SMALL REMOTE-ACTING ELECTROSHOCK WEAPON

Abstract

The invention relates to a non-lethal remote-acting electroshock weapon with electrical stunning means for use by law enforcement agencies and for civilian self-defense. The result achieved is the creation of a small remote-acting electroshock weapon capable of displaying an electrical spark discharge and operating in direct contact when loaded with a firing cartridge, and of allowing rapid reloading of the weapon with increased safety for the user. A small remote-acting electroshock weapon comprising a non-conductive housing with a cavity for a firing cartridge activated by a low voltage and having launchable current-conducting wires and a pyrotechnic device arranged inside the firing cartridge for releasing the firing cartridge from the housing of the weapon, a source of electrical energy, and a high-voltage stunning pulse generator having an electrical deactivation switch, is characterized in that it has: a movable mechanical safety trigger which can be controlled by a finger of a hand holding the weapon and interacts with the electrical deactivation switch of the high-voltage stunning pulse generator and with an additional electrical switch for preventing firing of the firing cartridge; a safety lock for preventing movement of the safety trigger in the event of unauthorized movement thereof and for locking the firing cartridge in the housing during firing; and a catch for locking the firing cartridge in the housing, said catch being controllable by the hand with which the user is holding the weapon.

Claims

1. A small remote-acting electroshock weapon comprising a non-conductive housing with a cavity for a firing cartridge activated by a low voltage and having launchable current-conducting wires and a pyrotechnic device arranged inside the firing cartridge for releasing the cartridge from the housing of the weapon, a source of electrical energy, and a high voltage stunning pulse generator having an electrical deactivation switch, is characterized in that it has a movable mechanical safety trigger which can be controlled by a finger of the hand holding the weapon and interacts with the electrical deactivation switch of the high voltage stunning pulse generator and with an additional electrical switch for preventing firing of the firing cartridge; a safety lock for preventing movement of the safety trigger in the event of unauthorized movement thereof and for locking the firing cartridge in the housing during firing; and a catch for locking the firing cartridge in the housing, said catch being controllable by the hand with which the user is holding the weapon.

2. The weapon according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable safety trigger can be locked in certain positions relative to the housing of the weapon.

3. The weapon according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable safety trigger has an intermediate position lock.

4. The weapon according to claim 1, characterized in that a spring-loaded ejector of the firing cartridge is located in the housing of the weapon.

5. The weapon according to claim 1, characterized in that the source of electrical energy in the form of an accumulator has a charging socket located inside the cavity for a firing cartridge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1. General view of a DESHO with firing cartridge in safe position.

[0015] FIG. 2. General view of the DESHO in the “contact action” position.

[0016] FIG. 3. General view of the DESHO in the “remote shot” position.

[0017] FIG. 4. View of the DESHO from below.

[0018] FIG. 5. Types of firing cartridges.

[0019] FIG. 6. The DESHO with the safety trigger removed.

[0020] FIG. 7. Longitudinal section of the DESHO (firing cartridge is pulled out of the cavity of the housing).

[0021] FIG. 8. The DESHO with the upper half of the housing removed and a view of the safety trigger, the DESHO with the upper half of the housing removed and a longitudinal section.

[0022] FIG. 9. The DESHO cut from above, with no firing cartridge.

[0023] FIG. 10. Experimental DESHO sample.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1. The DESHO consists of a polymer housing 1 assembled from the lower and upper halves, in the cavity (pocket) of the housing there is a firing cartridge 2 locked in the housing 1 when loading. On the upper half of the housing there is a movable rotating (rotary) safety trigger 3 with a radial cutout, a movable spring-loaded safety lock 4, and a catch 5 for locking the cartridge 2 in the housing 1. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the DESHO is put on safe against accidental turning on and firing (“safe position”), since the rotation of the safety trigger 3 counterclockwise is prevented by the upper protrusion of the safety lock 4 extended from the housing 1 into the cutout of the safety trigger 3.

[0025] FIG. 2. When pressing the upper protrusion of the safety lock 4 with the thumb of the hand with which the user is holding the DESHO, the protrusion descends into the housing, compressing spring of its own and allowing the safety trigger 3 to be turned counterclockwise with the same finger of the user's hand. At the same time, when turning at an angle of about 90° counterclockwise, the cutout of the safety trigger 3 opens a recess 6 of the upper half of the housing, in which there is a button 7 of the electrical deactivation switch of the high voltage stunning pulse generator located in the lower half of the housing (see below). The DESHO in the FIG. 2 is in the position for operating in direct contact with a biological object (“contact action”).

[0026] FIG. 3. The position of the safety trigger 3 when turning counterclockwise, when the protrusion 8 of the safety trigger 3 reaches the catch 5 and abuts against it, corresponds to the “remote shot” position (starting the high voltage stunning pulse generator and activating the firing cartridge).

[0027] FIG. 4. On the lower half of the housing 1, there are combat electrodes 9 and 10 to which the output of the high voltage stunning pulse generator is connected.

[0028] FIG. 5. The firing cartridge 2 has a design described in the utility model patent RU No. 197693 [5] and is activated by a low voltage (1.5-12.0 V) from the source of electrical energy of the DESHO in the form of an electrical battery or accumulator. The cartridge 2 has a case with recesses 11 in its rear part, a movable protrusion 12 is also located in the case, and barrel holes 13 with plugs 14 are made therein that hold probes with the current-conducting wires arranged (laid) in the barrel holes. A pyrotechnic power source 15 with electrical low-voltage contacts that initiate a pyro charge for throwing probes is located in the rear end of the cartridge case. Prior to activation of the cartridge power source 15, the protrusion 12 protrudes above the surface of the cartridge case. After the activation of the power source 15 and the throwing of the probes with the current-conducting wires at the target, the part with the protrusion 12 is moved in the case by means of a gas engine located in the cartridge so that the protrusion 12 is retracted into the case flush with the surface of the cartridge case. In the top two drawings of FIG. 5, the cartridge is shown before the shot, and in the lower drawing, the cartridge is shown after the shot.

[0029] FIG. 6. The safety trigger 3 has protrusions 16 and 17 with bevelled ribs on the inside of the trigger. In the upper half of the housing 1, an annular groove 18 is made and an electrical microswitch 19 (SMD tact button) is located.

[0030] FIG. 7. Spring electrical contacts 20, an ejector 21, an ejector spring 22, a spring 23 of the catch 5 for locking the cartridge, a microswitch 19.

[0031] FIG. 8. On the top view of the figure, when the safety trigger 3 is in safe position (put on safe), the lower protrusion 24 of the safety lock 4 does not enter the recess 11 of the cartridge 2. The cartridge 2 is locked in the housing 1 of the DESHO by the catch 5 geared to the protrusion 12 of the cartridge.

[0032] In the lower drawing of the figure, when the safety trigger 3 is in the “remote shot” position, the lower protrusion 24 of the safety lock 4, which is held in this position by the lower plane of the safety trigger 3 pulled over it, is inserted into the recess 11 of the cartridge 2. At the same time at the moment of firing, the protrusion 12 of the cartridge is retracted inside the cartridge case and disengages from the tooth of the catch 5. Therefore after the shot, the cartridge 2 is held in the housing 1 of the DESHO only by the lower protrusion 24 of the safety lock 4.

[0033] FIG. 9. Spring electrical contacts 20, an ejector 21, a charging socket 25, a high voltage stunning pulse generator 26, an accumulator 27.

[0034] The DESHO operates as follows.

[0035] Loading of the DESHO is carried out with the safety trigger 3 in safe position, by inserting the cartridge 2 into the cavity of the housing 1 from the front, while the protrusion 12 depresses the catch 5 for locking the cartridge, while compressing spring 23 of the catch, after which the tooth of the catch 5, when descending, snaps onto the protrusion 12 and locks the cartridge in the housing 1. When inserting the cartridge, it presses the ejector 21 with its rear end and pushes the ejector into the housing of the DESHO, compressing the ejector spring 22.

[0036] Unloading the DESHO, if necessary, is done by pressing the rear end of the catch 5 with the thumb of the hand holding the DESHO. In this case, the catch turns on its axis, compressing the spring 23, the tooth of the catch, when rising, disengages from the protrusion 12 of the cartridge, after which the spring 22 compressed when loading, ejects the cartridge from the cavity of the housing of the DESHO by means of the ejector 21. Therefore, the unloading of the DESHO or extraction of the spent cartridge to load a new one in order to produce a quick second shot can be carried out by only the hand with which the user is holding the DESHO, which is faster than in the analogs and prototype, since the user does not need to use the second hand to remove the spent cartridge from the weapon.

[0037] If it is necessary to display a high voltage electrical spark discharge to the offender to remove aggression from him or to use the weapon in direct contact mode (without shots) with a firing cartridge loaded in the DESHO, the user presses the upper protrusion of the safety lock 4 with the thumb of the hand holding the weapon on while simultaneously turning the safety trigger 3 counterclockwise with the same finger to the “contact action” position. This opens access to the button 7 in the recess 6 of the housing 1, and the user presses the button 7 with his thumb. This turns on the high voltage stunning pulse generator 26 and the high voltage stunning voltage of the electrical current is applied to the contact electrodes 9 and 10, forming a high voltage spark discharge between them for displaying, or when pressing the DESHO against the body of the target, the stunning voltage of the electrical current is supplied through the electrodes 9 and 10 to the body of the target, producing an immobilizing effect on the target. When the high voltage electrical spark discharge is displayed to the offender or made the contact impact on him, the activation of the firing cartridge does not occur. The independence of the activation of the firing cartridge from the operation of the high voltage stunning pulse generator is achieved due to the fact that the electrical activation of the firing cartridge is initiated not by the high voltage stunning voltage of the electrical current generated by the high voltage stunning pulse generator, as in the analogs and prototype, but only by the low voltage of the electrical current supplied to the pyrotechnic power source 15 for throwing cartridge probes only in the “remote shot” mode. It is fundamentally impossible for the analogs and prototype to operate in direct contact mode or to display an electrical discharge with a firing cartridge loaded in the DESHO. To improve the positioning of the cutout of the safety trigger 3 above the button 7, a separate catch, for example, a spring ball catch locking the safety trigger 3 in the intermediate position and installed therein or inside the housing 1 can be used.

[0038] If it is necessary to impact the offender remotely (firing) with a short-term immobilization of the offender, the user presses the safety lock 4 while turning the safety trigger 3 counterclockwise through the “contact action” position to the “remote shot” position. When the safety trigger 3 is rotated at an angle of more than 90%, the protrusion 16 of the safety trigger 3 moving in the annular groove 18 moves with its bevel over the button 7 of the electrical deactivation switch of the high voltage stunning pulse generator 26 and turns on the switch that starts the generator. When the protrusion 8 of the safety trigger 3 is further turned all the way into the catch 5 (serving as a rotation limiter), the protrusion 17 of the safety trigger 3 moving in the annular groove 18 moves with its bevel over the button of the microswitch 19 and turns it on. When turning on the microswitch 19, the electrical contacts 20 adjacent to the electrical contacts of the pyrotechnic power source 15 of the cartridge 2 for throwing the probes are supplied with a low voltage of the power supply of the DESHO from the accumulator 27. The power source 15 of the cartridge 2 is activated throwing the probes with the current-conducting wires at the biological target. When the probes with the current-conducting wires hit the biological target, with the high voltage stunning pulse generator 26 already operating, the stunning voltage of the electrical current through the contact electrodes 9 and 10 adjacent to the terminals of the current-conducting wires of the cartridge 2 is supplied to the biological target through the probes held on it, immobilizing the biological target.

[0039] If the user wants to stop the immobilization of the biological target, the user turns the safety trigger 3 clockwise with his thumb, back to the “contact action” position or safe position. In the “contact action” position, the protrusion 16 releases the button 7 and the impact of the stunning electrical current on the target is stopped, but can be resumed at any time, since the DESHO still remains connected to the biological target by the current-conducting wires with the probes held on the target. To resume immobilization, the user (in case the offender does not obey the requirements of the law enforcement officer) just have to press the button 7 with the thumb again, as in case of the operating in direct contact. If the user wants to stop the immobilization of the target completely or shoot at another biological target, he turns the safety trigger 3 clockwise back to the end (all the way), to safe position. The lower plane of the safety trigger 3, shifted from the upper protrusion of the safety lock 4, ceases to hold it in the pressed position, and the cutout of the safety trigger 3 makes it possible, under the action of the previously compressed spring, to extend the upper protrusion of the safety lock 4 from the case, and, accordingly, to move the lower protrusion 24 of the safety lock 4 out of the recess 11 of the cartridge 2. Since after the shot, the protrusion 12 of the cartridge 2 is pushed into the cartridge case and no longer interacts with the catch 5, the cartridge 2 is vigorously ejected from the housing of the DESHO by the ejector 21, together with the current-conducting wires stretched from the cartridge to the biological target. Therefore, when the DESHO is set to safe position, the spent cartridge is automatically ejected. Therefore, if it is necessary to quickly reload the DESHO after firing, the process of reloading, in comparison with the forced extraction of the cartridge 2 by pressing the catch 5 with the thumb, is even faster, since there is no need for unnecessary finger movement with the taking of the DESHO in other hand of the user for the convenience of pressing the catch 5.

[0040] However, the additional possibility of non-automatic extraction (except for the automatic one described above) of the spent or failed cartridge using one hand with which the user is holding the DESHO, by pressing the catch 5 allows, in addition to the cartridge described herein, to use also a low-cost firing cartridge additionally described in the patent [5] or to extract the spent cartridge in case of accidental failure of the gas engine located therein or possible various kinds of cartridge failures and misfires. Reloading the same DESHO containing the spent cartridge, which cartridge is regular for it according to FIG. 5, is only possible by setting the DESHO to safe position. It is impossible to extract the spent cartridge with catch 5 and insert a new cartridge into the cavity of the housing without setting the DESHO to safe position. This increases the safety of using the DESHO by the user in terms of the impossibility of inserting a new cartridge into the cavity of the DESHO, when a low-voltage electrical current can be applied to the electrical contacts 20 and there is a possibility of injury to the user from the cartridge firing at an unexpected for the user time and direction of the probes throwing.

[0041] If it is necessary to make an arrest of the offender (longer-term immobilization), the user, after firing a shot and immobilization of the target falling to the ground, does not turn the safety trigger 3 back to the “contact action” or safe position, but simply puts the weapon with the high voltage stunning pulse generator working to the ground and makes an arrest of the offender with handcuffs. After the arrest is made, the user has set the safety trigger 3 to safe position by turning it thus turning off the high voltage stunning pulse generator.

[0042] In this case, the DESHO can be equipped with an electronic timer for the duration of the high voltage stunning pulse generator operation. For example, impact on the offender is 3 s and rest of the offender is 2 s (to restore the function of the respiratory and cardiac system). After that, the cycle can be repeated until the DESHO is set to safe position by the user.

[0043] The charging socket 25 is located in the housing 1, inside the cavity for the cartridge 2 in order to prevent the development of “capacitive breakdown” [6] on the user and the concomitant “fear of his own weapon” in the user. Due to the smallest design of the proposed DESHO among the ones currently available in the world, the housing of the proposed DESHO in mass production must to be made of two halves welded by ultrasound in order to prevent the discharge of “capacitive breakdown” from passing through the gaps between the halves of the housing. The electrically conductive parts of the button 7 are separated from the user's finger by a sufficient distance (especially in the “remote shot” mode, which is the main mode of the DESHO operation) that is greater than the length of the electrical spark discharge developed during the “capacitive breakdown”, so the only weak point for the development of “capacitive breakdown” is the accumulator charging socket being, for example, a micro-USB connector. In the proposed design, the connector is removed inside the housing, which completely eliminates the development of “capacitive breakdown” on the user. The accumulator is charged by a mains charger in the form of a cartridge inserted into the cavity of the DESHO being connected by its protruding contacts (male) to the DESHO connector (female).

[0044] The above description discusses the preferred embodiments of the present invention, which may be changed or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

[0045] Comparison of the proposed technical solution with the identified prior art analogs and prototype did not reveal an identical match of the set of essential features of the invention. The proposed differences of the claimed electroshock weapon, which directly follow from the statement of the purpose of the invention, are not obvious to a person skilled in the field of electroshock devices.

[0046] The proposed DESHO has the minimum overall dimensions (126×19×55 mm) in the world at the date of filing the application for the invention, allowing both remote action with the possibility of contact use in an unloaded state, and even more so with the possibility of contact action when loaded. Such dimensions being slightly (only in thickness) exceeding the dimensions of modern smartphones make it possible to constantly carry the DESHO in pockets or women's handbags, without inconvenience and without protruding below the clothes. Reducing the length of the proposed invention by more than 5-6 mm is impossible in principle, since in case of such a reduction, the safe holding of the weapon by the user's hand becomes dangerous. This is a consequence of the fact that the length of a high voltage electrical spark breakdown by a sliding discharge (along the housing) can reach the user's fingers even under normal atmospheric conditions, while in conditions of high humidity, fog, and precipitation, the user will be unequivocally struck in the hand by the electrical impact of his own weapon. Said reduction can be achieved by reducing the length of the firing cartridge compared to that described in the patent [5], by reducing the length of the arranged (laid) current-conducting wire from 8-12 m (for law enforcement agencies) to 4.5-5 m (for citizens). The simplicity of the design of the proposed DESHO and, accordingly, its low cost in theory allows the civilian self-defense function to be carried out, leaving the DESHO in the “arrest” mode at the place of use and with subsequent compensation of the cost of the DESHO by the manufacturer (the “Safe Escape” program) [7]. Such a program, deployed since the founding of Taser Int. company, has been active for 26 years until today. Such programs do not exist in Russia due to general poverty.

Example of Implementation

[0047] FIG. 10 Appearance of an experimental DESHO sample made by 3D prototyping and a firing cartridge. In the experimental DESHO, Turnigy nano-tech Lipo Pack 300 mah 7.4 V 90 C accumulator, a stunning pulse generator with preionization, and a small coreless transformer were used [8]. The output electrical power of the experimental DESHO can be adjusted from 3.0 W to 10.0 W, which allows the production of DESHO for use by citizens and law enforcement agencies.

LIST OF SOURCES CITED

[0048] 1. https://www.beststungun.com/product/taser-c2-laser-gold-package/ [0049] 2. https://buy.taser.com/products/taser-pulse-plus [0050] 3. Ladyagin Yu. O. “Remote-acting electroshock weapons” Moscow: Stalingrad Foundation Publishing House, 2017, pp. 71-72. [0051] 4. https://lesslethalarms.wordpress.com/tag/phazzer-hornet/ [0052] 5. Utility model RU No. 197693 [0053] 6. Ladyagin Yu. O. “Remote-acting electroshock weapons” Moscow: Stalingrad Foundation Publishing House, 2017, pp. 308-312. [0054] 7. https://buy.taser.com/pages/safe-escape-product-replacement-guarantee https://www.stun-gun-defense-products.com/buy-stun-gun/taser-lifetime-replacement-guarantee html [0055] 8. Ladyagin Yu. O. “Remote-acting electroshock weapons” Moscow: Stalingrad Foundation Publishing House, 2017, pp. 457-464.