U.S. patent number 3,707,793 [Application Number 05/075,534] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-02 for tear gas fire arm means.
Invention is credited to Samuel Pearce Holton, II.
United States Patent |
3,707,793 |
Holton, II |
January 2, 1973 |
TEAR GAS FIRE ARM MEANS
Abstract
A hand gun and cartridges therefor, each cartridge being
provided with a charge of tear gas or other toxic substance. The
gun is generally of elongate compact configuration and is provided
with a breech section defining a chamber for receiving tear gas
cartridges. The gun includes an elongate stock portion of a size
adapted for gripping in the palm of the hand of a user and thumb
operative plunger means for selectively discharging a cartridge
chambered in the breech section of the gun, and includes a sliding
shield member translationally adjustable between positions covering
and uncovering the breech chamber.
Inventors: |
Holton, II; Samuel Pearce
(South Miami, FL) |
Family
ID: |
22126390 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/075,534 |
Filed: |
September 25, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/1.08; 42/1.15;
42/1.09 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C
9/02 (20130101); F41H 9/10 (20130101); F41C
3/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41C
3/00 (20060101); F41C 9/02 (20060101); F41H
9/10 (20060101); F41H 9/00 (20060101); F41C
9/00 (20060101); F41c 003/00 (); F41c 009/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;42/1G,1H,1Z,1J,1L,10 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Borchelt; Benjamin A.
Assistant Examiner: Jordan; C. T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Tear gas disseminating fire arm means for self-defense use
comprising a tear gas cartridge including a casing, a loading of
toxic substance contained in the casing, a charge of explosive
propellent material, and percussion primer and propellant means for
discharging the toxic substance from the cartridge casing; a hand
gun for selectively discharging the cartridge and directionally
projecting a discharge blast of the toxic substance, said gun being
of elongate form and having forward and rearward ends and front and
back sides, and including a body having breech, muzzle and stock
sections arranged generally coaxially, with said breech section
defining an elongate chamber transversely U-shaped, opening to the
front side of said gun body and adapted for receiving a cartridge
in movement laterally of the axis of the breech chamber, said fire
arm means including nozzle defining a blast opening communicating
with the breech chamber for projecting the toxic substance, a
shield member, finger-manipulative and operative selectively for
covering and uncovering the breech chamber, a plunger having a tip
portion, means guidingly constraining said plunger in the stock
section of said gun body in a disposition permitting axial movement
between a retracted disposition with the plunger tip distant from
the cartridge primer, to an extended disposition engaging the tip
with the primer, spring means forcibly urging said plunger to an
extended position, and knob means connected with said plunger for
retracting and releasing the plunger.
2. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 1 which includes
plunger lock means selectively operative for releasably fixing said
plunger in a partially retracted configuration.
3. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said
knob means includes a knob portion and a shank portion connecting
the knob portion with said plunger, wherein the front side of the
gun body stock section is provided with slot structure guidingly
receiving the shank portion of said knob means, including a main
longitudinal slot guidingly constraining the knob means during
retracting and releasing the plunger, and wherein said plunger lock
means includes a lock notch laterally intersecting said main slot
for removably receiving the shank portion of said knob means in
releasably fixing said plunger in the partially retracted
configuration.
4. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 3 including a lug
protruding slightly from the interspacial lateral boundary of the
blast opening of said muzzle section.
5. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
blast opening is transversely U-shaped and arranged in
corresponding alignment with the U-shaped breech chamber, wherein
said shield member is sleeve-like and configured for sliding
shifting fit on the muzzle section of said gun body, and adapted to
be axially manipulated between retracted active configuration
covering the breech chamber, and an extended inactive configuration
uncovering the breech chamber.
6. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 5 including detent
means operative between said shield member and muzzle section for
releasably holding said shield member in an active configuration
covering the breech chamber.
7. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 6 wherein said
shield member includes an annular main portion circumferentially
arranged about said body muzzle section and wherein said detent
means includes a resilient tongue portion extending rearwardly from
said main portion of said shield member, and includes mating tit
and dimple surfaces formed respectively on said tongue and breech
portions, adapted for detent-mating engagement when said shield
member is in a retracted active configuration covering the chamber
of said breech section.
8. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 7 wherein said
shield member is provided with a pair of slot openings intersecting
the rearward edge of the shield member and with the parent material
of the shield member, between the pair of slots, being of resilient
plastic character and forming the resilient tongue means of said
detent means.
9. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 8 wherein said
pair of slot openings formed in said shield member, in addition to
providing spring tongue means for said detent means, also provide
weakened areas in the circumferential structure of said shield
member, permitting disuniting of the shield member at the weakened
areas upon the discharge of an explosive force in said breech
chamber exceeding a certain magnitude.
10. Tear gas fire arm means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
gun is configured for simultaneously chambering two tear gas
cartridges, and includes means independently operative for
selectively discharging the cartridges, wherein said gun includes
dual breech chambers, nozzle openings, plungers and knob means, and
wherein said shield member is configured for simultaneously
covering or uncovering the dual breech chambers upon selective
axial manipulation of the shield member between active and inactive
configuration.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to personal non-lethal fire arm means
generally and particularly relates to small hand gun type fire arm
means adapted for projecting a blast of tear gas substance or the
like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, various hand gun devices have been designed and
marketed for personal use and for projecting a charge of non-lethal
substance such as tear gas. Such devices may be in the form of
aerosol spray canisters with tear gas or other toxic material
contained under pressure with a propellent gas in the canister.
Other types of self-defense fire arm means include a gun adapted
for firing tear gas cartridges or the like. The instant invention
concerns the latter type and particularly is directed toward
improving gun-type personal fire arm means, adapted for firing
non-lethal tear gas cartridges or the like.
A problem of particular import in the design and operation of the
gun-type personal-defense fire arm is in providing a fire arm which
is easy to load and use and which may be operated safely. Certain
prior art non-lethal gun means are of complex design and are
difficult to load or fire during an emergency situation; a user may
fire or discharge the fire arm prematurely and before it is
properly aimed or directed. In the excitement of an encounter with
a robber or the like, a user may find it awkward or difficult to
discharge the fire arm effectively. A problem of particular import
in the design of a gun-type fire arm for firing non-lethal
cartridges, is in guarding the fire arm against unorthodox loading
with a fixed round of ammunition or a projectile type cartridge and
in conforming to Governmental regulations regarding safety
operation of such devices. A problem is in designing a fire arm
which is safe against unorthodox use in firing a regular round of
ammunition while yet designing a fire arm easy to load and fire
non-lethal cartridges, and which is effective in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention obviates many of the above-mentioned
objectional features in prior art design of personal use gun or
cartridge type fire arm means. The non-lethal fire arm means of the
instant invention is of substantially simple compact design; it may
be safely conveniently carried by a user and may be quickly and
easily used in an emergency. The gun device of the invention
includes a thumb-operative plunger for discharging the tear gas
cartridges; a user moves the plunger rearwardly against spring
pressure and releases the plunger in discharging a cartridge. This
operating feature reduces substantially the tendency of a person
prematurely firing the fire arm in an emergency thus increasing its
effectiveness. The non-lethal gun means also includes means
safeguarding against unorthodox loading or firing of a regular
projectile type cartridge. It is of dual chamber form and operative
for simultaneously chambering two cartridges; a user may
selectively fire one or the other of the cartridges. The fire arm
means of the invention is of substantially simple durable design
admitting of economical manufacture and marketing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the personal defense fire arm means
of the instant invention in an in-use configuration;
FIG. 2 is a front face view of the fire arm means, illustrating the
cartridge chamber means of the gun device in an open disposition
and illustrating a cartridge displaced from a cartridge chamber of
the device;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken as on the line 3--3
of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken as on the line 4--4 of
FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 5 is a backside view of the forward portion of the gun device;
and
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken as on the line 6--6
of FIG. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred form of the invention, as shown in the drawings,
includes a dual-chamber hand gun 12 and tear gas cartridge means as
represented by cartridges 14, 14'. The cartridges are of typical
small-bore-cartridge appearance including a casing 16 having a rim
flange 18 and percussion primer and powder means 20, as generally
indicated in cartridge 14. A loading of tear gas or other toxic
substance 22 is contained in the forward section of the casing 16
and is contained therein by thin-wall plug means 24 sealingly
arranged across the open end of the cartridge casing.
The hand gun device 12 primarily includes a generally rectangular
hollow body 26 including breech, nozzle and stock sections
respectively 28, 30, 32 and a sleeve-like shield 34 shiftably
fitted on the breech and muzzle sections 28, 30 of the gun device.
The gun body 26 is configured for selectively chambering and
discharging two cartridges, as represented by cartridges 14, 14'.
The breech section 28 of the body 26 defines dual chambers 36, 36'
for receiving the cartridges 14, 14'; the nozzle section 30 defines
dual blast openings 38, 38' communicating respectively with the
breech chambers 36, 36'; the stock section 32, in addition to
providing hand-grip means for manipulating the gun device, also
provides housing means for operably supporting dual plunger
assemblies 40, 40', operative for selectively discharging the
cartridges chambered in the breech section.
The plunger assemblies 40, 40' include respectively a plunger body
42, 42' defining tip portions 44, 44' adapted for striking and
discharging the cartridges 14, 14', and includes thumb knob
portions 46, 46' supported respectively on the plunger bodies 42,
42' and operative for thumb-manipulating the plunger tip portions
44, 44' in discharging the cartridges. The plunger bodies 42, 42',
of the assemblies 40, 40', preferably are of a form including
respectively a metal core 48, 48' telescopically received in a
hollow plunger rod 50, 50', preferably formed of dense plastic
material.
Referring to FIG. 3, for showing the construction of both the
plunger assemblies 40, 40', the plunger body 42 includes the metal
core 48 mounted in a socket opening 52 of the plastic plunger rod
50. The plunger core 48 preferably is provided with a forward
fluted portion 54 and a smooth cylindrical rearward portion 56. The
core 48 is snugly telescopically received in the socket opening 52
with the fluted portion 54 snugly engaging the cylindrical interior
of the socket opening. The plunger body 42 is guidingly constrained
in an elongate enclosure 58 extending longitudinally in the stock
section 32 of the gun body 26. The plunger body 42 is coaxially
constrained in the stock enclosure 58 with the tip portion 44 of
the plunger core 48 being in coaxial alignment with the primer 20
of a cartridge contained in the chamber 36 of the breech section
28.
Coiled compression springs 66, 66' are housed in the rearward
portions respectively of the enclosures 58, 58' and tensioned
respectively between the plunger rod elements 50, 50' and the butt
wall 62 of the gun body stock section 32. The rearward portions
respectively of the plunger rod elements 50, 50' are of reduced
diameter, defining shoulder portions 68, 68'; the rearward reduced
portions respectively of the plunger rod elements 50, 50' are
concentrically received in the forward portions of the springs 66,
66' and coaxially support respectively the springs and plunger
bodies 42, 42' in the enclosures 58, 58' of the gun body stock
section.
The stock section 32 preferably is of two-part form including a
lower part 70 and an upper part 72 joined together along a plane of
abutment 74. The stock section is of lateral symmetrical form and
the lower part 70, in addition to the butt wall 62, includes a
medial wall 76 extending longitudinally of the stock section and
side walls 78, 78' arranged on opposite sides of the medial wall
76, and a bottom wall 80. The lower part 70 of the stock section
preferably is of integral form; the vertical walls 62, 76, 78, 78'
and the bottom wall 80, preferably are integrally constructed of
plastic material. The lower part 70 of the stock section also
preferably is unitarily formed with the breech and muzzle sections
28, 30. The upper part 72 is rectangular plate form and fixedly
fastened, as by chemical fusing, to the lower part 70 on the plane
of abutment 74.
The thumb knobs 46, 46' respectively of the plunger assemblies 40,
40' preferably are of plastic material construction and integrally
connected with the cylindrical rod portions 50, 50' of the plunger
body structure respectively by shank portions 82, 82'. Slot and
notch openings 84, 86 and 84', 86' are correspondingly formed in
the stock section upper part 72 and receive respectively the shank
portions 82, 82' of the thumb knob elements 46, 46'. The plunger
striker tip portions 44, 44' respectively of the assemblies 40, 40'
are retracted rearwardly in the stock section 32 by thumb-pressing
respectively the knob elements 46, 46' rearwardly and respectively
against the tension of springs 66, 66'. The main slot structure 84,
84' formed of the upper part 72 of the stock section 32 defines
guideway means receiving respectively the thumb knob shank portions
82, 82' in translational shifting movement as the plunger elements
are thumb-retracted against spring pressure and released to
discharge respectively a cartridge chambered in the breech
section.
The notch structure 86, 86' arranged respectively on corresponding
sides of the main slot openings 84, 84' define lock notch means for
maintaining respectively the plunger tip portions 44, 44' in
partially retracted configuration. For example, a user of the gun
device, may arrange the plunger tip 44 in a disposition partially
retracted and spaced from a chambered cartridge by pressing the
thumb knob 46 rearwardly a distance sufficient for turnably
displacing the thumb knob laterally and engaging the shank portion
82 in the lock notch 86. While cartridges 14, 14' are chambered in
the breech section 28, the gun device may be manipulated to a
safety condition by partially retracting the plunger tips 44, 44'
and positioning the shank portions 82, 82' in the lock notch
structure 86, 86'. In using the gun device, a user has only to
shift the shank portion of a respective thumb knob from its lock
notch structure, retract the plunger tip fully rearwardly in the
main slot structure and then release the knob permitting the
plunger tip to strike and discharge the cartridge.
The chambers 36, 36' and the blast openings 38, 38' respectively of
the breech and muzzle sections 28 and 30 preferably are U-shaped
and terminate respectively in a common plane 88 (see FIG. 3). The
integrally formed breech and muzzle sections are generally of
E-configuration in transverse section and defined by a bottom wall
90 and upstanding vertical walls including a medial wall 92 and
opposite side walls 94, 94'. The cartridge chambers in the breech
section include structure defining U-shaped recesses 96, 96'
adapted to receive respectively the rim flange elements 18, 18' of
the cartridges 14, 14'. U-shaped abutment structure 98, 98' also
preferably is provided in the forward portion of the stock section
32 for abuttingly engaging the rim flange portions 18, 18'
respectively of the cartridges. The abutment structure 98, 98' is
adapted for receiving the reaction thrust of a cartridge casing 16
upon discharging the cartridge. The abutment structure 98, 98' may
function also as abutment means for limiting the forward
displacement respectively of the plunger body structure 42, 42'
when a plunger is retracted and released without a cartridge being
chambered in the breech section. The confronting side wall surfaces
100, 100; 100', 100' respectively of the blast openings 38, 38' of
the muzzle section respectively are divergingly configured or
splayed outwardly for causing effective dispersion of a projected
blast of toxic substance of a cartridge.
The shield member 34 preferably is formed of dense slightly
resilient plastic material and configured for a snug but free
shifting fit on the forward portion of the gun body 26. The shield
member 34 preferably includes an annular main portion, generally
rectangular in transverse section, and defined substantially by
upper and lower walls 102, 104 and opposite side walls 106, 106'.
The shield member is adapted to be axially manipulated between a
retracted active configuration covering the breech chambers 36, 36'
(FIG. 1) and an extended inactive configuration uncovering the
breech chamber (FIG. 2). The cartridges 14 and 14' are inserted in
the breech chambers 36, 36' when the shield member 34 is displaced
forwardly to an extended configuration; the shield member 34 is
retracted rearwardly against the stop bead portion 108 of the stock
section when the gun device is in loaded configuration.
The gun device preferably includes detent means operative between
the shield member 34 and the breech section 28 for releasably
holding the shield member in an active configuration covering the
breech chambers. The detent means preferably includes a tongue
portion 110 of the shield member 34 and structure defining tit and
dimple surfaces 112 and 114 formed respectively on the tongue
portion and the gun body breech section. The tit surface 112
projects inwardly on the distal end of the tongue portion 110 and
is adapted to matingly engage the dimple surface 114 formed on the
exterior of the breech section adjacent the stop bead 108 (see
FIGS. 5 and 6). The resilient character of the plastic material of
construction of the shield member tongue 110 permits the tongue to
spring inwardly and outwardly respectively in engaging and
disengaging the tit and dimple surfaces respectively upon axial
manipulation of the shield member between active and inactive
configuration.
An elongate sloping recess 116 also preferably is provided in the
undersurface of the muzzle bottom wall 90, in longitudinal
alignment with the dimple surface 114. The tit surface 112 of the
shield member tongue portion 110 is adapted to be received in the
recess 116 when the shield member is moved forwardly to a
disposition uncovering the cartridge chambers 36, 36'. Upon outward
forward movement of the shield member 34, the engaging of the tit
surface 112 of the tongue portion with the recess 116, provides
means for limiting the outward movement of the shield member and
inadvertent removal of the shield member from the gun body.
However, should it be desired to remove the shield member from the
gun body, a user has only to exert additional forward pressure on
the shield member, disengaging the tongue tit surface 112 from the
sloping recess 116; the shield member may be telescopically fitted
again on the forward portion of the gun body by engaging the tit
surface 112 of the tongue portion with the chamfered leading edge
118 of the muzzle section and moving the shield rearwardly to a
disposition engaging the tit surface with the recess 116.
The tear gas fire arm means also preferably is provided with safety
means for preventing unorthodox firing of a regular bullet or
projectile type cartridge. A pair of lug projections 120, 120'
preferably are integrally formed on the muzzle section 30 of the
gun body; the projections 120, 120' preferably are integrally
formed of the bottom wall 90 of the muzzle section and protrude
respectively in the blast openings 38, 38'. The lug projections
120, 120' function as safety means for preventing unorthodox
loading of a cartridge or insertion of a cartridge in the muzzle of
the gun device. The obstruction lugs 120, 120' also function for
preventing loading of a bullet-type cartridge in the chambers 36,
36'. Upon attempting to chamber a bullet-type cartridge, the lug
projections 120, 120' abuttingly engage the bullet end of the
cartridge preventing unorthodox chambering of such a cartridge.
The gun device also preferably includes additional safeguard means
operative in the remote possibility that a projectile type
cartridge would be fired in the chambers 36, 36'. The gun is
designed so that if in some unforeseen manner, a regular round of
amunition is chambered and fired in the gun, that such an
occurrence may not cause critical injury to a user of the gun or to
another person. This safety feature is facilitated by constructing
the shield member 34 so that it will fracture or disunite upon the
firing of a regular projectile type cartridge. The backside of the
annular shield member 34 preferably is provided with a pair of slot
openings 122, 122' intersecting the rearward edge 124 of the shield
member. The slot openings 122, 122', in addition to defining the
resilient tongue portion 110 of the detent means of the shield
member, also provide means for weakening the shield member
respectively along longitudinal axes generally indicated X and X'.
If in some unforeseen manner a projectile type cartridge should be
chambered and fired, the shield member is designed to separate or
disunite, particularly at the weakened areas X and X'. Such action
prevents buildup of an explosive force in a chamber 36 or 36'
sufficient for obtaining velocity of a projectile through the
muzzle of the gun and permits dissipation of the explosive force
through disruption of the shield member.
In using the fire arm means of the invention, a user inserts the
cartridges in the chambers 36, 36', retracts the shield member to a
closed configuration and manipulates the plunger elements to
partially retracted safety locked disposition as shown in FIG. 1.
To discharge the gun device, a user grasps the stock portion in the
palm of his hand and with his thumb retracts and releases a
selected one of the plungers, discharging a respective cartridge
and projecting the tear gas or toxic substance through the muzzle
section of the gun device.
While the instant invention is shown and described in a preferred
embodiment, it is recognized that various changes and modification
may be made in the embodiment shown without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *