Firearm locking system and firearm locking kit containing components of system

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for locking firearms through use of one or more cable segments having ends to which a locking endpiece and a plugging endpiece are attached, wherein the locking endpiece is locked to or within a locking device or area and the plugging endpiece is plugged within a firearm, thus effectively locking the firearm, the components of which also can be locked through use of a locking sleeve.

1 . A firearm locking system, comprising: 
 at least one cable segment having a first end and a second end and a cable body therebetween;    a first endpiece adapted to be attached to the first end of the cable segment, wherein the first endpiece has a predetermined shape effective to enable the first endpiece to be inserted into and withdrawn from at least a first firearm; and    a second endpiece adapted to be attached to the second end of the cable segment, wherein the second endpiece has a predetermined shape effective to cause the second endpiece to become plugged within the first firearm.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first endpiece and the second endpiece is pre-attached to the cable segment.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first endpiece is pre-attached to the first end of the cable segment and the second endpiece is pre-attached to the second end of the cable segment.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first endpiece is adapted to be attached to the first end of the cable segment by compression and the second endpiece is adapted to be attached to the second end of the cable segment by compression.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking device for locking the first endpiece.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the locking device is a locking bracket having a slot defined therewithin, the slot having a bore at a first end thereof, and wherein the first endpiece has a predetermined size and shape to enable the endpiece to fit within the bore but also to prevent the endpiece from being withdrawn through the slot when the bore is obstructed.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cable body has a length in a range between about seven feet and about thirty feet, both inclusive.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first endpiece has a substantially cylindrical body with at least one frusto-conical end.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the substantially cylindrical body of the first endpiece has a non-cylindrical contour.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the second endpiece has first and second cylindrical portions, and wherein a diameter of the first cylindrical portion is different than the diameter of the second cylindrical portion.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the first cylindrical portion of the second endpiece has a non-cylindrical contour.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second cylindrical portions of the second endpiece are concentric and wherein the diameter of the first cylindrical portion of the second endpiece is less than the diameter of the second cylindrical portion of the second endpiece such that the second cylindrical portion of the second endpiece has a shoulder defined thereupon.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a plugging assistance device in communication with the second endpiece to enlarge the second endpiece.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second endpiece has first and second concentric cylindrical portions, and wherein the diameter of the first portion is less than the diameter of the second portion such that the second cylindrical portion has a shoulder, the plugging assistance device being in communication with the shoulder.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second endpiece has an effective overall diameter, and wherein the plugging assistance device increases the effective overall diameter of the second endpiece when placed in communication with the shoulder.  
   
   
       16 . A method of locking at least one firearm, comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one cable segment having a first end and a second end and a cable body therebetween;    attaching a first endpiece to the first end of the cable segment;    attaching a second endpiece to the second end of the cable segment;    inserting the first end of the cable segment into a first firearm;    withdrawing the cable segment from the first firearm in a breech-to-muzzle direction until at least the first end of the cable segment is removed from the first firearm;    continuing to withdraw the cable segment from the first firearm in a breech-to-muzzle direction until the second endpiece becomes plugged within the first firearm so as to substantially prevent the cable segment from being further withdrawn from the first firearm in a breech-to-muzzle direction; and    placing the first endpiece into communication with a locking device.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of inserting the first end of the cable segment into the first firearm is performed after the step of attaching the first endpiece to the first end of the cable segment.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first endpiece is attached to the first end of the cable segment by compression and the second endpiece is attached to the second end of the cable segment by compression.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the locking device is a locking bracket having a slot defined therewithin, the slot having a bore at a first end thereof, and wherein the step of placing the first endpiece into communication with the locking bracket entails: 
 inserting the first endpiece into the bore;    sliding the first endpiece into the slot; and    obstructing the bore.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first endpiece has a predetermined size and shape to prevent the endpiece from being withdrawn through the slot once the bore is obstructed.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of obstructing the bore is accomplished by placing a lock within the bore.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the following steps are performed prior to placing the first endpiece into communication with the locking device: 
 inserting the first end of the cable segment into at least a second firearm; and    withdrawing the cable segment from the second firearm in a breech-to-muzzle direction until at least the first end of the cable segment is removed from at least the second firearm.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a locking sleeve having at least a first eyelet and a second eyelet;    inserting one of the first end and the second end of the cable segment through one of the first eyelet and the second eyelet;    advancing a predetermined portion of the cable body through the one of the first eyelet and the second eyelet into communication with at least one component of a firearm;    inserting the one of the first end and the second end of the cable segment through the other of the first eyelet and the second eyelet;    advancing a predetermined portion of the cable body through the other of the first eyelet and the second eyelet; and    causing the cable body to be prevented from being further advanced through the cable body.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of causing the cable body to be prevented from being further advanced through the cable body is accomplished by compressing the locking sleeve.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of compressing the locking sleeve is performed by crimping the locking sleeve.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each of the at least one component is selected from the group consisting of at least one firearm optic, at least one trigger guard, at least one lanyard.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cable body has a length in the range of about seven feet to about thirty feet.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first endpiece has a substantially cylindrical body with at least one frusto-conical end.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of the substantially cylindrical body of the first endpiece has a non-cylindrical contour.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the second endpiece has first and second cylindrical portions, and wherein a diameter of the first cylindrical portion is different than the diameter of the second cylindrical portion.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the first cylindrical portion of the second endpiece has a non-cylindrical contour.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second cylindrical portions of the second endpiece are concentric and wherein diameter of the first cylindrical portion of the second endpiece is less than the diameter of the second cylindrical portion of the second endpiece such that the second cylindrical portion of the second endpiece has a shoulder defined thereupon.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of: 
 placing a plugging assistance device in communication with the second endpiece to enlarge the second endpiece.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the second endpiece has first and second concentric cylindrical portions, and wherein the diameter of the first portion is less than the diameter of the second portion such that the second cylindrical portion has a shoulder, the plugging assistance device being in communication with the shoulder.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the second endpiece has an effective overall diameter, and wherein the plugging assistance device increases the effective overall diameter of the second endpiece when placed in communication with the shoulder.  
   
   
       36 . A kit for containing equipment of a firearm display locking system, the kit comprising: 
 at least one cable segment, wherein each cable segment has a first end and a second end;    at least one endpiece, wherein each endpiece has a predetermined size and shape and is adapted to be connected to at least one of the first end and the second end of each endpiece; and    a plurality of plugging assistance devices, each of which is adapted to be placed in communication with at least one endpiece.    
   
   
       37 . The kit of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of plugging assistance devices are selected from the group consisting of a plurality of spacers, a plurality of protective devices, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       38 . The kit of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one endpiece is selected from the group consisting of at least one locking endpiece, at least one plugging endpiece, and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       39 . The kit of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one endpiece includes at least one plugging endpiece, and wherein each of the at least one plugging assistance devices is adapted to be placed in communication with each of the at least one plugging endpiece.  
   
   
       40 . The kit of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 at least one locking sleeve having at least one eyelet through which the at least one cable segment is adapted to fit.    
   
   
       41 . The kit of  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 a tool adapted to compress the at least one locking sleeve.    
   
   
       42 . The kit of  claim 41 , wherein the tool is a crimping tool.  
   
   
       43 . The kit of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one endpiece includes at least one locking endpiece, the kit further comprising: 
 a locking device having a slot and a bore, wherein each of the at least one locking endpiece is adapted to fit within the bore and to slide into the slot.    
   
   
       44 . The kit of  claim 43 , further comprising an obstruction element adapted to fit within and obstruct the bore.  
   
   
       45 . The kit of  claim 44 , wherein the obstruction element is a padlock.  
   
   
       46 . The kit of  claim 43 , further comprising at least one piece of equipment adapted to secure the locking device to a surface.  
   
   
       47 . The kit of  claim 45 , wherein the at least one piece of equipment is selected from the group consisting of at least one screw, at least one C-clamp, at least one nail, and combinations thereof.