Locking device for a firearm

Abstract

A gun locking device includes a tube that fits within the bore of a firearm and extends from the muzzle to the chamber. A first subassembly on the tube moves between a locked position, in which radial balls extend from the tube to obstruct removal of the tube from the barrel, and an unlocked position in which the tube may be removed. A second subassembly coupled to the first subassembly enables a user to move the position of the first subassembly. Operation of an actuator knob on the second subassembly causes a compression rod within the tube to rotate a threaded riser at the first subassembly to drive the radially moveable balls. The actuator knob can be locked with the tube secured in the barrel. Optionally, a barrel locator cap prevents rotation of the actuator knob unless the muzzle of the barrel bears against the second subassembly.

1 . A locking device for a firearm having a barrel with associated bore having a first diameter extending along the barrel length from a muzzle to a chamber having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the locking device comprising: 
 a tube with a diameter less than said first diameter, the tube having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a length greater than or equal to said barrel length, the distal end portion of the tube having at least one aperture;    a first subassembly on the distal end portion of the tube selectively moveable between a first configuration in which the first subassembly has a diameter less than said first diameter, and a second configuration in which the first subassembly has a diameter greater than said first diameter and less than or equal to said second diameter, the first subassembly comprising: 
 at least one radially moveable ball, the radially moveable balls disposed within the distal end portion of the tube, each radially moveable ball in alignment with an associated aperture; and  
 an axially movable riser in the distal end portion of the tube, the riser including a graduated guide with said ball located adjacent said riser, said graduated guide positioned with respect to said radially moveable ball to drive the radially moveable ball radially outward when the riser is moved axially in said tube; and  
   a second subassembly connected to the proximal end of the tube, the second subassembly coupled to said first subassembly to transmit motion from the second subassembly to the first subassembly, the second subassembly comprising: 
 an actuator selectively moveable between a first position corresponding to the first subassembly being in the first configuration in which the actuator causes the riser to move axially in said tube to permit the radially moveable balls to move radially inward to reduce the first subassembly diameter to less than said first diameter, and a second position corresponding to the first subassembly being in the second configuration in which the actuator causes the riser to move axially in said tube to drive the radially moveable ball to protrude through said aperture to extend the first subassembly diameter to greater than said first diameter; and  
 a lock to secure the actuator in said second position.  
   
   
   
       2 . The locking device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rod disposed coaxially within the tube, one end of said rod coupled to said actuator and the other end of said rod coupled to said riser to couple rotational movement from the second subassembly to the first subassembly when the actuator is rotated to the second position, wherein said riser is threaded and said threaded riser engages threads inside said tube such that the rotational movement of said rod coupled to said riser causes axial movement of said riser in said tube.  
   
   
       3 . The locking device of  claim 2 , wherein said rod is removably coupled to said riser such that said rod may be removed from said tube without axial movement of said riser.  
   
   
       4 . The locking device of  claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises: 
 a lock body on which the actuator knob is mounted, said lock body connected to the proximal end of the tube, said lock body including a detent arrangement thereon;    a locking bar on the lock body that is adapted to be moved by a user between an unlocked position of the locking bar in which the locking bar does not obstruct rotation of the actuator knob on the second subassembly and a locked position of the locking bar in which the locking bar does obstruct rotation of the actuator knob; and    a plurality of manually rotatable disks on the lock body, each of the disks defining a slot such that the slots of all the disks must be aligned by rotating the disks to a predetermined combination of disk positions for the locking bar to be moved between the unlocked and locked positions, each disk including an outer periphery portion that having a fixed number of recesses corresponding to an equivalent number of disk positions, said recesses cooperating with said detent arrangement to partially restrain the disks at each disk position and provide tactile feedback to the user of the movement between disk positions to facilitate operation in darkness.    
   
   
       5 . The locking device of  claim 1  further comprising a barrel locator at said second subassembly, said barrel locator releasing said actuator for movement when said muzzle is pressed against said barrel locator, and prevents said actuator from movement when said muzzle is not pressed against said barrel locator.