Low lethality projectile flight shape

• US 6,755,133 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Combined Systems Incorporated (PLP-CTS Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Combined Systems Incorporated (PLP-CTS Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brunn, Michael, Kravel, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bergin, James S.
• Application Number:
  US10/114,726
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 102/395, 102/439, 102/444, 102/498, 102/502, 102/529, 244/3.3
• US Class Current: 102/502
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/34 expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type

Abstract

An anti-personnel projectile launched from a weapon shell required at impact to have a low lethality consequence, in which the projectile is fitted in the shell in a shape characterized by a blunt end in the direction of flight and maintained in this shape by oppositely directed air resistance and propelling forces to obviate a change of shape during flight that might cause a serious injury.

Claims

1. A low-lethality projectile that exhibits a low-lethality flight shape after the projectile is propelled out of a weapon shell, the projectile comprising a pliable tubular body having a closed front end and a rear edge bounding an opening into a body compartment into which an amount of lead shot is inserted prior to closure of the body compartment, the low-lethality flight shape comprising:

a blunt projectile front end portion augmented by substantially parallel opposing forces of air resistance and opposite post ignition propelling force; and

a tail portion that is narrow relative to the blunt projectile front end portion and substantially cylindrically shaped.

2. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 1 wherein,

the blunt projectile front end portion comprises the closed front end.

3. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 1 wherein,

the tail end portion comprises at least the rear edge of the projectile.

4. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 1 wherein,

a constriction of the liable tubular body closes the body compartment and delineates the blunt projectile front end portion from the tail portion.

5. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 4 wherein,

the constriction is formed by a tie around the pliable tubular body.

6. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 1 wherein,

the weapon shell is a 12-gauge shell.

7. A low-lethality projectile that exhibits a low-lethality flight shape after the projectile is propelled out of a weapon shell, the projectile comprising a pliable tubular body having a closed front end and a rear edge bounding an opening into a body compartment into which an amount of lead shot is inserted prior to closure of the body compartment, the low-lethality flight shape comprising:

a blunt projectile front end portion maintained by substantially parallel opposing forces of air resistance and opposite post ignition propelling force; and

a tail portion that is narrow relative to the blunt projectile front end portion and substantially cylindrically shaped.

8. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 7 wherein,

the blunt projectile front end portion comprises the closed front end.

9. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 7 wherein,

the tail end portion comprises at least the rear edge of the projectile.

10. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 7 wherein,

a constriction of the pliable tubular body closes the body compartment and delineates the blunt projectile front end portion from the tail portion.

11. The low-lethality projectile fight shape in claim 10 wherein,

the constriction is formed by a tie around the pliable tubular body.