Projectile dispersing apparatus

Abstract

A projectile is provided which may evenly disperse an inhibiting substance upon impacting a target. The projectile may comprise a shell having a plurality of grooves formed on the shell's exterior surface about an axis of symmetry. The grooves may be equidistantly spaced apart from adjacent grooves. The shell defines an interior cavity that may be filled with a mixture comprising an inhibiting substance and filler with the inhibiting substance being operative to inhibit the motor function of a person and the filler being an inert material which does not react with the inhibiting substance. Preferably, the inhibiting substance will comprise substantially less than 50% of the shell's interior cavity, and preferably about 2% to 1% of the shell's interior cavity. The projectile may be shot at the target such that the projectile breaks open at the grooves to form a cloud of the inhibiting substance such that the target inhales the inhibiting substance and is passivated.

1 . A projectile comprising: 
 a) a shell having a plurality of grooves extending between a south pole and a north pole on its exterior surface and an inner cavity; and    b) an inhibiting substance disposed within the shell's cavity in an amount equal to about 2% or less of the cavity volume;    c) wherein the projectile may be fired from an projectile projecting device and breaks up upon impact with a target thereby releasing the inhibiting substance in a cloud form such that the target inhales the inhibiting substance and the target is physically affected.    
   
   
       2 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the shell is fabricated from a polymer material.  
   
   
       3 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the inhibiting substance is a powder, particulate, gelatin, or liquid.  
   
   
       4 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the inhibiting substance inhibits motor functions of a human being.  
   
   
       5 . The projectile of  claim 4  wherein the inhibiting substance is pepper spray, oleoresin capsicum powder, tear gas or smoke.  
   
   
       6 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein each groove has a V shaped configuration.  
   
   
       7 . The projectile of  claim 6  wherein bottom portions of the grooves have flat bottoms.  
   
   
       8 . The projectile of  claim 6  wherein the grooves are joined by peaks collectively forming a spherical surface.  
   
   
       9 . The projectile of  claim 8  wherein the spherical surface formed collectively by the peaks are concentric with an interior surface of the shell.  
   
   
       10 . The projectile of  claim 1  further comprising an inert filler disposed within the shell's cavity.  
   
   
       11 . The projectile of  claim 10  wherein the filler and the inhibiting substance fills the entire cavity of the shell.  
   
   
       12 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of grooves are equidistantly spaced apart about an axis of symmetry.  
   
   
       13 . The projectile of  claim 12  having eighteen grooves.  
   
   
       14 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of grooves is a plurality of grooves pairs which are equidistantly spaced apart from adjacent groove pairs.  
   
   
       15 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the shell has a spherical configuration.  
   
   
       16 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the grooves have a linear configuration, squiggly configuration or a saw tooth configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The projectile of  claim 1  wherein the inhibiting substance is present in the shell's cavity in an amount equal to approximately 1% by volume of said cavity.