Method and apparatus for deploying an entanglement device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for deploying an entanglement device, which includes a handheld device that can launch the entanglement device such as a net, toward a person or group of people in an effort to impede or restrain. The launcher includes an upper launcher section and a lower chamber, and sized to be held in one hand. The entanglement device is coupled to the upper launcher section in a way that it unfurls when launched from the launcher. The lower chamber may be pressurized and separated from the upper chamber by a valve or sacrificial diaphragm. The pressure from the lower chamber may be abruptly relieved into the upper chamber to force the entanglement device from of the launcher. The filling of the lower chamber may be accomplished through a standard auto tire nozzle in a coupling at the bottom of the device.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A crowd control device comprising:
 a launcher having a body, a release valve, and an upper launcher section;   said body having a chamber for receiving a pressurized gas;   said release valve coupled to said chamber for selectively releasing said pressurized gas to said upper launcher section; and   an entanglement device coupled to said upper launcher section;   wherein said entanglement device is selectively launched from said upper launcher section by release of said pressurized gas by opening the release valve.   
     
     
         2 . The crowd control device of  claim 1 , wherein said upper launcher section includes a splitter coupler coupled to said release valve and a first and a second launch tubes, said first and second launch tubes coupled to said splitter coupler and in fluidic communication with said chamber when said release valve is in an open position. 
     
     
         3 . The crowd control device of  claim 2  further comprising a first projectile received in an open end of said first launch tube opposite said splitter coupler, and a second projectile received in an open end of said second launch tube opposite said splitter coupler, said first projectile fastened to a first corner of a leading edge of said entanglement device, said second projectile fastened to a second corner of said leading edge of said entanglement device, said first and second projectiles selectively launched from said first and second launch tubes by release of said pressurized gas from said chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The crowd control device of  claim 3  wherein said open ends of said first and second launch tubes are separated by an angle of between 10 and 40 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The crowd control device of  claim 3  wherein first and second projectiles include a hollow chamber for receiving a material and a removeable cap for releasing said material when said first and second projectiles are launched from said first and second launch tubes. 
     
     
         6 . The crowd control device of  claim 5  wherein said removeable cap is filled with salt and said material received in said hollow chamber is water, wherein said water dissolves said salt when said first and second projectiles are launched from said first and second launch tubes and released from said first and second projectiles. 
     
     
         7 . The crowd control device of  claim 1  wherein said entanglement device comprises a net. 
     
     
         8 . The crowd control device of  claim 1  further comprising a burst disk placed between said release valve and said upper launcher section, wherein said burst disk instantaneously releases said gas upon exceeding a predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The crowd control device of  claim 1  further comprising a Schrader valve coupled to said chamber of said body for receiving a pressurized gas. 
     
     
         10 . The crowd control device of  claim 1  wherein said entanglement device is releasably contained in a pouch secured to said upper launcher section. 
     
     
         11 . A method for crowd control comprising:
 charging a launcher having a body, a release valve, and an upper launcher section with a pressurized gas contained by a chamber in said body;   coupling an entanglement device to said upper launcher section;   opening said release valve to release said pressurized gas from said chamber through said upper launcher section to launch said entanglement device from said launcher.   
     
     
         12 . The method for crowd control of  claim 11 , wherein said upper launcher section includes a splitter coupler coupled to said release valve and a first and a second launch tubes, said first and second launch tubes coupled to said splitter coupler and in fluidic communication with said chamber when said release valve is in an open position. 
     
     
         13 . The method for crowd control of  claim 12  further comprising a first projectile received in an open end of said first launch tube opposite said splitter coupler, and a second projectile received in an open end of said second launch tube opposite said splitter coupler, said first projectile fastened to a first corner of a leading edge of said entanglement device, said second projectile fastened to a second corner of said leading edge of said entanglement device, said first and second projectiles selectively launched from said first and second launch tubes by release of said pressurized gas from said chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The method for crowd control of  claim 13  wherein said open ends of said first and second launch tubes are separated by an angle of between 10 and 40 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The method for crowd control of  claim 13  wherein first and second projectiles include a hollow chamber for receiving a material and a removeable cap for releasing said material when said first and second projectiles are launched from said first and second launch tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The method for crowd control of  claim 5  wherein said removeable cap is filled with salt and said material received in said hollow chamber is water, wherein said water dissolves said salt when said first and second projectiles are launched from said first and second launch tubes and released from said first and second projectiles. 
     
     
         17 . The method for crowd control of  claim 11  wherein said entanglement device comprises a net. 
     
     
         18 . The method for crowd control of  claim 11  further comprising a burst disk placed between said release valve and said upper launcher section, wherein said burst disk instantaneously releases said gas upon exceeding a predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         19 . The method for crowd control of  claim 11  further comprising a Schrader valve coupled to said chamber of said body for receiving a pressurized gas. 
     
     
         20 . The method for crowd control of  claim 11  wherein said entanglement device is releasably contained in a pouch secured to said upper launcher section.