Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Designated organic active ingredient containing – Radical -xh acid – or anhydride – acid halide or salt thereof...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-02
2001-06-05
Weddington, Kevin E. (Department: 1614)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Designated organic active ingredient containing
Radical -xh acid, or anhydride, acid halide or salt thereof...
C514S957000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06242489
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to malodorant compositions, weapon systems employing malodorant compositions, and related methods of use.
BACKGROUND
Non-lethal weapon systems represent important force alternatives for law enforcement and strategic defense purposes, and have been investigated for use in a variety of settings. Non-limiting examples of non-lethal weapons that have been developed, or are under development, include tear gases, impact weapons, kinetic energy rounds, flash grenades, acoustic guns, sticky foams, snare nets, stun guns, strobe lights, and other diversionary devices.
In order to ensure the most desirable outcomes in managing low-level conflict, it is desired that numerous choices of non-lethal weapon systems be available along a force continuum, such that a non-lethal weapon suitable for a particular application may be selected based upon the nature of the situation, and on the level of provocation and threat.
Malodorant compositions can be useful as non-lethal weapons or components of non-lethal weapons based on their ability to elicit potent psychological and physiological responses. Without desiring to be bound by theory, it is believed that there are two primary neural components involved in odor detection. One is controlled by the olfactory nerves and is responsible for odor perception and recognition. Olfactory performance is a function of the molecular structure of the odorant, the configuration of odor reception sites within the individual, signal generation at these odor reception sites, and the relative concentration of the odorant. The second odor perception system is controlled by the trigeminal nerve and serves primarily as a warning system against substances that could be potentially harmful.
A variety of responses may be observed upon exposure to malodorant compositions which are believed to stimulate the olfactory and/or trigeminal nerves. These responses may range from immediate nausea, gagging and/or vomiting, to various levels of discomfort. The use of obnoxious olfactory stimuli to control and/or modify human behavior in this way is an attractive concept for modern warfare and low-level conflict management. However, so far as is known, heretofore malodorant compositions have been too toxic for use when seeking to incapacitate and/or disperse an individual, or group of individuals, without causing severe physiological trauma to the body and/or without severely damaging the surrounding environment.
Thus, a need exists for malodorant compositions and alternative, non-lethal weapon systems employing such malodorant compositions to achieve, e.g., behavior modification and/or control, without killing or permanently physically damaging those subject to the physiological effects of the compositions. A need also exists for malodorant compositions which are substantially benign to the surrounding environment. A need further exists for efficient containment vessels and weapon systems which may effectively deliver such malodorant compositions to a target.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is deemed to satisfy these and other needs in a highly efficient and effective way. In particular, the malodorant compositions provided by this invention provide an adjutant which meets many of the needs of military forces, law enforcement and security forces in a variety of non-lethal applications, such as crowd/riot control, hostage negotiation, area denial, and other similar situations. The malodorant compositions of this invention may be used as the sole means for a given non-lethal application, or may be employed in combination with other situational tools. The malodorant compositions of this invention offer attractive force alternatives to many conventional weapons systems by providing effective non-lethal options that are substantially less-toxic to both the individual and to the environment as compared with previously known compositions, and that are useful in a variety of settings.
The malodorant compositions of this invention are formulated and delivered under conditions effective to subdue or disperse an individual or group of individuals, while minimizing adverse physiological risk to the individual. The effects typically achieved by use of the malodorant compositions of this invention may include marked nausea, discomfort, and, in some cases, somnolence. In addition, because of their negligible environmental toxicities, the compositions generally do not require post-application environmental decontamination. Thus, the malodorant compositions of this invention are deemed of substantial value to military and civilian agencies whose mission is to stop and/or dissuade riotous or potentially riotous crowds without inflicting lethal force upon the individuals concerned.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a malodorant composition is provided which is comprised of (i.e., formed from ingredients comprising) at least one malodorant compound and a carrier liquid, these components being further defined hereinafter, wherein the composition so formed has a toxicity category rating of at least III. As used in this specification, including the appended claims, “toxicity category rating” means each of dermal irritation, inhalation, dermal sensitization, and eye irritation toxicity category ratings as determined under Proposed Rule, 49 Federal Register 188, in which ratings range from I to IV and None, with I being the most toxic and None being the least. Thus, for example, a composition of this invention has a toxicity category rating of at least III if each of the aforementioned ratings determined in accordance with 49
Federal Register
188 is III or higher. The malodorant compound is generally dissolved, diluted or otherwise dispersed in the carrier liquid to form the malodorant composition. Preferably, the composition further comprises at least one odor intensifier, which may be similarly dissolved, diluted or otherwise dispersed in the carrier liquid along with the malodorant compound(s). It may be desired in some instances to include additional components in the malodorant composition, depending on its intended use. These may include, for example, preservatives, marking dyes, ballistic enhancers, anti-foaming agents, anti-static agents, sticking agents, etc.
In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, the malodorant compositions of the present invention may be packaged or otherwise contained in a vessel to allow them to be directed or delivered to an intended target area using any one of a multitude of delivery techniques. Thus, the present invention also provides a device which comprises a containment vessel for storing a liquid material, and within the vessel a liquid material comprised of a malodorant composition formed from ingredients comprising (i) at least one malodorant compound and (ii) a carrier liquid, wherein the malodorant composition so formed has a toxicity category rating of at least III. The containment vessel may be comprised of a “paint ball”, grenade, non-lethal land mine, spray bottle, rubber bullet, a modified shotgun shell, or other like vessel. In one preferred embodiment, the containment vessel is a “paint ball” or other non-lethal projectile housing the malodorant composition. Use of such containment vessels enables the malodorant compositions to be beneficially used in a wide range of settings where non-lethal force can be employed to achieve control over the adverse activities of others. For example, the malodorant compositions of the present invention may be used in the peaceful dispersion of unruly crowds, the control of unruly crowd movement, the temporary partial disabling of an unruly individual that is already contained, as an adjutant to hostage negotiation, as an area denial device, as a behavior modifying device, and in other like circumstances.
In yet another aspect of this invention, a method is provided for effecting discomfort in one or more individuals in order to modify the behavior of the individual(s). The method comprises exposing the individual(s) to a malodorant c
Ecological Technologies Corporation
Sieberth & Patty L.L.C.
Weddington Kevin E.
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