Ordnance – Shields – With explosive device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-08-28
Johnson, Stephen M. (Department: 3641)
Ordnance
Shields
With explosive device
C089S036020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279449
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to the field of apparatus and methods for shielding the body from hostile activity, such as ballistic projectiles generated by snipers. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method capable of shielding personnel from ballistic projectiles by interposing an anti-ballistic shield between a ballistic projectile and the person to whom it is directed.
2. History of Related Art
Many different approaches to the protection of personnel from life-threatening attacks exist. Examples of such approaches include bullet-proof glass, concrete and steel building structures, armored cars, bullet-proof jackets, and others. The effectiveness of any particular method depends on whether the personnel target is stationary, located in a vehicle, within a building, or outside the confines of any particular protective structure.
Law enforcement agencies are often tasked to protect public figures from terroristic attacks. Typically, such protection is achieved through a combination of passive armoring (e.g., bullet-proof vests and other apparel), identification and control of potential sniper vantage points, and other types of passive protection, such as shields, armor plates, and other devices. However, most public figures desire unrestricted access to the public and traditional ballistic screens are not in accord with the high visibility desired. Such countermeasures must be placed in close proximity to the targeted personnel to be effective, and this may impede the access desired.
One approach to solving this problem involves the erection of a bullet-proof, or anti-ballistic airbag between the personnel target and the ballistic projectile as soon as is practical after the projectile has been detected. However, this approach may fail with respect to the speed of barrier erection required, because an airbag structure requires large volumes of gas to inflate. Supplying the large amount of gas/fluid volume needed in the short amount of time allowed is often not possible. Further, the erection of a simple airbag structure may not occur in precisely the intended direction due to inequalities in packing, gas deployment pressures, and other physical limitations.
Therefore, a need exists for an unobtrusive, reactive device that provides adequate ballistic protection for targeted personnel with respect to ballistic projectiles. Further, the need exists for a countermeasure system which can be erected quickly, and in a particular direction, on a consistent basis. The system should provide for erection of an anti-ballistic barrier which is of variable size, and also provide a means for the accommodation of partial failures within the system.
The need also exists for a method to actively protect personnel from the approach of a ballistic object by deploying a countermeasure system such that a ballistic object can be detected, discriminated in the presence of other moving objects, and the system put into place before the projectile can reach the target personnel. The method should also provide varying degrees of protection with respect to the size and speed of projectiles expected, and the possible detection of multiple projectiles emanating from different geographic locations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The rapid deployment countermeasure system of the present invention comprises a base to which is attached a plurality of tubes. Each of the tubes is in fluid communication with one or more deployment modules, which may comprise gas or hybrid generators such that activation of the generators fills the tubes with gas and inflates them to some predetermined height. Several tubes may be connected to a single deployment module using a manifold, or in the alternative, each tube may be connected to a single deployment module. Instead of being attached to the base, each tube may be attached directly to a manifold or deployment module, which is in turn affixed to the base.
A guidance shroud is laid over the tubes, in close proximity to them, and also affixed to the base. The shroud may be divided up into cells such that each tube is contained within an individual cell. A guidance bar is attached to the top of each tube through the shroud, and also to one or two (or more) anti-ballistic blankets. The countermeasure system is deployed upon sensing the approach of a ballistic projectile, typically using a radar-based detection system.
The method to reactively protect personnel from the approach of a ballistic object by deploying the countermeasure system prior to arrival of the object at the location of the personnel comprises the steps of detecting the approach of the ballistic object using a detection system (e.g. radar or infra-red based), discriminating the presence of the ballistic object with respect to other objects in the vicinity and electronic noise, and activating the countermeasure system in response to discriminating the presence of a ballistic object.
The system and method of the present invention are capable of erecting an anti-ballistic barrier capable of protecting target personnel within 100 milliseconds (msecs) or less of detecting the approach of a ballistic projectile. Depending on the number of deployment modules and tubes in use, along with the speed of inflation, the countermeasure system may even be erected in less than 50 msecs. This amount of time is sufficient to provide a protection radius of approximately 50 ft. around the target when a 9 millimeter bullet is used as the ballistic projectile. The erection speed of the system may be further increased by using a launch mass, or impact mass in conjunction with the deployment module, to physically impact the guidance bar upon activation of the deployment module, causing a much faster deployment of the tubes within the shroud.
The tubes may be constructed as a unitary assembly, as a series of telescoping elements, or as a combination of tubes, including a gas bladder tube surrounded by a reinforcing tube. The reinforcing tube provides hoop reinforcement and a means of mechanical attachment. The tubes may be constructed from rubber-coated fabric or silicone-coated nylon fabric. The tubes may also be vented to control the standing time of the system after deployment. Standing times are typically on the order of hours or minutes, but can be reduced by using a venting means.
The protective blankets may be constructed from one or more layers of anti-ballistic material, such as aramid fabric or woven or layered polyethylene. The first blanket (impacted by the ballistic projectile before any other blankets) may be constructed such that it contains significantly more layers than secondary or subsequent blankets in order to protect the integrity of the tubular supports within the shroud from the destructive effects of multiple ballistic projectiles.
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Intenatio
Dearnaley Geoffrey
Ladika Michael D.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Johnson Stephen M.
Southwest Research Institute
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