Patent · US Expired

Non-lethal kinetic energy weapon system and method

US6298787A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
13References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 1999
Grant dateOct 9, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF42B12/34
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A non-lethal kinetic energy system comprises a propellant means in mechanical communication with the combination of a personnel target proximity detection means, an air bag carried in an uninflated condition, and a means to inflate the air bag responsive to a signal provided by the proximity detection means as the system approaches a personnel target. The system may include a delay element for selective adjustment of the kinetic energy delivered to the personnel target. The invention also provides a method of operating a non-lethal kinetic energy system comprising the steps of deploying the system toward a personnel target, sensing the proximity of the target, sending a signal to an air bag inflation means at a predetermined distance from the target, and inflating the air bag before impacting the target.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.