Launchable aerosol grenade

Abstract

A projectile for delivering to a target a can containing pressurized material which is to be dispersed over the area of target. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a cylindrical hollow housing to the rear end of which is attached a launching tube with a fin assembly. The can is slidably disposed within the housing. There is a space between a cap which closes the forward end of the housing and the can in the housing. The can slides forward in the housing toward the cap upon impact of the cap against the target. This opens a valve which releases the contents of the sealed can into the housing, and this, in turn, blows the cap off the housing so that the released material is dispersed over the target area. In another embodiment, the can itself has the launching tube and fin assembly attached to its bottom. Instead of being enclosed in a housing, the top of the can carries a cap which closes the top of the can and which cap is detented spaced away from the dispensing nozzle. The detented cooperation between the cap and the can permits the cap to collapse against the dispensing nozzle upon impact of the cap against the target, and this activates the nozzle for release of the material inside the cap. With both embodiments, upon release of the material inside the cap, the cap or housing is blown off, enabling dispersion of the material in the can. With the present projectile, the sealed can is not breached before the projectile strikes its target and the contents of the can may be dispersed in a short time.