Anchors for Entangling Projectiles

Abstract

An anchor for use in an entangling projectile includes a head segment and a tail segment, the segments being positionable relative to one another in at least a first, primary configuration and a second, displaced configuration. A shank segment is intermediate the head segment and tail segment and a biasing element is associated with one or more of the head, tail and shank segments and is operable to apply a restorative force to one or both of the head segment and the tail segment. The restorative force tends to return the respective segments into the primary configuration after being moved into the displaced configuration. One or more hook segments are carried by the head portion and are operable to engage the person of a subject about which the entangling projectile has been deployed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An anchor for use in an entangling projectile, the anchor comprising:
 at least two segments, including a head segment and a tail segment, the at least two segments being positionable relative to one another in at least a first, primary configuration and a second, displaced configuration;   a biasing element associated with one or both of the head segment and the tail segment, the biasing element operable to apply a restorative force to one or both of the head segment and the tail segment, the restorative force tending to return the respective segments into the primary configuration after being moved into the displaced configuration; and   one or more hook segments carried by the head segment, the one or more hook segments operable to engage the person of a subject.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor of  claim 1 , further comprising a shank segment, extending between the head segment and the tail segment. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor of  claim 2 , wherein the shank segment comprises the biasing element. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is coupled to the head segment, and the tail segment is coupled to an opposing end of the biasing element. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element is displaceable laterally, but is substantially unextendible and incompressible. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor of  claim 6 , wherein each of the head segment and tail segment includes an extension segment, installable within an inner core of the coil spring. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor of  claim 1 , further comprising a tether, coupled to and extending from the tail section. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor of  claim 8 , wherein the tail segment includes a recessed slot formed therein, the tether being positionable within the recessed slot so as to be recessed beneath an outer diameter of the tail segment. 
     
     
         10 . The anchor of  claim 8 , further comprising a second anchor, coupled to an opposing end of the tether. 
     
     
         11 . The anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the second anchor includes:
 at least two segments, including a second head segment and a second tail segment, the at least two segments being positionable relative to one another in at least a first, primary configuration and a second, displaced configuration;   a second biasing element associated with one or both of the second head segment and the second tail segment, the second biasing element operable to apply a restorative force to one or both of the second head segment and the second tail segment, the restorative force tending to return the respective segments into the primary configuration after being moved into the displaced configuration; and   one or more second hook segments carried by the second head segment, the one or more second hook segments operable to engage the person of the subject about which the anchors and tether have been deployed.   
     
     
         12 . The anchor of  claim 11 , further comprising a second shank segment, extending between the second head segment and the second tail segment. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor of  claim 12 , wherein the second shank segment comprises the second biasing element. 
     
     
         14 . The anchor of  claim 11 , wherein the second biasing element is coupled to the second head segment, and the second tail segment is coupled to an opposing end of the second biasing element. 
     
     
         15 . The anchor of  claim 11 , wherein the second biasing element is displaceable laterally, but is substantially unextendible and incompressible.