US5083392A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Firearm with piezo-electric triggering and firing mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-07-16
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2010-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A piezo-electric trigger lever transmits a signal to a piezo-electric mechanism which releases the firing pin of a firearm. The signal from the trigger lever is passed through an electronic circuit or microprocessor which can process the signal before it is passed on to fire the firearm. The processing may include regulating the firing as a function of the pressure applied to the trigger; preventing operation unless the operator enters a predetermined code into the electronic logic circuit; and, in the case of an automatic firearm, regulate the number of shots fired per trigger pull. The operator may make in-the-field adjustments in these controls. The signal is transmitted from the logic circuit to a second piezo-electric device. This second device deflects to allow the release of the firing pin. Other pressure sensitive piezo-electric devices can be employed to act as safety mechanisms.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M. Bookstaber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:19
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41A; F41A17/00; F41A17/20; F41A17/06; F41A19/00; F41A19/58; F41A19/59; F41A19/60; F41A19/62; F41A19/64; F41A19/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A firearm comprising a trigger member adapted to be displayed by a user, piezo-electric transducer means deformable by the trigger member upon displacement thereof for producing an electrical signal indicative of the pressure on the trigger member producing such displacement, firing means for firing the firearm in response to the electrical signal produced by the transducer means, processor means coupled to the transducer means and the firing means for receiving the electrical signal, comparing it to at least one signal indicative of at least one predetermined desired characteristic of the displacement of the trigger and producing an output signal to the firing means only when the displacement of the trigger by the user conforms to said characteristic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A firearm comprising a trigger member adapted to be displayed by a user, piezo-electric transducer means deformable by the trigger member upon displacement thereof for producing an electrical signal indicative of the pressure on the trigger member producing such displacement, firing means for firing the firearm in response to the electrical signal produced by the transducer means, processor means coupled to the transducer means and the firing means for receiving the electrical signal, comparing it to at least one signal indicative of at least one predetermined desired characteristic of the displacement of the trigger and producing an output signal to the firing means only when the displacement of the trigger by the user conforms to said characteristic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
A firearm according to claim 1 and further comprising input means operable by the user and coupled to the processor means for supplying to the processor means signals indicative of a security code and wherein the processor is adapted to be encoded with the security code and includes means for comparing the signal from the input means with the encoded security code and supplying an output signal to the firing means only when the security code input by the user matches the encoded security code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A firearm according to claim 1 wherein the firing means includes means for automatically discharging the firearm repeatedly and further comprising processor means coupled to the transducer means and the firing means for receiving the electrical signal and for processing it into a predetermined number of output signals or time of signal to the firing means so as to discharge the firearm a predetermined number of times in response to a single displacement of the trigger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A firearm according to claim 3 and further comprising means operable by the user for producing and supplying to the processor means signals indicative of a desired number of discharges of the firearm and wherein the processor means includes means for storing said signals and generating in response to them an equal number of output signals or time of signal duration to the firing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
A firearm according to claim 1 wherein the firing means includes a firing pin, a sear pivotally mounted for movement between a first position in which it blocks movement of the firing pin in a direction to discharge the firearm and a second position in which it permits movement of the firing pin to discharge the firearm, and a piezo-electric transducer engageable with the sear in the absence of an electrical signal supplied to it to retain the sear in its first position and movable out of engagement with the sear in response to an electrical signal generated in response to displacement of the trigger member by said piezoelectric transducer means to enable movement of the sear to its second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A firearm according to claim 1 wherein the firing means includes a firing pin and further comprising safety means associated with the firing means for preventing the firearm from being discharged in response to displacement of the trigger member and including a safety piezo-electric transducer engageable with the firing pin in the absence of an electrical signal supplied to it to prevent movement of the firing pin in a direction to discharge the firearm and movable out of engagement with the firing pin to enable it to move in a direction to discharge the firearm in response to an electrical signal supplied to it and means operable by the user for generating an electrical signal and supplying it to the safety piezo-electric transducer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A firearm according to claim 6 wherein said means operable by the user includes a piezo-electric transducer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
166 words
A firearm according to claim 1 wherein the firing means includes a firing pin and further comprising safety means associated with the firing means for preventing the firearm from being discharged in response to displacement of the trigger member and including a safety piezo-electric transducer engageable with the firing pin in the absence of an electrical signal supplied to it to prevent movement of the firing pin in a direction to discharge the firearm and movable out of engagement with the firing pin to enable it to move in a direction to discharge the firearm in response to an electrical signal supplied to it and means operable by the user for generating a safety release signal to indicate a desired to release the safety means and supplying it to the processor means, and wherein the processor means includes means for generating an output to the firing means only in response to simultaneous reception of a safety release signal and a signal from the piezo-electric transducer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A firearm according to claim 8 wherein said means operable by the user includes a piezo-electric transducer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |