 can, for example, engage behind a target
device 67 in the mouth of barrel 53 and thus prevent the firearm 4 from being
removed from the holding device 7.
Furthermore, it is also possible as shown by the locking device 62 to guide a lock pin
69 drivably between a trigger protection clip 70 and the trigger 42 by a drive element
71, and thus prevent the removal of the firearm 4 from the holding device 7. It is also
possible, as shown by the dashed lines, to assign the lock pin 69 to the area
between the trigger 42 and the handle 55 of the handgun 52, whereby on the one
hand the removal of the handgun 52 is controlled and on the other the lock pin 69 in
the case of a handgun 52 without checking for authorised discharge of a shot acts
as a mechanical barrier against the activation of the trigger 42 with a holstered
handgun 52.
In the respective locked position of the lock pins 65, 66, 69 - as illustrated in Fig. 5 -
the drive elements 63, 64, 71 respectively are in a deactivated state, i.e. are not
consuming any electrical energy. The position of rest of the locking devices 60 to 62
shown in Fig. 5 is maintained by means of spring forces.
Should the authorised user with the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 enter the
predetermined distance range from the holding device 7, then the identity data on the
user received by the transmission and/or receiving unit 18 is fo~arded to the
identification device 11 arranged for example decentrally and not shown in Fig. 5,
and after the completion of a positive identification check, the locking devices 60 to
62 are charged with electrical power by the identification device 11. In this way the
lock pins 65, 66, 69 are moved into the enter position and the authorised user can
withdraw the firearm 4 from the holding device 7.
. .
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
After the removal of the firearm 4 the locking device 60 to 62 can be moved backinto a position of rest.
Any sensors 72, preferably arranged in the region of the opening 58 can detect
whether a firearm 4 is held in the holding device 7 or has been removed from theholding device 7 and provide the identiricdlion device 11 with control information. On
inserting the firearm 2 into the holding device 7 the lock pins 65, 66, 69 can
accordingly be moved into the enter position, whereby an unobstructed insertion of
the barrel 53 into the mount 59 is made possible. The fully inserted firearm 4 is then
arrested in the respective position by at least one of the locking devices 60 to 62.
By using the sensor 72, which for example can be in the form of optical light barriers,
Hall sensors, limit switches or other transmitters known from the prior art, the setting
up of a time recording system logging the removal of firearm 4 is also possihle. For
this the sensor 72 is line-connected to the identification device 11 and a timer device
thereof, in the form, for example, of a timer module assigned to the microcontroller
25, makes available the time and/or date information to the microcontroller 25. The
thus detectable removal times, removal periods and removal days of the firearm 4from the holding device 7 are saved by the identification device 11 and can, if
necessary, be presented visually by an output device, such as e.g. a display or
output by a printer in paper form.
Thus a continuous, unforgeable recording of the removal of the firearm is produced,
whereby an objective means for clarifying criminal acts or substantiating an alibi is
provided.
Furthermore, a recording of the moment the shot was fired is possible by the
identification device 16 and a relaying of the data to the output device is possible,
whereby every shot fired can be comprehended.
Of course, the recording system described above is also applicable to the holding
devices 5, 6 with firearms 2, 3 shown in Fig.1.
.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
23
In order to use the holding device 7 universally in various types and/or sizes of
handguns 52, it is possible to design the mount 59 in particular to be adjustable in
cross section and in longitudinal extension and to make the position of the locking
device 60, 61, 62 changeable relative to mount 59
With the holding device 7 described above compared to the keeping or storage of
firearm 4 in a storage box 8 a much faster accessibility of firearm 4 is possible. The
ready-to-grab firearm 4 that is secured against unauthorised removal is in particular
a significant advantage if the authorised user is under threat. The automatic release
of the firearm 2 from the holding device 7, according to Fig. 5, increases additionally
the surprise element for the aKacker, whereby there are additional advantages for
the user trying to defend himself. By dispensing with the manual locking and
unlocking of the firearm 2 in addition to high safety, especially as far as children are
concerned, a particularly comfortable holding device 7 is obtained for the firearm 4.
Other than the design variant shown, the holding device 7 according to Fig. 5 can
also be arranged underneath a desk, close to a bed, in a motor vehicle or in other
places where the firearm may need to be available quickly, whilst simultaneouslyproviding a high degree of safety against misuse and unrestricted accessibility.
In Fig. 6 the user 17 of the safety device 1 is shown in the form of a security guard
73 or policeman. The latter is wearing a pistol holster 74 with the handgun 54
inserted therein.
The pistol holster 74 for accommodating the handgun 52 is normally made out of
hard plastic and secured to a carrier belt 75 wrapped around the body of the security
guard 73. If necessary, on the front end area of the pistol holster 74 opposite the
carrier belt 75 a connecting device 76, in particular in the form of a strap 77 wrapped
around the thigh of the security guard 73 is arranged. The pistol holster 74 is thus
connected in an anti-theft manner to the body of the security guard 73 without
adversely affecting the wearing comfort.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
24
If the handgun 52 is located in the position maintained by the pistol holster 74, then
at least the barrel 53 and the trigger 42 are essentially surrounded by the side walls
of the pistol holster 74 forming a mount 78. The holding part 54 of the handgun 52 is
not covered and/or not surrounded by parts of the pistol holster 74 and is thus ready
to take hold of at any time.
The identification device 11 together with all of the necessary peripheral components
is arranged preferably in a mount region 79 for the handgun 52 on the pistol holster
74 spaced apart from the mount 78. The transmission and/or receiving device 18, in
particular in the form of a transmission and/or receiving coil 80, is arranged on the
carrier belt 75 located in the hip region of the security guard 73 and is preferably line-
connected to the identification device 11. The transmission and/or receiving unit 18
or the transmission and/or receiving coil 80 can here be disguised as the fastening
rivet between the pistol holster 74 and the carrier belt 75, thus rendering invisible the
presence of the safety device 1 according to the invention.
The locking device 62 is preferably arranged in the region of the trigger 42 of the
handgun 52 in the mount 78 of the pistol holster 74 and is preferably line-connected
to the identification device 11. Thus for the control of the drive element 71 of the
locking device 62 by the identification device 11 the lock pin 69 can adopt various
positions. In the locked position of lock pin 69, the latter preferably projects through
between the trigger safety clip 70 and the handle 55 and/or the barrel 53 of thehandgun 52. Preferably a mount bush for the stable bearing of the end region of the
lock pin 69 on adopting the locking position is assigned to the face end region of the
lock pin 69 facing away from the drive element 71. On the side wall of the pistol
holster 74 opposite the mount bush or mounting bore the drive element 71 permitting
the movement of the lock pin 69 is secured to the side wall of the pistol holster
preferably made of hard plastic or connected form-closed therewith.
The lock pin 69 mounted on both front end regions and the hard-shell-shaped pistol
holster 74 thus guarantee a high degree of anti-snatch security and or snatch-
resistance of the handgun 52 from the pistol holster 74.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
.,_
The removal-safeguarded status of the handgun 52 can only be lifted after a positive
identification of the authorised security guard 73. For this the security guard 73 must
identify himself by means of the identification code 30 assigned to the transmission
and/or receiving unit 19. The transmission and/or receiving unit 19 for this purpose
may be disguised as a wrist watch, preferably attached to the wrist of the hand used
by the security guard 73 for firing or removing the gun.
If the security guard 73 takes hold of the handle 55 of the handgun 52, then theconsequence of this action is inevitably the attainment or falling within of thepreferred predeterminable distance range between the transmission and/or receiving
unit 19 and the transmission and/or receiving unit 18. Moreover the evaluation of the
received identification code 30 is performed by the identification device 11 and after
a positive identity check the latter triggers the locking device 62, whereby the lock
pin 69 is shifted into the released position and immediate removal of the handgun 52
is possible. At the same time after a positive identification of the security guard 73 by
the identification device 16, the anti-firing safeguard can be lifted, whereby for the
authorised security guard 73 an immediate opportunity to fire the firearm is created.
If the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 is located outside the set distance range,
then the handgun 55is locked again automatically to the pistol holster 74 and ifnecessary the anti-firing lock is reactivated.
The distance range between the transmission and/or receiving unit 19 and the
transmission and/or receiving unit 18 should preferably be set, so that when thearms of the security guard 73 are hanging down or in walking mode, i.e. when thetransmission and/or receiving unit 19 is in the thigh area, the handgun 52 cannot be
unlocked. However, when the security guard 73 takes hold of the handgun 52, thenthe transmission and/or receiving unit 19 with the identification code 30 is in the hip
area, i.e. a short distance from the transmission and/or receiving unit 18 on the
carrier belt 75, as a result of which it is especially advantageous to set a
corresponding distance of a few centimetres as a set point for the identification
device 11 in order to lift the anti-removal safeguard.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
,~D. .
26
If necess~ry, inconspicuous switch elements concealed by the pistol holster 74 are
installed, which in emergencies permit a manual unlocking of the handgun 52.
The withdrawal of the handgun 52 from the pistol holster 74 of security guards 73
employed by public authorities by an unauthorised third party is thus prevented.
In Fig. 7 a further embodiment of a pistol holster 74 with the safety device 1 is shown
in side view, whereby the same reference numbers are used as above.
When the handgun 52 is held by the pistol holster 52, the barrel 53 thereof is
likewise located in the mount 78 of the pistol holster 74. However, in this case the
handle 55 of the handgun 52 can be covered by a closing device 81, in particular in
the form of a closure tab 82, whereby the seizure and/or removal of the firearm 52 is
permitted or prevented. To this end, closing device 81 at one end 83 is connected or
hinged permanently to a side wall of pistol holster 74. A further end 84 of the closing
device 81 is connected by a coupling device 85 to a further side wall of the pistol
holster 74. Said coupling device 85 is formed by a lock bolt 86 penetrating through
this side wall of the pistol holster 74 and projecting from the locking device 81. In the
end region of the lock blot 86 protruding into the mount 78 is an opening
corresponding to the cross section of the lock pin 69 and running approximately at
right angles to the penetration direction of the side wall. The lock pin 69 of the
locking device 62 likewise arranged in the mount 78 is controlled by the identification
device 11 into or out of said opening of the lock bolt 86 on the closing device 81.
If the identification device 11 detects a deliberate removal by the entitled user 17 of
the firearm 52 from pistol holster 74, then the coupling device 85 is deactivated
and/or the lock pin 69 moved out of the opening of the lock bolt 86, whereby an
upwards pivoting of the closing device 81 and an unimpeded removal of the
handgun 52 from pistol holster 74 is possible.
The closing device 81 and/or closure tab 82 is made in particular of materials with
little shape stability, such as e.g. Ieather.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
The transmission and/or receiving unit 18 is preferably arranged in the region of the
handle 55 on the pistol holster 74 and is preferably line-connected to the
identification device 11 arranged in the mount 78.
Naturally, instead of the said coupling device 85 for the automatic release and/or
locking of the closing device 81 it is also possible to use any coupling devices known
from the prior art. Thus, in order to achieve better centring and/or allocation of the
lock bolt 86 with lock pin 69, it is also possible to design the lock pin 69 to be forked
and to assign the latter a lock bolt 86 having a cross-sectional weakening.
Furtherrnore, sensors and/or switches can be arranged on the pistol holster 74,
which are line-connected to the identification device 11 and supply information about
the withdrawn or used handgun 52, whereby an unrestricted remounting and lockingof the handgun 52 after removing the latter can be automated.
The corresponding details apply to the holding devices 5,6 7 illustrated in Fig. 1.
It is also possible to assign an alarm and/or signalling device to the safety device 1,
which is activated when the system receives unknown identification codes 30 thatrefuse the removal of firearms and/or do not permit firing.
It is also possible independently of or in conjunction with the described type of
identification to use other unambiguous identifying characteristics, such as e.g. a
finger print, handwriting, iris pattern, face shape or hand shape or the voice to check
authorisation.
It can also prove advantageous to assign the safety device 1 a preset timer, by
means of which the safety device 1 is actively connected during the working period,
e.g. of a security guard 73, and at other times, e.g. during the night, to prevent
misuse e.g. by children, the opening of the safety device 1 is prevented.
In Fig. 8 a further embodiment of a holding device 7 is shown partly in phantom view
for a firearm 4, in particular a handgun 52. Said holding device 7 comprises a mount
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
. . ,
59, for example made of a cut-resistant, highly resistant and hard material for
example hardened steel. In the latter a longitudinal guide 87 is arranged for the barrel
53 of the firearm 4. The longitudinal guide 87 can have a cross sectional dimension
perpendicular to its length, which corresponds approximately to the cross sectional
circumference of the barrel 53, or is arranged so that the barrel 53 projects slightly
out of the longitudinal guide 87 depending on the height. The length of the
longitudinal guide 87 can be such that the handle 55 of the firearm 4 is freely
accessible to the user 17 for taking hold of the firearm 4. The locking device 62 for
fixing and holding the firearm 4 in the mount 59 comprises a slide 89 arranged in a
longitudinal slot 88, whereby the longitudinal slot 88 is arranged parallel to the
longitudinal guide 87 but at a corresponding lateral distance therefrom in the slide
89.
On the slide 89 a pivot axle 90 is arranged, on which pivot arms 91 of a locking clip
92 of the holding device 7 are mounted rotatably or pivotably.
The height distance 93 of the pivot axle 90 above an underside of the slide 89 is
smaller than the depth 94 of the longitudinal guide 87. At a distance corresponding
to the longitudinal distance 95 between the pivot arms 91 in the side wall 96 of the
mount 59 facing away from the firearm 4 openings 97 are arranged. The cross
sectional dimensions of said openings 97 are measured like their depth so that in the
region of the openings 97 the pivot arms 91 can be pivoted about the pivot axes 90
out of the position shown by solid lines into the position shown by dashed linesaccording to an arrow 98.
A width 99 of the locking clip 92 is dimensioned so that it projects so far over the
firearm 4, that the latter cannot be removed upwards out of the longitudinal guide 87.
At the same time the locking clip 92 at its end facing away from the longitudinal guide
87 has a projection directed in the direction of the pivot axes 90 which projects so far
downwards, that with a firearm 4 inserted into the longitudinal guide 87 it projects
over or overlaps at least partly its face end 100 facing away from the longitudinal
guide 87.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
,__
29
If now the firearm, when the laKer is located in the longitudinal guide 87, and the
locking clip 92 is in the locked position - shown by solid lines - is to be removed,
firstly the slides 89 with the drive element 71, for example in the form of an
electromagnet with a sliding armature, is pushed so far in the longitudinal direction of
the longitudinal slot 88 that the pivot arms 91 come to lie in the region of theopenings 97. By means of a tensioning drive provided in the region of the pivot axes
90, for example a torsion spring arrangement - not shown - the locking clip 92 can
spring into the open position shown by dashed lines or the laKer on the removal or
pulling out of the firearm 4 is pivoted up to the side so that the firearm 4 can be
removed upwards and to the rear out of the holding device 7.
The advantage of such a solution is that also solid metal parts can be used as
locking clips 92 and only small forces are to be applied by the drive element 71 for
longitudinal displacement, in order to permit an opening of the holding device 7. At
the same time also the hinge regions of the locking clip 92 are well protected from
external damage by the special arrangement of the pivot axes 90, so that a soliddesign and thereby also a high protective effect can be achieved on holding the
firearm 4 in the holding device 7.
The insertion of the firearm 4 is performed with a pivoted up locking clip 92 byinsertion into the longitudinal guide 87, whereupon the locking clip 92 is pivoted
manually or in dependency on corresponding sensors which establish the presence
of the firearm 4, by an additional drive into its position shown by solid lines, and then
is moved by the drive element 71 into its locked position, in which the pivot arms 91
are located inside the longitudinal slot 88 next to the openings 97, so that a forcing of
the locking clip 92 for the unauthorised removal of the firearm 4, if at all, is only
possible by destroying the holding device 7.
If the holding force of the drive element 71 is not sufficient, to secure the firearm 4 or
the locking clip 92 in the closed position even with a high application of force on the
handle 55 of the firearm 4, an additional electrically operated, for example
electromechanical locking device or a locking element can be used, by which for
example the slide 89 is fixed in the longitudinal slot 88 in its closed position. For this
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
electromechanical locking insertable pins, notches, self-locking screw mechanisms
or for example lock pins 69, as shown schematically in Figure 8, can be used, which
can be activated according to the explanations for Fig. 5.
The safety device 1 according to the invention can be used according to the above
explanations in a variety of different types of operation. In the following individual
advantageous procedures for the identification and the operation of the safety device
1 are listed.
Thus on the use of the safety device 1 according to the invention it is possible to
perform a multiple identification which can be performed for example in such a way
that on entering a room the face shape, a hand outline or a fingerprint or the like is
used for general identification, and only if this identification is positive and the correct
identification code 30 is entered into the identification device 11,16 is one of the
firearms 2 to 3 released.
It is also possible to connect access control systems, which monitor the movement
of a person entitled to use the firearm 2 to 4 in a building or grounds, with the
identification devices 11,16.
This would mean that a release of the firearm 2 to 3 only by using the identification
code 30, 36 for the identification device 11 would not be enough to gain possession
of the firearm 2 to 4.
Of course, it is also possible to perform this identification simultaneously or at
different distances from the firearm 2 to 4, so that the release of the firearm 2 to 4
can be performed consecutively in one or more stages.
Furthermore, the activation of the locking device 9, 10; 14; 60; 61; 62 is possible in a
different way. Thus for example on releasing the locking device 9, 10, 14, 60, 61, 62
it is possible to provide only a very short time interval for removing the firearm 2 to 4,
and after the expiry of this time interval the firearm 2 to 4 is locked again
immediately. It is however also possible that over the time period in which the user
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
, ,.
17 is in the region of the identification device 11, 16, which allows him to use or fire
the firearm 2 to 4, the locking device 9, 10; 14; 60; 61; 62 remains open continually.
Of course, it is also possible to perform the identification before the release of the
firearm 2 to 4 in more than two stages, so that various criteria have to be fulfilled
before the release via the identification code 30 with a corresponding close proximity
of the user 17 to the firearm 2 to 4. Thus it is also possible that an additional
unlocking member 101, e.g. a switching member or a sensor surface is connected
with the identification device 11, and only when this additional unlocking member
101 is provided during a positive identification by the identification device 1 1
because of the short distance between the transmission and/or receiving units 18 to
20, the locking device 9, 10, 14, 60, 62 is released. An unlocking member 101 ofthis kind, which for example can be in the form of a push button switch, a light barrier
or the like, ensures that the release by the locking devices 9, 10, 14, 60 to 62, even
if the hand is located, for example in a fight, in a position relative to the firearm 2 to 4,
which would permit a release because of the distance of the transmission and/or
receiving units 18 to 20, is only performed if at the same time said unlocking member
101 is activated by the authorised user.
At the same time the insertion of the firearm 2 to 4 is possible semi-automatically,
rnanually or fully automatically, in that the approach of the firearm 2 to 4 to the
holding device 5 to 7 is recognised, and accordingly the holding device 5 to 7 is
brought into an operating state, in which the insertion of the firearm 2 to 4 ispossible.
In order to prevent a manipulation of the holding devices 5 to 7 or the locking devices
9, 10, 14, 60, 61, 62 also a closed circuit current check or other similar safety device
can be provided.
In Figure 9 an embodiment of the holding device 7 for a firearm 4, e.g. a handgun 52
is shown. Said holding device 7 comprises in turn a mount 59 made of a hard
resistant material, which for example can be incorporated into a wall or secured free-
standingly on the latter or on a piece of furniture or in a motor vehicle or the like. In
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
the mount 59 there is a recess 102 in which a slide 103 is mounted displaceably in
the direction of a longitudinal axis 104 of the recess 102 under the effect of acompression spring 105. In this slide 103 a longitudinal guide 87 for the barrel of the
firearm 4 is arranged. The longitudinal guide 87 can have a cross sectional
dimension perpendicular to its length which corresponds to the cross sectional
circumference of the barrel 53. The handle 55 of the firearm 4 is e.g. secured
rotation-fast in a groove shaped mount 106. In a mount slot 107 of the slide 103 a
locking bolt 108 can be pivoted about a pivotal axle 109 aligned at right angles to the
longitudinal axis 104 from the locked position shown by solid lines into an pivoted up
release position for the firearm 4 shown by dashed lines.
In the position of the slide 103 shown by solid lines, in which the compression spring
105 is pressed together and the firearm 4 with the handle 55 is secured in the
groove-shaped mount 106 and by the locking bolt 108 against an unauthorised
removal, the slide 103 is held secured by the locking device 62 inside the recess
102 in the mount 59. The locking device 62 is in the form of a lock pin 66, which can
be moved against the effect of a spring 110 from the locking position flxing the slide
103 by means of the drive element 71, for example by means of an electrornagnet,into an open position located outside the recess 102. The control of the drive
element is performed for example by the identification device 11, which can be built
internally into the mount 59 and can be connected by a line 111 for example to acurrent supply or an additional data processing device.
In order to prevent that with an unintentional movement of the authorised user by the
transmission and/or receiving device 18 to 20 an unintentional release of the firearm
4 is performed, in addition in the region of the holding element with the mount 106
facing the handle 55 of the firearm 4 an unlocking member 101 for example a push-
button switch can be arranged, so that the locking device 62 is only moved into its
unlocking position by the movement of the lock pin 66 with the drive element 71, if
for the correspondence of the identification code in the identification device 11 also
said push-button or switch or the unlocking member 101 is activated, which can also
be in the form of contactless working elements such a light barriers, mass sensors
and the like.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
In this case the lock pin 66 is then withdrawn from the locking position shown by a
solid line, whereupon by the action of the compression spring 105 the slide 103 is
pushed out to the position indicated by a dashed line, so that the handle 55 of the
firearm 4 exits the groove-shaped mount 106 and at the same time the locking bolt
108, for example via a torsion spring 1 12 or on removing the firearm 4, is alsopivoted upwards, so that the firearm 4 can be removed in the longitudinal direction of
the barrel 53 out of the slide 103 or out of the longitudinal guide 87 for authorised
use. The insertion of the firearm 4 can be performed according to the details of the
above described embodiments.
In Figs. 10 to 12 finally additional embodiments for locking devices 62 of a firearm 4,
in particular a handgun 52 are shown. In this case the firearm 4 is held in a Iying
position and is surrounded in the region of the trigger clip 1 13 by a sealing clip 114
from above and secured on a bearing surface 115. In order to prevent removal from
underneath the sealing clip 114 a stop element 116 is assigned to the handle 55 of
the firearm 4 and a holding member 117 is assigned to the barrel 53 of the firearm 4.
The sealing clip 114 can be pivoted up by a schematically indicated pivot axle 1 18 by
the effect for example of a torsion spring 112 from a position parallel to the bearing
surface 115 into an almost perpendicular position. The release of the sealing clip
114 is performed in turn by a locking device 62 which is only indicated schematically.
Said locking device 62 can now, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, be designed in a
different way. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12 in the housing 119 mounting the bearing
surface 115 the drive element 71 with the lock pin 66 is arranged, whereby via the
line 111 in turn the connection to an identification device 16 is formed. By means of
the drive element 71 the lock pin 66 can be moved out of the locked position shown
in the two embodiments by solid lines into the release position indicated by dashed
lines against the action of the spring 110. Of course, in addition any other drive
element 71 can be provided.
The lock pin 66 engages now e.g. in a counter part 120 in the sealing clip 114 and
prevents the latter from being pivoted by the action of the torsion spring 112 about
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
34
the pivot axle 118 into its release position. Whereas in the embodiment according to
Fig. 12 immediately after the release by the idenli~cdtion device with the driveelement 71 after the withdrawal of the lock pin 66, and if the latter exits out of the
counter part 120, the sealing clip 114 snaps up in order to release the counter part
120 and the lock pin 66, which in the embodiment according to Fig. 11 is a pivot arm
a movement of the counter part 120, which is designed as a push-button under
spring loading is necessary in the direction of the bearing surface 115 so that the
lock pin 66 and the counter part 120 are disengaged. This means that with a loaded
drive element 71 the lock pin then pivots out of the locking position indicated by solid
lines into the release position shown by solid lines, whereupon - as already explained
in detail with reference to Figs. 10 and 12 - here too the sealing clip 114 pivots up by
the effect of the torsion spring 112 into a release position.
The housing 119 or the bearing surface 115 can be mounted on any component, for
example in a desk drawer, on a desk or any other place or in a motor vehicle. Ofcourse, in the embodiment according to Fig. 12 it is also possible as already
described in the embodiment of Fig. 10, to arrange an unlocking member 101 for
example in the region of the handle 55, which with a coinciding identification between
the user and the identification device 16 only after activating said unlocking member
101 releases the opening of the sealing clip 114.
Of course, all other details concerning the design and effect of the identification
device 16 and the effect and control of the locking device 62, according to the
different details of the previously described embodiments can be applied to the
above described embodiments according to Figs. 9 to 12.
In Fig. 13 a device 201 for storing and/or securing several objects 202, in particular
valuables, data carriers 203, documents 204 or the like is shown, which are placed
in holding and/or storage devices 205, such as safes 206 and/or lockers andtor
magazines 207 and/or storage containers 208 or are secured onto the holding
and/or storage device 205.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
, ~.
Each of the stationary holding and/or storage devices 205 can be locked by locking
devices 209, 210. The release of these locking devices 209, 210 is only possible by
an identification device 211, for example a microprocessor or a computing unit by
means of electrical and/or mechanical release elements 212, 213.
Said release elements 212, 213 can either be in the form of corresponding circuit
sections - controlled by program sections of the identification device 211 - andmerely serve for example to stop or trigger the supply of current to the lockingmechanism, so that the locking device 209, 210 opens by spring force, or separate
drive elements can be provided, which move the locking device 209, 210 into a open
position, so that the removal of at least one of the objects 202 out of at least one
holding and/or storage device 205 is possible. Said mechanical/electrical elements
which form the release elements 212, 213, can for example be in the form of
electrically operable tension bar magnets, holding magnets, drive motors, lineardrives or the like.
The device 201 illustrated in this embodiment comprises in addition locking devices
214 assigned to the mobile or portable holding and/or storage devices 205 or
magazines 207 or storage containers 208, with which locking devices an
unauthorised removal of objects 202 can be prevented in a position locking the safe
206 or safe-deposit box. Said locking devices 214 or the assigned release elements
215 are built respectively into the magazines 207 and storage containers 208 so that
they cannot be identifled from the outside even by an experienced observer.
Whilst the identification device 211 can be designed to trigger all previously known
release elements 212, 213, and 215 assigned to the locking devices 209, 210 and
214, it is also possible in an advantageous manner, that a separate identification
device 216 is assigned to the release elements 215 arranged in the mobile or
portable holding and/or storage devices 205.
The connection between the identification device 211 and a user 217 is performedwirelessly via transmission and/or receiving units 218 connected to the identification
device 211 and a transmission and/or receiving unit 219 carried by the user. If in or
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
,
36
on the magazine 207 or in or on the storage container 208 itself an identification
device 216 is arranged, the latter can have an additional transmission and/or
receiving unit 220 for exchanging identification data and/or for receiving electric
power.
On using a single mostly central identification device 211 to check the entitlement of
a person, said identification device is preferably line-connected with the locking
devices 209, 210 for controlling the removal possibility of the objects 202 from the
fixed holding and/or storage devices 205 and connected wirelessly, for example by
radio, with the locking device 214 for controlling the access possibility to the objects
202 in the mobile holding andlor storage devices 205.
Each of the identification devices 211 or 216 is either line connected by a line 221 to
a power supply system 222, for example accumulators 223, batteries or a public
electricity supply network, or supplied wirelessly with energy from the outside by an
electrical alternating field 224. The identification device 211 or 216 can in this case
either be built into the holding and storage devices 205 or arranged in a regionspaced apart therefrom and protected from unauthorised access.
By means of the device 201 according to the invention any objects 202, such as
valuables, dangerous objects or secret databases can be secured. Depending on the
design or dimensions of the holding and/or storage device 205 thus securities, such
as shares, promissory notes etc. or works of art such as paintings etc. or pieces of
jewellery, such as necklaces, watches, rings etc. or valuable collections, cash or the
like can be secured against unauthorised removal. Furthermore, it is of course also
possible to secure databases or data carriers by means of the device according to
the invention, that assign the device 210 to data processing systems or computernetworks and thereby control the viewing of relevant data or the alteration of
important databases.
In order to prevent the reading of the identification code 30, 36 - Fig. 2 - by means
of small or the smallest distances, it can prove necessary, especially if several
holding and/or storage containers 205, i.e. safes 206, safe-deposit boxes or safe-
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
_
deposit box systems, magazines 207 and/or storage container 208 are monitored bya central identification device 211 - that in the region of every holding and/or storage
device 205 a separate transmission and/or receiving unit 218, 220 is arranged, so
that the respective object 202 that is the valuable object, the data carrier 203 and/or
the document 204 can in fact only be removed, when the hand of the user 217 is in
the immediate vicinity of the respective object 202 or of the holding and/or storage
device 205.
In this way it is ensured that - even if the user 217 is in the same room as theidentification device 211 - an unintentional removal of the protectable objects 202 is
not possible by unauthorised persons, criminals or children. Furthermore, a criminal
or thief can also not take hold of a dangerous and/or life-threatening object 202,
such as e.g. a knife, cutting and stabbing firearms, firearms, clubs or the like, as long
as the entitled user 217 is not so close to one of the objects 202 that he can use it
himself for self-defence. Moreover, the user 217 can prevent the threatening object
202 from being used against him if he ensures that the body part is attached to the
transmission and/or receiving unit 219, and is not at the prespecifled distance from
the secured object 202. However, the entitled user 217 is able to remove the object
202 secured against unauthorised persons at once. This is possible without manual
switching procedures on securing levers or securing slides without manual unlocking
procedures with locking members and without inconvenient adjusting activities with
code locks, as the release is performed automatically on reaching or falling within the
maximum transmission distance and after positive identification.
Of course, in addition to the automatic unlocking and/or locking system according to
the invention it is also possible to use conventional, manually operable mechanical
unlocking and/or locking devices known from the prior art, such as e.g. Iocks, i.e. to
connect them in parallel or series with the automatic safety device.
Whilst in the above the function of the identification device 211 has mostly been
described by way of the stationary holding and/or storage device 205, it should be
noted that a identical or similar function or design of the identification device 211 is
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
38
also used for the identification devices 216, which are assigned to the mobile holding
and/or storage devices 205.
In this case, preferably the power supply system 222, in particular the accumulator
23 for operating the identification device 216 is built into the magazine 207 and/or
the storage container 208, and at the same time the transmission and/or receiving
unit 219 of the user 217 is suitable for releasing or locking the release element 215
of the locking device 214, for example for the lid or the door of the mobile holding
and/or storage device 205. Said locking device 214 must not however act on the lid
or the door but can also act directly on the object 202 and release or lock the latter
for removal.
The holding and/or the storage device 205 can thus be designed in such a way that
a complete enclosure of the object 202 to be protected is avoided or the object 202
to be protected interacts with the locking device 209, 210, 214 and is connected to
the latter immobily. This is mainly advantageous for the presentation of valuable
objects, such as jewellery, watches or the like, as said valuables are protected from
unauthorised removal and still an evaluation thereof or a selection is possible. In this
case the object 202 to be secured is secured by a holding member, e.g. a holdingclip on a presentation carrier, whereby the locking device 209, 210, 214 and/or the
identification device 211, 216 is in active connection with the holding member. The
securing of valuables and/or data carriers 203 or data processing systems according
to the invention, such as portable computers, stationary computer systems and/orcomputer networks, is of particular advantage for persons working outside the office
with a sales or presentation role, as the complicated and time-consuming manual
locking and unlocking of valuables or the manual granting or denial of access toimportant data bases becomes unnecessary.
Furthermore, by means of automatic locking on the return of the object 202 to the
corresponding position the automatic lifting of access rights to d~tah~ses can be
performed by the distance of the authorised user 217 from the object 202 or
database to be secured or from the respective transmission and/or receiving unit
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
218, 220 and thus undesired access caused by inattentiveness or by absence-
mindedness is prevented.
Of course, it is also possible to arrange a transponder 38 - Fig. 2 - in the holding
and/or storage devices 205 and/or in the objects 202 to be secured and to allow the
power supply for the identification device 216 to come from the user 217. For
example, it is also possible to work with several transponders 38, that is both in the
region of the identification device 211 and in the region of the holding and/or storage
device 205 and in the rooms in which the protectable objects 202 are kept or access
to important databases is possible and to arrange on the body of the authorised user
217 a separate transmission device for the alternating field 224, so that every time
the corresponding transponders 38 are in the region of this transmitted, coded or
unique alternating field 224 an activation of the release elements 212, 213 or 215 is
possible.
In order in the case of a separate power supply by accumulators 223 to ensure a
continually ready-to-operate identification device 211, 216 charging devices 243 are
assigned to the immobile and/or also fixed holding and/or storage devices 205, which
charge the accumulators 223 by using the total capacity, or achieve the fully
charged state. The charging devices 243 can in this case either be in electricalcontact with the accumulators 223 and be supplied with electrical power wirelessly
by the electromagnetic alternating field 224. The electricity supply or charging of the
accumulators 223 is performed auto"l~lically when the holding and/or storage
devices 205 are positioned at the respective charging station. Thus for each use of
the portable holding and/or storage device 205 the total period of use is available,
which can be several days depending on the capacity of the accumulators 223 and
depending on the power consumption of the identihcation device 216. In addition,additional manual maintenance work e.g. the manual contacting of the identification
device 216 with the charging device 243 is unnecessary, as the charging procedure
is performed automatically on returning the object 202 and/or the holding and/orstorage device 205.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
Fig. 14 shows an enlarged view of the storage container 208 or the magazine 207
according to Fig. 13, whereby for parts already described above the same reference
numbers are used.
The identification device 216 is here arranged to be invisible from the outside in a
slot-shaped recess 244 in a container wall 245, in the container base or in the
container lid. The accumulators 223 provided in the case of a separate supply ofpower to the identification device 216 are preferably also arranged invisibly in the
recess 244 and are accessible from the outside by means of a closing lid 246. Thus
in the case of damaged accumulators 223 and with the existence of locking and/orsnap connections on the closing lid 246 and on the container wall 245 a rapid
replacement is possible.
The printed board of the computing unit of the identification device 216, formed in
particular by a microcontroller 225 with all peripheral components, is preferably also
arranged in the recess 244.
The locking device 214 which is preferably formed by an electrically operated
tension rod magnet is preferably arranged in the region of the lid of the storage
container 208. The release element 215 can be moved by tension bar magnets and
thus permits or refuses a lifting or a upwards pivoting of the lid. In order to achieve
high locking forces with simultaneously low unlocking forces and thus low electrical
power consumption, it is possible to use any locking catches and/or locking
mechanism known from the prior art.
Instead of the action of the locking element 214 on the closure of the storage
container 208 it is also possible to allow the movement of the release element 215 to
act on the hinge arrangement between the lid and the bottom part of the container
and thus permit or prevent an opening of the storage container 208.
Depending on the preset or maximum desired distance between the transmission
and/or receiving unit 219 of the user 217 - Fig. 13 - and the transmission and/or
receiving unit 220 - as shown by an arrow in Figs. 14 and 15 - and depending on
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
the dimensions of the storage container 208 the arrangement of the transmission
and/or receiving unit 220 can differ, in order to provide maximum transmission
distances of a few centimetres. For the embodiment of the transmission and/or
receiving unit 219 in or on a wrist watch, which is normally worn on the left wrist,
various arrangement possibilities are advantageous, which enable a short distance
between the assigned transmission and/or receiving units 219, 220. If the user 217
- Fig. 13 - uses the left hand for opening the storage container 208 and the wrist
watch with the transmission and/or receiving unit 219 is on the left wrist, the
transmission and/or receiving unit 220 is preferably arranged in the region of
manipulation for the upwards pivoting of the lid, as when intending to open the
storage container 208 the latter has to be taken hold of by the hand of an entitled
user and thus there is necessarily a comparatively short distance.
In the respective locked position of the release element 15 - as shown in Fig. 14 -
the drive elements are in a deactivated stated, i.e. with no electrical power
consumption. The position of rest of the locking device 214 shown in Fig. 14 is here
retained by means of spring forces.
If the authorised user 217 with the transmission and/or receiving unit 219 enters the
prespecified distance range to the storage container 208, the identification data of
the user 217 received by the transmission and/or receiving unit 220 are forwarded to
the identification device 216 and after a successful, positive identiricdlion check by
the identification device 216 the locking device 214 is charged with electrical power.
In this way the release element 215 is moved into enter position and the removal of
objects 202 from the storage container 208 is possible by the authorised user 217.
After the removal of the objects 202 the locking device 214 can again be moved into
the position of rest or activated.
Whether an object 202, for example a data carrier 203, is placed in the storage
container 208 or has been removed from the storage container 208, can be detected
by any sensors and provide the idenliricdlion device 216 with control information. On
the return of the object 202 into the storage container 208 the release element 215
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
can be moved into the enter position and the lid can spring up automatically e.g. by
spring force, whereby a comfortable locking or automatic securing of the object 202
is permitted.
By including the sensor, which can be in the form for example of optical light barriers,
Hall sensors, limit switches or other sensors known from the prior art, in addition the
construction of a time detection system with recording of the removal of the objects
is possible. For this the sensor is line-connected with the identification device 216
and a timer device thereof, for example in the form of a timer component assigned to
the microcontroller 225, provides the microcontroller 225 with time and/or date
information. The thus detected removal times, removal periods or removal days ofthe objects 202 from the storage container 208 are saved by the identihcation device
Z16 and can if necessary be visualised by an output device, such as e.g. a display,
or output by a printer in paper form.
rhus a continuous, unforgeable recording of the removal of the object is provided
whereby an objective means is provided for explaining inconsistencies or for
payment purposes.
Of course, the above-described recording system and safety or locking system canalsc be used for all holding and/or storage devices 205 for objects 202 shown in Fig.
13.
In Figs.15 and 16 in addition various arrangement possibilities of the transmission
and/or receiving unit 219 for the embodiment variant of a wrist watch is shown,
whereby the space requirement for the computer and the necessary electronic
components on the user 217 can be kept extremely small, and their integration into
pieces of clothing and/or jewellery 239 worn by the user 217, such as for example a
watch strap 240, a watch housing 241, a ring, 242, a belt buckle or the like, ispossible in a simple manner.
If a non-battery operating transmission and/or receiving unit 219, in particular a
ll a~ ~sponder 238 is used the latter can if necessary also be inserted replaceably in
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
43
the watch strap 240, as currently used transponders 238 have dimensions of several
millimetres. With a separate power supply of the transmission and/or receiving unit
219, it is advantageous to integrate the laKer - as shown in a dash-dotted line - into
the watch housing 241, and to supply the electrical power via the button cell of the
wrist watch.
In addition, switch elements 247 can be arranged on the wrist watch which can
influence the sequence or the status of the transmission and/or receiving unit 219 or
of the entire device 201.
In Fig.16 the user 217 of the device 201 is shown. The laKer is wearing a mobileholding and/or storage device 205 with articles of value and/or firearms inserted
therein or mounted thereon.
The holding and/or storage device 205 for mounting the objects 202 is normally
made of hard plastic and preferably secured to a carrier belt 248 wrapped around the
body of the user 217. If necessary at the end region of the holding and/or storage
device 205 opposite the carrier belt 248 a connecting device 249 is arranged, inparticular in the form of a strap 250 wrapped around the thigh of the user 217. Thus
the holding and/or storage device 205 or the portable storage container 208 is
connected unable to be torn off to the body of the user 217 without reducing thewearing comfort.
The object 202 to be secured is here surrounded invisibly by the holding and/or
storage device 205 or visibly by transparent plastic or e.g. is only partly covered for
presentation purposes.
Preferably in an access region of the holding and/or storage device 205 the
identification device 211 is arranged with all the necessary peripheral component
groups. The transmission and/or receiving unit 220, in particular in the form of a
transmission and/or receiving coil 251, is arranged on the carrier belt 248 located in
the hip region of the user 217 and preferably line-connected with the identification
device 216. The transmission and/or receiving unit 220 or the transmission and/or
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
receiving coil 251 can thus be designed to be disguised as a fastening rivet between
the holding and/or storage device 205 and the carrier belt 248, whereby the
presence of the device 201 according to the invention is not visible.
The iocking device 214 is preferably arranged in the holding and/or the storage
device 205 and is preferably line-connected with the identification device 216. Thus
on controlling a drive element of the locking device 214 by the identification device
216 a lock pin can adopt different positions and access to the object 202, such as
e.g. cash, can be granted or denied.
The state in which the objects 202 are secured against removal can only be lifted
after a positive identification of the entitled user 217. For this the user 217 must
identify himself by means of an identification code 230 assigned to the transmission
and/or receiving unit 219. For this the transmission and/or receiving unit 219 is if
necessary disguised as a wrist watch, preferably attached to the wrist of the hand
used by the user 217 for removing objects 202.
If the user 217 wants to take hold of the carried object, as a result there is inevitably
a reaching and falling within the preferably preadjustable distance between the
transmission and/or receiving unit 219 and the transmission and/or receiving unit
220. Thereupon, the evaluation of the received identification code 230 is performed
by the identification device 216 and after a positive identification check the latter
triggers the locking device 214, whereby the lock pin is moved into the unlockedposition and an immediate unhindered removal of the respective object 202 is
possible.
If the transmission and/or receiving unit 219 is located outside the set distance range
the object 202 is again locked automatically by the holding and/or storage device
205.
The distance range between the transmission and/or receiving unit 219 and the
transmission and/or receiving unit 220 is preferably set in such a way that if the arms
of the user 217 are hanging down or in strolling position, that is when the
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
transmission and/or receiving unit 219 is in the thigh region, there is no unlocking of
the object 202. If the user 217 however wishes to take hold of the object 202 the
transmission and/or receiving unit 219 with the identification code 230 is in the hip
region, i.e. in close proximity to the transmission and/or receiving unit 220 on the
carrier belt 248, whereby it is particularly advantageous to set a distance of several
centimetres as a set value for the identification device 216 in order to effect a lifting
of the removal safeguard.
If necessary unobtrusive switch elements covered by the holding and/or the storage
device 205 are provided which permit a manual unlocking of the objects 202.
The theft of the objects 202 of the user 217 is thus also impossible even in a close
crowd but despite this the entitled user 217 still has immediate actuation or measure-
free access to the object 202, which as shown schematically in Fig.16 can be in the
form of cash in a money storage device or in a personal purse of the user 217.
Equally it is also possible of course to use the system according to the invention for
securing luggage, briefcases and/or handbags, and thus to use the advantages of
the absolutely actuation-free, automatic locking and/or unlocking device or device
201 according to the invention for personal objects 202 of daily use.
Furthermore, it is possible to assign an alarm and/or signalling device to the device
201 which is activated on the receipt of identification codes 230 that are unknown to
the system and thus refuse the removal of objects 202.
Furthermore, it is also possible independently of or in combination with the described
type of identification to use other unambiguous identification features, such as e.g.
finger prints, handwriting, iris pattern, face or hand shape or the voice, for checking
authorisation.
In addition, it can prove to be advantageous to assign to the device 201 a time switch
device, by which the device 201 during the working hours e.g. of a person out of the
office, a salesman or a computer specialist is actively connected, and at other times
~a ,..
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
46
e.g. during the night hours to exclude the possibility of misuse e.g. by thieves, spies
or children a removal of the safety device is completely prevented.
The device 201 according to the invention can be operated according to the aboveexplanations in many different types of company. In the following individual
advantageous methods are listed for the identification and the operation of the
device 201:
Thus on using the device 201 according to the invention it is possible to perform a
multiple identification, which for example can operate in such a way that on entering
a room a face shape, hand outline or finger print or the like is used for general
identification and only when this identification is positive and on sending the correct
identification code 230 to the identification device 211, 216, is one of the secured
objects 202 released.
It is also possible to couple access control systems, which monitor the movement of
a person entitled to use or remove the objects 202 in a building or grounds, with the
identification devices 211, 216.
This would mean that a release of the objects 202 by using only the identification
code 230 for the identification device 211, 216 is not sufficient to gain possession of
the objects 202 or use or operate the latter.
Of course, it is also possible to perform this identification at varying distances from
the object 202, so that the release of the object 202 can be performed consecutively
in one or more stages.
In addition, the activation of the locking device 209, 210, 214 is possible in adifferent manner. Thus for example on releasing the locking device 209, 210, 214 it
is possible to provide only an extremely short time period for the removal of the
object 202 and after the expiry of this time period the object 202 is locked again
immediately. It is however also possible that over the time period in which the user
217 is in this specific release area or at the specific distance from the corresponding
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
receiving point for the identification codes 230, the locking device 209, 210, 214
remains continually deactivated.
Of course, it is also possible to perform the identiricdliol1 before the release of the
objects 202 in more than two stages, so that various criteria have to be fulfilled
before the release is performed by the identification code 230 with a correspondingly
closeness of the user 217 to the objects 202. Thus it is possible inter alia - as
shown in Fig. 14 that an additional unlocking member 252 or a control device 253,
e.g. a switch member or a sensor surface is connected with the identification device
21 1, 216 and only when this additional unlocking member 252 is activated and there
is a positive identification by the identification device 211, 216 also by a small
distance between the transmission and/or receiving units 218 to 220 or the control
device 253 delivers a positive control result, the locking device 209, 210, 214 is
released. Such an unlocking member 252, which for example can be in the form of a
push button switch, a light barrier or the like, ensures that the release by the locking
devices 209, 210, 214 only occurs when also the other hand or a dirrerent body part
is in the immediate proximity of the object 202 or the holding and/or storage device
205. In this way in an advantageous manner an observer of the authorised user 217
can hardly see which measures or steps have to be taken in order to obtain entrance
or access to the secured object 202.
Equally the object 202 can be returned semi-automatically, manually or fully
autoi"atically in that the approach of the object 202 to the holding and/or storage
device 205 is recognised and accordingly the latter is brought into an oper~ating state,
in which a placing or insertion of the object 202 is possible.
In order to prevent manipulation of the locking devices 209, 210, 214, in addition a
closed current circuit check or other such safety device can be provided.
Lastly for form's sake it is noted that in the drawings individual co"~po"ent~ and
component groups are illust~ated out of proportion and untrue to scale for a better
understanding of the invention.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
48
Also individual features of individual embodiments can be combined with other
individual features of other embodiments in any way, and in any combination or
alone respectively can form the subject matter of independent inventions.
Most of all the individual embodiments shown individually in the Figs. 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6;
7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17 can form the subject matter of independent
solutions according to the invention. The objectives relating thereto and solutions
according to the invention can be taken from the detailed descriptions of these
figures.
Furthermore, it is noted that the shown circuits are simplified functional b!ockdiagrams in which individual circuit details are not shown and can be realised by any
components of electrical engineering or electronics known from the prior art.
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
._
49
List of Reference Numbers
Safetydevice 41 Watch housing
2 Firearm 42 Trigger
3 Firearm 43 Charging device
4 Firearm 44 Recess
Holding device 45 Rifle butt
6 Holding device 46 suppOn region
7 Holding device 47 Bufferelement
8 Storage box 48 Rifle shaft
9 Locking device 49 Seal
Locking device 50 Region
11 Identification device 51 Switch element
12 Release element 52 Handgun
13 Release element 53 Barrel
14 Locking device 54 Holding element
Release element 55 Handle
16 Identification device 56 Wall
17 User 57 Front plate
18 Transmission and/orreceiving unit 58 Opening
19 Transmission and/or receiving unit 59 Mount
Transmission and/or receiving unit 60 Locking device
21 Line 61 Locking device
22 Power supply system 62 Locking device
23 Accumulator 63 Drive element
24 Alternating field 64 Drive element
Microcontroller 65 Lock pin
26 Transmission device 66 Lock pin
27 Infrared sensor 67 Sight
28 Computer 68 Recess
29 Memory 69 Lock pin
Identification code 70 Triggersafetyclip
31 Aerial 71 Drive element
32 Recognition signal 72 Sensor
33 Encoding and/ordecoding unit 73 Securityguard
34 Encoding and/or decoding unit 74 Pistol holster
Memory unit 75 Carrierbelt
36 Identification code 76 Connecting device
37 Distance measuring device 77 Strap
38 Transponder 78 Mount
39 Piece of clothing and/or jewellery 79 Mount region
Watch strap 80 Transmission and/or receiving coil
CA 02262100 1999-01-26
81 Closing device 201 Device
82 Closure tab 202 Object
83 End 203 Data carrier
84 End 204 Documents
Coupling device 205 Holding and/orstorage device
86 Lock bolt 206 Safe
87 Longitudinal guide 207 Magazine
88 Longitudinal slot 208 Storage container
89 Slide 209 Locking device
Pivot axle 210 Locking device
91 Pivot arm 211 Identification device
92 Locking clip 212 Release element
93 Height distance 213 Release element
94 Guide depth 214 Locking device
Longitudinal distance 215 Release element
96 Side wall 216 Identification device
97 Opening 217 User
98 Arrow 218 Transmission and/or receiving unit
99 Width 219 Transmission and/or receiving unit
100 Face end 220 Transmission and/or receiving unit
101 Unlocking member 221 Line
102 Recess 222 Power supply system
103 Slide 223 Accumulator
104 Longitudinal axis 224 Alternating field
105 Compression spring 225 Microcontroller
106 Mount 226 Identification code
107 Mount slot 227 Transponder
108 Locking bolt 228 Piece of clothing and/or jewellery
109 Pivot axis 229 Watch strap
110 Spring 230 Watch housing
111 Line 231 Ring
112 Torsion spring 232 Charging device
113 Trigger clip 233 Recess
11 4 Closing clip 234 Container wall
11 5 Bearing surface 235 Closure lid
116 Stop element 236 Switch element
117 Holding element 237 Carrier belt
118 Pivot axis 238 Connecting device
11 9 Housing 239 Strap
120 Opposite part 240 Transmission and/or receiving coil
241 Unlocking member
242 Control device
