Systems and methods for deploying electrodes from a covered cavity for electronic weaponry

• US 7,891,127 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Zekanovic, Dubravko, Nerheim, Magne H., Cerovic, Milan
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weber; Jonathan C
• Application Number:
  US11/307,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20070297116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 361/232, 102/502, 42/10.8, 42/84, 89/18.1, 89/18.17, 89/31
• US Class Current: 42/84
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• 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: F41H 13/0087 the high-energy beam being a bright light, e.g. for dazzling or blinding purposes F41H13/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/06 operating only when touched

Abstract

An electronic weapon impedes locomotion by a target by conducting a current through an electrode and through the target to produce contractions in skeletal muscles of the target. The weapon may include a deployment unit to deploy one or more electrodes in trajectories toward the target. The deployment unit may include covered tubes for the electrodes. Removing the cover may be accomplished with a ram urged against the interior of the cover by an electrode. The cover may include frangible material with grooves for repeatable material separation. The cover may include fasteners that simplify assembly of the cover onto the body of the deployment unit. The fasteners may include hooks with grooves that disjoin from the cover enabling a more repeatable removal of the cover. Electrode trajectories are more accurate as a result of operation of the rams and the structures of the frangible cover.

Claims

1. A deployment unit for use with an electronic weapon, the deployment unit comprising:

a. a body having a cavity with an opening;

b. an electrode stored in the cavity;

c. an electrical interface and a tether wire, for conducting a current from the electronic weapon through the electrode; and

d. a cover comprising a fastener, the fastener comprising a first groove;

wherein;

e. an interference between the fastener and the body couples the cover to the body over the opening;

f. a depth of the first groove is less than a thickness of the fastener thereby forming a material of a reduced thickness at the first groove;

g. activation of a provided propellant, in any order;

provides a force against the cover that breaks the material at the first groove to separate the cover and the fastener;

provides a force that pushes the cover away from the body to open the cavity; and

deploys the electrode from the cavity through the opening toward a provided target for conducting the current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target; and

h. prior to separation of the cover and the fastener, no portion of the electrode contacts the cover.

2. The deployment unit of claim 1 further comprising a ram wherein the propellant propels the ram against the cover to provide the force.

3. The deployment unit of claim 2 wherein the propellant propels the electrode to urge the ram against the cover to provide the force.

4. The deployment unit of claim 2 wherein the ram, prior to activation of the propellant, abuts the cover.

5. The deployment unit of claim 2 further comprising a second fastener that fastens the cover to the body, wherein the ram provides the force equidistant from the fastener and the second fastener.

6. The deployment unit of claim 2 wherein the cover further comprises a second groove and the ram provides the force through the second groove.

7. The deployment unit of claim 2 further comprising the propellant.

8. The deployment unit of claim 2 wherein the ram spaces the electrode from the cover.

9. The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:

a. the cavity further stores a plurality of electrodes including the electrode;

b. the cavity comprises a manifold for fluid communication between the propellant and each electrode of the plurality; and

c. each electrode of the plurality urges a respective ram against the cover to provide the force.

10. The deployment unit of claim 1 further comprising a ram unattached to the electrode and disposed proximate the electrode and proximate the cover, wherein the propellant propels the ram against the cover to separate the cover from the fastener.

11. A deployment unit for use with an electronic weapon, the deployment unit comprising:

a. a body having a cavity;

b. an electrode stored in the cavity;

c. an electrical interface and a tether wire, for conducting a current from the electronic weapon through the electrode;

d. a cover comprising at least one fastener that mechanically couples to the body to retain the cover over the cavity; and

e. a ram;

wherein

f. the at least one fastener comprises a groove;

g. activation of a provided propellant urges the ram against the cover to break a material at the groove of the at least one fastener to separate the cover and the at least one fastener to permit exit of the electrode from the cavity toward a provided target for conducting the current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target; and

h. after exit of the electrode, the ram falls away from the trajectory of the electrode.

12. The deployment unit of claim 11 wherein the propellant propels the electrode to urge the ram to move the cover.

13. The deployment unit of claim 11 further comprising the propellant.

14. The deployment unit of claim 11 further comprising a second fastener that fastens the cover to the body, wherein the ram provides the force equidistant from the fastener and the second fastener.

15. The deployment unit of claim 11 wherein the cover further comprises a second groove and the ram provides the force through the second groove.

16. The deployment unit of claim 11 wherein the ram spaces the electrode from the cover.

17. An electronic weapon comprising:

a. a circuit that provides a current;

b. a propellant;

c. a body having a cavity;

d. an electrode stored in the cavity;

e. an electrical interface and a tether wire, for conducting the current from the electronic weapon through the electrode; and

f. a cover comprising a first groove that defines a first portion and a second portion of the cover and a fastener mechanically coupled to the first portion, the fastener comprising a second groove, the fastener couples the cover to the body to cover the cavity;

wherein;

g. activation of the propellant, in any order;

breaks a material at the first groove to separate the first portion and the second portion to uncover the cavity;

breaks a material at the second groove to separate the fastener and the first portion to uncover the cavity; and

deploys the electrode from the uncovered cavity toward a provided target for conducting the current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target; and

h. prior to separation of the first portion and the second portion, no portion of the electrode contacts the cover.

18. The electronic weapon of claim 17 further comprising a ram wherein the propellant propels the ram against the cover to separate the first portion and the second portion, and the fastener and the first portion.

19. The electronic weapon of claim 18 wherein the propellant propels the electrode to urge the ram against the cover to separate the first portion and the second portion, and the fastener and the first portion.

20. The electronic weapon of claim 18 wherein the ram, prior to activation of the propellant, abuts the cover.

21. The electronic weapon of claim 17 wherein:

a. the cavity further stores a plurality of electrodes including the electrode;

b. the cavity comprises a manifold for fluid communication between the propellant and each electrode of the plurality; and

c. each electrode of the plurality urges a respective ram against the cover to separate the first portion from the second portion.

22. An electronic weapon comprising:

a. a circuit that provides a current;

b. a propellant;

c. a body having a cavity;

d. an electrode stored in the cavity;

e. an electrical interface and a tether wire, for conducting the current from the electronic weapon through the electrode;

f. a cover comprising at least one fastener that mechanically couples to the body to retain the cover over the cavity whereby the cover blocks exit of the electrode from the cavity; and

g. a ram;

wherein

h. the at least one fastener comprises a groove;

i. activation of the propellant urges the ram against the cover to break a material at the groove of the at least one fastener to separate the cover and the at least one fastener to permit exit of the electrode from the cavity toward a provided target for conducting the current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target; and

j. after exit of the electrode, the ram falls away from the trajectory of the electrode.

23. The electronic weapon of claim 22 wherein the propellant propels the electrode to urge the ram against the cover.

24. The electronic weapon of claim 22 wherein the cover further comprises a second groove and the ram provides the force through the second groove.

25. The electronic weapon of claim 22 wherein the ram spaces the electrode from the cover.