Expandable baton with sections made of dissimilar materials

An expandable baton includes a plurality of sections adapted to be stowed in a nested, collapsed position. The sections may be opened by swinging the baton in a whipping action into a locked extended position. Each of these sections may be made of similar or dissimilar materials, with the tip section having at least a portion being made of a relatively high mass material to preserve strike force when used in a whipping motion and the largest, handle section being made of a lightweight material to reduce weight of the overall baton. Intermediate sections may be included and may be made of either the lightweight material or the heavy mass material, as desired, taking into consideration force requirements in combination with overall balance and weight objectives.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
1. Field of Invention 
The subject invention is generally related to nightsticks, batons and 
intermediate impact weapons and is specifically directed to an expandable 
baton for use by law enforcement personnel. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Nightsticks and batons are well known and have gained widespread acceptance 
as intermediate force weapons for use by law enforcement personnel. One of 
the best known of these weapons is the ASP Expandable Baton manufactured 
by Armament Systems and Procedures, the assignee of the subject 
application. Typically, the ASP Baton includes three telescoping sections, 
the outer, largest section defining a handle adapted for receiving and 
nesting the remaining sections when the baton is in a collapsed position. 
In this position, the baton is approximately 8 to 10 inches long and can 
be carried by law enforcement personnel in a suitable sheath on the belt 
of the uniform. The baton is adapted to be drawn quickly from the sheath 
and opened in a swinging action for whipping the nested sections out to an 
extended position and locking them in position for use as an intermediate 
force weapon. 
Over the years, it has been determined that the expandable batons required 
for use by law enforcement personnel must be of sufficient strength and 
durability to eliminate the sections from separating and "flying apart" 
when the baton is whipped open, particularly after repeated uses. In 
addition, it has been found that the deadlock taper joint for frictionally 
locking the telescoping sections in the extended position must be of a 
sufficient hardness to assure good friction without extensive deformation, 
extending the life of the baton while at the same time eliminating the 
tendency of the baton to bend at the various joints. The ASP Baton is the 
first baton to address many of these issues and utilizes a hardened, heat 
treated steel alloy for assuring proper function and durability, as 
required by law enforcement personnel. 
While the ASP Baton has greatly advanced the art relating to intermediate 
force weapons, its major drawback is the additional weight the baton adds 
to the standard issue equipment a law enforcement officer must carry on 
his person while on duty. Typically, law enforcement personnel carry 
portable two-way radios, firearms, ammunition, handcuffs, chemical 
irritants, and flashlights in addition to the intermediate force baton. 
When all of this equipment is positioned on the belt of the officer or 
elsewhere on his uniform, it adds substantially to the weight of the 
uniform and at times can become quite cumbersome. In an effort to reduce 
the weight requirements there has been a continuing move toward lighter 
weight equipment without sacrificing function. For example, many uniforms 
now have nylon issue belts rather than leather, the two-way radios have 
routinely become smaller and lighter in weight with the continuing 
development of solid state electronics. New battery sources and high 
intensity lamps have permitted flashlights to become smaller and lighter 
in weight. Side arms have continually gotten smaller and lighter in weight 
and are made of more exotic, lighter weight materials than their 
predecessors. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an intermediate force 
weapon which also contributes to the efforts to reduce the weight of 
equipment carried by law enforcement personnel. 
While the ASP Baton continues to meet and exceed the functional 
requirements of law enforcement agencies, it would be desirable to 
reconfigure the baton to provide a reduction in weight without a loss of 
function. Several attempts have been undertaken to resolve this problem. 
For example, a functional baton can be made out of a lightweight material 
such as aluminum. However, the lightweight material, while properly 
locking and resisting bending has not proven successful, even with its 
dramatic weight advantage, because of the drop in striking force 
particularly when used in a swinging fashion. 
When a law enforcement officer attempts to restrain an individual through a 
swinging action, the amount of force associated with the swing is 
attributable to the centrifugal force generated at the tip of the baton. 
Thus, the greater the weight of the baton and the longer the baton, the 
greater the force. Expandable batons, permitting a 9 inch stowed weapon to 
be expanded to approximately 26 inches, have greatly increased the length 
of the weapons usable by the law enforcement officer and have permitted a 
dramatic increase in the inertia provided by weapon use in a swinging 
fashion. In addition, the steel weight has also contributed greatly to the 
swinging force generated by the weapon. By substituting a lightweight 
material such as aluminum for the baton, the second factor of the equation 
has been reduced, greatly reducing the resulting impact force created by 
the swinging action. 
Therefore, there remains a desirability to provide a lightweight, 
expandable, intermediate force baton for use by law enforcement personnel 
which maintains the strike force capability of prior art batons while at 
the same time greatly reducing the weight of the weapon. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The subject invention is directed to a lightweight expandable baton wherein 
the various sections of the baton are made of dissimilar materials, 
permitting the baton to be lighter in weight while at the same time 
maintaining the durability and strike force capability of the baton. The 
baton of the subject invention recognizes that the strike force is 
primarily created by the centrifugal force generated by the mass at the 
tip of the baton. Therefore, the handle section and intermediate sections 
can be made of a lightweight material without greatly altering the impact 
force of the baton as long as the outer mass of the baton is maintained. 
The invention includes several alternative embodiments combining 
lightweight materials with high mass materials to create a lightweight 
intermediate force baton with good strike force capability. In the 
preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle section and any 
intermediate sections are made of a lightweight durable material such as 
aluminum. However, it will be readily recognized that other lightweight 
materials such as wound composites, carbon fibers and the like could also 
be used. The tip section of the baton is a hardened steel material which 
has the same mass and function as the tip section of prior art batons. By 
placing the heavy mass at the outer tip end of the baton, the strike force 
capability of the baton is maintained virtually unchanged from the heavier 
prior art batons. 
In another embodiment, all three sections of the baton are constructed of 
light weight material, with a high density sleeve added to at least a 
portion of the tip section in order to increase its mass. Hardened steel 
inserts may also be included in the joint areas to increase joint 
durability. 
Numerous other combinations of heavy and light materials may be used to 
optimize the design for specific applications. It is a feature of the 
baton that the area of impact, which is the tip end section, includes a 
hardened lock surface, increasing the durability of the baton, 
particularly after repeated use. While lightweight locks have been found 
to be acceptable, the increased strength of the hardened lock on the outer 
tip increases the life of the baton while taking advantage of the 
lightweight materials for the inner telescoping sections. 
The typical intermediate force baton made in accordance with the subject 
invention weighs approximately 10 ounces. This contrasts with the typical 
all steel baton which weighs approximately 20 ounces. This significant 
weight advantage has an impact on the adaptability and acceptability of 
the baton by law enforcement personnel. By reducing the weight of the 
baton, coupled with the reduction in weight of the other equipment carried 
by the officer, the fatigue factor on the officer is reduced and, in 
addition, additional equipment can be carried without an overall increase 
in weight requirements. 
The lightweight expandable baton of the subject invention provides an 
improved intermediate force baton combining the lightweight materials in 
the handle and center sections with a high mass tip section to gain a 
weight advantage while retaining the desirable impact and durability 
features of a heavier mass baton at the strike force area. 
Therefore, it is an object and feature of the subject invention to provide 
a baton of lighter weight than an all steel baton without noticeable loss 
of strike force capability. 
It is also an object and feature of the subject invention to provide a 
baton utilizing a high mass at the strike force area while utilizing a 
lightweight material in the handle and intermediate area. 
It is a further object and feature of the subject invention to provide an 
expandable lightweight baton wherein the various sections of the baton are 
made of dissimilar materials having different specific weights and 
different hardnesses. 
It is yet another object and feature of the subject invention to provide a 
lightweight baton which has the durability and functional characteristics 
of heavier, all steel expandable batons. 
Other objects and features will be readily apparent from the accompanying 
drawings and description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
The baton 8 of the subject invention generally comprises an outer generally 
substantially cylindrical section 10 having an interior open cavity 12 
adapted for receiving the remaining sections 14 and 16 of the baton for 
stowing them in nested fashion. In the preferred embodiment, a resilient 
sleeve or cover 18 is positioned over the outer section 10 for providing a 
resilient, non-slipping handle by which the baton may be grasped during 
use. Typically, the baton section 10 includes a closure cap 20 at one end 
thereof for closing the open end. In the preferred embodiment, the cap 20 
is adapted to fit over the perimeter of the outer section 10, and is 
threadably received thereon, as at 22 for tightening the cap about and 
closing the open end. In assembly, the remaining nested sections 14 and 16 
of the baton are placed in the cavity 12, after which the cap 20 is placed 
in position and tightened for retaining the sections therein. Also, in the 
preferred embodiment, a nesting lock system 24 is secured in the cap 20 
and includes a dual leaf spring 28 or similar securing device having legs 
27, 29 which are adapted to be received in the hollow end of the tip 
section 16. The spring legs extend into the interior of the section 16 for 
engaging the inner peripheral wall to secure the baton for securing the 
baton in the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1. The preferred embodiment 
of the retainer clip is shown and described in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 
5,161,800, incorporated by reference herein. 
In the preferred embodiment, the opposite open end 30 of the outer section 
is tapered to define a reduced opening 32. The next adjacent baton section 
14 is likewise tapered at 33. The cylindrical portion of the section 14 
and the tapered portion 33 easily pass through the opening 32 of the outer 
section 10. The opposite end of the section 14 is flared as at 36. 
In the preferred embodiment, and as disclosed in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 
5,110,375 and incorporated herein by reference, the angle of taper at 30 
and the angle of flare at 36 are set to define a deadlock taper when the 
section 14 is whipped to the extended position shown in FIG. 2, wherein 
the flare 36 engages the taper 30 to lock the baton in the extended 
position. An end cap 40 may be provided and secured to the outer end of 
baton section 10 and includes an opening 42 suitable for passing the 
tapered portion 33 and the cylindrical portion of section 14, but not the 
flare 36, to permit the baton to be extended to the locked position shown 
in FIG. 2. 
In the preferred embodiment, an additional nested section 16 is housed in 
the hollow interior of section 14 and includes a flared end 44 which is 
adapted to engage the interior tapered wall 45 formed by the tapered end 
33 of section 14. The taper 45 and flare 44 engage to define a taper lock, 
as previously described. 
In the preferred embodiment, it is also desirable to provide an enlarged 
tip 47 which may be suitably secured to the outer end of the baton section 
16. For example, the enlarged tip 47 may include an integral post or stud 
48 having external threads and the interior wall of the section 16 may be 
internally threaded as at 50 for receiving and securing the threads 48 and 
securing the tip 47 in the baton section 16. 
In the subject invention, the extended tip section 16 of the baton is made 
of a heavy, hardened steel alloy to preserve the strike force created when 
using this baton in a swinging fashion by providing sufficient mass at the 
outer end of the baton to take advantage of the centrifugal force 
generated during a swinging or whipping action. However, to reduce the 
weight of the baton, the handle section 10 is made of a lightweight 
material such as aluminum, wound fibers or the like. Also, depending on 
the weight requirements, the intermediate section 14 of the baton may be 
made of aluminum or other lightweight materials, as desired. Of course, 
where weight is not as critical a factor, the intermediate section may be 
made of hardened steel. Thus, the subject invention permits the baton to 
be of selective weights and masses by interchanging the material of the 
intermediate section while maintaining the handle as an aluminum or other 
lightweight material and the outer tip section 16 of steel or other 
heavyweight, durable, hardened material. 
Additional weight alterations and balance adjustments of the baton may be 
achieved by using the modifications shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in 
FIG. 3, the tip section 16 of the baton has an inner end 68 which is of a 
straight or cylindrical taper and terminates at a flat end wall 60. A 
threaded pin 62 extends axially outward from the wall 60. A tapered lock 
insert or adapter 64 is provided with an internally threaded bore 65 
adapted to receive the pin 62 for securing the insert 64 to the tip 
section 16. The insert 64 may be made of a hardened material such as a 
hardened steel alloy or the like for increasing the strength of the taper 
lock defined by the insert flare 67 and the taper 45 of the adjoining 
sections. The lock insert 64 may be solid, as drawn, or may include a 
hollow cavity adapted for receiving and engaging the spring retainer 28 
when in the nested position. When the insert is solid, the spring retainer 
28 would be replaced with alternative nesting retainer means, such as a 
magnet or the like. 
Of course, an insert similar to lock insert 64 can also be incorporated in 
the inner end 36 of the intermediate section 14, further increasing the 
durability of the lock provided between the flare 36 and the taper 30 
between adjoining sections 10 and 14 when the baton is in the extended 
position. When the insert is so utilized, it is of a ring construction 
with a hollow core for accommodating the tip section 16 when in the nested 
position. 
As shown in FIG. 4, an alternative lock insert 70 can be constructed to 
form a rim 72 that extends radially outwardly from the outer perimeter 74 
of the tip section 16. As shown, the insert includes a threaded post 76 
extending axially from the rim 72 and the tip section 16 is internally 
threaded for receiving the post. The tip section 16 may be made of a light 
weight material. A hardened cylindrical sleeve 78 may be placed over tip 
section 16 to provide the added mass and weight. The sleeve 78 is held in 
position between rim 72 of insert 70 and the enlarged outer tip 47, see 
FIGS. 1 and 2. Of course, the insert 70 either may be solid or may include 
a hollow cavity for receiving retainer 28, as desired. 
Where desired, other locking systems could be substituted for the dead lock 
taper, while still incorporating the combination of light weight and heavy 
materials to meet weight and balance objectives. By way of example, a 
button detent lock system is shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 
5,149,092, incorporated by reference herein. 
The various features of the embodiments of the baton may be utilized in a 
variety of combinations to achieve the desired weight, balance and 
strength for any of a variety of applications, greatly increasing the 
versatility of the weapon. The subject invention provides a durable, 
lightweight baton, wherein the various sections of the baton may be made 
of lightweight materials or heavy mass materials, as desired in order to 
meet the strike force objectives combined with the weight and balance 
objectives for various uses. 
The baton of the subject invention provides a flexible design wherein mass 
considerations, strike force capability and weight issues can be addressed 
and met by using the proper selected combination of materials for each of 
the various sections 10, 14 and 16 of the baton without sacrificing 
function and durability, while accommodating the desire to reduce the 
overall weight of the equipment carried by law enforcement personnel. 
While specific embodiments and features of the invention have been 
disclosed herein, it will be readily understood that the invention 
encompasses all enhancements and modifications within the scope and spirit 
of the following claims.