GB2192258A - Non-lethal ammunition - Google Patents

Abstract

A non lethal cartridge for a firearm and a projectile 13 of soft malleable material 17, e.g. synthetic polyisoprene of controllable plasticity, contained within a sleeve 18 of light semi-rigid plastics. A flexible plastics film 19 is located over the end of the core 17 and retained within the sleeve 18 by the core 17. The sleeve 18 and film 19 disintegrate on target impact. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ammunition for firearms The present invention relates to ammunition for firearms which is intended to be non-lethal.

Such ammunition, sometimes known as 'rubber bullets' or plastic bullets' is used in crowd control and may consist of a cartridge or round in which the metal projectile or shot is replaced by a projectile made of a softer material.

A disadvantage of existing non-lethal rounds is that they can still cause serious injury.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a round for a firearm which can be fired from existing firearms and which can act as a deterrent but with a reduced risk of causing serious injury.

According to the invention, a round or cartridge for a firearm comprises a shellcase, an explosive propellant and a projectile made from a soft malleable material, the projectile being contained in a sleeve of light semi-rigid plastics material.

Preferably, the nose of the projectile is covered with a flexible film e.g. of plastics material.

It should be possible to use these cartridges in existing launchers, gun and pistols, although the size of the projectile may limit its use to the larger bores.

The explosive charge and a detonator may be contained in a tubular plastics case, as with a shot-gun cartridge. The projectile preferably consists of a synthetic polyisoprene substance capable of being chemically modified to vary its plasticity (similar to the product sold under the Trade Mark as 'Blue Tack'). The projectile may be contained during launching and flight by the sleeve and its base. The nose of the projectile may be protected by the film of flexible plastic material which can be retained inside the shell by the projectile itself. The sleeve and film should disintegrate on impact, allowing the projectile material to deliver the blow.

The advantage of this arrangement is that the projectile can deliver a blow which is spread over an area of the body and which is controllable by the plasticity and therefore the deformability of the plastic material of the projectile. The weight of the blow can be controlled by the quantity of plastics material in the projectile and the amount of explosive propellant used. Such a blow could be arranged to knock down or stun, or with a very small pistol-sized charge, can incapacitate, but is very unlikely to cause serious or permanent damage.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the- accompanying drawings in which the single Figure is a schematic cross section, not to scale, of a round in accordance with the present invention. In the Figure, the transverse dimension has been exaggerated for reasons of clarity.

The round comprises a shellcase 11 which houses an explosive charge 12 and a projectile 13. The shellcase 11 has a cylindrical wall 14 and a base 15 which includes a detonator 16. The charge 12 is located adjacent the base 15 and detonator 16 so that when the detonator 16 is fired, it in turn fires the charge.

The projectile 13 includes a core 17 of polyisoprene, which is a soft plastic material, contained within a tubular plastics case 18. A flexible plastics film 19 is located over the end of the core 17 and is held in position in the case 18 by the core 17 itself.

In use, the detonator 16 is fired by a firing pin and this in turn detonates the charge 12.

The projectile 13 is thus expelled from the shell case 11 and the film 19 and case 18 disintigrate upon impact on the target, the blow being delivered by the core 17.

1. A cartridge for a firearm comprising a shell case, an explosive propellant and a projectile made from a soft malleable material, the projectile being contained in a sleeve of light semi-rigid plastics material.

2. A cartridge as claimed in Claim 1 in which the explosive charge and a detonator is contained in a tubular plastics case.

3. A cartridge as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the projectile consists of a synthetic polyisoprene substance.

4. A cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim in which the projectile is arranged to be contained -during launching and flight by the sleeve and its base.

5. A cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim in which the nose of the projectile is protected by a film.

6. A cartridge as claimed in Claim 5 in which the film is of a flexible plastics material.

7. A cartridge as claimed in Claim 6 in which the film protecting the nose of the projectile is contained inside the shell case by the projectile itself.

8. A cartridge for a firearm constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifi cally- described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ammunition for firearms The present invention relates to ammunition for firearms which is intended to be non-lethal. Such ammunition, sometimes known as 'rubber bullets' or plastic bullets' is used in crowd control and may consist of a cartridge or round in which the metal projectile or shot is replaced by a projectile made of a softer material. A disadvantage of existing non-lethal rounds is that they can still cause serious injury. It is an object of the present invention to provide a round for a firearm which can be fired from existing firearms and which can act as a deterrent but with a reduced risk of causing serious injury. According to the invention, a round or cartridge for a firearm comprises a shellcase, an explosive propellant and a projectile made from a soft malleable material, the projectile being contained in a sleeve of light semi-rigid plastics material. Preferably, the nose of the projectile is covered with a flexible film e.g. of plastics material. It should be possible to use these cartridges in existing launchers, gun and pistols, although the size of the projectile may limit its use to the larger bores. The explosive charge and a detonator may be contained in a tubular plastics case, as with a shot-gun cartridge. The projectile preferably consists of a synthetic polyisoprene substance capable of being chemically modified to vary its plasticity (similar to the product sold under the Trade Mark as 'Blue Tack'). The projectile may be contained during launching and flight by the sleeve and its base. The nose of the projectile may be protected by the film of flexible plastic material which can be retained inside the shell by the projectile itself. The sleeve and film should disintegrate on impact, allowing the projectile material to deliver the blow. The advantage of this arrangement is that the projectile can deliver a blow which is spread over an area of the body and which is controllable by the plasticity and therefore the deformability of the plastic material of the projectile. The weight of the blow can be controlled by the quantity of plastics material in the projectile and the amount of explosive propellant used. Such a blow could be arranged to knock down or stun, or with a very small pistol-sized charge, can incapacitate, but is very unlikely to cause serious or permanent damage. The invention may be carried into practice in various ways and one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the- accompanying drawings in which the single Figure is a schematic cross section, not to scale, of a round in accordance with the present invention. In the Figure, the transverse dimension has been exaggerated for reasons of clarity. The round comprises a shellcase 11 which houses an explosive charge 12 and a projectile 13. The shellcase 11 has a cylindrical wall 14 and a base 15 which includes a detonator 16. The charge 12 is located adjacent the base 15 and detonator 16 so that when the detonator 16 is fired, it in turn fires the charge. The projectile 13 includes a core 17 of polyisoprene, which is a soft plastic material, contained within a tubular plastics case 18. A flexible plastics film 19 is located over the end of the core 17 and is held in position in the case 18 by the core 17 itself. In use, the detonator 16 is fired by a firing pin and this in turn detonates the charge 12. The projectile 13 is thus expelled from the shell case 11 and the film 19 and case 18 disintigrate upon impact on the target, the blow being delivered by the core 17. CLAIMS

1. A cartridge for a firearm comprising a shell case, an explosive propellant and a projectile made from a soft malleable material, the projectile being contained in a sleeve of light semi-rigid plastics material.

2. A cartridge as claimed in Claim 1 in which the explosive charge and a detonator is contained in a tubular plastics case.

3. A cartridge as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the projectile consists of a synthetic polyisoprene substance.

4. A cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim in which the projectile is arranged to be contained -during launching and flight by the sleeve and its base.

5. A cartridge as claimed in any preceding claim in which the nose of the projectile is protected by a film.

6. A cartridge as claimed in Claim 5 in which the film is of a flexible plastics material.

7. A cartridge as claimed in Claim 6 in which the film protecting the nose of the projectile is contained inside the shell case by the projectile itself.

8. A cartridge for a firearm constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifi cally- described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.