Lethal Projectile Construction and Launcher

Abstract

A lethal projectile for immobilizing a target is capable of self-separating or otherwise opening after launch by a launcher and may release a payload prior to impact with a target. Opening may caused after an energy storage means of the projectile is charged beyond a threshold energy level. Charging of the energy storage means may be accomplished through dynamic induction when the projectile moves through a stationary magnetic field generated by a magnet of the launcher prior to launch, A control circuit can increase or decrease the magnetic field strength of the magnetic field in order to control the distance at which the projectile releases its payload, A rangefinder may provide distance information to the control circuit for charging the energy storage means to a specific energy level associated with the distance to a target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A launcher and projectile system, the system comprising 
 a launcher,   said launcher comprising an electromagnetic element, a launch axis, and an electrical power source,   a lethal projectile,   said projectile comprising a housing, a control circuit, an energizable storage means and an inductive energy element, wherein said inductive energy element is operatively coupled to said energizable energy storage means,   which coupling enables said energizable energy storage means to be energized via dynamic induction by the said electromagnetic element,   wherein movement of the projectile down the launch axis of the launcher during launch causes said energy storage means to be energized past a threshold energy and   wherein after launch of said projectile said projectile housing ruptures disintegrates, separates, fragments, or otherwise has an opening created therein.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the projectile control circuit is preprogrammed before launch to initiate separation of the projectile at least one of a prespecified distance and time. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the launcher further comprises a control means to control the amount of power sourced to the electromagnetic element. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the amount of power sourced to the electromagnetic element of the launcher can be controlled by the user and may set the distance and/or time at which the projectile will separate once it is launched. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the launcher further comprises a means of measuring the distance to a target. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the amount of power sourced to the electromagnetic element is set by the distance to the target. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the amount of power sourced to the electromagnetic element of the launcher is used to set the distance/time at which the projectile will separate once it is launched. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said projectile further comprises at least one initiator, which at least one initiator may initiate a chemical reaction or a mechanical response to cause an opening in the housing of the projectile. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold energy is defined as the minimum amount of energy required to initiate the initiator. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a trigger and a safety switch, wherein the energy storage means is not energized beyond the threshold energy until after the at least one trigger and/or safety switch is actuated. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the launcher comprises a magazine, which magazine comprises a plurality of projectiles, each of which projectile of the plurality of projectiles ruptures, disintegrates, separates, fragments or otherwise has an opening created therein after launch at its own specified distance from the launcher. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage means is one of a capacitor and a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , said projectile further comprising a payload that is released from the projectile after rupture, disintegration, separation, fragmentation, or an opening created therein. 
     
     
         14 . A launcher and projectile system, the system comprising 
 a launcher,   said launcher comprising a permanent magnet, a launch axis,   a lethal projectile,   said projectile comprising a housing, a control circuit, an energizable storage means and an inductive energy element, wherein said inductive energy element is operatively coupled to said energizable energy storage means,   which coupling enables said energizable energy storage means to be energized via dynamic induction by the said electromagnetic element,   wherein movement of the projectile down the launch axis of the launcher during launch causes said energy storage means to be energized past a threshold energy and   wherein after launch of said projectile said projectile housing ruptures disintegrates, separates, fragments, or otherwise has an opening created therein.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the projectile control circuit is preprogrammed before launch to initiate separation of the projectile at least one of a prespecified distance and time. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said projectile further comprises at least one initiator, which at least one initiator may initiate a chemical reaction or a mechanical response to cause an opening in the housing of the projectile. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the threshold energy is defined as the minimum amount of energy required to initiate the initiator. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the launcher comprises a magazine, which magazine comprises a plurality of projectiles, each of which projectile of the plurality of projectiles ruptures, disintegrates, separates, fragments or otherwise has an opening created therein after launch at its own specified distance from the launcher.