Method and apparatus for increasing the effectiveness of electrical discharge weapons

Abstract

A cartridge for propelling a pair of wire-tethered contact darts for disabling a remote target with an electrical discharge. The cartridge comprises two bores each having one wire-tethered dart in front of an electrically activated pyrotechnic. In order to avoid creating short arcing gaps after ignition of the pyrotechnics, the pyrotechnics are connected in electrical parallel with the wire-tethered darts so that current passing through the target does not have to arc across gaps left by the pyrotechnics. Two embodiments are presented, one in which the pyrotechnics are in series with the other and one in which they are in parallel relation to each other.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of electrical discharge weapons and specifically to a method and apparatus for improving their effectiveness. [0003] 2. Background Art [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,463 issued to Cover in 1974 for a Weapon for Immobilization And Capture. Subsequent, thereto, numerous other patents have issued for electronic stun pistols, rifles, air guns and spring guns. Like the inventions claimed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,463 patent, these weapons connect a high tension and low amperage, shocking, power supply through a remote human target by means of projectiles and trailing wires. The high tension supply, typically, operates at 50 KV. Human targets can be disabled with shocks at much lower voltages. However, at 50 KV tension, currents will arc through an atmospheric bench gap of approximately one and one half inches. Such an arc is often needed to conduct the power supply's disa...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

If the electronic stun pistols are not long enough to penetrate a violent suspect's garments, including winter clothing, the suspect will not be shocked and stunned, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the suspect, peace officers and / or innocent bystanders.

While this exacerbates problems of arc penetration for all of the heretofore described weapons, it becomes particularly critical with the already more limited target arcs from stun pistols with clip-on ammunition.

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