Weapon That Shoots Wires to Deliver Electric Shocks

Citation count

40/40

Claim breadth

20/20

Recency

0/20

Assignee scale

0/20

The new use of a known combination of a power supply, conductor, and projectile for applying electrical energy through a capacitive discharge to a remote target comprising the step of providing electrical energy greater than 0.001 joules to the targer in discrete, separable impulses at a voltage greater than 20 KV, but having a capacitance-voltage product, CV, less than 10 2 volt-farads, whereby the reactive impedance of the target to the electrical energy provided permits transfer of electrical energy to the target. 2. Apparatus for applying electrical energy to a remote target comprising: power supply means for generating, electrical energy in discrete impulses, at first and second output terminals in response to an initiation signal; conductive means including a pair of elongated, flexible conductors adapted to be respectively connected to said first and second output terminals; contacting means including a pair of separate, electrode elements respectively connected to the conductors of said pair for applying electrical energy to the remote target when in close proximity thereto; and a first and second projectile respectively carrying said pair of separate electrode elements, said projectiles being adapted to be deployed to separated parts of a remote target for establishing through said electrode members an extended, electrical path through the target whereby electrical energy in excess of .001 joules can be applied through said conductors, said projectiles, and said electrode elements to a remote target. 2. applying said separated electrical impulses to a remote target whereby the voltage level is adequate to conduct energy into the target through insulative gaps and whereby the target couples to a common reference potential through substantially insulative gaps. 2. engaging the target with said projectile and conductor 3. applying electrical energy to the target in a brief interrupted substantially d.c. impulse shorter than 0.1 second duration at a voltage greater than 30 kv, whereby the voltage of the impulse is sufficient to bridge insulative gaps between the conductor and the target and between the target and a common reference potential. 3. The apparatus for applying electrical energy to a remote target of claim 2, above, further including a net assembly, insulatingly intercoupling said projectiles, whereby a relatively large area of the target can be engaged by said projectiles and said electrode elements carried thereby. 4. Apparatus adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy for conducting electrical energy to a remote target comprising in combination: a. contacting means including an electrode element having at least one conductive point, and at least one small lightweight projectile intimately connected to said electrode element adapted to be propelled to engage a remote target; b. launching means for propelling said projectile to a remote target; and c. a single flexible, thin wire conductor electrically connected to said electrode element and to said projectile and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and deployed by said propelled projectile for carrying electrical energy thereby between the source and the remote target. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, above, wherein said contacting means include at least one non-conductive elongated flexible member adapted to engage the remote target entangling the target and said contacting means. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, above, wherein said contacting means further include at least a second projectile coupled to said projectiles being connected by said non-conductive elongated flexible member, said projectiles deploying said mesh and engaging and entangling the remote target to assure that both projectiles are in operational proximity to the target. 7. The apparatus of claim 4, above, further including a second flexible, thin wire conductor electrically connected between said contacting means and the source of energy and wherein said contacting means including a second projectile and a Second electrode element carried thereby electrically, connected to said second conductor for applying electrical energy to spatially separated areas of the target. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, above, further including a non-conductive mesh connecting said projectiles for engaging and entangling propelled projectiles with the target for conducting electrical energy to spatially separated parts of the target and for retaining said electrode elements in operable electrical proximity thereto. 9. A weapon comprising: a. a self-contained source of electrical energy; b. propulsion means; c. target contacting means including at least two projectiles adapted to be deployed to a remote target by said propulsion means; and d. conductive means including at least two conductors respectively operatively interconnecting said projectiles and said electrical energy source for completing an electrical circuit through the remote target; said propulsion means being adapted to deploy said projectiles in a diverging path for engaging a relatively large area of the target. 10. The weapon of claim 9, above, wherein said projectiles are darts each having a conductive point in electrical communication with its associated said conductor, whereby electrical energy applied to each of said points will bridge insulative gaps which may separate said deployed projectiles from the target. 11. The weapon of claim 9, above, wherein said target contacting means further comprises a mesh coupled to said projectiles and adapted to be said projectiles with saidprojectiles for enveloping and entangling the remote target, assuring that said projectiles will engage the target at spatially separated areas to apply electrical energy thereto. 12. The weapon of claim 9, above, wherein said target contacting means include nonconducting filaments interconnecting said projectiles for limiting the divergence of said projectiles during deployment and for enveloping and entangling a remote target, to increase the likelihood that said projectiles will engage the target to apply electrical energy between spatially separated areas of the target. 13. For use with a weapon having a self-contained electrical energy source and a trigger means for operating the weapon, a replaceable cartridge comprising in combination: a. a cartridge body including means adapted to make electrical contact with the weapon electrical energy source and the trigger means; b. target contacting means within said body including more than one projectile each having an electrode element for applying electrical energy between the weapon electrical energy source and a remote target, said projectiles being positioned to be divergently deployed; c. conducting means within said body including a separate elongated, flexible, filamentary conductor coupled to each projectile, electrically connecting said electrode elements to said electrical contact means, said conductor being of length sufficient to apply electrical energy to a remote target from the weapon; and d. pyrotechnic deploying means within said body, connected to be energized by the trigger means for deploying said projectiles and conductors to the remote target at spatially separated points, upon operation of the trigger means. 14. The replaceable cartridge of claim 13, above, wherein said target contacting means include nonconductive filaments interconnecting said projectiles for limiting the divergence of said projectiles when deployed and for enveloping and entangling the remote target. 15. For use with a weapon having a self-contained electrical energy source and a trigger means for operating the weapon, a replaceable cartridge comprising in combination: a. a cartridge body including means adapted to make electrical contact with the weapon electrical energy source and the trigger means; b. target contacting means within said body including at least a projectile having an electrode element for applying electrical energY between the weapon electrical energy source and a remote target; c. conducting means within said body including at least a single elongated, flexible, filamentary conductor connecting said projectile and electrode element to said electrical contact means, said conductor being of length sufficient to apply electrical energy to a remote target; and d. deploying means within said cartridge body connected to be energized by the trigger means for deploying said projectile and conductor to the remote target upon operation of the trigger means. 16. The process of immobilizing a remote, living target comprising the steps of: 17. The process of claim 16, above, further including the steps of repeating the energy applying step at a rate between 3 and 10 repeats per second, and shortening the duration of the individual impulses to intervals of 10 microseconds and less whereby the average power delivered to the target is approximately 2.5 watts. 18. The process of using a power supply, a conductor and a projectile for electrically coupling a remote target to the power supply comprising the steps of 19. The process of claim 18, above, wherein said applying step utilizes single conductor between the power supply and the remote target. 20. The process of claim 18, above, further including the step of generating additional electrical impulses at a rate of from 3-10 per second for application to the remote target. 21. The apparatus for applying electrical energy to a remote target of claim 2, above, wherein said conductive means are initially stored in said target contacting means. 22. The weapon of claim 9, above, wherein said target contacting means further comprises at least one nonconductive elongated flexible member interconnecting said projectiles and adapted to be deployed with said projectiles for enveloping and entangling the remote target and assuring that both projectiles will engage the target. 23. The weapon of claim 9, above, wherein said contacting means further comprises a plurality of non-conducting filaments interconnecting said projectiles, said filaments limiting the divergence of said projectiles during deployment and enveloping and entangling the remote target to increase the probability that both projectiles will engage the target.