Non-lethal projectile belt and feeding apparatus

Abstract

A non-lethal projectile belt and feeding apparatus for improving prior art components of a non-lethal projectile launch system including the non-lethal projectiles and the non-lethal projectile feeding apparatus that are, when used in conjunction, mechanically deterministic, jam-free, gravitationally independent, cost efficient, while achieving a higher accuracy, a longer effective range, a feed rate not limited by gravity and maintaining a high capacity. These non-lethal projectiles are made of non-spherical and elongated outer shells 20 with tailfins 22 and index holes 21. The projectiles are either filled with an application-specific liquid or a powdered substance 29. In a paintball application, the shell is usually made of gelatin, filled with a water-based dye. The shell 20, index holes 21 and tailfins 22 are held together by a tape 27 with perforations 26 that define the boundaries between successions of the non-lethal projectile units. When the shell 20 is made of gelatin, the tape 27 may be made of the extra material that would otherwise be cut away during the manufacturing process of conventional unconnected non-lethal projectiles. In the desired embodiment, some material is retained for the tape 27 that holds the non-lethal projectiles together.

1 ) A non-lethal projectile belt and feeder, comprising: 
 a continuous tape to be separated;    a non-spherical shell connected to said tape for holding a substrate to be released on impact;    wherein said tape includes a weakened area for separating said non-spherical shell; and    a feeding apparatus to separate said weakened area to detached said non-spherical shell.    
   
   
       2 ) A non-lethal projectile belt and feeder as in  claim 1 , wherein said feeding apparatus includes a blade to separate said weakened area.  
   
   
       3 ) A non-lethal projectile belt and feeder as in  claim 1 , wherein said weakened area includes perforations.  
   
   
       4 ) A non-lethal projectile belt and feeder as in  claim 1 , wherein said feeding apparatus includes a trench to correspond to said weakened area.  
   
   
       5 ) A non-lethal projectile belt and feeder as in  claim 1 , wherein said tape includes an index hole.  
   
   
       6 ) A non-lethal projectile belt and feeder as in  claim 5 , wherein said feeding apparatus includes an index tooth to engage said index hole.  
   
   
       7 ) A non-lethal projectile belt and feeder as in  claim 6 , wherein said feeding apparatus includes a matching index hole to accept said index tooth.  
   
   
       8 ) A non-lethal projectile belt as in  claim 1 , wherein said tape includes a fin to guide said non-spherical shell.  
   
   
       9 ) A non-lethal projectile belt as in  claim 8 , wherein said fin includes supporting material to support said fin.  
   
   
       10 ) A non-lethal projectile, comprising: 
 a tape which has been separated;    a non-spherical shell connected to said tape for holding a substrate to be released on impact;    wherein said tape includes a portion of a weakened area for separating said non-spherical shell; and    wherein said non-spherical shell includes a seam to affect a trajectory of said non-spherical shell.    
   
   
       11 ) A non-lethal projectile as in  claim 10 , wherein said tape is formed from two layers.  
   
   
       12 ) A non-lethal projectile as in  claim 11 , wherein said seam is formed by the overlap of said layers.  
   
   
       13 ) A non-lethal projectile as in  claim 10 , wherein said tape includes an index hole.  
   
   
       14 ) A non-lethal projectile as in  claim 10 , wherein said seam rolls said non-spherical shell substantially along a longitudinal axis of said non-spherical shell.  
   
   
       15 ) A non-lethal projectile as in  claim 12 , wherein said non-spherical shell is substantially a sub-sonic cone shape.  
   
   
       16 ) A non-lethal projectile as in  claim 10 , wherein said tape includes a fin to guide said non-spherical shell.  
   
   
       17 ) A non-lethal projectile as in  claim 16 , wherein said fin includes supporting material to support said fin.  
   
   
       18 ) A non-lethal projectile and feeder as in  claim 1 , wherein said feeder assembly includes a flap to assist the insertion of said non-spherical shell.  
   
   
       19 ) A non-lethal projectile and feeder as in  claim 1 , wherein said feeder assembly includes a gap to allow a tail of said non-spherical shell to pass through said feeder assembly.  
   
   
       20 ) A feeding apparatus to feed a non-lethal projectile on the tape, comprising: 
 a blade to separate said non-lethal projectile from said tape;    a trench to cooperate with said blade to separate said non-lethal projectile from said tape;    an index tooth to engage an index hole of said tape;    a matching index hole to cooperate with said index tooth to engage said index hole of said tape;    a flap to assist the insertion of said non-lethal projectile;    a gap to allow a tail of said non-lethal projectile to pass through said feeding apparatus;    wherein said feeder apparatus includes a bolt to power the feeder assembly.