Patent Publication Number: US-2006005443-A1

Title: P D W, muzzle loaded less lethal personal defensive weapon

Description:
REFERENCES CITED  
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
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     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      This invention relates to less lethal Personal Defensive Weaponry, projectile launching club firearms in general (past and present) and psychological weaponry.  
      As conventional Personal Defensive Weapons have their limitations such as close contact weapons, pepper sprays on windy days and battery operated weapons that fail to work, due to dead batteries, or corrosion. A new less lethal P. D. W. type firearm is needed to overcome all the limitations of the prior arts. One that can be used in all types of weather conditions, one that has greater reaching range and accuracy. One that can inflict psychological trauma to both human and beast. One that can be used by persons with hand(s) disabilities comfortably, and reliably.  
      Up until now there has not been a less lethal firearm type weapon as the present invention. There have been club/striking P. D. W. type firearm combinations known in the art, as evidenced by an earlier issued patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,160,343 issued Nov. 16, 1915, discloses a combination club and firearm. There are others that have come before and others afterwards. The latest (in ref.) being U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,688 issued Oct. 15, 2002. All these designs were advanced in there day, though scope and spirit were totally lethal.  
      Today however, with the atmosphere in which the world is in, individuals are seeking more simpler and less lethal ways to protect themselves and there property.  
      With fast paced manufacturing, and the need to bring to market products from the less lethal industry to the consumer, less lethal firearm type weapons need to be constructed simply (meaning less parts) and capable of being made entirely from one form of material.  
      The following are areas where the designs of the past and present arts are problematic with the spirit, scope and design of the present less lethal P. D. W. firearm. The lengths of the weapons of the past and present art, external charging handles or mechanisms attached to the bodies of the weapons, they discharge conventional type ammunition or shotgun shells, or types thereof, many expel lead projectiles, they discharge center fired ammunition, many have designed maximum effective ranges greater than 36 feet(a person skilled in the art would know), they appear to discharge large caliber ammunition(for the use in which they were designed), the ammunition in many are self contained, shells(projectile(s),powder and primer). They only offer one or two safeties, they were mainly designed for one specific group or organization they have strong recoil, the firing mechanisms have numerous parts and in themselves are problematic. The one in art design U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,361, appears to use a twisting rearward motion to initiate the safety and release it. This would be rather difficult for persons with physical disabilities or impairment. Many of them were designed to be totally lethal in spirit and scope, the total weight of the projectile(s) are much greater than that of the present less lethal projectile(s) used in the present invention, they are very numerous in parts, their main parts are assembled in various manors that are not centered. This would tinned to make the unit weak at these off centered areas. Concealment is a priority in at least 45 states here in America, in order to carry a firearm. The past art by their designs can not be easily concealed on ones person. Many required two hands to (discharge) activate the weapon.  
      The battery operated units face the same environmental and mechanical problems as flashlights. Moisture, dust, dirt, faulty switches, broken connections, corrosion, breakage from actual usage and dead batteries. Due to the numerous parts in their designs, routine maintenance would have to be accentual.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The P. D. W., less lethal muzzle loaded personal defensive weapon/club is disclosed. The weapon at present design is that of a less lethal club striking firearm. By converting the spirit and scope of the past and present art to a less lethal format, as a whole, a less lethal firearm was constructed. Past and present art designs posed challenges to the new weapon&#39;s design.  
      The followings are the areas where the converting and altering have occurred to bring the present firearm to it&#39;s status and solved the challenges that presented themselves in making such a weapon.  
      Shortened in length (8.25×1.25 inches), charging mechanism is external, but not physically attached to the body of the weapon, discharges only blank power load cartridges(nominally 0.22 cal.), is not electrically operated, expels plastic or rubber ball projectiles(at present), discharges rim fired cartridges, maximum effective range to 36 feet, has virtually no recoil, the cartridge casing, powder and primer are loaded separately from the projectile(s), present invention has four safeties that are declared, present invention is designed for all legal individuals not a specific group or organization, the present invention has a specially designed firing mechanism which is easier to manipulated by anyone(with or without physical disabilities), the present invention is designed to be totally less lethal, by having its&#39; cartridge, gas chamber drilled only to the diameter and length of the blank 22 cal. cartridge casing, expelling 9.35 mm plastic or rubber ball projectiles, the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be less lethal, the weight of the projectiles are drastically reduced to 8.2 grain plastic ball, 10.2 grain rubber ball, has 22 parts (four that actually move), present invention has two parts that thread together at or near the center and are almost equal in length(4.0 inch/4.25 inch) making the strength greater and less vulnerable to damage from blows, due to its&#39; length and diameter it is easily concealed (as per laws) in a carrying pouch. Requires one hand for discharging the weapon.  
      The weapon comprises of the Barrel assembly, consisting of male mating threads, a smooth bore, cartridge/gas chamber and an o-ring seal. The rear receiver(in which the lift-lock firing mechanism is retained) is comprised of female mating threads, trigger plunger, trigger plunger spring, trigger plunger spring cap, firing pin, firing pin spring, firing pin spring cap, trigger plunger chamber, trigger plunger firing pin guide hole, firing pin milled shoulder, firing pin nail type head, safety pin hole, safety pin, trigger plunger chamber, firing pin guide and spring chamber. The weapon has four safeties; manual pin insertion, ⅛ inch safety gap(firing pin no-strike zone), a retractable firing pin, and total separation, of the complete barrel assembly and the charged rear receiver.  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to protect one&#39;s person and personal property, by less lethal means.  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a less lethal personal defensive weapon with greater range and hitting accuracy, that can be used in all weather conditions and that can inflict psychological trauma to both human and beast, by creating the elusion of possible injury.  
      Yet another object of the present invention is to provide to Law-enforcement a means to subdue a belligerent suspect by using a pacifying chemical type less lethal projectile(s) or any other various type of chemical pacifying projectile(s) preventing any serious injuries to the field officer or suspect.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a less lethal firearm that is capable of being a single shot firearm, as well as being capable of being used as a mini-shot gun, discharging up to three less lethal projectiles (in present design), while using only one blank power load cartridge.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a less lethal firearm for men, women and aging citizens with or without physical disabilities, that find it difficult to handle and/or use a typical present day firearm.  
      It is the object of the present invention to be the new generation of LESS LETHAL type firearms for the general public and Law-enforcement.  
      It is a further object of the present invention to provide the Airline industry with a very conceal able weapon against hi-jacking, since the present projectiles will not penetrate an air-crafts&#39; hull.  
      It is a further object of the invention to provide a less lethal firearm that can discharge an array of other less lethal projectiles, that maybe designed in the future.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide as totally less lethal firearm type weapon as can be constructed, for the legal aged individual that is not intimidating. That&#39;s easy to used and maintain as well.  
      By design the present invention only discharges less lethal type projectiles and only uses blank power load cartridges (low caliber) as the propellant charge and primer. By design only periodic maintenance is required.  
      The present invention is prepared to fire, by loading a projectile down the muzzle end of the barrel assembly, this is accomplished with the large end of the loader rammer, then loading a blank power load cartridge into the cartridge/gas chamber(breach end) of the barrel assembly. Then charge the firing mechanism(found in the rear receiver) by pushing in-ward on the firing pin with the small end of the loader rammer, until it latches against the trigger plunger. Place the safety pin in the safety pin hole. Screw the barrel assembly and the rear receiver together until the o-ring is compressed. To discharge the weapon, remove safety pin, point weapon at target then push trigger plunger.  
      To fire the weapon as a mini shot gun, load three plastic or rubber balls down the bore. The shot pattern is that of a triangular design, at 36 feet.  
      To discharge the weapon, when someone has thumb disabilities, turn the weapon 180 degrees so the trigger plunger is against the index finger, then press down With the thumbs muscle.  
      Final object of the invention, is to provide a weapon that is virtually recoilless as possible.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  weapon in discharged position expelling one plastic or rubber ball projectile.  
       FIG. 2  weapon in discharged position expelling three plastic or rubber ball projectiles.  
       FIG. 3  weapon in the charged mode, firing pin in the retracted position ready for activation.  
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the barrel assembly.  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the rear receiver along with loader rammer and manual safety pin.  
       FIG. 6  is showing the weapon with manual safety pin in place in the hole provided.  
       FIG. 7  is showing one of two inherent safeties the ⅛ inch safety gap between the barrel assembly and the rear receiver. The other inherent safety, Total Separation of barrel assembly and rear receiver should be understood by a person skilled in the art.  
       FIG. 8  is showing the firing pin in the retracted safety position by means of the threading pressure from the barrel assembly and the rear receiver mating together, when the weapon is charged.  
       FIG. 9  is a pictorial view of all sectional views (simplicity)  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring first to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3  which illustrates the loading of the barrel assembly, charging (arming) the rear receiver, insertion of safety pin, and discharging the weapon.  
      Loading: Place a plastic or rubber ball or balls  20 , into the muzzle end of the barrel assembly  01 , using the large end of the loader rammer  23 , push projectile(s)  20  into the bore  03  until it or they seat. Load a blank power load cartridge  22  into the breach end of the barrel assembly  01 .  
      Charge (arm) the rear receiver: firing pin  16  is manually pushed backwards into the rear receiver  11  until it is completely through the trigger plunger firing pin guide hole  14 , to the firing pin milled shoulder  15 . This is accomplished by the small end of the loader rammer  23 . The upward force from the trigger plunger spring  07 , combined with the forward force from the fixing pin spring  10  latches the firing pin in place.  
      After the rear receiver is charged insert safety pin  19  into safety pin hole  18  which is set behind trigger plunger  13 . To assemble the full weapon mate the male mating threads  02  with the female mating threads  05  until o-ring seal  21  is completely compressed. To discharge the weapon, a downward force on the trigger plunger  13  counter acts the trigger plunger&#39;s spring  07  upward force allowing the trigger plunger firing pin guide hole  14  to align with the firing pin  16 . The firing pin  16  then slips through the trigger plunger firing pin guide hole  14  (this guide hole  14  is elongated and drilled to the diameter of the firing pin  16 , the head of the firing pin  16  is milled completely round therefore there is no need for firing pin orientation. Thus striking the blank power load cartridge  22  expelling the projectile(s)  20 .  
      Continuing with FIG. 4  the barrel assembly  01  has two openings through it that connect in or near center. One is the smooth bore  03 , bored to the present projectiles caliber; the other is the cartridge/gas chamber  04 , which is drilled to fit only present selected blank power load cartridge casings  22 . The breach end of the barrel assembly  01  has male mating threads  02  and an o-ring  21  seal behind the threads  02 .  
      Continuing with  FIG. 5  The rear receiver  11  has female mating threads  05  to be threaded to the male mating threads  02 . The rear receiver  11  contains the firing mechanism, consisting of the trigger plunger  13 , trigger plunger spring  07 , trigger plunger spring cap  08 , (these items are located in the trigger plunger chamber  12 ). The firing pin  16 , firing pin spring  10 , firing pin cap  06  (these items are located in the firing pin guide and spring chamber  08 ), safety pin hole  18  and safety pin  19 .  
      Continuing with  FIG. 6  after the rear receiver  11  is charged the safety pin  19  is inserted into the safety pin hole  18  located behind the trigger plunger  13 , this will prevent accidental discharge.  
      Continuing with  FIG. 7  There are two inherent safeties in the weapon. The ⅛ inch gap safety zone (firing pin no-strike zone), this is achieved by threading the barrel assembly  01  to the rear receiver  11 , then simply unthread the two ( 01  and  11 ) apart ⅛ inch this will prevent accidental discharge. The other is the total separation of both the barrel assembly  01  and the rear receiver  11 . This should be understood by a person skilled in the art of gun smithing.  
      Continuing with  FIG. 8  There is a safety that is of special design. The retractable firing pin safety. This is obtained by the milled down firing pin head which is smaller in diameter than the firing pin shaft  16 . When the barrel assembly  01  is loaded and threaded to the discharged rear receiver  11  the threading force pushes rearward the firing pin  16 , to a neutral position in the trigger plunger  13  (half-way through it) this position prevents discharge.  
      Continuing with  FIG. 9  This simply shows the simplicity of the present invention and how it could be used as a club/striking implement. That It&#39;s shape makes for ease of handling and manufacturing.  
      The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes there of, it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.