Proximity Gun Safety Device

Abstract

A gun safety device mounted on a gun which automatically prevents the gun from firing when it detects an object is in close proximity to the barrel of the gun. The safety device having a proximity detection system and a data processing device for identifying whether the gun is pointed at a close object, and for generating a disable signal when the gun is identified to be pointed at a near object, and a safety seizer operable to prevent the gun from discharging in response to receiving the disable signal from the data processing device.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a firearm comprising a handle, body, barrel, frame, firing mechanism, and trigger; and   a safety device mounted to the frame of the firearm, the safety device comprising a proximity detector aligned in parallel with the barrel of the firearm, a data processing device, the data processing device taking inputs from the proximity detector and the data processing device comparing the proximity of the gun barrel to a predetermined range of distances, and the data processing device sending an output through a signaling mechanism; and wherein   the output of the signaling mechanism selectively disables the firing mechanism of the firearm when the proximity detector has detected an object within from the barrel of the firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the signaling mechanism is a safety seizer coupled to the data processing device to receive the output, the safety seizer operable to disable the gun to prevent it from discharging in response to receiving a disable signal in the output. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the signaling mechanism is an electronic signaling wire that delivers an electrical interrupt to the firing mechanism of the firearm. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the proximity detector is an ultrasonic rangefinder. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 the proximity detector is a laser rangefinder. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a processor in cooperation with the proximity detector, said processor preprocessing data from the proximity detector and directing said data to the data processing device. 
 
     
     
         7 . A firearm safety device for preventing accidental shootings comprising:
 a power supply;   a proximity detecting device electronically connected to the power supply and for generating information on the environment in front of the firearm safety device, the proximity detector being an ultrasonic rangefinder;   a user input located on the exterior of the safety device allowing a user to selectively turn on/off the safety device and allowing the user to input a set of distance parameters said distance parameters defining a safe zone around the device;   a processor connected to the power supply and capable of processing information from the proximity detecting device and the user input and outputting a signal to disable or enable firing of a firearm;   
       and
 an electromechanical firing interrupt device configured for receiving the signal from the processor and selectively preventing firing of a firearm when an object is detected within the safe zone. 
 
     
     
         8 . The safety device of  claim 7  wherein:
 the safe zone is defined as any area within 3 meters from the firearm safety device. 
 
     
     
         9 . The safety device of  claim 7  wherein:
 the proximity detector further comprises a laser rangefinder. 
 
     
     
         10 . The safety device of  claim 7  wherein:
 the electromechanical firing interrupt device is a safety seizer coupled to the processor to receive the disable signal, capable of disabling a firearm to prevent it from discharging in response to receiving the disable signal. 
 
     
     
         11 . The safety device of  claim 7  wherein:
 the processor compares a set of distance values received from the proximity detecting device to a set of distance values in the user input and determines whether to output a disable or enable signal based on whether distance values received from the proximity detecting device are within the parameters set by the user input. 
 
     
     
         12 . The safety device of  claim 11  wherein:
 the processor can change the output from an enable signal to a disable signal in less than 50 milliseconds. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of selectively firing a firearm comprising:
 providing a firearm comprising a handle, body, barrel, frame, firing mechanism, and trigger;   providing a safety device and mounting said safety device to the frame of the firearm, the safety device comprising a proximity detector aligned in parallel with the barrel of the firearm, a data processing device, the data processing device taking inputs from the proximity detector and outputting an output;   orienting the firearm towards a target;   pulling the trigger on the firearm; and   detecting the distance between the barrel of the firearm and the target with the proximity detector;   comparing distance between the barrel of the firearm and the target to a predetermined set of values in the data processing device, said set of values defining a safe zone around the firearm; and   selectively disabling the firing mechanism of the firearm when the distance detected is not within a predetermined range of values thereby creating a safe zone around the firearm.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 the user inputting a set of distance values through a user input, the inputted set of user values modifying the predetermined set of values in the data processing device. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the proximity detector is an ultrasonic rangefinder. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein:
 the proximity detector is a laser rangefinder.