US1598784A - Hand weapon - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 7 1926.

VVQ S. RAE ET AL HAND WEAPON Filed Feb. 17, 192e INVENTORS MN W M retenue Sept. 7, 192e. y

UNITED. STATES 'WALTER S. RAE AND BOBERT B. REYNOLDS, OF PITTSBURGH, AND VICTOR BAILEY; F SVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOILSv TQ FEDERAL LABORATORIES,'INCOI R` PORATED, OFPITTSBUBGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. I

HAND wnnroiu.

Applicationled February 17, 1926. Serial No. 88,788.

l@ rence structure, there is shown a trigger mechanism for setting the gas generator into action. We provide an electrically operated gas generator which may be readily tested. These Weapons are generallysupplied to pow lice forces, and it is extremely important to l lmow that they are always in working condition.

With our improved weapon, tests may be very quicklymade to determinewhether or lt@ not the weapon is in condition for immediate use. These tests are made by using a small lamp to test the batteryv which is pro- 'videdv for setting od the weapon and, of course, the battery may be very quickly re- @d placed if it is found to be defective or expended. l "Weilurther provide an improved cartridge for use in this weapon, the cartridge comprising a oraminousl container having a gas reducing combustible mixture therein, and aving a starter composition covering the container. Preferably a protective covering is put over the starting composition. This cartridge may be readily-handled without d@ harm and it may be 'stored for an indefinite period Aof time Without deterioration. In the accompanying drawings, 11lustrat. Y ing the present preferred embodiment of our invention Figure'l is a central longitudinal sectlon through a policemans mace embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the cartridge used, 'and fw Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line III-IH.

ln the illustrated embodiment .of our invention, there is shown a policemans club having a tubular body 2 with a flanged end portion 3. The body is covered with leather rings 4, which are compressedl agamst the iiange 3 and held in place by a collar 5, which is threaded onto the other 'endof the body. The body is interiorly threaded adjacent the end portion 3 to receive a head 6, which is also covered with leather v7. The -head 6 is provided with a nozzle 8 for directing the incapacitating gas which issues from the mace when it is put into operation.

A' handle 9 is threaded onto the other end of the body portion 2 and the entire gas generating mechanism is carried by this handle. rlhe handle is interiorly threaded to receive a plug 10, in ,which is mounted an insulating block 11.

'The insulating block is provided with two contact members 12 and 13 which are made of brass or other suitable metal, and which' are drilled to receive the terminals of an electrically operated gas cartridge.

The cartridge is shown in detail in Figure 2, and consists of a base block 1d of hard xrubber or other suitable insulating material mounted in one end of a oraminous container 15. This container is cylindrical in shape and is filled with a suitable gas producing mixture, preferably a mixture or chloracetophenone and gun powder is used. A small quantity of suitable stabilizer such as magnesium oxide is also included in the mix. 'Chloracetophenone is a crystalline substance which vaporizes upon the application ofl heat and produces a very edective lachrymatory gas. The gun powder acts as a combustible to supply the necessary heat.

A pair of terminal plugs 16 is provided,

PATENT oFFlcE.-

these plugs tting into the holes in the members A12 and 13. rllhe plugs extend through the block 11i and are connected to the terminals 17 of a squib 18. The squib comprises a body in which the terminals 17 are secured, a platinum bridge wire 19 and a ball 20 of suitable booster mix. The bridge wire 19 provides sulicient resistance to the flow of electric current so that it becomes .heated and fires the ball 20, thus igniting the entire gas cartridge. i

lt is desiredin a pparatusgo this type to i secure a very high concentration of gas and for this reason it is most desirable that the combustion of thematerial within the cartridge proceed ata high rate. We, therefore, providedabooster composition 21 over the entire outer surface of the foraminous container 15. As soon as the dame, which is initiated at the booster ball 20, reaches the outer surface of the cartridge. it travels with extreme -rapidity along the surface bly rea- `doing away with any possibilityof the material being blown out with the issuing gases 1n an unburned condition. p

In order that the cartridge may be handled without injury and also iii order. to

permit of its being storedwithout deterioration, we provide a covering over the entire cartridge. This covering preferably consists of a tissue paper wrapping 22 immediately over a booster mix 21 and an outer shell 23 of Celluloid or 'other combustible material. The cover protects the entire cartridge from moisture and other outside con-V ditions, but is so inflammable that it does not interfere with the action of the booster coating 21. The end of the cartridge remote from the body 14 is coveredby a brass cap 24 which tits over the celluloid casing.

The cartridge is shown in its position in F ig. 1. As above stated, the terminal plug 16 lits into the terminal members 12 and 13 and the body 2 may then be screwed into the body 9 to enclose the cartridge inthe club. A pin 25 is provided in the body for holding the cartridge 1n place. Y

.'The handle 9 contains an electric cell 26, one terminal 27 of which is adapted to contact with the terminal member 12. The cell is very small and easily lits yinto a handle. It is of the type nerally used in flashlights and vit has en found 'exceedingly satisfactory in actual operation.. As is well known, the other terminal of a flashslight cell is the base or side wall of 'such cell. We prov1de a cap 28 which is threaded into the L end of the handle 9 and is provided with va 35 in the'push button 30. Obviously the copper spring 29 for bearing against the bottom 'of the cell 26. This not only elec` trically connects the cell with the handle proper, vbut also insures proper contact be tween the .terminals 12 and 27. i Y The switch mechanism by which the elec trical circuit is completeckis best shownin Fig. 3. AIt comprises aswitch button 430 slidably mounted in a bushing 31 which is threaded in the handle 9 and normally held in the position of Fig. 3 byV ajleaf spring 32.

, When the button 30 is depressed, the leaf sprin 32 bears against the terminal 1-3, thus comp eting the electrica circuit and permitting current toiilow through the bridge'wire 19. When this'roocurs, thecartridg is set of and a stream of gas issues from the nozzle 8, continuing until the cartridge is expended..l A safety 33 is provided, it being merely' aslide plece carried by rivets BAL-and having tongues adapted to' engage a groove recarsi Vbutton cannot be depressed until the safety has been withdrawn. y.

The expended cartridge may be readily removed by unscrewing the body 2 from the handlef 9, and the battery may be, renewed. if desired, by unscrewing the cap 28. Since the cartridge which we provide is not subject Jto deterioration, the only 'part of the weapon which needs testing is the battery, and this may be readilydone by removing the battery from the club and testing it withv an ordinary iiash-light bulb. 'If the bulb burns, it is known that the battery is in proper condition for igniting the cartridge when desired, and this feature of our invention is particularly useful in cases where the weapon is issued to a large body of men, such vas a police force, as in this case it is usually desired to periodically test. all of the weapons in service.

The mace may be used in ,its ordinary manner without the gas producing mecha- I nism being a'ected in any way, and it makes an extremely convenient and desirable .weapon for armed forces. The weapon does not present any unusual-appearance andA is provided with the ordinary hand strap 36, so that it/may be conveniently carried.

l't will be understood that the, term inl capacitating gas, as herein used, relates not only to tear gas, but alsoto other incapacitating gases and smokes. The term gun powder is also used as a `word of'defi-v ,nition, rather than of limitation, and is intended to cover other combustible capable of self-supporting combustion.

While we have illustrated a lpreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that it is not restricted'to the form shown as it may be otherwise embodied within the scopel of the followingclaims.lA We claim 1. weapon including a gas generfator, an electricalvmeans for setting the-same lnto` operation, the gas generator comprlsmg` a foraminous container having acombustlble incapacitating gas producing mixture therein, and a booster composition over the outside of the container.

2. A weapon including a vgas generator,

means yfor setting the same into operation, l

l'the gas generator comprising` a foraminous container havingaV combustible incapacitating gas producing mixture therein, and la booster [composition over the outside of the '.contilir. 7

3. A weapon vincluding a gas .'generator, Imeans for setting the same into operatlon', the gas generator comprising a foraminous container having a combustible incapacitat- 1 ing gas producing mixture therein, abposter composition over the outside of the container, and an outer protective covering over the booster composition;

4. A gas generating unit comprising a I l5 lie container, and a moisture-prooi` cover,

foran'iinous container having a combustible incapacitating gas producing mixture there' in, and a booster composition over the outside of the container. I

5,. A gas fgenerating unit comprising a Jforaminous container having a combustible incapacitating gas producing mixture ther-ein, a booster composition over the outside of the container, and an outer protective cover ing over the booster composition.

6. A gas generating unit comprising a foraminous container having a combustible incapacitating gas producing mixture therein, a booster composition over the outside of ing over the booster composition.

7. A gas generating unit comprising a foraminous container having a combustible i'ncapacitating gas producing mixture therein, a booster composition over the outside of the container, and a Celluloid covering over the booster composition.

8. A gas generating unit comprising a oraminous container having a combustible ineapacitating gas producing means Within the container for igniting the mixture, and

a booster composition over the outside of' the container.

9. A gas generating unit comprising a foraminous container having a combustible incapacitating gas producing means Within the container for igniting the mixture, 'a boosterl composition over the outside of the container, and a protective lcovering over the booster composition.

10. A gas generating unit comprising a foraminous container having a combustible incapacitating gas producing means Within the container for igniting the mixture, a booster composition over the outside of the container, and a protective covering over the booster composition, the protective covering being of inflammable material.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands.

WALTER- S. RAE.

ROBERT B. REYNOLDQ. l VICTOR BAILEY.

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