Abstract:
A power supply provides electric power—with appropriate voltage and amperage for the planned use—to supports ( 14 )—that can be shielded electrical materials—wherefrom flexible, charged conductors ( 13 ) exit. These may be disposed exiting from lower supports in the ground, or from the supports of one or both sides of lateral and/or upper structures delimiting the entry/exit locations of the restricted access area ( 10 ) and having dimensions and shapes most suitable to the specific use intended. 
     This system renders it possible to prevent pedestrian and/or vehicles in general without a cabin from accessing the area ( 10 ), with access allowed to vehicles with a cabin, including convertible vehicles with a closed hood, although simultaneously or immediately before or after the passage of authorized vehicle(s), preventing intrusions, invasions, assaults etc. to the restricted access area ( 10 ).

Description:
[0001]    The present Patent of Invention Application relates to a device and a method for preventing the entrance of intruders into places having access restricted for pedestrians and vehicles in general without a cabin, with access allowed for vehicles with a closed or partially open cabin, including convertible vehicles with hood closed. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The protection of buildings, constructions, plants, houses, lands, military facilities, mansions and other restricted access areas in general has been an increasing and hard-to-solve problem. 
         [0003]    The use of bars and barbed wire fences has been proven not to be enough to hold the wave of intrusions, assaults and invasions even into Armed Forces facilities, including the occurrence of theft of weapons and death of people who thought themselves to be safe from such events. 
         [0004]    Adding cameras, even night-vision cameras, electrifying existing fences, installing alarms, as well as a panoply of other means currently available, along with reinforcement of the surveillance personnel, have been implemented as a way to reduce the risk of invasions, having had diminutive results, always of limited scope. 
         [0005]    The fragility in guarding the access to restricted places increases during the entrance and exit of authorized people. Numerous assaults unleash on the moment the access, previously obstructed, is cleared to residents, visitors, suppliers and other authorized people, the intruders taking advantage of the temporary suspending of the protections for access into such restricted places, thus performing the unauthorized entrance and fulfilling the assaults and invasions. 
         [0006]    Such vulnerability greatly increases in case of access of authorized people using vehicles. There are virtually countless occurrences recorded in which the assaulters take action while the entrance or exit is granted to vehicles transporting authorized people, generally after some kind of their prior identification. 
         [0007]    In fact, almost everyday news are published, in the spoken, written press and/or broadcast, about this kind of incident, most of the time specifying such criminal events occur while the gates in such restricted access places are opened to grant passage to authorized vehicles entering and exiting. 
         [0008]    The prevention of such incidents imposes the use of a great contingent of people prepared for such eventualities, as well as other means, thus involving the deployment of significant recourses and structures, which causes high expense. 
       TECHNICAL PROBLEM 
       [0009]    Therefore, there is an uttermost need regarding security, generally and particularly speaking, that the restricted access areas are accessed only by authorized personnel using vehicles with a closed or partially open cabin, without it being possible to occur, simultaneously or immediately before or after, the unauthorized entrance of one or more people on foot and/or in vehicles without a cabin, even heavily armed. 
         [0010]    There is also a relevant need that the means involved in a potential solution for such a problem are relatively inexpensive. 
         [0011]    There is also a relevant need that the means involved in a potential solution for such a problem are relatively simple. 
         [0012]    There is also an important need that the devices used to solve such a problem operate continuously in any weather conditions. 
         [0013]    It is also essential that the physical resources employed are capable of operating efficiently in case of a fault or shutdown in the electric power supply. 
         [0014]    There is also a significant need that the means used can operate likewise during the day and at night. 
       PRINCIPLE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention was designed based on the concept of the Faraday cage, which explains that the energy loaded into a conductive structure spreads externally thereon, such as a cabin, closed or partially open, of the huge majority of the motorized vehicles. 
         [0016]    Among important applications is the protection of houses, buildings, homes and stadiums, which uses lightning rods and a mesh that conducts the electric power to the ground in the soil, thus avoiding potential damage caused by atmospheric discharges to such constructions. This kind of protection is commonly called SPDA (Atmospheric Discharge Protection System). 
         [0017]    Other outstanding application of the Faraday cage concept consists of the use of frameworks which house electronic equipment in order to prevent electromagnetic interferences of one apparatus with the others. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The present invention has been designed in order to prevent the unauthorized entrance of intruders—also during the sensitive times of entrance and/or exit of authorized personnel transported inside vehicles with a closed or partially open cabin (cars, trucks, buses, vans, utilities, tricycles having a closed or partially open cabin etc.)—into/from a restricted access space. 
         [0019]    Searches conducted referring to the particular subjects did not detect any anteriorities. 
     
    
     
         [0020]    The devices according to the present invention are concisely depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a closed-cabin vehicle approaching a restricted access place; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts different kinds of conductors set on brackets, all of them used in the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  corresponds to a combined view and an exploded view of the conductors and brackets used in the invention, as applied to the entrance of the restricted access place. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The present invention relates to devices and corresponding methods applied in order to prevent the entrance and/or exit of unauthorized personnel into/from restricted access areas, simultaneously and/or immediately before or after a movement of entrance and/or exit of authorized personnel transported inside vehicles with a cabin, closed or partially open; or at any time. 
         [0025]    In the present Patent of Invention Application, the following definitions are used:
       a) restricted access areas  10 —it refers to bounded surfaces  100 , i.e., defining a closed area, of any size or shape, or open in one or more sides, with or without buildings therein; they can be both public or private, wherein the entrance and/or exit is allowed only to certain personnel, transported inside vehicles; that is, it is intended to avoid the entrance on foot by unauthorized people and/or vehicles without a cabin—i.e., to prevent intrusions, invasions, assaults etc.; the present invention does not require for its functioning and/or application that the restricted access areas are bounded by permanent protections, such as walls, fences etc., it being possible for it to be just a closed area land; or open in one or more sides; with or without constructions therein;   b) movement of entrance/exit—act of entering/exiting a restricted access area;   c) entrance/exit  11 —a place where the movement of entrance/exit of authorized personnel, transported inside vehicles with a closed or partially open cabin by means of a temporary, intended deactivation of physical blockages (gates, traffic arms etc.), if any, happens; the physical blockages can be made in one piece (a gate, for instance) or two parts, which allow the entrance or exit with the cloistering of the vehicle, keeping the isolation of the space  10  in relation to the outside;   e) vehicles with a closed or partially open cabin,  12 —it refers to vehicles provided with a closed space or housing, where authorize personnel can stay; such is the case, for instance, of passenger cars, vans, buses, tricycles with a cabin, closed or partially open, trucks and utilities (without people inside the dumpster), tractors with a cabin, closed or partially open; excluding motorcycles, vehicles without a housing such as tractors without a cabin, tricycles without a cabin and the like;   f) conductors  13 —flexible electrically conductive elements having a core  131  made of plastic or other materials, which:
           f1) in the absence of an external force  132 , remain spontaneously in an initial or stand-by physical position;   f2) are provided with physical proprieties of flexibility, thus allowing that, by action of an external force  132 , they move away from the stand-by or initial position and bend or fold themselves, returning, thereafter, to the initial position, when the action of the external force  132  is ceased; and   f3) are covered by metal layer(s)  133  or other conductive metal materials (such as copper, aluminium etc.) or other non-metal electrically conductive materials, which allow the transmission of electric current; and   
           g) brackets  14 : holders made of:
           g1) a resistant insulating material or a resistant material having isolators  141 , which have electrically conductive materials going internally through it; or   g2) a resistant non-insulating material, which have sheathed electrically conductive materials going internally through it; or   g3) sheathed electrically conductive materials,
 
which are place in the soil and/or side and/or upper structures which delimit the places of entrance/exit  11  and from where the conductors  13  come out; and which allow the transmission of electric current from a power supply—which can be a public network or supplemental and/or alternate sources, such as generators, no-breaks etc.—to the conductors  13 , which then become empowered.
   
               
 
         [0038]    In order to carry out the present invention, the restricted access areas  10  are surrounded along all their borders  100  or only in places of entrance/exit  11 , using brackets  14 , provided with conductors  13 , all of them connected in series or in parallel to the power supply. 
         [0039]    In an embodiment of the invention, the conductors  13  are equal, linear and have a length typically in the range of 1-3 meters, which can vary beyond these values, to embody configurations more convenient to a particular place. 
         [0040]    In another embodiment of the invention, the conductors  13  are all bent. 
         [0041]    In another embodiment of the invention, the conductors  13  are all in a zigzag pattern. 
         [0042]    In another embodiment, the conductors  13  are of different shapes, including dendritic conductors. 
         [0043]    In another embodiment, the conductors  13  are of different shapes and sizes, including dendritic conductors. 
         [0044]    In another embodiment, the conductors  13  are of different shapes and sizes, including dendritic conductors. 
         [0045]    In an embodiment of the invention, the brackets  14  are made of a continuous insulating base—for instance, porcelain, ceramics, non-conductive plastics etc.—provided at intervals of 5-20 centimetres—or other more convenient distances, according to the particular circumstances—in places  142  where the conductors  13  get out, properly isolated, including from contact with the soil, and with a sealing, which prevents the entrance of water or other elements. Inside them, the electric cable runs which connects to each one of the exiting conductors  13 . 
         [0046]    In an embodiment of the invention, the brackets  14  are composed of a continuous non-isolated basis—for instance, of metal or other conductive material etc.—sheathed electric cable, provided at intervals of 5-20 centimetres—or other more convenient distances, according to the particular circumstances—of places  142  where the conductors  13  get out, properly isolated, including from the contact with the soil, and with a sealing which prevents the entrance of water or other elements. Inside them, an electric cable runs, which connects to each one of the exiting conductors  13 . 
         [0047]    In another embodiment, the brackets  14  are composed of an isolated electric cable, provided at intervals of 5-20 centimetres—or other more convenient distances, according to the particular circumstances—of places  142  where the conductors  13  get out, properly isolated and with a sealing which prevents the entrance of water or other elements. 
         [0048]    In another embodiment, non-insulating brackets  14  are disposed in places of entrance/exit ( 11 ) of the restricted access area ( 10 ), and can be placed grounded in the soil. 
         [0049]    In another embodiment of the invention, the set of brackets  14  which bound the places of entrance/exit  11  is disposed in structures—see  FIG. 3 —provided on one side (either A or B or C or D) of the entrance ( 11 ). 
         [0050]    In another embodiment of the invention, the brackets  14  are disposed in structures—see  FIG. 3 —provided on two sides (A and B, A and C, A and D, B and C, B and D etc.) of the entrance  11 . 
         [0051]    In other embodiments of the invention, the brackets  14  can be disposed simultaneously in three or all of the sides—see  FIG. 3 :
       a) on the upper portion D and on both sides B and C of the entrance  11 , for instance; or   b) on the soil A, on both sides B and C and on the upper portion D of the entrance  11 .       
 
         [0054]    For each of these variants, the conductors  13  can be of shapes considered more convenient, in such a way as to build a tightened mesh surface. 
         [0055]    Present invention works as described below:
       when one or more vehicles get close to the places  11  of entrance/exit in the restricted access area  10 ,
           a) if there is a physical blockage in the entrance/exit  11 , composed of a gate, traffic arm, moveable fence etc.:
               a1) once the authorized personnel, transported inside the vehicles with a closed or partially open cabin are visually recognized or by other means and the entrance is granted, the physical blockage of the entrance/exit  11  is removed, either by moving it upward, sliding it sideways or by other means, leaving the conductors  13  exposed and laid across the way of the vehicle(s) entering or exiting. In some embodiments, the same result can be achieved using remote controls. Such conductors are electrically charged, since they are attached to the brackets  14 , connected to a power supply, and have a consistency and flexibility enough to bent from one side to the other under the contact of the vehicle(s) which enter or exit the restricted access area  10 ;   
               a2) while the vehicle(s) pass(es) through the mesh of conductors  13 , the attempt of any intruder(s) to take advantage of the opportunity of the passage of the vehicle(s), either simultaneously or before or after them, while the physical blockage of the entrance/exit of the restricted access area  10  is deactivated for a moment, it will result in that they will get an electrical discharge, which will inactivate them, thus preventing the intrusion. The authorized personnel transported inside the vehicle(s) will not suffer anything;   
           b) if there is not any physical blockage in the entrance/exit  11  (composed of a gate, traffic arm, moveable fence etc.):
           b1) everything will occur such as in step (a2), now, without the step of recognizing the authorized personnel or activating by remote control from inside the vehicle(s).   
               
 
         [0062]    In other words, the invention will function with or without the existence of a physical blockage. Such physical blockage, in fact, is only convenient to avoid incidents involving unadvertised people, children, animals, blind people etc. who would inadvertently want to get inside the restricted access area  10 . Actually, this is an element, which does not belong to the invention. 
         [0063]    It should be emphasized that, even if intruder(s), seeking to nullify the effect of the invention, wore shoes made of rubber or other insulating materials, they would not be able to avoid the electrical discharge, when touching any of the flexible conductors  13 . 
         [0064]    In an embodiment, such conductors  13  are supplied by a low voltage and high amperage. 
         [0065]    In another embodiment, such conductors  13  can be supplied by a voltage and amperage according to the details convenient to the respective particular application. 
         [0066]    Upon the movement of entering or exiting of the vehicle(s), the conductors  13  will return from their bent positions to the their initial position. Such is, in principle, a vertical or near vertical position, but, depending on the particular place convenience, it could be any other. It could even be a horizontal position, when the conductors  13  are applied, for instance, on a wall, not on the upper portion, but on the side portion, along with other conductors on the upper portion or not. 
         [0067]    The blockage of the entrance/exit  11 , in the embodiments where it exists, can be returned to the closed position, thus preventing the movement in general. The respective activation can be done by devoted personnel or by remote control. 
         [0068]    Present invention was described concerning its general aspects. The description should not be construed as limiting. A person skilled in the related art could readily adjust new devices or schemes, which, by applying the invention principle, would not depart from respective scope. 
         [0069]    Thus, the particular components, structures, steps or features of the embodiments discussed herein can be combined in any appropriate manner in one or more separate embodiments. 
         [0070]    It is intended, therefore, that the scope of the embodiments described is not limited by the specific forms of embodiment described above, but is determined by the correct reading of the Claims as follows.