Patent Application
20250003718
The present invention generally relates to the field of bulletproof protective systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel bulletproof protective system designed to be installed in individual rooms such as classrooms within a school or other rooms within a building.
By way of background, a school shooting refers to an event in which an armed attacker enters an educational institution, such as a primary school, secondary school, high school, or university, with the intention of causing harm and potentially taking lives of students, teachers, and other people. Frequent shooting attacks pose a severe threat to the safety and well-being of students and teachers. Generally, the attackers use firearms or other weapons to carry out the attack.
For protection in event of a shooting, the immediate means of protection is to hide under a desk. However, desks neither effectively conceal a student nor provide effective ballistic protection. This means of protection is ineffective and may not be able to prevent casualties during an active shooting situation.
To solve the problem of safeguarding students and staff during shootings, some schools have employed security personnel or even armed guards to provide an immediate response in the event of an attack. Many educational institutions struggle with limited budgets, making it difficult to implement comprehensive security measures across all schools.
Therefore, there is a need for a bulletproof protective system to protect individual classrooms. There is also a long felt need for an improved way of protecting students and staff by providing them a safety chamber during shooting events. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a bulletproof protective system that eliminates the need to hide under a desk in the face of an armed assailant.
This invention overcomes disadvantages of the prior art by providing a bulletproof system for providing a safety chamber for students and staff in case of a school shooting. The system can be designed to be installed in classrooms of different sizes without occupying much space. Furthermore, the system can be used for covering one or more walls, doors and windows of a classroom. Although the description herein refers to schools and classrooms, it should be clear that the present disclosure can also apply to office buildings, post offices, and various other buildings and various types of rooms that may be subject to attack by an armed assailant.
This invention can also overcome disadvantages of the prior art by providing a bulletproof protection system. The system can include a bulletproof shield, also referred to herein as a bullet proof partition, or simply a partition, installed in a classroom. In various embodiments, the partition can include a plurality of interconnected panels, the partition can be rolling or sliding, or the partition can be fixed in place. The partition can extend from the ceiling to floor of the classroom, and the ceiling and/or the floor can have a track for movement of the partition. A remote monitoring system can be designed to automatically activate the bulletproof partition(s) to cover a wall and/or window of the classroom on detecting a shooter, optionally without requiring action from the occupants, wherein the bulletproof partition forms a safety chamber for students and staff or other occupants. The shooter can be detected using one or more cameras positioned outside of the school to look for individuals approaching the school and/or in one or more classrooms.
In various embodiments, a mobile ballistic partition system for deployment in a school or other building can include at least one mobile ballistic panel, at least one roller on the mobile ballistic panel, at least one locking mechanism configured to selectively lock the mobile ballistic panel to a wall or floor to secure the mobile ballistic panel in a deployed position, thereby creating an enclosed safety chamber within a room. The mobile ballistic partition system can include at least one track that is in a fixed location within a room, the at least one track defining the area of the safety chamber, wherein the roller on the at least one mobile ballistic panel can travel along the track so that the mobile ballistic panel defines the enclosed safety chamber. The at least one track can be inset into the floor a predetermined distance, so that the bottom edge of the mobile ballistic partition is below the floor surface thereby creating a safety chamber that is free from gaps between the mobile ballistic partition and the ceiling that would allow a shooter to shoot into the safety chamber. The at least one partition can include a kickplate at the bottom of the partition, the kickplate extending out from the partition to cover the track that is inset into the floor, the kickplate configured to deflect bullets so that bullets cannot be shot at the rollers or the track. The at least one track can be an overhead rail that is inset into the ceiling a predetermined distance, so that the top edge of the mobile ballistic partition is above the ceiling thereby creating a safety chamber that is free from gaps between the mobile ballistic partition and the ceiling that would allow a shooter to shoot into the safety chamber. The overhead rail can include a bulwark, the bulwark extending from above the rail and the at least one roller to below the rail and the at least one roller, and the bulwark extending to less than an inch from the mobile ballistic partition when the mobile ballistic partition is in a deployed conformation. The at least one roller can include a height adjustor, wherein when the height adjustor is in an extended conformation the roller at least partially extends below the bottom of the mobile ballistic panel so that the mobile ballistic panel can be moved into a deployed position, and wherein when the height adjustor is in a retracted conformation the roller does not extend below the bottom of the mobile ballistic panel so that the bottom of the mobile ballistic panel rests on the floor. The at least one mobile ballistic panel can include a plurality of mobile ballistic panels that are arranged in a row, and wherein the mobile ballistic partition further comprises hinges between adjacent panels so that two neighboring panels can pivot relative to each other, wherein the mobile ballistic partition that comprises a plurality of mobile ballistic panels can be deployed along the track to create a protective wall that defines a safety chamber. At least one of the plurality of mobile ballistic panels can have a seam overlap flap at one end of the panel, and a notch at the other end of the panel, so that when the panels pivot relative to each other to form a wall, the seam overlap flap of one panel will lay in the notch of the neighboring panel, so that the seam overlap flap creates a ballistic protection for the hinges between panels. The at least one mobile ballistic panel can include at least two mobile ballistic panels, wherein the two mobile ballistic panels are hinged to one or more walls of a room at proximal ends of the mobile ballistic panels, and wherein the mobile ballistic panels are hinged to the one or more walls of the room at fixed locations that are remote from each other, and wherein the two mobile panels can be stored along one or more walls in the stored conformation, and wherein the two mobile panels can be hingedly pivoted out from the walls, and wherein the mobile ballistic panels can meet at distal ends of the panels to form a safety chamber with mobile panels forming at least two walls of a safety chamber, the safety chamber including at least one wall of the building as a wall of the safety chamber.
In an embodiment, a system for preserving human life during an armed attack can include at least one camera facing an outside of a building, at least one monitor monitoring a video stream from the camera, at least one mobile ballistic partition within the building, the mobile ballistic partition stored in a stored conformation, at least one automatic partition mover operatively connected to the at least one mobile ballistic partition, wherein the at least one mobile ballistic partition is automatically moved to an at least partially deployed conformation by the automatic partition mover in response to an action signal from the monitor. The system for preserving human life can include at least one overhead rail to support the at least one mobile ballistic partition, wherein the at least one mobile ballistic partition further comprises at least one roller that rolls on the overhead rail to carry the mobile ballistic partition, and wherein the at least one overhead rail further comprises a bulwark to shield the rail, the roller, and the top of the partition from bullets. The system for preserving human life can include at least one lower track that is inset into the floor, wherein the at least one mobile ballistic partition further comprises at least one roller that rolls on the lower track to carry the mobile ballistic partition, wherein the bottom edge of the mobile ballistic partition is below the floor surface so that there are no gaps to allow a shooter to shoot into the safety chamber. The at least one mobile ballistic partition can be concealed behind a false wall when the at least one mobile ballistic partition is in a stored position, and wherein when the at least one automatic partition mover automatically moves the at least one mobile ballistic partition in response to an action signal, the at least one mobile ballistic partition is at least partially exposed by pushing the at least one mobile ballistic partition out from behind the false wall so that it can be grabbed by a person and fully deployed manually.
In an embodiment, a method of preserving human life can include monitoring the outside of a building, perceiving a threatening individual approaching the building, sending an action signal to the threatened building, alerting occupants of the building to the threat in response to the action signal, and automatically moving automatic parts of a ballistic protection system in response to the action signal. Automatically moving automatic parts of the ballistic protection system in response to the signal can include moving parts of the ballistic protection system to form a safety chamber, the safety chamber configured to provide a ballistic shelter to preserve the lives of the occupants of the safety chamber.
The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which:
There are a great many possible implementations of the invention, too many to describe herein. Some possible implementations are described below. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It should be clear, however, that the innovation can be practiced without various specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, any particular embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages described herein. Thus, in various embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined. It cannot be emphasized too strongly, however, that these are descriptions of implementations of the invention, and not descriptions of the invention, which is not limited to the detailed implementations described in this section but is described in broader terms in the claims.
A bulletproof protective system can be installed for use in various buildings, including schools, office buildings, post offices, shopping malls, and more. As described herein, terms such as bulletproof protective system and ballistic protective system can be used interchangeably, and no differentiation is intended between the terms ballistic and bulletproof. The system described herein is designed to protect occupants of a building from a shooting attack, and the system is referred to as bulletproof and/or ballistic protection. In various embodiments, a bulletproof protective system can create a bulletproof safety chamber, also referred to as a safety chamber, in a classroom or other room. In various embodiments, the bulletproof protective system can turn the entire room into a safety chamber, or can create a reduced-space safety chamber in a subset of the room. A bulletproof partition can be stored in a stored conformation that takes up minimal space within the room, and can be moved to a deployed conformation to create a protective safety chamber. By way of non-limiting example, in various embodiments, the stored conformation for the bulletproof partition can include a folded conformation, a rolled conformation, a stacked conformation, and/or can include being in a storage location on a track that allows the partition to be moved to a deployed location. In various embodiments, a partition can be deployed automatically, or can be deployed manually, or the deployment can start automatically and can be completed manually.
In various embodiments such as a shopping mall, a bulletproof partition can be deployed across the entrance to the store so that the entire store can become a safety chamber, safe from an attacker who may attack from the interior, or hallway area of the mall. Similarly, in various classroom applications, a bulletproof partition can be deployed across the entrance to the classroom, so that the entire classroom can become a safety chamber, safe from an attacker who may attack from the interior, or hallway area of the school. In various embodiments, a bulletproof partition can be deployed to form a reduced space safety chamber in a portion of a classroom, office room, store, etc. Many of the embodiments herein are described in the context of a school and a classroom, however, it should be clear that the ideas disclosed herein are applicable to a wide range of environments and are not intended to be limited to schools.
The individual panels 104 of the bulletproof partition 102 can be designed to move along a track system 110 wherein the track 110 is embedded in the floor of the classroom 120, providing a secure and stable path for the partition's movement. The track 110 is preferably inset into the floor, by recessing or lowering, by a specific distance (e.g., 5 inches) to ensure complete protection and smooth movement of the partition 102. Track 110 is a single-wide track, with all panels riding on the same single track. This single-track design allows for the track 110 to use the smallest possible amount of floor space. Additionally, in various embodiments, there can be a corresponding upper track, also referred to as a rail, in the ceiling of the classroom wherein the upper rail can also be inset into the space above the ceiling (e.g., 8 inches), to stabilize the partition 102 during movement thereof. Having the track extend to the ceiling or above the ceiling increases the ballistic protection by limiting a shooter's ability to shoot over the top of the partition. An upper track, if present, can also be a single-wide track, with all panels riding on the same track. Various embodiments can have only a floor track, only a ceiling track, or a combination of floor track and ceiling track. Throughout this document, floor tracks and/or ceiling tracks in various embodiments can have the advantage of being single-wide tracks, with all panels riding on a single-wide track. However, it should be clear that referring to them as single tracks does not preclude embodiments having both, a single-wide track in the ceiling and a single-wide track in the floor. Many embodiments will have a single track in the ceiling and another single track in the floor, with all panels riding on, or between the upper and lower tracks.
The upper and/or lower tracks can carry the partition to make the partition easier for a child to move. Having the tracks inset into the floor and ceiling can increase the ballistic protection offered by the partition by allowing the partition to extend completely from floor to ceiling with no gaps at the top or bottom of the partition. The partition can create a safety chamber that is free from gaps between the panel and the floor, free from gaps between the panel and the ceiling, and/or free from gaps between the panels and the walls of the room.
In a fully deployed conformation, the partition can be approximately in the shape of a straight line, and in embodiments with a floor track 110, the partition can be positioned substantially over the floor track. The partition 102 can have overlapping seam overlap flaps 114 at each joint section where the panels 104 of the bulletproof partition 102 fold. The seam overlap flaps 114 are designed to provide additional protection by covering the gaps between the panels 104 when the bulletproof partition 102 is fully deployed. The seam overlap flaps allow the partition to provide seamless coverage from wall to wall with no gaps to be exploited by an attacker.
In various embodiments, the bulletproof partition can be operated manually and/or can also be deployed automatically. Automatically deployed bulletproof partitions can be deployed through the use of magnets, chain drives, screw drives, rack gears, or other mechanical means. Automatically deployed bulletproof partitions can be deployed in response to a signal indicating an incoming threat. In various embodiments, the bulletproof partition can be made of any conventional bulletproof material, including combinations of ballistic materials, such as steel, liquid armor, ballistic gels, bullet proof glass, fiberglass, Kevlar, and others.
The partition 202 can be hinged and can be stored on a track along one or more walls 204, 216 of a classroom 224. As illustrated, the partition 202 is stored along the left wall 204. The partition 202 is designed to slide along a track system 206, enabling the partition 202 to move from the stored position (along the wall 204) to a deployed position 220. In various embodiments where wall 208 is a solid wall, such as an interior wall made from brick, cinderblock, or other bullet-resistant materials, the partition can form a safety chamber 222 between the wall 208 and the partition 202 on the track 206. In various embodiments where wall 208 might be a “soft” wall that could include a doorway, windows, and/or non-bullet-resistant materials, the partition 202 can be deployed along the track 206 to cover the soft wall so that the rest of the classroom can become a safety chamber.
The sliding partition 202 can include rollers with frictionless bearings, so that the rollers can roll easily on the track, thereby enabling even a child to move the heavy partition from the stored position (such as along the wall 204) to the deployed position 220 easily without applying much force. The rollers can be any conventional rollers, including so-called idler rollers, drive rollers, and others. The rollers allow the partition to move on the upper and/or lower tracks with minimal friction and allow for smooth sliding of the partition along the track system 206.
The track system 206 can be in a U-shape extending along three sides, or can be in an L-shape extending along two sides. In various embodiments, the partition can be a single partition stored along one wall, or can be two partition components stored along two walls. Embodiments with two partition components can include a first partition component stored along a first wall, such as wall 204, and a second partition component stored along a second wall such as 216. The two partition components can be deployed along the track so that they meet in the deployed position 206 and can be locked in place abutting each other. In embodiments with a single partition, the partition can include a switch junction that allows the partition to be stored and deployed along one track and then have a portion of the partition switched to a deployment track portion, explained more fully below.
In embodiments with a single partition, the partition can be slid past a switch junction 210 in the track system 206, and can then be moved in reverse (towards the wall 204 along the track system 206) to engage the lock 212. The lock 212 can secure the partition 202 in the deployed position. In various embodiments, the lock can be inset into wall 204 so that the partition can nest into the wall. This inset position can provide additional protection by reducing any potential gaps.
In various embodiments, an additional stub wall partition segment can be fixed in place or hinged to deploy to cover any gap that remains after the partition is moved in reverse through the switch junction to engage lock 212. In various embodiments, the partition 202 can be designed to have accordion or fan folding capabilities. The partition 202 can be fold in a manner similar to an accordion or a fan, allowing a trailing end of the partition 202 to slide past the switch junction 210. The leading edge of the partition can be engaged with the lock 214 and the trailing edge can slide past the switch junction and then extend to engage with lock 212. The opposite ends of the partition 202 can be locked into the inset locking mechanisms 212, 214 located in the walls 204, 216.
In various embodiments with two partition components, the partition 202 can be divided into two portions wherein one portion can be stored along the wall 204, while the other portion is stored along the wall 216. When deployed, both portions can be moved along the floor track system 206 and the two portions of the partition 202 can be locked together at the middle of the track system 206. The dual-half configuration can provide extended coverage and reinforces the partition's protective capabilities. The partition 202 can form a safe enclosed between the partition 202 and a bullet-resistant wall 208 (at the top of
In various embodiments, a mobile partition system can include an automatic partition mover 230. The automatic partition mover 230 can move the partition from a stored position to a deployed position or a partially deployed position. The automatic partition mover can include a piston, magnets, screw drive, chain drive, or other various means for moving the partition. Upon receiving an action signal indicating an incoming threat, the automatic partition mover can automatically move the partition into a deployed or partially deployed position quickly. In embodiments with the partition hidden behind a false wall, the automatic partition mover 230 can move the partition to a partially deployed position that is at least far enough so that a portion of the partition extends out from behind the false wall, so that a child can grab the partition and move the partition into a fully deployed position.
In various embodiments, the reinforced shelters 312, 314 can be spacious enough to accommodate 50 or more students. The reinforced shelters 312, 314 can be designed to provide enough room for students and teachers to seek safety without compromising the overall footprint of the classroom. Various comforts can also be provided for the students within each shelter. Comforts can include one or more ventilation vents 318 for ensuring a fresh supply of air even when the shelters 312, 314 are sealed for security reasons. In various embodiments, ventilation vents 318 can be positioned on an exterior wall to vent to the outside. Additionally, a TV screen 320 can be installed in each shelter, allowing students to see help arriving.
The bulletproof partition 322 can be constructed using various materials to ensure high levels of protection against bullets, projectiles and more. The bulletproof partition 322 can includes different panels 402, 404, 406, and 408 that can be made of one or more of bulletproof glass, Kevlar, steel, ballistic gels, or other protective materials. It should be appreciated that the specific combination of materials for forming the panels 402-408 can be adjusted based on the desired level of protection and design requirements.
The stationary bulletproof partition 322 includes doorway 316 and a mobile partition 416, which can be a hinged door, sliding door, rolling door, or other mans for covering the opening with a bullet-resistant partition that cannot be breached easily by a would-be attacker. For ensuring safety of occupants inside the shelter, the door 416 can have a handle on the rear part thereof allowing opening and closing of the door 416 only from the inside of the shelter 312. The absence of an exterior handle helps to prevent unauthorized access and ensures control over entering or exiting the shelter 312.
In embodiments with a hinged door, the hinged door 416 can be secured by barring or bracing 410 from the inside. This additional measure strengthens the door's resistance against external forces, preventing unauthorized access and increasing the level of protection. The exact method of barring or bracing the door 416 shut can vary based on the design and specific locking mechanisms.
The safe haven partition 322 can be bolted into the floor of the classroom using bolts 324, and the top edge 326 can extend above the ceiling of the classroom. By securely bolting the bottom of the partition 322 to the floor, the partition 322 is not displaced or compromised during an attack. The extension of the partition 322 above the ceiling provides added protection and prevents access from the top of the partition 322.
In various embodiments, one or more of the individual panels can lock to the floor with deadbolt-type locks that engage holes in the floor or floor track. In embodiments, a panel can include a spring-latching deadbolt 504 in the inside face of the terminal panel, so that when that terminal panel slides into place at the end of the track, the spring-loaded deadbolt(s) can slide into openings at the top and/or bottom to secure that panel in place.
In various embodiments, the leading panel can lock to a fixed wall at the end of the track using latches 516 that can be automatic latches. The fixed wall at the terminal end of the track can be a stub wall 520 that includes a ballistic panel making the stub wall bullet resistant, and/or the fixed wall at the first end of the track can be a stub wall 508 that includes a ballistic panel making the stub wall bullet resistant.
The partition 802 can include a height adjustor that can allow the partition to be elevated above, or on top of, the castor. The height adjustor can elevate the partition high enough so that the partition can be moved without the partition contacting the floor. In various embodiments, the partition can be elevated high enough to expose, or partially expose, the castor. In various embodiments, the height adjustor can be embedded within the partition, and in various embodiments, the height adjustor can be a piston 808 on top of each castor 804. In the extended conformation shown in
In various embodiments of a partition, a bulletproof kick plate 810 can extend outwards at an angle along the bottom 812 of the partition 802. The kick plate can be made from armored steel or other bulletproof materials. In embodiments without a height adjustor, a kick plate can extend out from the bottom of the partition to limit a shooter's ability to shoot bullets under the partition, at the track, etc. In embodiments with a floor track, the kick plate 810 can protect the track and rollers, and can prevent the shooter from shooting under the partition. In embodiments with a height adjustor, the partition can be lowered so that the kick plate rests on the floor, thereby preventing a shooter from being able to shoot at the bottom of the partition. The angle of the kickplate can deflect bullets to prevent bullets from entering the safety chamber or hitting the mechanical components of the partition such as pistons and castors or rollers and tracks. When the partition 802 is lowered to the floor, the kick plate 810 can rest on the ground or floor, or very close to the ground or floor, thereby preventing a shooter from shooting at the seam where the partition 802 meets the floor. In various embodiments, the partitions of the partition 802 can be made of multiple layers of different bulletproof materials such as consecutive layers made of armored steel, ballistic glass, ballistic film, liquid armor and more.
The apex 918 can include an overlapping hook 920 allowing the panels 902, 904 to be quickly arranged in a nested conformation, and to be locked to each other safely with an overlap protecting the seam. Each panel can include a plurality of castors 922 for allowing movement of the panels 902, 904 along the floor of the classroom. In various embodiments, a plurality of locking rods 924 can be included as part of the panels 902, 904, and can be forced into holes in the floor to keep the panels 902, 904 stable and in place. In various embodiments, two panels such as panels 902 and 904 can be locked to each other where they meet.
In embodiments such as the one shown in
In various embodiments, mobile bulletproof partitions, including vertical roll partitions 1102 can be used to close off the entrance to stores, including stores within a shopping mall. A mobile bulletproof partition used to securely close the entrance to a store to make the store into a safety chamber would also serve the additional function of securing the inside of the store when the store was closed, such as overnight. The mobile bulletproof partition is designed to latch securely to the wall and effectively close off the space so that neither an attacker nor a would-be thief can enter the closed-off space.
The slidable partition 1302 can hang with wheels 1304 on a barn door-type rail 1306 above the ceiling 1308. A ballistic protection/armor plating 1310 protects the rail 1306 and the wheels 1304, so that the shooter cannot shoot the partition off the rails or shoot the rail until it fails. The ballistic protection/armor plating 1310 for the rail 1306 can be attached to the rafters or other structural parts of the building above the ceiling at the top end 1312, and can wrap around to provide complete protection for the rail 1306 and rollers 1304. The lower end of the armor plating for the rail can include a lower end 1314 for protecting the rail 1306 and wheels 1304 from below. A flange 1316 of the armor plating 1310 can also extend from an area under the rail to an area touching or almost touching the side of the partition, so that a shooter cannot shoot at the wheels 1304, the connecting parts between the wheels and the partition, or any other mechanical parts. A slight gap can exist between the flange and the partition so that the partition does not rub against the flange as the partition is moving into the deployed position. The armor plating can extend down from the from rafters, wrap around the rail and wheels, and extend over to the partition. By connecting from the ceiling to the partition, the armor plating helps to provide ballistic protection from the top of the room to the bottom of the room that a shooter cannot shoot above or around. The armor plating can help to protect the occupants of the room from bullets, and can also protect the support system for the partition, so that the partition does not fail.
In various embodiments, the door can be secured in a closed position using electromagnets 1414 that attract corresponding magnets on the door 1408 so that the door cannot easily be pulled open. In various embodiments, the sliding door 1412 can be locked using bolts, such as bolts into the floor and/or bolts into the walls around the door. In various embodiments, the door can be propelled into a closed position and held in a closed position using magnets until bolt locks can be locked to the floor and/or walls. An alert 1416 can provide an audible alarm and/or lights to alert occupants of a threat. In embodiments with an automatic sliding door, the alert 1416 can warn occupants to stand clear of the door as it closes.
In various embodiments, an upper rail can have a bulwark 1702 that can provide ballistic protection to the rail and rollers. Various upper rails can include a bulwark to protect the rail and rollers, including tube-type and non-tube-type upper rails. The bulwark 1702 can be angled to deflect bullets and protect the upper mechanical workings of the mobile partition. The bulwark 1702 can shield the rail, the rollers, and the top of the partition from bullets.
In various embodiments, the human monitors and/or AI technology monitors can monitor cameras, metal detectors, sonar systems, audio detecting systems, acoustic sensors for gunshot detection and location, automatic license plate reader systems, behavioral detection systems, millimeter wave systems, terahertz imaging, or other various systems that can help to detect an incoming threat and/or potentially hostile individual. In various embodiments, sonar systems can include the use of sonar sensors that can be calibrated to detect objects such as weapons and/or behavioral detection to identify intent to harm or other malicious intent. In various embodiments, metal detection can include detection of metal weapons, including particular metals, shapes of metal objects, quantities of metal, and/or other types of metal detection.
In various embodiments, human monitors and/or AI technology monitors can monitor individuals for behavioral clues indicating potentially hostile intentions. It should be clear that any number of possible threat inputs can be used to inform the human monitor and/or AI monitor system about possible threats, and the specific sensors named herein such as cameras, sonar, microphones, metal detectors, or others are merely exemplary of sensors that can be used to provide possible threat inputs and are not intended to be limiting or be an exhaustive list. Human and/or AI technology can monitor any or all of these various types of sensors, and including sensors that are yet to be invented, and can classify threats based on data from any or all of these various sensors.
In various embodiments, the monitoring room 2204 may be within the school, with one human monitor and/or one electronic monitoring system per school, or the monitoring room can be remote with several schools being monitored by the same monitoring system. In various embodiments, the monitoring system may take place entirely online or within a cloud system, with no actual physical monitoring room 2204. The monitor can be a human monitor and/or an electronic monitor.
The monitor can perceive a threat, and then the monitor can send an action signal to the threatened school. The action signal can cause the school to enter a threatened status. The action signal can cause automatic doors to close and lock at the entrance to the school. The action signal can cause automatic bulletproof classroom doors to close automatically at each classroom. The action signal can cause automatic hallway doors to close automatically. The action signal can cause various partitions to deploy automatically, or to begin to deploy automatically. In various embodiments, the partitions can be deployed a first few inches automatically by magnetic force, piston force, or other means of force when the monitor sends an action signal. In various embodiments, a partition can be completely obscured behind the false wall until the action signal is received, and then the action signal can trigger the piston, magnet, or other motive force to move the partition at least a few inches out from behind the false wall, so that it can be easily grasped and moved into a fully-deployed conformation. The action signal can also trigger an alert that can include a siren, flashing lights, etc. The students, staff, and others can finish deploying the partition, if the partition is not fully deployed automatically, and can then safely stay within the safety chamber.
As used herein, the term monitor can refer to a human monitor and/or electronic monitor. Electronic monitor can refer to a computer-based monitoring system, an AI monitoring system, or other monitoring systems that can incorporate processors or other electronics in the act of monitoring. The monitor can also be referred to as an observer. The monitor can perform the act of monitoring. The act of monitoring performed by the monitor can include observing, listening, watching, surveilling, or otherwise paying attention to the video, audio, and other information being collected from the various cameras, sensors, detectors, etc. A monitor can observe, listen, watch, surveil, or otherwise pay attention to the information being collected from the various cameras, sensors, detectors, etc., and the monitor can take lifesaving action when the monitor identifies a threat.
At box 2204, the monitor can perceive a threat such as a hostile individual approaching the school with a weapon. At box 2206, the monitor can send an action signal to the threatened school. In various embodiments, the monitor may be located at the threatened school or may be remote from the threatened school. At box 2208, the action signal can trigger an alarm system at the school. The alarm signal can alert occupants of the building to the threat. At box 2210, the action signal can trigger automatic parts of the ballistic protection system, including an automatic sliding ballistic door that can slide into place automatically to cover the school entrance doors and classroom doors to protect the occupants. The action signal can trigger all automatic components of the ballistic protection system, including partitions that can be slid into place to cover a wall or doorway, and/or can be slid into place to create a safety chamber. The action signal can trigger automatic partitions that can begin to move automatically, so that they emerge from behind a false wall far enough for a child to grab the partition and move it along the tracks. At box 2212, the occupants of the room can deploy all manual partitions, including partitions that have automatically deployed a portion of the way and need the occupants to complete the deployment. At box 2214, the occupants can stay within the safety chambers that have been created and wait for help to arrive. At box 2216, the occupants of the safety chamber can watch a TV screen showing the feed from the camera outside, so that the occupants of the safety chamber can see help arriving to the school.
The controller can have a life-preserving action module 2314. The threat monitoring module can send a signal to the life preserving action module 2314 indicating that there is a threat. A buss 2316 can connect various modules and components so that signals can be passed from one to another. The life preserving action module can send a signal to the school controller 2330. The school controller 2330 can send an action signal to automatic partitions 2332 directing the automatic partitions to close, or partially close.
Automatically closing partitions can lock a threatening individual out of an area with potential victims and/or can trap an individual to neutralize the threat. In various embodiments, the system can recognize how to save the maximum number of lives possible based on existing conditions. In various embodiments, the system can recognize an opportunity to lock a threatening individual within a room or portion of a building to limit or neutralize the threat.
The school controller can send an action signal to the school alert system 2334 directing the alert system to signal to the occupants of the school that a threat has been detected. The alert system 2334 can include visible lights and/or auditory indicators of a threat. In various embodiments, the life preserving action module 2314 can send an action signal to an external alert system 2336 that can be remotely located, outside of any particular school. The external alert system 2336 and/or the school alert system 2334 can notify law enforcement, and can send information about the ongoing threat through various communications channels that are known now or will be developed in the future, including, but not limited to, wireless notifications/communications, email, text message, radio broadcast, uploading to cloud-based storage systems, and others. These notifications can include camera footage, audio recordings, location information, and other information that can be used to help investigate, confirm and/or counter a threat, and/or can be used in the prosecution of threatening individuals, etc. The external alert system 2336 and/or the school alert system 2334 can notify various agencies, organizations, administrators, security, contractors, law enforcement authorities, and/or other persons who may be able to assist in stopping any ongoing threat, prosecuting threatening individuals, etc.
Note that the above-described processes/ors and/or modules are exemplary of a variety of control and feedback architectures that can be implemented in various embodiments to perform the desired functions described herein. Alternate implementations should be clear to those of skill.
Furthermore, the described features, operations, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It will also be readily understood that the order of the steps or actions of the methods described in connection with the embodiments disclosed may be changed as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, any order in the drawings or Detailed Description is for illustrative purposes only and is not meant to imply a required order, unless specified to require an order.
The bulletproof protective system described herein can be adapted for use in nearly any environment in any types of schools, homes and businesses. It should be clear that the partitions described herein can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the bulletproof system shown in the figures are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the bulletproof system are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the bulletproof system are important design parameters for user convenience, the bulletproof system may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
The terms bulletproof and ballistic are used herein to describe systems and materials that are designed to prevent bullets from passing through the described systems and materials. Nearly all materials will eventually fail in the face of prolonged onslaughts, heavy artillery, etc., however, the terms such as bulletproof and ballistic protection are intended to be used here as they are used in common usage, meaning that they are effectively bullet resistant for at least some predetermined amount of time or shots. The size of ammunition, the number of shots, and other factors can all effect how long the systems described herein can remain bulletproof. However, the systems and methods described herein are intended to be bulletproof as that word is understood by one skilled in the art. The systems and methods described herein are designed to provide at least level III protection. Similarly, various locking mechanisms described herein as keeping an attacker out may not be impenetrable forever in the face of prolonged onslaughts, heavy equipment, etc., however, the locking mechanisms described herein are designed to be impenetrable for some predetermined period of time that can be at least until help can arrive. The locking mechanisms described herein are designed to withstand attacks without heavy equipment for at least as long as the longest school attacks currently on record.
The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Features of each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Also, as used herein, various directional and orientational terms (and grammatical variations thereof) such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, “down”, “bottom”, “top”, “side”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “forward”, “rearward”, and the like, are used only as relative conventions and not as absolute orientations with respect to a fixed coordinate system, such as the acting direction of gravity. Additionally, where the term “substantially” or “approximately” is employed with respect to a given measurement, value or characteristic, it refers to a quantity that is within a normal operating range to achieve desired results, but that includes some variability due to inherent inaccuracy and error within the allowed tolerances (e.g. 1-2%) of the system. Note also, as used herein the terms “process” and/or “processor” should be taken broadly to include a variety of electronic hardware and/or software-based functions and components. Moreover, a depicted process or processor can be combined with other processes and/or processors or divided into various sub-processes or processors. Such sub-processes and/or sub-processors can be variously combined according to embodiments herein. Likewise, it is expressly contemplated that any function, process and/or processor herein can be implemented using electronic hardware, software consisting of a non-transitory computer-readable medium of program instructions, or a combination of hardware and software. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/336,673, filed Jun. 16, 2023, entitled BALLISTIC PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/352,876, filed Jun. 16, 2022, entitled PROJECT SAFE HAVEN, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/403,933, filed Sep. 6, 2022, entitled PROJECT SAFE HAVEN, the entire disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63403933 | Sep 2022 | US | |
| 63352876 | Jun 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18336673 | Jun 2023 | US |
| Child | 18882730 | US |
