Non-lethal projectiles for delivering an inhibiting substance to a living target

Abstract

Projectile systems are provided herein employing an inhibiting and/or marking substance for impairing/marking a living target, such as a human or animal target. In some embodiments, the projectile system includes a generally frangible projectile that is optimally filled to greater than about 50% with the substance to be delivered to the target, such that the substance is radially dispersed into a cloud upon impact. In one implementation, the substance delivered comprises a powdered inhibiting substance, such as a powdered pepper. In one implementation, the powdered inhibiting substance comprises a substance having one or more capsaicinoids.

1 . A system comprising: 
 a frangible projectile to be impacted with a target;    the frangible projectile comprising a rigid frangible shell having a thickness and a volume formed within, wherein the rigid frangible shell ruptures upon impact with the target; and    a substance contained within the volume and occupying at least 50% of the volume with a remainder of the volume not occupied by the substance being empty; and    wherein the substance comprises a powdered inhibiting substance, wherein upon impact with the target the rigid frangible shell ruptures, dispersing the powdered inhibiting substance proximate to the target into a cloud.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inhibiting substance comprises oleoresin capsicum.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the empty remainder of the volume comprises a vacuum.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the substance is in a compressed form when incorporated into the volume upon assembly of the frangible projectile.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substance further comprises inert substance.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the inert substance further comprises weighting substance.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a compressed gas launcher for launching the frangible projectile.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a light source.  
   
   
       9 . A system comprising: 
 a frangible projectile to be impacted with a target;    the frangible projectile comprising a rigid shell having a thickness and a volume formed within where at least a portion of the rigid shell is frangible such that at least the portion of the rigid shell ruptures upon impact with the target; and    a substance contained within the volume and occupying at least 50% of the volume and the substance comprises a powdered inhibiting substance that occupies less than 50% of the volume, wherein upon impact with the target at least the portion of the rigid frangible shell ruptures radially dispersing the powdered inhibiting substance proximate to the target into a cloud.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a launcher that launches a plurality of the frangible projectiles to be impacted at least proximate the target.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the launcher is configured to rapidly launch the plurality of the frangible projectiles such that the plurality of the frangible projectiles are directed along a generally vertical pattern over a torso of the target.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a mantel that compresses the substance within at least a portion of the volume.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the substance is compressed when inserted into the volume.  
   
   
       14 . A system comprising: 
 a frangible projectile to be impacted with a target;    the frangible projectile comprising a rigid shell having a thickness and a volume formed within and where at least a portion of the shell that is frangible wherein at least the portion of the rigid shell ruptures upon impact with the target; and    a substance contained within the volume and the substance comprises a powdered inhibiting substance, wherein upon impact with the target at least the portion of the rigid frangible shell ruptures omnidirectionally dispersing the powdered inhibiting substance proximate to the target into a cloud.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the substance contained within the volume occupies at least 50% of the volume.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the substance further comprises an inert substance.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the inert substance comprises weighting substance.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the powdered inhibiting substance occupies less than 50% of the volume.  
   
   
       19 . A projectile comprising: 
 a rigid shell having a thickness and a volume formed within and comprising at least a portion that is frangible wherein at least the portion of the rigid shell ruptures upon impact with a target; and    a substance contained within the volume, the substance comprising a powdered inhibiting substance, wherein upon impact with the target at least the portion of the rigid shell ruptures, omnidirectionally dispersing the powdered inhibiting substance into a cloud proximate to the target.