Systems and methods for a rear anchored projectile

• US 7,984,676 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gavin, William D., Baldwin, Christopher W., Petrovic, Alaksandar, Cerovic, Milan
• Primary Examiner(s): ELDRED, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US11/771,956
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 102/502, 86/23, 361/232
• 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 12/54 by implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/073 using an auxiliary locking element

Abstract

A round, according to various aspects of the present invention, comprises an electrified projectile and a case. The projectile delivers a current through a target to incapacitate the target by causing skeletal muscle contractions. The case mechanically couples to a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case.

Claims

1. A round for inhibiting locomotion by a human or animal target, the round comprising:

a projectile having circuitry for delivering a current;

a case mechanically coupled to a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case, the projectile, after launching, for conducting the current through the target to cause contractions of skeletal muscles of the target to inhibit locomotion by the target; and

a strap for enabling the circuitry to provide the current, wherein the strap is retained in the case.

2. A round for inhibiting locomotion by a human or animal target, the round comprising:

a projectile having circuitry for delivering a current;

a case mechanically coupled to a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case, the projectile, after launching, for conducting the current through the target to cause contractions of skeletal muscles of the target to inhibit locomotion by the target; and

an anchor that couples the case to the rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case;

wherein;

the case comprises a shoulder; and

the anchor abuts the shoulder to hold the projectile in the case.

6. The round of claim 2 further comprising a primer mechanically coupled to the case, whereby the round becomes live.

3. A round for inhibiting locomotion by a human or animal target, the round comprising:

a projectile having circuitry for delivering a current;

a case mechanically coupled to a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case, the projectile, after launching, for conducting the current through the target to cause contractions of skeletal muscles of the target to inhibit locomotion by the target; and

an anchor that couples the case to the rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case;

wherein;

the anchor comprises a prong; and

the prong interferes with the projectile to hold the projectile in the case.

4. A round for inhibiting locomotion by a human or animal target, the round comprising:

a projectile having circuitry for delivering a current;

a case mechanically coupled to a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case, the projectile, after launching, for conducting the current through the target to cause contractions of skeletal muscles of the target to inhibit locomotion by the target; and

an anchor;

wherein;

the case has an inner diameter that decreases from a front of the case to a rear of the case; and

the anchor interferes with the rear of the case to hold the projectile in the case.

5. A round for inhibiting locomotion by a human or animal target, the round comprising:

a projectile having circuitry for delivering a current;

a case mechanically coupled to a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case, the projectile, after launching, for conducting the current through the target to cause contractions of skeletal muscles of the target to inhibit locomotion by the target;

a strap for enabling the circuitry to provide the current; and

an anchor having a tab;

wherein;

a portion of the strap is positioned between the tab and the case.

7. A method for assembling a round, the method comprising:

inserting an electrified projectile into a front opening of a case of the round until the projectile abuts a shoulder of the case;

inserting an anchor into a rear opening of the case until the anchor abuts the shoulder;

joining the anchor and the projectile to hold the projectile in the case; and

attaching a base to a rear portion of the case.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising inserting a primer into the base, whereby the round becomes live.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein inserting the primer occurs before attaching the base.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein inserting the anchor occurs before inserting the projectile.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein:

inserting the anchor further comprises aligning a strap of the projectile to the anchor; and

the anchor retains the strap.

12. A method for assembling a round, the method comprising:

coupling an anchor to a rear portion of an electrified projectile;

inserting the projectile into a front opening of a case of the round;

wherein

the anchor interferes with the case to hold the projectile in the case.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises inserting a primer into the round, whereby the round becomes live.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein inserting the primer is performed before inserting the projectile.

15. A method for releasing a projectile from a round, the round comprising the projectile and a case, the method comprising:

urging a grip of the projectile away from an anchor of the case, wherein prior to urging the anchor interferes with the grip to hold the projectile in the case;

while the grip is away from the anchor, propelling the projectile away from the case; and

after the anchor no longer interferes with the grip, enabling a circuit of the projectile to provide a current through a human or animal target.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein urging is accomplished by an expanding gas and propelling is accomplished by the expanding gas.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the round further comprises a pyrotechnic material for producing the expanding gas.

18. A round for inhibiting locomotion by a human or animal target, the round comprising:

a projectile having circuitry for delivering a current;

a case; and

a prong;

wherein;

the prong mechanically couples to the case and interferes with a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case; and

after launch, the projectile delivers the current through the target to cause contractions of skeletal muscles of the target to inhibit locomotion by the target.

19. The round of claim 18 further comprising a grip, wherein:

the grip mechanically couples to the rear portion of the projectile; and

the prong interferes with the grip to hold the projectile.

20. The round of claim 18 further comprising a strap for enabling the circuitry to provide the current, wherein the strap is retained in the case.

21. The round of claim 18 further comprising an anchor that mechanically couples to the case, wherein the anchor comprises the prong.

22. The round of claim 21 wherein:

the case comprises a shoulder; and

the anchor abuts the shoulder to hold the projectile in the case.

23. A round for inhibiting locomotion by a human or animal target, the round comprising:

a projectile having circuitry for delivering a current;

a prong; and

a case;

wherein;

the case mechanically couples to a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case;

prior to launch, the projectile is recessed within the case;

after launch, the projectile delivers the current through the target to cause contractions of skeletal muscles of the target to inhibit locomotion by the target; and

the prong;

mechanically couples to the case; and

interferes with a rear portion of the projectile to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case.

24. A round for inhibiting locomotion by a human or animal target, the round comprising:

a projectile having circuitry for delivering a current;

a case;

a grip; and

a prong;

wherein;

the grip mechanically couples to the rear portion of the projectile;

the prong mechanically couples to the case;

the prong interferes with the grip to hold the projectile in the case prior to launching of the projectile from the case;

prior to launch, the projectile is recessed within the case; and

after launch, the projectile delivers the current through the target to cause contractions of skeletal muscles of the target to inhibit locomotion by the target;