Abstract:
The door breaching system is capable of removing or opening a door attached to a structure. A main tether made up of a tether strap and multiple eyelets attaches to a vehicle through one of the eyelets at one end of the tether strap. The other end of the tether strap attaches to at least one hook strap through a master link. Each hook strap has a hook at a distal end. In use, at least one sling loops through part of the door. Sling eyelets on either end of a sling strap connect to the hook. Due to the secure connection between the door and the door breaching system, moving the vehicle away from the structure removes the door in a controllable fashion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to the field of land vehicles and more specifically to a device attached to an exterior of a vehicle for breaching a door. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Door breaching is a process used by military and law enforcement to force open locked doors. Door breaching processes include thermal, ballistic and explosive methods to open doors. Door breaching processes may also utilize mechanical devices, such as pry bars or rams, which pry or knock open doors to allow military and law enforcement personnel to enter a building. 
         [0005]    In many cases, portable mechanical devices are carried to a door, and then swung at the door by hand. Other mechanical devices pry doors off hinges or out of frames. Use of these manual devices exposes personnel to danger from gunfire or other physical attacks from within the building. Furthermore, the force used to open the door is entirely reliant on the strength of personnel holding the device. Reinforced security doors can take numerous attempts to open, increasing exposure time and fatiguing personnel. 
         [0006]    One prior art device that attempts to solve these problems is a ram attached to a tactical vehicle. When a driver accelerates their vehicle towards a building, the ram pushes the door in. While this reduces personnel exposure to danger and utilizes vehicular power, the resultant door wreckage may cause personnel entering the building to lose their footing. Moreover, once the ram has pushed in the door, it requires time to withdraw to allow personnel access to the opening. Another vehicle-mounted device “harpoons” the door and pulls it free from the building. These devices are expensive, difficult to operate and may cause injury if not properly aimed. 
         [0007]    There is an unmet need in the art for a vehicle-mounted door breaching system that separates doors from buildings in a controlled technique. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention is a door breaching system including a main tether having a tether strap and a plurality of tether eyelets. A master link connecting a distal end of the main tether to a proximal end of at least one hook strap. At least one hook connects to a distal end of the hook strap. At least one sling connects to the hook. The sling includes a sling strap and a plurality of sling eyelets located on either end of the sling strap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0009]      FIG. 1 a    illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a door breaching system. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1 b  and 1 c    illustrate front and side views of an exemplary embodiment of a door breaching system in use. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of an optional vehicle pivot. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a method for using a door breaching system. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    As used herein, the term “distal” means a location situated away from a central point. 
         [0014]    As used herein, the term “proximal” means a location situated nearer to a central point. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1 a    illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a door breaching system  100 .  FIGS. 1 b  and 1 c    illustrate front and side views of an exemplary embodiment of door breaching system  100  in use. Door breaching system  100  includes main tether  10 , master link  20 , at least one hook strap  30 , at least one hook  40 , at least one sling  50 , and a vehicle anchor  60 . 
         [0016]    Main tether  10  includes tether strap  11  and a plurality of tether eyelets  12 . Tether strap  11  is approximately 1 foot to approximately 100 feet long, approximately 1 inch to approximately 3 inches wide and approximately 0.25 inches to approximately 0.5 inches thick. In the exemplary embodiment, tether strap  11  is a woven polymer such as, but not limited to nylon. In one embodiment, tether strap  11  is green treated nylon sling web. Tether strap  11  has a break strength of at least approximately 16,000 lbs. with a minimum 5,000 lbs. working load limit. 
         [0017]    In the exemplary embodiment, ten tether eyelets  12  are located on a proximal section of tether strap  11 , spaced apart approximately 5 feet. In other embodiments, the number of tether eyelets  12  ranges from approximately 5 to approximately  20 , while the spacing from approximately 5 feet to approximately 10 feet. In the exemplary embodiment, tether eyelets  12  are loops manufactured from a woven polymer such as, but not limited to nylon. In one embodiment, tether eyelets  12  are green treated nylon sling web. Tether eyelets  12  have an inner diameter ranging from approximately 8 inches to approximately 12 inches. 
         [0018]    Master link  20  connects a distal end of main tether  10  to proximal ends of hook straps  30 . In the exemplary embodiment, master link  20  is a welded steel ring with a thickness of approximately 0.5 inches. In other embodiments, master link  20  is a metallic alloy oblong hook or a metallic alloy oblong ring. In certain embodiments, master link  20  has dimensions of approximately 2.5 inches wide by 5 inches long, with a thickness of 0.5 inches. 
         [0019]    Hook straps  30  interconnect master link  20  and sling hooks  40 . The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  includes two hook straps  30 , but other embodiments may include between approximately 1 and approximately 6 hook straps  30 . Each hook strap  30  is approximately 12 inches to approximately 72 inches long, approximately 1 inch to approximately 3 inches wide and approximately 0.25 inches to approximately 0.75 inches thick. In the exemplary embodiment, hook straps  30  are a woven polymer such as, but not limited to nylon. In one embodiment, hook straps  30  are green treated nylon sling web. 
         [0020]    Hooks  40  interconnect distal ends of hook straps  30  and slings  50 . The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  includes two hooks  40 , but other embodiments may include between approximately 1 and approximately 12 hooks  40 . In the exemplary embodiment, hooks  40  are steel eye sling hooks with a self-closing latch. In one embodiment, hooks  40  are steel eye sling hooks with a thickness of 9/32 of an inch and a spring operated latch. Other embodiments of hooks  40  may include sorting hooks, oblong hooks, clevis sling hooks, clevis grab hooks, clevis foundry hooks and eye grab hooks, with or without a self-closing or manually closing latch. 
         [0021]    Slings  50  loop around portions of a door, connecting the door to door breaching system  100 . The exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  includes two slings  50 , but other embodiments may include between 1 and 6 slings  50 . Each sling  50  includes a sling strap  51  and a plurality of sling eyelets  52 . Sling strap  51  is approximately 3 feet to approximately 6 feet long, approximately 1 inch to approximately 3 inches wide and approximately 0.25 inches to approximately 0.75 inches thick. In the exemplary embodiment, sling strap  51  is a woven polymer such as, but not limited to nylon. In one embodiment, sling strap  51  is green treated nylon sling web. Sling strap  51  has a break strength of at least approximately 16,000 lbs. with a minimum 5,000 lbs. working load limit 
         [0022]    Sling eyelets  52  are located on each end of sling strap  51 . In the exemplary embodiment, sling eyelets  52  are loops manufactured from a woven polymer such as, but not limited to nylon. In one embodiment, sling eyelets  52  are green treated nylon sling web. Sling eyelets  52  have an inner diameter ranging from approximately 12 inches to approximately 18 inches. 
         [0023]    Vehicle anchor  60  provides a connection between a vehicle and door breaching system  100 . At least one tether eyelet  12  connects to vehicle anchor  60 . Vehicle anchor  60  is made from hardened steel. In one embodiment, vehicle anchor  60  is a hook attached to a vehicle bumper. Another embodiment of vehicle anchor  60  is a post welded to a vehicle bumper. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of optional vehicle pivot  70 . In the exemplary embodiment, vehicle pivot  70  includes a hitch assembly bar  71  with hitch pin apertures  72  that receive a hitch pin  73  to attach hitch assembly bar  71  to a vehicle&#39;s trailer hitch receiver. In the exemplary embodiment, hitch assembly bar  71  is made from hollow or solid steel, with a square cross-section, and has a length ranging from approximately  18  inches to approximately  36  inches. Reinforced gussets  74  on either side of hitch assembly bar  71  connect hitch assembly bar  71  to a post sleeve  75 . In the exemplary embodiment, post sleeve  75  is made from hollow steel, with a square or circular cross-section, a length ranging from approximately 6 inches to approximately 12 inches and an inner diameter ranging from approximately 1.5 inches to approximately 4 inches. 
         [0025]    Post sleeve  75  receives a first end of a removable vertical post  76 . Vertical post  76  is made from solid or hollow steel, with a square or circular cross-section, a length ranging from approximately 3 inches to approximately 8 inches and an outer diameter ranging from approximately 1.5 inches to approximately 4 inches. An integral end cap  77  at a second end of vertical post  76  prevents main tether  10  from sliding off vertical post  76 . End cap  77  is made from steel plating having a thickness of approximately 0.25 inches and a diameter ranging from approximately 4 inches to approximately 12 inches. 
         [0026]    In use, vehicle pivot  70  attaches to a second vehicle. Main tether  10  extends around vehicle pivot  70  between the door and vehicle anchor  60 . This permits the first vehicle to remove the door at an angle if, for example, there is insufficient space to safely remove the door. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of a method  300  for using door breaching system  100 . 
         [0028]    In step  302 , method  300  aligns a vehicle to face directly in front or to the side of a door. 
         [0029]    In step  304 , method  300  extends main tether  10  from the vehicle to the door. 
         [0030]    In step  306 , method  300  feeds slings  50  around at least two separate and substantial points of the door such as the frame, main reinforced cross section or security bars. 
         [0031]    In step  308 , method  300  attaches sling eyelets  52  to hooks  40 . Only one sling  50  attaches to each hook  40 . 
         [0032]    In step  310 , method  300  removes slack from tether strap  12  by pulling it taut. 
         [0033]    In optional step  312 , method  300  passes main tether  10  around vehicle pivot  70 . 
         [0034]    In step  314 , method  300  attaches one of tether eyelets  12  to vehicle anchor  60  while keeping tether strap  12  as taut as possible. 
         [0035]    In step  316 , method  300  backs the vehicle away from the door to remove any remaining slack from door breaching system  100 . 
         [0036]    In step  318 , method  300  backs the vehicle away from the door to transfer a pulling force from the vehicle to the door until the door is opened or removed from the structure. 
         [0037]    In optional step  320 , method  300  removes any remaining pulling force on door breaching system  100  by placing the vehicle in “Neutral” or slowly returning the vehicle to its original starting position. 
         [0038]    It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, procedures and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 
         [0039]    It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, the terms “about,” “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.