Lock for a firearm
Locks for a firearm have a lock body configured to be closely and removably received in the magazine well, the lock body having an upper portion configured to extend into the bolt passage when installed in the firearm, with the upper portion interposed between the reciprocating bolt and the forward extending barrel, a locking mechanism at a lower portion of the lock body and having a locked condition and an unlocked condition, and a latch element connected at the upper portion of the lock body and interfacing the locking mechanism to move between an unlocked position when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition and a locked position when the locking mechanism is in the locked condition. The latch element may protrude from the lock body when in the locked position. The latch element may protrude in a forward direction from the lock body when in the locked position.
1 . A lock for a firearm having a frame with a forward extending barrel and defining a magazine well and a bolt passage containing a reciprocating bolt movable between a rearward retracted position and a forward battery position, the lock for a firearm comprising:
a lock body configured to be closely and removably received in the magazine well;
the lock body having an upper portion configured to extend into the bolt passage when installed in the firearm, with the upper portion interposed between the reciprocating bolt and the forward extending barrel;
a locking mechanism at a lower portion of the lock body and having a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
a latch element connected at the upper portion of the lock body and interfacing the locking mechanism to move between an unlocked position when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition and a locked position when the locking mechanism is in the locked condition; and
wherein the latch element protrudes from the lock body when in the locked position.
2 . The lock for a firearm of claim 1 wherein the latch element extends forward of a rear portion of the forward extending barrel when in the locked position.
3 . The lock for a firearm of claim 1 wherein the latch element extends into an opening defined by the forward extending barrel when in the locked position.
4 . The lock for a firearm of claim 3 wherein the opening defined by the forward extending barrel is a bolt head receptacle.
5 . The lock for a firearm of claim 3 wherein the opening defined by the forward extending barrel is defined at least in part by a barrel extension.
6 . The lock for a firearm of claim 1 wherein the forward extending barrel defines a barrel axis and where the latch element reciprocates along a latch axis parallel to the barrel axis.
7 . The lock for a firearm of claim 6 wherein the latch element reciprocates without rotation.
8 . The lock for a firearm of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism and the latch element are operably connected by a rotating element.
9 . The lock for a firearm of claim 8 wherein the rotating element is a shaft.
10 . The lock for a firearm of claim 9 wherein the magazine well defines a magazine insertion axis and the shaft is aligned for rotation on a shaft rotation axis parallel to the magazine insertion axis.
11 . The lock for a firearm of claim 8 wherein the latch element includes a yoke defining a transverse surface, and the locking mechanism includes a rotor having an offset pin engaging the transverse surface.
12 . The lock for a firearm of claim 11 wherein the locking mechanism and latch element are interconnected by a scotch yoke.
13 . The lock for a firearm of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism includes a key insertion receptacle at a lower face of the lock body.
14 . The lock for a firearm of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the lock body extends above the barrel axis.
15 . The lock for a firearm of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the lock body extends proximate to an upper surface portion of the bolt passage.
16 . The lock for a firearm of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the lock body extends above an upper portion of the reciprocating bolt.
17 . A lock for a firearm having a frame with a forward extending barrel and defining a magazine well and a bolt passage containing a reciprocating bolt movable between a rearward retracted position and a forward battery position, the lock for a firearm comprising:
a lock body configured to be closely and removably received in the magazine well;
the lock body having an upper portion configured to extend into the bolt passage when installed in the firearm, with the upper portion interposed between the reciprocating bolt and the forward extending barrel;
a locking mechanism at a lower portion of the lock body and having a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
a latch element connected at the upper portion of the lock body and interfacing the locking mechanism to move between an unlocked position when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition and a locked position when the locking mechanism is in the locked condition; and
wherein the latch element protrudes in a forward direction from the lock body when in the locked position.
18 . A lock for a firearm having a frame with a forward extending barrel and defining a magazine well and a bolt passage containing a reciprocating bolt movable between a rearward retracted position and a forward battery position, the lock for a firearm comprising:
a lock body configured to be closely and removably received in the magazine well;
the lock body having an upper portion configured to extend into the bolt passage when installed in the firearm, with the upper portion interposed between the reciprocating bolt and the forward extending barrel;
a locking mechanism at a lower portion of the lock body and having a locked condition and an unlocked condition;
a latch element connected at the upper portion of the lock body and interfacing the locking mechanism to move between an unlocked position when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked condition and a locked position when the locking mechanism is in the locked condition; and
wherein the latch element extends beyond a forward limit of the magazine well when in the locked position.