LOCKING DEVICE FOR FIREARMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is a device to make firearms, particularly handguns, more particularly revolvers and semiautomatic (sometimes called automatic) pistols, inoperative. Although the invention is directed to all forms of firearms, for purposes of further disclosure the use of the word"handguns"will be used to describe the invention, though it is to be expressly understood that the disclosure is in no way limited by use of the word"handguns,"as having applicability to all firearms containing a barrel and a chamber to accept metallic cartridges. By use of the invention, both the barrel and chamber of a handgun are rendered inoperative, thereby preventing the insertion of a cartridge or"round"into the chamber while simultaneously blocking the barrel of the handgun.

2. Description of the Related Art Currently available safety devices are various forms of trigger locks which attempt to lock the trigger of the handgun so that the gun cannot be fired. These trigger locks have several disadvantages. For example, a trigger lock will not guarantee discharge of a loaded firearm and it is possible to insert a round into the chamber or cylinder of a handgun while a trigger lock is still on the gun. It is also possible in some instances to discharge the firearm by accidently or purposefully forcing the hammer to strike the round or, alternatively, to strike the trigger lock and/or hammer so as to release the trigger/hammer and discharge the round.

The present device is designed to overcome such deficiencies of the trigger locks insofar as the device of the invention makes it impossible to chamber a round. As it is impossible to insert ammunition into the chamber of the handgun, it is impossible to fire the handgun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its simplest form, the invention consists of telescoping components, preferably an inner and outer sleeve, which are slidable relative to one another and which are usually inserted from the muzzle end of the handgun so as to travel from the muzzle through the barrel and the chamber of the handgun. At least one of the telescoping parts has a configuration, at an end remote from the muzzle so as to expand a distal end of that part into locking relationship with the chamber of the handgun.

In another embodiment, the invention also includes a locking cartridge which is manufactured such that its outside configuration conforms to the dimensions of a round which is normally fired from such gun. As such, the locking cartridge fits precisely into the chamber of the gun and, as in the former embodiment, the end of at least one of the telescoping components distal from the muzzle end of the handgun is designed to grab the locking cartridge and lock it into the chamber of the gun.

A locking device is provided, which may be key, combination or electronically activated to prevent movement of the grabber and, thus, retain the handgun in a locked and safe position.

These, and other aspects of the invention, will be understood from the following detailed description of the invention of various embodiments of the invention as taken in connection with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of a prior art semiautomatic pistol based on a Browning design, and adopted by Colt and other manufacturers in. 45 ACP, and other calibers, illustrating an empty chamber and barrel; Fig. 2 is a drawing of the same semiautomatic pistol of Fig. 1 with the locking cartridge placed in the chamber and the telescoping components, which are inserted from the muzzle end of the pistol, interlocking with the locking cartridge ; a lock is shown schematically to fix the telescoping components in their as locked condition with the locking cartridge; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of Fig. 2 (without the pistol) of the locking device of the invention; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a locking cartridge; Fig. 4 (a) is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 4; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the outer telescoping member; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the inner telescoping member; Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of the pronged or grabber component; Fig. 8 is a further enlarged view of the interengagement of a locking cartridge and inner and outer telescoping members of Fig. 3 and the grabber component of an alternative configuration while in an engaged position; Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged views of the same members as illustrated in Fig. 3 in a disengaged and engaged position, respectively; Figs. 11-13 (a) show further details of the beveled interengagement portions of the locking cartridge and inner telescoping member of Figs. 9 and 10; Fig. 14 is a top view of the locking device of Fig. 3; Fig. 15 is a side view of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view along 16-16 of Fig. 14 view of the outer telescoping member and serrations for lock; Fig. 17 is illustrative of the complete assembly in a locked position; Fig. 18 is illustrative of another embodiment of the invention with the expander element in a retracted position; Fig. 19 shows the same embodiment of Fig. 18, but with the expander element in its operative position to expand the prongs of the grabber into interlocking engagement with a chamber of a gun (not shown); Figs. 20 and 21 correspond to Figs. 18 and 19, respectively, but with the lock removed to show details of the grabber and expander subassemblies; Fig. 22 shows a sectional view of the lock component; Fig. 23 is a sectioned view of the expander component; and Fig. 24 is an external view of the grabber component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As is known to those skilled in the art, most modern, and many antique, firearms which use metallic cartridges, include a chamber component for receiving the metallic cartridge into the firearm and a barrel having a muzzle through which the discharged projectile travels from the chamber end to the muzzle end of the firearm. In certain cases, the chamber and barrel may be a single component, for example, in many semiautomatic (sometimes also called automatic) pistols. In other cases, the chamber is distinct from the barrel, for example, in the case of revolvers. Some pistols also borrow technology from long guns, i. e. the use of a bolt in a pistol configuration is well established.

Moreover, the metallic cartridges for these various firearms come with heads which are rimmed, semi-rimmed, rimless, rebated, belted, etc. It is to be understood that the locking device of the invention can be made to interact with any firearm chambered for any of these types of metallic cartridges. It is also to be understood that the invention is not limited to locking devices for pistols, but may be used in long arms as well, for example rifles or smooth bore long arms, e. g. shotguns, rifles for shot shells, etc. It is, thus, intended that the invention can be used for any modem or antique firearm which employs a chamber for a metallic cartridge, as well as a barrel through which a discharged projectile travels from the chamber to the muzzle of the firearm However, for convenience in explaining the invention, the term"handgun"will be used generically for all firearms so configured.

One component which is essential to the invention are telescoping members such that at least one of the telescoping components will have an end thereof distal from the muzzle of the handgun which can be enlarged or expanded so as to interlock directly with the chamber or the end of the chamber or, alternatively, to interlock with a component placed within the chamber so as to render it impossible to chamber a round into the handgun. For ease of construction, it is preferred if the telescoping members are cylindrical, although other configurations can obviously be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a rectangular or triangular configuration of the innermost telescoping member will work equally well as would a cylindrical configuration.

In one embodiment of the invention, i. e. for use wherein the chamber and barrel are integral as in a semiautomatic pistol 10, a second component, i. e. a locking cartridge 12, generally having the outer configuration closely conforming to the chamber will be inserted into the chamber and at least a grabber member 14 inserted into the locking cartridge where it is expanded so as to interengage with the locking cartridge so as to prevent axial (or longitudinal) separation thereof. Once interlocked with the locking cartridge 12, the relative telescoping positions of the inner and outer telescoping members 15,16, respectively, will be fixed, such as by a locking device 18 which will prevent axial (or longitudinal) movement of the telescoping members. Thus, it will be impossible to disengage the expanded end of the grabber member 14 from the locking cartridge, especially if a beveled shape 20 (Figs. 11,12) on grabber member 14 engages with corresponding bevel 22 (Figs. 4-4 (a)) on locking cartridge 11, without authorized delocking of the locking device 18. This will make it impossible to insert a round into the chamber and, hence, impossible to discharge the firearm so as to send a projectile through the barrel of the pistol.

In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figs. 18-24, particularly for use with revolvers, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel and pistols, where the chamber is integral with the barrel, it is not always necessary to employ a locking cartridge as it is possible to configure the grabber member so as to directly interengage the flanges 40,41 (Fig. 11) with the end of the cylinder containing the chamber or, alternatively, to interengage with an undercut portion in the cylinder, i. e. that portion of the cylinder recessed to accept a rimmed, semi-rimmed or belted cartridge or, alternatively, on that portion of the chamber upon which the cartridge headspaces. For example, in the case of a. 45 ACP cartridge, the flanges may engage with the end of the chamber on which the. 45 ACP cartridge seats. Such a configuration will not only prevent a round from being chambered, but will simultaneously prevent the cylinder from being rotated and, as in the case of the pistol, will make it impossible to discharge a projectile through the barrel of the firearm without authorized delocking of the locking device 18.

In some instances where either a straight wall or a bottleneck cartridge is used in a pistol (e. g. a cartridge known as a 22 Remington Jet), it would be desirable to employ a locking cartridge 12 in the revolver into which the grabber member 14 may be locked thereby preventing rotation of the cylinder, completely rendering useless any attempt to insert a round into the chamber and preventing discharge of a projectile through the muzzle of the revolver. Even in such a case, if the hammer 2 of the pistol (or revolver) is forced, it will not be possible to strike any cartridge within the chamber of the handgun.

In a similar embodiment, where a pistol is fitted with a bolt such that the chamber and barrel are integral, it may be desirable to employ a locking cartridge with a grabber member as in the pistol and revolver embodiments, so as to render it impossible to insert a round into the chamber of such a bolt operated pistol. Again, even if the trigger is pulled or the firing pin forcibly or accidently released, it cannot strike a cartridge in the chamber of the firearm when the locking device of the invention is installed.

The components used in my invention can be made of any high quality metal, such as gun steel, and finished in blue, nickel or other finishes conventionally used to finish firearms.

Preferably, however, a metal such as stainless steel, which provides both aesthetic and functional features consistent with the purpose of preventing unauthorized discharge of a firearm equipped with the gun lock components of the invention, could be used.

When assembled, the components of the locking device of the invention may take the appearance as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 (shown without the firearm on which they will be installed). As shown in sectional view of Fig. 3, the grabber 14 will have its prongs (preferably at least 2, but three or more prongs being preferred) expanded by movement of innermost telescoping member 15 relative to grabber component 14 to expand the prongs 40,41 (Fig. 11) into engagement with locking cartridge 12. Once fully deployed, the prongs 40,41 will prevent longitudinal (axial) separation of locking cartridge 12 and grabber component 14. Locking cartridge 12 can be securely maintained in the chamber of the firearm by engaging the components of the lock 18 with one or more grooves 19,21 (Figs. 3,7) with locking component 23 of lock 18. Lock 18 can be a keyed, combination or electronic lock to move pin 23 into position with one of the grooves 19,21 on grabber component 14. Once locked, the locking cartridge 12 will be secured in the chamber of the firearm, and its physical presence will prevent the insertion of a round into the chamber. Components 14,15,16 will be surrounded by the barrel of the firearm, thereby preventing tampering with these components as a means for unauthorized delocking of the device of the invention.

Lock 18 may fit flush against the muzzle 9 of the firearm, or may be recessed as at 8 (Fig.

3) such that it relatively telescopes over muzzle 9 thereby further minimizing separation of the locking device of the invention from the firearm so equipped by preventing prying of the lock 18 from muzzle 9, by insertion of a prying tool (not shown) between the lock 18 and muzzle 9.

However, upon authorized delocking of pin 23 from groove 19,21, the lock 18, and telescoping components 14-16 can readily be removed from the barrel and locking cartridge 12 ejected from the chamber by the means used to conventionally eject spent and/or unfired rounds from the chamber of the firearm It can thus be seen that I have provided a extremely reliable and relatively inexpensive safety device which will render it impossible to chamber a round into the chamber of a firearm made for metallic cartridges and, thus, prevent discharge of a projectile through the barrel and out the muzzle of such a firearm fitted with the safety device.

Although I have described my invention with regard to a specific embodiment of expanding the grabber component by means of an inner telescoping member, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that expansion can be obtained by equivalent mechanical features which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.