WO2006099902A1

WO2006099902A1 - Surveillance apparatus for firearms in general

Info

Publication number: WO2006099902A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/055570
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matteo Passoni; Alfonso Bravi; Salvatore Martucci; Rodolfo Ludovici
Original assignee: Matteo Passoni; Alfonso Bravi; Salvatore Martucci; Rodolfo Ludovici
Priority date: 2005-03-24
Filing date: 2005-10-26
Publication date: 2006-09-28
Also published as: ITMI20050502A1

Abstract

A surveillance apparatus (1 ) for firearms in general, comprising a control unit (4) connected to at least one memory (14) and to power supply means, and operationally connected to a sensor (5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 , 12) arranged to acquire data relative to the firearm to which the apparatus can be applied, the control unit (4) storing said data in its memory (14).

Description

SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS FOR FIREARMS IN GENERAL

The present invention relates to a surveillance apparatus for firearms in general in accordance with the introduction to the main claim. Firearms are required to be supervised, their use being limited to situations of real requirement. However it often happens that firearms are used improperly, either accidentally or intentionally.

Reconstruction of the precise moment in which a firearm has been used is always extremely difficult as it is often impossible to obtain all the required data.

An object of the present invention is to provide a surveillance apparatus for firearms in general which is able to provide a plurality of data relative to a firearm on which said apparatus is installed, for example when a firearm was used, in which place and in which environmental situation, to provide a sort of "black box" for the firearm.

These and other objects are attained by a surveillance apparatus for firearms in general, in accordance with the technical teachings of the accompanying claims.

Advantageously this apparatus can also inhibit the use of the firearm by unauthorized personnel.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the surveillance apparatus for firearms in general, illustrated by way of non- limiting example in the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure shows a revolver equipped with the apparatus of the present invention.

Said figure shows a surveillance apparatus for firearms in general indicated overall by 1. It is housed in the interior of a handgrip of a traditional revolver 2.

The surveillance apparatus comprises a control unit 4 provided with an internal clock 13 and memory 14, and connected to a GPS unit 5, to an accelerometer 6 and to a microphone 7.

The data storage unit is also connected to a transmission apparatus 8.

The control unit 4, at least with regard to the memory 14, is armoured and housed in a casing which also protects it from heat.

The control unit 4, powered by a conventional energy source, is also connected to a plurality of sensors such as a trigger movement sensor 9, a cylinder rotation sensor 10, a safety catch engagement sensor 12 and a hammer operation sensor 11.

Essentially, all or a large part of the data acquired by the GPS unit, the accelerometer, the microphone and the sensors are stored by the control unit 4 within the memory 14, which acts substantially as the black box of the revolver.

To limit the quantity of data stored in the memory 14 the control unit 4 can record data from sensors and related units only when certain events occur, such as entry into certain zones (sensed by the GPS), or the firing of the revolver (sensed by the accelerometer), or only when the hammer is operated or the firearm is ready for firing, the safety catch is disengaged, etc.

Advantageously the control unit 4 can be programmed to transmit, by means of the transmitter 8, data obtained by the sensors (or stored data) for example to a receiving unit. This receiving unit could be for example a control unit or, in a sports competition, the station housing the judges, who maintain strict control over the firearm. The transmitter unit 8 can also act as a reception unit and interact with the control unit 4, for example by requesting data therefrom, or inhibiting the use of the revolver, for example by controlling suitable means provided for that purpose which act on the firearm safety catch. These controls for enabling or inhibiting the use of the firearm could be fed from a control centre, such as the judges' station. Hence the judges could enable only the firearm of that marksman actually competing at that moment to fire, while inhibiting the firearms of all the others.

In alternative embodiments the control unit is mounted on semiautomatic or automatic pistols. In that case further sensors are provided, for example for sensing the shot in the barrel, the presence of a magazine, the sliding of the carriage, the number of cartridges present in the magazine, etc.

Hence in using this surveillance apparatus in rifles, sensors can be provided on the breech-block, on the barrel opening or the like.

The advantage of firearms equipped with such a surveillance apparatus is also apparent in sporting competitions. Hence by knowing the precise moment in which the firearm has fired, and the precise position obtained from the GPS sensor, it can be checked for example whether a competitor has fired on the target of another, to then eliminate that competitor.

Advantageously the surveillance apparatus for firearms in general can be used on traditional firearms possessing an explosive powder igniter of electrical type, for example a firearm comprising, for igniting the cartridge charge, at least two electrical poles which make contact with a cartridge when inserted into the gun barrel. These poles are connected to an electric current source via a switch operated by a trigger. Closing the switch discharges the source across the cartridge, hence igniting its charge. The source comprises at least one capacitor, charged by suitable means from a battery. By means of a switch controlled thereby, the control unit 4 intercepts the connection between at least one pole and the source, to activate or deactivate it on external command from the control centre.

Hence the control unit can inhibit or enable the use of the firearm only by electronically deactivating or activating the ignition equipment.

Claims

1. A surveillance apparatus (1 ) for firearms in general, comprising a control unit (4) connected to at least one memory (14) and to power supply means, and operationally connected to a sensor (5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 , 12) arranged to acquire data relative to the firearm to which the apparatus can be applied, the control unit (4) storing said data in its memory (14).

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the control unit (4) associates a time reference with the acquired data and also stores such references in its memory (14).

3. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that a transmitter unit (8) for transmitting data from the memory (14) is connected to said control unit.

4. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that a reception unit (8) is connected to said control unit (4) and interacts therewith.

5. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the control unit (4) presents means for inhibiting or enabling firearm operation.

6. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the means for inhibiting or enabling firearm operation is a current switch which acts on electrical ignition means for the cartridge.

7. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor is a GPS unit (5).

8. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor is an accelerometer (6).

9. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor is a microphone (7).

10. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor is a trigger movement sensor (9).

1 1. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor is a hammer position sensor (11 ).

12. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor (10) senses the rotation of a cylinder.

13. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor is a safety catch activation sensor (12).

14. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor is a sensor for sensing the presence of a shot in the barrel.

15. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the sensor is a carriage sliding sensor.

16. A surveillance apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that the memory is armoured.

17. A firearm with a surveillance system in accordance with one or more of the preceding claims.