Weapon That Shoots Wires to Deliver Electric Shocks
This 1974 patent describes a weapon that fires projectiles carrying wires to deliver incapacitating electric shocks to a target from a distance.
Original patent title: “Weapon for immobilization and capture”
This 1974 patent describes a weapon that fires projectiles carrying wires to deliver incapacitating electric shocks to a target from a distance. Granted to Individual in 1974 with 37 claims and 152 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a weapon system designed to subdue targets using electricity. It involves a launcher that fires projectiles, like pellets or nets, connected by thin, conductive wires to a power source. When the projectile hits a target, the wires establish an electrical path. The weapon then delivers a high-voltage, low-capacitance electrical discharge in brief pulses. This shock is intended to immobilize the target. The patent specifies delivering over 0.001 joules at voltages greater than 20 KV, with a specific capacitance-voltage product (CV) limit to ensure energy transfer. Some embodiments include a net assembly to entangle the target and ensure good contact.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Weapons that deliver continuous electrical current instead of discrete impulses.
- Electrical discharges with a capacitance-voltage product (CV) higher than 10^2 volt-farads.
- Electrical impulses delivered at voltages below 20 KV.
- Weapons that require direct physical contact for electrical delivery, without projectiles.
- Systems that deliver less than 0.001 joules of energy.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in using lightweight projectiles to deploy conductive wires to a remote target, creating an electrical path for a high-voltage, low-capacitance discharge that can bridge insulative gaps and deliver incapacitating energy.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
TASER conducted energy weapons
Stun guns (though often require direct contact)
Early prototypes of less-lethal projectile devices
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is an early example of less-lethal weapon technology, specifically the electro-muscular disruption (EMD) device. It laid groundwork for devices that would later become widely used by law enforcement for crowd control and apprehension, aiming to incapacitate without causing fatal injury.
Filed
July 10, 1972
Granted
April 9, 1974
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Axon (formerly TASER International) is the primary company that commercialized and continues to develop projectile-based conducted energy weapons, building on the foundational concepts described in this patent and subsequent advancements.
Market impact
This patent represents an early step in the development of the less-lethal weapons market. It helped establish the concept of remote electrical incapacitation, paving the way for devices that are now standard issue for many law enforcement agencies globally, significantly impacting policing tactics and public safety.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a weapon system designed to subdue targets using electricity. It involves a launcher that fires projectiles, like pellets or nets, connected by thin, conductive wires to a power source. When the projectile hits a target, the wires establish an electrical path. The weapon then delivers a high-voltage, low-capacitance electrical discharge in brief pulses. This shock is intended to immobilize the target. The patent specifies delivering over 0.001 joules at voltages greater than 20 KV, with a specific capacitance-voltage product (CV) limit to ensure energy transfer. Some embodiments include a net assembly to entangle the target and ensure good contact.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in using lightweight projectiles to deploy conductive wires to a remote target, creating an electrical path for a high-voltage, low-capacitance discharge that can bridge insulative gaps and deliver incapacitating energy.
What it does not cover
- Weapons that deliver continuous electrical current instead of discrete impulses.
- Electrical discharges with a capacitance-voltage product (CV) higher than 10^2 volt-farads.
- Electrical impulses delivered at voltages below 20 KV.
- Weapons that require direct physical contact for electrical delivery, without projectiles.
- Systems that deliver less than 0.001 joules of energy.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$60K – $192K
Midpoint $120K · expired or expiring · industry baseline
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
37 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Cover, J. (1974). Weapon That Shoots Wires to Deliver Electric Shocks (U.S. Patent No. 3,803,463). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3803463/taser-stun-gun-cover
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Weapon That Shoots Wires to Deliver Electric Shocks cover?
This 1974 patent describes a weapon that fires projectiles carrying wires to deliver incapacitating electric shocks to a target from a distance.
Who owns patent US 3803463?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1974.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 3803463 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 152 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is an early example of less-lethal weapon technology, specifically the electro-muscular disruption (EMD) device. It laid groundwork for devices that would later become widely used by law enforcement for crowd control and apprehension, aiming to incapacitate without causing fatal injury.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Weapons that deliver continuous electrical current instead of discrete impulses.
Same assignee
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