Tamper-actuated fluid release firearm interlock

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a firearm lock configured to release a self-hardening interlock fluid into a firing chamber of a firearm in response to a predetermined force. In an illustrative example, the firearm lock may include an engagement module configured to releasably couple to a firing chamber of the firearm. In a locked mode, for example, the engagement module may prevent the firearm from firing. The firearm lock may include, for example, a tamper interlock module containing interlock material (IM) in a fluid state. When a predetermined force is applied to the tamper interlock module, for example, the IM may be dispensed from the cavity into the firing chamber and the IM may at least partially transition into a solid state such that the IM prevents the firearm from firing. Various embodiments may advantageously disable a locked firearm in response to tampering with the lock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm lock, comprising:
 an engagement module configured to be brought into register with and be inserted at least partially into a firing chamber of a firearm such that, in a locked mode, the engagement module is releasably coupled to the firearm and prevents a firing mechanism of the firearm from activating a projectile;   a tamper interlock module comprising a wall defining a cavity, the cavity containing interlock material in a fluid state, wherein the wall is configured such that, when a predetermined force is applied to the wall, the interlock material is dispensed from the cavity into the firing chamber and the interlock material at least partially transitions into a solid state such that the interlock material prevents the firing mechanism from activating the projectile; and,   a biometric module operably coupled to the engagement module such that, in response to receiving a signal corresponding to at least one predetermined physiological attribute, the biometric module operates the engagement module from the locked mode to an unlocked mode.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm lock of  claim 1 , further comprising a geolocation module operably coupled to the tamper interlock module such that, in response to a signal corresponding the firearm entering a predetermined geographical region, the interlock material is dispensed from the cavity into the firing chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm lock of  claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises plastic, and the interlock material is dispensed in response to material failure of the wall. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm lock of  claim 1 , wherein the wall comprises a region of predetermined stress concentration, and the interlock material is dispensed in response to material failure of the wall. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm lock of  claim 1 , wherein the interlock material comprises a resin. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm lock of  claim 5 , wherein the interlock material further comprises a hardener, and the interlock material at least partially transitions into the solid state in response to the hardener and the resin being combined. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm lock of  claim 1 , further comprising a holster comprising a holster wall defining an aperture into a holster cavity, wherein the aperture is configured such that when the firearm is inserted into the holster cavity through the aperture, and the engagement module is inserted into the firing chamber and operated into the locked mode, the engagement module resists removal of the firearm from the holster. 
     
     
         8 . A firearm lock, comprising:
 an engagement module configured to be brought into register with and be inserted at least partially into a firing chamber of a firearm such that, in a locked mode, the engagement module is releasably coupled to the firearm and prevents a firing mechanism of the firearm from activating a projectile; and,   a tamper interlock module comprising a wall defining a cavity, the cavity containing interlock material in a fluid state, wherein the wall is configured such that, when a predetermined force is applied to the wall, the interlock material is dispensed from the cavity into the firing chamber and the interlock material at least partially transitions into a solid state such that the interlock material prevents the firing mechanism from activating the projectile.   
     
     
         9 . The firearm lock of  claim 8 , further comprising a biometric module operably coupled to the engagement module such that, in response to receiving a signal corresponding to at least one predetermined physiological attribute, the biometric module operates the engagement module from the locked mode to an unlocked mode. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm lock of  claim 8 , wherein the engagement module comprises a locking member operable to slidably extend such that, when the engagement module is brought into register with and inserted into the firing chamber and operated into the locked mode, the locking member extends into a barrel of the firearm such that the locking member resists removal of the engagement module from the firearm. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm lock of  claim 10 , wherein the locking member is operable to slidably extend in response to insertion and rotation of a key in a lock module of the engagement module. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm lock of  claim 8 , further comprising a geolocation module operably coupled to the tamper interlock module such that, in response to a signal corresponding to the firearm entering a predetermined geographical region, the interlock material is dispensed from the cavity into the firing chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm lock of  claim 12 , wherein the geolocation module is further operably coupled to the engagement module such that, in response to a signal corresponding the firearm entering a predetermined geographical region, the interlock material is dispensed from the cavity into the firing chamber only if the engagement module is in a locked mode. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm lock of  claim 8 , further comprising a geolocation module operably coupled to the tamper interlock module such that, in response to a signal corresponding the firearm entering a predetermined geographical region, the tamper interlock module is operated into an enabled mode. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm lock of  claim 8 , wherein the wall comprises plastic, and the interlock material is dispensed in response to material failure of the wall. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm lock of  claim 8 , wherein the wall comprises a region of predetermined stress concentration, and the interlock material is dispensed in response to material failure of the wall. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm lock of  claim 8 , wherein the interlock material comprises a resin. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm lock of  claim 17 , wherein the interlock material further comprises a hardener, and the interlock material at least partially transitions into the solid state in response to the hardener and the resin being combined. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm lock of  claim 8 , further comprising a holster comprising a holster wall defining an aperture into a holster cavity, wherein the aperture is configured such that when the firearm is inserted into the holster cavity through the aperture, and the engagement module is inserted into the firing chamber and operated into the locked mode, the engagement module resists removal of the firearm from the holster. 
     
     
         20 . A firearm lock, comprising:
 an engagement module configured to be brought into register with and be inserted at least partially into a firing chamber of a firearm such that, in a locked mode, the engagement module is releasably coupled to the firearm and prevents a firing mechanism of the firearm from activating a projectile; and,   means for disabling the firearm, the means operably coupled to the engagement module such that, when a predetermined force is applied to the means, interlock material is dispensed into the firing chamber and the interlock material at least partially transitions into a solid state such that the interlock material prevents the firing mechanism from activating the projectile.