Electrode for electronic weaponry that dissipates kinetic energy

• US 9,354,026 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Hanchett, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kitov, Zeev K
• Application Number:
  US14/864,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20160010956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/029 Electric or similar shock devices, e.g. prods
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0012 Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning
• 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 13/0031 for remote electrical discharge by means of a wireless projectile
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An electronic weapon with an installed deployment unit, from which at least one tethered electrode is launched, provides a stimulus current through a target to inhibit locomotion by the target. The wire tether, also called a filament, conducts the stimulus current. The one or more electrodes, according to various aspects of the present invention, perform one or more of the following functions in any combination: binding the filament to the electrode, deploying the filament from the deployment unit, coupling the electrode to the target, and distributing a current density with respect to a volume of target tissue. An electrode may include a spear comprising a material with integrated conductive and insulative substances (e.g., conductive fibers in insulative composite material) and a geometry to dissipate kinetic energy after impact with the target.

Claims

1. An electrode comprising:

a body comprising a surface and a longitudinal axis, a rapidly expanding gas applies a force on the surface to impart a kinetic energy to the electrode to launch the electrode in a forward direction from an electronic weapon along a trajectory toward a human or animal target; and

a spear comprising a first resilient rib, a second resilient rib, and a tip, the tip comprising a longitudinal axis, the spear mechanically coupled to a forward portion of the body;

wherein;

upon impact of the electrode with the target;

the tip penetrates tissue of the target to place the spear in or near target tissue;

the body moves away from the trajectory such that an angle between the longitudinal axis of the body and the longitudinal axis of the tip increases until a portion of the body strikes the target to dissipate a portion of the kinetic energy; and

responsive to movement of the body, the first rib compresses and the second rib extends to facilitate movement of the body toward the target and to dissipate a further portion of the kinetic energy; and

the electrode provides a current from the electronic weapon through tissue of the target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target.

2. A deployment unit for providing a current from a signal generator through tissue of a human or animal target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target, the deployment unit comprising:

a housing;

an interface that couples the housing to the signal generator, the interface for receiving the current;

a filament that conducts the current, the filament stored in the housing prior to deployment, the filament coupled to the interface for receiving the current; and

the electrode of claim 1 mechanically coupled to the filament and stored in the housing prior to deployment.

3. The electrode of claim 1 wherein the spear diffuses the current into the tissue.

4. The electrode of claim 1 wherein the spear further comprises a barb.

5. The electrode of claim 1 wherein as the one or more ribs deform a rear portion of the body rotates toward the target.

6. The electrode of claim 1 wherein the body and spear are formed of dissimilar composite materials.