Non-lethal hand pistol

Abstract

A weapon, such as a semi-automatic gun pistol, is disclosed for discharging high velocity, non-lethal projectiles utilizing pressurized gas. The weapon includes a housing having a handle and a projectile storage cylinder sized and shaped to receive a plurality of substantially spherical-shaped projectiles. A discharge barrel is mounted proximate the projectile storage cylinder and has an open muzzle end and a closed base end, while a projectile loading chamber is disposed at the barrel base end and communicates with the projectile storage cylinder. An enclosure is provided in the housing for receiving a removable pressurized gas storage source. A gas discharge cell communicates with the gas storage source in the enclosure and is adapted to receive compressed gas for selective projectile discharge. The weapon further includes a hammer and striker assembly for selectively releasing a charge of compressed gas from the gas discharge cell into the loading chamber to discharge a projectile through the barrel, and into said hammer and striker assembly to return said weapon to a firing-ready condition. Finally, a trigger assembly selectively operates the hammer and striker assembly.

1 . A weapon for discharging high velocity, non-lethal projectiles utilizing pressurized gas, said weapon comprising: 
 a housing including a handle and a projectile storage cylinder sized and shaped to receive a plurality of substantially spherical-shaped projectiles;    a discharge barrel having an open muzzle end and a closed base end proximate said projectile storage cylinder;    a projectile loading chamber disposed at said barrel base end and communicating with said projectile storage cylinder;    an enclosure for receiving a removable pressurized gas storage source;    a gas discharge cell communicating with a gas storage source in said enclosure and adapted to receive compressed gas for selective projectile discharge;    a hammer and striker assembly for selectively releasing a charge of compressed gas from said gas discharge cell into said loading chamber to discharge a projectile through said barrel and into said hammer and striker assembly to return said weapon to a firing-ready condition; and    a trigger assembly for selectively operating said hammer and striker assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure of said gas charge released by said gas discharge cell may be varied between 400-800 psig. per charge.  
   
   
       3 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said removable gas storage source comprises a replaceable gas cartridge disposed in said enclosure and containing compressed gas of an amount sufficient for up to 20 charges.  
   
   
       4 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hammer and striker assembly comprises a hammer element and a striker recoil element, both adapted for reciprocal movement within said housing to control loading of a projectile from said projectile storage cylinder to said loading chamber while simultaneously controlling the return of said hammer element to an armed position.  
   
   
       5 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said projectiles comprise spheres, and wherein said projectile storage chamber further includes a spring bias mechanism for urging movement of said spheres into said loading chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said spheres are approximately 0.5″-0.8″ in diameter and 5-10 grams in weight.  
   
   
       7 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said spheres are substantially hollow, adapted for breakage upon impact and contain a chemical solution for incapacitating the impact recipient.  
   
   
       8 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said spheres are constructed from material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, nylon, and other dense solid materials.  
   
   
       9 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said weapon comprises a semi-automatic pistol.  
   
   
       10 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said weapon further comprises a valve assembly associated with said gas discharge cell adapted to permit selective variance of the compressed gas charge pressure released by said hammer assembly to correspondingly vary the velocity and impact of the discharged projectile.  
   
   
       11 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said valve assembly comprises a projectile velocity adjustment knob for selectively varying the volume of gas discharged by said gas discharge cell into said loading chamber in any one single charge.  
   
   
       12 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hammer and striker assembly comprises a striker recoil element adapted for reciprocal movement between first and second striker positions, a hammer element adapted for reciprocal movement between first and second hammer element positions, a first spring bias member for urging said hammer element in a first direction from said first hammer element position to said second hammer element position to impact said striker recoil element and move it to said second striker position, a gas discharge valve adapted for releasing a charge of gas from said gas discharge cell to said loading chamber upon movement of said striker recoil element to said second striker position resulting from impact by said hammer element, a secondary gas discharge aperture adapted to release a portion of said charge of gas from said gas discharge cell within said hammer element to return said hammer element to its first hammer element position while closing said gas discharge valve, said trigger assembly selectively retaining said hammer element in its first hammer element position until release.  
   
   
       13 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said weapon further comprises a conduit member interconnecting said gas discharge cell and said loading chamber, said gas discharge valve being disposed in said conduit within said gas discharge cell and including a valve seat for opening and closing said valve.  
   
   
       14 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said conduit further comprises a primary gas discharge opening disposed in the distal end of said conduit at said firing chamber to release gas therein and fire said projectile, said secondary gas discharge aperture being disposed in said conduit proximate said distal end and covered by said striker recoil element to divert gas into said hammer element to return it to its first position.  
   
   
       15 . In a weapon for discharging high velocity projectiles utilizing pressurized gas, said weapon including a housing having a handle and a projectile storage cylinder sized and shaped to receive a plurality of projectiles, a discharge barrel having an open muzzle end and a closed base end proximate the projectile storage cylinder, a projectile loading chamber disposed at the barrel base end and communicating with the projectile storage cylinder, an enclosure for receiving a removable pressurized gas storage cartridge, a hammer assembly for selectively releasing a charge of compressed gas from the pressurized gas storage cartridge into the loading chamber to discharge a projectile through the barrel, and a trigger assembly for selectively operating the hammer assembly, the improvement wherein said weapon is adapted for discharging high velocity, non-lethal projectiles and further comprises a gas discharge cell communicating with said gas storage cartridge and adapted to receive a charge of compressed gas therefrom for selective release into said projectile loading chamber for projectile discharge, and a valve assembly associated with said gas discharge cell adapted to control the release of gas into said loading chamber for projectile discharge.  
   
   
       16 . The weapon improvement of  claim 15 , wherein said projectile storage cylinder comprises a spring loaded magazine having a spring bias member for urging the non-lethal projectiles into said projectile loading chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The weapon improvement of  claim 15 , wherein said hammer assembly comprises a striker recoil element adapted for reciprocal movement between first and second striker positions, a hammer element adapted for reciprocal movement between first and second hammer element positions, a first spring bias member for urging said hammer element in a first direction from said first hammer element position to said second hammer element position to impact said striker recoil element and move it to said second striker position, a gas discharge valve adapted for releasing a charge of gas from said gas discharge cell through a primary gas discharge opening into said loading chamber upon movement of said striker recoil element to said second striker position resulting from impact by said hammer element, a secondary gas discharge aperture adapted to release a portion of said charge of gas from said gas discharge cell within said hammer element to return said hammer element to its first hammer element position while closing said gas discharge valve, said trigger assembly selectively retaining said hammer element in its first hammer element position until release.  
   
   
       18 . The weapon improvement of  claim 17 , wherein said weapon further comprises a conduit member interconnecting said gas discharge cell and said loading chamber, said gas discharge valve being disposed in said conduit within said gas discharge cell and including a valve seat for opening and closing said valve, said primary gas discharge opening being disposed in the distal end of said conduit at said firing chamber.  
   
   
       19 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said secondary gas discharge aperture is disposed in said conduit proximate said distal end and covered by said striker recoil element to divert gas into said hammer element to return it to its first position.  
   
   
       20 . The weapon as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein said valve assembly further comprises a projectile velocity adjustment knob for selectively varying the amount of gas discharged into said gas discharge cell from said gas storage cartridge to vary the volume of gas in any one single charge for release into said loading chamber.  
   
   
       21 . A semi-automatic pistol for discharging high velocity, non-lethal projectiles utilizing pressurized gas, said pistol comprising: 
 a housing including a handle, a discharge barrel having an open muzzle end and a closed base end, a projectile storage cylinder sized and shaped to receive a plurality of aligned and substantially spherical-shaped projectiles and positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to said discharge barrel, and a sleeve for containing pistol operating elements;    a projectile loading chamber disposed at said barrel base end and communicating with said projectile storage cylinder;    an enclosure for receiving a removable pressurized gas storage cartridge;    a gas discharge cell disposed in said sleeve for communicating with the gas storage cartridge in said enclosure and adapted to receive a charge of compressed gas for selective projectile discharge;    a valve assembly disposed in said sleeve and associated with said gas discharge cell to control the release of gas into said loading chamber for projectile discharge;    a conduit member interconnecting said gas discharge cell and said loading chamber;    a hammer element adapted for reciprocal movement along said conduit member between first and second hammer element positions;    a striker recoil element adapted for reciprocal movement along said conduit member between first and second striker positions;    a first spring bias member for urging said hammer element in a first direction from said first hammer element position to said second hammer element position to impact said striker recoil element and move it to said second striker position;    a primary gas discharge opening defined in the distal end of said conduit at said loading chamber;    a gas discharge valve adapted for releasing a charge of gas from said gas discharge cell through said conduit and said primary gas discharge opening into said loading chamber upon movement of said striker recoil element to said second striker position resulting from impact by said hammer element;    a secondary gas discharge aperture adapted to release a portion of said charge of gas from said gas discharge cell Within said hammer element to return said hammer element to said first hammer element position while closing said gas discharge valve; and    a trigger assembly for selectively operating said hammer element.    
   
   
       22 . The semi-automatic pistol as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said sleeve is positioned coaxially with said barrel.