Signal transmitting firearm

Abstract

A safety feature within a firearm that emits distinctly separate warning signals, the first signal warning of the proximity of the firearm and the second signal indicative of readiness of use of the firearm. These warnings must be functioning for the firearm to be operable. The signal generating part of the safety feature is embedded within the firearm. Optionally, the safety feature includes remote annunciation and transmission of the first and second signals to remote stations.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A firearm comprising a self-warning system which produces and broadcasts at least two levels of clearly detectible warning signals within a predetermined distance from the firearm, comprising
 a firing mechanism for firing ammunition, including a trigger operable to operate the firing mechanism; and   a circuit adapted to produce warning signals including a first signal indicative of the presence of the firearm, and a second signal indicative of a condition wherein the firearm is loaded with ammunition and therefore is in a condition ready to fire.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit includes a battery disposed to provide operable electrical power to the circuit. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit includes a first transmitter disposed to produce the first warning signal and a second transmitter disposed to produce the second warning signal. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the circuit includes a circuit opening switch which closes the circuit to the second transmitter responsive to insertion of ammunition into the firearm in a manner enabling firing of the ammunition by the firearm, and wherein the second signal is transmitted automatically by the second transmitter upon the circuit opening switch closing the circuit. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism that ultimately acts upon the firearm trigger to normally lock the said trigger in an inoperable position when not in use and unlock the said trigger to enable operability of the firing mechanism when the circuit is connected to the battery. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit continuously produces and transmits the first signal. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm disposed to indicate the presence of an unloaded firearm within the predetermined distance from the alarm to the firearm. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 7 , wherein the alarm is disposed to transmit to a remote station the signal which is indicative of the presence of an unloaded firearm within the predetermined distance from the alarm to the firearm. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm disposed to indicate the presence within the predetermined distance from the alarm of a firearm which is loaded with ammunition and therefore is in a condition ready to fire. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 9 , wherein the alarm is disposed to transmit to a remote station the signal which is indicative of the loaded state of the firearm within the predetermined distance from the alarm to the firearm. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver to receive external radio signals. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm of  claim 11 , wherein the firearm is rendered inoperable if external radio signals are not detected by the transceiver. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 4 , wherein the circuit includes a transmitter to transmit both the first level alarm and the second level alarm. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 6 , wherein the circuit produces and transmits a pulsed first level signal