US5068989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for reducing the criminal usefulness of dischargeable hand weapons
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-07-12
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Granted: 1991-12-03
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Expires: 2010-07-12
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatuses for reducing the criminal usefulness of a dischargeable hand weapon wherein the weapon is temporarily or permanently linked to a relatively heavy, bulky or long object by either a cord, cable, or signal, wherein the weapon may be prevented from discharging immediately after or a certain amount of time after it becomes unlinked from the object and wherein the object must be moved with the weapon when the weapon is taken to a relatively distant location for discharging, thereby effectively reducing the portability and concealability of the weapon for distant locations where it is more likely to be used for a crime.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:42
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A17/00; F41A17/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for reducing the usefulness of a dischargeable hand weapon for many crimes where said usefulness is reduced by reducing the usefulness of said weapon for locations relatively distant to said weapon compared to locations relatively close to said weapon, i.e., the intentional concealed carrying of said weapon, the intentional use of said weapon to intimidate a person and the intentional use of said weapon to cause bodily injury to a person, comprising: linking said weapon to an unwieldy, inanimate object which will hinder said crimes in cases where said object has to be moved along with said weapon in order to commit said crimes; and allowing said weapon to be moved independently of said object to a location at least 25 cm from said object and discharged.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for reducing the usefulness of a dischargeable hand weapon for many crimes where said usefulness is reduced by reducing the usefulness of said weapon for locations relatively distant to said weapon compared to locations relatively close to said weapon, i.e., the intentional concealed carrying of said weapon, the intentional use of said weapon to intimidate a person and the intentional use of said weapon to cause bodily injury to a person, comprising: linking said weapon to an unwieldy, inanimate object which will hinder said crimes in cases where said object has to be moved along with said weapon in order to commit said crimes; and allowing said weapon to be moved independently of said object to a location at least 25 cm from said object and discharged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said linking comprises linking said weapon to an object weighing more than 0.5 kg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said linking comprises linking said weapon to an object having a volume of more than 40 cc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said linking comprises linking said weapon to an object incapable of being forced, without damage, into a shape having a length of less than 25 cm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said linking comprises linking said weapon to the wiring of a building.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said linking allows the normal discharging of said weapon when nothing flows, including a signal, between said object and said weapon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: allowing the discharging of said weapon only when said weapon is linked to said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising: preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon being unlinked from said object by employing an automatic apparatus requiring no human control for said preventing; and sealing inside said weapon a part of said apparatus subject to circumvention so that said part cannot be accessed without causing damage to the resulting assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising: preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon being unlinked from said object by employing an automatic apparatus requiring no human control for said preventing; placing a part of said apparatus subject to circumvention into a chamber in the resulting assembly having no access except for a lockable and unlockable part; and locking said part of said apparatus inside said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising: using the reception of a coded signal to determine that said weapon is linked to said object and thereby allowing discharging.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said allowing comprises allowing the unlinking of said weapon from said object and wherein said method further comprises: preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object during a past certain period.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: preventing the discharging of said weapon until said weapon has been linked to said object for a certain amount of time.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus comprising: means for linking a dischargeable hand weapon to a certain unwieldy object; code generating and decoding means for determining whether or not said object is linked to said weapon, connected to said linking means; and means, connected to said code generating and decoding means, for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on a determination, by said code generating and decoding means, of said weapon not being linked to said object.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus comprising: means for linking a dischargeable hand weapon to a certain unwieldy object; code generating and decoding means for determining whether or not said object is linked to said weapon, connected to said linking means; and means, connected to said code generating and decoding means, for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on a determination, by said code generating and decoding means, of said weapon not being linked to said object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said object is an inanimate object weighing more than 0.5 kg.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said object is the wiring of a building.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said preventing means is for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object at that time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said linking means is also for unlinking said weapon from said object and wherein said preventing means is for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object during a past certain period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said preventing means is for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object for a certain amount of time.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus comprising: a dischargeable hand weapon; means for linking said hand weapon to a certain unwieldy object; and means for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object, connected to and enclosed in said weapon in such a way that said preventing means cannot be accessed without causing damage to a part of said weapon.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
64 words
An apparatus comprising: a dischargeable hand weapon; means for linking said hand weapon to a certain unwieldy object; and means for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object, connected to and enclosed in said weapon in such a way that said preventing means cannot be accessed without causing damage to a part of said weapon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said object is an inanimate object weighing more than 0.5 kg.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said object is the wiring of a building.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said preventing means is for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object at that time.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said linking means is also for unlinking said weapon from said object and wherein said preventing means is for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object during a past certain period.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said preventing means is for preventing the discharging of said weapon based on said weapon not being linked to said object for a certain amount of time.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-02 | 1995-06-03 | 1995-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-02 | 1999-06-03 | 1999-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-02 | 2003-06-03 | 2003-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |