Firearm safety device

Claim 2

A safety device for a firearm having a firing mechanism incorporating a moving part enclosed by a casing, comprising: a first dial, rotatably attached to the casing, having an aperture located a selected radial distance from the center; a second dial, rotatably attached to the casing, concentric with and over the first dial, having a pocket at its inner side located at the same radial distance from the center as the aperture in the first dial; a plunger mounted within the casing at the same radial distance from the center as the aperture in the first dial and adjacent the moving part of the firing mechanism; the plunger being axially movable and spring biased in a direction toward the dials; the plunger having a portion engageable with the moving part to prevent its movement; the plunger being of a configuration to be closely received in the aperture and pocket; and means for depressing the plunger axially within the casing into engagement with the moving part; whereby the firearm is fireable only when the first and second dials are rotated such that the aperture and pocket are in alignment with the plunger, allowing it to spring axially away from the moving part.

Claim 3

The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the means for depressing the plunger comprises: a first groove and a second groove, each extending in an arc for a selected annular distance around the aperture and the pocket on the sides of the first and second dials respectively; each of said grooves being of sufficient size to receive the plunger and gradually sloping toward its ends; whereby the plunger may be depressed by initially rotating the second dial until the second groove is no longer in contact with the plunger, then rotating the first dial until the first groove is no longer in contact with the plunger.

Claim 4

The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the first and second dials are spring-biased toward the casing in order to create a desired resistance against rotation.

Claim 5

The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the moving part of the firing mechanism has an aperture for the reception of a portion of the plunger.

Claim 6

A locking device for a firearm having a firing mechanism incorporating a moving part enclosed by a casing comprising: a first dial, rotatably attached to the casing, having an aperture located a selected radial distance from the center and a first groove extending in an arc a selected distance around the aperture; the groove gradually deepening toward the aperture; a second dial, rotatably attached to the casing concentric with and over the first dial, having a pocket located on the inner side at the same radial distance from the center as the first dial, and a second groove extending in an arc a selected distance around the pocket; said groove gradually deepening toward the pocket; a cylinder, mounted fixedly within the casing at the same radial distance from the center of the first dial and adjacent the moving part of the firing mechanism; the cylinder having a hollow interior and an aperture on its bottom; an aperture in the moving part; a plunger, closely received and axially movable within the cylinder, having a finger extending through the cylinder aperture and extensible into the aperture provided within the moving part; the end opposite the finger of the plunger being of a size to be closely received by the dial aperture, pocket, and first and second grooves; and biasing means for urging the plunger toward the dials.

Claim 7

A locking device for a firearm having a firing mechanism incorporating a moving part enclosed by a casing comprising: a first dial, rotatably attached to the casing, having an aperture located a selected radial distance from the center and a first groove extending in an arc a selected distance around the aperture; the groove gradually deepening toward the aperture; a second dial, rotatably attached to the casing concentric with and over the first dial, having a pocket located on the inner side at the same radial distance from the center as the first dial, and a second groove extending in an arc a selected distance around the pocket; said groove gradually deepening toward the pocket; a cylinder, mounted fixedly within the casing at the same radial distance from the center of the first dial and adjacent the moving part of the firing mechanism; the cylinder having a hollow interior and an aperture on its bottom; an aperture in the moving part; a plunger, closely received and axially movable within the cylinder, having a finger extending through the cylinder aperture and extensible into the aperture provided within the moving part; the end opposite the finger of the plunger being of a size to be closely received by the dial aperture, pocket, and first and second grooves; and biasing means for urging the plunger toward the dials.

Claim 8

The locking device according to claim 5 wherein the first and second dials are attached by a bolt inserted through apertures in their respective centers; and a spring is carried by the bolt for urging the dials toward the casing to increase rotation resistance.

Claim 9

The locking device according to claim 5 wherein the end opposite the finger of the plunger is rounded to reduce resistance while being depressed by the first and second grooves.

Claim 10

The locking device according to claim 5 wherein the biasing means comprises a coil spring encircling the finger and bearing against a shoulder of the plunger adjacent the finger.

Claim 11

The locking device according to claim 5 wherein the first and second dials have indicia on the outer sides.