WO2017070788A1

WO2017070788A1 - Conducted energy weapon testing chamber

Info

Publication number: WO2017070788A1
Application number: PCT/CA2016/051249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luc LALONE
Original assignee: Arc Point Concepts Incorporated
Priority date: 2015-10-30
Filing date: 2016-10-28
Publication date: 2017-05-04
Also published as: CA3042331A1; CA3042331C; WO2017070788A9

Abstract

A conducted energy weapon (CEW) testing chamber having a plurality of sides forming a chamber is provided. A viewing cover is on one side of the chamber having an opening for receiving an operative end of a CEW into the chamber. An absorption surface opposite of the transparent surface within the chamber is on one of the plurality of sides for receiving darts if propelled from the CEW. A reflective surface within the chamber enables an operator to view an electrical at the operative end of the CEW when testing the operation of the CEW.

Description

CONDUCTED ENERGY WEAPON TESTING CHAMBER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001 ] This application claims priority from United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/248,404 filed October 30, 2015 the entirety is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to conducted energy weapons or conducted electrical weapons and in particular to testing of the operation of a conducted energy weapon. BACKGROUND

[0003] Conducted energy weapons or conducted electrical weapons (CEW) have become prevalent tools by law enforcement agencies. CEWs are devices that use electrical energy to induce pain or to immobilize or incapacitate a person. Prior to starting a shift officers can be required to verify the operation of their CEW to ensure proper charge and operation. During this testing the CEW may inadvertently discharge the barbed darts of the CEW causing damage or injury to the operator.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for a device that enables safe testing of CEWs by ensuring darts are captured if an accidental discharge occurs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber;

FIG. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber with a conducted energy weapon is being tested;

FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber with a conducted energy weapon is being tested when a discharge of the darts occurs; and

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber with a conducted energy weapon is being tested.

[0006] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a conducted energy weapon (CEW) testing chamber comprising: a plurality of sides forming a chamber; a viewing cover on one side of the chamber having an opening for receiving an operative end of a CEW into the chamber; an absorption surface opposite of the viewing cover within the chamber on one of the plurality of sides for receiving darts if propelled from the CEW; and a reflective surface within the chamber to enable an operator to view an electrical at the operative end of the CEW when testing the operation of the CEW. [0008] In accordance with a further aspect one of the plurality of side is mountable to an exterior surface.

[0009] In accordance with a further aspect the plurality of sides is made of a polycarbonate, plastic, or composite material.

[0010] In accordance with a further aspect at least a portion of the viewing cover is a transparent surface.

[001 1 ] In accordance with a further aspect the transparent surface is formed by an acrylic glass or polycarbonate material.

[0012] In accordance with a further aspect the reflective surface is acrylic mirror. [0013] In accordance with a further aspect the absorption surface comprises one or more layers of material.

[0014] In accordance with a further aspect the one or more layers of material comprises one or more of nylon, Kevlar™, rubber, denim, corduroy and foam.

[0015] In accordance with a further aspect the reflective surface is positioned off-center of the opening. [0016] In accordance with a further aspect the reflective surface is angled relative to the absorption surface and a perpendicular side of the plurality of sides of the chamber.

[0017] In accordance with a further aspect the viewing cover is secured to at least one edge of the plurality of sides of the opening of the chamber.

[0018] In accordance with a further aspect an edge of the viewing cover is secured by a hinge to the at least one edge of the plurality of sides of the opening of the chamber.

[0019] In accordance with a further aspect another edge of the viewing cover is secured to the chamber by a latch or a clamp.

[0020] In accordance with a further aspect the viewing cover slides into slot formed in at least two sides of the chamber.

[0021 ] In accordance with a further aspect the viewing cover is retained by at least one screw. [0022] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to various embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without using some of the implementation details set forth herein. It should also be understood that well known operations have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure the invention. Embodiments are described below, by way of example only, with reference to Figures 1-5.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the conducted energy weapon (CEW) testing chamber 100. The CEW testing chamber 100 having at least one viewing cover 120 at least a portion of which providing transparent pane such as Plexiglas to enable the operator to view the discharge of the CEW which can be placed in opening 122. The interior of the CEW testing chamber 100 has reflective surface 160, such as a mirror, which can be angled to allow the operator to view the discharge of the CEW. The reflective surface can be made of a reflective acrylic surface or any reflective surface that can withstand the impact of a dart. An absorption surface 150 at the back of the chamber can be a material or surface which can absorb the impacted of barbed darts when discharged from the CEW. The absorption surface may comprises one or more layers. One layer can be a fabric to capture the barbs or probes, second layer can be provided to absorb and dissipate the impact of the barb such as but not limited to nylon, Kevlar™, rubber, denim, corduroy or foam. The viewing cover 122 is surrounded by sides 1 12 including a rear surface 1 10. The viewing cover 120 may further include a hinge at an edge surface connected to one of the sides 1 12 to allow easy access to the interior of the CEW testing chamber 100. A retaining mechanism such as a clip or latch can be provided on one or more of the unhinged sides. Alternatively the viewing cover may slide into slots formed on the interior of the chamber or at the edges of the sides 1 12, wherein the viewing cover can be slid up or to a side to access the interior of the chamber 100.

[0024] Referring to Figures 2 and 3 where Figure 2 shows a front view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber 100 and Figure 3 shows a side view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber 100. The viewing cover 120 can be secured or retained by fasteners 202 to sides 1 12. The viewing cover 120 may be affixed to or inserted into a frame by various fastening methods. The rear surface 1 10 can have mounting holes 210 to enable the CEW testing chamber 1 10 to be affixed to a wall surface 330 by screws 310. The CEW testing chamber 100 may alternatively be affixed to a mounting surface by clamps, brackets or adhesives. The sides of the CEW testing chamber may be made all from the same material or from different types of material. Alternatively the chamber may be formed by an injection molding process or metal forming process. The chamber may be formed a non-conducting material such as wood, a polycarbonate, plastic, or composite material or a metal that is non- conductive or coated with a non-conductive material.

[0025] Figure 4A shows a cross-sectional view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber with a conducted energy weapon is being tested. The CEW 400 is positioned by an operator in the opening 122 into the interior of the chamber 410. The opening is dimensioned to receive the CEW 400 and limit the possibility that a dart may leave the chamber 410. The CEW 400 can be tested to verify an electrical discharge arcing 402 at the operative end of the CEW 400 by viewing the arcing in the reflective surface 160. The reflective surface 160 can be angled between the absorption surface 150 and an outer wall 1 12 to provide a viewing angle to the operator. The reflective surface 160 can also be positioned to the side away from the center of the chamber so that any discharge of the darts will not directly impact the reflective surface.

[0026] Figure 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber 100 with a conducted energy weapon 400 being tested when a discharge of the darts occurs. The darts 420 and 422 can leave the CEW 400 at high velocity and embed in the absorption surface 150. Due to the high velocity the darts 420 and 422 may be deflected and not embed in the absorption surface 150 but are contained within the chamber 410. The CEW 400 may discharge the barbs by operator error or malfunction of the CEW 400 mechanism. The CEW testing chamber 100 provides a safe environment to test the CEW 400 without exposing the operator to potential injury. The electrical discharge is dissipated within the chamber 410. The chamber is made of non-conductive material to contain any electrical discharge. The darts 420 and 422, or probes, can be removed from the chamber by withdrawing the CEW 400 and wires connecting the darts to the CEW 400.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the conducted energy weapon testing chamber 100 with a CEW 400 is being tested. In the front view the operators hand 500 grips the CEW 400 and positions the CEW 100 within the opening the CEW testing chamber 100. The arc 402 can be seen from the operative end of the CEW 400 in the reflective surface 160. Alternatively the operator will see if the darts have been accidentally discharged when testing the device. [0028] It would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the system and components shown in Figures 1 -5 may include components not shown in the drawings. For simplicity and clarity of the illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, are only schematic and are non-limiting of the elements structures. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

A conducted energy weapon (CEW) testing chamber comprising:

a plurality of sides forming a chamber;

a viewing cover on one side of the chamber having an opening for receiving an operative end of a CEW into the chamber;

an absorption surface opposite of the viewing cover within the chamber on one of the plurality of sides for receiving darts if propelled from the CEW; and

a reflective surface within the chamber to enable an operator to view an electrical at the operative end of the CEW when testing the operation of the CEW.

The CEW testing chamber of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of side is mountable to an exterior surface.

The CEW testing chamber of claim 1 or 2 wherein the plurality of sides is made of a polycarbonate, plastic, or composite material.

The CEW testing chamber of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein at least a portion of the viewing cover is a transparent surface.

The CEW testing chamber of claim 4 wherein the transparent surface is formed by an acrylic glass or polycarbonate material.

The CEW testing chamber of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the reflective surface is acrylic mirror.

The CEW testing chamber of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the absorption surface comprises one or more layers of material.

The CEW testing chamber of claim 7 wherein the one or more layers of material comprises one or more of nylon, Kevlar™, rubber, denim, corduroy and foam.

9. The CEW testing chamber of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the reflective surface is positioned off-center of the opening.

10. The CEW testing chamber of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the reflective surface is angled relative to the absorption surface and a perpendicular side of the plurality of sides of the chamber.

1 1. The CEW testing chamber of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the viewing cover is secured to at least one edge of the plurality of sides of the opening of the chamber.

12. The CEW testing chamber of claim 1 1 wherein an edge of the viewing cover is secured by a hinge to the at least one edge of the plurality of sides of the opening of the chamber.

13. The CEW testing chamber of claim 12 wherein another edge of the viewing cover is secured to the chamber by a latch or a clamp.

14. The CEW testing chamber of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the viewing cover slides into slot formed in at least two sides of the chamber.

15. The CEW testing chamber of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the viewing cover is retained by at least one screw.