US3830214A

US3830214A - Gas weapon including cartridge case with plurality of gas containers therein

Info

Publication number: US3830214A
Application number: US00217903A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Curtis
Original assignee: MB ASS
Current assignee: MB ASS
Priority date: 1972-01-14
Filing date: 1972-01-14
Publication date: 1974-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-20
Also published as: GB1375427A; CA968656A; DE7310391U; DE2244225A1; BE788141A; JPS4881400A; IT963884B; FR2167502A5; DE7233257U

Abstract

A gas powered weapon system comprised of a cartridge assembly which includes a deformable projectile and a gas pressurized container located in opposite ends of a cartridge case, with the case supporting a sharp edged piercing element located proximate to an outer surface of the container and adapted to puncture the container in response to the release of a spring biased piston located in a projectile launcher. Alternatively, the assembly may contain two radially spaced pressurized gas containers adapted to be simultaneously punctured in response to release of the piston. The projectile launcher includes a handle member which defines an outer housing for the releasable piston, a receiver for slidably inserting the cartridge assembly, and a barrel for directing the projectile in a desired trajectory.

Description

United States Patent Curtis Aug. 20, 1974 GAS WEAPON INCLUDING CARTRIDGE 3,710,720 1 1973 Mawhinney; 102 42 0 CASE WITH PLURALITY 0 GAS 3,728,809 4/1973 Mulich et al. 42/1 F CONTAINERS THEREIN FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Inventor; Herbert E, Curtis, Danville, Calif 20,894 10/1891 Great Britain 102/42 C [73] Assignee: MB Associates, San Ramon, Calif. Primary Examiner Richard C Pinkham [22] Filed: Jan, 14, 1972 Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer pp No: 217,903 Attorney, Agent, or FirmHarness, Dickey & Pierce [57] ABSTRACT U-S. Cl- R, E, A gas powered weapon system comprised of a car- 273/DIG- 1 tridge assembly which includes a deformable projec- [51 [lilttile and a gas pressurized container located in opposite Field of Search 124/11 11 41; ends of a cartridge case, with the case supporting a 273/106 102/42 46/74 102/42 sharp edged piercing element located proximate to an C, outer surface of the container and adapted to puncture the container in response to the release of a References Cited spring biased piston located in a projectile launcher. UNITED STATES PATENTS Alternatively, the assembly may contain two radially 279,539 6/1883 Chamberlain 102 493 Spaced Pressurized gas containers adapted to be Simul- 2,37s,314 5 1945 M1113 124 11 R teneeusly punctured in response to release of the pis- 2,470,162 5/1949 Goehmann 102/493 X ton. The projectile launcher includes a handle mem- 7,391 1/1957 her which defines an outer housing for the releasable 3,067,730 12/1962 piston, a receiver for slidably inserting the cartridge $533 232 3132; assembly, and a barrel for directing the projectile in a 3:209:694 10/1965 des1red tra ectory. 3,369,609 2/1968 Fogelgren 124/11 R X 2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This disclosure pertains generally to weapon systems, and more particularly to a high impact, non-lethal system for use by non-professional gun users, such as home and business owners, to repel wound-be attackers, assailants, and invaders.

The legal privilege of self-defense is limited generally to the use of force which reasonably appears necessary for protection against a threatened interference of the person. While in certain instances reasonable force may include the use of deadly weapons, such as firearms, generally speaking, such useage is limited to those situations wherein the user has reason to believe that he is in similar serious mortal danger, and that there is no other safe means of defense. Thus, the employment of a deadly weapon subjects the user to a substantial legal risk that the employment of deadly force may subsequently be judged unreasonable. Moreover, the use and possession of firearms often results in serious or fatal accidents through misuse and mishandling which further subjects the user to additional risks. The subject invention pertains to a weapon system for use in self-defensive encounters which provides an alterna tive to frightening, dangerous, and death dealing firearms.

The subject system is comprised of a projectile launcher and gas powered cartridge assembly insertable therein. The launcher is comprised of a selectively releasable spring loaded piston slidably located in a handle member. The handle member is pivotably connected to one end of a barrel member, the connecting end portion of the barrel defining a receiver wherein a cartridge assembly may be inserted.

The cartridge assembly is comprised of a cartridge case having a deformable projectile and one or more pressurized gas containers slidably disposed in opposite ends thereof. A sharp edged piercing element is immovably supported within the case and directed towards an exterior surface of the container. The piercing element is adapted to puncture the case in response to displacement of the container by selective release of the piston, whereby the releasable pressure energy of the gas is utilized as a launching means for the projectile. It is therefore a general object of the subject invention to provide a non-chemical, gunpowderless, weapon system which includes a projectile launcher operable to launch a projectile by the release of stored gas pressure energy.

Since the application of such a system may vary from target practice to the actual firing of the projectile in combating the would-be assailant, it would be desirable to selectively control the range, speed, and impact of the projectile. In the subject invention this is accomplished by providing a single cartridge case usable with more than one sized gas container and also by providing another form of the cartridge case having means for receiving more than one gas pressurized container. Itis therefore another object of the subject invention to provide a gas powered weapon system wherein the range, speed, and impact of the projectile can be varied 2 by preselecting the cartridge assembly used with the launcher.

In another aspect of the invention it will be appreciated that when the pressurized container is punctured thereby releasing the pressurized gas, a substantial amount of pressurized gas energy released can be lost due to leakage between the passage supporting the gas container and the container itself. In the subject invention various self-sealing means are provided to effectively self-seal an end portion of the pressurized container against the passage of the case by utilizing a sealing force generated by the pressure of the gas media. It is therefore a further object of the subject invention to provide a self-sealing means for the container so that substantially all of the pressurized gas energy released therefrom may be effectively utilized as the propellant for the launching of the projectile.

In still another aspect of the invention it is visualized that a fully loaded projectile launcher may be inadvertently dropped of subjected to other conditions wherein the piston may be slightly displaced against the bias of the spring simulating to a slight extent the actual piston movement required to puncture the container. To circumvent the danger of firing the projectile under such a circumstance, the force of the spring biasing the piston has been selected to fully puncture the container only when released from its fully biased cocked position. Thus, slight withdrawal and release of the piston member may achieve only slight penetration of the container. Under this condition a gradual increase in pressure will displace the projectile from the barrel of the launcher at an exceedingly slow rate which provides a general failsafe feature. It is therefore yet a further object of the subject invention to provide full puncturing of the gas pressurized container only in response to release of the firing piston for a fully cocked position.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention wil become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred projectile launcher of the subject invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same projectile launcher illustrated in FIG. 1, shown in the open position for insertion of an exemplary cartridge assembly;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a first preferred cartridge assembly of the subject invention illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional elevation of the cartridge assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 taken on the line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a second preferred cartridge assembly having a volumetrically increased pressurized gas container relative to the assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a third preferred cartridge assembly having two pressurized gas containers;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional elevation of the cartridge assembly illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the lines 77 thereof;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional elevation of the cartridge assembly illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the lines 8-8 thereof;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the right end of the cartridge assembly shown in FIG. 4, illustrating a first form of a sealing member;

FIG. 10 is another fragmentary sectional elevation, similar to FIG. 9, illustrating a second form of the sealing member;

FIG. 11 is another fragmentary sectional elevation, similar to FIGS. 7 and 8, illustrating a third form of the sealing member; and

FIG. 12 is still another fragmentary sectional elevation, similar to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, illustrating a fourth form of the sealing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the gas powered weapon system of the subject invention is comprised of a projectile launcher, indicated generally at 10,-and an exemplary cartridge assembly 12. The cartridge assembly 12 includes an outer case 14 having an enlarged flange 16 located at one end thereof, and a slightly radially enlarged portion 18 disposed proximate to the flange 16. The length and diameter of the case 14 conforms generally to a standard forty millimeter cartridge with the flange 16 and enlarged portion 18 being adapted for seating the case 14 in the receiver of the launcher 10. Moreover, the case 14 forms an outer housing for a gas pressurized container and a projectile member, and supports a sharp edged piercing element for puncturing the pressurized gas container as shall hereinafter be described in greater detail.

The projectile launcher 10 is preferably fabricated from a suitable plastic material, such as LEXAN, and is formed to resemble a policemans nightstick, having a longitudinal length of approximately 18 inches. The launcher 10 is comprised of a barrel member 20 and a handle assembly 22 projecting forwardly and rearwardly from a hinged breech or receiver assembly 24. As used in this description, the terms forwardly and rearwardly shall respectively have reference to the right and left ends of the projectile launcher as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the right end of the launcher 10 being directed down range when firing the projectile. The bore at the rearward end of the barrel 20 is suitably counterbored to receive the enlarged portion 18 of the case 14 with the rearward face thereof being adapted to abut the flange 16 when seating the case 12. The bore of the barrel 20 further includes a plurality of helically spaced, axially extending rifling grooves 26 which function to impart a gyrascopic trajectory to the projectile as will hereinafter be explained in conjunction with the operation of the system.

The barrel member 20 and handle assembly 22 are rotatably connected by means of a hinged connecting collar 28, the collar 28 including a first half sectional member 29 connected to the barrel 20, and having a ring-shaped portion 30 providing encirclement therearound. A second half sectional member 32 is connected to the handle assembly 22 and pivotally con nected adjacent one axially extending edge thereof to the first section 29. For selectively rotating the handle assembly 22 relative to the barrel 20 for insertion of the cartridge assembly 12 and thereafter for fully locking the collar 28, a locking mechanism is provided at a diametrically opposite axially extending edge and includes a finger operable release pin 34. The precise details of the connecting collar 28, hinge, and locking mechanism form no part of the subject invention, and may be of the type disclosed in the U.S. Pat. Application of Steven F. Mulich and James H. Sweeney entitled Projectile Launcher Baton," Ser. No. 77,526, filed Oct. 2, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,728,809 that disclosure being incorporated herein by reference.

The handle assembly 22 has a radially enlarged breech block 36 located at a forward end which is adapted to be connected to the second half section 32 by any suitable means such as screws, bolts or the like (not shown). The handle assembly 22 includes an axial passage 38 which extends rearwardly from the breech block 36 and terminates proximate the rearward end of the launcher 10. A piston 40 is slidably located in the passage 38 and biased toward the forward end thereof by means of a coil spring member 42. An axially extending groove 44 extends radially from the passage 38 to the outer periphery of the handle 22, and includes a circumferentially extending cocking slot 46 located at the rearward end thereof and a loading slot 47 disposed slightly to the left of the terminal forward end 49. A radially extending operating knob 48 is threadably connected to the piston 40 and extends through the groove 44 to selectively position and locate the piston 40. As best seen in FIG. 1, the terminal forward end 49 of the slot 44 is located slightly to the left of the breech block 36 and functions as a stop to retain the piston 40 in the passage 38, and moreover to define a preselected engageable distance of the forward end of the piston 40 beyond the forward face of the breech block 36, with the loading slot 47 being adapted to locate the piston in a position wherein the forward end is non-extendable through the breech block 36 and disposed slightly to the left of the forward face thereof. An integral, radially enlarged, circular shaped butt portion 50 is disposed on the rearward end of the handle assembly 22, the portion 50 being adapted to distribute the recoil load of the launcher 10 during the firing sequence. Additionally, a radially enlarged guard ring 52 is spaced slightly to the left of the loading slot 47 to define that portion of the handle surface suitable for placement of the operators thumb or fingers to the left thereof, to negate the possibility of the thumb and fingers being jammed through the recoil action of the operating knob as shall hereinafter be described in the operation of the projectile launcher 10.

As indicated previously, the gas powered weapon system of the subject invention allows the system user to select the range, speed, and impact of the projectile. In the subject invention this is accomplished by providing a small and a large pressurized gas bottle and also two different types of cartridge cases, a first case adaptable to receive either a small or a large bottle, and a second case wherein two of the large bottles may be received. For purposes of clarity, the small and large bottle forms of the subject invention are hereinafter designated low energy" and medium energy, respectively, with the case utilizing two bottles being hereinafter designated high energy.

With reference first to a low energy cartridge assembly, and as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the assembly includes a cartridge case or housing 54. The case 54 is comprised of first and second

cylindrical portions

56 and 58 spaced on opposite ends of a cylindrical portion 60, the portion 60 being of substantially less diameter than the

portions

56 and 58. The first cylindrical portion 56 includes an enlarged flange portion 62 and a slightly diametrically enlarge portion 64 relative to the diameter of the portion 56, the portion 56 and 62 being identical to the flange 16 and enlarged portion 18 of the exemplary cartridge 12, shown in FIG. 2. The second cylindrical portion 58 is substantially axially elongated relative to the first cylindrical portion 56 and is of a suitable diameter to accommodate slidable insertion in the bore of the barrel 20. The cylindrical portion 60 includes a plurality of axially extending guide ribs 66 circumferentially spaced about the outer periphery thereof to accommodate guiding of the cartridge assembly 54 into the receiver assembly 24 of the projectile launcher 10.

The cartridge case 54 includes a first axially extending cylindrical passage 68 which extends substantially through the first cylindrical portion 56 and the cylindrical portion 60. The cylindrical passage 68 opens into a second cylindrical passage 70, the second cylindrical passage 70 being of substantially greater diameter than the cylindrical passage 68 and defines a radially extending shoulder 72 therewith. Moreover, it will be seen that the right end of the cylindrical passage 68 includes a stepped bore 74 which defines a radially extending shoulder 76. The stepped bore 74 and radially extending shoulder 76 are adapted to receive and locate a piercing element support member 78.

As best observed in FIG. 8, the member 78 is of substantially triangular shape having arcuately extending side walls 80 which define a plurality of oval openings 82 with the circumferential surface of the step bore 74. The apex between all adjacent side walls 80 is arcuately formed in conformance with the diameter of the step bore 74 to be received therein. The support member 78 may be connected to the step bore 74 by any suitable means such as preferably providing threads across each of the arcuately shaped apexes 84 to connectably mate with cooperating threads in the step bore 74.

A piercing element 86 is centrally located and supported by the support member 78 and includes an annular shaped blade portion 88, having an inclined rearwardly extending face 90, and a radially enlarged threaded portion 92 which is connected to a threaded aperture 94 disposed in the support member 78.

A relatively flat, disc-shaped gas check member 96, which functions as a piston in expelling a projectile 100, is slidably located in the second cylindrical passage 70 and includes an annular shaped flange portion 98 which abuts the radially extending shoulder 72. The projectile 100 is slidably located between the gas check 96 and a second gas check member 102, the second gas check member 102 being identical to the gas check 96 and preferably being circumferentially sealed in the passage 70 by any suitable sealant. The projectile 100 is preferably comprised of a relatively flat, disc-shaped cloth container or bag having a plurality of shot particles located therein and easily deformable for slidable insertion into the passage 70. The projectile 100 can be of a type disclosed in the co-pending patent application of Robert C. Mawhinney, Ser. No. 39,294, filed May 21, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,720 entitled High Energy, Minimum Lethality Weapon System, which was assigned to the assignee of the subject invention, and is incorporated in this disclosure by reference.

A small gas bottle or container104 having a generally cylindrically shaped mouth portion 106 is slidably located in the cylindrical passage 68 and includes a circular wall portion 107 which is disposed proximate the piercing element 86. The bottle 104 may be of the type used in home soda water dispensers wherein a suitable pressurized gaseous media may be stored. Various gases may be utilized in the gas bottle 104 such as, for example, carbon dioxide, air, and nitrogen. With respect to the operating pressures of the gases stored within the bottle, carbon dioxide has been utilized to pressures up to 800 p.s.i. g. and nitrogen to pressures of 5,000 p.s.i.g. As best seen in FIG. 4, the bottle 104 is of an axial length substantially less than the axial length of the cylindrical passage 68. To suitably locate the wall portion 107 of the gas container proximate the piering element 86, a cylindrically shaped adapter memher 108 is slidably inserted in the left end of the passage 68 so that its outer face is substantially flush with the outer rearward face of the flange 62. The adapter 108 may be secured to the case 54 by any suitable means such as an adhesive tape or an easily torn disc-shaped paper sticker 110. As indicated previously, the cartridge assembly illustrated in FIG. 4 is a low energy assembly relative to the other forms of the invention to be hereinafter described. It will be noted that the gas bottle 104 is of minimal axial dimension and provides an effective range to the projectile of approximately 25 feet. The range of the projectile 100 is predicated on a projectile velocity of approximately 100 miles per hour to insure a knock-down impacting force in repeling an aggravation.

With reference now to FIG. 5, a medium energy cartridge assembly is illustrated utilizing an identical cartridge case 54. For purposes of clarity, identical components and portions to that described in conjunction with FIG. 4 are designated by the same numeral having a prime suffix. The only difference between the medium energy cartridge assembly and the low energy cartridge assembly resides in the utilization of a larger gas bottle 112 relative to the bottle 104, the bottle 112 storing an increased volume of pressurized gas. The gas bottle 112 is sufficiently elongated relative to the gas bottle 104 to extend fromthe rearward outer face of the flange 62 to the tip of the piercing element 86' thus obviating the need for the cylindrical adapter 108. Again, the gas bottle 112 is securely confined within the cylindrical passage 68' by a paper sticker 110'. It will be noted that when the medium energy cartridge assembly is utilized with the projectile launcher 10, that the release of the piston member 40 will react directly upon the rearward surface of the gas bottle 112 as opposed to striking the adapter 108 in the low energy cartridge assembly. It will further be noted that due to the increased volumetric capacity of the gas bottle 112 that the range, speed, and impact of the'projectile 100' will be substantially increased.

With reference now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a high energy cartridge assembly is illustrated having a cartridge case 114 which is slightly elongated relative to the cartridge case 54 or 54', to accommodate the axial length of a large size gas bottle 112" as well as a suitable adapter for simultaneously displacing a pair of bottles as shall hereinafter become apparent. For purposes of clarity, identical components and portions are indicated by the same numeral utilized for the low and medium energy forms of the cartridge case illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, and including a double prime suffix. The right endportion of the cartridge case 114 is identical to the second cylindrical portion 58 of the cartridge case 54 and includes a cylindrical passage 70' having a pair of gas check members 96" and 102", respectively, located on opposite sides of a projectile member 100'. In the high energy form of the cartridge assembly, a pair of parallel, transversely spaced,

cylindrical passages

116 and 118 extend from the left end of the case 114 and open at an opposite inward end thereof into the cylindrical passage 70". A pair of piercing element support members 78" are respectively located at the right inward end of each of the

passages

116 and 118 and respectively support a pair of piercing elements 86". A pair of gas bottles 112" are respectively located in each of the passages 1 16 and 118 with the mouth portions 106 being located proximate the piercing element 86". The left end of the cartridge case 114, as viewed in FIG. 6, includes a partial, centrally located blind bore 120 which defines diametrically opposite arcuate surfaces 122 and 124, respectively. As best observed in FIG. 7, the surfaces 122 and 124 are adapted to slidably receive a cylindrically shaped, adapter member 126 which includes an outer face 128 which, when fully inserted in the bore 120, is adapted to be substantially flush with the left transverse end of the case 114. The diameter of the adapter 126, and correspondingly the blind bore 120, is selected so that the circumferential edge thereof centrally contacts the rearward end of each of the gas bottles 1 12 so that inward displacement of the adapter 126 will simultaneously displace the gas bottles 112 and be punctured at essentially the same moment. The high energy cartridge assembly 114 is operable in an identical manner with the low energy and medium energy cartridge assemblies, inward displacement of the adapter 126 being adapted to drive the gas bottles 112 against the piercing elements 86" to release the pressurized gas.

In all three forms of the cartridge assemblies hereinbefore described, it will be appreciated that when the pressurized container or containers is punctured thereby releasing the pressurized gas, a substantial amount of pressurized gas energy can be lost due to leakage towards the rear of the case, between the passages supporting the gas container and the container itself. To efficiently utilize all of the pressurized gas energy as a propellant for launching the projectile 100, various sealing means are provided and illustrated respectively in FIGS. 9 12. For the purposes of description, the sealing means shall be described in conjunction with the low energy cartridge assembly illustrated in FIG. 4, although it will be appreciated that the

gas bottle

112 and 112" of the other embodiments are comparably sealed by one of the following forms.

With reference now to FIG. 9, a flexible rolling diaphragm type of seal member 130 is located at the right inward end of cylindrical passage 68 proximate the piercing element support member 78. The member 130 is comprised of an axially extending skirt portion 132 having an enlarged annular bead 134 at one end securely located in a suitable annular groove 136 disposed in the passage 68. The opposite end of the skirt portion 132 is rolled, or folded over, to define an axially extending aperture 138 for snugly receiving the mouth 106 of the gas bottle 104. The seal member 130 may be fabricated from any suitable flexible material such as rubber or synthetic rubber to provide a diaphragm-like characteristic to the folded over portion. When the gas bottle 104 is displaced to the right due to the impact with the piston of the projectile launcher 10, the rolled, or folded over portion functions as a diaphragm and is displaceable to the right in response to movement to the bottle 104. When the bottle 104 is punctured by the piercing element 86 the released pressure will act on the inner side of the folded over portion to urge the aperture to the left against the increasing peripheral diameter of the bottle proximate the mouth 106 and drivingly associate the axial portions against the mouth portion 106 and the circumferential surface of the passage 66, respectively. Thus, it will be seen that the member is self-sealing during such time as when the bottle 104 is punctured to retain the released pressurized gas between the seal 130 and gas check and efficiently utilize the pressurized media for the launch of the projectile 100.

In FIG. 10, a second form of the seal member is indicated as an O-ring 140. The O-ring 140 is nestingly located between the outer peripheral portion of the mouth 106 of the gas bottle 104 and the outer circumferential surface of the passage 68. Prior to puncturing the bottle 104, the pressure on opposite sides of the O- ring 140 will be equal and the seal will be frictionally held proximate the outer peripheral bottle surface. When the bottle 104 is urged to the right for puncturing in response to release of the piston 40, the pressure in the passage 68 on the right side of the O-ring 140 will be increased and react against the right side of the O- ring urging it to a leftward sealing position. Thus, it will again be seen that the O-ring 140 is characterized by self-sealing under the influence of the pressurized gas.

In FIG. 11, another form of the sealing member is indicated at 142 having a skirt portion 144 extending forwardly from a disc-shaped base portion 146 which functions as a flexible flat diaphragm. The base portion 146 has a centrally located aperture 148 of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the mouth 106 of the bottle 104 to define a slight interference fit therewith. The member 142 is fabricated from a rubber compound or equivalent synthetic material which permits the base portion 146 to circumferentially flex or bend in response to movement of the bottle 104. Thus, when the bottle is displaced to the right for puncturing, the base portion 146 will be circumferentially flexed to the right and upon puncturing of the bottle 104, the pressure energy will act on the inner annular surface of the base portion 146 to maintain the sealing contact therebetween. It will be noted that due to the increase in diameter of the bottle 104 on the left side of the mouth portion 106, that the pressure energy released from the bottle 104 will tend to more fully seat the aperture 148 on the outer peripheral surface of the bottle whereby a tighter seal is accomplished by increased pressure acting on the right side thereof.

In FIG. 12 another form of a sealing member is indicated at 150, comprised of a wedged-shaped annulus slidably located in the passage 68 and having an inclined surface 152 tangentially seating on the peripheral surface to the left end of the mouth 106. The member is urged to the left by a coil spring 154 located between the support member 78 and the right face of the annulus 150. The spring tends to retain the member 150 is sealing contact with the bottle 104 during displacement of the bottle to the right in response to movement of the piston 40, and acts to supplement the released pressure energy of the bottle 104 in wedging the member 150 to form a pressure tight seal. Thus, it

will be appreciated that all four of the sealing embodiments are self-sealing due to a force provided by the pressurized media which insures that the releasable pressurized gas may be fully utilized for the launching operation, regardless of the form of the seal selected.

To operate the projectile launcher with any of one of the low energy, medium energy, or high energy cartridge assemblies, the operating knob 48 for the piston 40 is initially positioned in the loading slot 47 which locates the right end of the piston 40 inwardly of the right face of the breech 36 as viewed in FIG. 2. The release pin 34 is then depressed and the handle 22 is pivotally rotated to provide access to the receiver 24. The selected

cartridge assembly

54, 54, or 114 is then slidably inserted into the receiver 24 and the handle is pivotably counter-rotated and locked to assume the position illustrated in FIG. l. The operating knob 48 is then repositioned to the cocking slot 46 against the bias of the spring 42, and the system is ready for firing. The launcher barrel is directed towards a selected target with firing being accomplished by finger or thumb movement of the operating knob 48 circumferentially from the cocking slot 46 to the axial groove 44 wherein the spring 42 will drive the piston to the right. Upon impact with the gas bottle 104 or 1.12, the bottle will be driven against the piercing element 88 and puncturing of the bottle 104 will be accomplished. Puncturing of the bottle 104 will release the pressurized gas media which in turn will drive the bottle to the left, wherein it will be self-sealed by any one of the forms of the sealing members previously described. Concurrently the pressurized energy will act on the left face of the gas check 96 driving the projectile 100 interposed between the gas checks 96 and 102 to the right. The rifling grooves 26 of the barrel will impart a gyroscopic movement to the projectile 100 so that when the projectile 100 is discharged from the barrel 20 it is subject to expand under the action of centrifugal force, the gyroscopic motion displacing the shot particles radially outwardly against the outer circumferential surface of the deformable container. In this expanded position, the projectile 100 will deliver a knock-down blow against the selected target.

Because of the absence of gun powder, or detonation of various chemicals, the system of the subject invention is not subjected to high temperatures and therefore the majority of the components may be extruded, machined, or otherwise fabricated from plastics, and preferably from a thermoplastic polycarbonate resin material such as, for example, LEXAN, a product of General Electric. This provides an economical as well as a sturdy lightweight system which may be conveniently carried and operated. It also will be noted that during the firing sequence the operating knob 48 will be recoiled slightly to the left due to pressure energy acting on the right end of the gas bottle. In this regard it will be noted that the enlarged ring 52 is adapted to suitably locate the thumb and fingers of the hand of the operator in a suitable location to prevent jamming. It also will be noted that with the exception of the gas bottles, all parts utilized in the system are reuseable which further increases the economy of the system.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for launching a projectile comprising: a cartridge case adapted to support a projectile in one end thereof; means containing pressurized gas supported in an opposite end of said case, means for selectively releasing the pressurized gas has been from said gas containing means whereby the energy of the pressurized fluid is utilizable to launch the projectile, said cartridge case having a first longitudinally extending passage for slidably receiving the projectile, a plurality of second, radially spaced, longitudinally extending passages interconnected with said first longitudinally extending passage for slidably receiving said gas containing means, and said gas containing means comprising a gas container slidably supported in each of said second passages.

2. A gas powered weapon system comprising: a cartridge case having a first longitudinally extending passage atone end and a plurality of second longitudinally extending passages at an opposite end and interconnected with said first passage; a projectile located in said first passage; a pressurized gas container slidably located in each of said second passages; and means for selectively releasing the pressurized gas from said container including a sharp edge element supported in each of said second passages proximate one end of said containers, and force applying means slidably supported by said case proximate an opposite end of said containers for simultaneously displacing said containers to a puncturable position relative to said sharp edged element, whereby the energy of the pressurized gas is utilized to launch said projectile.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION P t n N 3. 830,214 Dated August 20, 1974 Inventor s) Herbert E. Curtis It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent 1 and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 11, "wound" should be --would--. Column 2, line 20, "of" should be --or--.

Column 5, line 36, before f'providing" insert by I Column 7, line 2, "70" should be --70"--, Column 8, line 64, "is"'shou1d be '-in--,

Column 9, line 27,1'88" should be --86--,

Claim 1, line 5, after "gas'f delete 'has been";

Claim 2, line 9, "edge"should be edged--,

Signed and sealed this llth. day of February 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

Y C. MARSHALL-DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 1 v and Trademarks ORM PO-IOSO (10-69)

Claims

2. A gas powered weapon system comprising: a cartridge case having a first longitudinally extending passage at one end and a plurality of second longitudinally extending passages at an opposite end and interconnected with said first passage; a projectile located in said first passage; a pressurized gas container slidably located in each of said second passages; and means for selectively releasing the pressurized gas from said container including a sharp edge element supported in each of said second passages proximate one end of said containers, and force applying means slidably supported by said case proximate an opposite end of said containers for simultaneously displacing said containers to a puncturable position relative to said sharp edged element, whereby the energy of the pressurized gas is utilized to launch said projectile.