Firearm Security Retention Post Transferring Force to Receiver
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firearm security devices are ineffective due to the weakness of trigger guards made from materials like plastic or composite materials, which can be broken when force is applied, allowing firearms to be removed without unlocking the device, and existing designs often allow for movement within the device that can lead to accidental discharge.
Innovation Solution
A firearm security device featuring a retention post made of stainless steel with a channel and perimeter shapes that fit within the trigger well, transferring force to the receiver rather than the trigger guard, preventing movement and accidental discharge, and a locking mechanism that moves the plates to secure the firearm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional firearm security device is used with a trigger guard made of plastic or composite material, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the trigger guard can break when force is applied, allowing the firearm to be removed without unlocking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the trigger from the trigger guard assembly by using a retention post that engages directly with the trigger itself. This removes the dependency on the weak trigger guard material, as the retention mechanism now directly secures the trigger in a different location that bypasses the plastic or composite trigger guard structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention post acts as an intermediary element between the security device and the trigger. Instead of relying on the weak trigger guard material to hold the trigger, the retention post provides a strong mechanical connection point that transfers the securing function away from the vulnerable trigger guard to a more robust retention mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If a firearm security device allows for some movement within the device, then the firearm can be easily inserted and removed, but repeated force application can cause the firearm to shift and potentially break the trigger guard
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the trigger securing function from the trigger guard and implementing it through the retention post that directly engages the trigger, the invention eliminates the reliability issue of trigger guard breakage under repeated force while maintaining ease of operation through the locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention post with its channel configuration provides a pre-engineered pathway for the trigger that prevents excessive movement and potential breakage before it can occur. The channel guides and constrains the trigger movement in advance, preventing the kind of repeated shifting that could lead to trigger guard failure.
3Reliability
If the retention post uses a channel configuration to separate forward and rearward portions, then the trigger is properly retained and force is transferred to the receiver, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention post is segmented into distinct functional zones: the channel portion that receives and retains the trigger, the forward portion that interfaces with the receiver, and the rearward portion that provides structural support. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining an overall simple cylindrical form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention post serves multiple functions within a single component: it acts as a structural support element, a trigger retention mechanism through the channel, and a force transfer pathway to the receiver. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A firearm security device includes a base assembly, a first plate connected to the base assembly, a retention post attached to the first plate, and a second plate. The first end of the retention post is connected to the first plate and the second end is configured to be inserted into a trigger well of a firearm. The second end includes a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a channel that separates the forward and rearward portions. The channel is configured to receive a firearm trigger. The second plate is moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The firearm security device includes a locking assembly that selectively locks and unlocks the second plate. The retention post is configured to transfer force away from the trigger guard and to the receiver in the event an external force is applied to a firearm locked between the plates.