Abstract:
An anti-vehicle security system that includes a truss assembly formed with a plurality of monolithic stanchions. A container having a hinged door is fixed on the truss assembly. The system also includes two spaced-apart guides that extend from within the container to a portion of the truss assembly in ground contact. A gravitationally deployable restraining device, which may be stored in and deployed from the container, includes sleeves, clips and keepers to deploy the restraining device to snare a vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
   The apparatus and method disclosed in this document pertain generally to security. More particularly, the new and useful anti-vehicle security system claimed in this document pertains to an device for restraining vehicular entry into a prohibited area. The anti-vehicle security system is particularly, but not exclusively, useful for prohibiting vehicular entry without causing either the death of vehicle occupants, or destruction of the vehicle. 
   BACKGROUND 
   An international need has arisen to block vehicular entry into prohibited areas. At least one subcategory of achieving that goal includes blocking selected vehicular entry without injury either to the occupants or to the vehicle. Vehicular restraining apparatus thus far suggested by others include complicated devices whose sophistication may render such apparatus nonfunctional precisely when needed. For example, restraining devices have been proposed that require propulsion systems for raising structural components, components that may not propel when needed. Similarly, telescoping supports and arms may not telescope when operation is desired. Other vehicle inhibitors call for frangible materials in a variety of components that must be replaced after each use, a limitation in remote areas. Accordingly, need exists in the industry for the new, useful, simple to install, and simple to operate anti-vehicle security system disclosed and claimed in this document. 
   SUMMARY 
   The anti-vehicle security system disclosed and claimed in this document includes a truss assembly formed with a plurality of monolithic stanchions. A container having a hinged door is fixed on the truss assembly. The system also includes two spaced-apart guides that extend from within the container to a portion of the truss assembly that is in ground contact. A gravitationally deployable restraining device, stored in and deployed from the container, includes sleeves, clips and keepers to deploy the restraining device to snare a vehicle. 
   The term “gravitationally deployable restraining device,” as used in this document, includes at least non-frangible open-meshed fabrics, nets, barriers, meshed materials, and sheets of material. The term “gravitationally deployable restraining device” also includes at least one cable intertwined with the gravitationally deployable restraining device. In one embodiment of the anti-vehicle security system, ends of the cable are connectable to two spaced-apart guides. 
   It will become apparent to one skilled in the art that the claimed subject matter as a whole, including the structure of the apparatus, and the cooperation of the elements of the apparatus, combine to result in a number of unexpected advantages and utilities. The structure and co-operation of structure of the anti-vehicle security system claimed in this document will become apparent to those skilled in the art when read in conjunction with the following description, drawing figures, and appended claims. 
   The foregoing has outlined broadly the more important features of the invention to better understand the detailed description that follows, and to better understand the contributions to the art. The anti-vehicle security system claimed in this document is not limited in application to the details of construction, and to the arrangements of the components, provided in the following description or drawing figures, but is capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. The phraseology and terminology employed in this disclosure are for purpose of description, and therefore should not be regarded as limiting. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the conception on which this disclosure is based readily may be used as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems. The claims, therefore, include equivalent constructions. Further, the abstract associated with this disclosure is intended neither to define the anti-vehicle security system claimed in this document, which is measured by the claims, nor intended to limit the scope of the claims. The novel features of the anti-vehicle security system claimed in this document are best understood from the accompanying drawing figures, considered in connection with the accompanying description of the drawing, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  of the drawing is a side view of the anti-vehicle security system; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the anti-vehicle security system before deployment with a vehicle approaching; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the partially deployed anti-vehicle security system without a net; 
       FIG. 4A  is a side view showing a vehicle caught by the net of the anti-vehicle security system; 
       FIG. 4B  is a perspective view showing a vehicle caught by the anti-vehicle security system; and 
       FIG. 5  is a top view showing a vehicle caught by the anti-vehicle security system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1–5 , an anti-vehicle security system, generally designated  10 , is provided that in its broadest context includes a truss assembly  12  formed with a plurality of monolithic stanchions  14 ; a container  16  fixed to truss assembly  12 ; two spaced-apart guides  18   a,b  extending from container  16  to a truss assembly member  20 ; a gravitationally deployable restraining device  22  that is removably insertable into container  16 , and that also is connectable to two spaced-apart guides  18   a,b ; and also includes means  24  for deploying gravitationally deployable restraining device  22 . 
   Anti-vehicle security system  10  includes no motor, no hydraulic apparatus, and no devices operable by alternating current. 
   The term “gravitationally deployable restraining device,” as used in this document, includes non-frangible open-meshed fabrics, nets, barriers, meshed materials, and sheets of material, generally designated  26 , and referred to in this document for ease of reference as a “net.” The term “gravitationally deployable restraining device” also includes at least one cable  28  intertwined with gravitationally deployable restraining device  22 . As shown by cross-reference between  FIGS. 4B and 5 , net  26 ′ is non-frangible. 
   In one embodiment of anti-vehicle security system  10 , as shown by cross-reference between  FIGS. 4A and 5 , opposing ends  30   a,b  of cable  28  are connectable to two spaced-apart guides  18   a,b . As perhaps best shown in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , spaced-apart guides  18   a,b  may be formed from cables  18   a ′ and  18   b ′. In one embodiment of anti-vehicle security system  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4A , one or more sleeves  32   a,b  are provided. One or more sleeves  32   a,b  are connected to opposing ends  30   a,b  of cable  28  of gravitationally deployable restraining device  22 . One or more sleeves  32   a,b  also are slideably mountable on two spaced-apart guides  18   a,b . One or more sleeves  32   a,b  are weighted sufficiently to employ the force of gravity to remove the deployable restraining device  22  from the container  16  on opening of container  16 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , means  24  for deploying gravitationally deployable restraining device  22  also includes a plurality of ring clips  34   a–n . Ring clips  34   a–n  are attachably detachable to gravitationally deployable restraining device  22 . Ring clips  34   a–n  also are slideably engageable with the outer surface  34  of two spaced-apart guides  18   a,b . As a person skilled in the art will appreciate, ring clips  34   a–n  may be selected from clips like parachute release clips used for connecting a military parachute to a static line. Ring clips  34   a–n  may be salvageable or of the break-away type. 
   In another embodiment of anti-vehicle security system  10 , as perhaps best shown in  FIGS. 1 , means  24  for deploying gravitationally deployable restraining device  22  also includes a door  38 . Door  38  is rotatably mounted on container  16 . Door  38  includes opposing sides  40   a,b  ( 40   b  not shown) and opposing edges  42   a,b . In one embodiment of anti-vehicle security system  10 , opposing edge  42   a  is rotatably mounted on container  16  using a hinge assembly comparable to a piano hinge (not shown in detail). In another embodiment, door  38  is dimensioned along the longitudinal axis parallel to opposing edges  42   a,b  to be less than the dimension of container  16  to allow space for spaced-apart guides  18   a,b  to extend through a space (not shown) between opposing sides  40   a,b  and container  16 . At least one latch  44  is included. Latch  44  may be attached to any number of means  46  for releasing latch  44 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , means  46  for releasing latch  44  is a lanyard  44 ′ extending from latch  44  to an operator of anti-vehicle security system  10 . In another embodiment of anti-vehicle security system  10 , means  46  for releasing latch  44  is a sensor-controlled remote control unit operated by battery (not shown). 
   As also shown by cross-reference between  FIGS. 1 and 4A , anti-vehicle security system  10  includes in one embodiment a keeper  48 . Keepers  48   a,b  are fixed to lower extremities  50   a,b  of two spaced-apart guides  18   a,b . As shown, the term “lower” means in a direction opposite door  38  of container  16 . Keepers  48   a,b  also are fixed to opposing ends  30   a,b  of cable  28 . 
   As perhaps best shown in  FIG. 1 , anti-vehicle security system  10  includes in one embodiment means  52  for securing the anti-vehicle security system at a selected site. As shown, in one embodiment means  52  for securing the anti-vehicle security system at a selected site includes footer plates  54   a–n . Footer plates  54   a–n  may be affixed to footings  56   a–n  as shown in  FIG. 1 . As will be evident to one skilled in the art, footer plates  54   a–n  may be affixed to footings  56   a–n  using any of a number of connectors well known in the art, including nuts and bolts  58   a–n.    
   Operation 
   In operation, as shown by cross-reference between  FIGS. 1–5 , anti-vehicle security system, generally designated  10 , is secured at the entrance to a site into which vehicular traffic is prohibited. Footings  56   a–n  are formed from a material such a concrete, cured, and any of a number of connectors  58   a–n  are used to secure footer plates  54   a–n  to footings  56   a–n , thus installing monolithic stanchions  14   a–n  of truss assembly  12  at a desired location. Container  16 , with its rotatable door  38 , has been mounted on truss assembly  12  as shown perhaps best in  FIG. 1 . 
   Restraining device  22  is attached to clips  34   a–n  that in turn are slidably mounted on spaced-apart guides  18   a,b , as perhaps best shown in  FIG. 4A . As indicated, restraining device  22  includes cable  28 , opposing ends  30   a,b  of which are attached respectively to sleeves  32   a–b  and to keepers  48   a,b . Much as one would pack a parachute, restraining device  22  may be packed into container  16 . Door  38  is closed after restraining device  22  is packed into container  16 , and latch  44  is secured. 
   Means  46 , such as lanyard  46 ′, is attached to latch  44 . The other end of lanyard  46 ′ is provided to an operator who is monitoring the secure site. When a suspicious vehicle seeks entry into the secure site, the operator may simply pull lanyard  46 ′. Door  38  swings open, and gravity pulls restraining device  22  from container  16 . Gravity acts on sleeves  32   a,b  and on cable  28 . In addition, opposing ends  30   a,b  of cable  28  are anchored to keepers  48   a,b  so that, in combination, cable  28  in restraining device  22  wraps around the motor vehicle A to preclude entry. Because none of the components need be frangible, restraining device  22  can be repacked and refolded into container  16  for reuse. 
   The anti-vehicle security system claimed in this document shows at least one embodiment in drawing  FIGS. 1–5 , but is not intended to be exclusive, but merely illustrative of the disclosed but non-exclusive embodiments. Claim elements and steps in this document have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Claim elements and steps have been numbered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. The numbering is not intended to, and should not be considered as intending to, indicate the ordering of elements and steps in the claims. Means-plus-function clauses in the claims are intended to cover the structures described as performing the recited function that include not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and screw may not be structural equivalents, in the environment of the subject matter of this document a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.