Inflatable Ballistic Shield Device

An inflatable ballistic shield device is provided. The device is preferably comprised of at least three ballistic panels and an inflatable bladder. When not in use, the device can be stored in an uninflated, folded configuration. When in use, the bladder can be rapidly inflated, which unfolds the ballistic panels and forms the device into a rigid ballistic shield.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of ballistic shields. More specifically, the present invention relates to an inflatable ballistic shield device that can be stored in an uninflated, folded configuration and then rapidly inflated and deployed. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

Existing ballistic shields known in the art are rigid and as a result, are cumbersome in size. Due to this rigidity, individuals may be unable to use ballistic shields in desired areas. Further, said individuals may lack the ability to store ballistic shields in desired areas.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved ballistic shield. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable ballistic shield device that can easily be stored in a small space. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable ballistic shield device that can be easily carried when in a stored position. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable ballistic shield device that is lighter than existing ballistic shields. Finally, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved ballistic shield that better distributes the impact of bullet strikes on the shields than existing ballistic shields known in the art.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an inflatable ballistic shield device. The device is preferably comprised of at least three ballistic panels and an inflatable bladder. When not in use, the device can be stored in an uninflated, folded configuration. When in use, the bladder can be rapidly inflated, which unfolds the ballistic panels and forms the device into a rigid ballistic shield.

In this manner, the inflatable ballistic shield device of the present invention accomplishes all the forgoing objectives and provides an improved ballistic shield that can easily be stored in a small space and that can be easily carried when in a stored position. Further, the device is lighter than existing ballistic shields. In addition, the device better distributes the impact of bullet strikes on the shield than existing ballistic shields known in the art.

SUMMARY

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an inflatable ballistic shield device. The device is comprised of an inflatable ballistic shield with at least one inflatable bladder and at least one shield ballistic insert. During use, the device can be stored in an uninflated and folded state. Then, the device can be rapidly inflated and unfolded (either manually or automatically via the inflation of the bladder) before deployment to form a ballistic shield.

The device is comprised of a body made from a fabric material. The body may be any shape and size that can preferably cover (but is not limited to) the upper body (and in one embodiment, the pelvic area) of a user. At least one bladder is located within the body and is constructed using a plurality of tensile filaments/fibers. Once inflated, the filaments/fibers are placed in tension to ensure that the bladder will only be displaced in a limited and controlled manner when impacted with a projectile, and absorbs the force of the projectile impact and distributes the force of a projectile impact through the entire bladder.

In one embodiment, the bladder can be manually inflated and deflated with air via at least one valve. In another embodiment, the bladder can be inflated via at least one canister that preferably contains a gas, such as but not limited to CO2.

During the rapid inflation process, the body unfolds and then can be attached to a user via at least one arm strap located on the rear surface of the body. The strap is comprised of at least one fastener that allows the strap to be tightened around a user's arm. It should be noted that once fastened around a user's arm, the user's arm contacts the rear surface, in contrast to existing ballistic shields wherein a user's arm is often cantilevered relative to the shield while in use. In this manner, the device moves more like an extension of the user's body.

The body is also comprised of at least one shield ballistic insert that may be located within the body and/or may be stitched to or enclosed by the body (in a manner such that the panel is separated from the bladder) in front of the bladder (i.e., positioned such that the panel is the first structure of the device to absorb a projectile impact). In the preferred embodiment, the device has three shield ballistic inserts, which includes a large central panel, a top panel, and a bottom panel. In this embodiment, all or some of any area of the central panel may overlap any area of the top and bottom panels for additional strength and to prevent puncturing of the bladder.

In this embodiment, the top panel and bottom panel are each connected to the central panel via at least one fabric joint of the body. The configuration of the joint ensures that a portion of the central panel overlaps a portion of the top panel and bottom panel when the bladder is fully inflated. However, when the bladder is not inflated, the joint reverses and expands/moves upward, which allows the top panel and bottom panel to fold over the central panel. Because each panel is individually connected to the body via at least one stitch or other fastening method, inflation of the bladder facilitates the unfolding of the panels in the overlapping manner as seen. Similarly, the individual attachment of each panel to the body and the attachment of each joint ensures the top and bottom panels fold over the central panel when the bladder is not inflated or is uninflated. As a result, a user need not unfold the device during use and can rely on the inflation of the bladder and attachment of the panels to the body (and each other via the joint) to ensure proper folding/unfolding. Furthermore, when in an uninflated and folded state the device forms a square-like shape that can be easily stored.

Accordingly, the inflatable ballistic shield device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved ballistic shield that can easily be stored in a small space and that can be easily carried when in a stored position. Further, the device is lighter than existing ballistic shields. In addition, the device better distributes the impact of bullet strikes on the shield than existing ballistic shields known in the art. In this manner, the inflatable ballistic shield device overcomes the limitations of existing ballistic shields known in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved ballistic shield. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable ballistic shield device that can easily be stored in a small space. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable ballistic shield device that can be easily carried when in a stored position. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an inflatable ballistic shield device that is lighter than existing ballistic shields. Finally, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved ballistic shield that better distributes the impact of bullet strikes on the shields than existing ballistic shields known in the art.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of an inflatable ballistic shield device. The device is preferably comprised of at least three ballistic panels and an inflatable bladder. When not in use, the device can be stored in an uninflated, folded configuration. When in use, the bladder can be rapidly inflated, which unfolds the ballistic panels and forms the device into a rigid ballistic shield.

Referring initially to the drawings,FIG.1illustrates a front view of one potential embodiment of an inflatable ballistic shield device100of the present invention while inflated in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device100is comprised of an inflatable ballistic shield with at least one inflatable bladder110and at least one shield ballistic insert116. During use, the device100can be stored in an uninflated and folded state. Then, the device100can be rapidly inflated and unfolded (either manually or automatically via the inflation of the bladder) before deployment to form a ballistic shield.

The device100is comprised of a body102made from a fabric material. Said material may include but is not limited to a param-aramid synthetic fiber, polyethylene, ballistic nylon, Cordura, reinforced coated fabric (PVC), etc. The body102may be any shape and size that can preferably cover (but is not limited to) the upper body (and in one embodiment, the pelvic area) of a user.

The bladder110is located within the body102. The bladder110is preferably a singular, flat bladder. However, in different embodiments the bladder110may be any size, style, and configuration of air bladder known in the art, including but not limited to a quilted bladder, a chambered bladder, or any bladder style incorporating multiple inflated cells. The bladder110is constructed using a plurality of tensile filaments/fibers. Once inflated, the filaments/fibers are placed in tension. This ensures that the bladder110will only be displaced in a limited and controlled manner when impacted with a projectile, and absorbs the force of the projectile impact and distributes the force of a projectile impact through the entire bladder110.

The bladder110may be constructed of many different types of materials such as fabric-reinforced high-density polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic or any other suitable material types such as those used in children's bouncing jumpers. The material can be thin sheets such as 30 oz./yd2to 80 oz./yd2fabric weight, or any other suitable thickness or shape.

In one embodiment, the bladder110can be manually inflated with air via at least one valve126(of any valve type known in the art), as seen inFIG.2. This valve126also allows for rapid manual deflation of the bladder110. In another embodiment, the bladder110can be inflated via at least one canister112. The canister112preferably contains a gas, such as but not limited to CO2. The canister112attaches to at least one valve113, which attaches to the bladder110via at least one fastener flange115such as but not limited to a thermal welded interface, glued interface, pinched joint, gasket seal, etc. The canister112is comprised of at least one pull tab140or other similar control that allows a user to release the gas within the canister112into the bladder110via the valve113. The canister112attaches to the rear surface114of the body102via at least one fastener160such as but not limited to a loop, a hook and loop strap, a magnet, etc. The bladder110is preferably inflated to 10 psi.

During the rapid inflation process, the body102unfolds and then can be attached to a user via at least one arm strap122located on the rear surface114of the body102. The strap122is comprised of at least one fastener123, such as but not limited to a hook and loop fastener, that allows the strap122to be tightened around a user's arm. It should be noted that once fastened around a user's arm, the user's arm contacts the rear surface114, in contrast to existing ballistic shields wherein a user's arm is often cantilevered relative to the shield while in use. In this manner, the device100moves more like an extension of the user's body. In one embodiment, the strap122may be any style of attachment mechanism that allows the body102to attach to a body area of a user.

The rear surface114may also be comprised of at least one rigid handle128that is adjustable in size/placement and that allows the device100to be held/carried. The rear surface114may also be comprised of at least one MOLLE panel130for storage/attachment of various compatible items to the rear surface114and/or the front surface117. Furthermore, the front surface117may be comprised of at least one fastener142that allows an item to attach to the front surface117. The fastener142may include but is not limited to hook and loop, magnet, adhesive, clip, etc. which allows attachments such as but not limited to identification patches, lights, cameras, etc. to be attached to the front surface117.

The body102is also comprised of at least one shield ballistic insert116that may be located within the body102and/or may be stitched to or enclosed by the body102(in a manner such that the panel116is separated from the bladder110) in front of the bladder110(i.e., positioned such that the panel116is the first structure of the device100to absorb a projectile impact). The shield ballistic insert116may be made from materials such as but not limited to aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber (UHMWPE), Kevlar, fiberglass, or any other soft or hard ballistic armor/panel material. In different embodiments, the panel116may offer NIJ Level IIA protection, NIJ Level II protection, NIJ Level IIIA protection, NIJ Level III protection, NIJ Level III+ protection, NIJ Level IV protection, etc. In one embodiment, any panel150,152,154may be comprised of at least one ballistic window180that may be from a form of polycarbonate or any other known ballistic window material known in the art. The window180allows a user to see through the panel150,152,154during use.

In the preferred embodiment, the device100has three shield ballistic inserts116, which includes a large central panel150, a top panel152, and a bottom panel154. In this embodiment, all or some of any area of the central panel150may overlap any area of the top152and bottom panels154for additional strength and to prevent puncturing of the bladder110.

In this embodiment, the top panel152and bottom panel154are each connected to the central panel150via at least one fabric joint118of the body102, as seen inFIG.3. More specifically, a first edge119of the joint118attaches to the central panel150and a second edge120of the joint118attaches to the panel152,154. It should be noted that the configuration of the joint118ensures that a portion of the central panel150overlaps a portion of the top panel152and bottom panel154when the bladder110is fully inflated.

However, when the bladder110is not inflated, the joint118reverses and expands/moves upward, which allows the top panel152and bottom panel154to fold over the central panel150, as seen inFIG.7. In one embodiment, the panels152,154may be sized and dimensioned, along with the function of the joints118to allow the bottom panel152to overlap the top panel152when the device100is folded or vice versa, as seen inFIG.4. More specifically, in this position each joint118folds around a corner153,155of the panels152,154. Because each panel150,152,154is individually connected to the body102via at least one stitch170or other fastening method, inflation of the bladder110facilitates the unfolding of the panels150,152,154in the overlapping manner as seen inFIG.8. Similarly, the individual attachment of each panel150,152,154to the body102and the attachment of each joint118ensures the top and bottom panels152,154fold over the central panel150when the bladder110is not inflated or is uninflated, as seen inFIG.7. As a result, a user need not manually unfold the device100during use and can rely on the inflation of the bladder110and attachment of the panels150,152,154to the body102(and each other via the joint118) to ensure proper folding/unfolding.

Furthermore, when in an uninflated and folded state (as seen inFIG.4) the device100forms a square-like shape that can be easily stored. When in a folded and uninflated configuration, the panels150,152,154surround and protect the bladder110and all structures of the rear surface114. The device100can be secured in said shape via at least one strap124or other similar fastener that can be wrapped around the body102, as seen inFIG.5andFIG.6. In this undeployed, stored embodiment the device100can then be carried via at least one exterior handle121.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the inflatable ballistic shield device100of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the inflatable ballistic shield device100as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the inflatable ballistic shield device100are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the inflatable ballistic shield device100are important design parameters for user convenience, the inflatable ballistic shield device100may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.