Patent ID: 7681503

Claim:
A projectile for delivering a payload from a smoothbore launcher to a target, the projectile comprising: an aerodynamic stabilizer; an extender along which said stabilizer can longitudinally translate; a governor to limit longitudinal translation of said stabilizer along said extender; a chamber housing that defines a cavity to contain the payload, said chamber housing connected to said extender; a mount to rigidly attach said chamber housing to said extender, wherein said stabilizer slidably translates along said extender; and a helical spring disposed along said extender between said mount and said governor, wherein said stabilizer enhances post-launch directional stability of the projectile by said spring imposing tensile force between said mount and said governor to longitudinally translate said stabilizer rearward along said extender for shifting center of pressure of the projectile aft of center of gravity of the projectile.