Patent Application
20180274887
This application relates to a construction of podiums, more particularly podiums having portions with Anti-Ballistic (e.g. “Ballistic Resistant”) properties.
“Bullet Resistant” is the process of making something capable of stopping a bullet or similar high velocity projectiles e.g. shrapnel. The term bullet resistance is often preferred because few, if any, practical materials provide complete protection against all types of bullets, or multiple hits in the same location. Bullet designs vary widely, not only according to the particular firearm used (e.g. a 9×19 mm Parabellum caliber hollow point handgun cartridge will have inferior penetration power compared to a 7.62×39 mm assault rifle cartridge), but also within individual cartridge designs. As a result, while some so-called “bullet-proof” panels may successfully prevent penetration by standard 7.62×39 mm bullets containing lead cores, the same panels may easily be defeated by 7.62×39 mm armor piercing bullets containing hardened steel penetrators.
Bullet-resistant materials, also called ballistic materials or, equivalently, Anti-Ballistic materials, are usually rigid, but may be supple. They may be complex, such as KEVLAR® LEXAN®, and carbon fiber composite materials, or they may be basic and simple, such as steel or titanium. Bullet resistant materials are often used in law enforcement and military applications, to protect personnel from death or serious injuries.
There is a growing need for methods of self-protection in an increasingly wide variety of locations. In the modern world, crimes and attacks committed by persons with guns are an ever more common occurrence. In the past, police personnel and military personnel have been the primary targets of gunfire, which has been directed toward them during work or duty. Because of this continual risk of harm, bullet resistant vests and shields have been developed which may be deployed or worn on the user's body as a protective component of their work attire. Such devices, when employed for protection against weapons fire have worked fairly well in preventing a high velocity bullet or shell from penetrating the wearer's body since the velocity is slowed considerably.
It has been made evident by recent shootings, such as Fort Hood, there may be a need for additional means of self-protection. This mass shooting took place on Nov. 5, 2009, at Fort Hood, the most populous U.S. military installation in the world, located just outside Killeen, Tex. In the course of the shooting, a single gunman killed 13 people and wounded 29 others. According to witnesses, some individuals attempted to stop the shooter, either by charging him or throwing a chair at him, but were mortally wounded in the process.
It was additionally made evident at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 that similar occurrences may also occur in other locations where civilians, including children may be affected and there is an increased need for self-protection. Anti-Ballistic mobile defense structures or barriers should blend into a conventional room's appearance, where people gather such as meeting rooms, classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias and avoid the rooms taking on the appearance of military bunkers.
New materials and improvements of manufacturing processes may allow items such as ballistic-proof panels integrated into furniture, moveable barriers and mobile defense structure to become a practical item. Previously, bullet-resistant vests have been constructed by applying multiple layers of fabric woven from an aramid fiber together, which is sold by Du Pont under the Trademark KEVLAR. It can be used in a flexible state or laminated in a more rigid configuration. The success of the product is attained by multiple layers of the semi-impregnable flexible structure. This material combines high penetration resistance with lightness and flexibility but no one has endeavored to manufacture usable panels for inclusion in rolling structures or movable barriers, wall paneling, cubical dividers, or office furniture items using these materials.
As should be understood that embodiments of the present application are not limited to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components or the steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various alternatives or combinations of the features shown or described herein may be incorporated into other embodiments and practiced and carried out in various ways, which might be apparent to those skilled in the art once the information herein is reviewed. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description, and should not be regarded as limiting in any fashion. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other furniture type ballistic shields or other defense structures for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device and method. It is important, therefore, that the embodiments, objects, and claims herein, be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Example implementations of the present application may include an Anti-Ballistic podium. The Anti-Ballistic podium may include a front wall, a first side wall extending at first angle to the front wall, and a second side wall extending a second angle to the front wall. Further, the front wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define an interior volume, and at least one of the front wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall may include an anti-ballistic structure. The Anti-Ballistic structure may include a first structural layer, a second structural layer, a first Anti-Ballistic layer disposed between the first structural layer and the second structural layer; and a second Anti-Ballistic layer disposed between the second structural layer and the first Anti-Ballistic layer.
Another example implementation of the present application may include an Anti-Ballistic structure for use in a movable or stationary defense structure. The Anti-Ballistic structure may include a first structural layer, a second structural layer,
a first Anti-Ballistic layer disposed between the first structural layer and the second structural layer; and a second Anti-Ballistic layer disposed between the second structural layer and the first Anti-Ballistic layer.
Additionally, the Anti-Ballistic core portions of the Anti-Ballistic Panels may be fabricated using not only Aramid fibers and KEVLAR® from DuPont, but also polyethylene fibers and GOLD SHIELD®, which is a KEVLAR® based material, and SPECTRA SHIELD®, which is polyethylene based material, both available commercially from Honeywell. GOLD SHIELD® and SPECTRA SHIELD® are high strength synthetic fibers impregnated in partially cured resin for use in ballistic material.
Moreover, both of the Honeywell materials can be used as layered soft armor as well as hard armor when they are autoclaved or compression molded into Anti-Ballistic components for construction of the Anti-Ballistic Panels. Other similar materials of like purpose and function are also anticipated by this disclosure.
Other aspects of implementations of the present application may be discussed or may become apparent in view of the following description of embodiments of the present application and the figures enclosed with this application. In this respect, it is to be understood that the design is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
While the description of the Anti-Ballistic podiums has been made herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instance some features of the design will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the Anti-Ballistic podiums and together with the description, serve to explain the aspects of this application.
The Anti-Ballistic Podium 100 may also include vertical sidewalls to support the top wall 105. In the example implementation illustrated in
Each of the top wall 105, left wall 115, right wall 120, and front wall 125 may be hallow. The exterior construction of each of the top wall 105, left wall 115, right wall 120, and front wall 125 is not particularly limited and may be any material including but not limited to wood, resin, ceramic, metal or any other construction that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Each of the top wall 105, left wall 115, right wall 120 and front wall 125 may be formed as an Anti-Ballistic structure 200 (illustrated in
In
Though the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100 is open on the backside (e.g., a speaker side) as illustrated in
Additionally, the open space 135 may be partially or fully enclosed behind doors 130A, 130B. The door 130A may be attached to the left wall 115 by a pair of hinges 175. In some example implementations, the hinges 175 may be self-closing hinges. Additionally, a lock or latch 170 may be provided to hold the door 130A closed and secured shut. In some example implementations, the lock or latch 170 may be magnetic catch. Similarly, the door 130B may be attached to the right wall 115 by another pair of hinges similar to the hinges 175 illustrated in
Below the open space 135, a pull-out step 150 may also be provided in some example implementations. The pull-out step 150 may include a platform 155 mounted on sliders 160 to allow the platform 155 to move linearly relative to the bottom 185 of the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100. In some example implementations, the sliders 160 may be locking sliders that allow the platform 155 to be locked in an extended (broken-line in
Further, in some example implementations, the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100 may also include rollers or castors 140,145 mounted on a bottom platform 185 of the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100. Some of the castors 140 may have a fixed orientation, while other castors 145 may be rotating castors that are capable of rotating to allowing the castor 145 to rotate relative to the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100. As discussed below with respect to
In
The Anti-Ballistic structure 200 may include a first structural layer 205 providing structure and rigidity to the front wall 125. In some embodiments, the first structural layer 205 may be formed from wood, polyethylene or any other material that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art to use for structural support. Further, in some embodiments, the first structural layer 205 may be formed from compressed wood, “MDF” or medium density fiberboard, plywood or other engineered wood materials that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Such materials may provide an increased resistance to warping and/or fracturing or splintering when hit directly with bullets. In some example implementations, the thickness of the first structural layer 205 may be, for example, 0.75 inches. However, the thickness is not particularly limited and may be any thickness that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The Anti-Ballistic structure 200 may also include a first elastomeric layer 210 oriented on an exterior side of the first structural layer 205. In some example implementations, an airgap 207 may be located between the first elastomeric layer 210 and the first structural layer 205. In some example embodiments, the first elastomeric layer 210 may be a polyethylene foam material (such as a cross-linked polyethylene) or other closed-cell foam material that may be apparent to a person ordinary skill in the art. Further in some embodiments, the first elastomeric layer 210 may have a thickness of 0.75 inches or thicker. However, embodiments of the present application are not limited to this configuration.
The Anti-Ballistic structure 200 may also include a first Anti-Ballistic Portion or Anti-Ballistic layer 215 oriented on an exterior side of the elastomeric layer 110. In some embodiments, the first Anti-Ballistic Portion 215 may be formed from aramid fibers. For example the first Anti-Ballistic Portion 215 may be formed from plurality layers, each layer being formed from aramid fibers laid parallel to each other. Further, adjacent layers of the first Anti-Ballistic Portion 215 may be oriented such that the fibers of the adjacent layers are angled with respect to each other. For example, fibers of adjacent layers may form a 90° with respect to each other. In other embodiments, the angle may be an angle other than 90° (e.g. 45°, 60°, 75°, or any other angle that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
It must be fully understood at this time that different Anti-Ballistic materials can be used for the purpose of constructing the first Anti-Ballistic Portion 215 including a variety of soft materials along with hard surfaced resin impregnated laminated Anti-Ballistic materials some of which are sold by Du Pont under the registered trademark KEVLAR® and will still remain within the scope of this application. Additionally, the first Anti-Ballistic Portions of the Anti-Ballistic Portion 215 may be fabricated using not only aramid fibers and KEVLAR® from DuPont, but also polyethylene fibers and GOLD SHIELD®, which is a KEVLAR® based material, and SPECTRA SHIELD®, which is polyethylene based material, both available commercially from Honeywell. GOLD SHIELD® and SPECTRA SHIELD® are high strength synthetic fibers impregnated in partially cured resin for use in ballistic material. Moreover, both of the Honeywell materials can be used as layered soft armor as well as hard armor when they are autoclaved or compression molded into Anti-Ballistic components for construction of the Anti-Ballistic Portion 215, as shown and described. Other similar materials of like purpose and function are also anticipated by this disclosure.
In some embodiments, the first Anti-Ballistic Portion 215 may have a thickness of 0.7 inches. However, embodiments of the present application are not limited to this configuration and may have other configurations that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The Anti-Ballistic structure 200 may also include a second Anti-Ballistic Portion or Anti-Ballistic layer 220 oriented on an exterior side of the first Anti-Ballistic Portion 215. In some example implementations, an adhesive layer 217 may be disposed between the first Anti-Ballistic Portion 215 and the second Anti-Ballistic Portion 220. For example, a glue, single part epoxy, or multi-part epoxy may be provided between the first Anti-Ballistic Portion 215 and the second Anti-Ballistic Portion 220.
In some embodiments, the second Anti-Ballistic Portion 220 may be an Anti-Ballistic ceramic material such as silicon carbide materials sold by Saint-Gobain under the trade name “Forceram”. Alternatively, other Anti-Ballistic ceramic materials may be used that might be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the second Anti-Ballistic Portion 220 may have a thickness of 0.3 inches. However, embodiments of the present application are not limited to this configuration and may have other configurations that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The Anti-Ballistic structure 200 may also include a second elastomeric layer 225 oriented on an exterior side of the second Anti-Ballistic Portion 220. In some example embodiments, the second elastomeric layer 225 may be a polyethylene foam material (such as a cross-linked polyethylene) or other closed-cell foam material that may be apparent to a person ordinary skill in the art. Further in some embodiments, the second elastomeric layer 225 may have a thickness of 0.75 inches or thicker. However, embodiments of the present application are not limited to this configuration.
The Anti-Ballistic structure 200 may include a second structural layer 230 providing structure and rigidity to the front wall 125. In some example implementations, an airgap 227 may be located between the second elastomeric layer 225 and the second structural layer 230. In some embodiments, the second structural layer 230 may be formed from wood, polyethylene or any other material that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art to use for structural support. Further, in some embodiments, the second structural layer 230 may be formed from compressed wood, “MDF” or medium density fiberboard, plywood or other engineered wood materials that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Such materials may provide an increased resistance to warping and/or fracturing or splintering when hit directly with bullets. In some example implementations, the thickness of the second structural layer 230 may be, for example, 0.75 inches. However, the thickness is not particularly limited and may be any thickness that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
In some example implementations, a first end piece 235 and a second end piece 240 may be provided at each end of first and second structural layers 205,230. In some implementations, the first and second structural layers 205,230 may each be attached to a pair of U-shaped brackets 245 at each end using an by an adhesive layer 247, such as a glue, adhesive, or epoxy such as a two-part epoxy. In other example implementations, the first and second structural layers 205,230 may be attached U-shaped brackets 245 using screws, binding posts, or any other attachment mechanism that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Additionally, each of the first and second end pieces 235,240 may also be attached to the one of the pair of U-shaped brackets 245 by the adhesive layer 247. In other example implementations, the first and second end pieces 235,240 may be attached to the U-shaped brackets 245 using screws, binding posts, or any other attachment mechanism that may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Further, in some example implementations, a binding post 250 may be inserted through a binding hole 255 provide through each of the U-shaped brackets 245, first and second elastomeric layers 210,225, and the first and second anti-ballistic portions 215, 220.
Additionally, as illustrated, one or more inner L-shaped brackets 260 located in the air gap 207 between the first structural layer 205 and the first elastomeric layer 210. Further, one or more outer L-shaped brackets 265 located in the air gap 227 between the second structural layer 230 and the second elastomeric layer 225. Further, in some example implementations, one or more additional L-shaped brackets 270 may be provided on the exterior surface of the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100. In some example implementations, each of the L-shaped brackets 260,265,270 may be formed from metal such as steel, titanium, chromium, or any other durable metal that might be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Additionally, as illustrated, one or more inner L-shaped brackets 260 located in the air gap 207 between the first structural layer 205 and the first elastomeric layer 210. Further, one or more outer L-shaped brackets 265 located in the air gap 227 between the second structural layer 230 and the second elastomeric layer 225. Further, in some example implementations, one or more additional L-shaped brackets 270 may be provided on the exterior surface of the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100. In some example implementations, each of the L-shaped brackets 260,265,270 may be formed from metal such as steel, titanium, chromium, or any other durable metal that might be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, another binding post 275 may be inserted through an inner L-shaped bracket 260, the first and second elastomeric layers 210,225, and the first and second Anti-Ballistic portions 215, 220, and the outer L-shaped bracket 265.
As discussed above, the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100 may also include rollers or casters 140,145 mounted on a bottom platform 185 of the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100. Some of the castors 140 may have a fixed orientation, while other castors 145 may be rotating castors that are capable of rotating to allowing the castor 145 to rotate relative to the Anti-Ballistic Podium 100. In some example implementations, bottom platform 185 may have a cut-out 190 configured to receive the floor lock 165 of the pull-out step 150 (in
The Anti-Ballistic layers, panels, portions or structures shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present application. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements in accordance with the spirit of this thereof other than those illustrated and described may be employed for providing disclosure, and such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this design as broadly defined in the appended claims.
The abstract and any summaries provided herein are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, which is measured by the claims.
