Firearm safety device

Abstract

A firearm safety device for installation into an otherwise functional firearm for disabling the firearm with respect to chambering and firing a round of ammunition and thereby enabling the firearm to be used as a training firearm. The functional firearm includes, among other items, a removable barrel that defines the bore for firing a round of ammunition. The replacement barrel is a unitary, solid structure wherein the portion corresponding to the barrel bore is closed, thereby preventing the chambering and firing of a round of ammunition. The replacement barrel is constructed and arranged to accurately and precisely simulate the size and shape of the removable barrel so that once the replacement barrel is installed, all other portions of the firearm remain functional. This enables other aspects of firearm usage and safety to be explained while, at the same time, providing an absolutely safe firearm that is not capable of firing a round of ammunition.

1 . A firearm safety device for installation into an otherwise functional firearm for disabling the firearm, said firearm including a removable barrel, said firearm safety device comprising: 
 a barrel replacement constructed and arranged to simulate the size and shape of the removable barrel, said barrel replacement being constructed and arranged for preventing the chambering of any round of ammunition in said barrel replacement.    
     
     
         2 . The firearm safety device of  claim 1  wherein said barrel replacement is a unitary structure molded out of plastic.  
     
     
         3 . The firearm safety device of  claim 1  wherein said barrel replacement is unitary and cast out of a metal alloy.  
     
     
         4 . A method of converting a functional firearm having a slide, barrel, and recoil spring assembly into a training firearm comprises the following steps: 
 (a) providing a barrel replacement that simulates the size and shape of the functional firearm barrel and is constructed and arranged for preventing the chambering of any round of ammunition;    (b) removing the slide of the functional firearm;    (c) removing the recoil spring assembly of the functional firearm;    (d) removing the barrel of the functional firearm;    (e) installing the barrel replacement;    (f) installing the recoil spring assembly; and    (g) installing the slide.    
     
     
         5 . A training firearm comprising: 
 a receiver;    a magazine insertable into said receiver;    a slide assembled to said receiver;    a recoil spring assembly assembled into said slide; and    a solid one-piece barrel replacement assembled into said slide, wherein said barrel replacement is constructed and arranged to prevent the receipt of ammunition.    
     
     
         6 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         7 . A firearm safety device for installation into an otherwise functional firearm for disabling the firearm, said firearm including a removable barrel, said firearm safety device comprising: 
 a barrel replacement constructed and arranged to simulate the size and shape of the removable barrel, said barrel replacement being constructed and arranged for preventing the firing of any round of ammunition through said barrel replacement.    
     
     
         8 . A barrel replacement for a firearm having a removable barrel, said barrel replacement comprising: 
 a solid, unitary component that is constructed and arranged to simulate the size and shape of the removable barrel wherein said solid, unitary construction preventing the chambering of ammunition.    
     
     
         9 . The barrel replacement of  claim 8  wherein said barrel replacement is constructed and arranged with a weight that is approximately the same weight as that of the removable barrel.  
     
     
         10 . The barrel replacement of  claim 1  wherein said barrel replacement is constructed and arranged with a weight that is approximately the same weight as that of the removable barrel.  
     
     
         11 . The barrel replacement of  claim 7  wherein said barrel replacement is constructed and arranged with a weight that is approximately the same weight as that of the removable barrel.