Immobilization weapon

• US 5,654,867 A
• Filed: 03/28/1996
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Barnet Resnick
• Inventors: Murray, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US08/623,454
• Time in Patent Office: 495 Days
• Field of Search: 361/232, 89/1.11, 42/84, 42/1.08, 42/103, 429/1, 429/100
• US Class Current: 361/232
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 15/04 with electric stunning-means ejecting electrically charged liquid jets F41B9/00; electric shock creating harpoons F42B30/14; electric circuits or apparatus for killing or stunning H05C
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0018 for nearby electrical discharge, i.e. the electrodes being positioned on the device and the device brought manually or otherwise into contact with a nearby target batons with electric discharge capability F41B15/04; electric shock devices for animals A01K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/04 providing pulse voltages mechanical self-interrupters H01H; electronic pulse-generators H03K

Abstract

An electrical impulse-type immobilization weapon having both the capability for launching two tethered electrodes at a remote target, as well as for contacting, by means of two spaced apart contacts, a target located immediately adjacent the weapon. Furthermore, the present invention provides a novel manner for indicating whether or not launched projectiles have indeed impacted the target and have enabled the target to be subjected to an electrical impulse by establishing a current between the two projectile electrodes on the target surface. Furthermore, the present invention provides a sighting capability to increase the accuracy of target impact at a remote location. The sighting capability is provided herein by a pair of solid state laser devices mounted mechanically to the immobilization weapon in a manner which provides an accurate indication of the likely impact points for the remotely launched projectiles on a remote target. Still another highly advantageous feature of the present invention comprises a novel battery section structure which permits the battery to be installed into the immobilization weapon in only one direction, thus providing assurance that opposite polarity will not be inadvertently obtained during times of urgency or other stressful times when it is not convenient to carefully check the orientation of the battery as it is being installed.

Claims

1. In an immobilization weapon of the type having a launcher for launching at least one wire-tethered electrode toward a remotely-positioned target, and an electric circuit including a battery for imparting a selected electric discharge into such target through the electrode;

the improvement comprising;

at least one conductive rod extending from said weapon and connected to said electric circuit for imparting said selected electric discharge into a target substantially adjacent said weapon;

further comprising at least one light source oriented on said weapon to generate a beam of light that is substantially co-linear with the path of said wire-tethered electrode after launching;

said weapon comprises two of said wire-tethered electrodes and two of said light sources, said electrodes being oriented at a first angle relative to one another, said light sources generating a pair of light beams oriented at a second angle relative to one another, said first and second angles being substantially identical whereby the separation between said light beams on said remote-positioned target is substantially the same as the separation between said electrodes upon their impact on said remotely-positioned target.

2. In an immobilization weapon of the type having a launcher for launching at least one wire-tethered electrode toward a remotely-positioned target, and an electric circuit including a battery for imparting a selected electric discharge into such target through the electrode;

the improvement comprising;

a pair of electric discharge electrodes on said weapon, said electrodes being spaced apart a selected distance for permitting an electric spark to occur therebetween upon activation of said weapon without passage of said electric discharge into said target for immediately indicating a lack of target immobilization;

further comprising at least one conductive rod extending from said weapon and connected to said electric circuit for imparting said selected electric discharge into a target substantially adjacent said weapon;

further comprising at least one light source oriented on said weapon to generate a beam of light that is substantially co-linear with the path of said wire-tethered electrode after launching;

said weapon comprises two of said wire-tethered electrodes and two of said light sources, said electrodes being oriented at a first angle relative to one another, said light sources generating a pair of light beams oriented at a second angle relative to one another, said first and second angles being substantially identical whereby the separation between said light beams on said remote-positioned target is substantially the same as the separation between said electrodes upon their impact on said remotely-positioned target.

3. In an immobilization weapon of the type having a launcher for launching at least one wire-tethered electrode toward a remotely-positioned target, and an electric circuit including a battery for imparting a selected electric discharge into such target through the electrode;

the improvement comprising;

at least one light source oriented on said weapon to generate a beam of light that is substantially co-linear with the path of said wire-tethered electrode after launching;

said weapon comprises two of said wire-tethered electrodes and two of said light sources, said electrodes being oriented at a first angle relative to one another, said light sources generating a pair of light beams oriented at a second angle relative to one another, said first and second angles being substantially identical whereby the separation between said light beams on said remote-positioned target is substantially the same as the separation between said electrodes upon their impact on said remotely-positioned target.

4. In an immobilization weapon of the type having a launcher for launching at least one wire-tethered electrode toward a remotely-positioned target, and an electric circuit including a battery for imparting a selected electric discharge into such target through the electrode;

the improvement comprising;

a battery chamber in said weapon for receiving said battery; and

at least one bracket in said chamber positioned for permitting insertion of said battery into said chamber in only one direction for assuring proper polarity of said battery in said circuit;

further comprising at least one light source oriented on said weapon to generate a beam of light that is substantially co-linear with the path of said wire-tethered electrode after launching;

said weapon comprises two of said wire-tethered electrodes and two of said light sources, said electrodes being oriented at a first angle relative to one another, said light sources generating a pair of light beams oriented at a second angle relative to one another, said first and second angles being substantially identical whereby the separation between said light beams on said remote-positioned target is substantially the same as the separation between said electrodes upon their impact on said remotely-positioned target.