Patent Application
20190145741
The present invention relates to a ballistic, tactical wall assembly for protecting against ballistic threats. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modular ballistic, tactical panel that may be used singularly as a shield for an enforcement officer or modularly in a tactical wall assembly of multiple panels that protects law enforcement personnel against ballistic threats.
Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below. Use of the term “exemplary” means illustrative or by way of example only, and any reference herein to “the invention” is not intended to restrict or limit the invention to exact features or steps of any, one or more of the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification. References to “exemplary embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “various embodiments,” and the like, may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
Law enforcement agencies, particularly SWAT teams, are often called upon to confront armed and dangerous individuals. It is not uncommon for these agencies to be facing 44 magnum or 9 mm handgun rounds, shotgun blasts or even high-powered rifles.
Although it is standard practice for law enforcement to wear body armor, body armor can be very heavy and therefore is only large enough to cover the vital parts of the body. Typically, when advancing toward an assailant or when setting an armed perimeter, a portable, rolling bunker or individual shields may be used. Most portable, rolling bunkers are quite heavy and have limited mobility. While individual shields are lighter and more versatile, their size and weight is limited by the amount of weigh the officer can effectively wield.
Additionally, it is standard practice for a barricaded assailant or assailants to be approached by a “stack” of officers. A “stack” is usually four to five officers in a line or abreast. The first (front) person in a line stack wields a ballistic shield, while a non-connected shield wall may be employed by advancing officers lined up abreast by holding individual shields side-by-side. Each of these formations have drawbacks that leave officers vulnerable. There is always a tradeoff between speed and protection. Furthermore, it should be understood that, particularly in hostage situations, officers are more concerned with the preservation of life than they are about their own safety.
In the confusion of hostage situations where multiple agencies may be responding, including but not limited to police, SWAT, and plainclothes policemen, it is paramount that the police officers are easily identified.
It has been determined that in hostage situations, if the responding police can draw the attention of the active shooter away from the victims toward themselves, this action saves lives.
Accordingly, a need exists for a versatile ballistic, tactical wall panel/assembly that provides ballistic protection against a broad range of ballistic threats. Such a modular ballistic, tactical panel/wall assembly is disclosed herein.
The present disclosure describes developments responsive to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available ballistic shields and/or bunkers. The ballistic, tactical panel and wall assembly of the present disclosure is versatile because a series of modular ballistic panels may be used singularly or as multiple panels connected to form a ballistic wall. The individual tactical panels may be used by a single operator or for a four-man stack enabling teams to safely, move into position and then, if necessary or advisable, combine the individual panels together to form a connected ballistic, tactical wall. It is expected that the tactical wall may be used as one (1), two (2), three (3) or four (4) panel configurations, however, there is no limit to the number of panels that may be combined.
Smaller agencies may not have the budget for specific tools for every scenario. Consequently, versatile solutions enable smaller agencies to increase their capabilities on a modest budget, and larger agencies to save funds for other pressing needs. Exemplary embodiments of the tactical wall assembly of the present disclosure have versatility as a single shield, a connectable shield wall, and a perimeter shield, where a perimeter shield is a static shield used to guard the perimeter of a barricaded house, building, or structure. It is not moved from its strategic location, but acts as a temporary look-out on the perimeter of a barricade incident.
Exemplary ballistic, tactical wall assemblies are designed primarily to provide protection against deadly projectiles. Such exemplary tactical wall assemblies may use hardened steel, ceramic, Dyneema (high density polypropylene), etc., wherein each panel for the wall is light enough to hold as a shield as the team advances or sets a perimeter. No loose hardware is used to connect the panels together. Also, once combined, a horizontal bar may be connected to the panels enabling a team of operators to carry the assembled tactical wall, as a team.
Other features enhance the versatility of the tactical wall assembly. For example, a harness system permits the tactical wall to be hung from the side of a vehicle to provide ballistic protection for “soft skin vehicle rescues”. An integral diagonal brace permits each panel to be free standing once in position, or multiple diagonal braces permit a connected tactical wall of panels to be free standing. Optional gun ports and/or ballistic windows may be added to create fortified gun positions and/or safe viewing of the vicinity of the threat site.
Currently there are two rating systems for ballistic protection: 1) Underwriters' laboratory, (UL) and 2) The National Institute of Justice, (NIJ). The rating systems are not consistent between the two entities. The level of protection required for each confrontation can vary widely. However, the vast majority of active shooter situations, for example, are perpetrated using handguns, high powered rifles, and/or shotguns because these weapons can be easily concealed and carried into schools, colleges, churches, public areas, etc. Presently, the exemplary individual tactical panels and tactical walls may be rated for N.I.J. Level IIIA, III, III+ or IV, but it should be understood that as technologies evolve and materials become lighter weight, the ballistic rating of this tactical wall and its modular panels could increase.
These and other features of the exemplary tactical wall panels/assembly of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. Like numbers used herein refer to like elements throughout. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be operative, enabling, and complete. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present invention.
Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Unless otherwise expressly defined herein, such terms are intended to be given their broad ordinary and customary meaning not inconsistent with that applicable in the relevant industry and without restriction to any specific embodiment hereinafter described. As used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one”, “single”, or similar language is used. When used herein to join a list of items, the term “or” denotes at least one of the items, but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Additionally, the terms “operator”, “user”, “officer”, “soldier”, and “individual” may be used interchangeably herein unless otherwise made clear from the context of the description.
Understanding that these drawings depict only typical exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the exemplary embodiments, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.
In this application, the phrases “connected to”, “coupled to”, and “in communication with” refer to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, capillary, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, pneumatic, hydraulic, fluidic, and thermal interactions.
The phrases “attached to”. “secured to”, and “mounted to” refer to a form of mechanical coupling that restricts relative translation or rotation between the attached, secured, or mounted objects, respectively. The phrase “slidably attached to” refer to a form of mechanical coupling that permits relative translation, respectively, while restricting other relative motions. The phrase “attached directly to” refers to a form of securement in which the secured items are in direct contact and retained in that state of securement.
The term “abut” and its formatives including “abutting” refers to items that are in direct physical contact with each other, although the items may not be attached together. The term “grip” refers to items that are in direct physical contact with one of the items firmly holding the other. The term “integrally formed” refers to a body that is manufactured as a single piece, without requiring the assembly of constituent elements. Multiple elements may be integrally formed with each other, when attached directly to each other from a single work piece. Thus, elements that are “coupled to” each other may be formed together as a single piece.
The lift off connection system 18, depicted in
To adjustably fit adjacent tactical panels 10 and secure the connection of the tactical panels 10 together, the lift off connection system 18 may also comprise stops 40 (best seen in
To lock the adjacent tactical panels 10, the locking assembly 42 may comprise any type of fastener that secures the tactical panels 10 from dislodging their connection. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking assembly 42 comprises a threaded block 43 and a retractable spring plunger 44 that enables an operator to rapidly deploy the plunger portion to lock the panels together. However, it should be understood that any suitable locking mechanism may be used such as a latch, clasp, pin and bracket, and the like.
The shield carry system 20 may comprise various lifting mechanisms for lifting, carrying, and wielding the tactical panel 10 as a shield. In an exemplary embodiment, the shield carry system comprises a handle grip that is adjustable for fit and comfort and may be oriented to accommodate right-handed or left-handed use. Such shield carry system 20 may comprise one or more QD rails 46 having a plurality of receiving sockets 48 (only representative receiving sockets 48 are identified by reference number so not to obstruct structure or other reference numbers) for receiving QD sling swivels 50, and a lifting-assist assembly 52. The lifting-assist assembly 52 may comprise connecting straps 54, a forearm pad 56, a handle 58, and an adjustable arm strap 60.
In an exemplary embodiment best shown in
For situations that may require an officer to maintain the tactical panel 10 lifted for longer periods of time, the weight of the panel 10 may be distributed to avoid arm fatigue by a utility belt support harness 62 that shifts some of the weight load to the officer's hip. Again, this utility bell support harness 62 (best shown in
The ballistic assembly system 26 is used to make the threat sided 12 of the tactical panel 10 secure against ballistic penetration and comprises the body shield 16 and the ballistic bolt/nut head assembly 76 that secures attachments such as the shield carry system 20 to the shield body 16 via bolts 78 entered from the non-threat side 14 of the shield body 16. The particulars of the ballistic assembly system 26 are more fully described below.
Turning now to
In
Turning to
The ballistic head nut 82 has a configuration that inhibits bolt 78 failure when a projectile strikes the ballistic head nut 82 by deflecting the projectile. The ballistic head nut 82 has a conical head 83 that has a pitch for deflecting projectiles if the projectile strike hitting the ballistic head nut 82 is anything other than a direct, flush hit on the point of the conical head 83. A direct, flush hit is where the path of the projectile before the strike is along the longitudinal axis of the bolt 78. The thickness and steel hardness (e.g., 4140 steel heat treated to full hard finish) of the ballistic head nut 82 has been developed to defeat even direct, flush hit on the point of the conical head 83. The size and dimensions of an exemplary ballistic head nut 82 are selected such that the ballistic head nut 82 can withstand a direct, flush hit on the point of the conical head 83. However, if the general configuration is the same, sizes, dimensions, and angles other than as depicted may work to withstand a direct, flush hit on the point of the conical head 83, depending on the type of projectile threat.
For exemplary methods or processes of the invention, the sequence and/or arrangement of steps described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, although steps of various processes or methods may be shown and described as being in a sequence or temporal arrangement, the steps of any such processes or methods are not limited to being carried out in any particular sequence or arrangement, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps in such processes or methods generally may be carried out various different sequences and arrangements while still falling within the scope of the present invention.
Additionally, any references to advantages, benefits, unexpected results, or operability of the present invention are not intended as an affirmation that the invention has been previously reduced to practice or that any testing has been performed. Likewise, unless stated otherwise, use of verbs in the past tense (present perfect or preterit) is not intended to indicate or imply that the invention has been previously reduced to practice or that any testing has been performed.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described above. No element, act, or instruction used in this description should be construed as important, necessary, critical, or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Although only a few of the exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in these exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.
In the claims, any means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. Unless the exact language “means for” (performing a particular function or step) is recited in the claims, a construction under Section 112, 6th paragraph is not intended. Additionally, it is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
While specific embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise configuration and components disclosed herein. Various modifications, changes, and variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and systems of the present invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present embodiments may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 62/585,690 filed on Nov. 14, 2017, for an invention titled Tactical Wall Panel, Assembly and Methods of Deployment and Use, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62585690 | Nov 2017 | US |
