Abstract:
A pneumatic battering ram is disclosed. The battering ram has a housing, a pressurized air tank, a ramming head, and a pivotable ramming edge. Air released from the air tank into the housing forces the ramming head outward against an enclosure to forcibly open it. Where a slug is inserted into the housing, air released from the pressurized air tank into the housing causes the slug to hit the inner surface of the ramming head, forcing it outwardly against the enclosure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to devices used for forcible entry, and more specifically, to a pneumatic battering ram. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Locked, fortified, blocked, or barricaded doors and passages oftentimes need to be forcibly opened. For example, law enforcement officers may need to forcibly enter a building to prevent the commission of a crime or to prevent the destruction of evidence. As another example, firemen and emergency rescue teams may need to forcibly enter a building in order to rescue people that are trapped within. 
         [0003]    A battering ram is often used to gain entry into these locked buildings. The most common form of battering ram is a manually actuated ram. However, these battering rams are typically very heavy and require more than one person to swing the battering ram against the closure. Furthermore, many hits with these battering rams are required to break through a door, thus allowing criminals ample time to escape, to destroy evidence, or to arm themselves with weapons against the entering law enforcement officers. In an emergency situation such as a fire, every extra second that it takes for the battering ram to penetrate the door is an extra second that the flames will spread. Other devices for forcing doors open, like that disclosed in Yirmiyahu et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,053) require painstaking set-up. These types of devices are not useful in emergency situations. 
         [0004]    Currently used battering rams are also insufficient when the user is too tall or too short or has to stand at a level higher or lower than the enclosure (e.g. on stairs). In order for the current battering rams like the one that is disclosed in Sabates et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,591) to work effectively, they have to be held at a right angle to the enclosure. 
         [0005]    Other devices that require a conventional firearm or some other explosive device to be fired have also been used to forcibly open doors. However, these devices are dangerous because of the high possibility that a live round may be accidentally loaded into the firearm instead of a blank. Therefore, a need exists for a battering ram that is capable of forcibly opening a locked door with only one hit. The battering ram should also be safer than those forcible entry devices that are powered by firearms or explosive devices. The battering ram should also be able to rest flush against the enclosure despite a user being too tall or too short or despite the user having to stand at a level higher or lower than the enclosure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An object of the present invention is to provide a battering ram that is capable of forcibly opening a locked door with only one hit. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic battering ram that does not require the use of a firearm or explosive for its operation. 
         [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a battering ram that may be easily operated by one person. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to be-able to provide a battering ram that will rest flush against the enclosure despite whatever angle the battering ram is held at in relation to the enclosure. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a pneumatic battering ram is disclosed. The battering ram comprises a housing, a pressurized air tank coupled to one end of the housing, a ramming head slidably coupled to the other end of the housing, a ramming edge pivotably coupled to the ramming head, and a hinge mechanism connecting the ramming edge to the ramming head for allowing the ramming edge to remain flush against an enclosure when the housing is held at varying angles relative to the enclosure. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a pneumatic battering ram is disclosed. The pneumatic battering ram comprises a cylindrical housing, a pressurized air tank coupled to a proximal end of the housing, a cylindrical slug within the housing that slides along the length of the housing, a cylindrical ramming head slidably coupled to a distal end of the housing, a rectangular ramming edge pivotably bolted to a distal end of the ramming head, wherein a distal side of the ramming edge has a plurality of teeth for penetrating the enclosure, a bolt assembly coupling a middle portion of the ramming edge perpendicularly to the ramming head, wherein the bolt assembly comprises two spaced apart plates coupled to the distal end of the ramming head, each plate defining an aperture, a bolt passing through the aperture of each plate and through an aperture defined by the middle portion of the ramming edge, and a nut to secure the bolt in place. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a battering ram is disclosed. The battering ram comprises a housing, a pressurized air tank coupled to one end of the housing, a ramming head slidably coupled to the other end of the housing, a ramming edge pivotably bolted to the ramming head, a slug within the housing that slides along the length of the housing, and at least one aperture defined by the ramming head that aligns with at least one aperture defined by the housing for releasing excess air from the housing when air is released from the air tank and the slug slides toward the ramming head. 
         [0013]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a right side view of an embodiment of the battering ram of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1  shown with a slug being placed into the housing. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a left side view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1  shown with the piston and ramming edge being placed onto the housing. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a right side view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1 , shown with the slug being deployed and forcing the piston and ramming edge forward. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the slug. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the slug of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the piston and ramming edge. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a right side cross-sectional view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1 , shown with the piston and ramming edge being placed onto the housing. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a right side cross-sectional view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1 , shown in a ready position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a right side cross-sectional view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1 , shown in a deployed position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1  shown in use by a law enforcement officer. 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1  shown with a restraint strap. 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the battering ram of  FIG. 1  shown with one of the apertures of the ramming head and the annular flange in phantom lines. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-16 , a battering ram, hereinafter referred to as battering ram  10 , is shown. The battering ram  10  comprises a housing.  12 , a pressurized air tank  16 , a ramming head  18 , and a ramming edge  22  pivotably coupled to the ramming head  18 . 
         [0032]    The battering ram  10  has a housing  12  that is cylindrical. A pressurized air tank  16  is coupled to a proximal end of the housing  12 . In one embodiment, the pressure of the air inside the pressurized air tank  16  is approximately 150 psi, but it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the air being at a different suitable pressure level. Though not required, the pressurized air tank  16  will preferably have a pressure gauge  36  for reading the pressure inside the air tank  16  and will have a check valve  38  (shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  6 ) for refilling the pressurized air tank  16 . 
         [0033]    The ramming head  18  is slidably coupled to a distal end of the housing  12 . The ramming head  18  is shown as sliding over the housing  12  until it abuts an annular flange  15  defined by the housing  12 . It should be clearly understood, however, that substantial benefit may be derived from a housing  12  that does not have an annular flange  15 . The ramming head  18  is shown as defining apertures  20 . These apertures  20  align with apertures  14  (shown in  FIGS. 5-7 ,  11 , and  13 ) defined by the housing  12 . During operation of the battering ram  10 , excess air may be released through these apertures  14 ,  20 . This helps to control the force of the ramming head  18 . While it is shown that the housing  12  and the ramming head  18  define two apertures  14 ,  20  each, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the use of a different number of apertures  14 ,  20  or none at all. 
         [0034]    The ramming head  18  is shown as having a ramming edge  22  coupled to its distal end. The ramming edge  22  is shown as having a plurality of teeth  24  for gripping and penetrating the target enclosure  40  (shown in  FIG. 14 ). The teeth  24  may be of uniform length or they may have different lengths (see  FIGS. 2 and 14 ). It should also be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from a ramming edge  22  not having any teeth  24  and, instead, having a flat or tapered end. The ramming edge  22  is preferably pivotably coupled to the ramming head  18 . A hinge assembly  11  (see  FIG. 1 ) connects the ramming edge  22  to the ramming head  18  and will allow the ramming edge  22  to rest flush against the enclosure  40  despite a user  34  (shown in  FIG. 14 ) being too tall or too short or despite the user  34  having to stand at a level higher or lower than the enclosure  40  (e.g. on stairs). In one embodiment (see  FIGS. 4 ,  10 , and  11 ), the ramming edge  22  is coupled to the ramming head  18  with a bolt assembly  13 . The bolt assembly  13  has two spaced apart plates  46  coupled to a distal end  48  of the ramming head  18  and each plate  46  defines an aperture  47 . A bolt  50  passes through the aperture  47  of each plate  46  and through an aperture  53  defined by a middle portion  52  of the ramming edge  22 , and a nut  54  to secure the bolt  50  in place. While this hinge assembly  11  is preferred, it should be clearly understood that other hinge assemblies  11  may be used and substantial benefit may nevertheless be obtained from the ramming edge  22  being fixedly coupled to the ramming head  18 . 
         [0035]    In one embodiment, the battering ram  10  will have a slug  28  (shown in  FIGS. 5-9  and  11 - 13 ) dimensioned to be inserted into the housing  12  proximate the pressurized air tank  16 . The slug  28  is shown as being cylindrical with one open end and one closed end, however, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may be derived from the slug  28  being solid and circular. When air is released from the pressurized air tank  16 , the slug  28  will be forced outward against an inner surface of the ramming head  18 , thus forcing the ramming head  18  outward toward the enclosure  40 . 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, a slug  28  will not be used. There will be an airtight seal between the ramming head  18  and the housing  12  and the air released from the pressurized air tank  16  will force the ramming head  18  outwardly toward the enclosure  40 . 
         [0037]    The battering ram  10  may have a handle  32  that the user  34  may grip to hold the battering ram  10  steady during use. The battering ram  10  may also have one or more harnesses  30  to strap the battering ram  10  to the body of the user  34 . This will also help the user  34  in carrying the battering ram  10  and keeping it steady during use. It should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may still be derived from the battering ram  10  having no handle  32  or harnesses  30 . 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the battering ram  10  may also have at least one restraint strap  44 . In one embodiment, a mount  42  defining an aperture is coupled to the housing  12  and another mount  42  defining an aperture is coupled to the ramming head  18 . Each end of the strap  44  will be coupled to one of the apertures of the mounts  42 . The strap  44  may be made of nylon or any other suitable material. The strap  44  will provide enough slack to allow the ramming head  18  to slide outward approximately 4-5 inches and will prevent the ramming head  18  from sliding completely off of the housing  12 . The strap  44  may be removable or may be permanently coupled to the mounts  42 . The battering ram  10  may have any number of restraint straps  44  and it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit may still be obtained if there are no restraint straps  44  on the battering ram  10 . 
       Statement of Use 
       [0039]    One way to forcibly open an enclosure  40 , such as the door depicted in  FIG. 14 , is to use an embodiment of the battering ram  10  of the present invention. A user  34  may use the harnesses  30  to strap the battering ram  10  to his/her shoulders. The user  34  may then insert a slug  28  into the housing  12  proximate the pressurized air tank  16 . The user  34  will then slide the ramming head  18  onto the distal end of the housing  12  until it abuts the annular flange  15  defined by the housing  12 . The user  34  may then align the apertures  20  defined by the ramming head  18  with the apertures  14  defined by the housing  12 . 
         [0040]    The user  34  may grip the handle  32  and will position the ramming edge  24  against the enclosure  40 . In the case of a door, the user  34  will place the ramming edge  22  inwardly from the door lock or dead bolts. The user  34  may also place the ramming edge  22  on the opposite side of the door to blow out the door hinges. The user  34  will then throw the release lever  26  to release air from the pressurized air tank  16  into the housing  12 . If the user  34  had used a slug  28 , the slug  28  will be forced outwardly and will strike an interior surface of the ramming head  18 . The ramming head  18  will then be forced outwardly toward the enclosure  40 . Excess air from the housing  12  will be released through the apertures  14 ,  20 . 
         [0041]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.