Weapon for lethal and non-lethal uses

• US 20050188593A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Cerovic, Milan, Dubay, David
• Application Number:
  US10/780,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188593A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/77
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/58 Electric firing mechanisms F41A17/10, F41A17/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/68 for multibarrel guns or multibarrel rocket launchers or multicanistersF41A19/65 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target

Abstract

A weapon that provides lethal force or non-lethal force at the discretion of the operator of the weapon includes a non-lethal implement attached by a support to the apparatus for lethal force. The support attaches to a picatinny rail and to a stop of the apparatus, such as a sight mounted on the barrel of the apparatus for lethal force.

Claims

1. A weapon for use by an operator, the weapon comprising:

apparatus that provides lethal force, non-lethal force, and illumination;

a first trigger operable with a first hand of the operator for releasing the lethal force; and

a switch and a second trigger, the switch operable with a second hand of the operator when the second hand is in a position to operate the second trigger, the second trigger for releasing the non-lethal force;

wherein

the illumination is controlled in response to operation of the switch.

2. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the illumination is for aiming the non-lethal force.

3. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the non-lethal force comprises electromuscular stimulation.

5. The weapon of claim 1 wherein the non-lethal force comprises electromuscular stimulation.

4. A weapon comprising:

apparatus that provides lethal force and non-lethal force;

a circuit comprising a switch and a source of illumination, wherein;

(1) the circuit controls illumination from the source for aiming the non-lethal force; and

(2) the circuit controls release of the non-lethal force in response to operation of the switch.

6. A support for attaching an implement to a firearm, the firearm having a rail and a stop, the support comprising:

means for mechanically coupling the implement to the rail; and

means for coupling the implement to the stop to reduce motion of the implement along the rail parallel to a direction of delivery of the lethal force.

7. The support of claim 6 wherein the rail conforms to a picatinny rail.

8. The support of claim 6 wherein the stop comprises a sight.

9. A support for attaching a non-lethal implement to a firearm, the firearm having a rail and a stop, the support comprising:

a first channel that receives the rail to mechanically couple the non-lethal implement and the rail;

a first abutment surface that abuts the stop;

a first fastener that maintains the first abutment surface against the stop;

a second channel that receives the non-lethal implement; and

a second fastener that retains the non-lethal implement in the second channel.

10. The weapon of claim 9 wherein the implement delivers a non-lethal force comprising electromuscular stimulation.

11. The support of claim 9 wherein the rail conforms to a picatinny rail.

12. The support of claim 9 wherein at least one of the first fastener and the second fastener is manually releasable without a tool.

13. The support of claim 12 wherein the at least one fastener is released by manually accomplishing a rotary motion of a portion of the fastener to an extent less than 720 degrees.

14. The support of claim 9 wherein the implement delivers non-lethal force from the front of the implement and the second channel comprises a second abutment surface that faces a rear surface of the implement.

15. The support of claim 9 wherein:

the support comprises a first portion and a second portion; and

the first fastener mechanically joins the first portion of the support to the second portion of the support.

16. The support of claim 9 wherein:

the support comprises a first portion and a second portion; and

the second fastener mechanically joins the first portion of the support to the second portion of the support.

17. The support of claim 9 wherein:

the support comprises a first portion retained to the rail and a second portion retained to the implement; and

the support further comprises means for separating the first portion from the second portion without operation of the first fastener or the second fastener.