Abstract:
The present invention is a projectile launching system having an independently operable gas powered less-lethal launcher, which is capable of firing projectiles containing either incapacitating, debilitating, or marking agents for use during those situations when lethal force would be an inappropriate response. The gas powered launcher is ergonomically designed and comprises a receiver housing and receiver that are detachable from a stand-alone stock so that it can be attached to a mounting bracket located underneath the barrel of a rifle and, therefore, integrated with such rifle in order to provide both a lethal and a less-lethal capability for the user. One of the ergonomic features of the receiver is that it is designed to releasably carry a compressed gas container in a way that presents a favorable profile and a convenient and efficient trigger location, even after attachment of the receiver to the barrel of a rifle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/323,542, filed on Sep. 19, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference. Applicant claims the priority date benefits of that application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to compressed gas powered guns and, more particularly, to compressed gas powered guns that are capable of firing projectiles with a high degree of accuracy. 
     Law enforcement and military personnel become involved in a broad range of situations on a daily basis from the ordinary and the mundane to the life threatening. In many instances, however, including the training of personnel, riot control, and airline security or other such special circumstances, the use of a lethal weapon, which, by definition, is capable of inflicting deadly force, is not always an appropriate response in these situations. Therefore, having a means to provide a less-lethal response for a wide range of activities is desirable and is sought after by law enforcement and military personnel. 
     Several less-lethal devices are known in the prior art including bb guns, which are designed to propel small spherically shaped metallic projectiles, and paint ball guns, which are designed to propel small spherically shaped frangible projectiles. Generally, both of these guns use compressed gas and are considered as children&#39;s toys, but adults are known to use both of these weapons for various activities including target shooting and simulated war games as well. Other well known examples of weapons that are generally considered as being less-lethal include stun guns, tear gas launchers, and even fire hoses. 
     These weapons, however, suffer from various flaws including either the need for direct contact with the intended target, which, in many instances, can lead to the law enforcement personnel becoming involved in an unnecessarily dangerous confrontation, or the need for the target to be within relatively close range due to inherent ballistic inaccuracies, which, in many instances, can cause innocent bystanders to become accidentally injured. Another flaw with these weapons is that they lack the flexibility to be able to offer a lethal response when necessary. 
     Therefore, a need remains for a less-lethal device that has a significant range, is accurate over that range, and is designed to be an integral part of a system that is also capable of providing lethal force when necessary. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to its major aspects and briefly recited, the present invention is a compressed gas powered less-lethal launcher and launcher system intended for use by law enforcement or military personnel that is capable of firing less-lethal projectiles during conflict situations not requiring the use of deadly force. More specifically, the compressed gas powered less-lethal launcher and launcher system, in one preferred embodiment, is comprised of six major components: a receiver; a receiver housing; a barrel; a compressed gas canister (or cylinder) that is detachably mounted to the receiver housing, which is used for storing compressed gas; a stock that can be detachably mounted to the receiver and/or receiver housing; and a magazine for holding a plurality of projectiles. 
     A feature of the present invention is that it is capable of launching frangible projectiles through the use of compressed gas, which allows the invention to provide a less-lethal response through a variety of marking and/or debilitating agents. 
     Another feature of the present invention is that it can accurately launch a projectile over a significant range, which provides the advantage of allowing the present invention to be effectively used from a safe distance. 
     Still another feature of the present invention is its ergonomic design, which includes such features as: being lightweight; having a conveniently mounted compressed gas cylinder, which presents an improved profile, and which allows the trigger to be conveniently and efficiently positioned; having two hand grips, and having an easy-to-use safety mechanism. 
     It is a further feature of the present invention to be mechanically and operationally simple to use, yet be highly durable and reliable. 
     An additional feature is that besides the present invention receiver and receiver housing being mounted onto the present invention stock, the present invention can also be mounted onto a rifle such as a standard military rifle, including, but not limited to, an M-4 or an M-16, which provides the advantage of having both a less-lethal and a lethal option conveniently available to the user. 
     Still other features of the present invention include its novel projectile magazine, projectile magazine attaching means, and optional loading system, which provides the benefits of ease-of-use and speed-of-loading the magazine and, therefore, the less-lethal launcher. 
     Other features and their advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a careful reading of the Detailed Description of the Invention, accompanied by the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the less-lethal launcher, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a left side view of the launcher system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3A is a left side exploded view of the less-lethal launcher, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3B is a left side view of the less-lethal launcher, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a left side view of the main housing of the receiver, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the trigger and safety, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view of the magazine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6B is an front perspective view of the rotor wheel, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6C is an exploded front cross-sectional view of the magazine release mechanism assembly and the magazine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6D is an exploded rear cross-sectional view of the magazine release mechanism assembly and the magazine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded cross sectional view of the projectile storage tube, which is used to store projectile prior to loading the magazine, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the projectile loading system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9A is a left side view of the projectile storage tube reloading clamp, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9B is a front view of the projectile storage tube reloading clamp of FIG.  9 A. 
     FIG. 9C is a rear view of the projectile storage tube reloading clamp of FIG.  9 A. 
     FIG. 9D is a top view of the projectile storage tube reloading clamp of FIG.  9 A. 
     FIG. 10A is a side view of the hemispherical projectile that can be used with the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10B is a side view of the spherical projectile that can be used with the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10C is a side view of the hemispherical projectile that can be used with the present invention, according to a another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a detailed perspective view of the magazine release mechanism, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the less-lethal launcher, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the less-lethal launcher  1  of the present invention is shown. Preferably, the less-lethal launcher  1  discharges projectiles of the type, and in a manner, that allows the less-lethal launcher  1  of the present invention to be classified or characterized as a less-lethal launcher (or launching device). As shown in FIGS. 1,  3 A,  3 B, and  12 , the less-lethal launcher  1  includes, among other components, a stock  10 , a receiver  12 , a receiver housing  22 , a launcher barrel  14 , and a compressed gas container assembly  16 . The stock  10  allows the launcher to be held like a rifle. Alternatively, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the receiver  12  and receiver housing  22  are used as part of a launcher system  2 . The stock  10  can be removed from the less-lethal launcher  1  by depressing the release mechanism  19  on the left side of the receiver housing  22  (as shown in FIGS.  3 A and  3 B), and, preferably, the receiver  12  and the receiver housing  22  can be fitted to the underside of the barrel  9  of a rifle  3  (as shown in FIG.  2 ). Preferably, the rifle is a standard military rifle  3 , including, but not limited to, an M-16, as shown in FIG. 2; however, the less-lethal launcher  1  is not limited to being attachable only to a rifle; therefore, any other suitable base for the less-lethal launcher  1  can be used as well. In operation, after being attached to a rifle  3 , the launcher  1  and rifle  3  can be operated independently; however, the user of the launcher system  2  preferably uses the stock  6  and sights  7  of the rifle  3 , to which the receiver  12  and the receiver housing  22  are attached, when firing either the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2  or the rifle  3 . Therefore, when the receiver  12 , the receiver housing  22 , and the rifle  3  are attached to form the launcher system  2 , the launcher system  2  is provided with both a lethal and a less-lethal response capability, which increases the overall capability of the launcher system  2 . Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the attachment of the receiver  12  (and the receiver housing  22 ) to a rifle  3  is achieved by slidably and securely connecting the receiver mounting bracket  18  of the launcher  1  (i.e, of the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2 ) onto the adapter bracket assembly  4  attached to the rifle  3 . To release the receiver  12  (and the the receiver housing  22 ) from the rifle  3 , the user would operate the release mechanism  19  and then separate the receiver  12  (and the the receiver housing  22 ) from the rifle  3  by pulling them away from each other. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  3 A, and  3 B, a stock  10  having a receiver end  184  and an opposing butt end  186 , includes, among other components, a sight rail  188  which extends along a longitudinal axis  189  from the butt end  186  to the receiver end  184  of the stock  10 . The sight rail  188  has a front sight well  190 , which carries a front sight  191 , and a rear sight well  192 , which carries a rear sight  193 , and a mounting assembly  194  for mounting optional equipment. The mounting assembly  194 , which is formed between the front sight well  190  and the rear sight well  192 , is comprised of projections  195  lying transverse to the longitudinal axis  189  and may contain grooves  197  that are formed on both the right side and left side of the sight rail  188 . The stock  10  also includes: a lower rail  196  having a tapered distal end  199  and an opposing receiver mounting bracket stop end  198 , which may have a notch  201  that can be used for engaging and disengaging the stock  10  from the receiver  12  (and the the receiver housing  22 ); a pistol grip  200  formed on the lower surface of the stock  10 , which has a trigger guard alignment pin  202  formed onto its forward surface; and a stock butt  204  formed on the butt end  186  of the stock  10 . With the possible exception of the materials used to fabricate the sights  191  and/or  193  and the sight wells  190  and/or  192 , all of which are preferably made of aluminum, the stock  10  and its above-described components are preferably made of nylon. However, the stock  10  and any or all of its components (including the sights and the sight mounting components) can be made of any other suitable material that will be able to withstand the stresses commonly associated with the use of a launcher stock including, in the case of the present invention, being repeatedly attached and detached from the receiver  12  (and the the receiver housing  22 ). 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  3 A,  3 B,  4 ,  5 , and  12 , the main receiver housing  22  includes, among other components: a receiver  12 , which includes a trigger  34 , a safety  36 , and a receiver mounting bracket  18  having a release mechanism  19 ; a trigger guard  24 ; a first hand grip  26  located just forward of the trigger guard  24 ; a magazine well  28 ; a second hand grip  30 ; and a compressed gas container mounting bracket  32 , which is preferably located on the right side of the main receiver housing  22 , as shown in FIG.  12 . Preferably, the main receiver housing  22 , the release mechanism  19 , the integral trigger guard  24 , the first hand grip  26 , the second hand grip  30 , and the compressed gas container mounting bracket  32  are constructed of nylon; however, the main receiver housing  22  and any or all of the other described components can be constructed of any other suitable material that will be able to withstand the stresses associated with discharging projectiles using compressed gas and the use of the rifle  3  to which the receiver  12  (and the the receiver housing  22 ) may be attached. Relatedly, and preferably, the receiver  12 , the mounting bracket  18 , and the magazine well  28  are constructed of aluminum; however, the receiver  12  and these other components can be constructed of any other suitable metallic material that will be able to withstand the stresses associated with discharging less-lethal projectiles using compressed gas and the use of a rifle  3  to which the receiver  12  (and the the receiver housing  22 ) may be attached. A launcher barrel  14  having a muzzle end  13  and an opposing magazine end  15  is also attached to the main receiver housing  22 , and is generally used to improve the accuracy and the range of a projectile being discharged from the less-lethal launcher  1  (or the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2 ). Preferably, the launcher barrel  14  is constructed of aluminum; however, the launcher barrel  14  can be constructed of any other suitable material that will be able to withstand the stresses associated with discharging projectiles using compressed gas and the use of the rifle  3  to which the receiver  12  and the the receiver housing  22 , i.e., the projectile discharging portion  5 , may be attached. 
     The trigger guard  24  surrounds the trigger  34 , and the trigger safety  36 , which is pivotally attached to the receiver  12 . The trigger safety  36  can be placed in either a “safe” position, in order to block operation of the trigger  34  and, therefore, the projectile discharging launcher  1  or that portion of the launcher system  2 , (with the “safe” position being shown in FIGS.  3 A and  3 B), or in a “fire” position, which is shown in phantom. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the trigger mechanism&#39;s internal structure, and features the structure of the trigger safety  36 . As FIGS. 3A and 3B clearly show, the trigger safety  36  of the present invention benefits the user by providing a readily discernable visual indication as to whether it is, or it is not, in the “safe” position. 
     The magazine assembly  38  is shown in FIG.  6 A. The magazine assembly  38  is of the carousel type and, preferably, holds about 15 projectiles in individual chambers. The magazine assembly includes a front housing  40  having a front surface  39 , a spring housing  42 , a carousel-type rotor wheel  44 , and a rear housing  46  having a rear surface  47 . Preferably, with the exception of the spring  43  in the spring housing  42 , which is preferably made of steel, all of the other magazine assembly  38  components are made of plastic; however, these components can be made of any other suitable material that is able to withstand the stresses associated with discharging projectiles, being repeatedly inserted and removed from the magazine well  28 , being repeatedly loaded, and any of the other stresses associated with operating and servicing a projectile magazine assembly  38  under various operating conditions. Preferably, the front housing  40  and/or the front surface  39  is opaque in order to prevent any individual, which may be the user&#39;s intended target, from viewing the contents of the magazine assembly  38 , while the rear housing  46  and/or the rear surface  47  is translucent in order to provide the user with the capacity of readily ascertaining the type and number of projectiles remaining in the magazine assembly  38 . Preferably the front housing  40  and the rear housing  46  are connected together or mated by means of snap fittings  48  and  49 ; however, these housings can be connected together or mated by any other suitable means including, but not limited to the use of inside or outside threads, or tabs. When the front housing  40  and the rear housing  46  are connected together, or mated, they generally form a hollow cylindrical container within which the spring housing  42  and the rotor wheel  44  are carried. To carry the spring housing  42  and the rotor wheel  44 , the inside surface  41  of the front housing  40  has a spring housing mounting assembly that includes a cylindrical bracket  58 , which is slightly larger in diameter than the spring housing  42 , and a centrally located aperture  60  that is formed through the front housing  40 , which allows the spring housing  42  to be retained inside the cylindrical bracket  58  while still allowing the spring housing  42  to freely rotate about a center axis  59  for proper operation during the loading and the chambering of the projectiles. 
     The spring housing  42  includes a rotor wheel mounting key guide  66  formed on its rear surface  68 , and a retainer  72  that is inserted through the front housing aperture  60  for the purposes previously described, i.e., for retaining yet allowing free rotation of the spring housing  42 . The spring housing  42  carries a spring  43 , which is wound during the loading of projectiles into the chambers  70 , which are the areas defined by the rotor wheel sections  45  and the inside surface along the radial edge  64  of the front housing  40 . Since the spring housing  42  is connected to the rotor wheel  44  through the insertion of the rotor wheel key  74  into the rotor wheel mounting key guide  66 , the winding of the spring  43  allows the spring housing  42  to provide the force needed for rotating the rotor wheel  44  to advance the chambers  70  during the discharging of the less-lethal launcher  1  or the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2 . To prevent over-winding of the spring  43  the rotor wheel  44  has a rotor stop surface  84  that comes into contact with a front housing stop surface  86  when the spring  43  is fully wound for operational purposes. The front housing stop surface  86  also functions as a projectile advance stop by preventing the rotor wheel  44  from advancing until the projectile  88  and/or  92  in a chamber  70  is discharged from the launcher  1  or the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2  and the bolt  100  has been retracted from that chamber  70  after discharging a projectile  88  and/or  92  during the discharge sequence, which will be discussed in the following paragraphs. 
     Preferably, the rotor wheel  44 , as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, is generally cylindrically shaped and has a rotor wheel front surface  75  and an opposing rotor wheel rear surface  76 . The front surface  75  of the rotor wheel  44  has a rotor wheel key  74  formed thereon that extends away from the rear surface  76  of the rotor wheel  44 , and the rear surface  76  preferably has a grip  78  formed thereon for assisting the user in turning the rotor wheel  44  during the loading of the chambers  70 . Preferably, with the exception of a portion of the retainer  72  that extends through the aperture  60  of the front housing  40  after fully inserting the rotor wheel key  74  into the rotor wheel mounting key guide  66 , the cylindrical bracket  58  of the front housing  40 , and the spring housing  42 , will be carried within the rotor wheel  44 . Preferably, the height  80  of the rotor wheel  44  is slightly smaller than the inside dimension  82  of the assembled magazine assembly  38 , and the inside dimension  82  is slightly larger than the length of any of the projectiles  88  and/or  92  that can be propelled from the less-lethal launcher  1  or the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2 . Preferably, the magazine assembly  38  will have at least one alignment guide  52  formed on at least one of its outer surfaces, such as the front surface  39  of the front housing  40  and/or the rear surface  47  of the rear housing  46 , for assisting the user in properly inserting and/or seating the magazine assembly  38  into the magazine well  28  on the receiver  12  (which is carried by the receiver housing  22 ). Preferably, the magazine assembly  38  will have a projectile discharge aperture  54  formed through the front housing  40 , a projectile loading aperture  55  formed through the rear housing  46 , and a rotor access aperture  77  also formed through the rear housing  46  for manually turning the rotor wheel  44  by turning the rotor grip  78  during a loading operation. 
     Preferably, the magazine assembly  38  is loaded through the use of the projectile storage tube  90 , which is shown in FIG.  7 . The projectile storage tube  90 , is used to store the projectiles  88  and/or  92  prior to loading the magazine assembly  38  and, is a part of an optional loading system  93 , as shown in FIG.  8 . Preferably, the projectile storage tube  90  is a hollow cylindrical tube with one end of the tube  90  having external threads  94  formed thereon for threadably receiving a cap  95 . Preferably, the storage tube  90  is tapered so that the widest end of the projectile storage tube  90  is the end with the external threads  94 . For proper reloading of a magazine assembly  38 , the magazine loading adapter  96 , as shown in FIGS. 8, and  9 A- 9 D, is formed to receive the threaded end  97  of the uncapped projectile storage tube  90  and to hold that threaded end  97  in a spaced relationship to the magazine assembly  38 , which during loading would be attached to the magazine loading adapter  96  by fully inserting the magazine assembly  38  into the loading port  91  of the magazine loading adapter  96 . Preferably, both the magazine assembly  38  and the magazine loading adapter  96  are designed so that only one orientation of the magazine assembly  38  into the magazine loading adapter  96  results in an easy, i.e., non-forced, insertion of the magazine assembly  38  into the loading port  91 . By designing the loading system  93  and the magazine assembly  38  in this way allows for the non-spherical projectiles  92  to be properly oriented in the chambers  70  during loading, which allows the user the opportunity to obtain any benefits attributable to the ballistic characteristics of the non-spherical projectiles  92 . 
     In operation, and preferably, the magazine assembly  38  is loaded by the user inserting the magazine assembly  38 , with the proper orientation, into the loading port  91  of the loading system  93 . The user then removes the cap  95  from a projectile storage tube  90  and attaches the projectile storage tube  90  onto the magazine loading adapter  96  while the threaded end  97  of the projectile storage tube  90  is located below the magazine loading adapter  96 . The user then inverts the magazine assembly  38  and the loading system  93  so that a projectile  88  or  92  can fall into an empty chamber  70  due to the force of gravity acting on the projectile  88  or  92 . The user then manually turns the grip  78  so that each empty chamber  70  that passes beneath the projectile loading aperture  55  can be filled with a projectile  88  or  92  from the projectile storage tube  90 . The user continues with this filling procedure until the magazine assembly  38  is completely filled with projectiles  88  or  92 , until the projectile storage tube  90  is empty, or until the user no longer desires to continue loading the magazine assembly  38 . The loading procedure described above is for illustrative purposes only and is just one of the many ways that the magazine assembly  38  can be loaded. For example, in another preferred embodiment, in which the loading system  93  is not used, the user blocks the projectile discharge aperture  54  and an uncapped projectile storage tube  90  is manually held directly above the projectile loading aperture  55  while the grip  78  is being manually turned. Therefore, these procedures should not be construed to be limiting, and that any other suitable loading procedure can be used and should be viewed as being encompassed by the present invention. Preferably, once the magazine assembly  38  is loaded, the user can insert the magazine assembly  38  into the magazine well  28 , while taking care to orient the magazine assembly  38  so that the front housing  40  is pointed toward the launcher barrel  14  and the rear housing  46  is pointed away from the launcher barrel  14 , i.e, with respect to the launcher barrel  14  the front housing  40  of the magazine assembly  38  is proximally located while the rear housing  46  of the magazine assembly  38  is distally located. Referring to FIGS. 2,  3 A, and  3 B, a magazine assembly  38  that is inserted and seated in the magazine well  28 , can be released by manipulating the magazine release button  27 , which is a part of the magazine release mechanism  29  shown in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  11 . 
     Now referring to FIGS. 10A,  10 B and  10 C, the hemispherical head projectile  92  and the spherical projectile  88  are shown. The hemispherical head projectile  92  is hemispherical on one end and cylindrical on the other end, and may also have small fins  93 , which may be used to stabilize the hemispherical head projectile  92  in flight. The orientation of the hemispherical head projectile  92  is critical to its range, accuracy and operation of the less-lethal launcher  1  (and the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2 ). Therefore, when placed in the projectile storage tube  90  the hemispherical head projectile  92  should be oriented so that all of the hemispherical heads point to the threaded end  97  of the projectile storage tube  90 , as shown in FIG.  7 . With respect to the projectiles  88  and/or  92 , both are capable of being filled and/or covered with a wide variety of debilitating or incapacitating chemical agents, and/or marking agents including, but not limited to, an odorant, an infrared or ultraviolet light sensitive dye, “pepper” gas, a luminescent or phosphorescent dye, and/or any other suitable debilitating or incapacitating agent, or marking means. Preferably, the shells  89  of the projectiles  88  and/or  92  are elastomer shells such as those commonly used for paint balls, and are made using commonly available methods; however, the shells  89  can be made of any other suitable material or by any other suitable method that, preferably, will allow a discharged projectile to break upon impact with a target while not allowing the shell&#39;s  89  pre-impact structural integrity to be compromised because of the material and/or substance carried by and/or contained within the shell  89 . 
     Now, while specifically referring to FIGS. 1 and 12, the compressed gas container mounting bracket  32 , and the compressed gas container assembly  16  are shown. The compressed gas container assembly  16  has a head end  154  and a bottom end  156 . The compressed gas container assembly  16  includes, among other components: a compressed gas container  17 ; a container attachment member  150 , which is securely attached to the compressed gas container  17 , and which is used for mounting the container assembly  16  onto the compressed gas container mounting bracket  32 , which is integrally formed on the receiver housing  22 ; and a compressed gas container head assembly  158 , which is, preferably, threadably attached to the compressed gas container  17 . As mentioned, and preferably, the compressed gas container assembly  16  is mounted to the receiver housing  22  parallel to the launcher barrel  14  by inserting the upper end of the container attachment member  150  to the compressed gas container mounting bracket  32 , which is preferably located near the magazine end  15  of the launcher barrel  14 , and then rotating the lower end of the container attachment member  150  until the container attachment member  150  clips into the container mounting bracket  32 . To release the compressed gas container assembly  16  from the compressed gas container mounting bracket  32 , a latch  152 , which is carried by the container attachment member  150  can be manipulated to effect such release. Preferably, the head assembly  158  has a gas control valve  160 , a pressure gauge  162 , and an outlet gas hose fitting  164 . The outlet gas hose fitting  164  is used for attaching a high pressure gas hose  166  between the compressed gas container  17  and the inlet compressed gas hose fitting  168 , which is attached to the gas block  170  carried by the receiver  12 . Preferably, outlet gas hose fitting  164  (or another fitting not shown) can be used to refill the compressed gas container  17  while it is still attached to the launcher  1  or the launcher system  2 . Once a filled compressed gas container  17  is mounted onto the receiver housing  22  and the gas control valve  160  is in the “off” position, a high pressure gas hose  166  can be attached to the outlet gas hose fitting  164  and the inlet compressed gas hose fitting  168 . After attaching the high pressure gas hose  166 , the gas control valve  160  can be placed in the “on” position and the compressed gas contained within the compressed gas container  17  can then be supplied to the gas block  170 . Preferably, all of the components in fluid communication with the high pressure gas are made of materials and are designed so that they meet or exceed the DOT and/or any other appropriate standards associated with these components. 
     As shown by the figure, in operation, the less-lethal launcher  1  includes the launcher barrel  14 , the receiver  12 , the receiver housing  22 , the stock  10 , the compressed gas container assembly  16 , the magazine assembly  38 , and all of the other related and associated components described above. In the following description of the less-lethal launcher  1  in operation, it is assumed that the following is extant: the receiver  12  (and the receiver housing  22 ) is mounted to the stock  10 ; the magazine assembly  38  is loaded with projectiles  88  or  92  and is properly inserted into the magazine well  28 ; the compressed gas container assembly  16  including a filled compressed gas container  17  is attached to the receiver housing  22 ; the high pressure gas hose  166  is connected between the outlet gas hose fitting  164  of the compressed gas container assembly  16  and the inlet compressed gas fitting  168  carried by the receiver  12  (and the receiver housing  22 ); the gas control valve  160  is in the “on” position; the safety  36  is in the “fire” position; and the bolt  100  is in its rearward position in preparation for a discharge sequence. Once a target is sighted, preferably by using the forward sight  191  and the rear sight  193  carried by the stock  10 , the user is ready to discharge a projectile  88  or  92  through the launcher barrel  14  of the less-lethal launcher  1  by squeezing the trigger  34  until a projectile  88  or  92  is discharged. During the discharge sequence the following occurs: the trigger  34  is squeezed, which pivots a trigger link  31  and which causes a valve (not shown) in the valve chamber to close the supply of high pressure gas to the already pressurized valve chamber; the sear  37  is rotated so that it disengages a bolt flange  35 , which causes the bolt  100 , due to the release and expansion of the pressurized gas, to move away from its rearward position against the spring force applied by the bolt spring (not shown); the bolt  100  continues this forward movement until it contacts a projectile  88  or  92  in the magazine assembly  38  and pushes that projectile  88  or  92  out of the magazine assembly  38  and approximately one-quarter of one inch from the magazine assembly  38  (into the launcher barrel  14 ), which is the bolt&#39;s  100  forward most position; a plunger (not shown) that is carried within the bolt  100  is simultaneously pulled back from the plunger&#39;s “closed” position so that the pressurized gas remaining in the valve chamber is allowed to expand and flow through the bolt  100  and out of the less-lethal launcher  1  through the launcher barrel  14  and, thereby, simultaneously propelling the projectile  88  or  92  through the launcher barrel  14  and out of the less-lethal launcher  1 ; once the pressure in the valve chamber is sufficiently reduced, the force of the bolt spring returns the bolt  100  to its rearward position the following actions generally occur: the next projectile  88  or  92  in the magazine assembly  38  is chambered (through the rotation of the rotor wheel  44 ); the sear  37  once again engages the bolt flange  39 ; the trigger  34  returns to its forward position; and the valve chamber is repressurized with high pressure gas in order to repeat the discharge sequence. 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the previously described launcher system  2  can be formed by removing the stock  10  from the receiver  12  (and the receiver housing  22 ) and, therefore, removing their associated components from the less-lethal launcher  1 , and mounting the receiver  12  (and the receiver housing  22 ) and their associated components to the underside of the barrel  9  of a standard military rifle  3  such as an M-16 as shown in FIG. 2, or to any other suitable base. In this embodiment, the operation of the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2  is the same as that previously described for the less-lethal launcher  1 , with the exception that the projectile discharging portion  5  uses the stock  6  and sights  7  of the rifle  3  to which the projectile discharging portion  5 , i.e., the receiver  12  and the receiver housing  22 , is attached. As shown in FIG. 2, and as previously mentioned, the attachment of the receiver  12  (and the receiver housing  22 ) to the rifle  3  is achieved through the use of an adapter bracket assembly  4  that is attached to the rifle  3 , onto which the receiver mounting bracket  18  can be slidably and securely attached. By allowing a user the capability of orienting the receiver  12  and the receiver housing  22 , i.e., the projectile discharging portion  5  of the launcher system  2 , and the rifle  3  in this way to form the launcher system  2 , gives the user the capability of operating both the projectile discharging portion  5  and the rifle  3  portion independently, which improves the overall performance and usability of the launcher system  2 , and which provides the user with both a lethal and a less-lethal response capability. 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications, and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.