FIREARM AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

ARME A FEU ET SON PROCEDE DE PRODUCTION

English Abstract

The invention relates to a firearm comprising a flat metal surface (9) on
which a barcode (11) is placed which serves to record information and, at the
same time, to camouflage. This barcode is incorporated into the metal in such
a manner that the lines or the spaces of the barcode (11) are formed by fine
grooves or ribs. This firearm is preferably designed as a self-loading pistol
having a plastic grip (1), and the barcode (11) is placed on at least one side
of the bare slide or breech (3). The invention also relates to a method for
producing a firearm of this type. This method involves burning the barcode
into the flat metal surface by means of a laser treatment.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une arme à feu, comportant une surface métallique (9) plate sur laquelle un code à barres (20), comportant des informations, est appliqué de manière camouflée, ledit code à barres étant gravé dans le métal de sorte que les traits ou les espaces du code à barres (11) sont formés par de fines rainures ou nervures. Cette arme à feu se présente de préférence sous la forme d'un pistolet semi-automatique comportant une crosse en plastique (1), le code à barres (11) étant appliqué sur au moins un côté du coulisseau ou de la culasse (3) à nu. L'invention concerne également un procédé pour produire une telle arme à feu, ledit procédé constituant à graver le code à barres dans la surface métallique plate par usinage au laser.

Claims

-10-
CLAIMS:
1. Firearm with an even metal surface (9), characterized in that a barcode
(11) is applied this even metal surface (9) and is inserted into the metal
such
that the bars or the spaces between the barcodes (11) are formed by the
grooves or bars.
2. Firearm in accordance with claim 1, wherein the barcode (11) comprises a
substantial portion of said even metal surface (9).
3. Firearm in accordance with claim 1, wherein the barcode (11) subdivides
said even metal surface (9).
4. Firearm in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that
it is designed as an automatic pistol with a plastic handle (1) and a slide
(3), and
in that the barcode (11) is attached to at least one side of the slide (3).
5. Method for the production of a firearm in accordance with any one of
claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the barcode is branded into the even
metal
surface by a laser treatment.

Description

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Firearm and a Method for Its Production
The invention relates to a firearm with an even metal surface, in accordance
with the preamble of
claim 1, as well as a procedure for its production, in accordance with the
preamble of claim 4.
In the second half of the 19~" century, it was common to engrave, chisel or
brand into the metal or
wood of hand guns not only serial numbers and the name of the manufacturer,
i.e. model-related
identifying information, but also individual identifiers like names and
dedications, but especially
formation and operating instructions in the case of military weapons. On
standard-issue weapons,
it is sometimes possible to find an entire list of formations, via which the
military track of the
weapon can be read from its introduction to its discharge.
Chiseling or branding takes up a lot of room without a lot of characteristics
being identifiable. But,
it does have the advantage of permanence. Moreover, the use of individual
chisel or branding
letters does not require an even surface. This also applies to engravinct, but
this is extremely
complicated. Moreover, the cuts with the engraver can lead to undesirable
stress concentrations
on heavily loaded, thin parts. Thus, engraving is usually only performed on
expensive civilian
weapons.
More recently, so-called electrowriters were sometimes used to introduce
notations. This allowed,
even with modern, filigree weapons, e.g. with an automatic pistol, the
introduction of notations

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without the weapon being dismantled into individual parts, compressed by the
stamping, or heat-
damaged by charges.
In recent times, information that contains manufacturer and sales information
is applied in the
form of a barcode. Such a barcode consists of a row of parallel bars with
different widths andlor
at different distances from each other and is attached to a contrasting base,
which in turn is
affixed to the weapon packaging or the weapon itself. It is usually read with
a reader device that
can decode the barcode without problems. The layperson cannot read the
information on the
barcode without a reader.
As a general rule, the barcode must be applied to a more or less even surface.
In terms of the
invention, a surface is "even" if it is even enough to allow the quick and
trouble-free reading of a
barcode applied to it.
Of course, this type of barcode is rather easy to remove or damage such that
it can no longer be
read.
A handgun has recently been suggested (DE 100 62 239 A1), in which,
unbeknownst to the user
of the weapon, a barcode is introduced into the millings for the engagement of
the slide. Only
millings that are clearly undamaged can be seen, because they have omissions.

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However, this barcode is relatively short and can only accept a few end
numbers of the weapon
number. In US 6 432 559, information carriers are so molded or ingrained into
the weapon parts
that the information cannot be read from the outside.
Regardless of this, the problem is known that the surfaces of military weapons
should be as
inconspicuous as possible, i.e. non-reflective and with unclear contours.
Insofar as a military
weapon has a smooth, level surface, then it should be designed as matte as
possible. But they
must not be too roughly processed, since otherwise material inaccuracies and
errors can creep in
or remain undetected. tJp until now, this problem has been poorly solved by
first producing the
surface with the technically offered accuracy and then reworking this surface,
which is quite time-
consuming. The reworking is usually performed chemically so as not to stress
the material parts,
which are often designed as thin as permissible in order to minimize the
weight of the weapon.
Based on this overall problem, the object of the invention is to improve the
initially named
handgun to the effect that it has permanent, easily readable identifying
information and that it is
less easily recognizable.
This object is solved according to the invention such that a barcode i:a
attached to this even metal
surface and is worked into the metal such that the bars or the spaces between
the bars of the
barcode are formed by fine grooves or bars (claim 1).

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The attachment of the barcode is not new, but its insertion in the metal
surface is. It was not to be
expected from the outset that this type of barcode

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expected from the outset that this type of barcode would be readable since the
contrast color is
missing.

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However, it turned out that the different reflection with malleable or,
better, negatively formed bars
enables a reliable reading, even though there is no color contrast. It does
not matter how deep
the bars or spaces are. In fact, they can be relatively flat. Nevertheless,
the proper reading is
surprisingly possible.
At the same time, the barcode forms a raised surface that is arranged within
the metal surface
and thus prevents its reflection and also changes its contours.
While the mechanical raising of a surface section for the purpose of reducing
the reflection and
blurring of the contours is too time-consuming to be used in the mass
production of standard-
issue weapons and while the insertion of a barcode into an even metal surface
is also too time-
consuming for the same reasons, one and the same barcode surface here is used
for two
completely contrasting purposes, which surprisingly ensures a positive balance
of costs: too
complicated for each of the individual purposes, an engraved or otherwise
constructed barcode
surface is sufficiently economical for both purposes together.
Preferably, the barcode takes up a surface that takes up a palpable share
within the level surface
and/or subdivides this level surface (claim 2). Thus, the optical effect of
the barcode surface is
optimized such that it optimally serves to camouflage the inherently
conspicuous level surface.

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As a general rule, this barcode surface is suitable for any firearm. But since
the size of a
meaningful barcode surface is limited, the size of the level surface that can
be effectively
camouflaged by this barcode surface is also limited. For this reason, the
firearm is preferred as
an automatic pistol with a plastic handle and the barcode is applied or worked
into at least one
side of the open slide (claim 3).
In the case of a hand firearm with a handle that is made of plastic or coated
with plastic, a
barcode cannot be inserted permanently enough into the handle; above all its
material property is
insufficient for the fine separation of the bars or grooves of the barcode.
On the other hand, a barcode attached to the open-lying slide can be read
easily and problem-
free using a reader device.
The slide surface ultimately offers a conspicuous surface that is exposed to
the highest
mechanical stresses. For this reason, the welding or the milling out of the
barcode means a high
thermal or mechanical impairment of the strength of the slide that is not
easily acceptable. The
permanence of the once attached barcode is guaranteed in this manner.
The aforementioned type of barcode can generally be inserted in different
ways, e.g. through
engraving. But, it turns out that the barcode is preferably branded into the
even metal surface
through a laser treatment (claim 4).

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The, at first, very complicated laser device can be controlled fully
electronically and automatically
so that the text of the barcode is removed from the arbitrariness of the
operating personnel and is
performed without error. The branding is extremely gentle on the material
since the heating of the
metal of the level surface only reaches a very low level, so that the material
is only damaged in a
defined and specific manner over a shallow depth. This material depth lies
within the tolerance
field of the material thickness. The formation of the bars or grooves takes
place with the highest
precision, but is nevertheless very quick. The cost for a branding procedure
is very low so that the
high costs of the appropriation of the laser device are quickly amortized.
The subject matter of the invention is represented in the attached exemplary
drawing, in which
the single figure shows a top view of the left side of a standard-issue
weapon.
If this pistol is held properly for a horizontal shot, then the direction of
fire points "forward" (to the
left in the drawing) and the "top" and "bottom" result from the natural
position of the weapon (also
top and bottom in the drawing).
The bottom part of this pistol has a handle made out of reinforced plastic,
into which an outwardly
open metal plate (not shown here) containing the serial number and, if
applicable, firing
characters is embedded.

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The surface of the handle is practically designed (fish scales, raisings, even
with national
emblems if so desired by quantity buyers).
A slide or lock 3 made of specially treated steel is attached in a moveable
manner to the top of
the handle 1, as is generally known. The front part of this lock 3 has
manufacturer identifiers,
firing characters, etc.; the back part contains holds 5 so that the shooter
can securely grip the
lock 3 for reloading. An ejection window 7 is located on the top.
The front and back parts of the lock are thus sufficiently raised or designed
in order to avoid
reflections. The middle part of the lock 3 looks different. The back part of
the ejection window 7 is
located here, i.e. the position receiving the highest amount of stress during
firing. Here, the lock 3
has a smooth, level surface 9, which can reflect a ray of light. This surface
9 could be reworked,
but this must be done very carefully since each sharp-edged cut in the steel
can cause
breakages. Namely, as already mentioned, the occurring stress is highest here.
A large part of this surface 9 is now take up by a barcode surface 11, which
is shown hatched
here to simplify matters.
This barcode surface 11 has a barcode that is branded in relatively finely and
evenly using a

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laser. This ensures that no undefined sharp edges can be formed in the
barcode. Moreover, due
to its fineness, the barcode accommodate a longer message.
The barcode surface 11 breaks and distorts the surface 9 so that it can no
longer be recognized
as the surface of a weapon, even if parts are still recognizable.
Since here the barcode is both a message carrier as well as a raising, its
relatively high costs are
still justifiable.

Representative Drawing