U.S. patent application number 11/480641 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-10 for xm-5866 stingball flashbang grenade.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mr. George Leroy Confer. Invention is credited to George Leroy Confer.
Application Number | 20080006171 11/480641 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38940808 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080006171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Confer; George Leroy |
January 10, 2008 |
XM-5866 Stingball flashbang grenade
Abstract
The grenade is a multi-purpose munition which can be used as a
distraction device, like a flash bang grenade, and can be equipped
with chemical agent powder for added capabilities. The grenade is
also a sting ball grenade and is a less-lethal form of weapon,
designed to reduce fatalities in civilians located in conflict
areas. The munition is constructed to be low lethality, and capable
of being launched from military and law enforcement 37 mm and 40 mm
grenade launchers presently in use today. It is designed to be used
in multiple roles when lethal projectiles are not a viable or
preferred option, such as hostage situations, riots, room and
building clearing operations, narcotics interdictions, distraction
and diversionary purposes, and as a method of introducing a
chemical agent into a small area from a distance. The grenade can
be employed from distances over 400 yards, extending the range of
the present art, which is 30 yards.
Inventors: |
Confer; George Leroy;
(Canton, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
George L. Confer
RR2 Box 2532
Canton
PA
17724
US
|
Assignee: |
Mr. George Leroy Confer
Canton
PA
|
Family ID: |
38940808 |
Appl. No.: |
11/480641 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/497 ;
102/477; 102/489 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 12/48 20130101;
F42B 12/42 20130101; F42B 12/08 20130101; F42B 12/56 20130101; F42B
12/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/497 ;
102/489; 102/477 |
International
Class: |
F42B 12/32 20060101
F42B012/32 |
Claims
I. The munition is designed to contain multiple types of payloads
that can be mission specific, such as rubber sting balls, CS or OC
chemical irritants, and pyrotechnic items such as colored smoke or
flare stars.
II. The ammunition can be employed when non-combatants may be
present in close proximity to combatants, with less chance of
lethal results.
III. The munition can be employed in situations where the use of
deadly force would not be authorized under existing laws.
IV. The grenade has longer range (400+ yards) than present
less-lethal devices in service.
V. The device is not an impact detonated device, therefore can be
fired through light skinned vehicles, glass, or doors to detonate
on the inside, deploying payloads.
VI. The munition is waterproof, and can be used in wet
environments, and can actually be fired into bodies of water.
VII. The munition (when equipped with a chemical agent) uses a
blast dispersion method, which will not be prone to cause fires as
burning type chemical agent grenades do.
Description
CROSS-REFERANCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] N/A
STATEMENT REGUARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] N/A
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The need for low lethality projectiles is well known in the
art, and additionally can be inferred from the promulgation by the
National Institute of Justice of low lethality qualifying standards
found in standard 0101.03 tests. Ammunition such as rubber
buckshot, bean bag, muzzle blast chemical agents and such are
presently widely used by both military forces and law enforcement.
These devices are designed to provide a less lethal option in
individual or group incapacitation, or behavior modification. These
devices are severely limited however, in their final use, due to
short ranges of deploy ability, and by environmental factors such
as wind, snow, or rain. Also, these devices cannot affect
individuals inside vehicles or in thick cover conditions. These
devices also require the personnel deploying them to be within 30
meters of the target.
[0004] Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a low lethality anti-personnel projectile overcoming the
shortcomings of the prior art, and provide a multi-purpose
projectile, user-friendlier for the personnel deploying such
munitions.
[0005] The description of the invention which follows, together
with the accompanying drawing should not be construed as limiting
the invention to the example shown and described, because those
skilled in the art to which this invention appertains will be able
to devise other forms thereof within the ambit of the claims.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The grenade is designed to be a multi-purpose, multi-role 40
mm less lethal type munition. The round is a fixed 40 mm munition
capable of being fired from any 40 mm launcher in service today. It
can also be manufactured for use in 37 mm LE launchers. The round
is made of a poured resin plastic material containing .32 or .45 or
.60 caliber rubber stingballs, in a ball matrix pattern surrounding
an explosive core. The ogive portion of the round may contain
aluminum powder and is solid to aid in barricade penetration. The
round uses a safety time delay fuse, which is ignited by the
cartridge lift charge, therefore it will not explode on impact as
most 40 mm munitions are presently designed. The round is designed
to be safe for the user, and provide an effective use of force
option out to ranges of 400+ meters when deadly force options are
limited. The round can be used by military, law enforcement, and
corrections personnel when lethal 40 mm rounds are not desired,
such as when noncombatants are in the area. It is designed to be
used in multiple roles when lethal projectiles are not a viable or
preferred option, such as hostage situations, room and building
clearing operations, narcotics interdictions, distraction and
diversionary purposes, and as a method of introducing a chemical
agent into a small area from a greater distance than present
munitions allow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] The attached drawing shows a cross sectional view of the
proposed grenade, mounted in a standard M-212 40 mm casing (the
casing is shown in the drawing). The individual parts of the
grenade are pointed out, as well as the parts of the casing
itself.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The outer shape of the grenade is produced by using a
silicone rubber mold of a 37 mm or 40 mm projectile of the type
presently in use by law enforcement or military forces. A liquid
resin plastic is mixed, and a nosecone portion is poured. Metal
powder can be mixed with the resin plastic to add weight and also
provide barricade penetration ability. An M-80 type small explosive
device is placed into the liquid of the nosecone (partially) and
held there until the nosecone hardens. In the case of a "sting ball
matrix" type projectile, the rubber balls (32, 45 or 60 caliber)
are then placed into the mold, filling the space directly around
the M-80 type explosive device. Additional resin plastic is then
poured into the mold, until the mold is filled, leaving
approximately 1/4'' of the safety fuse exposed to the rear. The
projectile is then allowed to harden completely. The resin plastic
comes in a variety of colors, and hardness. I only note this here
as to clarify the types of modifications, which can be done to
alter the appearance of this munition. During construction of the
M-80 type explosive device, powdered chemical agents can be added
on either end, to increase the capabilities of this munition. The
projectile is then seated in a primed casing, of either 37 mm or 40
mm type. These casings are commonly used to launch munitions of
this type from 37 mm and 40 mm grenade launchers. The 40 mm casings
carry the designation of M-118 for aluminum casings, and M-212 for
nylon casings. Both casings use a high-low pressure launching
system. This system is compatible with this munition, and will
ignite the safety fuse, causing this munition to function properly.
The projectile is seated in the M-118 or M-212 casing and sealed in
place using a RTV silicone sealant (to maintain a moisture proof
environment inside the munition).
[0009] The projectile varies in size and shape. The outer
dimensions of the projectile would be 37 mm and 40 mm respectively.
(40 mm are more commonly used by the military) The color of the
projectile can also vary. Raised letters or bumps can be added to
the munition to aid in nighttime recognition of rounds (as in the
presently used 40 mm pyrotechnic devices). The projectile can be
marked, to indicate the type and caliber of the munition.
Physical Description:
[0010] A. Size: Length=(Short Range) 2.75'' (Long Range) 3''+
[0011] B. Projectile Weight: Will vary with further development,
and type of payloads
[0012] C. Power Requirements: Less than 1/4 oz of flash type
explosive mixture
[0013] D. Caliber: 40 mm or 37 mm depending on client needs.
Performance Characteristics:
[0014] A. Effect on target: Incapacitation caused by psychological
effect, and/or temporary pain and extreme discomfort, and/or
chemical incapacitation, or distraction due to light and noise at
point of detonation.
[0015] B. Time to Effect: 2-6 seconds from launched deployment
[0016] C. Duration of Effect: Seconds to Minutes based on chemical
additives and explosive content.
[0017] D. Effective Range: Depends on method of deployment. Round
can be used as blunt force impact weapon at 10 meters and an area
type weapon out to 400+ meters.
[0018] E. Burst effective radius: (Short range type) 5 Meters (Long
Range type) 10 Meters. Also dependent on location of detonation ie:
inside vehicles, ships, or buildings/rooms.
Delivery Means: 40 mm M-203 or M-79 type launchers or 37 mm LE
Launchers
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