PROJECTILE

• US 20150144018A1
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Byrna Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Andre Johann Buys
• Inventors: BUYS, Andre Johann
• Granted Patent: US 9,746,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/502
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/65 Box magazines having a cartridge follower
• 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 10/26 using spin F42B10/04, F42B10/12, F42B10/14, F42B10/24, F42B14/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/36 Ring-foil projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/40 of target-marking, i.e. impact-indicating type F42B12/48, F42B12/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/46 for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances F42B12/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/54 by implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/745 the core being made of plastics; Compounds or blends of plastics and other materials, e.g. fillers
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/06 Sub-calibre projectiles having sabots; Sabots therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/064 Sabots enclosing the rear end of a kinetic energy projectile, i.e. having a closed disk shaped obturator base and petals extending forward from said base

Abstract

This invention relates to a non-lethal projectile to be fired using a paintball gun, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an aerodynamic non-lethal projectile which is used for marking, inhibiting or administering medicinal or other chemical substances to live targets. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a projectile comprising a body shaped to receive a capsule containing a substance, the body having a stabilising member connected thereto for stabilising the projectile in flight when the projectile is discharged from a weapon, and an annular member connected to the stabilising member at a rear end of the projectile for positioning the projectile relative to the weapon and relative to other projectiles to be discharged by the weapon.

Claims

1. A projectile comprising a body shaped to receive a capsule containing a substance, the body having a stabilising member connected thereto for stabilising the projectile in flight when the projectile is discharged from a weapon, and an annular member connected to the stabilising member at a rear end of the projectile for positioning the projectile relative to the weapon and relative to other projectiles to be discharged by the weapon.

2. A projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capsule is operatively rupturable.

3. A projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular member has substantially the same circumference as a front end of the body.

4. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the body defines a volume.

5. A projectile as claimed in claim 4, wherein the capsule is shaped to at least partially fill the volume.

6. A projectile as claimed in claim 5, wherein the capsule is substantially conical, tear-shaped or spherical.

7. A projectile as claimed in claim 4, wherein the volume is filled with the substance and the capsule provides a cap over the body to enclose the substance in the volume.

8. A projectile as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cap is substantially conical or spherical.

9. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the circumference of the body decreases towards the annular member and wherein the stabilising member comprises a plurality of fins helically arranged relative to the body to cause the projectile to operatively spin along its longitudinal axis.

10. A projectile as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fins extend between a rear position of the body, provided at around two thirds towards the rear end of the projectile, and the annular member.

11. A projectile as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fins extend from the front end of the body to the annular member.

12. A projectile as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plurality of fins are equidistantly radially spaced apart.

13. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular member includes rifling lands and grooves.

14. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projectile includes a sabot releasably securable to the annular member.

15. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projectile includes a connector for operatively connecting a second capsule with the capsule.

16. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the substance include any one or more substances selected from the group consisting of a solution of chemicals for control or of various pests and/or diseases associated with animals, a marking substance for marking a target, or an inhibiting substance for inhibiting a living target.

17. A projectile as claimed in claim 16, wherein the solution of chemicals for control or of various pests and/or diseases associated with animals is a pyrethroid or accaride substance selected from the group consisting of Flumethrin, Fipronil, Deltamethrin and Ivermectin.

18. A projectile as claimed in claim 16, wherein the marking substance comprises of a mixture of water soluble substances such as polyethylene glycol and a suitable dye.

19. A projectile as claimed in claim 16, wherein the inhibiting substance comprises a lachrymatory agent selected from the group consisting of mace, pepper spray (oleoresin capsicum), CS gas (2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile), CR gas (dibenzoxazepine), CN gas (phenacyl-chioride), nonivamide, bromoacetone, xylylbromide, and syn-propanethial-S-oxide.

20. A projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capsule is provided with a mechanism for delivering an immobilisation substance within the capsule intramuscularly to a target animal, wherein, upon impact of the projectile with the target animal, the mechanism pierces the skin of the target animal, and the impact of the projectile with the target animal causes the immobilisation substance within the capsule to be expelled from the capsule and intramuscularly to the target animal.

21. A projectile as claimed in claim 20, wherein the mechanism is a hypodermic needle provided with means for connection to the capsule and for accessing the contents of the capsule.

22. A projectile as claimed in claim 20, wherein the immobilisation substance is selected from the group consisting of opioids, cyclohexamines, and neuroleptics.

23. A projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projectile is manufactured from a non-toxic, biodegradable, water-soluble polymer.

24. (canceled)