Grenade Patents (Class 102/482)
  • Patent number: 6543364
    Abstract: A launchable, multi-sensory distraction grenade including a base, three outer grenade walls arranged together on the base to pivotally move from a first position, to a second position, extending outward laterally from the base in different directions, to form lateral legs to support the base after it lands on a surface, a plurality of spring fingers retaining the walls in contact with the base, at least two distraction devices mounted in the grenade for initiating an extended period of personnel distraction in the area of the grenade with its walls in their second position, a distraction device ignitor and safety trigger at least a portion of which is external the casing for controlling the ignition means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Scientific Applications & Research Associates
    Inventors: James A. Wes, Genyvieve A. Donne, John P. Deering, Jay B. Cleckler, Michael W. Zintl
  • Patent number: 6474240
    Abstract: A system for attaching a priming system onto the body of a grenade, including a support integrally fastened to the grenade body and incorporating a thin cylindrical wall whose upper edge is crimped onto the priming system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Giat Industries
    Inventors: Patrice Chemiere, Philip Fouqueau, Jean-Paul Dupuy
  • Publication number: 20020108526
    Abstract: A launchable, multi-sensory distraction grenade including a base, three outer grenade walls arranged together on the base to pivotally move from a first position, to a second position, extending outward laterally from the base in different directions, to form lateral legs to support the base after it lands on a surface, a plurality of spring fingers retaining the walls in contact with the base, at least two distraction devices mounted in the grenade for initiating an extended period of personnel distraction in the area of the grenade with its walls in their second position, a distraction device ignitor and safety trigger at least a portion of which is external the casing for controlling the ignition means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: James A. Wes, Genyvieve A. Donne, John P. Deering, Jay B. Cleckler, Michael W. Zintl
  • Patent number: 6408765
    Abstract: A breaching device for controlled blasting of an object at short range includes a blasting element including an explosive charge contained within a housing, the blasting element being configured to blast the object from a preset distance. Connected to, and extending from, the housing is a stand-off rod having a length equal to the preset distance. A pyrotechnic lead pellet is associated with the blasting element and with the stand-off rod so as to detonate the explosive charge upon impact of the stand-off rod with the object. A tail is provided for stabilizing the device during its flight to the object. The tail is connected to the blasting element through a “safe and arm” device and a safety connector configured to reduce shock forces acting on the tail resulting from detonation of the explosive charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: State of Israel-Ministry of Defense Armament Development Authority-Rafael
    Inventors: Zvi Tauber, Joseph Teper
  • Patent number: 6349650
    Abstract: A tear gas grenade having a pressurized CO2 container oriented with a top in the trajectory direction to a target area and in facing relation to a top-piercing component across a clearance of a tracking compartment therebetween, in the operation of which a fuel-produced gas expands to simultaneously urge the top-piercing component in descending movement puncturing the CO2 container and also sealing the tracking compartment against venting of the fuel-produced gas and, after a time interval of contraction of the fuel-produced gas, the CO2 pressure urges the top piercing component in ascending movement unblocking the puncture opening in a container top and also unsealing the tracking compartment, to thereby correlate the expulsive effect of the CO2 to the time interval of the sealed contraction of the fuel-produced gas contributing to a tear gas consequence adjacent or in the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Brunn, Jacob Kravel
  • Patent number: 6227095
    Abstract: Migration of Di-Octyl Adipate (DOA) from PBXN-9 main charge into an adjacent PBXN-5 booster charge is the leading cause for unreliable and inefficient detonations when these two insensitive munition explosives are in close proximity. A hermetic seal of metal foil is interposed between the booster and main charges to block migration of DOA chemicals between the charges. This prevents plasticizing and/or desensitizing the booster charge and possible catastrophic accidental detonations or highly undesirable explosive desensitization which might create unexploded ordnance. The hermetic seal may also have a first portion of metal foil covering the surface of a bore in the booster charge and second portions of metal foil covering the surface of bores in the main charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert Woodall, Felipe Garcia, Gilberto Irizarry
  • Patent number: 6065404
    Abstract: A re-usable simulated grenade is provided that may be utilized by soldiers training with a multiple integrated laser engagement system (MILES). The simulated grenade includes a central core having a blast chamber that contains a non-lethal quantity of an explosive detonated by a manually actuatable detonator mechanism. The core has a plurality of omni-directional passages containing a filer which is ejected to simulate the blast pattern of an actual grenade. A plurality of transducers such as infrared LED's, acoustic transducers or RF transducers are located on the core for emitting signals detectable by a plurality of sensors worn by a player within a predetermined proximity of the simulated grenade. A circuit including a pressure sensitive switch is located in the core and is connected to the transducers for energizing the same when the explosive is detonated. A player identification code (PID) is encoded onto the signals emitted by the transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Cubic Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen E. Ripingill, Jr., Larry W. Lind
  • Patent number: 5996503
    Abstract: A reusable gas-powered hand grenade is provided. A hand-held housing defi one or more launch tubes. A projectile is loaded in each launch tube with an obturator being positioned therein between the projectile and the launch tube's muzzle end. A sealed reservoir is maintained in the housing for storing a gas under pressure. A rupturing device is mounted in the housing for breaking the reservoir's seal upon impact therewith. A triggering mechanism coupled to the rupturing device maintains separation between the rupturing device and the seal until the triggering mechanism is activated. Once activated, the triggering mechanism moves the rupturing device to impact the seal so that gas pressure propels the projectile and obturator from the launch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert Woodall, Felipe Garcia
  • Patent number: 5886288
    Abstract: A hand grenade safety pin with attached pull ring which is installed with a rotative degree of movement and in one directional rotative traverse the pull ring clears a blocking arm so that the grenade can be detonated and, if circumstances warrant, an opposite rotative traverse restores the safety function of the safety pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Michael Brunn
  • Patent number: 5824945
    Abstract: A distraction device having a fuse assembly and a body which body has a sealed storage area for energetic pyrotechnic material. The device when operated produces noise and light without ejecta or forces of propulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Universal Propulsion Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley J. Barlog, Michael C. Magenot, Wilburn C. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5700971
    Abstract: A rapid-release smoke hand grenade comprising a manually actuatable igniter head (A) and an active mass member (B), wherein the striker located on the igniter head to initiate the chain of pyrotechnical activity is loaded by means of a safety clip so as to be safe to handle, the smoke-forming means located in the active mass member is in the form of combustible disc-shaped or disc sector-shaped thin leaves (flares) coated with smoke-forming agent based on red phosphorus which practically fill the canister of the active mass member around a capsule for the ignition/bursting unit located therein, the heavy components of this rapid-release smoke hand grenade are held together by connecting elements which are stable when it bursts, and the essential components of the grenade preferably consist of aluminium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Buck Werke GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Peter Rayer, Norbert Wardecki, Karl Raupp
  • Patent number: 5659147
    Abstract: A millimeter wave screening cloud-forming product is made by forming comped hollow disks of carbon fiber cut to a desired length. The handleable disks are stacked inside a grenade body forming a hollow cylindrical shape. A high explosive mass is inserted into the resulting compacted hollow cylinder, enabling bursting of the compacted mass to release the individual carbon fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: William G. Rouse, John P. Fiala, Lisa A. Caudill, Connie S. Kilgore
  • Patent number: 5654523
    Abstract: A stun grenade (10) for generating an explosion accompanied by light and/or blaring sound is disclosed. The stun grenade comprises a housing (12) having a body (14), a base (24) and a cover (34) defining an interior cavity (18) housing a cartridge (22) containing an explosive charge (20). A plurality of vents (30, 40) are defined in the housing (12), and a defining wall (32, 42) of each vent is angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the cavity (18) for discharging explosive energy radially outwardly from the grenade. The stun grenade also includes a bore (25) for facilitating the releasable securement of a variety of attachments, such as a clamp (200) and a tear gas container (206).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Combined Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Brunn
  • Patent number: 5354225
    Abstract: A housing is arranged to include a fluid chamber, with the fluid chamber arranged with a surrounding pneumatic chamber. A piston member is arranged for sliding displacement along the reservoir chamber upon removal of a release pin, such that upon the piston exposing pneumatic entry ports into the fluid chamber effects pressurization of fluid within the fluid chamber and expels such fluid in an array from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: Scott G. Hix
  • Patent number: 5153371
    Abstract: A weapon arranged to travel in a given orientation when in flight, has a body and a ribbon. The body has a payload casing and a spindle rotatably mounted at the rear of the payload casing. The ribbon is formed into a flexible loop for trailing behind the body in flight. This ribbon is attached to the spindle. The ribbon has an impelling surface shaped to apply a torque to the spindle when in flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by The Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: John C. Grau, William G. Kuhnle, Arthur J. Fiorellini
  • Patent number: 5107766
    Abstract: A follow-thru grenade for military operations in urban terrain uses a microsecond delay fuzed warhead to breach a target will to allow a deflector protected anti-personnel millisecond delay fuzed grenade to proceed through the wall breach to attach enemy personnel behind the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Inventors: Harold R. Schliesske, William Moscatiello, deceased, by Caroline Moscatiello, Administratrix
  • Patent number: 5074218
    Abstract: A grenade with dual fuses for simulating small arms fire comprises: a hollow cylindrical housing including a first threaded end and a second open end; a main filler charge being located within the housing proper; means for covering the end of the main filler charge which is adjacent the housing open end; means being compressively connected to the housing open end for securing the main filler charge within the housing; a main igniting fuse being fitted onto the housing threaded end; a cup shaped member being located inside the housing in between the main igniting fuse and the main filter charge; a propelling charge being located in between the cup shaped member, the housing threaded end, and the main igniting fuse; a first straight fuse being responsive to the main igniting fuse and being located in between the main igniting fuse and the main filler charge; a second L-shaped fuse being responsive to the main igniting fuse and being located in between the main igniting fuse, the propelling charge, and the cup s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Inventor: Joseph Castro
  • Patent number: 5074217
    Abstract: Multiple use grenade, characterized in that it principally consists in the combination of a telescopic grenade (2) of a type in itself know, for example a grenade capable of being launched with the assistance of a rifle, and a fuse-plug (1) for a hand grenade, also of a type which is known.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Fabrique Nationale Herstal
    Inventor: Andre Gabriels
  • Patent number: 4969397
    Abstract: A grenade projectile has a projectile housing having a fragmentation length portion; an explosive charge accommodated in the projectile housing and being surrounded by the fragmentation length portion; a forwardly acting shaped charge liner bounding the explosive charge at a front end thereof, as viewed in the flight direction of the projectile; and a percussion fuse assembly accommodated in the projectile housing behind the explosive charge as viewed in the flight direction. The percussion fuse assembly includes a percussion member, a flight acceleration-responsive first safety arrangement and a centrifugal force-responsive second safety arrangement for arming the percussion member when the projectile reaches a predetermined acceleration and a predetermined spin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Gunther, Jurgen Funk, Siegfried Quick, Hans Orth
  • Patent number: 4942820
    Abstract: A fragmentation device includes a core of munitions in the form of a sphere. The sphere of munitions is surrounded by a spherical outer shell of a rubberized material. Further provide is a fuze at the surface of the internal rubberized material which is an electrical communication with a detonator which is embedded within the spherical core of munitions. The rubberized spherical shell is provided with spherically symmetrical fractures which radiate out from the core to insure a symmetrical dispersion of the force associated with the detonated munitions core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Inventor: Stephen D. Sawruk
  • Patent number: 4932328
    Abstract: Stun grenade includes a steel housing having a steel tubular body with steel end members brazed to the ends of the tubular body, and a brass collar member threadably received in a threaded central opening in one of the end members for supporting an explosive charge in the housing. At the inner end of the collar member is a cylindrical portion to which a tubular container filled with the explosive charge is attached. The outer diameter of the tubular container is less than the minimum diameter of the threaded opening in the one end member to permit the tubular container to be inserted through the threaded opening while attached to the collar member. At the outer end of the collar member is a threaded recess for threaded receipt of a fuse member externally of the housing. A flash hole in the collar member directs a flash which is produced when the fuse member is activated into the tubular container to ignite the explosive charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Def-Tec Corporation
    Inventors: Barry D. Pinkney, Donald L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4932329
    Abstract: A simulated hand grenade has a lightweight frangible outer shell of STYROFOAM (trademark), a small charge within the shell, fuse means for delayed detonation of the charge, and ignition means for activating the fuse means. In the preferred embodiment, there is a dye such as tempera powder within the shell. The fuse means is a lacquered igniter wire, commonly sold to hobbyists as "cannon fusing", which burns to provide a delayed detonation of in the range of two to ten seconds after ignition. The ignition means has a spring-loaded hammer arranged to impact a cap when released, to thereby explode the cap. The cap is positioned immediately adjacent to the end of an igniter wire such that igniter the wire is ignited by the explosion of the cap. The spring-loaded hammer is held against release by an overlying spoon pivotally installed on the top of the simulated grenade and secured against accidental release by a pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Inventor: Glenn S. Logie
  • Patent number: 4903604
    Abstract: An ignition transfer medium for interconnecting the ignition and pyrotechnic stages of a pyrotechnic device comprises activated fibrous carbon, such as activated charcoal cloth, on which an inorganic oxidizer and possibly other substances have been deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Majesty's Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Francis M. Blewett, Gary E. J. Pike, Anne F. Sykes
  • Patent number: 4846070
    Abstract: Telescopic grenade, characterized in that it features means (29-35) that ensure safety in the transport/storage position and means (22-19-20-21-29) that determine, under the effect of the propellent gasses, a relative transfer between the component parts (5-15) of the tail (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Fabrique Nationale Herstal, en abrege FN, societe anonyme
    Inventor: Andre Gabriels
  • Patent number: 4817532
    Abstract: Fragmentation shell for grenades, particularly hand-grenades, consisting of a hollow body, the wall of which is made of metal particles embedded in plastic and which has a form stretched out of the spherical, e.g. an egg-shaped. The wall of the fragmentation shell in the transition zone between bottom surface and side surface and/or between shoulder surface and side surface has an axially symmetrical thickening, with an increased density of metal particles compared with the adjacent wall zones of the fragmentation shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Oregon Etablissement fur Patentverwertung
    Inventor: Hans Assmann
  • Patent number: 4781118
    Abstract: A grenade body, in particular for hand grenades, comprising a muti-part fragmentation body which forms a hollow body and which comprises metal particles (7) embedded in plastics material, and an outer casing of plastics material which encloses the fragmentation body, wherein the parts (1, 2) of the fragmentation body interengage positively at the connecting surfaces (6). The preferably substantially spherical metal particles (7) project with only a small distance beyond the connecting surface (6) when the fragmentation body is assembled. In the region of the conecting surfaces (6), the inner layer of particles is displaced relative to the outer layer of particles by approximately half a particle diameter (FIG. 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Oregon Establissement fur Patentverwertung
    Inventor: Hans Assmann
  • Patent number: 4726295
    Abstract: A grenade arrangement for forming a visual and infrared screening cloud, having a frangible body, a hollow cylindrical solid compact cohesive mass of compacted generally mutually adhered fine metal flakes of a copper composition, particularly brass, and of submicron thickness and multimicron in lateral dimensions, a cylindrical mass of HE explosive within such hollow cylindrical mass for aerosoling such metal flakes into the atmosphere, and having HE explosive percussisvely activating detonator means, a launch propulsion charge and pyrotechnic delay means between the propulsion charge and the HE explosive detonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: AAI Corporation
    Inventors: Janon F. Embury, Jr., Leonard R. Sellman, Werner W. Beyth, Raymond R. Fry, Jr., Merlin L. Erickson, Leon R. Milstead, Laban R. Lowe, David M. Scheve, Robert W. Schnepfe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4699063
    Abstract: In an explosive practice hand grenade a ring containing inorganic particles is encased in a shell and substantially completely enclosed by an explosive charge. The ring is practically pulverized during detonation so that no effective fragments are formed. The ring is manufactured by compressing a metal or metal oxide powder. The inventive explosive practice hand grenade has substantially the same properties or characteristics as a combat-duty fragmentation hand grenade, however, has the advantage that the inventive explosive practice hand grenade, during its explosion, generates only a minimum fragment action and thus ensures the safety of personnel to be trained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft vertreten durch die Eidg. Munitionsfabrik Altdorf der Gruppe fur Rustungsdienste
    Inventors: Paul Aschwanden, Robert Hodler
  • Patent number: 4515083
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of the invention are directed to a fragmentation casing for a munition in which the size and distribution pattern of the shrapnel is carefully controlled. Typically, the casing is formed from a stacked array of rings in which angularly oriented inner and outer surface grooves form apertures at the mutual intersections. Through control of ring size, groove depth and shape, a light-weight, efficient fragmentation casing is provided in which the size, shape and bursting pattern of the resulting shrapnel is regulated in a predetermined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: Anthony M. Caruso
  • Patent number: 4513667
    Abstract: A different, or additional safety mechanism is provided for hand grenades and other munitions. Illustratively, a latch, pivotally mounted on the safety handle or explosive filling plug of a conventional fragmentation grenade immobilizes the otherwise free end of the grenade's safety handle. In this way, the ring and safety pin combination can be eliminated because the latch now provides an alternate safety. The latch also prevents the dangerous field abuse of carrying grenades from accouterment or uniforms by means of the safety handles or the safety pin rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Inventor: Anthony M. Caruso
  • Patent number: 4444116
    Abstract: This hand grenade comprises a timer for preserving the user's safety when throwing the missile by breaking the pyrotechnic train of the fuse a stabilizing system utilizing the concurrent effects of a weighted ogive and a spread-out empennage adapted when released and operative to brake the missile by aerodynamic effect, thus improving the efficiency of the missile when striking with a low incidence a horizontal surface such as the roof of an armored vehicle. The fins of the empennage are released when removing a safety pin, thus causing the missile to be stabilized in a substantially vertical axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Luchaire S.A.
    Inventors: Luc Mitard, Claude Cabanel
  • Patent number: 4353301
    Abstract: A smoke grenade for providing screening. A container has in the lower portion thereof a discharge composition ignited by a primer composition for igniting an ignition/bursting composition which in turn ignites a set of easily ignitable smoke charges, preferably disc shaped smoke charges surrounding the ignition/bursting composition. Ahead of the first charges in the direction of travel of the grenade is a further smoke charge which is compact and hence more slowly ignitable than the first set of charges. A delay booster and a further primer composition ignite this further smoke charge after a delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: A/S Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker
    Inventor: Kjell O. Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 4329393
    Abstract: Coating compositions containing identifier particles are disclosed for the retrospective identification of articles. The compositions comprise a clear lacquer binder, visually-readable microparticles and reflective spotting particles. The reflective spotting particles facilitate location of the coating on the surface of the tagged article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James D. LaPerre, Donald L. O'Brien