Biometric thumbprint lock apparatus and method

Abstract

A biometrically keyed thumbprint lock apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment the lock apparatus serves as a safety device on a gun or rifle, the lock apparatus disabling the gun and preventing its use. Another embodiment providing a thumbprint lock having a ‘J’ shaped lock bar, replacing conventional key and combination locks.

1 . A biometric thumbprint keyed gun lock comprising:
 a body having an aperture therethrough sized and adapted to slidably and lockably receive a lock engagement portion, the engagement portion sized to be extendable through the body, the body comprising:
 a trigger brace bar adapted for placement behind a gun trigger disabling the actuation of the gun trigger; 
   a lock bar comprising:
 a gun handle engagement portion; and 
 the elongated lock engagement portion, the lock engagement portion having notches for lockably engaging with a lock member, the engagement portion sized to be extendable through the body so as to extend outwards from both sides of the body; 
   a biometric thumbprint scanner secured to the body of the lock;   a lock control means secured within the body of the lock, the lock control means for engaging and disengaging the lock member from the elongated lock engagement portion; and   a logic control means secured within the body and in communication with the lock control means and the thumbprint scanner, the control means comprising:
 a memory means for storing enrolled biometric thumbprints; 
 a means of comparing and validating a scanned thumbprint from the thumbprint scanner against at least one enrolled thumbprint, wherein if the scanned thumbprint matches enrolled thumbprint then the lock control means is commanded to disengage; and 
 a communication means of interfacing the control means with an external computer system. 
   
   
   
       2 . The thumbprint keyed gun lock of  claim 1 , wherein the brace bar is ‘L’ shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The thumbprint keyed gun lock of  claim 2 , wherein the gun handle engagement portion is ‘J’ shaped, wherein the ‘J’ shaped engagement portion is sized to engage around the rear and two opposing sides of the gun handle, wherein the brace bar is sized and adapted to engage around the rear and a first side of the trigger, wherein the lock engagement portion extending outwards from the body opposite the gun handle engagement portion extends proximate to a second side of the trigger, wherein the brace bar and lock bar lockably secure the gun lock to the gun. 
   
   
       4 . The thumbprint keyed gun lock of  claim 3 , wherein the memory means is a non-volatile memory. 
   
   
       5 . The thumbprint keyed gun lock of  claim 4 , wherein the communication means of interfacing the control means with an external computer system is a USB port. 
   
   
       6 . A biometric thumbprint keyed lock comprising:
 a body having an apertures sized and adapted to slidably and lockably receive a ‘J’ shaped lock bar, the lock bar having at least one notch for lockably engaging with a lock member, the lock member secured within the body;   a biometric thumbprint scanner secured to the body of the lock;   a lock control means secured within the body of the lock, the lock control means for engaging and disengaging the lock member from the lock bar, wherein when engaged the lock member is locked against the body, wherein when disengaged the lock member is free to extend and pivot away from the body; and   a logic control means secured within the body and in communication with the lock control means and the thumbprint scanner, the control means comprising:
 a memory means for storing enrolled biometric thumbprints; 
 a means of comparing and validating a scanned thumbprint from the thumbprint scanner against at least one enrolled thumbprint, wherein if the scanned thumbprint matches enrolled thumbprint then the lock control means is commanded to disengage; and 
 a communication means of interfacing the control means with an external computer system; 
   
   
   
       7 . The thumbprint keyed lock of  claim 6 , wherein the memory means is a non-volatile memory. 
   
   
       8 . The thumbprint keyed lock of  claim 7 , wherein the communication means of interfacing the control means with an external computer system is a USB port. 
   
   
       9 . A method of enrolling a user thumbprint into a biometric thumbprint lock comprising the steps of:
 connecting the thumbprint lock to a computer;   entering a valid password;   pressing a thumb against a scanner of the thumbprint lock;   scanning the user thumbprint to create an image;   extracting features from the scanned image; and   enrolling the scanned thumbprint features to memory in the thumbprint lock.   
   
   
       10 . A method of unlocking a biometric thumbprint lock comprising the steps of:
 pressing a thumb against a scanner of the thumbprint lock;   scanning a user thumbprint to create an image;   extracting features from the scanned image; and   matching the features against features of enrolled users, if a match occurs then unlocking the thumbprint lock.