Systems and methods to make safe a handgun

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for the making safe of a handgun. A safety system includes a lock mechanism coupled to an engagement member and a user interface. The engagement member is movably coupled to the handgun and includes a contact face that is in contact with the slide of the handgun. The engagement member transfers a portion of a force to the slide and moves between a lock position and an unlock position. The lock position corresponds to a separation distance between a distal end of a primer actuator of the handgun and a primer activation plane. The engagement member is configured to transition between the lock position and the unlock position while remaining movably coupled to the handgun. Movement of the engagement member from the lock position is restricted by the lock mechanism until disengaged via the user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety system for a firearm, the safety system comprising:
 a housing fixedly coupled to a frame of the firearm;   a lock assembly positioned at least partially within the housing, the lock assembly having an engaged state in which the lock assembly maintains a separation distance between a distal end of a primer actuator of the firearm and a primer activation plane of the firearm, a portion of the lock assembly being rotatable upon a transition the lock assembly to a disengaged state; and   a user interface coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the lock assembly, the user interface being configured to receive a user input to transition the lock assembly to the disengaged state.   
     
     
         2 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing remains fixedly coupled to the frame of the firearm on a condition that the lock assembly is in the engaged state and on a condition that the lock assembly is in the disengaged state.   
     
     
         3 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the firearm is in a nonoperable state on a condition that the lock assembly is in the engaged state; and   the firearm is in an operable state on a condition that the lock assembly is in the disengaged state.   
     
     
         4 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lock assembly includes a motor operably coupled to an energy storage device; and   the motor is rotatable in response to the user input to transition the lock assembly to the disengaged state.   
     
     
         5 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user interface includes at least one of a fingerprint reader, a radio frequency identification reader, a numerical input apparatus, a microphone, a magnetic key, or a mechanical key.   
     
     
         6 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing is fixedly coupled to the frame at a location that is distal to a trigger guard of the firearm.   
     
     
         7 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a portion of the frame to which the housing is fixedly coupled is between a barrel of the firearm and the housing.   
     
     
         8 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the firearm is a handgun;   the handgun includes a slide;   the slide is movable along a first side of the frame; and   the housing is fixedly coupled to a second side of the frame opposite the slide such that at least a portion of the frame is between the housing and the slide.   
     
     
         9 . The safety system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the slide is in a fully-retracted position on a condition that the lock assembly is in the engaged state; and   the transition of the lock assembly to the disengaged state facilitates a distal movement of the slide that chambers a cartridge to place the handgun in an operational condition.   
     
     
         10 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transition of the lock assembly to the engaged state is configured to establish a forced malfunction of the firearm.   
     
     
         11 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the portion of the lock assembly is rotatable in response to a motive force generated by a spring on a condition that the lock assembly is transitioned to the disengaged state in response to the user input.   
     
     
         12 . The safety system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing includes:
 a coupling portion configured to receive a mounting structure of the frame of the firearm, and 
 a lock cavity defined by an inner face of the housing, the lock cavity supporting at least a portion of the lock assembly. 
   
     
     
         13 . The safety system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least one fastener to secure the mounting structure of the firearm within the coupling portion, the at least one fastener being at least partially occluded on a condition that the lock assembly is in the engaged state.   
     
     
         14 . A method of handling a firearm with a safety system, the firearm including a movable component and a frame, the safety system being fixedly coupled to the frame and including a lock assembly, the method comprising:
 moving the movable component of the firearm in a proximal direction relative to the frame of the firearm; and   rotating a portion of the lock assembly relative to the movable component of the firearm to transition the lock assembly into an engaged state in which the lock assembly maintains a separation distance between a distal end of a primer actuator of the firearm and a primer activation plane of the firearm, the separation distance precluding contact between the primer actuator and a cartridge primer in response to an actuation of a firing mechanism of the firearm.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the safety system includes a user interface operably coupled to the lock assembly, the method further comprising:
 providing a user input via the user interface, following the maintaining of the separation distance, the user input causing the lock assembly to transition to a disengaged state, the movable component of the firearm being moved in a distal direction relative to the frame in response to the lock assembly being transitioned to the disengaged state; and   actuating a firing mechanism of the firearm to discharge a cartridge while the safety system remains coupled to the firearm.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 seating a cartridge in a chamber of a barrel of the firearm in response to the movement in the distal direction of the movable component following the disengagement of the lock assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the lock assembly remains coupled to the firearm condition that the lock assembly is in the engaged state, on a condition that the lock assembly is in the engaged state, and on a transition therebetween.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the portion of the lock assembly rotates in response to a motive force generated by a spring on a condition that the lock assembly is transitioned to the disengaged state in response to the user input.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the lock assembly includes a motor operably coupled to an energy storage device; and   the motor is rotatable in response to the user input to transition the lock assembly to the disengaged state.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the firearm is a handgun;   the movable component of the firearm is a slide of the handgun; and   following the user input to transition the lock assembly to the disengaged state, the method includes actuating a slide release of the handgun.