Less-lethal projectile

Abstract

This invention relates to a projectile for a less-lethal launcher. According the invention there is provided a projectile for a less-lethal launcher comprising a body with a spherical front end, the body being tapered towards a cylindrical rear end of the projectile; and two or more wings arranged relative to the rear end, wherein the wings are each framed around an open interior portion so as to allow passage of air through the wings, with the two or more wings collectively forming an interrupted circular shaped wing surrounding the rear end of the projectile.

Description

[0001] LESS-LETHAL PROJECTILE

[0002] This invention relates to a projectile for a less-lethal launcher, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an aerodynamic payload carrying projectile presenting increased accuracy over existing similar projectiles.

[0003] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0004] Projectiles for less-lethal launchers, designed to temporarily incapacitate assailants in self-defence during an attack, are well known in the art. These include spherical projectiles, as well as projectiles with shaped tail-ends to improve aerodynamics and accuracy of the projectiles. Projectiles are typically loaded with a substance such as an incapacitating lachrymatory agent or chemical irritants. These substances include CS-gas, pepper gas, other chemical irritants or combinations of chemical irritants, with these projectiles being fired towards a target and disintegrating on impact, which releases a cloud of the inner lachrymatory agent and / or chemical irritants in the vicinity of the area where the projectile disintegrated. This causes severe discomfort for any person exposed to the substance, and is intended to provide the person firing the projectile with an opportunity to escape a dangerous situation and / or seek help. Law enforcement agencies also utilise these agents to incapacitate suspects, in order to detain or arrest the suspects.

[0005] Known projectiles with aerodynamic appendages are available in the market, but present difficulties. These include manufacturing, loading of payload into the projectile, and breakages during handling and transport. Difficulties have also been encounteredwith excessive and unintended damage or injury to the intended target due to shards or shrapnel projecting from fracturing projectiles.

[0006] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is accordingly an object of the current invention with which the aforementioned disadvantages could be at least partially alleviated or overcome.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a projectile for a less-lethal launcher comprising:

[0010] - a body with a spherical front end, the body being tapered towards a cylindrical rear end of the projectile; and

[0011] - two or more wings arranged relative to the rear end, wherein:

[0012] the wings are each framed around an open interior portion so as to allow passage of air through the wings, with inner frames on opposite sides of each wing connecting the wings to the rear end of the projectile, with the inner frames being slanted at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile;

[0013] the inner frame of each wing being spaced apart for the inner frame of an adjacent wing so as to allow passage of air between the inner frames of two adjacent wings; andthe outer frames of each wing being spaced apart from the outer frame of an adjacent wing, with the two or more wings collectively forming an interrupted circular shaped wing surrounding the rear end of the projectile.

[0014] Further according to the invention, the front end of the projectile is dimpled.

[0015] Yet further according to the invention, the front end of the projectile is detachable from the tapered rear end, exposing a hollow interior within the projectile. Alternatively, the projectile is of a unitary construction. The front end of the projectile may be attached to the rear end of the projectile by a friction fit, alternatively a screw fit.

[0016] Still further according to the invention, the projectile is provided with an aperture centrally located in the rear end of the projectile.

[0017] Further according to the invention, the projectile is provided with a plug for closing the aperture in the rear end of the projectile, thereby encasing a hollow interior of the projectile. The plug may be provided with a one-way valve, for pressurising the interior of the projectile. The interior of the projectile may be pressurised by compressed gas in the barrel of a launcher when it is propelled from the launcher.

[0018] Still further according to the invention, the wings are frangible.

[0019] Even further according to the invention, the rear end is tapered concavely.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will now be described further by way of a non-limiting example(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 : is a perspective view from a front end of a projectile according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0022] Figure 2: is a perspective view from a rear end of the projectile of figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 3: is a side view of the projectile of figures 1 and 2, indicating cross- sectional line IV-IV’;

[0024] Figure 4: is a cross-sectioned side view of the projectile of figures 1 to 3 along cross-sectional line IV-IV’;

[0025] Figure 5: is an exploded perspective front view of the projectile of figures 1 to 4, and

[0026] Figure 6: is an exploded perspective rear view of the projectile of figures 1 to 5.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The invention will now be described further by way of a non-limiting example wherein a less-lethal projectile according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is indicated by reference number 10.

[0028] As shown in figures 1 to 3, projectile 10 comprises a body 12 with a spherical front end 14, the body being concavely tapered towards a cylindrical rear end 16 of the projectile. The projectile is further provided with a plurality of wings 18 arranged relative to the rear end. The wings 18 comprise an open interior portion 20 so as to allow passage of air through the wings, with inner frames 22 on opposite sides of each wing 18 connecting the wings 18 to the rear end of the projectile 10, with the inner frames 22 being slanted at an angle relative to a central longitudinal axis X of the projectile 10; with the slanted frames 22 of the wings 18 enabling the projectile to spin operatively in flight around axis X, which significantly improves the accuracy of the projectile 10. The interrupted circular shape of the combined plurality of wings 18 also acts as an airfoil, which further stabilises the projectile 10 in flight.

[0029] The inner frames 22 of adjacent wings 18 are spaced apart from each other so as to allow passage of air through the space between the inner frames 22 of two adjacent wings 18, which further contributes to increased accuracy of the projectile.

[0030] To further increase accuracy and aerodynamic performance of the projectile 10, the front end 14 of the projectile 10 is provided with a dimpled surface, visible in all figures. The dimples on the front end of the projectile 10 increases turbulence surrounding thefront end 14 in flight, which reduces drag and improves accuracy, and also increases the distance that the projectile 10 can be accurately fired from a launcher. The tail end of the projectile is also tapered concavely, which directs airflow from the dimpled, spherical front end, over the concave tail end and through apertures 20 in the tail of the projectile 10. All of these factors improve the accuracy, aerodynamic properties and distance of the projectile significantly.

[0031] In one configuration, the front end 14 of the projectile 10 is detachable from the body 12, with the body 12 and front end 14 both defining hollow inner cavities for loading a substance in the projectile 10 (not shown). The substance is typically an irritant such as CS-gas, pepper gas or another irritant gas / powder, for use in a less-lethal application of the projectile, wherein the projectile is fired towards an assailant or other threat, with the substance expanding into an irritant cloud when the projectile 10 hits a target, or an object proximate a target. Alternatively, the projectile could also be provided with an inert substance such as talcum powder for training or other purposes, or further alternatively, the projectile may be of solid or unitary construction.

[0032] In another embodiment, the front end and body of the projectile may be of unitary construction.

[0033] In both embodiments, wherein the front end and body of the projectile are detachable from each other, or of unitary construction, payload may be loaded into the projectile via a separate aperture 24, with a complimentary plug 26 closing the aperture 24 and enclosing the substance withing the hollow interior of the projectile.The plug 26 is either of solid construction, which plugs aperture 24, or it is a one-way air valve. The projectile 10 may either be pressurised prior to use in a pneumatic launcher. Alternatively, when the projectile 10 is fired from a launcher, compressed air which expels the projectile from the barrel of the launcher is forced through the oneway valve of plug 26, which pressurises the interior of projectile 10. An increase in interior pressure of the projectile 10 increases the size and expanding velocity of the irritant cloud caused by the projectile when it hits its intended target, or an object proximate thereto.

[0034] The wings 18 of the projectile 10 are further frangible, and easily detachable from the projectile 10. This decreases the possibility of injury or damage caused by the projectile when fired towards a target or assailant. In view of a plurality of wings 18 being provided, should one wing 18 break of from the projectile 10 prior to or during flight, the projectile would still operatively spin in flight, whereas with prior art projectiles having a single tail portion, if the tail portion is broken prior to or during flight, the accuracy of the projectile will be detrimentally affected, and the projectile may fail altogether, potentially causing damage to the user, innocent bystanders or the launcher.

[0035] It is accordingly asserted that the disadvantages experienced with prior art projectiles for pneumatic launchers are overcome or substantially improved by the projectile according to the invention. In particular, the disadvantage of the inaccuracy is at least partially overcome by the advancements in the projectile to improve aerodynamic flight, with the improved accuracy increasing the probability of hitting an intended target, and decreasing the possibility of hitting an unintended target, or causingdamage or harm to person or property. In addition, the frangibility of the rear wings further prevents unintended injury, and further increases the accuracy even in the event that one of the wings are lost prior to or in flight.

[0036] It will be appreciated that variations in detail with the projectile according to the invention are possible, without deviating from the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A projectile to be launched from a less-lethal launcher comprising:a body with a spherical front end, the body being tapered towards a cylindrical rear end of the projectile; andtwo or more wings surrounding the cylindrical rear end, wherein:- the wings are each framed around an open interior portion so as to allow passage of air through the wings, with inner frames on opposite sides of each wing connecting the wings to the rear end of the projectile, with the inner frames being slanted at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the projectile;- the inner frame of each wing being spaced apart for the inner frame of an adjacent wing so as to allow passage of air between the inner frames of two adjacent wings; and- the outer frames of each wing being spaced apart from the outer frame of an adjacent wing, with the two or more wings collectively forming an interrupted circular shaped wing surrounding the rear end of the projectile.

2. The projectile according to claim 1 , wherein the front end of the projectile is dimpled.

3. The projectile according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the front end of the projectile is detachable from the tapered rear end, exposing a hollow interior within the projectile.

4. The projectile according to claim 3, wherein the front end of the projectile is connected to the rear end of the projectile by a friction fit.

5. The projectile according to claim 3, wherein the front end of the projectile is connected to the rear end of the projectile by a friction fit.

6. The projectile according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the projectile is a shell of unitary construction surrounding a hollow interior.

7. The projectile according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear end of the projectile is provided with an aperture centrally located therein.

8. The projectile according to claim 7, wherein the projectile is provided with a plug for closing the aperture in the rear end of the projectile, thereby encasing a hollow interior of the projectile.

9. The projectile according to claim 8, wherein the plug is provided with a one-way valve, for pressurising the interior of the projectile.

10. The projectile according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wings located on the rear end of the projectile are frangible.

11. The projectile according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear end is tapered concavely.

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