A nonlethal bullet includes a casing having an open front end with a frangible rubber bullet head seated therein. The bullet head includes a tip with an opening thereon that is in communication with an interior chemical chamber. A plug adhesively secured within the opening is driven into the chemical chamber upon impact with a target. Accordingly, when the bullet is fired by a weapon and strikes an intruder or assailant, the plug is driven into the chemical chamber, causing the tip to splinter, releasing the incapacitating agent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nonlethal firearm bullet that merely incapacitates an intruder or assailant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Many homeowners maintain various weapons to defend themselves against an intruder or an assailant. Because a firearm is designed to kill, many victims refuse to discharge it in a threatening situation to avoid the guilt and mental anguish usually associated with killing or injuring another person. Therefore, a firearm can be a useless form of protection for many people.

Accordingly, there is a need for a firearm bullet that will not fatally wound a target. A review of the prior art reveals a few nonlethal bullets that are designed to temporarily incapacitate an assailant. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,025 issued to Payne discloses a non-penetrating, drug-injecting bullet including a body formed of an elastomeric material that deforms when impacting a target. Within the bullet is a chamber having an incapacitating agent therein. A hypodermic needle extends from the chamber toward a bullet nose. Upon impact with a target, the bullet collapses, allowing the needle to inject the incapacitating agent.

U.S. Pat. No.7,143,699issued to Brock discloses a bullet having a nose cap with a plurality of slits that cause the nose cap to spread upon impact to release a dye or an irritant.

Though several incapacitating bullets exist in the prior art, they have several deficiencies. Though the patent to Brock discloses a bullet that spreads upon impact, it is formed of leaves that are separated only by slits. The leaves terminate at distal contiguous ends that coalesce at the bullet tip. Therefore, because the leaves are only separated by direct impact with a target, a minimal collision may leave the bullet intact, preventing release of the irritant.

Conversely, the present invention includes a plug seated within an aperture on a frangible bullet head that is driven into a chemical chamber upon impact to release an incapacitating agent. The exposed central aperture facilitates splintering of the frangible bullet head to minimize harm to the target, and to assure release of the incapacitating agent. Furthermore, the present invention includes a pad between the bullet head and a propellant to tamper acceleration thereby further minimizing serious injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A nonlethal bullet includes a casing having an open front end with a frangible rubber bullet head seated therein. The bullet head includes a tip with an opening thereon that is in communication with an interior chemical chamber. A plug adhesively secured within the opening is driven into the chemical chamber upon impact with a target. Accordingly, when the bullet is fired by a weapon and strikes an intruder or assailant, the plug is driven into the chemical chamber, causing the tip to splinter, thereby releasing the incapacitating agent.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a nonlethal bullet that incapacitates an impacted target.

It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a bullet that immediately releases an incapacitating agent upon impact.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a bullet including a casing1having a closed rear end2with a rim thereon3and an open front end4. Attached to the rear end is a primer5that is struck by a gun's firing pin to ignite a low-power propellant6within an interior compartment. The charge of the propellant is reduced relative to that of conventional bullets to prevent bodily penetration. As such, the propellant is designed to create a muzzle velocity of approximately 200 feet per second or less and a maximum range of approximately 50 feet.

Seated within the open front end is a rubber bullet head7having a planar base8and a rounded tip9. The bullet head is coated with a lubricated plastic, such as that commonly marketed and sold under the trademark Teflon™, to prevent the rubber from clinging to a gun barrel or an auto-loading ramp. Positioned between the base and the propellant is a wool felt pad10that diminishes acceleration of the bullet head upon firing. The rounded tip includes an opening11in communication with an interior chemical chamber12containing a volatile incapacitating agent13. Adhesively bonded within the opening is a plug15that is driven into the chemical chamber upon impact. The incapacitating agent can be ammonia, insecticide, capsaicin, chloracetophenone, ortho-chlorobenzylidene or any other substances that temporarily affect vision, consciousness or other senses. As an option, the chemical chamber could also include an electrified barb14powered by a super-capacitor20or similar means that penetrates the skin to further incapacitate a target in a similar manner as a Taser weapon.

Accordingly, when the bullet is fired by a weapon and strikes an intruder, the plug is driven into the chemical chamber, causing the tip to splinter and separate like a flower, thereby preventing the bullet head from penetrating the target's skin. Furthermore, the incapacitating agent is quickly disseminated to the atmosphere to disable the intruder.

The above-described device is not limited to the exact details of construction and enumeration of parts provided herein. Preferably, the bullet head7is constructed with a 45+/−5 Shore A hardness Neoprene rubber, a 45+/−5 Shore A hardness EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) foam or a similar frangible material. The high-density foam will react similarly to the rubber and will cause the incapacitating agent to be dispersed and the bullet to splinter in the desired manner. The EPDM product can be extruded into molds, creating bullet heads that do not require further machining, and which will accept the incapacitating-agent housing as configured. However, the size, shape and materials of construction of the various components can be varied without departing from the spirit of the present invention.