Non-lethal projectile for delivering an electric shock to a living target

• US 5,962,806 A
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jaycor, Inc. (Titan Corporation)
• Inventors: Wild, Norbert C. Jr., Mallon, Charles E., Denson, Raymond, Vasel, Edward J., Nunan, Scott C., Coakley, Peter G., Niederhaus, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tudor, Harold J.
• Application Number:
  US08/746,326
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 102/293, 102/258, 102/259, 102/260, 102/261, 102/262, 102/264, 102/502, 102/395, 102/444, 102/498, 102/501, 102/513, 102/529, 361/230, 361/231, 361/232, 361/233, 361/235, 473/574, 473/FOR 211, 89/1.11, 463/47.3
• US Class Current: 102/502
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0031 for remote electrical discharge by means of a wireless projectile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information

Abstract

An projectile and method of using same employ a projectile body; an electric circuit housed within the projectile body; a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the electric circuit, for delivering an electrical shock to the target; and attachment means, coupled to the projectile body, for attaching the projectile to the target.

Claims

1. A projectile for delivering a stunning electrical shock to a target comprising:

a projectile body;

an electric circuit housed within the projectile body for generating an electric shock;

a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the electric circuit, for delivering the electric shock to the target; and

attachment means coupled to the projectile body, for attaching the projectile to the target, the attachment means including;

an adhesive-containing capsule coupled to said projectile body;

an adhesive material contained within the adhesive-containing capsule until impact of said projectile against said target, the adhesive-containing capsule rupturing upon impact of said projectile against said target, and, in response to the rupturing, releasing the adhesive material onto said target.

2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said adhesive-containing capsule comprises plastic.

3. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said adhesive-containing capsule comprises wax.

4. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said adhesive-containing capsule comprises paper.

5. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said adhesive-containing capsule comprises acrylic-coated paper.

6. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said adhesive-containing capsule comprises gelatin.

7. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of barbed tips coupled to said projectile body; and

a removable cover removably coupled to said projectile body, the removable cover covering the plurality of barbed tips, said adhesive material being on the removable cover.

8. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising:

a radio receiver coupled to said electric circuit for deactivating said electric circuit, in response to a deactivation signal.

9. The projectile of claim 1, further comprising:

a radio receiver coupled to said electric circuit for activating said electric circuit in response to an activation signal.

10. The projectile of claim 9 wherein said plurality of electrodes comprises at least two electrodes.

11. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said electric shock has an open circuit voltage of at least 20 kV.

12. The projectile of claim 11 wherein said electric shock has a current of at least 3 A.

13. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said electric circuit comprises a battery.

14. The projectile of claim 13 wherein said battery has a voltage of from between 6 and 9 volts.

15. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising:

a momentum switch for activating said electric circuit upon impact of said projectile against said target.

16. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising:

an arming switch for arming said electric circuit.

17. The projectile of claim 16 further comprising:

an arming pin removable from said arming switch for arming said electric circuit upon removal of the arming pin.

18. The projectile of claim 17 wherein said arming pin opens a momentum switch when inserted into said arming switch.

19. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said plurality of electrodes includes:

a first electrode comprising a first band of metal; and

a second electrode comprising a second band of metal.

20. The projectile of claim 1 wherein said plurality of electrodes includes:

a first electrode positioned near a forward end of the projectile.

21. The projectile of claim 20 wherein said plurality of electrodes includes:

a second electrode positioned near a rearward end of the projectile.

22. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising:

a spark gap breakdown path coupled in parallel with a pair of said plurality of electrodes.

23. The projectile of claim 1 further comprising:

a timing circuit coupled to said electric circuit for terminating said delivering of said electrical shock a prescribed period of time after said delivering of said electrical shock begins.

24. A method of inhibiting a living target comprising:

firing a projectile at the target;

adhering the projectile to the target including rupturing an adhesive-containing capsule;

generating a voltage within the projectile; and

delivering an electrical shock to the target using the voltage having been generated.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

receiving a deactivation signal using a radio receiver; and

stopping said delivering of said electrical shock in response to the receiving of the deactivation signal.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said firing comprises firing the projectile a distance of at least 10 meters.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said firing comprises firing the projectile using carbon dioxide.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein said firing comprises firing the projectile using black powder.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein said firing comprises firing the projectile using air.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein said generating said voltage within the projectile includes generating an open circuit voltage of at least 30 kV.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein said generating said voltage within the projectile includes generating a current of at least 3 A.

32. A system for delivering a stunning-electrical shock to a target comprising:

a launch device;

a projectile comprising;

a projectile body;

an electric circuit housed within the projectile body;

a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the electric circuit, for delivering an electrical shock to the target;

an adhesive material for adhering to the target;

an adhesive-containing capsule coupled to a front end of said projectile body;

said adhesive material being contained within the adhesive-containing capsule until said impact of said projectile against said target; and

the adhesive-containing capsule rupturing upon said impact of said projectile against said target, and, in response to the rupturing, releasing said adhesive material onto said target.

33. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a radio receiver coupled to said electric circuit for deactivating said electric circuit in response to a deactivation signal so as to not deliver said electric shock; and

a radio transmitter for generating the deactivation signal.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein:

said radio receiver coupled to said electric circuit is for activating said electric circuit in response to an activation signal so as to deliver said electric shock; and

said radio transmitter is for generating the activation signal.

35. A projectile for delivering a stunning electrical shock to a target comprising:

a projectile body;

an electric circuit housed within the projectile body for generating an electric shock;

a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the electric circuit, for delivering an electrical shock to the target;

attachment means, coupled to the projectile body, for attaching the projectile to the target, the attachment means comprising;

an adhesive material; and

an adhesive-containing capsule coupled to said projectile body, said adhesive-containing capsule containing said adhesive material until impact of said projectile against said target, and releasing the adhesive material onto said target upon impact of said projectile against said target.

36. The projectile of claim 35 further comprising:

a spring loaded locking mechanism coupled to said plurality of electrodes for deploying said plurality of electrodes toward said target upon releasing of the spring loaded locking mechanism; and

a release switch coupled to the spring loaded locking mechanism, and to a front end of the projectile body, for releasing the spring loaded locking mechanism upon impact of said projectile against said target, whereby said plurality of electrodes are deployed toward said target upon the impact of said projectile against said target.

37. The projectile of claim 36 wherein said plurality of electrodes, after said deployment, protrude through openings in a periphery of said projectile body at said front end.

38. The projectile of claim 36 wherein said plurality of electrodes, after said deployment, protrude through said adhesive-containing capsule.

39. A projectile for delivering a stunning electrical shock to a target comprising:

a projectile body;

an electric circuit housed within the projectile body for generating an electric shock;

a plurality of-electrodes, coupled to the electric circuit, for delivering an electrical shock to the target; and

attachment means, coupled to the projectile body, for attaching the projectile to the target, the attachment means comprising an adhesive material;

a plurality of barbed tips coupled to said projectile body; and

a removable cover removably coupled to said projectile body, the removable cover covering the plurality of barbed tips, said adhesive material being on the removable cover.

40. The projectile of claim 39 further comprising:

a radio receiver coupled to said electric circuit for deactivating said electric circuit, in response to a deactivation signal.

41. The projectile of claim 40 further comprising:

a radio receiver coupled to said electric circuit for activating said electric circuit in response to an activation signal.

42. The projectile of claim 39 wherein said electric shock has an open circuit voltage of at least 20 kV.

43. The projectile of claim 42 wherein said electric shock has a current of at least 3 A.

44. The projectile of claim 39 wherein said electric circuit comprises a battery.

45. The projectile of claim 44 wherein said battery has a voltage of from between 6 and 9 volts.

46. The projectile of claim 39 further comprising:

a momentum switch for activating said electric circuit upon impact of said projectile against said target.

47. The projectile of claim 39 further comprising:

an arming switch for arming said electric circuit.

48. The projectile of claim 47 further comprising:

an arming pin removable from said arming switch for arming said electric circuit upon removal of the arming pin.

49. The projectile of claim 48 wherein said arming pin opens a momentum switch when inserted into said arming switch.

50. The projectile of claim 39 wherein said plurality of electrodes includes:

a first electrode positioned near a forward end of the projectile.

51. The projectile of claim 50 wherein said plurality of electrodes includes:

a second electrode positioned near a rearward end of the projectile.

52. The projectile of claim 50 wherein said plurality of electrodes includes:

a second electrode positioned near a central region of the projectile.

53. The projectile of claim 39 further comprising:

a spark gap breakdown path coupled in parallel with a pair of said plurality of electrodes.

54. The projectile of claim 39 further comprising:

a timing circuit coupled to said electric circuit for terminating said delivering of said electrical shock a prescribed period of time after said delivering of said electrical shock begins.

55. A projectile for delivering a stunning electrical shock to a target comprising:

a projectile body, the projectile body being elongated and substantially cylindrical;

an electric circuit housed within the projectile body for generating an electric shock;

a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the electric circuit, for delivering an electrical shock to the target, the plurality of electrodes comprising;

a first electrode comprising a first band of metal fixed at a perimeter of the projectile body; and

a second electrode comprising a second band of metal fixed at said perimeter of the projectile body; and

attachment means, coupled to the projectile body, for attaching the projectile to the target, the attachment means comprising an adhesive material.

56. A method of inhibiting a living target comprising:

firing a projectile at the target;

impacting the target with the projectile having been fired;

rupturing an adhesive-containing capsule upon said impacting said target with said projectile having been fired;

adhering the projectile to the target with an adhesive;

generating a voltage within the projectile; and

delivering an electrical shock to the target using the voltage having been generated.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising:

deploying a plurality or electrodes toward said target; and

said delivering being through at least two of the plurality of electrodes.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said firing comprises firing the projectile a distance of at least 10 meters.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein said generating said voltage within the projectile includes generating an open circuit voltage of at least 30 kV.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein said generating said voltage within the projectile includes generating a current of at least 3 A.

61. A system for delivering a stunning electrical shock to a target comprising:

a launch device; and

a projectile comprising;

a projectile body;

an electric circuit housed within the projectile body;

a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the electric circuit, for delivering an electrical shock to the target;

an adhesive-containing capsule coupled to the projectile body; and

an adhesive material contained within the adhesive-containing capsule until impact of the projectile against said target and releasing the adhesive material onto the target upon impact of the projectile against the target.

62. The system of claim 61 further comprising:

a radio receiver coupled to said electric circuit for deactivating said electric circuit in response to a deactivation signal so as to not deliver said electric shock; and

a radio transmitter for generating the deactivation signal.

63. The system of claim 62 further wherein:

said radio receiver coupled to said electric circuit is for activating said electric circuit in response to an activation signal so as to deliver said electric shock; and

said radio transmitter is for generating the activation signal.