Patent ID: 7891127

Claim:
A deployment unit for use with an electronic weapon, the deployment unit comprising: a. a body having a cavity with an opening; b. an electrode stored in the cavity; c. an electrical interface and a tether wire, for conducting a current from the electronic weapon through the electrode; and d. a cover comprising a fastener, the fastener comprising a first groove; wherein: e. an interference between the fastener and the body couples the cover to the body over the opening; f. a depth of the first groove is less than a thickness of the fastener thereby forming a material of a reduced thickness at the first groove; g. activation of a provided propellant, in any order: provides a force against the cover that breaks the material at the first groove to separate the cover and the fastener; provides a force that pushes the cover away from the body to open the cavity; and deploys the electrode from the cavity through the opening toward a provided target for conducting the current through the target that interferes with locomotion by the target; and h. prior to separation of the cover and the fastener, no portion of the electrode contacts the cover.