U.S. patent application number 12/717138 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-08 for electrical disabling projectile.
Invention is credited to LUIS MENDOZA, MERCEDES MENDOZA.
Application Number | 20110214585 12/717138 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44530190 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110214585 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MENDOZA; MERCEDES ; et
al. |
September 8, 2011 |
ELECTRICAL DISABLING PROJECTILE
Abstract
The present invention relates to an electrical disabling
projectile system for disabling a moving vehicle comprising: a
disabling device, where the disabling device includes a power
supply means and a launching projectile, where the projectile is
capable of transmitting a disabling current; a control panel, where
the control panel includes a means to release the projectile and a
means to activate the disabling current; and a power supply means
to supply power to the control panel and the disabling device. The
disabling device includes at least one mounting bracket that
enables the placement of the disabling device onto the front of a
vehicle.
Inventors: |
MENDOZA; MERCEDES; (Tuscon,
AZ) ; MENDOZA; LUIS; (Mesa, AZ) |
Family ID: |
44530190 |
Appl. No.: |
12/717138 |
Filed: |
March 4, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/502 ;
361/230 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 30/00 20130101;
F41B 15/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/502 ;
361/230 |
International
Class: |
F42B 30/00 20060101
F42B030/00; F41B 15/04 20060101 F41B015/04 |
Claims
1. An electrical disabling projectile system for disabling a moving
vehicle comprising: a. a disabling device, where the disabling
device includes a power supply means and a launching projectile,
where the projectile is capable of transmitting a disabling
current; b. a control panel, where the control panel includes a
means to release the projectile and a means to activate the
disabling current; and c. a power supply means to supply power to
the control panel and the disabling device.
2. The electrical disabling projectile system according to claim 1,
where said device includes at least one mounting bracket, said
mounting bracket enables the placement of the disabling device onto
the front of a vehicle.
3. The electrical disabling projectile system according to claim 1,
where the disabling device includes a launching end, said launching
end includes an opening for the release of the launching
projectile.
4. The electrical disabling projectile system according to claim 1,
where the power supply means includes a power cord connection
connected to a back end of the disabling device.
5. The electrical disabling projectile system according to claim 1,
where the means to release includes a release button and the means
to activate includes a activation button.
6. The electrical disabling projectile system according to claim 2,
where the device and control panel receive electrical power from
the vehicle's power system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical disabling
projectile that is mounted upon a security vehicle such as a police
car for disabling another vehicle within a car chase scenario.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Many security officers and policeman currently use tasers as
a weapon to disable an assailant. The taser resembles a handgun and
may be operated in two modes. In one mode the taser dispenses a
projectile that strikes an individual and transmits an electrical
current to the individual to disrupt the voluntary control of the
muscles. The use of the taser therefore subdues the individual and
places them in a position where a policeman may apply handcuffs and
control the individual for arrest. In another mode of operation,
taser electrodes are provided at an application point of the taser
where the taser is applied against the individual without the
firing of a projectile. The application of the taser's electrical
arch at the end of the gun is known as a drive stun gun. This mode
of operation does not completely disable the assailant but provides
application of significant localized pain while being applied to
the subject. Either mode of the taser operation assists the police
in subduing an assailant and controlling a belligerent individual.
The taser offers an alternative to use of harmful force such as a
baton or gun.
[0005] Many times police officers need to engage in a car chase in
order to apprehend a suspect. Car chases are dangerous in all
respects to the police officer, the fleeing suspect and the general
public that may be nearby that encounters the car chase.
Individuals that attempt to escape from the police may engage the
police in a high-speed car chase and therefore endanger innocent
civilians that are on the road either in their vehicles or possibly
pedestrians. Many car chases end with a vehicle collision and
require several police cars to become involved in order to stop the
fleeing suspect. Some techniques used by the police to stop the
suspects include roadblocks, use of spikes or ramming the fleeing
suspect's vehicle into a ditch or other area to stop the vehicle.
Car chases also have the potential to cause a significant amount of
property damage during the chase. Although car chases make for
great drama for a reality TV show, car chases are very dangerous
for all participants and others that may be innocent
bystanders.
[0006] It would therefore be advantageous to use the taser
technology to project an electrical current onto a moving vehicle
that is involved in a car chase. Using such a technique could
disable the fleeing car and bring it to a stop without endangering
thousands of people over a period of prolonged car chase. One
example of a mobile electrical device for disabling a moving car is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,559 that discloses a projectile
for being launched from the hand operated air gun where the device
includes a strike plate with a tip that applies a positive charge
to the target. Strike members on the projectile distribute a
negative charge to the target and therefore induce a short circuit
to disable the electrical control module of the target vehicle upon
impact. U.S. Pat. No. 7,327,549 discloses an apparatus for
impacting a target that includes electrodes deployed after contact
between the apparatus and target. The device delivers a stimulus
signal to the target and immobilizes the target.
[0007] Therefore it would be advantageous to have an electrical
projectile system mounted on a police vehicle so that a projectile
may be transported or launched upon a fleeing suspect's vehicle to
disable it during pursuit thereof. Such a device would be useful in
alleviating and eliminating the consequences of a heated car
chase.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to an electrical disabling
projectile system for disabling a moving vehicle comprising: a
disabling device, where the disabling device includes a power
supply means and a launching projectile, where the projectile is
capable of transmitting a disabling current; a control panel, where
the control panel includes a means to release the projectile and a
means to activate the disabling current; and a power supply means
to supply power to the control panel and the disabling device. The
disabling device includes at least one mounting bracket that
enables the placement of the disabling device onto the front of a
vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 depicts a telescope site for use in accordance with
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts a control panel for the electrical control
projectile system according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3A depicts a side view of the disabling device
according to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3B depicts a top view of the disabling device according
to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3C depicts a front view of the disabling device
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The present invention provides an electrical disabling
projectile system that is mountable on a police or a security
vehicle that provides a means to project a disabling projectile
onto a vehicle fleeing the police. The electrical disabling
projectile device according to the present invention projects a
projectile onto a vehicle and transmits an electrical charge that
disables the electrical current in the target vehicle. The
electrical charge causes the vehicle to come to a complete stop and
therefore ends the car chase without incident. The electrical
disabling projectile system includes a control panel and a
targeting telescope to assist the operator in launching the
projectile and to transmit the necessary electrical charge to
disable the vehicle.
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the internal control devices that are
placed within the reach and control of the driver of the vehicle
equipped with projectile system according to the present invention.
These control panels may be operated by police officer while he is
pursuing a car in a car chase. FIG. 1 depicts a telescope site 15
that is provided for use in conjunction with the projectile system
of a current invention. The telescope site 15 provides a targeting
mechanism so that the driver is aware when it is suitable to fire
or disengage the projectile mounted on the front of the police
vehicle. Use of the telescope site 15 assists the officer in
determining when the fleeing vehicle is within the site of the
projectile. FIG. 2 depicts a Control Panel 25. The Control Panel 25
provides the activation buttons and mechanisms to launch the
projectile from the disabling device and for the transfer of
current through the projectile in order to disable the fleeing
vehicle.
[0016] The Control Panel 25 includes on/off switches and buttons
that release and engage the electrical current through the
projectile, a Release Button 26 is provided above an Activation
Button 24. In one particular embodiment, these control buttons may
have colors associated with them where the release or Engaging
Button 26 may have a yellow light and the Activation Button 24 may
have a green light. A series of Range Lights 28 are provided at the
top of the Control Panel 25. The Range Lights 28 enable the
operator to have a sense of the range of the projectile. When each
of the Range Lights 28 are lit, the projectile is within optimum
range to be fired and disengaged from the disabling device. As the
lights diminish this indicates the diminishing range and therefore
alerts the officer not to attempt to launch the projectile because
it may not reach the target car. A Power Line 21 extends from the
Control Panel 25 and receives electrical power from the power
system of the police or security vehicle.
[0017] FIG. 3A depicts a Disabling Device 40. The Disabling Device
40 is mounted on the front bumper or perhaps a hood of the police
vehicle and is provided power through a Power Cord 41. The
Disabling Device 40 includes a projectile that is launched from the
Launching End 45 as more clearly shown in FIG. 3C which depicts a
front view of the Disabling Device 40. A pair of Mounting Brackets
42a, 42b are provided to mount the Disabling Device 40 onto the
police vehicle.
[0018] FIG. 3B shows a top view of the Disabling Device 40 where
the Launching End 45 is shown at the front end of the Disabling
Device 40. The Body Portion 44 of the Disabling Device 40 extends
cylindrically between Mounting Brackets 42a, 42b. The Back End 43
of the disabling device includes the Power Cord Connection 41. In
one particular embodiment, the Disabling Device 40 might be up to
eight inches in length with a three-inch circumference. A
Projectile 46 is launched from the Disabling Device 40 upon
activation by the police officer in pursuit.
[0019] The Projectile 46 is released through the activation of the
Release Button 26 on Control Panel 25. Once the projectile hits the
intended target, depressing the Activation Button 24 of the Control
Panel 25 shoots the electrical current. After the electrical
current is applied, the target vehicle will shut down completely
and the police chase ends.
[0020] Installment of a disabling projectile system in accordance
with the present invention provides a police officer with a safe
mechanism to end a car chase before it's completely out of control.
Use of such a device helps eliminate the occurrence of police chase
and provides police with another tool to apprehend a fleeing
suspect. The long-range potential of the firing projectile of the
Disabling Device 40 helps make the system effective and suitable
for disabling a fleeing suspect in a vehicle.
* * * * *