Sabot-launched delivery apparatus for non-lethal payload

A non-lethal payload carrier assembly launchable from a launching device toward a target, comprising:

• a mortar-launched, unitary carrier body constructed of a fracturable non-metallic material, the carrier body having a body portion and a flight stabilizing portion integrally connected to the body portion, the body portion having an interior cavity, and the flight stabilizing portion having a plurality of stabilizing fins, the carrier body being fracturable into a plurality of non-lethal pieces after launch;
• an isolating member releasably containing the carrier body and isolating the carrier body from the launching device during launch;
• a non-lethal payload releasably contained within the interior cavity of the body portion;
• and
• a payload deployment system connected to the carrier body and having a fuse mechanism and a fracturing device connected to the fuse mechanism, the fracturing device being positioned in the interior area and along the carrier body between the non-lethal payload and the body portion and being activatable by the fuse mechanism to apply a deployment force to the body portion that fractures and opens the carrier body after launch and at a position away from the target for deployment of the non-lethal payload toward the target, the carrier body configured to fracture into the plurality of non-lethal pieces away from the target when the fracturing device is activated.

A non-lethal payload delivery system, comprising:

• a launching device;
• a non-lethal payload deliverable to a target;
• a carrier assembly releasably containing the non-lethal payload, the carrier assembly being openable and fracturable into a plurality of non-lethal pieces for deployment of the non-lethal payload prior to delivery to the target;
• a payload deployment system coupled to the carrier assembly and having a mechanism for opening the carrier assembly away from the target and deployment of the non-lethal payload during flight;
• a sabot assembly sized to be launched from the launching device, the sabot assembly releasably containing the carrier assembly and isolating the carrier assembly from launch loads that exceed a strength of the carrier assembly, the sabot assembly having a plurality of sections movable from a closed position to a flared open position upon exit from the launching device, the sabot assembly being separable from the carrier assembly when the plurality of sections move to the flared open position.

A method of delivering a non-lethal payload to a remote target, comprising:

• loading a non-lethal payload delivery assembly into a launching device, the assembly including a non-lethal payload, a carrier assembly releasably containing the non-lethal payload, and a sabot assembly releasably containing the carrier assembly, the sabot assembly having a plurality of sections movable from a closed position substantially surrounding the carrier assembly to an open position exposing the carrier assembly upon launch from the launching device;
• launching the non-lethal payload assembly as a unit out of the launching device, wherein launching forces are generated in the launching device and exerted against the sabot assembly, the launching forces exceeding forces that the carrier assembly could withstand independent of the sabot assembly;
• absorbing launch forces by the sabot assembly during launch;
• moving the plurality of sections of the sabot assembly from the closed position to the open position when the sabot assembly exits the launching device causing deceleration of the sabot assembly and separation from the carrier assembly;
• allowing the carrier assembly and the non-lethal payload to travel along a trajectory toward the target after separation from the sabot assembly;
• opening the carrier assembly at a selected position along the trajectory away from the target;
• deploying the non-lethal payload from the carrier assembly after the carrier assembly is open for continued travel of the non-lethal payload to the target independent from the carrier assembly;
• and
• breaking the carrier assembly into a plurality of non-lethal pieces when the carrier assembly is open and the non-lethal payload is deployed.