U.S. patent application number 11/003276 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-08 for non-lethal electrical discharge weapon having a slim profile.
Invention is credited to John F. II Chudy.
Application Number | 20060120009 11/003276 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36573903 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060120009 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chudy; John F. II |
June 8, 2006 |
Non-lethal electrical discharge weapon having a slim profile
Abstract
An electrical discharge weapon configured as a lightweight, slim
profile gun-shaped weapon which is less than one inch thick along
the cartridge receiving chamber so that it can be readily placed in
a police officer's uniform pocket or in a slim-line holster for
easy deployment. All of the major internal components, including
battery and transformer, are positioned above or behind the trigger
aperture so that even with the dart cartridge in the chamber, the
weapon's center of gravity is through the hand so that it is
balanced and easily aimed at the target. The invention employs a
specially configured chamber to receive a unique cartridge with
widely separated darts. As a result, the electrodes may be also
widely separated so that current will not jump the electrode gap
even when the impacted darts leave a substantial gap to a suspect's
skin. Thus, the present invention is more likely to be effective
against suspect's wearing thick outerwear. The spent cartridge may
be expelled by a spring-activated release for quick ejection and
rapid reload. A bottom rail permits connection of another
non-lethal device such as a mace canister for use as a secondary
weapon or the attachment of tactical lighting or laser aiming
devices. A push-on/push-off trigger switch is combined with a
mechanical safety device to assure weapon effectiveness and safety
for the police officer. Quick disconnect battery clip allows for
rapid battery replacement.
Inventors: |
Chudy; John F. II; (Yucaipa,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONARD TACHNER, A PROFESSIONAL LAW;CORPORATION
17961 SKY PARK CIRCLE, SUITE 38-E
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
36573903 |
Appl. No.: |
11/003276 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/232 ;
42/1.08; 89/1.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 13/0025
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/232 ;
042/001.08; 089/001.11 |
International
Class: |
F41B 15/04 20060101
F41B015/04; F41C 9/00 20060101 F41C009/00 |
Claims
1. An electrical discharge weapon for propelling a pair of
wire-tethered electrode darts at a remote target to be subdued by
an electrical current through the target; the weapon comprising: a
housing having the shape of a pistol with a broadened end forming a
chamber for receiving a dart cartridge having said wire-tethered
electrode darts; electronic components mounted within said housing
for generating a high voltage output to be applied to said
cartridge between two spaced-apart electrodes; and wherein said
spaced-apart electrodes are greater than 1.65 inches apart from one
another when the electrical discharge weapon is not loaded with a
dart cartridge.
2. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 1 wherein said
housing comprises a trigger guard enclosing an aperture and having
a trigger switch extending therein for selectively activating said
electronic components and a handle for grasping said weapon, all
said electronic components being located within the housing aft of
the forwardmost portion of the trigger guard.
3. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 1 wherein said
chamber is less than one inch in thickness.
4. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 3 wherein said
housing is about 8 inches in length and about 4 inches in
width.
5. A low profile, handgun-shaped electrical discharge weapon
receiving a cartridge having wire-tethered darts to be propelled at
a remote target; the weapon comprising: an electronic components
compartment integrally interconnecting a handle and a
cartridge-receiving chamber, the weapon also having a trigger
aperture with a trigger switch extending into said aperture for
activating said cartridge; said weapon having a center of gravity
positioned between said trigger aperture and said handle.
6. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 5 further
comprising a first pair of electrodes in said chamber and in
contact with a second pair of electrodes on said cartridge, each
said pair of electrodes having an electrode gap that is greater
than 1.65 inches when the chamber is unloaded.
7. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 5 wherein said
chamber has a maximum thickness of about one inch.
8. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 5 wherein said
cartridge-receiving chamber comprises a spring that is compressed
by said cartridge, said weapon having a lever for securing said
cartridge within said chamber and for releasing said cartridge to
permit said spring to propel said cartridge out of said
chamber.
9. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 5 further
comprising a push-on/push-off switch and wherein said trigger
switch engages said push-on/push-off switch.
10. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 9 further
comprising a mechanical safety selectively engageable with said
trigger switch for alternatively preventing and permitting said
trigger switch engagement with said push-on/push-off switch.
11. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 5 wherein said
cartridge extends partially outside of said chamber when said
cartridge is ready for activation.
12. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 5 further
comprising a quick-disconnect battery assembly mounted in said
handle for powering said weapon.
13. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 5 further
comprising an integral accessory rail for receiving a backup
non-lethal weapon selectively attached to said rail.
14. A hand-gun-shaped electrical discharge weapon receiving a
cartridge having wire-tethered darts to be propelled toward a
remote target; the weapon comprising: a spring compressed by said
cartridge within said weapon for ejecting said cartridge after said
darts have been propelled.
15. A hand-gun-shaped electrical discharge weapon receiving a
cartridge having wire-tethered darts to be propelled toward a
remote target; the weapon comprising: a push-on/push-off activation
switch for activating said weapon; and a mechanical safety device
for preventing inadvertent depression of said activation
switch.
16. A hand-gun-shaped electrical discharge weapon receiving a
cartridge having wire-tethered darts to be propelled toward a
remote target; the weapon comprising: an integral accessory rail
receiving a backup weapon mounted to said electrical discharge
weapon.
17. The electrical discharge weapon recited in claim 16 wherein
said backup weapon is a non-lethal weapon.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
non-lethal electrical discharge weapons for subduing a remote
target using a pair of propelled wire-tethered darts. The invention
relates more specifically to a slim profile electrical discharge
hand gun configured for more convenient deployment from a pocket or
holster by a police officer and for better balance in a police
officer's hand which promotes increased accuracy.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Non-lethal electrical discharge hand guns which are also
referred to as stun guns, have over the past twenty-five years or
so, become an immobilization weapon of choice for many police
agencies and other law enforcement bodies. Such weapons impart a
temporarily debilitating electrical charge immobilizing a suspect,
but without causing permanent injury or harm. They give a law
enforcement officer sufficient time to handcuff or otherwise subdue
and secure a suspect with little or no risk of injury to the
officer or to the suspect. Typically, such weapons employ an
electrically actuatable cartridge containing a pair of
wire-tethered darts which are propelled from the cartridge by an
explosive charge. The darts travel along a generally ballistic path
where they contact the suspect at two spaced-apart locations. An
electrical current (typically a high voltage pulsed discharge) is
then imparted through the wires and darts with some portion of the
suspect's body completing the electrical circuit. Most often, the
darts become embedded in the suspect's outer garments which may or
may not (depending on the thickness of the garment's material)
prevent direct contact of a dart with the suspect's underlying skin
surface. Direct skin contact is not always necessary to complete
the electrical circuit because the higher voltages employed (i.e.,
50,000 volts) permit the electrical current to "jump" across the
gap remaining between the dart and the skin. A typical electrical
discharge weapon of the prior art is disclosed for example in
issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,654,867 issued Aug. 5, 1997 to inventor John
Murray, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
One of the most significant characteristics of this prior art
weapon, readily apparent by simply looking at the drawings therein,
is the physical size and shape of the disclosed embodiment. More
specifically, one will readily observe that the weapon is
relatively big and bulky and therefore requires an especially large
holster to carry the weapon when it is not deployed. Police
officers already carry a significant number of heavy and bulky
items on their person. They carry a standard handgun in a holster.
They also often carry a night stick, a mace container, extra
ammunition, handcuffs, a communication device and various other
accessories that they may need out in the field. The addition of a
relatively large electrical discharge weapon adds significantly to
their burden and is inconvenient at best and often an impractical
impediment to an officer's mobility. The large size and bulkiness
of an electrical discharge weapon often results in their being left
in a patrol car or their being treated as equipment for use only by
special request which limits their access and often results in
delay in deploying them to an officer who needs one in an emergency
situation.
[0005] Once in the hand of an officer, the effectiveness of an
electrical discharge weapon depends on the accuracy with which the
wire-tethered darts can be fired at a remotely positioned target.
If one or both darts fail to reach the suspect, or hit the target
at an extremity instead of the torso, the weapon will be
ineffective and may leave the officer with no choice but to deploy
his or her lethal weapon at a now irritated and close suspect.
Unfortunately, a large, heavy and bulky electrical discharge
weapon, particularly one which is not well-balanced, but is heavily
front-loaded, is difficult to aim and fire accurately at a target
up to 15 or 20 feet from the officer, particularly if the suspect
is agitated and uncooperative as is often the case in circumstances
where an electrical discharge weapon is to be used. Moreover, if
the suspect is wearing thick outerwear such as a bulky down jacket
or heavy sweater, the gap between each dart and the suspect's body
surface may be too large to permit a spark to jump across the gap
to complete an electrical circuit between the darts. This problem
is especially likely to occur when the distance between the
electrodes at the fired gun is less than the gap between either
dart and the suspect's skin. Thus, if a dart remains say more than
one inch from a suspect's skin after impact and there is only one
inch or less between electrodes at the fired weapon, electrical
current will seek the least resistant path at the shorter electrode
gap and not jump the longer gap between the dart and the
suspect.
[0006] Therefore, it will be understood that it would be highly
advantageous if there were an electrical discharge weapon which had
one or more of the following novel attributes: [0007] (a) a
lightweight configuration including a slim profile for easy
storage; [0008] (b) a well-balanced weight distribution that
promotes easy aiming for increased accuracy; and [0009] (c)
increased electrode separation to permit effective operation
against suspects having thick outerwear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is an electrical discharge weapon
having the aforementioned attributes. The preferred embodiment
disclosed herein is configured as a lightweight, slim profile
gun-shaped weapon which is less than one inch thick along the
cartridge receiving chamber so that it can be readily placed in a
police officer's uniform pocket or in a slim-line holster for easy
deployment. All of the major internal components, including battery
and transformer, are positioned above or behind the trigger
aperture so that even with the dart cartridge in the chamber, the
weapon's center of gravity is through the hand so that it is
balanced and easily aimed at the target. The invention employs a
specially configured chamber to receive a unique cartridge with
widely separated darts. As a result, the electrodes may be also
widely separated so that current will not jump the electrode gap
even when the impacted darts leave a substantial gap to a suspect's
skin. Thus, the present invention is more likely to be effective
against suspect's wearing thick outerwear. The spent cartridge may
be expelled by a spring-activated release for quick ejection and
rapid reload. A bottom rail permits connection of another
non-lethal device such as a mace canister for use as a secondary
weapon or the attachment of tactical lighting or laser aiming
devices. A push-on/push-off trigger switch is combined with a
mechanical safety device to assure weapon effectiveness and safety
for the police officer. Quick disconnect battery clip allows for
rapid battery replacement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The various embodiments, features and advances of the
present invention will be understood more completely hereinafter as
a result of a detailed description thereof in which reference will
be made to the following drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a view of a first embodiment of the present
invention shown being deployed and fired by a police officer;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the first embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view thereof;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2; but showing the
cartridge removed from the chamber of the weapon;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the
interior components;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a top view of the first embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6, but shown in
cross-section;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of
the invention;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the second
embodiment of the invention with a cartridge shown outside of the
weapon's chamber;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 but with the
cartridge positioned almost fully inside the chamber;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 but with the
cartridge positioned fully inside the chamber;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 but with the
cartridge shown being ejected from the chamber;
[0024] FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are three-dimensional, first insertion
and second insertion views, respectively, of a quick-disconnect
handle battery pack of the second embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 16 is an exterior side view of the second embodiment
shown with a backup weapon mace can attached to a bottom rail
thereof;
[0026] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional end view of the rail and backup
weapon holder of FIG. 16;
[0027] FIG. 18 is a three-dimensional view of the backup weapon
holder; and
[0028] FIGS. 19 and 20 are sequential side view illustrations of
steps in removal of the backup weapon holder from the weapon of the
second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring to the accompanying drawings and initially to FIG.
1, it will be seen that a police officer 5 is shown bearing a first
embodiment 10 of the present invention in the firing position. In
FIG. 1, weapon 10 has just been fired at a remote target (not
shown) and a pair of darts 12 are in their ballistic path tethered
to respective conductive wires 14. As seen best in FIGS. 2 to 4,
electrical discharge weapon 10 comprises a housing 16 having an
electronics compartment 18, a chamber section 20 and a handle 22.
At the lower end of the housing 16 there is a trigger aperture 24
into which a trigger switch 26 extends. A safety switch 28 extends
externally from electronics compartment 18. As seen in FIG. 3, the
front of chamber section 20 is open to expose the interior chamber
30 which is configured to receive a cartridge 32 as depicted in
FIG. 4. Cartridge 32 has a pair of dart passages 33 and wire
compartments 31 for receiving bundled tether wires 14.
[0030] The interior of weapon 10 is shown best in FIG. 5. As shown
therein, contained inside housing 16 are a battery 34, housings of
switches 26 and 28, printed circuit board 36 having low voltage
electronics 35 mounted thereon, including capacitors 38, and a high
voltage transformer 40 providing high voltage output electrodes 42.
Electrodes 42 are configured for engaging corresponding electrodes
of cartridge 32 and are widely separated by a distance "EG"
(electrode gap). In the preferred embodiments hereof the distance
EG is greater than 1.65 inches. This large electrode gap length
assures that the weapon 10 will operate effectively even when the
darts 12 are up to 2.0 inches from the suspect's skin while
embedded in thick outerwear. The electronics 35 of the weapon 10
are of a standard configuration for electrical discharge devices
and are well-known components in the art of "TASER.TM." guns. It
will be observed that the battery 34 and electronics 38 including
transformer 40 are all located above or behind trigger switch
26.
[0031] As seen best in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, housing 16 has a
cylindrical rise or bulge 25 to accommodate transformer 40. Despite
bulge 25, gun 10 is still relatively slim in profile, being less
than about 1.5 inches thick at its thickest portions and being less
than about 1.25 inches thick over most of its 8 inch length and 4
inch width in the preferred embodiment. Chamber interior 30 is less
than 1.0 inches thick. The cartridge 32 of the preferred embodiment
is less than about 0.5 inches thick. Details of the cartridge
structure and interior layout may be better understood by referring
to co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/719,131 filed on Nov.
21, 2003 which is assigned to the assignee hereof.
[0032] A second embodiment 50 of the weapon of the present
invention is shown in FIGS. 8-20. Embodiment 50 is generally
similar to that of embodiment 10, but has a number of additional
inventive features. One such feature is a spring-activated release
mechanism for expelling spent cartridges from the chamber. Another
such feature is the combination of a mechanical safety and a
push-on/push-off activation switch. A third added feature is a
cartridge which extends outside the chamber when loaded to alert a
police officer that the weapon is loaded. A fourth added feature is
a quick disconnect battery clip which permits rapid battery
replacement. A fifth added feature is an integral accessory rail
which receives a backup non-lethal weapon such as a mace
canister.
[0033] Each of these additional features of the second embodiment
50 will be described herein in conjunction with FIGS. 8-20.
Referring to those figures and FIG. 8 in particular, it will be
seen that electrical discharge weapon 50 comprises a chamber 52, an
electronics compartment 53, a wire-tethered dart propulsion
cartridge 54 and a handle 56. Also provided is a trigger guard 58
within which extends a trigger switch 60. Above guard 58 is a
mechanical safety 62. At the bottom of chamber 52 there is a
cartridge release 64 and below that and integral with the bottom
edge of chamber 52 is an accessory rail 66.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 9-12, it will be seen that within the
chamber interior 76 there is positioned a helical spring 80 which
is compressed by cartridge 54 when the cartridge is installed into
the chamber. It will also be seen that cartridge release 64 is at
an end of a release arm 78 which is positioned beneath a cartridge
ledge 79 and that cartridge 54 has a retainer tab 65. As shown
sequentially in FIGS. 9-11, cartridge 54 is inserted into chamber
52 along interior 76 thereby compressing spring 80 until cartridge
release 64 catches retainer tab 65. As shown in FIG. 12, after the
cartridge is spent, it may be released from the chamber interior 76
by manually depressing release 64 which disengages from retainer
tab 65 thereby allowing spring 80 to propel the cartridge 54 out of
the chamber 52.
[0035] The second added feature of push-on/push-off activation
switch and mechanical safety, is also illustrated in FIGS. 9-12. A
push-on/push-off activation switch 70 is positioned adjacent
trigger switch 60 so that a cam surface 68 will depress the
activation switch 70 when the trigger switch is rotated about its
fulcrum axis 67. Switch 70 is connected electrically to electronics
72 to cause a pulsed signal to be generated and sent to high
voltage transformer 74 which applies a high voltage pulsed output
to electrodes 77 in chamber interior 76. De-activation is achieved
by again depressing switch 70 using trigger switch 60. This
push-on/push-off operation obviates use of an unreliable timer
device to otherwise overcome the tendency of a police officer to
squeeze and immediately release the trigger switch as he or she
normally does with a conventional pistol. Immediate release of the
trigger would otherwise prevent effective operation of the
discharge weapon which requires continued activation until the
darts reach the target and debilitating discharge current is caused
to flow through the target for at least a short period of time.
Prior art electrical discharge weapons employ electronic timers to
overcome this tendency, but such timers are notoriously unreliable
and inconsistent, sometimes initiating inadvertently. A
push-on/push-off activation switch 70 requires the police officer
to squeeze the trigger switch 60 a second time after initial
activation in order to deactivate the weapon. Mechanical safety 62
provides a clearly visual indication of weapon status and prevents
inadvertent depression of switch 70 because it physically blocks
cam surface 68 and stops rotation of switch 60 about fulcrum axis
67 as depicted in FlGS. 9, 10 and 12. Prior art weapons employ
electric switch safety mechanisms which can be confusing and can
present a hazard, particularly when used with timer circuits.
[0036] Another feature of the second embodiment 50 is that
cartridge 54 extends well beyond the chamber interior 76 so that an
officer can plainly see that the weapon has a cartridge in place
(see FIGS. 8 and 11).
[0037] The quick release battery clip feature of the invention may
be understood best by referring to FIGS. 13-15. A pair of batteries
82 is mounted to a battery clip member 84, the latter adapted for
installation into handle 56 as shown in FIGS. 9-12. Installation is
achieved by using a pair of clip retainers 86 each having a
retainer ridge 88 and a retainer release 90. As seen best in FIGS.
14 and 15, retainers 86 are laterally compressed during
installation so that ridges 88 are captured in respective apertures
57 at the lowermost portion of handle 56. Retainer releases 90
permit the battery clip to be quickly released by squeezing
retainers 86 and thus withdrawing ridges 88 from apertures 57.
[0038] Still another feature of the second embodiment is shown in
FIGS. 16-20. More specifically, a backup non-lethal weapon may be
attached using the accessory rail 66. Thus, for example, by
employing a holder 92 shown best in FIG. 18, one may attach a mace
canister 91. Holder 92 employs a rail attachment 94 having a
plurality of attachment members 95 to slideably engage the
accessory rail 66. An end piece 93 prevents the canister from
sliding out of holder 92. FIGS. 19 and 20 show sequentially the
manner in which the holder 92 may be released from the rail 66.
[0039] Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiments of the present
invention, it will be understood that various modifications are
contemplated. By way of example, the precise shape of the weapon as
well as the precise location of components contained in the
housing, may be readily altered without deviating from the
inventive features of the invention. Accordingly, the scope hereof
is not to be deemed limited by the disclosed embodiments, but only
by the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *