Patent Application
20090025546
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to personal protection devices, and, more particularly, to such personal protection devices with ballistic resistant properties that can be hand-held in order to provide ballistic resistant protection to an individual behind the device.
2. Description of Prior Art
There are many locations and situations where law enforcement, security personnel, or others, such as workers in financial institutions and the like, may be placed in harm's way. If these individuals are located in the same station or location everyday, that location may be equipped with ballistic resistant capabilities to protect the individual, which should be appreciated by those skilled in the art and need not be repeated herein.
In situations where these locations may not be permanent or a threat may develop suddenly, however, it would be useful and desirable to have a ballistic resistant device that could be utilized quickly. In addition, it would be useful and desirable for such a device to be implemented quickly and to provide ballistic resistant coverage to an individual user's center of mass while at the same time allowing observation and the ability to engage the threat without increasing exposure to the individual user.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,101 discloses a ballistic protection apparatus capable of stopping a bullet. The apparatus includes a shield onto which a long gun can be mounted, wherein the gun is positioned at the top of the shield. U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,524 is directed to a guardsman shield for opposably parrying a hostile assailant. The shield contains two handles or grasps on the same side of the shield.
It is a primary object of the invention to provide a portable protective device that may be used to protect a person's center of mass. It is a another object of the invention to provide a versatile protective device that may be used to protect a person's face and head, while providing a view of an assailant. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a versatile protective device that may be used by a right-handed or left-handed person equally.
These and other objects and advantages are accomplished by personal protection devices having ballistic resistant properties. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a personal protection device, and, more a particularly, personal protection device with ballistic resistant properties that can be hand-held in order to provide ballistic resistant protection to an individual behind the device, is provided.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a personal protection device with ballistic resistant properties that can be hand-held, such as a hand-held ballistic resistant shield, is provided.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a ballistic resistant personal protection device is provided that is able to be implemented quickly, e.g., in dangerous situations.
In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a ballistic resistant personal protection device is provided that affords ballistic resistant protection to the center of mass of the individual user (or other part of an individual's body).
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a ballistic resistant personal protection device is provided that can be wielded by either the left or right hand of the user, while simultaneously supporting a defensive device (or weapon) in the same hand.
In accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present invention, a ballistic resistant personal protection device is provided that can be broken down for ease of transport and maintenance.
In accordance with still a further embodiment of the present invention, a personal protection device comprising a base unit composed of a ballistic resistant material, such as metal, plastic, ceramic or a composite material, and a window interconnected to the base unit composed of a ballistic resistant transparent armor, such as a bullet resistant plastic and/or glass, which provides protective observation, is provided. The base unit comprises an access port through which a defensive device or weapon (e.g., a pistol or stun gun) can be utilized. Use of this port provides additional protection to the user, and allows the user to engage the threat without increasing exposure to the user.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the base unit further comprises a support handle on both sides of the base unit to allow the user to wield the personal protection device with either hand.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the proximity of the handles to the access port allows the same hand of the user to support the personal protection device and engage the threat using the defensive device or weapon. This allows the user's other hand to be free to perform other tasks.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the handles of the personal protection device are hinged or flexible in order to allow them to collapse for storage. The handles also conform to the grip of the defensive device or weapon being held.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, the base unit further comprises a support strap handle on both sides of the base unit to allow the user to wield the personal protection device with the opposite hand (opposite the hand holding the support handle and/or defensive device or weapon).
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, an individual may protect herself from ballistics by holding the personal protection device between the individual's center of mass (or other part of the individual's body) and the oncoming ballistic. The individual user may provide herself with additional protection (or with the ability to engage the threat without increasing exposure to the user), by use of a defensive device or weapon through the access port of the personal protection device.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a personal protection device is provided comprising a shield having two planar sides, oppositely disposed to one another, with a thin peripheral edge extending between the two planar sides, wherein the shield is fabricated of a ballistic resistant material, a window interconnected in the shield, an access port disposed on the shield, two handles, each disposed on a planar side, wherein the two handles allow a user to hold the shield in either the right or left hand without extension of an arm across the user's body while maintaining the position of the shield in front of the user's body.
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
As will be appreciated, a versatile personal protection device is provided. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a personal protection device, more particularly, personal protection devices with ballistic resistant properties that can be hand-held in order to provide ballistic resistant protection to an individual behind the device, are provided. A personal protection device of an embodiment of the present invention comprises a personal protection device with ballistic resistant properties that can be hand-held, such as a hand-held ballistic resistant shield.
A personal protection device of an embodiment of the present invention affords ballistic resistant protection to the center of mass of the user (or other part of an individual's body), can be implemented quickly (e.g., in dangerous situations), can be wielded by either the left or right hand of the user while simultaneously supporting a defensive device (or weapon) in the same hand, and can be broken down for ease of transport and maintenance.
Turning to
The addition of window 12 provides versatility for the user, allowing the user to shield not only the center of mass of the user, but also the user's face and head, while still allowing the user a view of his assailant or attacker. Although window 12 may be located in any section of base unit 11, it is preferable that window 12 is positioned proximate the top edge of base unit 11 or flush with the edge of base unit 11 to provide a clear view should the user shield his face with personal protection device 10.
The base unit 11 comprises an access port 13 through which a defensive device or weapon (e.g., a pistol or stun gun, not shown) can be utilized. Use of this port 13 provides additional protection to the user, and allows the user to engage the threat without increasing exposure to the user. The base unit 11 further comprises a support handle 14 on both sides of the base unit 11 (only one side shown) to allow the user to wield the personal protection device 10 with either hand.
Turning to
As shown in
Also, as shown in
An individual 16 may protect herself from ballistics by holding the personal protection device 10 between the individual's 16 center of mass (or other part of the individual's body) and an oncoming ballistic. As noted supra, the individual user 16 may provide herself with additional protection (or with the ability to engage the threat without increasing exposure to the user 16), by use of a defensive device or weapon 15 through the access port 13 of the personal protection device 10.
While various descriptions of the present invention are described above, it should be understood that the various features can be used singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the specifically preferred embodiments depicted herein.
Further, it should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Accordingly, all expedient modifications readily attainable by one versed in the art from the disclosure set forth herein that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is accordingly defined as set forth in the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 60/916,067 filed May 4, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60916082 | May 2007 | US | |
| 60916067 | May 2007 | US |
