STUN GRENADE

Abstract

A stun grenade for individual adjustment and situation-dependent adaptation of the number of active masses in situ. A switch mechanism is built into the stun grenade, enabling the simultaneous activation of different chambers inside the stun grenade in order to adjust the effect. The switch mechanism is formed by a tube and peripherally integrated boreholes and grooves. A different number of the chambers in the stun grenade is activated by the switch mechanism, thereby increasing or decreasing the active power.

Claims

1. A stun grenade comprising: a detonator head; a housing adapted to receive the detonator head, the housing comprising at least one chamber with an effect charge and the at least one chamber has at least one breakthrough bore; a rocker lever located on the detonator head; a securing split pin to secure the rocker lever; and a switch mechanism arranged in the housing which, via its own adjustment, functionally connects different chambers substantially simultaneously to a delay set.

2. The stun grenade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch mechanism comprises at least one bore and groove circumferentially which functionally interact with the breakthrough bores of the connected chambers.

3. The stun grenade as claimed in claim 1, wherein blowout openings formed in the housing are assigned to the chambers.

4. The stun grenade as claimed in claim 3, wherein the blowout openings are incorporated circumferentially in the housing and/or in the cover or base of the housing.

5. The stun grenade as claimed in claim 1, wherein a safety mechanism is incorporated in an air gap formed between the detonator head and the housing.

6. The stun grenade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the safety mechanism is configured as a plastic clip and a lug projecting laterally into the detonator head covering the percussion cap.

7. The stun grenade as claimed in claim 1, wherein a further safety mechanism in the form of a pressure piece is incorporated in the detonator head such that the split pin is only adapted to be drawn and the rocker lever released with the detonator head in the starting position.

8. The stun grenade as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch mechanism is hollow in design and is aligned in the housing centrally between the chambers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a stun grenade,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation of the stun grenade,

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a switch mechanism of the stun grenade,

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a representation of a detonator head of the stun grenade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Depicted in FIG. 1 is a stun grenade 10 with a detonator head 1, a housing receiving 2 receiving the detonator head 1, a rocker lever 3 located on the detonator head 1, and a securing split pin 4 securing the rocker lever 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the stun grenade housing 2 has twelve blowout openings 5 circumferentially, wherein the perspective representation only reproduces six blowout openings 5. Stun grenades of this kind are also referred to as side blowers. The blowout openings 5 are each assigned a chamber 6 in which an effect charge 7 is contained (FIG. 2). The effect charges 7 in this exemplary embodiment are flash or crack charges. The chambers 6 in this exemplary embodiment are integrated in two planes 8, 9 within the stun grenade 10. The division in this case is preferably such that six chambers 6 are integrated in the upper level 8 and six chambers 6 in the lower level 9. The chambers 6 of the upper level 8 are preferably arranged offset to those of the lower level 9 in the housing 2.

[0027] As an alternative to the side blowers and the blowout openings 5 incorporated laterally in the housing 2, further blowout openings (not depicted in greater detail) can be provided in the base and cover of the housing 2 which are connected with the chambers via bores guided through the body of the stun grenade 10 (not depicted in greater detail) to the blowout openings in the cover and base. The lateral blowout openings 5 in this combined embodiment would have to be covered by an additional body or an additional housing (e.g. tube). It is also possible, however, for a stun grenade with chambers similar to DE 10 2004 059 991 B4, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 7,721,651, which is incorporated herein by reference, without lateral blowout openings to be used. There are no restrictions in this respect.

[0028] In the housing 2 a (central) tube 11 is incorporated centrally between the chambers 6 (FIG. 3). This central tube 11 forms a switch mechanism of the stun grenade 10. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a delay charge 12 is pressed, for example, into the switch mechanism 11. The switch mechanism 11 or the center tube has one or multiple bores 13 circumferentially or one or multiple grooves or notches 14. The grooves 14 have groove starts, usually bores 13, and groove ends 15. These interact with the respective breakthrough bore 16 of the chambers 6 which are switched to the stun grenade 1 and customize it in terms of its effect. Accordingly, the grooves 13 are spiral-shaped or cascade-shaped. Other geometries for connecting the bores 13 introduced at different heights/levels in the switch mechanism 11 and the respective breakthrough bore 16 in the chamber 6 will be known to the person skilled in the art. The pitch or cascade, etc. of the groove 14 depends in this case on the position of the breakthrough bore 16 in the respective chamber 6 relative to the associated bore 13 in the switch mechanism 11.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows the detonator head 1 in a representation in which the rocker lever 3 is located on the left of the detonator head 1 and also in a sectional depiction in which the rocker lever 3 is located on the right of this. The rocker lever 3 is secured by the split pin 4 in a manner known in the art and prevents a spring-loaded detonator 17 firing pin or striking piece/detonator is actually a detonator, in other words an object with explosive material from striking a percussion cap 18.

[0030] Reference number 20 is used to denote a safety mechanism which is included between the switch mechanism 11 and the body, in particular the detonator head 1. This safety mechanism 20 may, in addition, cover the percussion cap 18. The safety mechanism 20, for example a plastic clip, is incorporated in an air gap 22 (approx. 2 mm) between the detonator head 1 and the housing 2 of the stun grenade 10 and bridges said gap. This safety mechanism 20 may comprise a plastic clip. In addition, this safety mechanism 20 has a lug 23 projecting laterally into the detonator head 1 which thereby covers the percussion cap 18. In this way, accidental striking of the detonator (striking piece) 17 firing pin or striking piece/detonator is actually a detonator, in other words an object with explosive material on the percussion cap 18 is prevented. The detonator 17 firing pin or striking piece/detonator is actually a detonator, in other words an object with explosive material would be able to strike no more than the lug 23 with the present safety mechanism 20.

[0031] A further safety mechanism not depicted in greater detail is used so that the split pin 4 can be pulled and the rocker lever 3 released only in the position in which the detonator head 1 has adopted its initial position. It is impossible to pull the split pin 4 in other states of the detonator head 1. This safety mechanism, also referred to as a split-pin safety mechanism, may be realized by a spring-loaded pressure piece, for example. It is thereby ensured that the split pin 4 can only be pulled and the rocker lever 3 released in the original or starting position of the detonator head 1.

[0032] The method of operation of the stun grenade 10 is as follows:

[0033] In order to adjust the individual active powers of the stun grenade 10, the switch mechanism 11 containing the delay set 12 is adjusted. The adjustment of the switch mechanism 11 preferably takes place by rotating the detonator head 1 which is mechanically connected to the switch mechanism 11. The switch mechanism 11 has a plurality of switch settings, wherein the number of switch settings is dependent on the number of effects to be adjusted or the possible combinations of effect charges 7, e.g. when selecting 2, 4, 8, 10, 12 effects=starting position+4 switch settings.

[0034] According to the desired number of effects, the number of chambers 6 is functionally connected to the delay set 12 through rotation. The functional connection between the delay charge 12 and the chambers 6 is made via the corresponding bores 13 and grooves 14 in the switch mechanism 11, which are aligned by turning the switch mechanism 11 (the detonator head 1) to the through-flow openings 16 of the chambers 6. The delay set 12 is detonated once the split pin 4 has been released and the detonator 17 struck firing pin or striking piece/detonator is actually a detonator, in other words an object with explosives the percussion cap 18. Slag which forms during this gets out through the bores 13 and is guided either directly or via the groove 14 to the breakthrough bore 16 of the connected chambers 6. The metals in the slag reach the chambers 6 and therefore come into contact with the effects 7 and detonate these (e.g. flash set) via the breakthrough bore 16. The implemented effect then passes out of the blowout openings 5 into the environment.

[0035] The rotation or switching of the switch mechanism 11 is preferably achieved with simultaneous pressing-down of the detonator head 1. By releasing the detonator head 1 in one of the prescribed and therefore permitted switch settings, said detonator head is once again moved into its original position. A spring, etc. can be provided for this purpose which is incorporated below the switch mechanism 11 in the housing 2, for example. Incorporation of a spring below the detonator head 1 is likewise conceivable.

[0036] The stun grenade 10 is secured by means of the two safety mechanisms 20 and the split-pin safety mechanism. The safety mechanism 20 is for its part pressed into the gap 22 during assembly, for example. This safety mechanism 20 keeps the second safety mechanism, for the split pin 4, permanently activated. In addition, by means of the lug 23 projecting laterally into the detonator head 1, this safety mechanism 20 prevents the detonator 17 from accidentally striking the percussion cap 18. This further safety mechanism 20 is only removed immediately prior to use. It prevents any manipulation of the switch unit (switch mechanism) and the split pin 4 (e.g. rotary split pin). Only following removal of the safety mechanism 20 is the split pin safety mechanism (pressure safety catch) released and releases the split pin 4.

[0037] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.