IMPACT ACTIVATED CROWD CONTROL MECHANISM AND DEVICE

Abstract

A crowd control method and device are disclosed where the device is of the bursting type and is activated immediately upon impact releasing crowd control chemicals into the surrounding area. The device containing crowd control chemical agents is thrown or tossed into a desired area and is immediately activated upon impact releasing its content. The crowd control chemical agents cause significant discomfort and irritation to the individuals nearby resulting crowds to dispersing.

Claims

1. A crowd control device comprising: a vessel; crowd control chemical agents contained inside the vessel; an impact activation system; a safety mechanism preventing unintended activation of the device; and is for single disposable use such that when activated the outer casing, the impact activation system and the internal material dissociate into the vicinity.

2. The crowd control device of claim 1, where the vessel is a sphere.

3. The crowd control device of claim 1, wherein the crowd control chemical agents are selected from capsaicin, 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, 0-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, and 2-chloroacetophenone.

4. The crowd control device of claim 1, wherein the safety mechanism is a pin.

5. A method of crowd control comprising: providing a crowd control devise intended for single use, comprising a lightweight outer casing made of rigid plastic foam filled with crowd control chemical agents and an impact activation system that sends a signal to the ignition portion of the device activating the device upon impact; and activating the device upon impact such that the contents of the device are dispensed into the vicinity disrupting the outer casing, the fragments of the outer casing disperse, and reduce the chances of bodily injury from the fragments to individuals who come in contact with the fragments.

6. The method of crowd control of claim 5, where the container is made of material including quantum foam, polyurethane foam, XPS foam, polystyrene, phenolic manufactured foams, PLA lined paper products, bagasse, and molded fibers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A person skilled in the art would appreciate that these figures are provided for the purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended to act as limits of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure displaying the elements of the vessel and the impact activation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The following description is not to be interpreted or applied in a limiting sense, but as an illustration of the general principles and aspects of the invention. The breadth and scope of the present inventions are set forth by the claims. Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other disclosed and undisclosed features.

[0015] FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the present disclosure. The device of the present invention is a vessel (100) that is meant to be filled with crowd control chemicals into the internal cavity (102) and tossed into a crowd such that when the vessel (100) encounters a surface, the impact activation system (200) is activated sending a signal to the cold igniter (207) activating the pyrotechnics (208) causing a burst and the release of the internal contents of the vessel.

[0016] The device of the present invention is safely maintained and stored with a use of a safety pin (201) inserted into the top unit (203) of the activation portion of the device. The safety pin (201) prevents the communication of a shock signal from the shock triggering circuit (202) to the cold igniter (207) such that when the pin is inserted even if the vessel is thrown or tossed it does not react or activate. Instead of the safety pin (201) other safety methods of can be utilized such as a safety trigger that can manually be turned on and off, an electronic button used to turn the device on and off, or other equivalent methods of controlling communication of a shock signal from the shock triggering circuit (202) to the igniter (207).

[0017] When the capsule is to be used, the pin (201) is removed allowing the impact activation mechanism (200) to switch on such that when the capsule is thrown or tossed, the shock triggering circuit (202) sends a signal via electric wires traveling through the spine (205) which is enclosed by a plastic capsule (206) leading to the cold igniter (207) causing the cold igniter (207) to ignite the surrounding pyrotechnics (208). As the surrounding pyrotechnics (208) are activated or sparked a burst occurs which is followed by an immediate release of the crowd control agents stored inside the internal cavity (102) into the surrounding areas. The process described above from the shock triggering circuit (202) sensing the impact and forceful bursting of the vessel (100) occurs under a second.

[0018] In the preferred embodiment the impact activation system (200) is composed of the pin (201), the top unit with a safety trigger (203), a shock triggering circuit (202), a button cell battery (204), the spine (205) enclosed by a plastic enclosure (206), a cold ignitor (207) and surrounding pyrotechnics (208). The pin (201) is used to prevent unnecessary activation of the device. The top unit (203) holds the pin (201) in place or any switch used to turn the device on or off, the shock triggering circuit (202), the spine (205) with its surrounding plastic enclosure (206) and the button cell battery (204) together. The shock triggering circuit (202) is responsible for sensing the shock or impact experienced by the device and sending the signal out to the cold igniter (207). The button cell battery (204) provides the necessary power for the for the signal to travel from the shock triggering circuit (202) to the cold igniter (207) and provides the necessary voltage for activation of the cold ignitor (207). The spine (205) carries the shock signal from the shock triggering circuit (202) to the cold igniter (207). The spine (205) is enclosed via a plastic enclosure (206) to protect the internal mechanism and the safe relay of the signal from the shock triggering circuit (202) to the cold igniter (207). The cold igniter (207) ignites the surrounding pyrotechnics (208) causing a forceful burst and the release of contents stored inside the internal cavity (102) of the vessel (100) into the surrounding areas.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment the impact activation system (200) is placed inside the vessel (100) such that the top unit (203) of the impact activation system (200) is hedged at one end of the device and the cold igniter (207) with the pyrotechnics (208) does not reach the bottom of the vessel (100) and is effectively suspended in the internal cavity (102) of the vessel (100).

[0020] In the preferred embodiment the vessel (100) is a sphere which allows equidistant distribution of the content around an impact area. However, the vessel (100) can be an oval shaped, pin shaped, hourglass shaped, egg shaped, football shaped, tube shaped, a sphere box and any other shape that allows the vessel to be effectively and accurately thrown into a desired location.

[0021] In the preferred embodiment, the device is intended for single use such that the content inside the cavity (102) is dispersed, and the capsule material or casing (103) is fully disseminated. In such instances, it is preferred that the casing (103) of the device be made of light weight material such that when casing is disseminated into its surroundings it does not cause harm or injury to those in close proximity.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment the casing (103) is composed of a lightweight material such as rigid plastic foam. However, other similar materials can be used such as quantum foam, polyurethane foam (foam rubber), XPS foam, polystyrene, phenolic or many other manufactured foams, PLA lined paper products, bagasse, molded fibers and etc. Further, the outside cover (101) is meant to enclose and securely hold the vessel together and is usually made of heat shrink material, however equivalent materials can be used to securely enclose the vessel (100) including but not limited to elastomeric tubes, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polyolefin, PVC, polyvinylidene fluoride, silicone rubber, PTFE and Viton.

[0023] In the preferred embodiment the internal cavity (102) is already pre-filled with the crowd control chemicals. However, the casing (103) of the vessel (100) can be made with a filler opening (104) such that crowd control chemicals of choice (102) can be filled inside the internal cavity and securely closed by a cap (105). These chemicals, powders and liquids that can be used include and are not limited to PAVA powders which are also known as capsaicin powders which are usually derived from chili peppers, CS powder with the chemical composition of 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, tear gas which has the chemical composition of 0-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile, 2-chloroacetophenone also known as mace, military-grade putricant also known as a stink-bomb and any combination thereof. Further, the vessel (100) can be composed of various compartments within the cavity, with corresponding openings into the cavity, such that different substances can be filled into each of the compartments without mixing with one another.

[0024] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.