Firearms – For discharging a stunning agent
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-17
2003-12-09
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Firearms
For discharging a stunning agent
C222S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06658779
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a less than lethal weapons system, and particularly to the use of forward firing incapacitants with firearms.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
As crime becomes increasingly violent, with more assailants carrying guns, knives and other potentially lethal weapons, there is a growing necessity for law enforcers to be armed with sufficient weaponry to be able to deal with violent incidents. In many countries police officers already carry guns as a matter of course. In this country some special units of the police force also carry guns.
Although an officer may carry a gun, he may only use reasonable force. Reasonable force does not always include shooting the assailant. Further more, in the case where an officer points a gun at an assailant, and threatens to shoot he only has threes option, those being to shoot to kill, shoot to injure, or to retreat. If he cannot do any of these he is faced with the prospect of carrying a live weapon, securable only with a safety catch, which he cannot use. In such case, an armed officer is disadvantaged because he cannot allow the assailant to take possession of the gun, but he cannot use it, so he is faced with the prospect of wrestling with the assailant whilst carrying a live weapon, possession of which he must retain.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an armed officer with the option of controlling the assailant in a less than lethal manner, such as by incapacitating the assailant.
Situations arise in other areas of law enforcement, such as peace keeping, where it is necessary for personnel to carry weapons, but where it is not always desirable to shoot an assailant. In such situations it would often be desirable for the officer to have a less than lethal option such as incapacitating an assailant.
Incapacitants such as CS, CR, CN, OC gas, and other similar products are know, and are used for policing and military purposes in some countries. These products are often used in riot control, but are also used by individual officers to incapacitate individual assailants or small groups thereof. When incapacitants are used in this manner, they are contained in small aerosol canisters which can be attached to a belt or an item of clothing. When the officer need to use the incapacitant, he simply takes hold of the aerosol and sprays the incapacitant in the direction of the assailant. This type of equipment works well for the unarmed officer. However, for the armed officer and in particular the armed officer who has already drawn his weapon, using such an aerosol presents problems.
In order to use the aerosol, the armed office must make safe and put down his gun. Then he must take the aerosol from its holder. This procedure necessitates that the officer either retreat from the assailant to allow himself time to put down his weapon and take hold of the aerosol, or put down his weapon and take hold of the aerosol in close proximity to the assailant. Both of these options present problems. The first provides the assailant with an opportunity to escape, whilst the second provides him with an opportunity to attack the officer.
It would therefore be desirable to provide the officer with a means of firing an incapacitant at an assailant without having to put down his weapon. Such a device is provided by the invention.
It would also be desirable to provide a device which can be used at night. One embodiment of the invention provides such a device.
It would be advantageous to provide a device adaptable to the conditions in which it is to be used. An embodiment of the invention provides such a device.
Incapacitants are commonly available in aerosol canisters, the dimensions of which vary. It would be desirable to be able to use canisters of different dimensions.
One weapon for discharging a bullet and a liquid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,299,076 in the name of Wasylowich. The purpose of the Wasylowich weapon is to spray a mist towards the enemy in the path of a bullet fired from the weapon, the mist generated obscuring from the enemy the weapon and solider using it. The firing of a liquid is not an alternative to firing a bullet, rather it is to conceal the firing of the bullet. To release the mist, the soldier must grasp a handle with one of his hands, and push forwards.
Another weapon for discharging a bullet and a liquid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,269,922 in the name of Gadecki. This weapon provides the user thereof with the options of delivering a bullet, or a blinding liquid. The liquid container is mounted under the barrel on the fore-end of the weapon. The liquid is released by firing off a spring loaded handle element which slides in a slot. The handle element is difficult to operate, apparently requiring the hand operating the bullet releasing trigger to be moved off that trigger, and forwardly to the vicinity of the handle, and then to push forwardly on the handle to release the blinding fluid. This has two disadvantages. First, the assailant is able to see which resource the marksman is to use, and second the time taken to move the trigger hand forward and re-position the other hand to support the gun, provides an assailant with an opportunity to attack the user of the weapon.
Another weapon for discharging a bullet and a liquid is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,559 in the name of Ludaesher et al. The weapon described includes a source of incapacitant fluid in the form of an aerosol canister mounted below the fore-end of a pistol. A plunger button for releasing the incapacitant fluid is provided adjacent the trigger guard. Hence the firing of a bullet or an incapacitant is controlled by the same trigger finger. Whilst Ludaesher provides the option of firing either bullet or liquid incapacitant, once the operator has decided which option to use, he is committed to that option for a period of time. Furthermore, the action of pushing forwards with the trigger finger to release the incapacitant spray is an unnatural one, thereby making use of the weapon difficult. The action of pushing a trigger forwards may in fact unbalance the weapon.
All of the prior art devices result in an unnatural firing action by the operator. In each of them, the operator is required to push the fluid release trigger, which in the operation of firearms is not a natural action. Further, some of the prior art devices are difficult to handle, requiring the operator to re-position his hands prior to firing the liquid. Additionally, the prior art devices fail to provide for the simultaneous firing of incapacitant liquid or a bullet.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a less than lethal weapons system comprising a gun having a barrel through which a projectile may be propelled, and means for selectively ejecting a stream of fluid in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the barrel.
The invention provides a means for selectively ejecting a stream of fluid which means is releasably attachable to a gun.
The means for selectively ejecting a stream of fluid maybe formed as an integral part of the gun.
Preferably, the means for selectively ejecting fluid is aligned with the sights of the gun to which it is attached, so that fluid is ejected towards the point of aim of the gun.
Preferably, the means for selectively ejecting fluid and a fluid supply comprise a pressurized vessel and a valve, which may be in the form of a pressurized canister such as an aerosol canister. The aerosol canister may comprise a bag containing fluid to be ejected, which bag is sealed around a valve and pickup tube, the bag being mounted within a canister and the remaining space being filled with a propellant which acts on the bag to eject fluid out of the tube. Alternatively, the means for selectively ejecting fluid comprises a pump and the fluid supply comprises a reservoir, such as a bag or a tank. The bag or tank may be remote from the means for selectively ejecting fluid.
Preferably, there is provided a nozzle through which fluid is ejected. The nozzle maybe interchangeable or adjustable, and maybe selected or adjusted to
Bauer Eran Nicodemus
Bauer Gerard Miet
Moore Michael Peter
Carone Michael J.
Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Sukman Gabriel S.
LandOfFree
Weapon system comprising a firearm and a non-lethal means... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Weapon system comprising a firearm and a non-lethal means..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Weapon system comprising a firearm and a non-lethal means... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3101800