FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for a tire deflation tool. More specifically, the present invention is an extendable apparatus for an air deployment tire deflation tool.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
High speed chases that a law enforcement officer is involved in can be very dangerous and oftentimes deadly. Vehicles of suspects that flee from law enforcement often change lanes quickly. A tool that can deflate the tires of the suspect's vehicle from a law enforcement vehicle in a farther lane, by means of an extendable tire deflation tool is a rare find in the current market.
It is an objective of the present invention to introduce an effective and efficient apparatus for an air deployment tire deflation tool that may deflate the tires on vehicles of suspects that are fleeing law enforcement. To accomplish this, the present invention comprises an extendable tire deflation tool that is housed within a tool chamber that is mounted onto a law enforcement vehicle. According to the present invention, a plurality of spike strips may be deployed into a plurality of lanes across a multi-lane roadway, from the tool chamber. The invention further comprises a braking system which provides the law enforcement officer, control over the distance along which the deflation tool may be extended. Further, the plurality of spike strips may be deployed when the fleeing suspect's vehicle may drive up to the deployment vehicle from the front or rear. Thus, the present invention is an efficient, user-friendly and safe addition for the law-enforcement department for handling such suspects that are fleeing in vehicles.
SUMMARY
The extendable tire deflation system is an effective and efficient apparatus for an air deployment tire deflation tool that may deflate the tires on vehicles of suspects that are fleeing law enforcement. To accomplish this, the present invention comprises an extendable tire deflation tool that is housed within a tool chamber that is mounted onto a law enforcement vehicle. According to the present invention, a plurality of spike strips may be deployed into a plurality of lanes across a multi-lane roadway, from the tool chamber. The invention further comprises a braking system which provides the law enforcement officer, control over the distance along which the deflation tool may be extended. Further, the plurality of spike strips may be deployed when the fleeing suspect's vehicle may drive up to the deployment vehicle from the front or rear. Thus, the present invention is an efficient, user-friendly and safe addition for the law-enforcement department for handling such suspects that are fleeing in vehicles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top-front-left perspective view of the extendable tire deflation tool, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded top-front-left perspective view of the tool chamber and the extendable tire deflation tool.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a police vehicle, wherein the tire deflation tool is not deployed.
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the police vehicle, wherein the tire deflation tool is in a fully deployed state.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the police vehicle, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the police vehicle, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
In reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, the present invention is an extendable tire deflation system. Accordingly, the present invention is an effective and efficient apparatus for an air deployment tire deflation tool that may deflate the tires on vehicles of suspects that are fleeing law enforcement. To accomplish this, the present invention comprises an extendable tire deflation tool that is housed within a tool chamber that is mounted onto a law enforcement vehicle. According to the present invention, a plurality of spike strips may be deployed into a plurality of lanes across a multi-lane roadway, from the tool chamber. The invention further comprises a braking system which provides the law enforcement officer, control over the distance along which the deflation tool may be extended. Further, the plurality of spike strips may be deployed when the fleeing suspect's vehicle may drive up to the deployment vehicle from the front or rear. Thus, the present invention is an efficient, user-friendly and safe addition for the law-enforcement department for handling such suspects that are fleeing in vehicles.
The following description is in reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a tire deflation tool 1, a tool chamber 2, a tool extension system 3, a deployment system 4, and a gasket 5. Preferably, the tire deflation tool 1 comprises a plurality of spike strips 6, but a variety of other deflation tools can be implemented with the present invention. Further, each of the plurality of spike strips 6 is laterally and terminally interconnected to a corresponding spike strip 6a, wherein the corresponding spike strip 6a is from the plurality of spike strips 6. In other words, the tire deflation tool 1 comprises a plurality of metal strips with spikes mounted vertically on top of the strips, such that tires of a vehicle passing over the plurality of strips would be deflated because of the sharp spikes. Furthermore, the plurality of spike strips 6 are arranged in a compact and parallel fashion within the tool chamber 2, as seen in FIG. 2. However, the tire deflation tool 1 may comprise any other shape, size, technology etc. that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. According to the preferred embodiment, the tool chamber 2 houses the tire deflation tool 1. To that end, the tool chamber 2 comprises a cavity 7, a first end 2a and a second end 2b, wherein the first end 2a is positioned opposite to the second end 2b across the tool chamber 2. As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the tool chamber 2 is a rectangular receptacle made of a sturdy material such as hard plastic, metal etc. Further, the cavity 7 traverses through the tool chamber 2, such that the tire deflation tool 1 is housed within the cavity 7. Furthermore, it is preferred that the tool chamber 2 is mounted adjacent to a front end 8a of a law enforcement vehicle 8, as seen in FIG. 5. However, the tool chamber 2 may comprise any other shape, size, location, orientation etc., as long as the intents of the present invention are fulfilled.
It is an objective of the present invention to be able to deploy the tire deflation tool 1 to a farther distance across a width of multiple lanes in a controlled fashion. To accomplish this, the tool extension system 3 is terminally connected to the tire deflation tool 1 and the gasket 5 is mounted onto a terminal end of the tire deflation tool 1. The tool extension system 3 enables extension and retraction of the tire deflation tool 1 from and to the tool chamber 2. A more detailed description of the tool extension system is provided later. Preferably the gasket 5 is a plastic cap that is mounted onto the tire deflation tool 1, such that the gasket can push the tire deflation tool 1 and help with the deployment process. The deployment system 4 is operably coupled with the tire deflation tool 1 through the gasket 5, wherein operating the deployment system 4 enables deployment of the tire deflation tool 1 through the first end 2a of tool chamber 2. In the preferred embodiment the deployment system 4 is an air deployment system that uses pressurized air to push the gasket 5 and thus the tire deflation tool 1 out of the tool chamber 2. However, the deployment system 4 may comprise any other technique, method that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. Furthermore, the tool extension system 3 is operably coupled with the deployment system 4, wherein operating the tool extension system 3 enables controlled lateral extension of the tire deflation tool 1 from the tool chamber 2 after deployment.
As seen in FIG. 4, the tool extension system 3 enables extension of the tire deflation tool 1 along a width 9a of a plurality of lanes 9 on a multiple lane roadway. Preferably, the tire deflation tool 1 may be extended up to three lanes. However, the tool extension system 3 may extend the tire deflation tool 1 across any number of lanes, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered. A more detailed description of the tool extension system 3 follows.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tool extension system 3 comprises a tethered cord 10, a spool 11, a brake system 12, and a brake lever 13. Preferably, the tethered cord 10 is a string that is retractably wound around the spool 11. As seen in FIG. 2, a first terminal end 10a of the tethered cord 10 is attached to the tire deflation tool 1, and a second terminal end 10b of the tethered cord 10 is attached to the spool 11. When the tire deflation tool 1 is not in an extended mode, the tethered cord 10 is wound around the spool 11, and when the tire deflation tool 1 is in an extended or deployed mode, the tethered cord 10 is unwound from the spool 11 and helps with the extension process, while still maintaining the connection of the tire deflation tool 1 to the tool chamber 2 through the tethered cord 10. In order to control the amount of extension or the distance along which the plurality of spike strips 6 may be deployed, the brake system 12 is integrated between the tethered cord 10 and the brake lever 13. Preferably, the brake lever 13 is operably connected to the brake system 12, wherein operating the brake lever 13 enables the driver to brake the extension action of the tethered cord 10. In other words, the plurality of spike strips 6 or the tire deflation tool 1 may be stopped in any lane by pulling the brake lever 13. Furthermore, as seen in FIG. 2, the present invention comprises a brake cable 14, wherein the brake cable 14 is integrated between the brake lever 13 and the brake system 12. Preferably, the brake system 12 is a disc brake. However, the brake system 12 may comprise any other technology that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, to control the extendibility of the tire deflation tool 1, as long as the intents of the present invention are not hindered.
As seen in FIG. 5, the brake lever 13 is accessibly positioned adjacent to a driver of the law enforcement vehicle 8. Preferably, the brake lever 13 is mounted adjacent a dashboard 8c of the law enforcement vehicle 8 in such a way that the brake lever 13 is easily accessible to the driver as well as the passenger next to the driver's seat. This is so that the law enforcement officers sitting in the driver's seat as well as the adjacent passenger seat may control the operation of the brake system 12, when they are in a chase with a fleeing suspect's vehicle.
According to the preferred embodiment, the gasket 5 covers the tire deflation tool 1 when in the retracted mode. In other words, when the plurality of spike strips 6 is arranged together in a compact fashion, the gasket 5 encompass the tire deflation tool 1 from one end, so that when the deployment system 4 pushes the gasket 5, and the gasket in turn pushes the entire tire deflation tool 1 outside of the tool chamber 2. However, the gasket 5 retains the connectivity of the tire deflation tool 1 with the tool chamber 2. To that end, the first terminal end 10a of the tethered cord 20 is threaded through the gasket 5, as seen in FIG. 2.
Continuing with the preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a first dust cover 15 and a second dust cover 16. As seen in FIG. 2, the first dust cover 15 is hingedly mounted onto the first end 2a of the tool chamber 2, and the second dust cover 2b is mounted adjacent to the second end 2b of the tool chamber 2, for covering the spool 11. The first dust cover 15 and the second dust cover 16 may be internally as well as externally accessed by the law-enforcement officer from the law-enforcement car 8, as needed. Further, the first dust cover 15 and the second dust cover 16 enable to keep the tire deflation tool 1 and the tool extension system 3 respectively, protected and clean from external elements, dirt and debris.
A more detailed description of the deployment system 4 follows. According to the preferred embodiment, the deployment system 4 comprises a compressed air tank 17, a pressure gauge 18, a safety valve 19, a quick air release valve 20, and an air hose 21. As seen in FIG. 1, the air hose 21 is connected between the compressed air tank 17 and the gasket 5, wherein the air hose 21 enables fluid communication between the compressed air tank 17 and the gasket 5. Preferably, the air hose 21 is a hollow cylindrical tube that can transfer pressurized gas from the compressed air tank 17 to the gasket 5. However, the air hose 21 may comprise any other dimension, shape, length, material etc. that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the intents of the present invention are not altered.
In the preferred embodiment, the pressure gauge 18 is operably connected to the compressed air tank 17, wherein the pressure gauge 18 reads the pressure of the compressed air within the compressed air tank 17. Preferably, the compressed air tank 17 is a 5 Gallon air tank that holds air at 125 PSI (pounds per square inch). As seen in FIG. 5, the compressed air tank 17 is mounted within the law-enforcement vehicle 8 adjacent to a rear end 8b of the law-enforcement vehicle 8. However, it should be noted that, the pressure gauge 18 and the compressed air tank 17 may comprise any size, brand, material, technology, location, components (such as an air valve stem), arrangement of components etc. that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, as long as the intents of the present invention are fulfilled. Further, as seen in FIG. 1, the safety valve 19 and quick air release valve 20 are integrated onto the air hose 21. The safety valve 19 controls and limits the pressure build-up in the compressed air tank 17, and the quick air release valve 20 provides a rapid exhaust of controlled air when placed after the safety valve 19 in the air hose 21. Thus, the quick air release valve 20 is operably connected to the compressed air tank 17, wherein operating the quick air release valve 20 enables deployment of the tire deflation tool 1 by releasing pressurized air from the compressed air tank 17 onto the gasket 5, thereby pushing the tire deflation tool 1 out of the tool chamber 2 with pressurized air.
According to the present invention, a police officer may drive into position, and deploy the tire deflation tool 1 by the following steps. Firstly, the first dust cover 15 is opened from inside, the safety valve 19 is turned on, and the quick air release valve 20 is actuated, which would deploy the plurality of spike strips 6 laterally besides the law-enforcement vehicle 8. Once the officer pushes the quick air release valve 20, spike strips 6 may be stopped in any lane, by using the disc brake lever 13. Spike strips may be deployed when the fleeing suspects' vehicle is driving up to the deployment vehicle (law-enforcement vehicle 8) from the front or rear directions. After deployment, a new set of spike strips may be loaded in the tool chamber 2 and the compressed air tank 17 may be refilled with pressurized gas through the air hose 21. Thus, the present invention enables law-enforcement officers to deflate suspect vehicle tires from the safety of the law-enforcement vehicle 8, making deployment quicker and more effective.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20230349115
