1. Field of the Invention
An armor plated assembly for holding a protective material for impeding the penetration of a projectile.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A plurality of sandbags are often used to erect a wall for protection of personnel, i.e., people, and property. For example, the sandbags are often stacked to erect the wall, such as a dam or a dike, during a flood. The wall diverts water, thereby protecting people and property during the flood. The sandbags are also often used to deflect and absorb projectiles, e.g., bullets and shrapnel. For example, the sandbags are often used to erect fortifications, such as bunkers, to protect military personnel from bullets, explosions, and weather conditions. In addition, the sandbags are also used to protect vehicles, such as tanks and personnel carriers.
As known to those skilled in the art, the sandbags are typically filled with sand and are sealed to retain the sand therein. The sandbag is usually formed from burlap or a similar flexible material. However, the sandbags are prone to weathering, such as dry-rot, when exposed to UV rays, i.e., the sun, and water. In addition, the sandbags also rip and tear easily, especially when projectiles contact and pierce the sandbags and during movement and placement of the sandbags. When the sandbags are ripped or torn, the sandbags break down and quickly lose their effectiveness in stopping or slowing projectiles. This often occurs when the sandbags are pierced and sand leaks from the sandbags. In addition, the sandbags rely upon sand to absorb a majority of the force exerted by projectiles because the sandbags themselves are easily penetrated due to the material the sandbags are formed from.
Accordingly, there remains an opportunity to provide a sandbag with increased strength for protection of personnel and property. In addition, there remains an opportunity to provide a sandbag with increased locating, placing and fixing flexibility, such as when erecting a wall with a plurality of the sandbags.
An armor plated assembly containing a protective material. The armor plated assembly comprises of a container having opposing walls defining an envelope. A portion of the envelope is movable between an open position for receiving the protective material and a closed position for encompassing the protective material. The armor plated assembly includes an armor device at least partially disposed within the container. The armor device includes a first plate and a second plate with at least one of the opposing walls being sandwiched between the first plate and the second plate for securing the armor device to the container. The armor device impedes the penetration of a projectile through the armor plated assembly.
In another aspect the subject invention also provides for a protective wall system for protecting against the penetration of the projectile. The protective wall system includes a plurality of the above described armor plated assemblies. The protective wall system includes a first container having a first armor device partially disposed on the first container. The protective wall system includes a second container and a second armor device partially disposed on the second container. The first armor device includes a first outer plate and a first inner plate. The second armor device includes a second outer plate and a second inner plate. A mechanical connection is disposed between the first and second outer plates. The mechanical connection aligns the first and second armor devices and the first and second containers to define the protective wall system.
In another aspect the subject invention also provides for an alternative protective wall system for protecting against the penetration of the projectile.
The alternative protective wall system comprises of a first container having a top, a bottom, two opposing side and a base. The first container defines an envelope with a portion of the envelope movable between an open position for receiving a protective material and a closed position for encompassing the protective material. A first bib is attached to the top of the first container and the first bib extends over one of the opposing sides of the first container. The alternative protective wall system includes a second container having a top, a bottom, two opposing side and a base. The second container defines an envelope with a portion of the envelope movable between an open position for receiving the protective material and a closed position for encompassing the protective material. A second bib is attached to the top of the second container and extends over one of the opposing sides of the second container. The first bib overlaps the second bib in a shingle-like engagement for impeding the penetration of a projectile through the protective wall system.
Accordingly, the subject invention addresses the durability concern of the prior art sandbags by providing an armor plate or a protective bib for impeding the penetration of a projectile through the containers, as well as providing for a mechanical connection to align the assemblies to erect a wall or a structure.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, an armor plated assembly containing a protective material is shown at 20 in the Figures. The armor plated assembly 20 includes a container 22 and armor device 24 for stopping a projectile from penetrating into and through the armor plated assembly 20. The container 22 may be any suitable size and shape. As shown in
The two opposing sides 34 each have a first and a second distal ends. A rounded base 36 at the first distal end extends between the top 30, bottom 32 and the two opposing sides 34 to form the envelope 28 or bag structure. The second distal end defines an opening 38 into the envelope 28 of the container 22. The container 22 also includes a cover flap 40 extending from either the top 30 or the bottom 32. A cover fastener 42 may be located on the cover flap 40 to engage either the top 30 or the bottom 32 to secure the cover flap 40 in a closed position for encompassing the protective material in the container 22, as shown in
As shown in
The armor plated assembly 20 includes an armor device 24 at least partially disposed within the container 22. The armor device 24 has a first plate 48 and a second plate 50 with one of the opposing walls 26 sandwiched between the first plate 48 and the second plate 50 for securing the armor device 24 to the container 22. The first and second plates 48, 50 are for additional protection to impede the penetration of a projectile through the armor plated assembly 20. The first plate 48 is attached to the outside of the container 22 on one of the opposing walls 26. The second plate 50 is attached to the container 22 completely encompassed by and inside the container 22.
The second plate 50 is aligned on the inside of the container 22 with the first plate 48 on the outside of the container 22 and the opposing wall 26 is between the first and second plates 48, 50 as previously discussed.
The armor device 24 may include at least one first fastener 52 coupled to the first plate 48, the opposing wall 26 and the second plate 50 for securing the first and second plates 48,50 about the opposing wall 26 of the container 22. The first fastener 52 may be selected from the group of rivets, screws, bolts and nuts, combinations thereof, or other fasteners known to those skilled in the art. As shown in
The armor plated assembly 20 includes scalable protection levels adaptable to protect against various projectiles as required for each given application or environment. The armor device 24 in the illustrated embodiment further includes a third plate 54 and a fourth plate 56. The third and fourth plates 54, 56 are secured to the container 22 with another of the opposing walls 26 sandwiched between the third plate 54 and the fourth plate 56. The additional plates 54, 56 provide additional protection against the penetration of the projectile through the armor plated assembly 20. The third plate 54 is attached to the outside of the container 22 on one of the opposing walls 26. The fourth plate 56 is attached to the container 22 completely encompassed by and inside the container 22. The fourth plate 56 is aligned on the inside of the container 22 with the third plate 54 on the outside of the container 22 and the opposing wall 26 is between the third and fourth plates 54, 56 as previously discussed.
The armor device 24 may include at least one second fastener 58 coupled to the third plate 54, the other opposing wall 26 and the fourth plate 56 for securing the third and fourth plates 54, 56 about the opposing wall 26. The second fastener 58 may be selected from the group of rivets, screws, bolts and nuts, combinations thereof, or other fasteners known to those skilled in the art. As shown in
The plates 48, 50, 54, 56 may be formed from a suitable material as is known in the art. The material should be capable of stopping, absorbing, or slowing a projectile, e.g., a bullet, upon impact. For example, the material may be selected from the group of metals, alloys, plastics, polymers, ceramics, composites, combinations thereof, or other suitable materials as are known to those skilled in the art. As another example, the plates 48, 50, 54, 56 may be formed from titanium or titanium alloys, such as Ti-6a1-4v, Ti-6a1-4v ELI, any material meeting the military specification in class 4-mil-dt1-46077 or equivalent materials or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, each one of the plates 48, 50, 54, 56 is formed from the same material, respectively. However, it is appreciated that each plate 48, 50, 54, 56 may be formed of a different material. It should also be appreciated that any combination of materials may be selected for each one of the plates 48, 50, 54, 56 respectively. In addition to providing for material options to provide scalable degrees of protection the thickness of the plates may also vary to accommodate the protection needed for each application.
Optionally, the armor device 24 may include an insert apparatus 60. The insert apparatus 60 is removably disposed within the envelope 28 of the container 22 as shown in
Referring to
The protective wall system 120 includes a first container 122 having opposing walls 124 defining an envelope. The first container 122 is similar to the container 22 previously discussed. As previously discussed, a portion of the envelope is movable between an open position for receiving a protective material and a closed position for encompassing the protective material. A first armor device 126 is at least partially disposed within the first container 122. The first armor device 126 has a first outer plate 128 and a first inner plate 130 with at least one of the opposing walls 124 of the first container 122 being sandwiched between the first outer plate 128 and the first inner plate 130. The first outer and first inner plates 128, 130 provide protection for impeding the penetration of a projectile through the first container 122. It should be appreciated that the first outer plate 128 is equivalent and similar to the first plate 48 and the first inner plate is equivalent and similar to the second plate 50. In additional the protective wall system may include an additional first outer plate 128 equivalent and similar to the third plate 54 and an additional first inner plate 130 equivalent and similar to the fourth plate 56, as shown in
The protective wall system 120 further includes a second container 132 having opposing walls 126 defining an envelope. The second container 132 is again similar to the container 22 previously discussed. As previously discussed, a portion of the envelope is movable between an open position for receiving a protective material and a closed position for encompassing the protective material. A second armor device 134 is at least partially disposed within the second container 132. The second armor device 134 has a second outer plate 136 and a second inner plate 138 with one of the opposing walls 124 of the second container 132 being sandwiched between the second inner plate 136 and the second outer plate 138. The second inner and the second outer plates 136, 138 provide protection for impeding the penetration of a projectile through the second container 132. It should be appreciated that the second outer plate 136 is equivalent and similar to the first plate 48 and the first inner plate is equivalent and similar to the second plate 50. In additional the protective wall system may include an additional second outer plate 136 equivalent and similar to the third plate 54 and an additional second inner plate 138 equivalent and similar to the fourth plate 56, as shown in
The first and second outer plates 128, 136 define a peripheral edge 137 having a thickness, T. The thickness of the outer plates 128, 136 may vary to provide varying protection scalable for each application and environment.
The protective wall system 120 includes a mechanical connection 140 defined between the first and second outer plates 128, 136 of the first and second armor devices 126, 134 respectively for aligning the first and second containers 122, 132 to build the protective wall system 120. There are several contemplations to allow for the joining of the first and second outer plates 128, 136 to create an interlock between the containers 122, 132, as shown in
Referring now to
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The second embodiment may be retrofitted onto an existing protective wall of sandbags or containers 222, 234. The bibs 232, 236 may be retrofitted to the existing protective wall by making the bibs 232, 236 in various geometries to accommodate the various sizes of sandbags or containers 222, 234. The bibs 232, 236 need to be sized to the sandbag or container such that the bibs 232, 236 maintain the shingle-like engagement as shown in
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. As is now apparent to those skilled in the art, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.