Combination non-lethal projectile launcher and flash light

Abstract

An apparatus for firing a non-lethal projectile comprises a body with an internal cavity. A light source may be disposed in the cavity to illuminate an area outside the body. A firing mechanism may also be provided to cause a projectile to be propelled through the body.

1 . An apparatus for firing non-lethal projectiles, said apparatus comprising: 
 a grip portion defining a grip axis extending longitudinally through said grip portion;    a front portion having a barrel extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein said grip axis and said barrel are substantially parallel; and    a firing mechanism operable to cause a projectile to be propelled through said barrel.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said grip axis is aligned with said barrel.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said grip portion has a smaller cross-sectional area than said front portion.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said grip portion is generally cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said firing mechanism includes a trigger with a longitudinal axis that is approximately parallel to said barrel.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said firing mechanism includes a trigger and wherein said trigger is movable with respect to said front portion along an axis that is approximately perpendicular to said barrel.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said trigger is a push button.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a safety movable between a safe position and a fire position, wherein said safety covers access to said trigger in said safe position, and wherein said safety allows access to said trigger in said fire position.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source adapted to illuminate an area outside said front portion.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a light switch operable to cause said light source to illuminate, wherein said light switch is disposed on said grip portion such that a user can actuate said light switch using a hand that is grasping said grip portion.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said light switch is a slide switch.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said light switch is movable along an axis that is approximately parallel to said barrel.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said firing mechanism includes a trigger and wherein said light switch is proximate to said trigger such that a user can actuate said light switch and said trigger using a hand that is grasping said grip.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said light source is selected from the group consisting of at least one light emitting diode, at least one incandescent lamp, at least one high intensity lamp, at least one xenon lamp, at least one halogen lamp and at least one krypton lamp.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an aiming mechanism integrally formed in said front portion, wherein said aiming mechanism is adapted to direct a focused light source along an axis that is substantially parallel to said barrel.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said aiming mechanism is a laser pointer.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for firing a non-lethal projectile, said apparatus comprising: 
 a body including a grip portion and a front portion, wherein said body defines an internal cavity;    a light source disposed in said cavity, wherein said light source is adapted to illuminate an area outside said body;    a firing mechanism operable to cause a projectile to be propelled out of said body;    a source of compressed gas; and    a valve arrangement configured to selectively provide fluid communication between said firing mechanism and said source of compressed gas.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said front portion includes a transverse front face through which the projectile exits said front portion and wherein said light source projects light through said front face.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a light switch integrally formed on said body, wherein said light switch is operable to turn on said light source.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said light switch is proximate to said grip portion such that a user can actuate said light switch using a hand that is grasping said grip portion.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein said light switch is a slide switch.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said light switch is movable with respect to said front portion along an axis that is approximately parallel to said barrel axis.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said firing mechanism includes a trigger and wherein said light switch is proximate to said trigger such that a user can actuate said light switch and said trigger using a hand that is grasping said grip.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said light source includes at least one light emitting diode.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an aiming mechanism disposed in said cavity.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said aiming mechanism projects a laser beam through said front face.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said body is generally cylindrical in shape.  
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for firing a frangible projectile, said apparatus comprising: 
 a body shaped to resemble a flash light, said body defining an internal cavity;    a light source disposed in said cavity, wherein said light source is adapted to project light out of said body; and    a firing mechanism operable to cause a frangible projectile to be propelled out of said body.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a light switch operative to turn on said light source and a trigger associated with said firing mechanism, wherein said light switch is movable with respect to said body with a thumb while holding said body.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said trigger is movable with respect to said body with an index finger while holding said body.  
     
     
         31 . A flash light comprising: 
 a generally cylindrical body;    a light source disposed in said body, wherein said light source is operable to project light out of said body; and    a firing mechanism operable to cause a non-lethal projectile to be propelled out of said body.    
     
     
         32 . The flash light of  claim 31 , further comprising a valve arrangement disposed in said body.  
     
     
         33 . The flash light of  claim 32 , wherein said valve arrangement selectively opens and closes fluid communication between a source of compressed gas and said firing mechanism.  
     
     
         34 . The flash light of  claim 31 , further comprising a canister of compressed gas disposed in said body, wherein said canister is in fluid communication with said firing mechanism.  
     
     
         35 . The flash light of  claim 31 , further comprising a magazine disposed in said body, wherein said magazine is configured to receive a plurality of projectiles.  
     
     
         36 . The flash light of  claim 31 , further comprising a safety associated with said firing mechanism, wherein said safety is movable between a safe position and a fire position along an axis that is approximately parallel with a longitudinal axis of said body.  
     
     
         37 . The flash light of  claim 36 , further comprising a bulge protruding from said body, wherein said safety is slidably coupled to said bulge.  
     
     
         38 . The flash light of  claim 37 , wherein at least a portion of said safety has an arcuate shape.  
     
     
         39 . The flash light of  claim 36 , further comprising a trigger operatively associated with said firing mechanism, wherein said safety covers access to said trigger in said safe position.  
     
     
         40 . The flash light of  claim 39 , further comprising a light switch operative to turn on said light source, wherein said light switch is disposed on an opposing side of said body than said trigger.  
     
     
         41 . An apparatus for firing a non-lethal projectile, said apparatus comprising: 
 a barrel;    a firing mechanism including a piston disposed in a chamber, wherein said piston is movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein said piston prevents fluid communication between said chamber and said barrel in said first position and said piston allows fluid communication between said chamber and said barrel in said second position;    an inlet valve movable between an open position that provides fluid communication between said chamber and a source of compressed gas and a closed position that prevents fluid communication between said chamber and the source of compressed gas; and    wherein said inlet valve moves to said closed position responsive to movement of said piston from said first position to said second position.    
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said piston is configured to move from said first position to said second position when a pressure within said chamber exceeds a predetermined pressure.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a spring urging said piston toward said first position.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein said spring has a spring force selected to maintain said piston in said first position until a pressure within said chamber reaches a predetermined pressure.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein said inlet valve is a Schrader valve.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , further comprising a cam operatively connected between said piston and said inlet valve, wherein said piston engages said cam when said piston moves from said first position to said second position.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a lever operatively connected between said cam and said inlet valve, wherein said lever moves in a first direction responsive to movement of said cam, and wherein said inlet valve moves to said closed position responsive to said lever moving in said first direction.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein movement of said lever in a second direction causes said inlet valve to move to said open position.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , further comprising a trigger operatively connected to a link, wherein said link moves said lever in said second direction responsive to actuation of said trigger.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising a pin operatively connected between said lever and said inlet valve, wherein said pin moves in a third direction responsive to movement of said lever in said first direction, and wherein said inlet valve moves to said closed position responsive to said pin moving in said third direction.  
     
     
         51 . A valve arrangement comprising: 
 a body defining a passageway between an inlet port and an outlet port;    a first valve movable between a first position that allows fluid communication between said inlet port and said outlet port and a second position that prevents fluid communication between said inlet port and said outlet port, wherein said first valve moves to said first position when a pressure within said passageway exceeds a predetermined pressure, and wherein said first valve moves to said second position when the pressure within said passageway is less than a predetermined pressure;    a second valve in fluid communication between said inlet port and a source of compressed gas, wherein said second valve is movable between a third position that allows fluid communication between said source of compressed gas and said inlet port and a fourth position that prevents fluid communication between said source of compressed gas and said inlet port; and    wherein said second valve moves to said fourth position responsive to said first valve moving to said first position.    
     
     
         52 . The valve arrangement of  claim 51 , wherein said first valve is a piston.  
     
     
         53 . The valve arrangement of  claim 52 , wherein said piston is disposed in said passageway.  
     
     
         54 . The valve arrangement of  claim 52 , wherein said second valve is a Schrader valve.  
     
     
         55 . The valve arrangement of  claim 51 , further comprising a linkage mechanism operatively connected to said first valve.  
     
     
         56 . The valve arrangement of  claim 55 , wherein said linkage mechanism disengages said second valve when said first valve moves from said second position to said first position.  
     
     
         57 . A method of propelling a non-lethal projectile, said method comprising: 
 providing an inlet valve in fluid communication between a supply of compressed gas and a chamber;    opening said inlet valve responsive to actuation of a trigger;    preventing flow of the compressed gas from exiting said chamber until a pressure within said chamber reaches a predetermined pressure; and    when the pressure within said chamber reaches the predetermined pressure, allowing the compressed gas to escape the chamber to propel a projectile.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising the step of closing said inlet valve responsive to pressure within said chamber falling below the predetermined pressure after propelling the projectile.  
     
     
         59 . An apparatus for firing a frangible projectile, said apparatus comprising: 
 a body shaped to resemble a flash light, said body defining a bore;    a light source disposed in said body for projecting light out of said body;    a firing mechanism operable to cause a projectile to be propelled through said bore;    where said firing mechanism includes a piston disposed in a chamber, wherein said piston is movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein said piston prevents fluid communication between said chamber and said bore in said first position and said piston allows fluid communication between said chamber and said bore in said second position;    an inlet valve movable between an open position that provides fluid communication between said chamber and a source of compressed gas and a closed position that prevents fluid communication between said chamber and the source of compressed gas; and    wherein said inlet valve moves to said closed position responsive to movement of said piston from said first position to said second position.