Frangible non-lethal projectile

Abstract

A non-lethal impact projectile having a nose composed of a frangible, rigid, polymer foam material such that the nose crushes upon impact with a target to disperse energy, thereby reducing the kinetic energy transferred to the target. Most preferably, the munition or projectile is provided with a cavity to retain a payload, such as marker agents, lacrimators, irritants, inflammatory agents, odorants or inert powders, such that the payload is laterally dispersed upon impact to further dissipate energy transferred to the target.

1 . A non-lethal impact munition comprising:
 a projectile comprising a projectile nose and a projectile base, said projectile base comprising a forward wall joined to a cylindrical wall, said projectile separably joined to a propulsion shell comprising propulsion means to separate said projectile from said propulsion shell;   said projectile nose composed of a frangible, rigid, polymer foam material characterized in that said projectile nose is crushed upon impact with a target in a manner that absorbs and dissipates energy of impact, said projectile nose further comprising a rear plug wall joined to said cylindrical wall, the combination of said forward end, said cylindrical wall and said rear plug wall defining a nose cavity, said rear plug wall composed of a resilient, compliant polymer or rubber material that further absorbs and dissipates energy of impact, said rear plug wall being joined directly to said forward wall of said projectile base such that contact between said forward wall of said projectile base and said target is precluded;   wherein said projectile nose has a rounded forward end and a cylindrical wall, said cylindrical wall being thinner than said forward end, such that said thinner cylindrical wall breaks prior to said forward end upon impact to absorb and dissipate impact energy.   
   
   
       2 . The munition of  claim 1 , wherein said foam material has a density between approximately 8 and 14 pounds per cubic foot. 
   
   
       3 . The munition of  claim 1 , further comprising a payload disposed within said cavity, wherein said payload is laterally dispersed from said cavity upon impact through said thinner cylindrical wall. 
   
   
       4 . The munition of  claim 3 , wherein said payload is chosen from the group of payloads consisting of marker agents, lacrimators, irritants, inflammatory agents, odorants and inert powders. 
   
   
       5 . The munition of  claim 1 , further comprising a payload disposed within said nose cavity, wherein said payload is chosen from the group of payloads consisting of marker agents, lacrimators, irritants, inflammatory agents, odorants and inert powders. 
   
   
       6 . The munition of  claim 1 , wherein said foam material is a polyurethane. 
   
   
       7 . The munition of  claim 1 , wherein said projectile base comprises a forward wall joined to a cylindrical wall. 
   
   
       9 . A non-lethal impact munition comprising:
 a projectile comprising a projectile nose and a projectile base, said projectile separably joined to a propulsion shell comprising propulsion means to separate said projectile from said propulsion shell;   said propulsion shell further comprising an annular forward wall having a forward shell rim, a shell base joined to said shell forward wall, and a propulsion cavity disposed in said shell base, said propulsion means being retained by said propulsion cavity;   said projectile base comprising a forward wall joined to a cylindrical wall to define a projectile cavity, and a rearward extending annular insertion flange, whereby said insertion flange is received within said shell rim and said shell forward wall such that said shell cavity and said projectile cavity are combined;   said projectile nose comprising a rear plug wall joined to a cylindrical wall and a forward end joined to said cylindrical wall, the combination of said forward end, said cylindrical wall and said rear plug wall defining a nose cavity, said projectile nose composed of a frangible, rigid, polymer foam material characterized in that said projectile nose is sufficiently rigid to maintain aerodynamic stability during flight but is sufficiently frangible to crush upon impact with a target in a manner that absorbs and dissipates energy of impact to reduce the energy transferred to such target by said projectile;   said rear plug wall composed of a resilient, compliant polymer or rubber material that further absorbs and dissipates energy of impact, said rear plug wall being joined directly to said forward wall of said projectile base such that contact between said forward wall of said projectile base and said target is precluded; and   a payload disposed within said cavity of said projectile nose, whereby said payload is laterally dispersed from said projectile nose upon impact, such that additional energy of impact is dissipated to reduce the energy transferred to such target by said projectile.   
   
   
       10 . The munition of  claim 9 , said cylindrical wall being thinner than said forward end. 
   
   
       11 . The munition of  claim 9 , wherein said foam material has a density between approximately 8 and 14 pounds per cubic foot. 
   
   
       12 . The munition of  claim 9 , wherein said payload is chosen from the group of payloads consisting of marker agents, lacrimators, irritants, inflammatory agents, odorants and inert powders. 
   
   
       13 . A non-lethal impact munition comprising:
 a projectile comprising a projectile nose and a projectile base, said projectile separably joined to a propulsion shell comprising propulsion means to separate said projectile from said propulsion shell, said projectile base composed of a polycarbonate;   said propulsion shell further comprising an annular forward wall having a forward shell rim, a shell base joined to said shell forward wall, and a propulsion cavity disposed in said shell base, said propulsion means being retained by said propulsion cavity;   said projectile base comprising a forward wall joined to a cylindrical wall to define a projectile cavity, and a rearward extending annular insertion flange defined by an undercut on the exterior of said cylindrical wall, whereby said insertion flange is received within said shell rim and said shell forward wall such that said shell cavity and said projectile cavity are combined;   said projectile nose comprising a rear plug wall adhesively joined to a cylindrical wall and a forward end joined to said cylindrical wall, said cylindrical wall being thinner than said forward end, the combination of said forward end, said cylindrical wall and said rear plug wall defining a nose cavity, said projectile nose composed of a frangible, rigid, polymer foam material characterized in that said projectile nose is sufficiently rigid to maintain aerodynamic stability during flight but is sufficiently frangible to undergo plastic deformation upon impact with a target in a manner that absorbs and dissipates energy of impact to reduce the energy transferred to such target by said projectile such that said thinner cylindrical wall bursts prior to said forward end, wherein said foam material has a density between approximately 8 and 14 pounds per cubic foot, and wherein said rear plug wall of said projectile nose is composed of a resilient, compliant polymer or rubber material that further absorbs and dissipates energy of impact, said rear plug wall being joined directly to said forward wall of said projectile base such that contact between said forward wall of said projectile base and said target is precluded; and   a payload disposed within said cavity of said projectile nose, whereby said payload is laterally dispersed from said projectile nose upon impact through said cylindrical wall, such that additional energy of impact is dissipated to reduce the energy transferred to such target by said projectile, wherein said payload is chosen from the group of payloads consisting of marker agents, lacrimators, irritants, inflammatory agents, odorants and inert powders.