Noncircular Projectile Or Cartridge Patents (Class 102/436)
  • Patent number: 11009321
    Abstract: This invention relates to less-lethal munitions. More particularly, the invention relates to a wad and a less-lethal round of ammunition adapted for use with a conventional firearm, which less-lethal shell enables the firearm to propel less-lethal projectiles therefrom. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a wad operatively received within an ammunition casing, the wad comprising a substantially disc-shaped base; and a plurality of tabs extending from the base defining a receiving zone therebetween, with at least some of the tabs provided with an inwardly projecting formation for urging against a projectile operatively received within the receiving zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: BYRNA TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Andre Johann Buys
  • Patent number: 10684106
    Abstract: A projectile for use in a cartridge having a longitudinal axis, a leading end region, a trailing end region, and a chamber therebetween. The projectile is mounted in the leading end region and has a base. The base of the projectile is provided with one or more aerodynamically contoured features that receive forces generated by a propellant. The aerodynamically contoured features are concave or convex or are a combination of concave and convex so that some of the forces produce forwardly directed and rotational motion of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Inventors: Michael William Gray, Ariana Gray
  • Patent number: 10209021
    Abstract: An interlocking, positioning and firing device for a toy gun includes a trigger element, top portion formed on the trigger element, at least one toggle assembly configured on one side of the trigger element and bullet room element configured on one side of the toggle assembly, bullet placement spaces formed on the bullet room element, at least one interlocking element configured on one side of the trigger element and operated in cooperation therewith and hitting assembly configured on one side of the interlocking element and operated in cooperation therewith to hit bullets. Whereby, the bullets can be mounted inside the bullet placement spaces, and the toggle assembly can be forced to toggle the bullet room element by propping the top portion against the toggle assembly and the hitting element cannot be acted until the bullet is positioned correspondingly to the hitting element when the trigger element is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: KIEN WELL TOY INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shun-Chi Huang
  • Patent number: 9423222
    Abstract: A less-than-lethal (LTL) cartridge is disclosed. The LTL cartridge includes a case, a sabot that includes an end portion configured to fit within the case, and an interior volume configured to contain a teardrop-shaped bladder. The sabot is configured to release the teardrop-shaped bladder subsequent to exiting a barrel of a firearm. The teardrop-shaped bladder includes a leading end, a tapered body with weakened sections to facilitate rupturing of the tapered body upon impact with an object, a trailing end, and a drogue tail coupled to the trailing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Toby D. Thomas, Jonathan H. Record
  • Patent number: 8899139
    Abstract: A disruptor system includes a plurality of launcher cartridges each including a casing having a closed rearward end and an open forward end defining a cavity. A propellant and payload are carried within the cavity proximate the rearward end. A mounting base is included, having a breach portion defining a back surface and a plurality of barrel portions terminating at a forward end. Each barrel portion defines a bore, the bore open at the forward end. Each bore receives one of the plurality of launcher cartridges. A firing mechanism is coupled to each of the plurality of cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventors: Johnathan M. Brill, Howard D. Kent, Randolph J. Brill
  • Patent number: 5469650
    Abstract: An aerodynamic planar projectile carries an exposed propellant charge. The projectile is loaded into a specially designed gun that has a firing chamber and a barrel designed to receive and guide the projectile. When the trigger is pulled, an electric current heats an element which ignites the propellant. The propellant explodes driving the projectile from the chamber and down the barrel with lethal velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: John S. Singer
  • Patent number: 5469790
    Abstract: An aerodynamic planar projectile carries an exposed propellant charge. The projectile is loaded into a specially designed gun that has a firing chamber and a barrel designed to receive and guide the projectile. When the trigger is pulled, an electric current heats an element which ignites the propellant. The propellant explodes driving the projectile from the chamber and down the barrel with lethal velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: John S. Singer
  • Patent number: 5020438
    Abstract: A projectile includes a body having one of a number of geometric shapes which have a plurality of blades. The projectile may be divisible into two substantially equal portions. The portions have a number of blades disposed across their respective surfaces. Moreover, a blade may encircle the periphery of the projectile and may be sandwiched between the portions once assembled to one another. In one embodiment, the blades may be removed so that they may be replaced when they become dulled through use. Alternatively, the blades may be removed, sharpened, and returned to their appropriate positions on the projectile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Inventor: Jim W. Brown
  • Patent number: 4996924
    Abstract: Aerodynamical air foil surface and subsurface expressions and/or impressions of varied geometrics, angles of attack, heights and depths, comprising part of a projectile surface itself to create McClain effect molecular friction/pressure/temperature reaction flight control surfaces which automatically achieve in all fluids and velocities of flight self-stablizing spin and rotation, increased height of trajectory with corresponding enhancement of range and distance, kinetic energies, inducing smooth laminar boundary layer flows, substantially decreasing drag effects, synergistically combined to constitute a major technological improvement in performance of all projectiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Inventor: Harry T. McClain
  • Patent number: 4932306
    Abstract: A projectile is accelerated to hypersonic velocity in an initially closed barrel of a diameter considerably larger than the projectile diameter which is filled with a compressed fuel-oxidizer mixture. The projectile comprises a conical nose portion, an intermediate portion formed to generate oblique detonation waves, and a tapering tail portion provided with several radial vanes. The projectile is propelled by an initiator gun at supersonic speed through one of the intitially closed ends in the barrel, were the detonation waves cause detonation and combustion of the fuel-oxidizer mixture. The detonation results in a high pressure increase to the rear of the projectile accelerating it along the barrel and shooting it at the reached hypersonic speed through the other, initially closed end of the barrel into the open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Inventor: Josef Rom
  • Patent number: 4887534
    Abstract: An improved ignition system for a fin-stabilized, high intrusion projectile (10) comprises an elongated boom (14) and a hollow fin assembly (16) which extends rearwardly into an external cartridge case (28) containing a consumable containment bag (30) filled with granular propellant (34), and which fits slidably over a primer (54). The primer (54) comprises a stub flash tube (56) extending through the base (40) of the external cartridge case (28) and a long igniter cartridge (58) fitted within the axial bore of the stub flash tube (56). The outer walls of the igniter cartridge (58) are fabricated from a combustible material such as paper, and the interior of the igniter cartridge (58) is filled with strands of benite or a similar explosive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Dickovich, Steven P. Neubauer
  • Patent number: 4858511
    Abstract: An electromagnetic railgun launcher and armature. The armature is made from superconducting material and is levitated between the rails of the launcher by the Meissner effect. The Meissner effect is created by cooling the armature and subjecting it to a magnetic field. The armature configuration has a closed loop topology and defines two planes - one plane coincides with the plane of the rails; the other plane is oblique to the first. The armature configuration, when placed between the rails receives an unbalanced Lorentz force which accelerates the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Louis J. Jasper, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4683824
    Abstract: A cartridge launched spin stabilized disk for deploying chaff (radar countermeasure dipoles) or other expendable materials or substances from a moving aircraft. The disk, containing the expendable material is ejected from the aircraft at some elevation angle and at an angle in azimuth off of the aircraft line-of-flight and dispenses the expendable material in a more or less uniform fashion for a brief period of time as it travels away from the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Inventor: Robert L. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 4653403
    Abstract: Apparatus for ejecting and dispersing a payload of passive radiation interference material into the near vicinity of a tactical aircraft comprises a cartridge case adapted for carrying and launching at least one cylindrical payload disk, the cartridge case having a lineal length of rack teeth within its bore and the payload disk having at least a portion of its exterior circumferential extent with matching gear teeth such that upon explosively pressurizing the cartridge case the payload disk is ejected exhibiting high linear and rotational velocities. The payload disk has tapered bore wall surfaces which confine the payload material and upon being ejected the spin-stabilized payload disk disperses the payload substantially uniformly within the first few milliseconds after leaving the cartridge case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Inventor: Robert L. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 4327884
    Abstract: An unconventional advanced air-to-surface weapon of monowing configuration, and having a symmetrical, high lift fuselage of lenticular (i.e., biconvex or oblate) cross section, with a width-to-thickness fineness of approximately 2.5. The longitudinal profile is modified Sears-Haack in two dimensions, truncated at the base for a rocket nozzle. The weapon comprises a nose portion modular forebody, a weapon payload portion modular midbody, and an aft boattail modular portion which are combined into one unit that is selectively separable into its modular components when used. A variation of this weapon is also taught which features a semi-lenticular fuselage cross section (i.e., one flat side) and a width-to-thickness fineness of approximately 2.1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: William S. Lawhorn