Less-Lethal Force Device Impact Ratio

• US 20160178305A1
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alternative Ballistics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ben Weinrib, Christian Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Christian, Weinrib, Ben
• Granted Patent: US 9,823,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/32 Muzzle attachments or glands F41A21/26, F41A21/30, F41A21/46 take precedence ; for projectile velocity measurements G01P3/665, G01P3/685
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/34 Flash dampers
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 7/00 Launching-apparatus for projecting missiles or projectiles otherwise than from barrels, e.g. using spigotsF41F3/04 takes precedence; centrifugal sling apparatus F41B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/74 of the core or solid body
• 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 30/04 Rifle grenades
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/06 Bullet traps or bullet decelerators therefor

Abstract

Improvements in a less-lethal force device are disclosed. The less-lethal projectile device generally comprising a projectile, such as a rubber-encapsulated metal block, that is mated to a docking base by way of a mounting pins or base. The projectile may be made with a cavity located in its rearward section for enabling the projectile to fit onto the mounting pins portion of the docking base through compression or interference fit. The projectile captures a fired bullet and is propelled along the original path of the bullet at a less lethal velocity. The disclosed system results in converting a normally lethal weapon into a less-lethal blunt impact system. The mounting pins are configured to provide clearance to the sighting mechanism on the firearm.

Claims

1. A less-lethal force device comprising:

a docking station having a rear portion and a forward mounting portion, the rear portion being adapted to removably attach the base to the barrel of a firearm and receive a fired bullet from a firearm along a path defined by a travel of a bullet;

said forward mounting portion having mounting pins that are forward of said docking station for clear passage of said bullet along a path defined by a travel of said bullet;

a projectile having an interior cavity and enveloping said mounting pins of said forward portion along said path defined by a travel of a bullet, and

said projectile being configured to capture said fired bullet into said interior cavity in a bullet trap, and detach from said forward portion mounting pins as a result of kinetic energy transferred to said projectile from said fired bullet, and be accelerated along said path defined by a travel of said bullet to impart a less-lethal force upon a target.

2. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said projectile is surface treated to allow for continued rotation of said bullet after said bullet leaves said firearm.

3. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said docking station is expelled from said barrel of said firearm after said projectile is detached from said forward portion mounting tube.

4. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said mounting pins retain said projectile in front of said barrel of said firearm.

5. The less-lethal force device according to claim 4 wherein said mounting pins suspend said projectile to allow said bullet to exit said barrel before entering said projectile.

6. The less-lethal force device according to claim 5 wherein said bullet travels in free space from said barrel, between said pins before entering said projectile.

7. The less-lethal force device according to claim 6 wherein at least some exhaust gasses exhaust behind said bullet prior to said bullet entering said projectile.

8. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said adapter does not create head pressure in front of said bullet.

9. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said adapter does not create an increase of head pressure within said barrel.

10. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said projectile does not create an increase of head pressure within said barrel.

11. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein there are at least two mounting pins.

12. The less-lethal force device according to claim 11 wherein there are four mounting pins.

13. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said docking station is configured to be kicked off of a firearm as a result of the recoil of the firearm.

14. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said projectile comprises a bullet trap formed in an interior cavity for capturing a fired said bullet.

15. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said projectile comprises an outer cushioning means formed over said projectile.

16. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said bullet trap is slightly larger in diameter than the caliber of the bullet and configured to allow for expansion of the bullet inside said bullet trap at impact of said bullet within said bullet trap.

17. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said docking station includes a plurality of living hinges that grip under said barrel of said firearm.

18. The less-lethal force device according to claim 1 wherein said living hinges exist only on opposing side of said docking station.

19. The less-lethal force device according to claim 18 wherein said docking station does not extend under a front portion of said firearm.

20. The less-lethal force device according to claim 19 wherein said docking station is installed and removed from said firearm with only vertical motion onto said firearm.