US3164919A - Firearm trigger lock - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 12, 1965 HALL FIREARM TRIGGER LOCK Filed Sept. 28, 1962 INVENTOR. ROBE/PT L. HALL A rraxe/vey United States Patent F Filed Sept. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 226,989 1 Claim. (Cl. 4270) The present invention relates to firearm trigger locks and more particularly to a modified locking device of the type disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,664,658.

The trigger lock disclosed in Patent No. 2,664,658 fits completely within the trigger guard of a gun and includes internal locking means which is completely enclosed and cannot be out free from the outside because it is so inner locked with the integral structure of the trigger guard as to require permanent mutilation thereof in order to remove the device without the use of a key. The device of the present invention is similar in this regard, but it differs from the trigger lock of the patent in that it also includes means which additionally locks the safety mechanism of the gun in its safe position and which assures that the safety mechanism is in its safe position while the trigger lock is being secured to or removed from the gun. This is an advantage over the trigger lock of the patent which does not prevent accidental discharge of the gun while it is being installed thereon or being removed therefrom should the gun be in an unlocked position. Also, a gunihaving a hair' trigger can sometimes be discharged by a very rough jar even though the trigger lock is in position thereon if, at the same time, the safety mechanism of the gun is in its firing position.

Therefore, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a firearm trigger lock which prevents the slightest movement of a trigger in any direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a firearm trigger lock which assures that the safety mechanism of the gun is always in its safe position when the lock is used therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gun locking device of simple and sturdy construction which can be economically manufactured and marketed at a low cost.

According to the present invention, a firearm trigger lock is providedwith a pair of opposed plates having bevelled peripheral edges shaped to wedge within the trigger guard of a gun. The plates have internal, mating recesses adapted to fit around the trigger of the gun and prevent any movement thereof. A tumbler type locking means is rotatably mounted in one of the plates and extends into the other plate where it engages a latch means i V .to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claim. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, .in-which; w

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view'of a portion of a shotgun with the device of the invention secured in position withinthetrigger guard;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken alongline 22 of FIGURE 1; f' v FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional'view similar to that- 3,164,919 Patented Jan. 12, 1965 ice 2 shown in FIGURE 2, but with the pin of the safety mechanism in a gun firing position and with the trigger lock removed;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partially in cross-section, taken in the direction of arrows 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 taken in the direction of the arrows 5+5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the locking device of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view taken in the direction of arrows 77 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIGURE 1, the firearm lock of the present invention, referred to generally as 10, is shown in engagement with the trigger guard 11 of a gun 12 having a trigger 13 and a safety mechanism or pin 14.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the pin 14 is transversely mounted in the trigger guard 11 and maybe moved to a first position (FIG. 2) to prevent firing of the gun 12 and to a second position (FIG. 3) to permit firing thereof.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 4-7, the locking device 10, comprises two plates 16 and 17 which mate in sideby-side relationship within the trigger guard '11. Eachplate 1617 is formed with a flat outer face 20 joined to a parallelinner face 21 by a bevelled periphery 22. The faces 20 and 21 conform to the inner outline of the trigger guard 11, and the outer faces 20 have perimeterslarger than that of the guard 11 so that the bevelled peripheries 22 wedge against the inner rim 23 of the guard 11 preventing the plates 16 and 17 from passing therethrough. Neither of the plates 16 and 17 overhangs the outer rim of the guard 11 so as to distend the profile thereof.

In order to receive the trigger 13, the adjacent inner plate faces 21 are provided with arcaute trigger recesses 28 as seen in FIGURES 5 and 6. The recesses 28 define mating chambers which are shaped to fit around the trigger 13 and prevent movement of the latter. Although this would ordinarilymake it impossible to discharge the gun 12, it is recognized that guns having hair-triggers can sometimes be discharged by a sharp jar even though the locking device is secured to the gun. Also, there is danger of accidentally moving the trigger while the looking device 10 is being installed'on the gun or removed therefrom. This, however, is not likely to happen if the pin 14 is in the position shown in FIGURE 2. Accordingly, the lock 10 is provided with a recess 34 in the plate 17 which is adapted to receive the pin'14. The plate 16 isprovided with a land 31 which abuts the end of pin 14 and which also engages the trigger guard 11 so that the pin 14 cannot be moved to its unlocked position, but will be maintained within the recess. It is to be noted that with the recess 30 and the land 31 located as they are,

when considered with the shape of the locking device 10, it is impossible to install it on the gun 12 unless the pin 14 is in its locked position.

' A locking means 18h; provided to lock the plates 16 and 17 to each other and thus prevent access to the trigger 13. The locking means 18 preferably includes a cylindrical body portion 32 which is secured within and perpendicular to the plane of the plate 17. The body 32 is of conventional construction and hasa key slot 33. An enlarged flange 34 is secured to the body 32 and projects outwardly ofthe plate 17 to prevent inward movement of the body.

The inner end of the body 32 extends beyond the plate 17 and is adapted to fit within a shaped recess 36 in the plate 16; A latch plate40 is fastened'to theterrninal end of the body'32 and ,is fixed for rotation therewith by i meansof a threaded screw41 which engagesthebody 32. l:

3 The latch plate 40 is generally circular and has an outwardly projecting latch arm 43 which extends radially from the axis of the body 32. Upon rotation of the body 32, the latch arm 43 engages a seat 44 formed in the plate 16. I a g V s As best seen in FIGURE 4,"th'e recess 36 in plate 16 is provided with a circular bore 45 which extends inward to a depth sufficient to accommodate the end of body 32 and the latch plate 40. At the top of the bore 4-5 is a notch 46 which extends over the entire length of the bore parallel to the axis thereof. The notch 46 receives the latch arm 43 and permits rearward movement of the body 32 into the bore 45. The back of the bore 45 is undercut to form the seat 44 which is laterally otlset, as shown in broken lines, and is of suffic'ient width to receive the latch arm 43 when the latter is rotated by the body 32. The latch arm 43 is prevented from forward movement by the seat 44 when positioned within the recess 36 and thus locks the plates 16 and 17 securely together.

In the operation of the device, before the plates 16 and 17 are placed within the trigger guard 11, the'pin 14 is moved to its locked position and a key is inserted within the key slot 33 to position the latch arm 43 as shown in full lines in FIGURE so that it will register with the notch 46 in plate 16.) The plates 16 and 17 are then fitted within the trigger guard 11 to enclose the trigger 13. As this is done the lock body 32 engages within the bore 45 and the latch arm 43 passes rearwardly' through the notch 46 to a point adjacent recess 44.

The key and body 32 are then rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 5 so that the latch arm 43 seats on the seat 44.

While the particular firearm trigger lock shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, .itis to be'understood that it is merely illustrative of the pres ently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no 4 limitations are intended to the details of'construction or designherein shown other than as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

5 A firearm trigger lock for locking the trigger and the safety pin of-a firearm comprising:

a first rigid plate engageable in the trigger guard of a firearm on one side of'its trigger and-having its periphery engage on the inner surface of the trigger guard; t

a second rigid plate engageable in the trigger guard on the other side of the trigger and having its periphery engage on the inner surface of the trigger guard;

a protuberance on one of said plates extending'transversely behind the trigger to block the movement of I the trigger to firing position; a fastening means mounted in said plates for locking them together; 7

a recess on one said plate adapted to completely en-' 20 compass an end of said pin after it is slid to its safe.

position; and

a land on the other of said plates adapted to abut the other end of said pin and firmly hold said pin in its safe position; said pin being automaticallyvmoved to its safe position by assembly of said plates into posi tion for operation of said fastening means and being completely covered and' confinedagainst movement by said plates after operation of said fastening means to lock said platestogether.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 1* 2,664,658 Bjorklund -s- Ian. 5, 1954 2,859,551 Buchanan Nov; 11, 1958 7 2,882,636

Shinaver Apr. 21, 195,9v

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