Projectile Launcher Baton

Abstract

A projectile launcher in the form of a stun baton, or night stick, which is comprised of a barrel assembly, having a receiver therewithin its inward end, and a coaxial handle assembly which includes a firing mechanism, a firing mechanism safety, and a breech member disposed at one end thereof. Tee receiver end of the barrel assembly and the breech breech end of the handle assembly are respectively connected to opposing halves of a novel split collar ring. The halves of the collar ring are hinged axially for rotatably pivoting the handle portion transversely with the face of the receiver to provide for insertion of the projectile, and after firing for removal of the spent cartridge. A releasable locking mechanism is further provided to lock and align the assemblies in coaxial orientation whereupon release of the mechanism allows the pivotable rotation of the assemblies for disassociation therewith.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

Reference may be had to the Robert C. Mawhinney application, Ser. No. 39,294, filed May 21, 1970, for High Energy Minimum Lethality Weapon System and assigned to the assignee of the present invention for a disclosure of a flexible low lethality projectile which is adapted to be launched by the subject launcher of this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the application set forth above, a weapon system comprising a launcher and a flexible low lethality projectile were described. The projectile was of a relatively large mass and was adapted to be radially expanded during trajectory so as to present a relatively large impact surface to the target. As presented in the referenced application, the projectile was adapted to be fired by a cartridge designed for use in a United States Military 40 MM Grenade Launcher M 79.

Unfortunately, the Grenade Launcher M 79 is not adaptable to be effective as a stun baton, or night stick, due to its size and weight, and cannot be readily carried on the body of a person such as a law enforcement officer. Consequently, the effectiveness of the weapon system embodying an effective nonlethal projectile possessed practical limitations due to the lack of an appropriate launcher.

A perusal of the known launchers, which would have some effectiveness as stun batons, revealed that the diameter of the projectile would have to be either increased or decreased to accommodate the launcher, or the bore of the launcher would have to be increased or decreased to accommodate the projectile. More specifically then, the use of a launcher having a larger bore would require a deformable projectile of a larger circumference to achieve spin stabilization. However, if the mass remains constant and the circumference is increased, the air drag increases, and the effective range is logarithmically decreased. Further, if both the mass and circumference were increased as a solution to increasing the effective range, the ballistic density of the deformable projectile would cause such recoil as to do serious injury to the operator.

Conversely, if a launcher with a smaller bore were selected, e.g., a walking cane or an umbrella, the necessary reduction in the projectile circumference would cause the resulting projectile to approach a lethal characteristic due to equivalent energy which would tend to defeat the nonlethal objective of the proposed weapon's system.

To summarize, there is no known projectile launcher baton capable of launching the deformable projectile of the referenced application. The invention as described in this application is directed to fulfill the gap in the present technology. However, it will be appreciated that the subject launcher also possesses capabilities for launching other projectiles including the solid state varieties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains generally to projectile launchers, and more particularly to a light-weight projectile launcher baton. The baton is useful as a night stick and has the additional advantage of increasing the range of night stick, due to its projectile launcher capability.

The baton is comprised of a barrel assembly having a receiver portion at one end thereof, and a handle assembly which includes a firing mechanism, firing mechanism safety, and a breech member disposed at one end of the handle assembly thereof. The breech end of the handle assembly is adapted to be coaxially engaged with the receiver end of the barrel assembly by a locking pin arrangement and a novel split collar ring, whose halves are pivotably connected by an axial hinge disposed therethrough.

A release means is provided for the locking pin which allows the handle assembly to be transversely pivoted out of relation with the transverse face of the receiver end of the barrel which allows insertion of the projectile, or conversely, removal of a spent cartridge at the discretion of the operator. Counter rotational pivotal movement allows the locking pin to reengage the assemblies in locked coaxial union and in a position suitable for expelling the projectile upon actuation of the firing mechanism. With reference then to the above description, the objectives will now be enumerated.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a light-weight projectile launcher, suitable for hand launching deformable projectiles, and adapted to be readily carried on the body of the operator without impairing his mobility.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stun baton useful as both a night stick, and as a projectile launcher.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a stun baton optimal deformable minimum-lethality projectile launcher.

A further object of this invention is to provide a unique safety device for a stun baton launcher.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the handle portion of FIG. 1 viewed in the direction indicated by an arrow referenced by the numeral 2 therewith;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 as viewed from the handle end;

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged sectional elevation of the split collar ring and release pin mechanism taken substantially along the lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the split collar ring of FIG. 4 indicating the open position of the receiver; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment embodying a handle extension suitable for shoulder firing the projectile launching baton.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a projectile launcher baton is generally indicated at 10, and shown to include a barrel assembly 12 and a handle assembly 14. The barrel assembly 12 is comprised of a tubular shaped barrel 16 preferably constructed and machined from a light-weight metal, such as aluminum.

The rearward end of the barrel 16 is adapted to serve as the receiver for a projectile cartridge (not shown) by means of a counterbore 18, which forms an internal shoulder 24. The counterbore 18 extends forwardly a short distance therewithin the barrel 16, and of a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the projectile cartridge, for purposes of accomplishing a sliding fit therewithin. A second enlarged counterbore 20 is disposed at the rearward face of the barrel 16 and extends inwardly a distance generally to mate the slightly enlarged radially extending flange of the projectile cartridge as is conventional in the art. The second enlarged counterbore 20 forms an inward radial shoulder 22 which is adapted to engage and seat the forward corresponding face of the enlarged radial flange of the projectile cartridge. Completing the description of the inward portion of the barrel 16, rifle grooves 25 are disposed a substantial distance inwardly from the forward end of the barrel 16 and terminate rearwardly a relatively short distance from the forward shoulder 24 of the counterbore 18. The function of the rifle grooves 25 is to impart a gyroscopic rotation to the projectile for the purpose of effecting centrifugal expansion of the deformable portion of the projectile thereto, upon exit from the barrel 16.

A rectangularly shaped radially extending groove 26 is disposed in the rearward outer periphery of the barrel 16 slightly forward of the receiver end, and defines a forward radial shoulder 28. The radial shoulder 28 is further projected outwardly by the rearward radial face 30 of a plastic covering 32 therearound the barrel 16. The plastic covering 32 is preferably press fitted to the barrel and is slightly tapered forwardly inward from the rearward radial face 30 to the forward end of the barrel 16. The plastic covering 32, preferably constructed of an acetal resin such as DELRIN (a product of DuPont), functions to provide sufficient mass to the launcher, so as to reduce the amount of recoil to a comfortable level for the operator.

With reference now to FIG. 4, an axial blind bore 34 is disposed in the radial face 30 of the plastic covering 32 at the receiver end thereof. A radially extending bore 36, of somewhat less diameter, communicates the axial bore 34 at approximately its axial midpoint, and has its radial centerline offset from the centerline of the axial bore 34. A cylindrical locking pin 38 having a generally hemispherical rearward end 40, a flat faced forward end 42, and an intermediary portion of reduced diameter 44 is disposed in the axial bore 34, and biased by means of a spring 46. The locking pin 38 is retained in the axial bore 34 by means of a retaining pin 48 press fitted in the radial bore 36. The retaining pin 48 is adapted to restrict the forward and rearward axial movement of the locking pin 38 by engaging the respective forward and rearward shoulders formed by the reduced diameter intermediary portion 44.

The handle assembly 14 is comprised of a tubular shaped handle 50 having a radially extending flange 52 and a coaxial blind bore 54 disposed at one end, and a threaded blind bore 56 disposed at the opposite end. The axial surface 59 of the flange 52 is threaded and a plastic coating 58, again from a material such as DELRIN, extends from the radial edge of the flange 52 rearwardly to the rear end of the handle assembly 14. The outer radial surface of the plastic coating 58 is preferably provided with a knurled finish for enhancing the hand grip of the operator.

As best observed in FIG. 2, an axially extending slot 60 radially communicates the blind bore 54 with the outer peripheral surface of the handle assembly 14. At the rearward end of the slot 60, a generally circular transverse notch 62 is provided for a purpose which will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

A cylindrical plunger member 64 is slidably disposed in the forward blind bore 54 of the handle 50 and is adapted for detonating the primer of the projectile cartridge. A firing pin 66 coaxially projects from the forward end of the plunger member 64, and a blind bore 65 extends forwardly from its rearward end. A spring 68 is disposed in the blind bore 65 and communicates the rearward end of the blind bore 54 within the handle 50 and adapted to energize the plunger member 64.

The plunger member is operated by an enlarged headed cap screw 70, the head of which is utilized as an operating knob. The cap screw 70 is adapted to be threaded into a transverse bore 72 in the plunger member 64, and extends radially upwardly through the slot 60. The enlarged head of the cap screw 70 is preferably knurled as indicated in FIG. 1 to provide an enhanced gripping surface and is adapted to be extended beyond the radial outer periphery of the handle assembly 14.

The forward end of the handle assembly 14 is threaded into a blind bore 74 of a breech member 76. The breech member 76 is generally ring shaped and has a forwardly extending radial flange portion 78 of a diameter coincident with the outer diameter of the barrel 16. An aperture 80 is provided coaxial of the radial center of the breech member 76 and communicates the forward face of the threaded counterbore 78 by means of a radial tapered aperture 81. The diameter of the aperture 80 is preferably slightly less than the diameter of the primer of the projectile cartridge. The purpose of decreasing the diameter of the aperture 80, with respect to the primer, is to prevent "blow back" from the primer from lodging in the aperture 80 and impairing the launching function of the baton 10.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 6, the baton is adapted for either hand or shoulder firing by means of an interchangeable pair of handle extension members. In FIG. 1, a hand firing handle extension embodiment is illustrated as being a generally tubular shaped member 82 of relatively short length. A threaded projection 84 is provided from the forward face of the extension member 82 and adapted to engage the threaded blind bore 56 of the handle assembly 14. A strap 86, or the like, engages a transverse bore 88 disposed inwardly from the rear face of the member 82 for the purpose of swinging the baton 10, as one would be inclined to swing a night stick.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, an elongated tubular extension 90 is depicted for shoulder firing. The elongated extension is adapted to cooperate with the handle assembly 14 in a manner similar to that described for the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. An enlarged flange 92 is provided at the rearward end of the elongated extension 90 to better distribute the recoil loading to the shoulder area of the operator during the firing sequence as will later be described.

A radially shaped safety clip member 94 is disposed around the outer periphery of the handle assembly at its forward end to provide a safety means to prevent inadvertent firing of the projectile. As indicated in FIG. 2, the clip 94 is adapted to be rotated so as not to impair or block the passage of the operating knob 70 from traversing the slot 60 during firing operation, but is normally rotated to block such traversal during transit. Thus in its transit position the operating knob 70 and correspondingly the firing pin 66, is prevented from assuming a contacted position with the primer. As a further safety aid, a recoil protector 96 is disposed rearwardly of the notched portion 62 of the slot 60, to prevent the operating knob 70 from injuring the hand of the operator.

The barrel assembly 12 is connected to the handle assembly 14 by means of a split collar ring 98. The split collar ring is comprised of a hinged half-ring 100 and a pinned half-ring 102. As best observed in FIG. 4, a double hinge is formed for pivotable movement of the halves, by a rectangular slot formed in the hinged half-ring and communicated by a conforming rectangular tongue in the pinned half-ring. The conforming slot and tongue are connected by means of a dowel pin 123 inserted into an axial bore 122 with the dowel pin 123 being press fitted into the hinged half-ring 100 and slide fitted into the pinned half-ring 102. Thus when the receiver end of the barrel assembly 12 and the breech end of the handle assembly 14 is attached to the split collar ring 98, the assemblies are rotatable on the dowel pin 123 which allows loading and unloading.

With reference now to FIG. 5, the union of the assemblies will now be described. A rectangular shaped radial groove 104 is provided in the inward surface to the split collar ring 98 and defines inward shoulders 106 and 108. The groove 104 is adapted to receive the rearward radial portion of the barrel 16 and the extending radial flange 78 of the breech 76 respectively, while the inward radial portion of the split collar ring 98 is adapted to engage the radial groove 26 disposed at the rearward end of the barrel assembly 12.

The pinned half-ring is suitably connected to the barrel assembly 12 as by means of cap screws 126 disposed in appropriate transverse bores 124 communicating corresponding threaded bores in the barrel 16, as indicated in FIG. 1. Conversely, the hinged half-ring 100 is correspondingly connected to the handle assembly 14 in a similar manner. Preferably the bores 124 are countersunk so that the enlarged head of the cap screw is inwardly projected so as not to impair the profile of baton 10.

A suitable axial bore 111 is disposed through the split collar ring 98 and appropriately aligned to correspond with the axial blind bore 34 disposed in the barrel assembly 12. A release pin 109 having an enlarged head 110 and an intermediary reduced diameter portion 114 is disposed in the axial bore 111 and secured by a pin 118 press fitted into a transverse communicating bore 116 in a manner similar to that described for the locking pin 38. The rearward face 113 of the enlarged head is knurled for enhanced operation of the release pin 109. As is now apparent a forward movement of the release pin 109 forces the locking pin 38 forwardly against the bias of spring 46 and allows the handle assembly to be pivotably rotated about the dowel pin 123. Conversely, release of the release pin 109 moves the locking pin rearwardly into virtual locking contact therewithin the bore 111.

The operation of the projectile launcher baton 10 will now be described starting from the orientation of the split collar ring 98 being in the open position. In this position it will be noted that a capability exists for inserting a projectile cartridge into the receiver end of the barrel 16. After the receiver is loaded, the handle assembly 14 is pivotally rotated in relation to the barrel assembly 12 by means of the split collar ring 98 and the dowel pin 123.

In the closed position it will be noted that a chamber housing is formed around the projectile comprised of the receiver end of the barrel 16 and the breech member 76 of the handle assembly 14. Further, the various corresponding ridges and grooves previously described are respectively engaged therein. The locking pin 38 is now aligned with the locking pin bore 111 and pressed against the release pin 110, by the bias of spring 46, to lock the receiver and breech 76, while simultaneously aligning the primer cap with the firing pin hole 80. The safety ring 94 is then rotated to a position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, which allows the operating knob 70 to freely pass through the safety ring clip 94. To fire the baton 10, the operating knob is transversely unseated from the notch 62 which permits the plunger 64 to be driven forward under influence of the spring 68. The firing pin 66 then strikes the primer which beings the projectile launch sequence. After the projectile is launched, the safety ring 94 is then rotated to assume the safe position. The release pin 109 is pressed forward which moves the locking pin 38 rearwardly until the release pin 109 and locking pin 38 are in such a position so as to allow the handle assembly 14 and the barrel assembly 12 to pivot on the dowel pin 123. When the assemblies are completely pivoted, the "spent" cartridge is removed from the receiver.

While it will be apparent that the embodiments illustrated herein are calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A projectile launcher baton which comprises:

a split collar ring including first and second members pivotably connected at one end and forming laterally opposite sides thereof, said ring having a circumferentially extending groove formed in an inner peripheral surface; a barrel having a cartridge receiver portion disposed at one end and connected to one of said members; said barrel including a complementary surface located in said groove; a handle assembly having a breech disposed at one end and connected to the other of said members; said assembly also including a complementary surface located in said groove; and actuating means adapted for detonating a primer of a cartridge disposed in said receiver portion.

2. The projectile launcher baton as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises: first means for locking said split collar ring member in a closed position wherein an opposite end of said members are in abutting relationship; and second means for releasing said first locking means.

3. The projectile launcher baton as set forth in claim 2, wherein first means for locking said split collar ring includes a locking pin slidably located in said barrel, and including spring means for biasing said pin to an outer position relative to said barrel.

4. The projectile launcher baton, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the other of said members includes a bore, and wherein said locking pin is releasably engageable in said bore to retain said ring in the closed position.

5. The projectile launcher baton, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said second means, for releasing said first locking means, includes a releasing pin slidably engaged in said bore.

6. The projectile launcher baton, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said split collar ring is pivotably connected by an interlocking double hinge formed between adjacent ends of said first and second members.

7. The projectile launcher baton, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said barrel and handle assembly each include a flange located in said groove of said ring, and each includes a circumferentially formed recess for cooperatively receiving the inner spaced sections of said ring on opposite sides of said groove.

8. The projectile launcher baton, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuating means, includes a plunger slidably located in said handle assembly and spring means for biasing said plunger toward said breech.

9. The launcher as recited in claim 1 wherein said barrel includes a circumferentially extending groove spaced axially inward from one end thereof, and adapted to cooperatively receive an inner peripheral section of said ring located proximate to said groove.

10. The launcher as recited in claim 5 wherein said releasing pin is also biased by said spring means.