Remotely Sightable Detainment Systems and Related Methods

Abstract

A remotely sightable launcher assembly is provided for at least temporarily detaining a subject. A launcher can carry a projectile which can include a pair of pellets and a tether connecting the pellets. The projectile is capable of at least temporarily detaining a subject when wrapped about the subject. A user input is operably coupled to a control system, the user input operable to communicate with the control system to activate the power source to expel the projectile from the launcher toward the subject. A camera is associated with or carried by the launcher and is operable to obtain an image of an area toward which the launcher is aimed. A sighting screen is in communication with the camera, the sighting screen displaying the image provided by the camera and allowing a user to align the image obtained by the camera to target a subject within the sighting screen.

1 . A remotely sightable launcher assembly for at least temporarily detaining a subject, comprising:
 a launcher carrying a projectile, the projectile including a pair of pellets and a tether connecting the pellets, the projectile being capable of at least temporarily detaining a subject when wrapped about the subject;   at least one power source, associated with the launcher;   at least one control system, operably coupled to the at least one power source, the control system operable to activate the power source;   at least one user input, operably coupled to the at least one control system, the user input operable to communicate with the control system to activate the at least one power source to expel the projectile from the launcher toward the subject;   a camera, associated with or carried by the launcher, the camera operable to obtain an image of an area toward which the launcher is aimed; and   a sighting screen, in communication with the camera, the sighting screen displaying the image provided by the camera, the sighting screen allowing a user to align the image obtained by the camera to target a subject within the sighting screen.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sighting screen includes a reticle displayed thereon or carried thereby. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sighting screen is carried by the launcher. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sighting screen is positioned remotely from the launcher. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sighting screen is carried by headgear worn by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the headgear comprises eyeglasses. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the image provided by the camera is displayed on one or both lenses of the eyeglasses. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the camera communicates wirelessly with the sighting screen. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is hardwired to the sighting screen. 
     
     
         10 . A method of remotely targeting, with a launcher, a subject to be at least temporarily detained, the method comprising:
 aiming a launcher toward a subject, the launcher carrying a projectile, the projectile including a pair of pellets and a tether connecting the pellets, the projectile being capable of at least temporarily detaining the subject when wrapped about the subject;   obtaining an image with a camera associated with or carried by the launcher, the image including at least a portion of the subject;   viewing, on a sighting screen, the image provided by the camera;   aligning the image obtained by the camera relative to the subject; and   activating a user input to communicate with a control system to activate at least one power source carried by the launcher to expel the projectile from the launcher toward the subject.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein aligning the image includes aligning, relative to the subject, a reticle displayed on or carried by the sighting screen. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sighting screen is carried by the launcher. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sighting screen is positioned remotely from the launcher. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sighting screen is carried by headgear worn by the user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the headgear comprises eyeglasses. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the image provided by the camera is displayed on one or both lenses of the eyeglasses. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the image is delivered wirelessly from the camera to sighting screen. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the image is delivered via a hardwired connection from the camera to sighting screen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising obtaining range information of one or more objects in the sighting screen. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising activating or deactivating the launcher based on the range information.