Shallow arch cover for fighting position

An overhead foxhole cover takes the form of a shallow arch. The shallow a is fabricated from a light weight material and is provided with corrugations running parallel to the plane in which the arch is formed in the cover. The arch is preferably formed in 12 gauge aluminum and is capable of withstanding the blast from an 82 mm mortar. The arch is used by first digging a two-soldier fighting position; placing retaining walls, if needed; placing the cover over the center of the fighting position; placing the bags over the cover to retail a soil cover; and placing 18 inches of soil cover over the sandbagging shallow arch.

The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for providing a 
fighting position and more particularly to a shallow arch cover for such a 
fighting position. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The basic mission of the combat soldier is to take and hold ground. Light 
infantry troops generally use foxholes for this purpose. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,879,154 to Bennett discloses a reinforced utility mat which is capable 
of being used as an overhead cover for fighting troops using a foxhole. 
The aforementioned patent discusses a number of problems inherent in the 
use of foxholes and in the prior art methods of providing overhead foxhole 
cover. In addition to the problems discussed therein, incorporated by 
reference in the present specification, the mat presented in the Bennett 
patent is deficient in providing a foxhole cover which will allow soldiers 
to effectively use their weapons, since the mat lays directly on the 
foxhole, flush with the ground level which forms the top surface of the 
foxhole. Further, such fabric roll type covers are subject to collapse 
under heavy loads. 
Additionally cover may be provided by construction materials, which are 
heavy, bulky, require a great deal of labor to use, and present problems 
in shipping, transportation, storage, and distribution. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
With the foregoing background in mind, it is a primary objective of the 
present invention to provide a foxhole cover which will offer protection 
to the fighting soldier while allowing the soldier to continue fighting 
effectively. 
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a foxhole overhead 
cover which is capable of withstanding mortar fire and fire from other 
small arms. 
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a foxhole overhead 
cover which is light in weight. 
It is in additional object of the present invention to provide an overhead 
cover capable of withstanding dead load of al least 18 inches of soil. 
A further object of the invention is the provision of such an overhead 
cover which is recoverable for future use. 
Another object of the invention is the provision of such an overhead cover 
which is adapted to be stacked or nested for easy transportation and 
storage. 
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a foxhole overhead 
cover which is of one-piece construction, and is thus ready to use and 
easy to fabricate. 
It is also object of the present invention to provide a foxhole overhead 
cover which is operable under any climactic conditions. 
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an overhead 
cover which is waterproof. 
The above and other objects of the invention which will become apparent 
hereinafter are achieved by the provision of an overhead foxhole cover 
which takes the form of a shallow arch. The shallow arch is fabricated 
from a light weight material and is provided with corrugations running 
parallel to the plane in which the arch is formed in the cover. The arch 
is preferably formed of 12 gauge aluminum and is capable of withstanding 
the blast from an 82 mm mortar. The arch is used by first digging a 
two-soldier fighting position; placing retaining walls, if needed; placing 
the cover over the center of the fighting position; placing said bags over 
the cover to retail a soil cover; and placing 18 inches of soil cover over 
the sandbagged shallow arch. 
For a more complete understanding of the invention and the objects and 
advantages thereof, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings 
and the following detailed description wherein preferred embodiments of 
the invention are illustrated and described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an overhead fighting position cover in 
accordance with the invention, designated generally by the reference 
numeral 10, is illustrated. 
Overhead fighting position cover 10 takes the form of a shallow arch 
provided with a plurality of corrugations 12 running parallel to the plane 
in which the arch is formed. Arch 10 has a span S which is sufficient to 
cover a two-person fighting position, or foxhole F which has been dug in 
the ground G. In the preferred, illustrated embodiment, the foxhole F has 
a width W at its base of 2 feet, and the cover 10 has a span S of 5, a 
vertical height above ground G of 12 to 18 inches, a radius R of about 3.7 
feet, and a length (the direction orthogonal to the span,) of 4 feet. The 
cover is preferably made of 12 gauge aluminum. 
In explosive tests the cover proved capable of withstanding a blast of an 
82 mm mortar. 
Features of the inventive shallow arch cover include: light weight; 
capability of withstanding dead load of at least 18 inches of soil; 
recoverability for future use; nestable, i.e., stackable for easy 
transportation and storage; ready for use; one-piece construction; allows 
use of weapons; useful in any climactic conditions; waterproof. 
In operation, i.e., in field use during combat, the cover 10 is deployed as 
follows. First a two-person fighting position is dug. Next retaining walls 
are put into place if required. The cover 10 is then placed over the 
fighting position, and checked to insure that firing parts and lanes are 
not obscured. 
Next, sand bags are placed over the cover to allow for retention of a soil 
cover. Finally, an 18 inch soil cover is placed over the sandbagged 
shallow arch cover 10. It is clear that a single soldier can construct a 
fighting position with cover according the inventive method and apparatus. 
In an alternative preferred embodiment, individual covers may be bolted 
together to form larger positions or shelters. 
Thus, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated 
and described in detail herein, it will be apparent that changes and 
additions may be had therein and thereto without departing from the spirit 
of the invention. Reference should, accordingly, be had to be appended 
claims in determining the true scope of the invention.