Abstract: A bumper for preventing a forward portion of an electrode from penetrating a target comprises a rearward portion and an expandable portion. The rearward portion is configured to couple the bumper to a forward portion of an electrode. The expandable portion may comprise a plurality of members. The expandable portion is configured to transition from a collapsed state to an expanded state after being launched toward a target. The expanded state comprises a greater contact area than the contact area of the collapsed state. The greater contact area of the expanded state is configured to distribute a force of impact on the target to prevent penetration into the target. The transition from the collapsed state to the expanded state may be configured to increase a duration of impact with the target, thereby reducing a force of impact on the target to prevent penetration into the target.

Abstract: A conducted electrical weapon may interchangeably receive a plurality of magazines. A magazine may be releasably engaged with a magazine bay of the conducted electrical weapon. Engagement of a magazine with the magazine bay may expose a bottom surface of the magazine. Each magazine may comprise a plurality of firing tubes. A magazine may be configured to launch at least one electrode from at least one firing tube of the plurality of firing tubes. A control circuit may be configured to provide an ignition signal to less than all of the plurality of firing tubes. A first pair of firing tubes may be oriented to achieve a minimum electrode spread at a first range. A second pair of firing tubes may be oriented to achieve a minimum electrode spread at a second range. The plurality of firing tubes may be arranged in an array comprising a column of firing tubes.

Abstract: A unitary cartridge for a conducted electrical weapon (CEW) may include a cartridge body that stores an electrode, a piston, a propulsion module, and a propulsion module contact. To launch the electrode from the cartridge body, a signal may be sent from the CEW through a conductor disposed within the propulsion module. The signal may be configured to heat up the conductor and ignite a pyrotechnic material in the propulsion module to create a rapidly expanding gas. The rapidly expanding gas may move the piston to propel the electrode from the cartridge body and toward a target. A frangible cap may be disposed at one end of the cartridge body to retain the electrode in the cartridge body prior to launch.

Abstract: A cassette for deploying one or more anchors can include at least one socket in fluid communication with a pressure source and at least one anchor being positionable within the at least one socket. At least one slidable piston can be positionable in the at least one socket between the anchor and the pressure source such that the slidable piston is propelled along the socket in response to a pressure wave generated by the pressure source to thereby expel the anchor from the socket. The slidable piston can include a first, relatively rigid component coupled to a second, relatively pliable component. A portion of the piston can be seated in intimate contact with a portion of the anchor when the anchor and piston are positioned within the socket.

Abstract: A cassette for deploying one or more entangling projectiles includes a pair of sockets, each socket being in fluid communication with a pressure source. An entangling projectile includes a pair of anchors connected by a tether, each of the pair of anchors being positionable within one of the sockets and the tether being carried by the cassette. Each socket carries a slidable piston positionable in a respective socket between an entangling projectile and the pressure source such that each slidable piston is propelled along a respective socket in response to a pressure wave generated by the pressure source to thereby expel the anchor from the socket. Each of a pair of retaining clips is engageable with an anchor and with a socket to aid in retaining the respective anchor in the respective socket prior to generation of the pressure wave.

Abstract: An entangling projectile for use in a projectile launcher is provided. The entangling projectile includes an anchor including a head segment, a tail segment, and a shank segment intermediate the head and tail segment. One or more hook segments are carried adjacent the head segment, the one or more hook segments operable to engage the person of a subject about which the entangling projectile has been deployed. An attachment bay is formed in the shank segment and a tether is coupled to the anchor within and extends from the attachment bay. A tether attachment is carried by the anchor distally from the attachment bay, the tether attachment operable to engage the tether and maintain the tether in a taught condition between the tether attachment and an end of the anchor.

Abstract: A cartridge for a conducted electrical weapon may comprise a body having a first end opposite a second end and an outer surface opposite an inner surface. A cartridge inner assembly may be removably disposed within the body. The cartridge inner assembly may comprise a propulsion module, a plug, a piston, and/or a retaining clip. The cartridge inner assembly may be configured to cause deployment of an electrode. The electrode may be mechanically and electrically coupled to the piston.

Abstract: A bumper for preventing a forward portion of an electrode from penetrating a target comprises a rearward portion and an expandable portion. The rearward portion is configured to couple the bumper to a forward portion of an electrode. The expandable portion may comprise a plurality of members. The expandable portion is configured to transition from a collapsed state to an expanded state after being launched toward a target. The expanded state comprises a greater contact area than the contact area of the collapsed state. The greater contact area of the expanded state is configured to distribute a force of impact on the target to prevent penetration into the target. The transition from the collapsed state to the expanded state may be configured to increase a duration of impact with the target, thereby reducing a force of impact on the target to prevent penetration into the target.

Abstract: A magazine for a conducted electrical weapon may include a bore configured to receive a cartridge. The bore may be sized and shaped to receive a cartridge having a specific cartridge type. A cartridge may comprise a cartridge identifier coupled to an outer surface of the cartridge. The cartridge identifier may include a physical property indicating a cartridge type of the cartridge. The cartridge identifier may allow the cartridge to be correctly received into the bore of the magazine.

Abstract: A CEW includes a handle and one or more cartridges. A cartridge may cooperate with the handle to launch one or more electrodes. Launched electrodes fly toward the target to couple to the target to provide a stimulus signal through the target to impede locomotion of the target. Prior to launch, detents may retain an electrode in a bore of the cartridge. The bore may be sealed with a door. Launching the electrode may remove the door from the cartridge. The door may couple to the electrode. The door may remain coupled to the electrode during flight and impact of the electrode with the target. The door may cushion the impact of the electrode against the target. Cushioning the impact may reduce the likelihood of injuring the target. Retaining the door coupled to the electrode during flight may improve the flight characteristics of the electrode.

Abstract: A conducted electrical weapon may interchangeably receive a plurality of magazines. A magazine may be releasably engaged with a magazine bay of the conducted electrical weapon. Engagement of a magazine with the magazine bay may expose a bottom surface of the magazine. Each magazine may comprise a plurality of firing tubes. A magazine may be configured to launch at least one electrode from at least one firing tube of the plurality of firing tubes. A control circuit may be configured to provide an ignition signal to less than all of the plurality of firing tubes. A first pair of firing tubes may be oriented to achieve a minimum electrode spread at a first range. A second pair of firing tubes may be oriented to achieve a minimum electrode spread at a second range. The plurality of firing tubes may be arranged in an array comprising a column of firing tubes.

Abstract: A bumper for preventing a forward portion of an electrode from penetrating a target comprises a rearward portion and an expandable portion. The rearward portion is configured to couple the bumper to a forward portion of an electrode. The expandable portion may comprise a plurality of members. The expandable portion is configured to transition from a collapsed state to an expanded state after being launched toward a target. The expanded state comprises a greater contact area than the contact area of the collapsed state. The greater contact area of the expanded state is configured to distribute a force of impact on the target to prevent penetration into the target. The transition from the collapsed state to the expanded state may be configured to increase a duration of impact with the target, thereby reducing a force of impact on the target to prevent penetration into the target.

Abstract: A unitary cartridge for a conducted electrical weapon (CEW) may include a cartridge body that stores an electrode, a piston, a propulsion module, and a propulsion module contact. To launch the electrode from the cartridge body, a signal may be sent from the CEW through a conductor disposed within the propulsion module. The signal may be configured to heat up the conductor and ignite a pyrotechnic material in the propulsion module to create a rapidly expanding gas. The rapidly expanding gas may move the piston to propel the electrode from the cartridge body and toward a target. A frangible cap may be disposed at one end of the cartridge body to retain the electrode in the cartridge body prior to launch.

Abstract: A unitary cartridge for a conducted electrical weapon (CEW) may include a cartridge body that stores an electrode, a piston, a propulsion module, and a propulsion module contact. To launch the electrode from the cartridge body, a signal may be sent from the CEW through a conductor disposed within the propulsion module. The signal may be configured to heat up the conductor and ignite a pyrotechnic material in the propulsion module to create a rapidly expanding gas. The rapidly expanding gas may move the piston to propel the electrode from the cartridge body and toward a target. A frangible cap may be disposed at one end of the cartridge body to retain the electrode in the cartridge body prior to launch.

Abstract: A CEW includes a handle and one or more cartridges. A cartridge may cooperate with the handle to launch one or more electrodes. Launched electrodes fly toward the target to couple to the target to provide a stimulus signal through the target to impede locomotion of the target. Prior to launch, detents may retain an electrode in a bore of the cartridge. The bore may be sealed with a door. Launching the electrode may remove the door from the cartridge. The door may couple to the electrode. The door may remain coupled to the electrode during flight and impact of the electrode with the target. The door may cushion the impact of the electrode against the target. Cushioning the impact may reduce the likelihood of injuring the target. Retaining the door coupled to the electrode during flight may improve the flight characteristics of the electrode.

Abstract: A unitary cartridge for a conducted electrical weapon (CEW) may include a cartridge body that stores an electrode, a piston, a propulsion module, and a propulsion module contact. To launch the electrode from the cartridge body, a signal may be sent from the CEW through a conductor disposed within the propulsion module. The signal may be configured to heat up the conductor and ignite a pyrotechnic material in the propulsion module to create a rapidly expanding gas. The rapidly expanding gas may move the piston to propel the electrode from the cartridge body and toward a target. A frangible cap may be disposed at one end of the cartridge body to retain the electrode in the cartridge body prior to launch.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a close quarters weapon include disassembly of the weapon by the user to permit applying a stimulus signal for causing skeletal muscle contractions through tissue of a human or animal target between locations on the target that are independently determined by the user.

Abstract: A deployment unit for use with an electronic weapon includes a body, an electrode, an electrical interface and tether wire, and a cover. The body has a cavity with an opening. The electrode is stored in the cavity. The electrical interface and tether wire conduct a current from the electronic weapon through the electrode. The cover is coupled to the body over the opening. Activation of a provided propellant, in any order (a) provides a force that pushes the cover away from the body to open the cavity; and (b) deploys the electrode from the cavity through the opening toward a provided target for conducting the current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target. Prior to pushing the cover away from the body, no portion of the electrode contacts the cover.

Abstract: An electronic weapon impedes locomotion by a target by conducting a current through an electrode and through the target to produce contractions in skeletal muscles of the target. The weapon may include a deployment unit to deploy one or more electrodes in trajectories toward the target. The deployment unit may include covered tubes for the electrodes. Removing the cover may be accomplished with a ram urged against the interior of the cover by an electrode. The cover may include frangible material with grooves for repeatable material separation. The cover may include fasteners that simplify assembly of the cover onto the body of the deployment unit. The fasteners may include hooks with grooves that disjoin from the cover enabling a more repeatable removal of the cover. Electrode trajectories are more accurate as a result of operation of the rams and the structures of the frangible cover.