Modular Low Lethal Projectile Shattering on Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-lethal weapons, such as gas-powered firearms, are inadequate for self-defense and crowd control due to their complexity, reliability issues in cold weather, and potential for causing severe trauma or fatalities.
Innovation Solution
A modular, low lethal projectile system configured to fire from traditional firearms, comprising an exterior shell, propellant cartridge, and projectile assembly, designed to shatter upon impact and disperse irritant substances, ensuring consistent and controlled non-lethal effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas-powered firearms are used for crowd control, then non-lethal force can be applied, but the device complexity increases due to air tank and loading system requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile is divided into separate functional components: an exterior shell containing propellant and a separate projectile assembly. This segmentation allows the projectile to be fired from traditional firearms without requiring complex gas-powered systems, air tanks, or specialized loading mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining non-lethal force capability.
2Reliability
If gas-powered firearms are used for crowd control, then non-lethal force can be applied, but reliability decreases in cold weather due to gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the gas-powered mechanical system with a traditional firearm propellant system. Instead of using liquified gas under pressure that leaks in cold weather, the system uses solid propellant cartridges that ignite reliably across a wide temperature range, eliminating the cold weather reliability issue while maintaining the non-lethal force capability through controlled projectile dispersion.
3Ease of operation
If traditional firearms are used for self-defense, then psychological deterrent effect is maximized, but the risk of lethal injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projectile is segmented into multiple components that disperse upon impact rather than delivering concentrated lethal force. The exterior shell contains propellant and the projectile assembly breaks apart on contact with the target, creating a non-lethal effect that maintains the psychological deterrent of firearm deployment while eliminating the lethal injury risk associated with traditional bullets.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful concentrated kinetic energy of a traditional bullet into a beneficial non-lethal dispersion effect. By designing the projectile to shatter and disperse irritant substances upon impact, the system transforms what would be a lethal weapon into a controlled non-lethal tool that preserves the psychological authority of firearm deployment without the harmful lethal consequences.
4Force
If rubber/polymer slugs are used for crowd control, then immobilization force is applied, but severe trauma and fatalities occur when striking head and neck areas
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single solid rubber or polymer slug that delivers concentrated impact force to vital areas, the invention segments the projectile into multiple components contained within an exterior shell. Upon impact, these components disperse rather than concentrate force on a single point, eliminating the risk of severe trauma or fatalities from head and neck strikes while maintaining immobilization capability through distributed irritant substance delivery.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system allows for easy customization of non-lethal projectiles, reduces the risk of injury by shattering upon impact, and provides a reliable alternative for self-defense and crowd control, functioning effectively in various weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The propellant cartridge may comprise a cartridge primer, hollow casing, wadding, and propellant
Implementation Method 2
The exterior shell preferably comprises an outer wall, internal structure, first internal cavity, and second internal cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for a modular, low lethal projectile is provided. The modular, low lethal projectile system comprises an exterior shell, propellant cartridge, and a projectile assembly. A propellant mounting area is arranged at a rear end of the exterior shell and is offset from a center of the exterior shell. A propellant cartridge is secured within the propellant mounting area. A firing pin of a firearm is configured to strike an edge of a cartridge primer of the propellant cartridge, which ignites a primer material and propellant within the propellant cartridge. The resulting hot, expanding gasses propel the projectile assembly form the firearm, and upon contact with a desired target, the capsule tube of the projectile assembly breaks, distributing an effective compound into the air around the desired target.