Safety device for weapons, drive mechanism and control system for said safety device

Abstract

A reliable and robust electromechanical safety device maximises the security of a weapon by preventing accidental firing situations. The safety device includes a safety element for connecting or disconnecting a kinematic shooting chain; the safety element is arrangeable inside the weapon at its rear part, connecting with the trigger bar and the backstrap of the weapon. Therefore, by controlling the position of the trigger bar, it is possible to control the safe and firing position of the weapon, in addition to, and independent of, the other original weapon safeties.

1 . A safety device for a weapon that has a transition from a firing position to a safe position by disconnection of a kinematic shooting chain of the weapon, said kinematic shooting chain comprising: a trigger, a trigger bar operated by the trigger and displaceable between a high position and a low position, a striker safety lever, a striker safety, a sear and a striker;
 the safety device comprising a safety element configured to connect or disconnect the kinematic shooting chain;   wherein said safety element is configured, when located inside the weapon, to connect with the trigger bar and a backstrap of the weapon, such that:
 when the weapon is in the firing position and the safety element is operated, the safety element acts on the trigger bar causing said trigger bar to move downwardly to the low position, so the trigger bar does not contact the rest of the kinematic shooting chain, so regardless of whether the trigger is pulled a shot is not produced; and 
 when the weapon is in the safe position and the safety element is operated, the safety element acts on the trigger bar causing said trigger bar to move upwardly to the high position, so the trigger bar does contact the rest of the kinematic shooting chain, so a shot can be produced when the trigger is pulled. 
   
     
     
         2 . The safety device of  claim 1 , wherein the safety element is a rod comprising:
 an upper protruding section;   a lower protruding section operable by a user; and   a central section located between both protruding sections.   
     
     
         3 . The safety device of  claim 2 , wherein the upper protruding section is arrangeable inside the weapon, and the lower protruding section is arrangeable in the backstrap of the weapon such that it projects outwards from the backstrap. 
     
     
         4 . The safety device of  claim 2 , wherein the upper protruding section of the safety element is longer than the lower protruding section so that the trigger bar is capable of moving when the trigger is at rest position, not pulled, as well as when the trigger is pulled, in both the safe and the firing positions. 
     
     
         5 . The safety device of  claim 1 , wherein the safety element comprises an elastic piece for allowing the trigger bar to descend independently from the safety element. 
     
     
         6 . The safety device of  claim 1 , wherein the safety element is flexible for allowing the trigger bar to descend independently from the safety element. 
     
     
         7 . The safety device of  claim 2 , wherein the central section of the safety element is arranged on an axis parallel to a central axis of the weapon's magazine or grip. 
     
     
         8 . The safety device of  claim 2 , wherein both the upper and lower protruding sections of the safety element are arrangeable such that they are oriented towards a rear part of the weapon, in the opposite direction to the direction of the shot. 
     
     
         9 . The safety device of  claim 8 , wherein the upper protruding section of the safety element forms an angle of less than 90° with the central section. 
     
     
         10 . The safety device of  claim 8 , wherein the lower protruding section of the safety element forms an angle of 90° with the central section. 
     
     
         11 . The safety device of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism comprising:
 a motor;   a spindle attached to the motor;   a pusher coupled to the spindle and configured to raise the safety element of the safety device to the firing position, and the pusher further configured to lower the safety element to the safe position; and   a housing on which the motor and the spindle are mounted, said housing being couplable to the weapon's backstrap.   
     
     
         12 . The safety device of  claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism further comprises at least: a fixed printed circuit board; a magnet and; a magnetic sensor; wherein both the magnet and the magnetic sensor are coupled on the fixed printed circuit board. 
     
     
         13 . The safety device of  claim 11 , further comprising an elastic element located between the pusher and the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The safety device of  claim 13 , wherein the elastic element is a compression spring. 
     
     
         15 . The safety device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system, the control system comprising:
 at least one flexible printed circuit board;   an LED status indicator connected to the at least one flexible printed circuit board;   a battery;   a main communication circuit attached to the battery; and   an electrical connection, between the main communication circuit and the at least one flexible printed circuit board.   
     
     
         16 . A weapon comprising:
 a frame;   a slide;   a backstrap;   a magazine or grip;   a kinematic shooting chain comprising: a trigger, a trigger bar operated by the trigger and displaceable between a high position and a low position, a striker safety lever, a striker safety, a sear and a striker; and   a safety device comprising a safety element configured to connect or disconnect the kinematic shooting chain;   wherein the weapon transitions from a firing position to a safe position by disconnection of the kinematic shooting chain;   wherein said safety element is configured to connect with the trigger bar and the backstrap such that:
 when the weapon is in the firing position and the safety element is operated, the safety element acts on the trigger bar causing said trigger bar to move downwardly to the low position, so the trigger bar does not contact the rest of the kinematic shooting chain so regardless of whether the trigger is pulled, a shot is not produced; and 
 when the weapon is in the safe position and the safety element is operated, the safety element acts on the trigger bar causing said trigger bar to move upwardly to the high position, so the trigger bar does contact the rest of the kinematic shooting chain so a shot can be produced when the trigger is pulled. 
   
     
     
         17 . The weapon of  claim 16 , wherein the safety element is a rod comprising:
 an upper protruding section;   a lower protruding section located in the backstrap, the lower protruding section projecting outwards from the backstrap and being operable by a user; and   a central section located between both protruding sections.   
     
     
         18 . The weapon of  claim 16 , wherein the weapon or the safety device further comprises a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism comprising:
 a motor;   a spindle attached to the motor;   a pusher coupled to the spindle and configured to raise the safety element of the safety device to the firing position, and the pusher further configured to lower the safety element to the safe position; and   a housing on which the motor and the spindle are mounted, said housing being coupled to the backstrap.   
     
     
         19 . The weapon of  claim 16 , wherein the weapon or the safety device further comprises a control system, the control system comprising:
 at least one flexible printed circuit board;   an LED status indicator connected to the at least one flexible printed circuit board;   a battery;   a main communication circuit attached to the battery; and   an electrical connection, between the main communication circuit and the at least one flexible printed circuit board.   
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 arranging a weapon comprising: a frame, a slide, a backstrap, a magazine or grip, and a kinematic shooting chain, the kinematic shooting chain comprising: a trigger, a trigger bar operated by the trigger and displaceable between a high position and a low position, a striker safety lever, a striker safety, a sear and a striker;   arranging a safety device comprising a safety element in the weapon;   when the weapon is in a firing position, operating the safety element such that the safety elements acts on the trigger bar thereby causing said trigger bar to move downwardly to a low position at which the trigger bar does not contact the rest of the kinematic shooting chain, thereby transitioning the weapon to a safe position so a shot cannot be produced when the trigger is pulled; and   when the weapon is in the safe position, operating the safety element such that the safety element acts on the trigger bar thereby causing said trigger bar to move upwardly to a high position at which the trigger bar does contact the rest of the kinematic shooting chain, thereby transitioning the weapon to the firing position so a shot can be produced when the trigger is pulled.