Patents Assigned to PepperBall Technologies, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20100275895
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatuses for use in launching an inhibiting powder. These embodiments comprise a source of impulse pressure that induces a propellant pressure, a barrel cooperated with the source of impulse pressure to receive the propellant pressure, inhibiting powder positioned within an interior of the barrel, a burst diaphragm secured between the source of the impulse pressure and the inhibiting powder, and an actuator that activates the source of impulse pressure to deliver an expanding gas producing an increasing pressure that is applied to the burst diaphragm where the burst diaphragm bursts when the applied pressure exceeding a burst threshold, resulting in a release of the propellant pressure into the barrel to drive the inhibiting powder from the barrel in substantially an aerosol form generating a cloud of inhibiting powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: PEPPERBALL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Eric P. Wenaas, Edward J. Vasel, Joseph L. Goode
  • Patent number: 7752974
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatuses for use in launching an inhibiting powder. These embodiments comprise a source of impulse pressure that induces a propellant pressure, a barrel cooperated with the source of impulse pressure to receive the propellant pressure, inhibiting powder positioned within an interior of the barrel, a burst diaphragm secured between the source of the impulse pressure and the inhibiting powder, and an actuator that activates the source of impulse pressure to deliver an expanding gas producing an increasing pressure that is applied to the burst diaphragm where the burst diaphragm bursts when the applied pressure exceeding a burst threshold, resulting in a release of the propellant pressure into the barrel to drive the inhibiting powder from the barrel in substantially an aerosol form generating a cloud of inhibiting powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Pepperball Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Wenaas, Edward J. Vasel, Joseph L. Goode
  • Publication number: 20090266262
    Abstract: Projectiles and projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target. In some embodiments, the systems include a first part being non-spherical and having an exterior, a plurality of stabilizing fins secured with the exterior of at the first part, and a second part have a hollow portion containing an inhibiting substance, wherein the second part is sealed with the first part to seal the inhibiting substance within at least the hollow portion. The first part can similarly have a hollow portion such that a volume is defined by the hollow portion of the first part and the hollow portion of the second part, wherein the inhibiting substance is contained within the volume. The fins can be angled to provide spin stabilizing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: PEPPERBALL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Edward J. Vasel, Corey A. Fuzak
  • Patent number: 7526998
    Abstract: Projectiles and projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target. In some embodiments, the systems include a first part being non-spherical and having an exterior, a plurality of stabilizing fins secured with the exterior of at the first part, and a second part have a hollow portion containing an inhibiting substance, wherein the second part is sealed with the first part to seal the inhibiting substance within at least the hollow portion. The first part can similarly have a hollow portion such that a volume is defined by the hollow portion of the first part and the hollow portion of the second part, wherein the inhibiting substance is contained within the volume. The fins can be angled to provide spin stabilizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: PepperBall Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Vasel, Corey A. Fuzak
  • Publication number: 20090071459
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatuses for use in launching an inhibiting powder. These embodiments comprise a source of impulse pressure that induces a propellant pressure, a barrel cooperated with the source of impulse pressure to receive the propellant pressure, inhibiting powder positioned within an interior of the barrel, a burst diaphragm secured between the source of the impulse pressure and the inhibiting powder, and an actuator that activates the source of impulse pressure to deliver an expanding gas producing an increasing pressure that is applied to the burst diaphragm where the burst diaphragm bursts when the applied pressure exceeding a burst threshold, resulting in a release of the propellant pressure into the barrel to drive the inhibiting powder from the barrel in substantially an aerosol form generating a cloud of inhibiting powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: PEPPERBALL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Eric P. Wenaas, Edward J. Vasel, Joseph L. Goode
  • Publication number: 20090013893
    Abstract: A non-lethal projectile system for non-lethally inhibiting a living target, multi-functional launching devices for delivering the non-lethal projectile systems to a target, methods of assembling the non-lethal projectiles, and tactical methods of the use of the non-lethal projectile, the non-lethal projectile consists of a projectile body to be impacted with a living target and an inhibiting substance within the projectile body, wherein upon impact with the target, the inhibiting substance is dispersed on and about the target. In a variation, the projectile body ruptures upon impact releasing the substance. In another variation, the inhibiting substance is a powdered substance comprising a powdered pepper derived substance, for example, oleoresin capsicum or capsaicin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: PEPPERBALL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Edward J. Vasel, Scott C. Nunan
  • Publication number: 20080017179
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods for use in releasing gas from a compressed gas source. Some embodiments provide apparatuses for use in releasing compressed gas from a source that include a source of compressed gas, a puncture pin, a driving mechanism positioned relative to the source of compressed gas, and a trigger mechanism. Upon activation of the trigger mechanism the driving mechanism drives the compressed gas onto the puncture pin releasing the compressed gas from the source. In other embodiments, upon activation of the trigger mechanism the driving mechanism drives the puncture pin into the compressed gas releasing the compressed gas from the source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: PEPPERBALL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Vasel, Eric Wenaas
  • Publication number: 20070245919
    Abstract: Projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target, such as a human or animal target. In some embodiments, the projectile system includes a generally frangible projectile that is optimally filled to greater than about 50% with the substance to be delivered to the target, such that the substance is radially dispersed into a cloud upon impact. In one implementation, the substance delivered comprises a powdered inhibiting substance, such as a powdered pepper. In one implementation, the powdered inhibiting substance comprises a substance having one or more capsaicinoids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Pepperball Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Vasel, Scott Nunan, Gregory Niederhaus, Peter Coakley
  • Patent number: 7194960
    Abstract: Projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target, such as a human or animal target. In preferred embodiments, the projectile system includes a generally frangible projectile that is optimally filled to at least about 50%, with the substance to be delivered to the target, such that the substance is radially dispersed into a cloud upon impact. In one implementation, the substance delivered comprises a powdered inhibiting substance, such as a powdered pepper. In one implementation, the powdered inhibiting substance comprises a substance having one or more capsaicinoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: PepperBall Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Vasel, Scott C. Nunan, Gregory A. Niederhaus, Peter G. Coakley
  • Publication number: 20060027223
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide compact launching apparatuses for use in launching non-lethal projectiles. Some embodiments provide handheld apparatuses for use in launching non-lethal projectiles that include a source of compressed gas, an expansion chamber cooperated with the source of gas to receive gas released from the source of gas, a barrel having a bore aligned with an output of the expansion chamber, and a burst disk positioned between the barrel bore and the output of the expansion chamber. The burst disk is configured to rupture releasing the gas within the expansion chamber when the pressure within the expansion chamber. Some embodiments provide for quick reload devices with disposable portions of the apparatus. Some embodiments contain a gas pressure diffuser to enhance the ability to simultaneously launch multiple frangible projectiles. The present embodiments can be used offensively, and defensively as protection against threatening humans or animals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: PepperBall Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Vasel, Eric Wenaas
  • Publication number: 20060011090
    Abstract: Projectiles and projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target. In some embodiments, the systems include a primer only launched projectile system. The primer only launched projectile systems can include a shell, a primer, a propulsion shock damper and the projectiles. In some embodiments the systems can be used with standard shotguns or other standard guns. In some implementations, the primer can be a percussion or electrically activated primer. The propulsion shock damper is located within the shell such that a seal is formed between the propulsion shock damper and the shell casing. The relatively low kinetic projectiles are intended to be non-lethal, less than lethal or less lethal in nature, such that the projectiles impact a body with safe kinetics as not to penetrate the body in a lethal manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: Pepperball Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Edward Vasel, Eric Wenaas, Corey Fuzak
  • Publication number: 20050188886
    Abstract: A non-lethal projectile system for non-lethally inhibiting a living target, multi-functional launching devices for delivering the non-lethal projectile systems to a target, methods of assembling the non-lethal projectiles, and tactical methods of the use of the non-lethal projectile, the non-lethal projectile consists of a projectile body to be impacted with a living target and an inhibiting substance within the projectile body, wherein upon impact with the target, the inhibiting substance is dispersed on and about the target. In a variation, the projectile body ruptures upon impact releasing the substance. In another variation, the inhibiting substance is a powdered substance comprising a powdered pepper derived substance, for example, oleoresin capsicum or capsaicin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Applicant: PepperBall Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Vasel, Scott Nunan
  • Publication number: 20050016412
    Abstract: Projectiles and projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target. In some embodiments, the systems include a first part being non-spherical and having an exterior, a plurality of stabilizing fins secured with the exterior of at the first part, and a second part have a hollow portion containing an inhibiting substance, wherein the second part is sealed with the first part to seal the inhibiting substance within at least the hollow portion. The first part can similarly have a hollow portion such that a volume is defined by the hollow portion of the first part and the hollow portion of the second part, wherein the inhibiting substance is contained within the volume. The fins can be angled to provide spin stabilizing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: PepperBall Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Edward Vasel, Corey Fuzak