NON-LETHAL PROJECTILE AND LAUNCHER THEREFOR

• US 3,733,727 A
• Filed: 11/12/1970
• Issued: 05/22/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1970
• 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): Borchelt, Benjamin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jordan, C. T.
• Application Number:
  US05/088,687
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 42/1R,1F,1G,76R,79 102/1M,41,92.7
• US Class Current: 42/106
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/06 Adaptations of smallarms for firing grenades, e.g. rifle grenades, or for firing riot-control ammunition; Barrel attachments therefor signal pistols F41C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/10 Cinematographic hit-indicating systems cinematographic targets F41J9/14
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/02 Stabilising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/40 of target-marking, i.e. impact-indicating type F42B12/48, F42B12/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/045 of telescopic type F42B5/184 takes precedence

Abstract

A non-lethal projectile and launcher therefor for riot control and the like comprising a body formed from a relatively soft, pliant latex material compressed to projectile form and mounted within a restraining cup which in turn is mounted in a firing shell. The body at its rearward end includes retracted guidance structure that extends on the projectile being fired, a chamber at its forward end to receive a marking fluid for marking the target, and internal subdivisions in its mid portion designed to permit the body to expand laterally on impacting into a soft textured mass that flattens on impact to avoid injury to the target. The projectile launcher is in the form of a barrel assembly including a bell shaped muzzle which permits the projectile to be fired without jamming even when held against the target and braking slots for discharging the propelling gases rearwardly of the launcher to reduce recoil.

Claims

1. A non-lethal device for riot control and the like, said device comprising:

a round, said round comprising;

a projectile, said projectile comprising a pliant body formed from resiliently flexible material compacted to projectile form, frangible means for restraining the body against release from projectile form, a shell in which said projectile is disposed, said shell including means for firing said projectile therefrom, a launcher for launching said projectile from said shell, said launcher comprising;

a barrel assembly in which said round is receivable in firing relation thereto, and means for firing said round when received in said barrel assembly to project said projectile from said shell, said barrel assembly including a firing chamber, a bore, and a muzzle of bell shape at the end of said bore and having its interior proportioned to substantially exceed the transverse dimension of said projectile, said bore being formed rearwardly of said muzzle with slot means for permitting propelling gases of said shell firing means to escape therefrom when said shell is fired, whereby, when said round is in said chamber and said projectile is fired from said shell, said projectile is propelled through and out of said barrel assembly in projectile form, and on striking the target, said frangible means ruptures allowing said body to distort under impact tO thereby protect the target from injury from the momentum of said body.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said body in its projectile form includes means at its rearward end for defining guidance means when said projectile on being fired clears said bore, said guidance defining means being held retracted by said shell.

3. The device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said body includes means for marking the target on impacting against same.

4. The device set forth in claim 1 including:

a movie camera carried by said barrel assembly and directed parallel to said bore, and means for actuating said camera for making a photographic record at the time of firing of said round.