Electrode for electronic weaponry that dissipates kinetic energy
First Claim
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 toward a human or animal target; and
a spear comprising one or more resilient ribs, and a tip, the tip comprising a longitudinal axis, the spear mechanically coupled to a forward portion of the body;
wherein;
while the electrode travels toward the target, the longitudinal axis of the body and the longitudinal axis of the tip are coincident;
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 one or more ribs flex to dissipate the kinetic energy;
while the one or more ribs flex, the longitudinal axis of the tip is not coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body;
after dissipating the kinetic energy, the one or more ribs cease to flex so that the longitudinal axis of the body is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tip; and
the electrode provides a current from the electronic weapon through tissue of the target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrode comprising:
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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 toward a human or animal target; and a spear comprising one or more resilient ribs, and a tip, the tip comprising a longitudinal axis, the spear mechanically coupled to a forward portion of the body;
wherein;while the electrode travels toward the target, the longitudinal axis of the body and the longitudinal axis of the tip are coincident; 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 one or more ribs flex to dissipate the kinetic energy; while the one or more ribs flex, the longitudinal axis of the tip is not coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body; after dissipating the kinetic energy, the one or more ribs cease to flex so that the longitudinal axis of the body is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tip; and the electrode provides a current from the electronic weapon through tissue of the target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrode comprising:
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a body comprising a surface, 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 toward a human or animal target; and a spear comprising one or more resilient ribs, the spear having a first shape prior to launch, the spear mechanically coupled to a forward portion of the body;
wherein;upon impact of the electrode with the target, the one or more ribs deform to dissipate the kinetic energy, deforming the one or more ribs causes the spear to acquire a second shape, the second shape different from the first shape; after dissipating the kinetic energy, the one or more ribs cease to deform and the spear returns to the first shape; and the electrode provides a current from the electronic weapon through tissue of the target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrode comprising:
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a body comprising a surface and a central axis along a length of the body, 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 toward a human or animal target; and a spear comprising one or more resilient ribs, and a tip, the tip comprising a central axis along a length of the tip, the spear mechanically coupled to a forward portion of the body;
wherein;before impact, the central axis of the body is in line with the central axis of the tip; 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 with respect to the tip so that the central axis of the body is positioned at an angle to the central axis of the tip; and responsive to movement of the body, the one or more ribs flex to dissipate the kinetic energy; after dissipating the kinetic energy, the one or more ribs cease to flex so that the body returns to its pre-launch position and the central axis of the body is substantially in line with the central axis of the tip; and the electrode provides a current from the electronic weapon through tissue of the target, the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification