Non-lethal electrical discharge weapon having a slim profile

Abstract

An electrical discharge weapon configured as a lightweight, slim profile gun-shaped weapon which is less than one inch thick along the cartridge receiving chamber so that it can be readily placed in a police officer's uniform pocket or in a slim-line holster for easy deployment. All of the major internal components, including battery and transformer, are positioned above or behind the trigger aperture so that even with the dart cartridge in the chamber, the weapon's center of gravity is through the hand so that it is balanced and easily aimed at the target. The invention employs a specially configured chamber to receive a unique cartridge with widely separated darts. As a result, the electrodes may be also widely separated so that current will not jump the electrode gap even when the impacted darts leave a substantial gap to a suspect's skin. Thus, the present invention is more likely to be effective against suspect's wearing thick outerwear. The spent cartridge may be expelled by a spring-activated release for quick ejection and rapid reload. A bottom rail permits connection of another non-lethal device such as a mace canister for use as a secondary weapon or the attachment of tactical lighting or laser aiming devices. A push-on/push-off trigger switch is combined with a mechanical safety device to assure weapon effectiveness and safety for the police officer. Quick disconnect battery clip allows for rapid battery replacement.

1 . An electrical discharge weapon for propelling a pair of wire-tethered electrode darts at a remote target to be subdued by an electrical current through the target; the weapon comprising: 
 a housing having the shape of a pistol with a broadened end forming a chamber for receiving a dart cartridge having said wire-tethered electrode darts;    electronic components mounted within said housing for generating a high voltage output to be applied to said cartridge between two spaced-apart electrodes; and    wherein said spaced-apart electrodes are greater than 1.65 inches apart from one another when the electrical discharge weapon is not loaded with a dart cartridge.    
   
   
       2 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 1  wherein said housing comprises a trigger guard enclosing an aperture and having a trigger switch extending therein for selectively activating said electronic components and a handle for grasping said weapon, all said electronic components being located within the housing aft of the forwardmost portion of the trigger guard.  
   
   
       3 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 1  wherein said chamber is less than one inch in thickness.  
   
   
       4 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 3  wherein said housing is about 8 inches in length and about 4 inches in width.  
   
   
       5 . A low profile, handgun-shaped electrical discharge weapon receiving a cartridge having wire-tethered darts to be propelled at a remote target; the weapon comprising: 
 an electronic components compartment integrally interconnecting a handle and a cartridge-receiving chamber, the weapon also having a trigger aperture with a trigger switch extending into said aperture for activating said cartridge; said weapon having a center of gravity positioned between said trigger aperture and said handle.    
   
   
       6 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 5  further comprising a first pair of electrodes in said chamber and in contact with a second pair of electrodes on said cartridge, each said pair of electrodes having an electrode gap that is greater than 1.65 inches when the chamber is unloaded.  
   
   
       7 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 5  wherein said chamber has a maximum thickness of about one inch.  
   
   
       8 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 5  wherein said cartridge-receiving chamber comprises a spring that is compressed by said cartridge, said weapon having a lever for securing said cartridge within said chamber and for releasing said cartridge to permit said spring to propel said cartridge out of said chamber.  
   
   
       9 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 5  further comprising a push-on/push-off switch and wherein said trigger switch engages said push-on/push-off switch.  
   
   
       10 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 9  further comprising a mechanical safety selectively engageable with said trigger switch for alternatively preventing and permitting said trigger switch engagement with said push-on/push-off switch.  
   
   
       11 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 5  wherein said cartridge extends partially outside of said chamber when said cartridge is ready for activation.  
   
   
       12 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 5  further comprising a quick-disconnect battery assembly mounted in said handle for powering said weapon.  
   
   
       13 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 5  further comprising an integral accessory rail for receiving a backup non-lethal weapon selectively attached to said rail.  
   
   
       14 . A hand-gun-shaped electrical discharge weapon receiving a cartridge having wire-tethered darts to be propelled toward a remote target; the weapon comprising: 
 a spring compressed by said cartridge within said weapon for ejecting said cartridge after said darts have been propelled.    
   
   
       15 . A hand-gun-shaped electrical discharge weapon receiving a cartridge having wire-tethered darts to be propelled toward a remote target; the weapon comprising: 
 a push-on/push-off activation switch for activating said weapon; and    a mechanical safety device for preventing inadvertent depression of said activation switch.    
   
   
       16 . A hand-gun-shaped electrical discharge weapon receiving a cartridge having wire-tethered darts to be propelled toward a remote target; the weapon comprising: 
 an integral accessory rail receiving a backup weapon mounted to said electrical discharge weapon.    
   
   
       17 . The electrical discharge weapon recited in  claim 16  wherein said backup weapon is a non-lethal weapon.