Entangling Projectile Tether Mechanism for Non-Lethal Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-lethal ranged weapons, such as Tasers and pepper spray, often fail to provide a safe and effective means to subdue or impede hostile or fleeing individuals without resorting to lethal force or close proximity hand-to-hand combat, as they may cause pain or have limited range and safety concerns for law enforcement personnel.
Innovation Solution
An entangling projectile system comprising a pair of pellets connected by a tether, which is launched to wrap around a subject's limbs, temporarily restricting movement by applying equal and opposite forces, allowing for safe and effective restraint from a distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If Tasers or pepper spray are used, then non-lethal force is applied, but they cause pain or have limited range and safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tether as an intermediary element that connects two pellets, allowing them to work together as a coordinated system. The tether enables the pellets to wrap around and entangle the subject's limbs, providing a mechanical restraint mechanism that is more reliable than standalone projectiles like Tasers or pepper spray, while maintaining non-lethal force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two pellets with a tether into a single entangling projectile system. This merging creates a more effective non-lethal weapon that can reliably restrain subjects through entanglement, overcoming the limitations of separate projectiles like Tasers or pepper spray that individually fail to provide reliable restraint.
2Force
If firearms are used, then lethal force is applied, but the level of force is sometimes unwarranted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of force application from lethal (firearms) to non-lethal but effective (entangling projectiles). The pellets with tethers provide a intermediate level of force that can reliably restrain subjects without causing lethal outcomes, allowing law enforcement to respond to threats with appropriate, unwarranted force levels.
3Length of moving object
If hand-to-hand combat is used, then close proximity engagement occurs, but it is not a desirable choice for law enforcement personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of hand-to-hand combat with a projectile-based entangling system. Law enforcement personnel can deploy entangling projectiles from a distance, eliminating the need for close proximity engagement while maintaining the ability to restrain subjects effectively. This substitution makes the operation more desirable for law enforcement personnel.
4Length of moving object
If mace or pepper spray are used, then limited range is achieved, but they are very limited in range and often criticized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the projectile system into two pellets connected by a tether, allowing the projectiles to be launched with greater range than mace or pepper spray. The segmented design enables the pellets to travel farther while still maintaining the ability to entangle and restrain subjects, extending the effective range beyond that of conventional non-lethal weapons like mace or pepper spray.
Data Source
AI summary
An entangling projectile for use with a projectile deployment system includes a pair of pellets. At least one of the pair of pellets has a head with a head outer diameter and a shank with a shank outer diameter, the shank outer diameter being less than the head outer diameter. A tether connects the pair of pellets. A centering shroud is carried by a shank of the at least one of the pair of pellets. The centering shroud has at least one tether opening formed therein to receive the tether. The tether is coupled to the pellet and extends along the shank of the pellet and through the at least one tether opening formed in the centering shroud.