Spin Stabilized And/ Or Drag Stabilized, Blunt Impact Non-Lethal Projectile

• US 20120291655A1
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth R. Jones
• Original Assignee: Kenneth R. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Kenneth R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,915,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/502
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/06 Tail fins
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/24 with inclined grooves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/26 using spin F42B10/04, F42B10/12, F42B10/14, F42B10/24, F42B14/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/54 by implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/14 disintegrating in flight or upon impact

Abstract

A spin stabilized and drag-stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile is provided, having a rigid base and rigid windscreen, with a compressible body therebetween, thereby enabling use thereof in high pressure/compression firing mechanisms, but yet operable to compress/deform upon impact with a target. In particular, a spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile is provided having a rigid windscreen and base, with a compressible body therebetween which compresses/deforms upon impact with a target. In addition, a drag-stabilized version thereof is provided, having canted fins thereon so as to control flight of the projectile via the imposition of drag thereon. Additionally, the projectile is capable of carrying agents, such as crowd control and marking agents, in an agent reservoir, and ejecting same onto a target upon impact.

Claims

1. A spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile comprising:

(a) a compressible body having a front end, a base opposite the front end, and a body portion therebetween, said body portion having an outer circumference;

(b) a rigid windscreen disposed on/adjacent to the front of the compressible core, so as to cover a portion thereof; and

(c) a rigid base cap disposed on/adjacent to the base of the compressible body, so as to cover a portion thereof,

wherein the compressible body is comprised of a compressible material and/or frangible material operable to compress and/or flex upon impact of the projectile.

2. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the compressible body further comprises one or more hollow cores disposed within the body portion, said hollow cores extending substantially from the front end to the base.

3. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 2, further comprising one or more perforations disposed within the compressible body, extending from the one or more hollow cores to the outer circumference of the compressible body.

4. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 2, further comprising:

an agent reservoir disposed within the compressible body,

wherein said agent reservoir is operable to retain one or more agents therein, and release same upon impact of the projectile.

5. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 4, wherein the one or more agents are selected from powders, marking agents, crowd control agents (chemical irritants), toxic compositions and tranquilizers.

6. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more agent ejection ports disposed within the body portion and windscreen so as to extend from the windscreen to the hollow core,

wherein said one or more ejection ports are operable to facilitate transmission of an agent through the one or more agent ejection ports upon impact of the projectile.

7. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 1, further comprising a weight biasing mass disposed within or adjacent to the forward end of the compressible body, said weight biasing mass operable to alter the center of mass of the projectile.

8. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 2, further comprising one or more spiral grooves disposed within the windscreen, said spiral grooves operable to impart spin to the projectile upon firing thereof.

9. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 2, further comprising a rotating band disposed around and/or formed integral with the base of the projectile, said rotating band operable to communicate with rifling of a weapon barrel.

10. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 1, further comprising a ring weight disposed integral with, adjacent to or around the projectile, said ring weight operable to increase mass around the circumference of the projectile, thereby increasing gyroscopic stability of the projectile.

21. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 1, wherein the rigid base cap decrease in diameter from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof, such that the rear end of the base cap has a diameter smaller than the front end of the compressible body and maximum diameter of the windscreen.

23. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 4, further comprising:

one or more agent ejection ports disposed within the body portion and windscreen so as to extend from the windscreen to the hollow core,

wherein said one or more ejection ports are operable to facilitate transmission of an agent through the one or more agent ejection ports upon impact of the projectile.

24. The spin stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 5, further comprising:

one or more agent ejection ports disposed within the body portion and windscreen so as to extend from the windscreen to the hollow core,

wherein said one or more ejection ports are operable to facilitate transmission of an agent through the one or more agent ejection ports upon impact of the projectile.

11. A drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile comprising:

(a) a compressible body having a front end, a base opposite the front end, and a body portion therebetween, said body portion having an outer circumference;

(b) a rigid windscreen disposed on/adjacent to the front of the compressible core, so as to cover a portion thereof; and

(c) a rigid base cap disposed on/adjacent to the base of the compressible body, so as to cover a portion thereof, said rigid base cap having one or more canted fins disposed thereon,

wherein the compressible body is comprised of a compressible material and/or frangible material operable to compress and/or flex upon impact of the projectile, and said canted fins are operable to impart spin to the projectile after firing thereof.

12. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 11, wherein the compressible body further comprises one or more hollow cores disposed within the body portion, said hollow cores extending substantially from the front end to the base.

13. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 12, further comprising one or more perforations disposed within the compressible body, extending from the one or more hollow cores to the outer circumference of the compressible body.

14. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 11, further comprising:

an agent reservoir disposed within the compressible body,

wherein said agent reservoir is operable to retain one or more agents therein, and release same upon impact of the projectile.

15. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 14, wherein the one or more agents are selected from powders, marking agents, crowd control agents (chemical irritants), toxic compositions and tranquilizers.

16. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claims 14, further comprising:

one or more agent ejection ports disposed within the body portion and windscreen so as to extend from the windscreen to the hollow core,

wherein said one or more ejection ports are operable to facilitate transmission of an agent through the one or more agent ejection ports upon impact of the projectile.

17. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 11, further comprising a weight biasing mass disposed within or adjacent to the forward end of the compressible body, said weight biasing mass operable to alter the center of mass of the projectile.

18. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 11, further comprising one or more spiral grooves disposed within the windscreen, said spiral grooves operable to impart spin to the projectile upon firing thereof.

19. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 11, further comprising a rotating band disposed around and/or formed integral with the base of the projectile, said rotating band operable to communicate with rifling of a weapon barrel.

20. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 11, further comprising a ring weight disposed integral with, adjacent to or around the projectile, said ring weight operable to increase mass around the circumference of the projectile, thereby increasing gyroscopic stability of the projectile.

22. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claim 11, wherein the rigid base cap decrease in diameter from a front end thereof to a rear end thereof, such that the rear end of the base cap has a diameter smaller than the front end of the compressible body and maximum diameter of the windscreen.

25. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claims 15, further comprising:

one or more agent ejection ports disposed within the body portion and windscreen so as to extend from the windscreen to the hollow core,

wherein said one or more ejection ports are operable to facilitate transmission of an agent through the one or more agent ejection ports upon impact of the projectile.

26. The drag stabilized, blunt impact, non-lethal projectile of claims 16, further comprising:

one or more agent ejection ports disposed within the body portion and windscreen so as to extend from the windscreen to the hollow core,

wherein said one or more ejection ports are operable to facilitate transmission of an agent through the one or more agent ejection ports upon impact of the projectile.