Projectile for delivering an incapacitating agent

A projectile configured for delivering an incapacitating agent to a target through a solid barrier, the projectile comprising:

• a canister filled with an incapacitating agent and having an outlet with a breathable closure;
• a canister retention assembly configured to hold the canister and having an external surface;
• a plurality of radially-deformable axial fingers, each having a rearward portion attached to the external surface of the canister retention assembly, the fingers being configured to spread radially outward upon impact with a solid barrier;
• a ballistic body having a dispersion port, the ballistic body being movably connected to the canister holder forward of the canister so as to be axially movable from a forward position to a rearward position upon impact with the barrier;
• and
• a closure-breaching member mounted in the ballistic body and located with respect to the canister so as to breach the closure when the ballistic body is moved to its rearward position, thereby opening a fluid path from the canister through the ballistic body and the dispersion ports;
• wherein the ballistic body is configured to penetrate the barrier upon impact therewith, and wherein the movement of the ballistic body to its rearward position forces the axial fingers to spread radially outward against the barrier upon impact therewith, thereby lodging the ballistic body in the barrier in position for the dispersal of the incapacitating agent through the dispersion port on the side of the barrier opposite the fingers.

A method of delivering an incapacitating agent to a target through a solid barrier, comprising:

• (a) providing a projectile comprising:
• a canister containing an incapacitating agent and having a breachable closure;
• a canister holder configured to hold the canister and having an exterior surface;
• a radially-expansible sleeve attached to the exterior surface of the canister holder;
• a ballistic body configured to penetrate the barrier and having a dispersion port;
• the ballistic body being movably connected to the canister holder so as to be axially movable between a forward position and a rearward position upon impact with the barrier;
• and
• a closure-breaching member fixed to the ballistic body so as to breach the closure and establish fluid communication between the canister and the dispersion port when the ballistic body moves to its rearward position;
• (b) launching the projectile toward a target behind or beneath the barrier;
• (c) impacting and penetrating the barrier with the ballistic body, thereby moving the ballistic body from its forward position to its rearward position, and thereby causing the closure-breaching member to breach the closure so as to establish a fluid path from the canister through the dispersion port;
• and
• (d) radially spreading the radially-expansible sleeve against the barrier so as to lodge the projectile in the barrier with the dispersion port on the target side of the barrier.