SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEPLOYING ELECTRODES FROM A COVERED CAVITY FOR ELECTRONIC WEAPONRY

• US 20070297116A1
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Cerovic, Milan, Zekanovic, Dubravoko, Bachand, William, Nerheim, Magne
• Granted Patent: US 7,891,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/232
• 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 that impede locomotion by the target. The weapon may include a deployment unit to deploy one or more electrodes in trajectories away from the apparatus 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 so that the electrode does not touch the cover. 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 cover for retaining an electrode prior to deployment, the cover comprising:

a. a body comprising at least a first portion and a second portion joined to the first portion; and

b. a structural fastener joined to the first portion, the fastener for assembling the cover to a provided deployment unit;

wherein;

c. during deployment of the electrode, from the deployment unit toward a provided target for conducting a current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target, the first portion is separated from the second portion, and the first portion is separated from the fastener.

2. The cover of claim [claim 1] wherein the fastener comprises a hook.

3. The cover of claim [claim 2] wherein the hook is joined to the first portion at a groove that facilitates separation of the fastener from the first portion.

4. The cover of claim [claim 1] wherein the fastener comprises a groove that facilitates assembly to the deployment unit and facilitates separation of the fastener from the first portion.

5. The cover of claim [claim 1] wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined at a groove that facilitates separation of the first portion from the second portion.

6. The cover of claim [claim 1] wherein separation of the first portion from the second portion is accomplished in response to a sudden release of gas pressure within the deployment unit.

7. A cover for retaining a plurality of electrodes prior to deployment, the cover comprising:

a. a body comprising at least a first portion and a second portion joined to the first portion at a first groove; and

b. a hook joined to the first portion at a second groove, the fastener for assembling the cover to a provided deployment unit;

wherein;

c. during deployment of the plurality of electrodes, from the deployment unit toward a provided target for conducting a current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target, in response to a sudden release of gas pressure within the deployment unit, the first portion is separated from the second portion at the first groove, and the first portion is separated from the hook at the second groove.

8. A method, performed by an electronic weapon having a cavity and a cover over the cavity, the method comprising:

releasing a force;

deploying an electrode in response to the force, deploying comprising;

i. disjoining a portion of the cover from the remainder of the cover;

ii. disjoining the portion of the cover from a structural fastener that joined the cover to the electronic weapon; and

iii. propelling the electrode out of the uncovered cavity; and

conducting a current from the weapon through the electrode and through the target to interfere with locomotion by the target.

9. The method of claim [claim 8] wherein releasing the force comprises igniting a pyrotechnic charge.

10. The method of claim [claim 8] wherein releasing the force comprises releasing a pressurized gas.

11. The method of claim [claim 9] wherein the current is conducted at a relatively high voltage and a relatively low voltage circuit ignites the pyrotechnic charge.

12. The method of claim [claim 8] wherein disjoining a portion of the cover from the remainder of the cover comprises breaking the cover at a groove.

13. The method of claim [claim 8] wherein disjoining the portion of the cover from the fastener comprises breaking the cover at a groove.

14. The method of claim [claim 8] wherein disjoining a portion of the cover from the remainder of the cover comprises propelling a ram into the cover.

15. The method of claim [claim 14] wherein propelling the ram comprises pushing the ram with the electrode so that the electrode does not come into direct contact with the cover.

16. The method of claim [claim 8] wherein disjoining a portion of the cover from the remainder of the cover is completed before disjoining the portion of the cover from the fastener.

17. 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; and

c. a cover comprising at least a first portion and a second portion joined to the first portion, and a structural fastener joined to the first portion, the fastener for assembling the cover to the body to cover the cavity;

wherein activation of a provided propellant deploys the electrode, from the body toward a provided target for conducting a current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target, separates the first portion from the second portion, and separates the first portion from the fastener.

18. The deployment unit of claim [claim 17] further comprising a ram wherein the propellant propels the ram against the cover to separate the first portion from the second portion.

19. The deployment unit of claim [claim 18] wherein the propellant propels the electrode to urge the ram against the cover to separate the first portion from the second portion.

20. The deployment unit of claim [claim 18] wherein the ram, prior to activation of the propellant, abuts the cover.

21. The deployment unit of claim [claim 17] wherein, after activation of the propellant, the electrode does not come into direct contact with the cover.

22. The deployment unit of claim [claim 17] further comprising a plurality of electrodes stored in the cavity, the plurality including the electrode.

23. The deployment unit of claim [claim 17] further comprising a tether wire that conducts the current from the electronic weapon to the electrode.

24. The deployment unit of claim [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.

25. The deployment unit of claim [claim 17] further comprising the propellant.

26. 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. a cover that blocks exit of the electrode from the cavity; and

d. a ram, wherein activation of a provided propellant urges the ram to move the cover to permit exit of the electrode from the cavity toward a provided target for conducting a current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target.

27. The deployment unit of claim [claim 26] wherein the propellant propels the electrode to urge the ram to move the cover.

28. The deployment unit of claim [claim 26] further comprising the propellant.

29. 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; and

e. a cover comprising at least a first portion and a second portion joined to the first portion, and a structural fastener joined to the first portion, the fastener for assembling the cover to the body to cover the cavity;

wherein activation of the propellant deploys the electrode, from the body toward a provided target for conducting the current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target, separates the first portion from the second portion, and separates the first portion from the fastener.

30. The electronic weapon of claim [claim 29] further comprising a ram wherein the propellant propels the ram against the cover to separate the first portion from the second portion.

31. The electronic weapon of claim [claim 30] wherein the propellant propels the electrode to urge the ram against the cover to separate the first portion from the second portion.

32. The electronic weapon of claim [claim 30] wherein the ram, prior to activation of the propellant, abuts the cover.

33. The electronic weapon of claim [claim 29] wherein, after activation of the propellant, the electrode does not come into direct contact with the cover.

34. The electronic weapon of claim [claim 29] further comprising a plurality of electrodes stored in the cavity, the plurality including the electrode.

35. The electronic weapon of claim [claim 29] further comprising a tether wire that conducts the current from the electronic weapon to the electrode.

36. The electronic weapon of claim [claim 29] 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.

37. An electronic weapon, the deployment unit 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. a cover that blocks exit of the electrode from the cavity; and

f. a ram, wherein activation of the propellant urges the ram to move the cover 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.

38. The electronic weapon of claim [claim 37] wherein the propellant propels the electrode to urge the ram to move the cover.