Firearm training safety device

Abstract

A firearm training safety device includes a cartridge loaded into the firearm, a rod to fit in the barrel of the firearm, a releasable fastening element which fastens the first end of the rod to the cartridge, and a colored safety indicator at the second end of the rod. The cartridge can be loaded into the firearm, and the rod can be inserted into the barrel and fastened to the cartridge, so that the firearm is rendered inoperable and the safety indicator extends from the barrel. The fastening element can be a threaded tunnel and funnel contained within the cartridge, and a threaded stud at the end of the rod.

1 . A device comprising:
 a cartridge fitted into a firearm;   a rod adapted to fit in the barrel of the firearm, the rod having first and second ends;   a releasable fastening element which fastens the first end of the rod to the cartridge; and   a safety indicator at the second end of the rod;   wherein the cartridge can be loaded into the firearm, and the rod can be inserted into the barrel and fastened to the cartridge, so that the firearm is rendered inoperable and the safety indicator extends from the barrel.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second fastening element which fastens the safety indicator to the second end of the rod.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the safety indicator is larger than the interior of the barrel, so that, when the device is installed, the action of the firearm cannot be opened. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the releasable fastening element comprises:
 a threaded tunnel, contained within the cartridge; and   a threaded stud, fixed to the rod, and adapted to mate with the threaded tunnel.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a funnel, contained within the cartridge, which helps guide the threaded stud to mate with the threaded tunnel.   
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the releasable fastening element comprises:
 a threaded tunnel, fixed to the rod; and   a threaded stud, extending from the end of the cartridge, and adapted to mate with the threaded tunnel.   
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a funnel, fixed near the first end of the rod, which helps guide the threaded stud to mate with the threaded tunnel.   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the releasable fastening element comprises:
 a bushing adapted to fit within the cartridge, the bushing having a threaded tunnel and a funnel; and   a threaded stud, fixed to the rod, the stud being guided by the funnel to mate with the threaded tunnel.   
   
   
       9 . A device for transitioning a firearm between an operable mode and an inoperable mode, the device comprising:
 a cartridge fitted into a firearm;   a rod adapted to fit in the barrel of the firearm, the rod having first and second ends;   a releasable fastening element which fastens the first end of the rod to the cartridge; and   a safety indicator at the second end of the rod;   wherein the cartridge can be loaded into the firearm and the rod inserted into the barrel and fastened to the cartridge, so as to transition the firearm from an operable mode into an inoperable mode.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , the safety indicator further comprising:
 a colored plug near the end of the barrel to indicate that the firearm is in an inoperable mode.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the releasable fastening element comprises:
 a threaded tunnel, contained within the cartridge; and   a threaded stud, fixed to the rod, and adapted to mate with the threaded tunnel.   
   
   
       12 . A method of selectably changing a firearm having a barrel from an operable mode into an inoperable mode, the method comprising:
 loading a cartridge into the firearm, the cartridge having a first fastening element;   inserting a first end of a rod into the barrel, the rod having a second fastening element at the first end and a safety indicator at a second end; and   attaching the first fastening element and the second fastening element together, so that the firearm is rendered inoperable and the safety indicator extends from the end of the barrel.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 selectably changing the firearm between the operable mode and the inoperable mode without disassembling the firearm.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a funnel to help guide the second fastening element to the first fastening element.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first fastening element is a threaded tunnel and a funnel contained within the cartridge, the second fastening element is a threaded stud fixed to the first end of the rod, and the funnel helps guide the second fastening element to the first fastening element. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 inserting a bushing into the cartridge, the bushing containing the threaded tunnel and the funnel.