Oct 27, 2026

US12774864 - Firearm safety mechanisms, visual safety indicators, and related techniques

The techniques described herein relate to methods and apparatus for firearm safety mechanisms, visual safety indicators, and related techniques. A firearm includes a handle comprising one or more buttons disposed at least partially within a surface of the handle, such that the one or more buttons can be in contact with an operator's hand when the operator grasps the handle; a safety mechanism in mechanical communication with the trigger. The safety mechanism comprises: a first position that blocks actuation of the trigger; and a second position that does not block actuation of the trigger; and at least one processor configured to: upon determining an input code matches a stored code, transmits a signal to the safety mechanism to change the safety mechanism from the first position to the second position so that the firearm can be fired by the operator.

Assignee: Lodestar Technology Inc.
Inventors: Virginia Chandler, Robert Eugeniusz Regent, Katie Louise Schuelke, Michael James Witt, John Patrick Fitzgerald
Filing date: 2024-02-14

firearmsafetymechanismtrigger

This patent describes a firearm equipped with a safety mechanism that utilizes a fingerprint sensor and buttons on the handle to control the trigger’s actuation. The safety mechanism can block or allow trigger actuation based on the verification of an input code or fingerprint, enhancing firearm safety.

Claim 1

1 . A firearm comprising: a handle comprising one or more buttons disposed at least partially within a surface of the handle, such that the one or more buttons can be accessed by an operator’s hand when the operator grasps the handle; a fingerprint sensor; a trigger that is actuatable to fire the firearm; a safety mechanism coupled with the trigger, wherein the safety mechanism comprises: a trigger bar stop comprising a corner; and a cylindrical cam comprising a recess, wherein the trigger bar stop blocks actuation of the trigger when the corner of the trigger bar stop fits within the recess and the trigger bar stop allows actuation of the trigger when the corner of the trigger bar stop is outside of the recess; at least one processor in electrical communication with the one or more buttons and the fingerprint sensor; and a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive input data from the one or more buttons indicating of an input code and/or the fingerprint sensor indicating a fingerprint of the operator; verify input data from the one or more buttons and/or the fingerprint sensor; and in response to verifying input data from the one or more buttons and/or the fingerprint sensor, cause the safety mechanism to change a position of the trigger bar stop. a handle comprising one or more buttons disposed at least partially within a surface of the handle, such that the one or more buttons can be accessed by an operator’s hand when the operator grasps the handle; a fingerprint sensor; a trigger that is actuatable to fire the firearm; a safety mechanism coupled with the trigger, wherein the safety mechanism comprises: a trigger bar stop comprising a corner; and a cylindrical cam comprising a recess, wherein the trigger bar stop blocks actuation of the trigger when the corner of the trigger bar stop fits within the recess and the trigger bar stop allows actuation of the trigger when the corner of the trigger bar stop is outside of the recess; a trigger bar stop comprising a corner; and a cylindrical cam comprising a recess, wherein the trigger bar stop blocks actuation of the trigger when the corner of the trigger bar stop fits within the recess and the trigger bar stop allows actuation of the trigger when the corner of the trigger bar stop is outside of the recess; at least one processor in electrical communication with the one or more buttons and the fingerprint sensor; and a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive input data from the one or more buttons indicating of an input code and/or the fingerprint sensor indicating a fingerprint of the operator; verify input data from the one or more buttons and/or the fingerprint sensor; and in response to verifying input data from the one or more buttons and/or the fingerprint sensor, cause the safety mechanism to change a position of the trigger bar stop. receive input data from the one or more buttons indicating of an input code and/or the fingerprint sensor indicating a fingerprint of the operator; verify input data from the one or more buttons and/or the fingerprint sensor; and in response to verifying input data from the one or more buttons and/or the fingerprint sensor, cause the safety mechanism to change a position of the trigger bar stop.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12774864

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12774864