CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Prov. 61/767,612 filed February 21 , 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to firearms which can recognize an authorized or unauthorized user to correspondingly enable or disable use of the firearm. More particularly, the present invention relates to firearms which are programmable to automatically enable use of the firearm for a user who has been authorized and to disable the firearm for a user who has not been authorized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The possibility of a firearm being forcibly taken from a legitimate or authorized user by a dangerous criminal is a concern even for professionals such as security personnel, law enforcement officers, and correction officers. For instance, of those law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, approximately 17% are killed with their own firearm or by their partner's firearm usually when a weapon is taken during a confrontation.

[0004] Firearms which are kept in the home may or may not be secured even if children are present in the home. Approximately 3.3 million children live in US households with potential access to firearms. If a firearm is left unsecured whether inadvertently or intentionally, some of these children's lives are potentially endangered.

[0005] Even those firearms kept for defensive purposes are commonly stored in safes but opening such safes can take up to half a minute or more to open thus hindering ready access to the firearm. Although keyed locks are quick to open, in order to ensure that no unauthorized individuals access its contents, the keys must be kept secure thereby increasing the likelihood of loss or damage. Combination locks may not require keys but the entry of the combination can take a significant amount of time.

[0006] Previous attempts at providing automatic safety systems for firearms have included grip detection features which are programmed to recognize an authorized user by their grip yet such systems are extremely costly. Other conventional systems have used biometric readers to identify authorized users but such systems may take too long to disable a weapon when handled by unauthorized users. Yet other systems have utilized various security measures requiring a separate device worn or carried by an authorized user which may pair with a receiver in the weapon either wirelessly or through contact. When the authorized user is in proximity to the weapon, the firearm may be used normally but when separated, the firearm may be disabled. However, such systems require that a separate security token or device be carried at all times and may still allow a firearm to remain enabled when in close proximity.

[0007] Thus, firearms which are readily accessible by authorized users but rendered incapable of being fired when handled by an authorized user are desired. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In selectively rendering a firearm safe, the firearm locking system may generally comprise a presence detector positioned along the firearm, wherein the presence detector is located such that a user maintains contact against the presence detector when the firearm is in use, a biometric reader positioned along the firearm, wherein at least one finger of the user is positionable upon the biometric reader when the firearm is in use, a locking mechanism coupled to a receiver assembly of the firearm, and, a controller positioned within the firearm and in communication with the biometric reader and the presence detector, wherein the controller is programmed to receive a first signal from the presence detector and a second signal from the biometric reader, wherein the controller is further programmed to actuate the locking mechanism and disable the firearm from discharging if the first signal or second signal presents a false reading.

[0009] In one example of use, a method of locking the firearm may generally comprise generating a first signal via a presence detector positioned along the firearm if a user maintains contact upon the firearm, generating a second signal via a biometric reader positioned along the firearm based on a detected biometric characteristic of the user, receiving the first signal and the second signal via a controller positioned within the firearm, determining via the controller whether either the first signal or the second signal is false, and disabling the firearm via a locking mechanism in the firearm if either the first signal or second signal is false.

[0010] The firearm may have the one or more authorized individuals pre-authorized such that one or more of their biometric identifying information, e.g., fingerprints, retinal pattern identification, blood vessel signature reader, voice recognition, etc., becomes associated with the weapon. During use, the firearm may readily identify whether the user is an authorized individual in which case the firearm may be used normally. In the event that the biometric feature of the detected user is an unauthorized individual, the firearm may become rendered unusable by automatically disengaging or inhibiting the firing mechanism. It is understood that the safety features and mechanisms described herein may be alternatively incorporated into any number of other firearms, e.g., handguns (semiautomatic and revolver), rifles, other types of shotguns, etc.

[0011] The firearm generally incorporates a receiver assembly having a barrel assembly coupled thereto with a slide engaged to a magazine. The trigger plate assembly is also coupled to the receiver assembly and the stock and grip may extend proximally from the receiver assembly. While the safety assembly may be incorporated at various locations along the weapon, several components may be integrated directly, e.g., into the stock, grip, and receiver assembly.

[0012] One example incorporates a programmable controller positioned securely within the stock where the controller may be optionally accessed either through a wired (such as through a USB port) or a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth®, etc.) for communicating with a separate computer or programming interface. Alternatively, the programming interface may be integrated directly upon the weapon itself such as along the stock rather than interfacing with a computer. In either case, the controller may include a processor, memory component, and connection to a power supply which may also be incorporated along the weapon, such as the stock.

[0013] The controller may be electrically coupled to a detector which may be located along the grip or anywhere along the stock or elsewhere along the firearm where a user is likely to maintain contact when handling or using the firearm. The detector may indicate to the controller whether a weapon is in use. A biometric reader or detector, e.g., positioned on top of the stock above the grip, may be incorporated along the firearm at a position suitable for either left or right- handed users. During use, as the user places their hand upon the grip for firing the weapon, either their left or right thumb (depending on their user preference) may normally fall upon the biometric reader or detector. As the user's thumb is positioned upon the biometric reader or detector, the user's print may be initially detected and transmitted to the controller for comparison to a stored database in the memory of users who have been authorized to use the weapon. While the reader or detector may be positioned to read the user's thumbprint, the reader may be positioned alternatively directly upon one or both sides of the grip to read another one of the user's fingerprints.

[0014] Also incorporated within the stock and/or grip are an actuator, e.g., motor, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, etc., in electrical communication with the controller and a locking assembly which may be in direct electrical communication with the controller and/or actuator. The locking assembly may also be mechanically coupled to the actuator for selectively disabling the weapon.

[0015] Prior to using the firearm, one or more biometric parameters (such as fingerprints) of users who are authorized to discharge the weapon may be initially transmitted to (via wired or wireless transmission) and stored in the memory of controller. For instance, one or more prints of the authorized user or users may be initially read or detected by the biometric reader or detector on the firearm and stored by the controller or the one or more prints may be detected by a separate biometric reader and then transmitted to the controller. Once the data relating to authorized users has been stored in memory by controller, any subsequent biometric readings may be compared by controller to the data stored directly in the weapon in determining whether the subsequent user is authorized or not authorized to fire the weapon.

[0016] In use, when a user initially positions their (left or right) hand upon the grip, the detector may send a first signal to the controller. In the event the user readies the firearm for firing, their hand may wrap around the grip and the detector and their thumb may automatically be situated upon the biometric reader or detector whereupon their thumbprint may be detected and a second signal may be transmitted by the reader or detector to the controller. When the second signal transmitted from the biometric reader or detector is received by the controller, if the user's print is present in the authorized database, the weapon may remain engaged for full unrestricted use of the firearm. However, if the second signal received by the controller contains a print which is not authorized, then the weapon may automatically engage the actuator and locking mechanism to immediately disable the use of the firearm.

[0017] Additionally and/or alternatively, the controller may be further programmed to allow the firearm to function only when both the first signal from the detector and the second signal from the biometric reader containing the authorized print are both received by the controller. If the second signal from the biometric reader contains an unauthorized print, then the firearm may automatically become rendered safe. Likewise, if no print is detected at all from the biometric reader, the firearm may be rendered safe. Similarly, if no first signal is received by the controller from the detector (indicating that the user has either lost their grip, released the weapon, or is attempting to improperly fire the weapon), the firearm may be rendered safe preventing it from being fired.

[0018] In the event that the biometric reader becomes disabled, the reader may be optionally programmed to recognize a separate programmable sequence of taps or touches along the reader to authorize the user. Hence, this alternative or optional programming feature may be incorporated into the controller.

[0019] In yet another alternative, a separate token worn by the authorized user may be utilized instead of the biometric characteristic or in addition to the biometric characteristic. For instance, a ring, glove, or other article of clothing may function as a "key". The authorized user may wear the "key" glove that scans their, e.g., finger, palm, etc. and sets the glove to an "armed" mode. When the authorized user picks up a firearm, the glove may be scanned or detected by the controller for a simple safe/armed condition. Once registered, the firearm becomes armed. If the firearm is released, it may revert to a safe, disengaged mode. And once the glove is removed from the hand, the firearm 10 may also resets to the safe, disengaged mode.

[0020] These alternative embodiments may be used within any of the locking mechanism variations described herein and are not intended to be limited to any particular variation.

[0021] One variation of the locking mechanism may comprise a locking sear 70 having a projecting portion which extends proximally above a sear spring interface and relative to the sear pin. The terminal end of the projecting portion may present an actuator interface surface which may be optionally concave for receive the locking interface surface of an actuator member which may configured as an elongate rod, linkage, coupling, etc.

[0022] During use, when the action is cycled to load a shell or round within the receiver assembly, the locking sear may engage the hammer. However, if the user releases their hand from the grip and the detector such that the signal is not detected by controller and/or if the print detected by reader or detector is not recognized by the controller as an authorized print or if no print is detected at all, then the controller may send a signal to actuator to immediately engage the locking mechanism. In this example, the actuator may drive the actuator member longitudinally through the stock and/or receiver assembly such that the locking interface surface comes into direct contact against the actuator interface surface of the projecting portion.

[0023] W ⁷ ith the actuator member maintained against the projecting portion of sear, the sear engagement teeth may remain in secure contact against the hammer engagement teeth despite the user pressing upon the trigger. Once the controller has detected the print of an authorized user (or if a command, wired or wirelessly, is received by the controller from a computer, as previously described), the controller may enable the actuator to release the actuator member proximally from the sear which may then enable the release of hammer for normal operation of the firearm.

[0024] In this variation as well as any of the variations herein, in order to reduce the need for power to re-deploy the linear actuator into an authorized mode (i.e., "ready to fire" mode), the action of the slide (e.g., during shell ejection and shell loading) may be used to reset or re-cock the actuator.

[0025] In another variation of the locking mechanism, the actuator member may extend from the actuator into proximity with the actuator interface surface. When actuator member is activated, the member may be driven longitudinally into contact against the actuator interface surface to prevent or inhibit the depression of the trigger about its trigger pin. With the rotation of the trigger locked, the engagement teeth of sear may remain engaged with the engagement teeth of the hammer to prevent its release from striking the firing pin. Once the controller has detected the print of an authorized user or if the controller receives a command from an authorized remote computer, the controller may again enable the actuator to release the member.

[0026] In yet another variation, another locking system may utilize a linkage arm which extends from the actuator member to a keyed pin coupled, for instance, to the sear. Rather than having the actuator member directly contacting the sear, a linkage arm defining a keyed opening at its distal end may couple to keyed pin which is connected to the sear. A proximal portion of linkage arm may be optionally angled and further define one or more locking pins along an actuator engagement slidably engaged to correspondingly respective receiving channels which are defined in an actuator wedge. The wedge may be configured into any number of shapes so long as the actuator engagement and locking pins remain slidable relative to the wedge.

[0027] When the firearm is in use by an authorized user, the sear may remain freely rotatable allowing for the rotation of keyed pin and linkage arm. The proximal actuator engagement and locking pins may also remain free to slide and/or rotate within their respective receiving channels relative to the wedge. However, when the actuator member is activated (such as when an unauthorized user attempts to use the firearm), the controller may send a signal to the actuator which may then translate the actuator member and wedge, e.g., proximally, where the actuator member may be secured. When the wedge is moved proximally, the locking pins may be immobilized within their respective receiving channels thereby preventing the linkage arm from rotating any further. Because the linkage arm is immobilized, the keyed pin is also immobilized thus rendering the sear immobile as well and preventing the firearm from being discharged. The weapon may remain in such a secured state until released.

[0028] In yet another variation of the locking mechanism, an obstructing arm may rotate to lift or angle a connector which prevents the trigger from rotating and releasing the sear and thus disabling the weapon from discharging. The actuator member may be coupled to an actuator yoke at its distal end which is slidably engaged via sliding pin within a channel defined along a proximal portion of the obstructing arm. The obstructing arm may further comprise an angled member at its distal end which terminates in a lift pin.

[0029] When the firearm is used by an authorized individual, the trigger and sear may be freely rotated without hindrance. However, when actuator member is activated, actuator yoke may be drawn proximally allowing sliding pin to move proximally within channel. The proximal movement of pin may rotate obstructing arm about obstructing arm pin such that the angled member and the lift pin are rotated in a corresponding manner. As the lift pin is rotated, it may contact connector (left and/or right connector) which may correspondingly rotate such that an obstructing surface rotates into contact against the trigger engagement surface. With the obstructing surface so engaged with the trigger engagement surface, the trigger rotation may be prevented thus preventing the firearm from being discharged unless or until the weapon has been rendered usable again, as previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a side view of a standard firearm such as a shotgun which may have a security feature as described herein incorporated.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows an illustrative side view of the stock and grip of the firearm incorporating some of the various safety components.

[0032] Figs. 3A to 3C illustrate side and perspective detail views of a firearm

incorporating a conventional sear and hammer assembly.

[0033] Figs. 4A to 4C illustrate side and perspective detail views of a firearm

incorporating a modified sear and an actuation member which inhibits the release of the hammer when engaged in a safe mode.

[0034] Figs. 5A and 5B show perspective detail views of another variation where an actuation member may interact with the trigger to prevent the weapon from being fired.

[0035] Figs. 6A to 6C show perspective detail views of another variation where an actuation member may be coupled to the sear via a linkage which may actuate to prevent the weapon from being fired.

[0036] Figs. 7A to 7C show perspective detail views of yet another variation where an actuation member may be in communication with a connector which may engage the trigger and prevent the weapon from being fired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] A firearm may be configured such that it is personalized for use only by one or more individuals who are authorized to use that firearm. The firearm may have the one or more authorized individuals pre-authorized such that one or more of their biometric identifying information, e.g., fingerprints, retinal pattern identification, blood vessel signature reader, voice recognition, etc., becomes associated with the weapon. During use, the firearm may readily identify whether the user is an authorized individual in which case the firearm may be used normally. In the event that the biometric feature of the detected user is an unauthorized individual, the firearm may become rendered unusable by automatically disengaging or inhibiting the firing mechanism.

[0038] An example of a firearm locking system incorporated into a firearm 10 is shown in the side view of Fig. 1, which illustrates a shotgun, e.g.. Remington® Model 870 shotgun assembly. While the examples illustrated herein for the firearm locking system are shown incorporated into a Remington® shotgun, this is for illustrative purposes and it is understood that the safety features and mechanisms described herein may be alternatively incorporated into any number of other firearms, e.g., handguns (semiautomatic and revolver), rifles, other types of shotguns, etc.

[0039] As shown, the firearm 10 generally incorporates a receiver assembly 12 having a barrel assembly 14 coupled thereto with a slide 16 engaged to a magazine 18. The trigger plate assembly 20 is also coupled to the receiver assembly 12 and the stock 22 and grip 24 may extend proximally from the receiver assembly 12. While the safety assembly may be incorporated at various locations along the weapon, several components may be integrated directly, e.g., into the stock 22, grip 24, and receiver assembly 12.

[0040] One example is shown in the detail schematic of Fig. 2 which illustrates a side view of the stock 22. A programmable controller 30 may be positioned securely within the stock 22 where the controller 30 may be optionally accessed either through a wired (such as through a USB port) or a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth®, etc.) for communicating with a separate computer or programming interface. Alternatively, the programming interface may be integrated directly upon the weapon itself such as along the stock 22 rather than interfacing with a computer. In either case, the controller 30 may include a processor, memory component, and connection to a power supply which may also be incorporated along the weapon, such as the stock 22.

[0041] The controller 30 may be electrically coupled to a detector 32, e.g., pressure sensitive switch, impedance switch, etc. , which may be located along the grip 24 or anywhere along the stock 22 or elsewhere along the firearm 10 where a user is likely to maintain contact when handling or using the firearm 10. The detector 32 may indicate to the controller 30 whether a weapon is in use. A biometric reader or detector 34, e.g., positioned on top of the stock 22 above the grip 24, may be incorporated along the firearm 10 at a position suitable for either left or right-handed users. During use, as the user places their hand upon the grip 24 for firing the weapon, either their left or right thumb (depending on their user preference) may normally fall upon the biometric reader or detector 34. As the user's thumb is positioned upon the biometric reader or detector 34, the user's print may be initially detected and transmitted to the controller 30 for comparison to a stored database in the memory of users who have been authorized to use the weapon. While the reader or detector 34 may be positioned to read the user's thumbprint, the reader 34 may be positioned alternatively directly upon one or both sides of the grip 24 to read another one of the user's fingerprints.

[0042] Also incorporated within the stock 22 and/or grip 24 are an actuator 36, e.g., motor, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator, etc., in electrical communication with the controller 30 and a locking assembly 38 which may be in direct electrical communication with the controller 30 and/or actuator 36. The locking assembly 38 may also be mechanically coupled to the actuator 36 for selectively disabling the weapon.

[0043] Prior to using the firearm 10, one or more biometric parameters (such as fingerprints) of users who are authorized to discharge the weapon may be initially transmitted to (via wired or wireless transmission) and stored in the memory of controller 30. For instance, one or more prints of the authorized user or users may be initially read or detected by the biometric reader or detector 34 on the firearm 10 and stored by the controller 30 or the one or more prints may be detected by a separate biometric reader and then transmitted to the controller 30. Once the data relating to authorized users has been stored in memory by controller 30, any subsequent biometric readings may be compared by controller 30 to the data stored directly in the weapon in determining whether the subsequent user is authorized or not authorized to fire the weapon.

[0044] In use, when a user initially positions their (left or right) hand upon the grip 24, the detector 32 may send a first signal to the controller 30. In the event the user readies the firearm 10 for firing, their hand may wrap around the grip 24 and the detector 32 and their thumb may automatically be situated upon the biometric reader or detector 34 whereupon their thumbprint may be detected and a second signal may be transmitted by the reader or detector 34 to the controller 30. When the detector 32 is actuated, indicating that the user has their hand upon the grip 24, the first signal may be indicated as a "true" signal whereas if the detector 32 fails to detect a presence of the user, the first signal may be indicated as a "false" signal to the controller 30. When the second signal transmitted from the biometric reader or detector 34 is received by the controller 30, if the user's print is present in the authorized database, the second signal may be registered as a "true" signal the weapon may remain engaged for full unrestricted use of the firearm 10. However, if the second signal received by the controller 30 contains a print which is not authorized, then the second signal may be indicated as a "false" signal and the weapon may automatically engage the actuator 36 and locking mechanism 38 to immediately disable the use of the firearm 10. Hence, the controller 30 may be functional when both the first signal and second signal are indicated as "true". However, if either one of the first or second signals is indicated as "false", the weapon may become automatically rendered inoperable or safe.

[0045] Additionally and/or alternatively, the controller 30 may be further programmed to allow the firearm 10 to function only when both the first signal from the detector 32 and the second signal from the biometric reader 34 containing the authorized print are both received by the controller 30. If the second signal from the biometric reader 34 contains an unauthorized print, then the firearm 10 may automatically become rendered safe. Likewise, if no print is detected at all from the biometric reader 34, the firearm 10 may be rendered safe. Similarly, if no first signal is received by the controller 30 from the detector 32 (indicating that the user has either lost their grip, released the weapon, or is attempting to improperly fire the weapon), the firearm 10 may be rendered safe preventing it from being fired.

[0046] In the event that the biometric reader 34 becomes disabled, the reader 34 may be optionally programmed to recognize a separate programmable sequence of taps or touches along the reader 34 to authorize the user. Hence, this alternative or optional programming feature may be incorporated into the controller 30.

[0047] In yet another alternative, a separate token worn by the authorized user may be utilized instead of the biometric characteristic or in addition to the biometric characteristic. For instance, a ring, glove, or other article of clothing may function as a "key". The authorized user may wear the "key" glove that scans their, e.g., finger, palm, etc. and sets the glove to an "armed" mode. When the authorized user picks up a firearm 10, the glove may be scanned or detected by the controller 30 for a simple safe/armed condition. Once registered, the firearm 10 becomes armed. If the firearm 10 is released, it may revert to a safe, disengaged mode. And once the glove is removed from the hand, the firearm 10 may also resets to the safe, disengaged mode.

[0048] These alternative embodiments may be used within any of the locking mechanism variations described herein and are not intended to be limited to any particular variation.

[0049] For comparison purposes, Figs. 3A to 3C illustrate side and perspective views of a shotgun (in this example) as it is normally cycled and prepared for firing without a locking mechanism. Generally, the breech bolt 40 having the firing pin 42 is cycled proximally as a shell or round is loaded from the magazine tube and into the firing chamber of the receiver assembly 12. The hammer 46 may rotate proximally about the hammer pin 48 such that the hammer engagement teeth 50 may become engaged with the sear engagement teeth 56 of sear 52, as shown in Fig. 3B. As the trigger 60 is depressed by the user, the trigger 60 may rotate about the trigger pin 62 thus allowing the sear spring 58 to urge the sear 52 to rotate about the sear pin 54 which in turn disengages the sear engagement teeth 56 from the hammer engagement teeth 50. The hammer 46 may then rotate freely about hammer pin 48 to strike the proximal striking surface 44 of the firing pin 42, as shown in Fig. 3C, which may then strike the primer of the shell or round to discharge it. [0050] In the side and perspective views of Figs. 4A to 4C, one variation of the locking mechanism is illustrated as having a locking sear 70. Locking sear 70 in this example may have a projecting portion 76 which extends proximally above a sear spring interface 74 and relative to the sear pin 54. The terminal end of the projecting portion 76 may present an actuator interface surface 78 which may be optionally concave for receive the locking interface surface 80 of an actuator member 72 which may configured as an elongate rod, linkage, coupling, etc.

[0051] During use, when the action is cycled to load a shell or round within the receiver assembly 12, the locking sear 70 may engage the hammer 46, as shown in Figs. 4A and 4B.

However, if the user releases their hand from the grip 24 and detector 32 such that the signal is not detected by controller 30 and/or if the print detected by reader or detector 34 is not recognized by the controller 30 as an authorized print or if no print is detected at all, then the controller 30 may send a signal to actuator 36 to immediately engage the locking mechanism 38. In this example, the actuator 36 may drive the actuator member 72 longitudinally through the stock 22 and'Or receiver assembly 12 such that the locking interface surface 80 comes into direct contact against the actuator interface surface 78 of pro jecting portion 76, as shown in Fig. 4C.

[0052] With the actuator member 72 maintained against the projecting portion 76 of sear

70, the sear engagement teeth 56 may remain in secure contact against the hammer engagement teeth 50 despite the user pressing upon the trigger 60. Once the controller 30 has detected the print of an authorized user (or if a command, wired or wirelessly, is received by the controller 30 from a computer, as previously described), the controller 30 may enable the actuator 36 to release the actuator member 72 proximally from the sear 70 which may then enable the release of hammer 46 for normal operation of the firearm 10.

[0053] In this variation as well as any of the variations herein, in order to reduce the need for power to re-deploy the linear actuator into an authorized mode (i.e., "ready to fire" mode), the action of the slide 16 (e.g., during shell ejection and shell loading) may be used to reset or re-cock the actuator.

[0054] In another variation of the locking mechanism, Figs. 5 A and 5B show detail perspective views of an embodiment where the actuator member 72 may be configured to engage an actuator interface surface 90 positioned upon a proximal surface of the trigger 60 rather than along the sear 52. As shown, the actuator member 72 may extend from the actuator 36 into proximity with the actuator interface surface 90. W ^T hen actuator member 72 is activated, as described above, the member 72 may be driven longitudinally into contact against the actuator interface surface 90, as shown in Fig. 5B, to prevent or inhibit the depression of the trigger 60 about its trigger pin. W ⁷ ith the rotation of the trigger 60 locked, the engagement teeth 56 of sear 52 may remain engaged with the engagement teeth 50 of hammer 46 to prevent its release from striking the firing pin 42. Once the controller 30 has detected the print of an authorized user or if the controller 30 receives a command from an authorized remote computer, the controller 30 may again enable the actuator 36 to release the member 72.

[0055] In yet another variation, Figs. 6A to 6C illustrate perspective views of another locking system which may utilize a linkage arm 100 which extends from the actuator member 72 to a keyed pin 110 coupled, for instance, to the sear 52. Rather than having the actuator member 72 directly contacting the sear 52, a linkage arm 100 defining a keyed opening 102 at its distal end may couple to keyed pin 110 which is connected to the sear 52. A proximal portion 104 of linkage arm 100 may be optionally angled and further define one or more locking pins 108, 108' along an actuator engagement 106 slidably engaged to correspondingly respective receiving channels 114, 114' which are defined in an actuator wedge 112. The wedge 112 may be configured into any number of shapes so long as the actuator engagement 106 and locking pins 108, 108' remain slidable relative to the wedge 112.

[0056] When the firearm 10 is in use by an authorized user, the sear 52 may remain freely rotatable allowing for the rotation of keyed pin 110 and linkage arm 110. The proximal actuator engagement 106 and locking pins 108, 108' may also remain free to slide and/or rotate within their respective receiving channels 114, 114' relative to the wedge 112, as shown in Fig. 6B. However, when the actuator member 72 is activated (such as when an unauthorized user attempts to use the firearm 10), the controller 30 may send a signal to the actuator 36 which may then translate the actuator member 72 and wedge 112, e.g., proximally, where the actuator member 72 may be secured. When the wedge 112 is moved proximally, the locking pins 108, 108' may be immobilized within their respective receiving channels 114, 114' thereby preventing the linkage arm 110 from rotating any further. Because the linkage arm 110 is immobilized, the keyed pin 110 is also immobilized thus rendering the sear 52 immobile as well and preventing the firearm 10 from being discharged, as shown in Fig. 6C. The weapon may remain in such a secured state until released, as described above.

[0057] In yet another variation of the locking mechanism, Fig. 7A shows a perspective view of a mechanism utilizing an obstructing arm 120 which may rotate to lift or angle a connector which prevents the trigger from rotating and releasing the sear 52 and thus disabling the weapon from discharging. The actuator member 72 may be coupled to an actuator yoke 132 at its distal end which is slidably engaged via sliding pin 134 within channel 128 defined along a proximal portion 126 of the obstructing arm 120. The obstructing arm 120 may further comprise an angled member 122 at its distal end which terminates in a lift pin 124. [0058] When the firearm 10 is used by an authorized individual, the trigger 60 and sear

52 may be freely rotated without hindrance, as shown in Fig. 7B. However, when actuator member 72 is activated, actuator yoke 132 may be drawn proximally allowing sliding pin 134 to move proximally within channel 128. The proximal movement of pin 134 may rotate obstructing arm 120 about obstructing arm pin 130 such that angled member 122 and lift pin 124 are rotated in a corresponding manner, as shown in Fig. 7C. As lift pin 124 is rotated, it may contact connector 136 (left and/or right connector) which may correspondingly rotate such that an obstructing surface 138 rotates into contact against trigger engagement surface 140. With the obstructing surface 138 so engaged with trigger engagement surface 140, the trigger 60 rotation may be prevented thus preventing the firearm 10 from being discharged unless or until the weapon has been rendered usable again, as previously described.

[0059] The applications of the disclosed invention discussed above are not limited to shotguns but may be implemented to any number of different firearms. Modification of the above-described methods and devices for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention that are obvious to those of skill in the arts are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. Moreover, various combinations of aspects between examples are also contemplated and are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure as well.