# US 5,706,795 A · Multi-purpose projectile launcher > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,795 A - Document ID: US5706795A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/684,943 - Filed: 1996-07-19 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-07-19 - Inventors: Phillip L. Gerwig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706795A ## CPC - F41B 11/62: with pressure supplied by a gas cartridge - F41H 13/0006: {Ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals, e.g. ballistically deployed nets} - F41B: WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (projectiles for fishing, e.g. fish-spears, A01K81/00; sports implements for throwing A63B65/00, e.g. boomerangs A63B65/08; stationary apparatus for projecting sports balls, e.g. tennis balls, A63B69/40; throwing or slinging toys A63H33/18; knives, axes B26B; projectiles or missiles other than those incorporating springs as projecting means F42B6/00) - F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A multi-purpose projectile launcher including a body, a barrel forwardly projecting from the body, and a tube forwardly projecting from the body within the barrel and concentric with the barrel to form an annular-shaped space therebetween. A tubular projectile extends over the tube within the barrel and forms a seal between the barrel and the tube. A firing assembly releases gas from a cartridge into an interior chamber, which is in fluid flow communication with the space behind the projectile, to drive the projectile over the tube and out of the barrel. The gas cartridge can be a pressurized gas cartridge having CO.sub.2 or N.sub.2 or a self-generating gas cartridge having gunpowder. The projectile can be longitudinally segmented so that a deflector located at a forward end of the tube separates and deflects the segments radially outward from the tube at equal velocities. The segments can be utilized to evenly deploy hobble lines or a net. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A launcher for deploying projectiles, said launcher comprising: a body, a barrel forwardly projecting from said body; a tube forwardly projecting from said body within said barrel and substantially concentric with said barrel to form an annular-shaped space therebetween for the projectiles at least a forward end of said tube being closed; and a firing assembly at least partly within said body and including at least one passage in fluid flow communication with a rearward end of said space, wherein said firing assembly is adapted to selectively release pressurized gas into said space through said passage and behind the projectile. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The launcher according to claim 1, further comprising a removable cap closing the forward end of said tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The launcher according to claim 1, wherein a forward end of said tube is provided with a deflector for deflecting the projectiles radially outward from said tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The launcher according to claim 3, wherein said deflector has a generally frusto-conically shaped exterior surface coaxial with said tube, said exterior surface having an increasing diameter in a forward direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The launcher according to claim 4, wherein said exterior surface has a total angle in the range of about 4 degrees to about 16 degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The launcher according to claim 5, wherein said exterior surface has a total angle of about 8 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The launcher according to claim 3, wherein said deflector forms a forwardly facing hollow interior cavity. ### Claim 8 A launcher for deploying projectiles using a gas cartridge, said launcher comprising: a body, a barrel forwardly projecting from said body; a tube forwardly projecting from said body within said barrel and substantially concentric with said barrel to form an annular-shaped space therebetween, said tube at least partly forming an interior chamber in fluid flow communication with a rearward end of said space, at least a forward end of said tube being closed; and a firing assembly at least partly within said body for striking the gas cartridge to release gas into said interior chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The launcher according to claim 8, wherein said firing assembly includes a pin for piercing the gas cartridge to release pressurized gas from the gas cartridge into said interior chamber, said pin having a longitudinally extending groove therein for providing a passage for gas from the gas cartridge to aid in the withdrawal of said pin from the gas cartridge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The launcher according to claim 8, wherein said firing assembly includes a pin for piercing the gas cartridge to release pressurized gas from the gas cartridge into said interior chamber, said pin having a forward facing shoulder for limiting a length of said pin entering the gas cartridge to prevent said pin from sticking in the gas cartridge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The launcher according to claim 8, wherein said tube is sized for receiving the gas cartridge therein and has a forward end sealingly closed by a removable cap. ### Claim 12 A projectile launcher in combination with a projectile, said combination comprising: a generally tubular-shaped projectile; and a projectile launcher including: a body; a barrel forwardly projecting from said body; a tube forwardly projecting from said body within said barrel and substantially concentric with said barrel to form an annular-shaped space therebetween for said projectile, said projectile encircling said tube, at least a forward end of said tube being closed; and a firing assembly at least partly within said body and including at least one passage in fluid flow communication with a rearward end of said space, wherein said firing assembly is adapted to selectively release pressurized gas into said space through said passage and behind said projectile. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12, wherein said projectile forms a seal between an interior surface of said barrel and an exterior surface of said tube. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The combination according to claim 12, wherein said projectile includes at least two longitudinally extending segments and a forward end of said tube is provided with a deflector for separating said segments and deflecting said segments radially outward from said tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The combination according to claim 14, wherein said deflector has a generally frusto-conically shaped exterior surface coaxial with said tube, said exterior surface having an increasing diameter in a forward direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The combination according to claim 14, wherein said projectile has two of said segments and said segments are connected by multiple lines. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The combination according to claim 16, wherein said lines have differing lengths. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The combination according to claim 14, wherein said projectile has four of said segments and each of said segments are connected to an associated corner of a net. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The combination according to claim 18, wherein said deflector forms a forwardly facing hollow interior cavity for said net. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The combination according to claim 18, wherein said net is woven from high strength fibers.