Primer launched projectile systems

• US 20060011090A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pepperball Technologies Inc (United Tactical Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Pepperball Technologies Inc (United Tactical Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Vasel, Edward J., Fuzak, Corey A., Wenaas, Eric P.
• Application Number:
  US11/102,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20060011090A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/512
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/62 with pressure supplied by a gas cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/06 Tail fins
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/40 of target-marking, i.e. impact-indicating type F42B12/48, F42B12/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/50 by dispersion
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/02 Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/03 containing more than one missile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/073 using an auxiliary locking element
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/08 modified for electric ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/16 characterised by composition or physical dimensions or form of propellant charge, with or without projectile, or powder chemical composition C06B; F42B5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 6/10 Air gun pellets ; Ammunition for air guns, e.g. propellant-gas containers
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 7/12 Cartridge top closures, i.e. for the missile side closures for blasting cartridges F42B3/24

Abstract

Projectiles and projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target. In some embodiments, the systems include a primer only launched projectile system. The primer only launched projectile systems can include a shell, a primer, a propulsion shock damper and the projectiles. In some embodiments the systems can be used with standard shotguns or other standard guns. In some implementations, the primer can be a percussion or electrically activated primer. The propulsion shock damper is located within the shell such that a seal is formed between the propulsion shock damper and the shell casing. The relatively low kinetic projectiles are intended to be non-lethal, less than lethal or less lethal in nature, such that the projectiles impact a body with safe kinetics as not to penetrate the body in a lethal manner.

Claims

1. A system for delivering an inhibiting substance to a target, comprising:

a projectile having a hollow portion;

an inhibiting substance contained within the hollow portion of the projectile; and

means for propelling the projectile toward a target, wherein the projectile radially disperses the inhibiting substance into a cloud upon an impact of the projectile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for propelling comprises a primer that at least initiates a launching of the projectile toward the target upon ignition of the primer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for propelling comprises less than 5 grams of gunpowder.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a propulsion shock damper positioned within the shell, wherein the projectile is positioned within the shell adjacent the propulsion shock damper such that at least a portion of the propulsion shock damper is positioned between the projectile and the primer; and

the primer is positioned within the shell such that when ignited the primer propels the propulsion shock damper such that the projectile is forced from the shell by the propulsion shock damper.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the propulsion shock damper comprises first and second surfaces, where the first surface has a shape that at least partially corresponds with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile to distribute a propulsion force across the at least the portion of the exterior surface of the projectile, and the second surface tapers towards a central axis of the propulsion shock damper.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for propelling comprises only one or more primers and does not include gunpowder.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the inhibiting substance comprises at least one of Nonivamide, PAVA, OC, CN, CS, and a maloderant.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the inhibiting substance comprises at least one of a sleep agent, an insecticide, and a herbicide.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for propelling comprises compressed gas.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a shell, wherein the projectile is positioned within the shell and the compressed gas is released into at least a portion of the shell to propel the projectile from the shell; and

a propulsion shock damper positioned within the shell between the projectile and the compressed gas such that the compressed gas propels the propulsion shock damper to drive the projectile from the shell.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising

a shell, wherein the projectile is positioned within the shell and the compressed gas is released into at least a portion of the shell to propel the projectile from the shell;

a gas capsule containing the compresses gas;

a puncture pin secured within the shell proximate a first end of the gas capsule; and

a primer positioned proximate a second end of the gas capsule, where the primer upon ignition forces the gas capsule towards the puncture pin such that the gas capsule releases at least a portion of the compressed gas.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the projectile comprises:

a first part and a second part;

the first part having a plurality of stabilizing fins secured with an exterior of the first part;

the hollow portion being defined within the second part; and

an extending portion coupled with the first part and the second part, wherein the extending portion extends such that the first part is extended away from the second part increasing a length of the projectile.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a shell that houses the projectile and the means for propelling, where the means for propelling comprises a primer that generates a propulsion force when the primer is ignited causing the projectile to be propelled from the shell; and

an electric igniter positioned proximate the primer such that the electric igniter electrically ignites the primer.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the projectile comprises:

a first part having the hollow portion containing the inhibiting substance;

a body comprising a propulsion cavity formed within the body that releases compressed gas once the projectile is launched.

15. A method for delivering an inhibiting substance at a target, comprising:

propelling a plurality of projectiles, wherein the projectiles include a hollow volume containing an inhibiting substance; and

controlling a velocity of the plurality of projectiles so that each of the plurality of projectiles have a velocity between 50 and 500 mph.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the controlling the velocity comprises propelling each of the plurality of projectiles at the velocity where a difference between the velocity of a first of the plurality of projectiles and a second of the plurality of projectiles is less than 20 mph.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the controlling the velocity further comprises igniting a first primer and launching a first of the plurality of projectiles, igniting a second primer and launching a second of the plurality of projectiles, wherein a composition of the first primer is substantially the same as a composition of the second primer, and an amount of the first primer is substantially equal to an amount of the second primer.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

establishing an elevated pressure;

distributing a propulsion force across a portion of a first projectile of the plurality of projectiles so as to prevent breaking of the first projectile.

19. A method for delivering an inhibiting substance to a target, the method comprising:

activating a propellant;

directing a propulsion force from the activated propellant onto a first non-lethal projectile; and

launching the first projectile at a velocity that is within an non-lethal velocity range.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the non-lethal velocity range comprises a velocity range between 400 and 50 mph.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprises:

launching a second non-lethal projectile at a velocity that is within 20 mph of the velocity of the first projectile.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the launching the first projectile further comprises:

controlling the velocity of the first projectile such that the first projectile does not exceed 400 miles per hour;

impacting a target with the first projectile, such that the first projectile ruptures;

radially dispersing the substance from the first projectile on and about the target; and

contacting the target with the dispersing substance, such that the target is inhibited thereby.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the controlling the velocity of the first projectile comprises:

igniting a primer within a hull, wherein a propulsion shock damper and the first projectile are place within the hull and wherein the propulsion shock damper is positioned between the primer and the first projectile;

establishing a seal between the propulsion shock damper and the hull;

establishing an elevated pressure within the hull proximate the propulsion shock damper; and

distributing a propulsion force applied by a portion of the propulsion shock damper across a portion of the fist projectile.

24. The method pf claim 23, further comprising:

concentrating the propulsion force along a central axis of a bore of the hull.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the controlling the velocity of the first projectile comprises:

igniting a primer causing a release of a compressed gas, where the compressed gas at least partially extinguishes the ignited primer;

generating a pressure through the pressure from the ignited primer and the released compressed gas; and

the propelling the projectile at the target comprises propelling the projectile with the generated pressure.

26. A system for delivering a non-lethal projectile to a target, comprising:

a cartridge;

a projectile located within the cartridge where the projectile contains an inhibiting substance;

a first primer positioned within the cartridge, wherein the first primer initiates launching of the projectile upon igniting the first primer causing the inhibiting substance to be dispersed upon impact.

27. The system for delivering the non-lethal projectile of claim 26, further comprising:

a gas capsule containing compressed gas located within the cartridge;

a puncture pin located within the cartridge and aligned with the gas capsule; and

upon igniting the first primer the gas capsule is propelled into the puncture pin causing a release of the compressed gas that provides at least some of a propulsion force launching the projectile.

28. The system for delivering the non-lethal projectile of claim 27 further comprising a diaphragm within the cartridge positioned between the gas capsule and the first projectile.

29. The system for delivering the non-lethal projectile of claim 27 further comprising a orifice plate within the positioned between the gas capsule and the first projectile.

30. The system for delivering the non-lethal projectile of claim 26, wherein the released compressed gas at least partially extinguishes the ignited first primer.

31. The system for delivering the non-lethal projectile of claim 26, wherein the first primer is configured to generate a propulsion force when the first primer is ignited causing the projectile to be propelled from the cartridge, wherein the propulsion force from the first primer is primarily used to propel the projectile from the cartridge.

32. The system for delivering the non-lethal projectile of claim 26, further comprising:

a second primer; and

a circuit board secured with the cartridge having a first primer contact aligned with the first primer to electrically ignite the first primer and a second ignition contact aligned with the second primer to electrically ignite the second primer.

33. The system for delivering the non-lethal projectile of claim 26, further comprising:

a burning chamber within the cartridge proximate the first primer;

an expansion chamber; and

a tube positioned having first and second ends with the first end positioned within the burning chamber and the second end positioned within the expansion chamber.

34. The system for delivering the non-lethal projectile of claim 26, further comprising:

means for suppresses a flame front of the ignited first primer so that the system is not a firearm.