Mobile Antiballistic Bench

Abstract

A movable antiballistic bench, the bench comprising: a base, the base comprising a bullet resistant material; a plurality of support legs extending away from a first surface of the base, the support legs comprising a bullet resistant material and having distal ends which are adapted to contact a support surface; a seatback, the setback attached to the base at an angle other than 90°, the seatback comprising a bullet resistant material.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to antiballistic benches, and, more particularly, to movable antiballistic benches specially adapted for use in non-fortified locations.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,181 discloses a vehicle seat ballistic shield for mounting the backrest of a seat of vehicle to protect user sitting on the seat from rearward originating projectiles. The vehicle seat ballistic shield includes a body shield with front and back faces. The body shield is designed for positioning adjacently behind a backrest and headrest of a seat of a vehicle. A plurality of elongate flexible vertical straps are coupled to the front face of the body shield towards the top edge of the body shield. Each of the vertical straps is designed for looping vertically around the headrest of the seat to attach the body shield to the headrest of the seat.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,988,237 discloses a protective chair having a base with a support platform having supporting legs extending therefrom to hold the platform and an engaged seat cushion elevated from a support surface. A seatback, and seat cushion and secondary cushions extending away from the seat cushion are engaged to the base. Each of the seatback, seat cushion and extending cushions have one or a plurality of bullet resistant layers which provide a ballistic shield for a user who picks up the chair and holds it in an as-used position, in-between the user and an assailant. A viewing slit positioned between the extending cushions and the seat cushion allows the user to view a potential assailant on the other side. Elongated members extending away from the seat cushion, on the side of the chair opposite the user, may be employed to attack the assailant.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,087,341 discloses a personal protection apparatus for use in vehicles comprising: a behind-the-seat ballistic shield provided with support means extending to the floor of the vehicle for distributing a weight component of the shield, and a deployable protective ballistic shield and visor articulately linked to the behind-the-seat ballistic shield for protecting the upper chest, neck and head areas of a driver and displaceable between an active deployed position in front of the driver and a storage position.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,573,704 and 8,579,367 discloses stacking chairs with padded seat cushion and back rest, having a tubular framework with arm rests, having the addition of a skirt section below the seat extending to the floor level. The core of the chair will consist of layers of flexible anti-ballistic fabric, also known as soft armor, wrapped in two directions around the tubular members of the back rest, seat and skirt section. Alternatively, the stacking chair will be constructed of pre-manufactured hard anti-ballistic armor components, also known as hard armor. Two additional embodiments will be folding chairs with tubular frameworks, the first having hard armor anti-ballistic surfaces and the second being able to have hard armor or soft armor anti-ballistic surfaces.

The known prior art, however, fails to disclose a movable antiballistic barrier for use in places of business such as military recruitment centers, VA hospitals and other defense related locations that lack heavy security equipment or personnel.

SUMMARY

In one exemplary embodiment, the movable antiballistic bench, of the present invention comprises a base, having a bullet resistant material; a plurality of support legs extending away from a first surface of said base, said support legs comprising a bullet resistant material and having distal ends which are adapted to contact a support surface; a seatback, said setback attached to said base at an angle other than 90°, said seatback comprising a bullet resistant material. The antiballistic bench of the present invention may further comprise a seatback having at least one non-flat surface and a non-right angle between the seatback and the support/seating surface.

In another exemplary embodiment, the movable antiballistic bench, comprises an at least partially hollow body, said body comprising a bullet resistant material, said body having a generally horizontal platform, a seatback attached to one side of said platform, said seatback extending to a support surface, said seatback disposed at an angle other than 90° relative to said platform, and a plurality of support legs attached to one side of said platform and extending to said support surface; at least one selectively closable aperture disposed through said body; and a predetermined fill material disposed within body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given hereinafter and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention, but are for explanation and understanding only.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an exemplary antiballistic bench according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the bench of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of an antiballistic bench according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the bench in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative exemplary antiballistic bench according to the present invention, where the bench has a hollow interior.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplary embodiments set forth herein are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in detail in terms of various exemplary embodiments according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures are not shown in detail in order to avoid unnecessary obscuring of the present invention.

Thus, all of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Moreover, in the present description, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1.

Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a front view of exemplary movable, antiballistic bench 1000 according to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, bench 1000 generally comprises a horizontally disposed seating surface or base 100 connected to a vertically disposed seatback 200 and leg supports 300. Movable ballistic bench 1000 further comprises a bullet-resistant or antiballistic material.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, base 100, seatback 200, and support legs 300 all comprise bullet-resistant or antiballistic material. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that it is within the scope of the present invention for only seatback 200 and/or seating surface 100 to comprise antiballistic material as described above.

Referring still to FIG. 1, seatback 200 may be attached to one side of seating surface 100 by known, conventional means such as fasteners or welding. Alternatively, seatback 200 and seating surface 100 may be formed of one cast piece of antiballistic material.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a side view of exemplary antiballistic bench 1000 according to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, seatback 200 is attached to seating surface 100 at a non-right angle, i.e. an angle other than 90 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the front of seatback 200 forms an obtuse angle within a range of from about 95° to 120° with the top of base 100. The purpose of the angle is to provide additional ballistic resistance by deflecting the angle of incidence of any bullet, ordinance, or other projectile that impacts antiballistic bench 1000. Those of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that similar deflection can be achieved by connecting seatback 200 to base 100 such that an acute angle within a range of from about 75° to about 85° exists between the front of seatback 100 and the top of base 100.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, movable antiballistic bench 1000 of the present invention further comprises a plurality of support legs 300 attached to the bottom of seating surface 100. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that support legs 300 may exist in any suitable number or shape in order to hold bench 1000 in a stationary position on top of a support surface such as a floor.

Turning again to FIG. 2, it is shown that seatback 200 preferably extends beneath base 100 sufficiently to provide protection nearly to any support surface on which bench 1000 is disposed. FIG. 3 shows a top view of bench 1000 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Turning now to FIG. 4 there is shown a top view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of antiballistic bench 1010 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, seatback 210 of movable antiballistic bench 1010 may comprise an arcuated or convex shape to further deflect any projectile fired at the rear of antiballistic bench 1010. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that any desired radius for seatback 210 will provide some deflection of a projectile. However, preferably the radius is selected to maximize the use of bench 1010 as both a seating device and an antiballistic device.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of another alternative exemplary embodiment of antiballistic bench 1020 according to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, ballistic bench 1020 may comprise a lighter material such as aluminum, composite material, lower density steel, or plastic. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, antiballistic bench 1020 further comprises at least one port 420 disposed through at least one portion of antiballistic bench 1020. In the preferred embodiment, seatback 220 and/or base 120 are at least partially hollow. In other embodiments, the entirety of antiballistic bench 1020 is hollow. In either event, a flowable antiballistic material such as, water, sand, metal beads, polymer beads, or other granulated high-density material may be poured through access port 420 disposed through antiballistic bench 1020 to cause bench 1020 to have comparable antiballistic characteristics to a solid bench comprising a steel or other antiballistic material. Antiballistic bench 1020 may further comprise a second port for removing any flowable material that has been placed in antiballistic bench 1020.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A movable antiballistic bench, said bench comprising: a base, said base comprising a bullet resistant material; a plurality of support legs extending away from a first surface of said base, said support legs comprising a bullet resistant material and having distal ends which are adapted to contact a support surface; a seatback, said seatback attached to said base at an angle other than 90°, said seatback comprising a bullet resistant material said setback further comprising a front surface and a rear surface wherein at least one of said front surface and said rear reference is convex.

2. The antiballistic bench of claim 1, wherein said seatback further comprises at least one non-flat surface.

3. The antiballistic bench of claim 1, wherein said bullet resistant material is selected from the group consisting of steel, carbon fiber, and polymers.

4. The antiballistic bench of claim 1, wherein said angle is an obtuse angle.

5. The antiballistic bench of claim 4, wherein said angle is within a range of from about 95° to about 120°.

6. The antiballistic bench of claim 1, wherein said angle is an acute angle.

7. The antiballistic bench of claim 6, wherein said angle is within a range of from about 75° to about 85°.

8. A movable antiballistic bench, said bench comprising: an at least partially hollow body, said body comprising a bullet resistant material, said body having a generally horizontal platform, said setback further comprising a front surface and a rear surface wherein at least one of said front surface and said rear surface is convex a seatback attached to one side of said platform, said seatback extending to a support surface, said seatback disposed at an angle other than 90° relative to said platform, and a plurality of support legs attached to one side of said platform and extending to said support surface; at least one selectively closable aperture disposed through said body; and a predetermined fill material disposed within body.

9. The antiballistic bench of claim 8, wherein said seatback further comprises at least one non-flat surface.

10. The antiballistic bench of claim 8, wherein said bullet resistant material is selected from the group consisting of polymer, aluminum, steel, and composite.

11. The antiballistic bench of claim 8, wherein said angle is an obtuse angle.

12. The antiballistic bench of claim 11, wherein said angle is within a range of from about 95° to about 120°.

13. The antiballistic bench of claim 8, wherein said angle is an acute angle.

14. The antiballistic bench of claim 13, wherein said angle is within a range of from about 75° to about 85°.

15. The antiballistic bench of claim 8, wherein said fill material is selected from the group consisting of sand, water, polymer beads, and metal beads.

16. The antiballistic bench of claim 8, wherein said at least on aperture comprises an input aperture adapted to receive said fill material into said body and an output aperture adapted to release said fill material from said body.