# US 12,181,256 B2 · Piston for deploying a projectile of a conducted electrical weapon

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- Number: US 12,181,256 B2
- Document ID: US12181256B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/873,039
- Filed: 2022-07-25
- Published: 2023-05-11
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-27
- Applicants: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
- Inventors: Oleg Nemtyshkin; Dubravko Zekanovic; Michael Roberts; John Groff; Mark Summers; Magne H. Nerheim; Regan T. Morrison
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181256B2

## CPC

- F41H 13/0025: {for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target}
- F42B 5/02: Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D)

## Abstract

A cartridge for a conducted electrical weapon may comprise a body having a first end opposite a second end and an outer surface opposite an inner surface. A cartridge inner assembly may be removably disposed within the body. The cartridge inner assembly may comprise a propulsion module, a plug, a piston, and/or a retaining clip. The cartridge inner assembly may be configured to cause deployment of an electrode. The electrode may be mechanically and electrically coupled to the piston.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A piston for a cartridge configured to deploy a projectile for a conducted electrical weapon, the piston comprising:
a piston body having a first end opposite a second end, wherein the piston body is configured to travel within the cartridge to cause deployment of the projectile; and
a piston opening defined through the piston body from the first end to the second end, wherein the piston opening between the first end and the second end comprises a smaller diameter than the piston opening proximate at least one of the first end or the second end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The piston of claim 1, wherein the piston opening proximate the first end is sized and shaped to receive a filament wire.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The piston of claim 1, wherein the piston opening proximate the second end is sized and shaped to receive a screw.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The piston of claim 3, wherein the piston opening proximate the first end is configured to receive a filament wire.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The piston of claim 1, wherein the piston opening proximate the second end comprises a recess sized and shaped to receive a screw and a washer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The piston of claim 1, wherein the piston opening defines a middle portion between the first end and the second end, and wherein the middle portion comprises varying dimensions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The piston of claim 6, wherein the middle portion comprises a first middle portion proximate the first end and a second middle portion proximate the second end, and wherein the first middle portion is wider than the second middle portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The piston of claim 1, wherein the piston opening proximate the second end comprises a greater diameter compared to the piston opening proximate the first end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The piston of claim 1, wherein the piston opening is configured to receive a filament wire.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The piston of claim 9, wherein the filament wire is configured to extend into the piston opening between the first end and the second end.

### Claim 11

A cartridge configured for a conducted electrical weapon:
a cartridge body;
a piston disposed within the cartridge body, wherein the piston comprises:
a piston body having a first end opposite a second end; and
a piston opening defined through the piston body from the first end to the second end, wherein the piston opening comprises varying dimensions from the first end to the second end; and
a projectile disposed within the cartridge body at least partially forward the piston, wherein the piston body is configured to travel within the cartridge body to cause deployment of the projectile.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The cartridge of claim 11, wherein the projectile is electrically coupled to the piston.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the projectile remains electrically coupled to the piston before, during, and after a deployment of the projectile.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The cartridge of claim 12, further comprising a filament wire comprising a first filament end opposite a second filament end, wherein the first filament end is coupled to the projectile, and wherein the second filament end is coupled to the piston.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the second filament end is positioned within the piston opening.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The cartridge of claim 15, further comprising a screw inserted into the piston opening at the second end, wherein the screw is configured to couple the second filament end to the piston.

### Claim 17

A piston for a cartridge configured to deploy a projectile for a conducted electrical weapon, the piston comprising:
a piston body having a first end opposite a second end, wherein the first end is configured to couple to the projectile, and wherein the piston body is configured to travel within the cartridge to cause deployment of the projectile;
a piston opening defined through the piston body from the first end to the second end, wherein the piston opening comprises varying dimensions from the first end to the second end; and
a screw inserted into the piston opening at the second end.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The piston of claim 17, wherein the first end is sized and shaped to be received within the projectile.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The piston of claim 17, wherein the piston opening proximate the second end defines a recess, and wherein the screw is positioned within the recess.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The piston of claim 17, wherein the piston opening proximate the first end is configured to receive a filament wire, and wherein the screw is configured to couple the filament wire to the piston body.