Non-lethal electrical discharge weapon having a slim profile

Abstract

An electrical discharge weapon configured as a lightweight, slim profile gun-shaped weapon which is less than one inch thick along the cartridge receiving chamber so that it can be readily placed in a police officer's uniform pocket or in a slim-line holster for easy deployment. All of the major internal components, including battery and transformer, are positioned above or behind the trigger aperture so that even with the dart cartridge in the chamber, the weapon's center of gravity is through the hand so that it is balanced and easily aimed at the target. The invention employs a specially configured chamber to receive a unique cartridge with widely separated darts. As a result, the electrodes may be also widely separated so that current will not jump the electrode gap even when the impacted darts leave a substantial gap to a suspect's skin. Thus, the present invention is more likely to be effective against suspect's wearing thick outerwear. The spent cartridge may be expelled by a spring-activated release for quick ejection and rapid reload. A bottom rail permits connection of another non-lethal device such as a mace canister for use as a secondary weapon or the attachment of tactical lighting or laser aiming devices. A push-on/push-off trigger switch is combined with a mechanical safety device to assure weapon effectiveness and safety for the police officer. Quick disconnect battery clip allows for rapid battery replacement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of non-lethal electrical discharge weapons for subduing a remote target using a pair of propelled wire-tethered darts. The invention relates more specifically to a slim profile electrical discharge hand gun configured for more convenient deployment from a pocket or holster by a police officer and for better balance in a police officer's hand which promotes increased accuracy. [0003] 2. Background Art [0004] Non-lethal electrical discharge hand guns which are also referred to as stun guns, have over the past twenty-five years or so, become an immobilization weapon of choice for many police agencies and other law enforcement bodies. Such weapons impart a temporarily debilitating electrical charge immobilizing a suspect, but without causing permanent injury or harm. They give a law enforcement officer sufficient time to handcuff or otherwise subdue and secure a suspe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention is an electrical discharge weapon having the aforementioned attributes. The preferred embodiment disclosed herein is configured as a lightweight, slim profile gun-shaped weapon which is less than one inch thick along the cartridge receiving chamber so that it can be readily placed in a police officer's uniform pocket or in a slim-line holster for easy deployment. All of the major internal components, including battery and transformer, are positioned above or behind the trigger aperture so that even with the dart cartridge in the chamber, the weapon's center of gravity is through the hand so that it is balanced and easily aimed at the target. The invention employs a specially configured chamber to receive a unique cartridge with widely separated darts. As a result, the electrodes may be also widely separated so that current will not jump the electrode gap even when the impacted darts leave a substantial gap to a suspect's skin. Thus, the present invention is more likely to be effective against suspect's wearing thick outerwear. The spent cartridge may be expelled by a spring-activated release for quick ejection and rapid reload. A bottom rail permits connection of another non-lethal device such as a mace canister for use as a secondary weapon or the attachment of tactical lighting or laser aiming devices. A push-on / push-off trigger switch is combined with a mechanical safety device to assure weapon effectiveness and safety for the police officer. Quick disconnect battery clip allows for rapid battery replacement.

Problems solved by technology

More specifically, one will readily observe that the weapon is relatively big and bulky and therefore requires an especially large holster to carry the weapon when it is not deployed.

Police officers already carry a significant number of heavy and bulky items on their person.

The addition of a relatively large electrical discharge weapon adds significantly to their burden and is inconvenient at best and often an impractical impediment to an officer's mobility.

The large size and bulkiness of an electrical discharge weapon often results in their being left in a patrol car or their being treated as equipment for use only by special request which limits their access and often results in delay in deploying them to an officer who needs one in an emergency situation.

If one or both darts fail to reach the suspect, or hit the target at an extremity instead of the torso, the weapon will be ineffective and may leave the officer with no choice but to deploy his or her lethal weapon at a now irritated and close suspect.

Unfortunately, a large, heavy and bulky electrical discharge weapon, particularly one which is not well-balanced, but is heavily front-loaded, is difficult to aim and fire accurately at a target up to 15 or 20 feet from the officer, particularly if the suspect is agitated and uncooperative as is often the case in circumstances where an electrical discharge weapon is to be used.

Moreover, if the suspect is wearing thick outerwear such as a bulky down jacket or heavy sweater, the gap between each dart and the suspect's body surface may be too large to permit a spark to jump across the gap to complete an electrical circuit between the darts.

This problem is especially likely to occur when the distance between the electrodes at the fired gun is less than the gap between either dart and the suspect's skin.

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