NON-LETHAL HOME DEFENSE IMPLEMENT

• US 3,724,114 A
• Filed: 12/31/1970
• Issued: 04/03/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward H. Richie, Kenneth W. Jones
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Richie, Kenneth W. Jones
• Inventors: Richie, Edward H., Jones, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feinberg, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jordan, C. T.
• Application Number:
  US05/103,022
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 42/84,1A,1N,79 89/1.701 240/65
• US Class Current: 42/84
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/58 Electric firing mechanisms F41A17/10, F41A17/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/24 rack-and-pinion; lever; linkwork

Abstract

A non-lethal home defense implement in the form of a projectile firing tube for firing a non-lethal type projectile, in which the tube nozzle end has a hand grip portion equipped with a hand operated contact closing member for energizing a target light beam directed in the direction of firing, and the other end of the implement is equipped with a hand grip portion including a trigger for firing the tube. The operator holds one end of the device in either hand and presses the contact closing member with the hand at that end of the implement to energize the contact beam for directing same at the target, with the trigger being actuated by the other hand to fire the implement. The implement electric circuiting is arranged so that both the contact bar and trigger must be depressed to fire the implement.

Claims

1. A launcHer for a non-lethal projectile, said launcher comprising:

an elongate implement including a firing tube open at one end of the implement and including a firing chamber portion adapted to receive an ammunition round that includes the projectile, means for electrically firing the round when the round is in said chamber portion and including trigger means adjacent the other end of said implement for manually actuating said firing means, with said firing tube opening forming the muzzle of said tube, said implement at said one end thereof including means for directing a target light beam parallel to said firing tube muzzle and in the direction of aim of said muzzle, and hand operable switch means adjacent said implement one end for manually selectively actuating said beam directing means, said implement being formed adjacent said trigger means with a first hand gripping portion adapted to be gripped by one of the user'"'"''"'"'s hands and being formed adjacent said switch means with a second hand gripping portion adapted to be gripped by the other of the user'"'"''"'"'s hands for holding said implement fighting staff style for aiming and firing purposes, said trigger means and said switch means being hand actuatable by the user when his hands respectively grip the respective hand gripping portions of said implement, and electric circuit means for interconnecting said firing means and said beam directing means including means for electrically energizing same and means for making said firing means operative, for firing a round received in said implement, only when both said switch means and said trigger means are hand actuated by the user to respectively actuate said beam directing means and fire the round that is received in said implement for firing purposes.

2. The implement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said implement includes a second firing tube in substantial axial alignment with the first mentioned tube and extending in the opposite direction, said second firing tube being open at said other end of the implement and including a firing chamber portion adapted to receive a round that includes one of the projectiles, means for electrically firing the round of said second tube when such round is in said second tube chamber portion and including trigger means adjacent said one end of said implement for manually actuating said second tube firing means, with said second firing tube opening forming the muzzle of said second tube, said implement at said other end thereof including means for directing a target light beam parallel to said second firing tube muzzle and in the direction of aim thereof, and hand operable switch means adjacent said implement other end for manually selectively actuating said second tube beam directing means, said second tube trigger means and switch means being hand actuatable by the user when his hands respectively grip the respective hand gripping portions of said implement, said electric circuit means including means for interconnecting said firing means and said beam directing means of said second tube including means for making said firing means of said second tube operative only when said second tube trigger means and switch means are both hand actuated by the user to respectively actuate said second tube beam directing means and fire a round received in said second tube for firing purposes.

3. The implement set forth in claim 2 wherein:

adjacent ends of said tubes are removably received in either end of a center sleeve, said center sleeve including a breech plug including a firing contact pin for each of said tubes, and means for biasing the respective firing pins against rounds disposed in the respective tube chambers, said firing pins being incorporated in said circuit means.

4. The implement set forth in claim 2 wherein said switch means each comprise:

an elongate contact member secured to said implement for movement toward and away from said implEment, means for biasing said contact members for movement away from said implement, said contact members each including an electrical contact disposed for engagement with a corresponding electrical contact carried by said implement, said contacts being incorporated in said electrical circuit means and being closed by the user on manually actuating said beam directing means.

5. The implement set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said trigger means each comprise a trigger member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending laterally of said implement, said contact members being respectively pivoted to said implement for pivoting movement about the axis of the trigger means adjacent same.

6. The implement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said implement one end hand grip portion comprises a sleeve received over said implement and carrying an electrical contact, stop means fixed with respect to said implement, means biasing said sleeve for pivotal movement about said implement to bring said sleeve into engagement with said stop means, said implement including an electrical contact adapted to be engaged by said sleeve contact when the user grips said sleeve and turns same in opposition to said biasing means, said contacts being incorporated in said circuit means, said sleeve comprising said switch means, and means for releasably locking said sleeve against its said pivotal movement.

7. The implement set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said implement other end includes a recoil guard.

8. The implement set forth in claim 1 including:

a frangible diaphragm for closing said tube muzzle, and means for clamping said diaphragm to and across said muzzle.