Patent ID: 7921838

Claim:
An apparatus for firing a non-lethal projectile, said apparatus comprising: a barrel; a firing mechanism including a piston disposed in a chamber, wherein said piston is movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein said piston prevents fluid communication between said chamber and said barrel in said first position and said piston allows fluid communication between said chamber and said barrel in said second position; an inlet valve movable between an open position that provides fluid communication between said chamber and a source of compressed gas and a closed position that prevents fluid communication between said chamber and the source of compressed gas; a cam operatively connected between said piston and said inlet valve, wherein said piston engages said cam to close said inlet valve when said piston moves from said first position to said second position; and wherein said inlet valve moves to said closed position responsive to movement of said piston from said first position to said second position.