Weapon Retrofitting Systems and Methods

Abstract

A system allows remote triggering or firing of a weapon having a mechanical triggering or firing mechanism. The system can include at least one base, attachable to a weapon in a location adjacent a trigger of the weapon. At least one actuator is carried by the base, the actuator operable to engage the trigger of the weapon. At least one wireless controller is operable to actuate the actuator, the wireless controller being accessible by a system remote from the weapon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A remotely fireable weapons system, comprising:
 a weapon, including a trigger operable to fire the weapon when depressed, and a trigger guard enclosure at least partially enclosing the trigger;   a triggering system, carried by the weapon, the triggering system including:
 a first base segment, positioned adjacent the trigger guard enclosure of the weapon; 
 at least one actuator, carried by the first base segment, the actuator operable to mechanically engage a forward portion of the trigger and depress the trigger sufficiently to fire the weapon; and 
 at least one wireless controller, operable to actuate the actuator, the wireless controller being accessible by a control system remote from the weapon. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first base segment includes a raised engagement shoulder positioned at least partially within the trigger guard enclosure to retain the first base segment in position relative to the trigger. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the raised engagement shoulder includes an outer periphery, at least a portion of which corresponds in shape to an inner periphery of the trigger guard enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is rotatable relative to the first base segment. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is linearly moveable to the first base segment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second base segment coupled to first base segment through the trigger guard enclosure of the weapon. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second base segments provide a mechanical barrier along both sides of the trigger enclosure to prevent access to the trigger by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the actuator engages a front portion of the trigger, and further comprising a safety trigger lock attachable to at least one of the first and second base segments, the safety trigger lock positioned behind a rear portion of the trigger to prevent depression of the trigger. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the safety trigger lock includes a head portion visible outside of the at least one of the first or second base segments to serve as a visible indication of a locked condition of the weapon. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising an inertial navigation unit (“INU”), carried by one of the first base segment or the second base segment, the INU operable to detect movement of the weapon. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a global positioning system (“GPS”) unit, carried by one of the first base segment or the second base segment, the GPS unit operable to provide information relating to the position of the weapon. 
     
     
         12 . A method of retrofitting a weapon to allow remote triggering of the weapon, comprising:
 obtaining a weapon having a trigger operable to fire the weapon when depressed, and a trigger guard enclosure at least partially enclosing the trigger;   associating a triggering system with the weapon, the triggering system including:
 a first and second base segment, positioned on adjacent sides of the trigger guard enclosure; 
 at least one actuator, carried by one of the first or second base segments, the actuator operable to mechanically engage a forward portion of the trigger and move the trigger sufficiently to fire the weapon; and 
 at least one wireless controller, operable to actuate the actuator, the wireless controller being accessible by a control system remote from the weapon; and 
   activating the at least one wireless controller with the control system to cause the actuator to depress the trigger to fire the weapon.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator rotates relative to at least one of the first and second base segments to depress the trigger. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator moves linearly relative to at least one of the first and second base segments to depress the trigger. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising placing the weapon into a safe condition by installing a safety trigger lock through at least one of the first and second base segments, the trigger lock being thereby positioned behind a rear portion of the trigger to prevent depression of the trigger. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the triggering system includes one or more of an inertial navigation unit (“INU”) and a global positioning system (“GPS”) unit, and further comprising providing data from the INU or the GPS to the control system to provide information relating to movement or position of the weapon to the control system. 
     
     
         17 . A kit for allowing retrofitting of a variety of hand-held weapons into remotely fireable weapons, each of the hand-held weapons including a trigger and a trigger guard enclosure at least partially enclosing the trigger, the kit comprising:
 a triggering system, configured to be attached to a weapon to allow remote triggering of the weapon, the triggering system including:
 a first base segment, positionable adjacent the trigger guard enclosure of the weapon; 
 at least one actuator, carried by the first base segment, the actuator operable to mechanically engage a forward portion of the trigger and depress the trigger sufficiently to fire the weapon; and 
 at least one wireless controller, operable to actuate the actuator, the wireless controller being accessible by a control system remote from the weapon; and 
   a plurality of base plates, attachable to the first base segment, each of the plurality of base plates including a differing raised engagement shoulder, each of the raised engagement shoulders being configured to be fitted at least partially within a trigger guard enclosure of a differing weapon to retain the first base segment in position relative to the trigger of the weapon.   
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the raised engagement shoulder of each base plate includes a different outer periphery, at least a portion of which corresponds in shape to an inner periphery of a trigger guard enclosure of a weapon. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is rotatable relative to the first base segment. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is linearly moveable to the first base segment.