Electrode tensioner for a conducted electrical weapon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12529546-B2
Application number	US-202418787905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2024
Priority date	Jan 25, 2018
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) impedes locomotion of a human or animal target by providing a stimulus signal through one or more electrodes and through the target. The CEW includes a handle and one or more removable deployment units coupled to the handle. A deployment unit may include a wad, a tensioner, a guide, and posts to improve accuracy of launch of electrodes form the deployment unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electrode for a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”), the electrode comprising:
a body defining a cavity;
a filament stowed within the cavity; and
a tensioner positioned proximate a rear of the body, wherein the tensioner is configured to apply a force on the filament as the filament deploys from the cavity.

2 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the tensioner is coupled to the rear of the body.

3 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a rear wall including an opening.

4 . The electrode of claim 3 , wherein the tensioner is coupled to the rear wall.

5 . The electrode of claim 4 , wherein the tensioner comprises a hole, and wherein the hole is axially centered with the opening.

6 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the tensioner comprises a hole, and wherein the filament is positioned through the hole.

7 . The electrode of claim 6 , wherein as the filament deploys from the cavity the filament contacts an inner wall of the hole.

8 . The electrode of claim 7 , wherein friction between the inner wall of the hole and the filament applies the force on the filament.

9 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the tensioner comprises a urethane foam.

10 . The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the filament is wound in a winding within the cavity.

11 . A deployment unit for a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) comprising:
a housing defining a bore; and
an electrode positioned in the bore, wherein the electrode comprises:
a body defining a cavity;
a filament stowed within the cavity; and
a tensioner positioned proximate a rear of the body, wherein the tensioner is configured to apply a force on the filament as the filament deploys from the cavity.

12 . The deployment unit of claim 11 , wherein the tensioner is coupled to the rear of the body.

13 . The deployment unit of claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a rear wall including an opening, and wherein the tensioner is coupled to the rear wall.

14 . The deployment unit of claim 11 , wherein the electrode further comprises a wad positioned at the rear of the body, and wherein the wad is configured to increase a muzzle velocity of the electrode.

15 . The deployment unit of claim 14 , wherein the tensioner is coupled to the wad.

16 . The deployment unit of claim 14 , wherein the wad is coupled to the rear of the body, and wherein the tensioner is positioned between the rear of the body and the wad.

17 . The deployment unit of claim 11 , further comprising a guide positioned within the bore of the housing.

18 . The deployment unit of claim 17 , wherein the tensioner is configured to contact the filament at a first location, and wherein the guide is configured to contact the filament at a second location.

19 . The deployment unit of claim 17 , wherein a first end of the filament is coupled to a forward end of the body, and wherein a second end of the filament extends through the tensioner and the guide to couple to the housing.

20 . The deployment unit of claim 11 , wherein the filament is wound in a winding within the cavity, and wherein the winding is configured to unravel to deploy the filament from the cavity.

Assignees

• Axon Entpr Inc

Inventors

• Salisbury Luke
• Lavin Albert
• Petrovic Aleksander

Classifications

• H05C1/04

  providing pulse voltages (mechanical self-interrupters H01H; electronic pulse-generators H03K) · CPC title

• F41H13/0025 Primary

  for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target · CPC title