Abstract:
The present invention comprises an airborne attack prevention system utilizing a plurality of high strength cables attached to one or more buildings so as to shield the buildings from collisions from aircraft and the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Recently there has been a heightened level of awareness regarding acts of terrorism. Moreover, the threat and potential impact of danger has appeared to increase 10-fold. The majority of terrorist attacks have been executed by many different types of bombs. Prior art has been targeted at protecting buildings from terrorist acts on ground level. For instance, providing protection from vehicular attacks, and structural modifications, in an attempt to minimize damage from explosives. For example, a vehicle barrier which uses similar high strength cables on the ground level supported by I-beams can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,507.  
           [0002]    In light of recent terrorist acts, particularly the terrorist attacks of Sep. 11, 2001, wherein terrorists hijacked a number of aircrafts to be used in an apparent suicide mission regarding crashing into buildings, namely, the World Trade Center Buildings in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., there appears to be a need for above ground protection of large buildings. There were no protection or prevention measures used by these buildings, which, consequently resulted in thousands of casualties.  
           [0003]    Thus, it is an objective of the invention to provide a method of protecting buildings, and the people within them, by preventing and/or diverting potential terrorist attacks by aircrafts.  
           [0004]    It is another objective of the invention to provide a method of protecting buildings, bridges, and the people within them, by preventing and/or diverting potential terrorist attacks by aircrafts, airborne missiles (or other devices or crafts which could cause damage to a structure upon impact or exposure) while maintaining aesthetics of a city&#39;s sky line.  
           [0005]    These and further objectives will become apparent in light of the specification appended hereto.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention comprises a system for arranging high strength cables with the intentions of diverting, discouraging, and/or preventing an attack on a structure, potentially containing a large number of people. Therefore this system of arrangement is intended so as to dissuade a hijacker from targeting the building, or buildings, which use the present invention. Such an invention would likewise serve to delay any attacks on such a building.  
           [0007]    The high strength cables used will have the ability to tear or damage the wings of an aircraft, should the aircraft attempt to collide into a building—or causing the aircraft to be diverted.  
           [0008]    Inasmuch as many cities may view the present invention as an eyesore, the method may be arranged in a manner which is deployable at will, or, upon a sensed condition, by, for example, radar, heat, etc. Therefore when there is no fear of threat, the cable structure may be retracted so as to maintain the aesthetic beauty of the building, and in turn the city skyline.  
           [0009]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a tent, or a web like structure encapsulating a single, or multiple buildings, or locations. High strength cables can be supported at the roof of a building via rods extending, either upwards or outward, from the roof. Alternatively, such cables can be affixed directly to the associated structures. High strength cables extend down in an angled fashion, thus keeping the cables away from the building, and are secured in place by support beams at a variable distance down the side of the building, particularly as far down as physically possible so as to not interfere with surrounding buildings. Furthermore, the deployed configuration can comprise any number of configurations, including, but not limited to, conical, cylindrical, rectangular, etc.  
           [0010]    Alternatively, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is one which the arrangement of cables incorporates a plurality of buildings in the same vicinity. High strength cables extend between buildings so that a cable will run from the roof of a building to the roof of a shorter building. Consequently, such an extension may also cover a number of other buildings shorter than the shorter of the two buildings. This assembly may be arranged in many different manners, a tent shape (e.g. with the tallest building being the apex of the arrangement), or a non-uniform distribution of cables extending over a conglomerate of buildings.  
           [0011]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the use of a high strength rod configuration, or tower, or similar rigid structure that is extended from the roof of a building by beams. The cables will then, essentially, hang from this structure, and extend down the building in an angled fashion and be supported at a variable distance down each side of a building with supporting beams. The entire structure, as well as the other disclosed structures herein, may be physically attached or formed with a portion of the frame structure of an associated building for securement thereto.  
           [0012]    Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention allows the cable structure to be readily deployed and retracted when not in use, so as to retain the aesthetics of the buildings and city skyline. For example, such a structure may include a rigid structure from which cables are attached via pulleys. Additionally, the pulleys may contain additional cable line to be used when deploying the cable structure. Support beams can be held against the building in a deployable manner, on pivotable and lockable tracks/hinges (or be slidably positioned within the building at, for example, a floor of the building not occupying tenants—such as the HVAC floor). Other locations physically associated with, or adjacent to the building are also contemplated. In such an example, the lower end of the beam will extend outward, and the upper end will essentially slide down the side of the building, terminating when the beam is protruding from the building.  
           [0013]    Another preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the construction of a plurality of columns extending from the ground up to, or exceeding, the height of the building or structure—wherein cables are attached to the columns, at different heights, surrounding the perimeter of the building, essentially creating a barrier thereto.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a front view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3A is a top view of the invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3C is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4A is a side view of an embodiment of the invention in an undeployed state;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4B is a side view of the invention of FIG. 4A partially deployed;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4C is a side view of the invention of FIG. 4A fully deployed;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0025]    Referring now to the figures, and in particular FIG. 1, a method of arranging a plurality of cables so as to protect a building, bridge, or structure from potential attack from aircrafts, or airborne attacks is shown. Such an arrangement comprises attaching high strength cables  3  to the edges of the top of a building  1 . The cables  3  are secured to support beams  2  which may protrude from the center of each side of the building. Furthermore the support beams  2  may protrude from the building in either an angled, acutely or obtusely, or perpendicular manner. Conventional methods of attaching articles in a secure fashion are to be employed in the attachment of cables and support beams. Furthermore, protection may be increased with the addition of another assembly of cables  4  which are horizontally coupled to each of the vertically hung cables  2  extending from the top of the building and terminating at the support beams  2 . Instead of, or as well as, support beams, the cables can be secured to the ground, or other separate structures. This assembly creates a web-like structure surrounding the building, either in part or in its entirety.  
         [0026]    Alternatively, FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of the invention where pluralities of cables  3  are attached to the tops of a conglomerate of buildings throughout a metropolitan area. A cable  3  originates from the top of a building and terminates at the top of another, preferably shorter building. A multiplicity of cables may emanate or terminate from a single building depending on the degree of security desired, its location within an area, and moreover, its relative height with respect to buildings surrounding it. This method of arranging cables  3  has the advantage of not only protecting those buildings which the cables extend between, but also those buildings which lie below.  
         [0027]    Focusing on FIGS. 3A, 3B and  3 C, a rigid upper support structure  6  (i.e. a circular, rod-like structure), is extended from the top of a building by support beams  5 . This upper support structure  6  may be secured to the building where the upper support beams  5  are attached in either an angled or perpendicular manner. Although FIG. 3A shows four support beams  5 , additional (or less) upper support beams  5  may be employed for added support. For instance, an additional four upper support beams may be attached in the center of each side of the building. The upper support structure  6  may comprise a polygonal shape as opposed to the depicted circular shape. A plurality of high strength cables  3  are hung from the upper support structure  6 . A plurality of eight cables  3  are depicted such that there is a cable emanating from each corner of the building  1  along with cables emanating from the center of each side of the building  1 . However, a minimum of four cables  3  are preferred, such that the cables are hung in a symmetrical fashion so as to provide a uniform level of security. The cables  3  are secured by lower support beams  2 , as described in FIG. 1A, protruding from the building at a variable distance down the side of the building. Alternatively, the cables may be attached to other structures as depicted in FIG. 2 or may extend to ground level. As depicted in  3 C, the cables  3  attached to the upper support structure  6  may extend down the length of the building whereby they are secured on the ground level. Furthermore, a plurality of horizontal cables  4  may be attached to the vertical cables  3  extending down the sides of the building to create a higher level of protection.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 4A, 4B, and  4 C depict a cable arrangement which is deployable, which will allows for the maintenance of the aesthetic beauty of a city&#39;s skyline. FIG. 4A, is a side view of the system in a “closed” position. Support beams  2  are secured against the side of the building on a track  8 . Similar to that described in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a rigid structure  6  is included to keep the cables away from the building. In this embodiment, the cables are hung from such a structure by pulleys  7  which have a hollow interior chamber which allows for the storage of additional cable line necessary for deploying the protection system. As can be seen in FIG. 4B, when deployed, the top end of the support beam is fashioned to slide down alongside the building, subsequently causing the bottom end of the support beam to extend outward. When fully deployed (FIG. 4C), the support beams  2  are perpendicular to the building. Alternatively, when fully deployed, the support beams  2  may extend from the building in an angled manner as opposed to the perpendicular manner shown. Other retractable configurations can be created due to the flexibility of the cable. Also, the shape does not need to be of a pyramid type, for example, it could be an inverted pyramid, or even a cylinder or a 3-D rectangle.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 illustrates yet another protective cable system. In this embodiment, a minimum of four columns  10  are erected around the perimeter of a building. It is preferred that the columns  10  be positioned at each corner of the building. However such positioning may be altered according to various conditions, such as space limitations or the like. High strength cables  3  are attached to the columns  10  at varying horizontal positions so as to provide a barrier around the building. Again, additional cables  4  may be included to vertically connect the horizontal cables  3  so as to provide a higher level of protection. As there are a number of buildings which hold historic or aesthetic value, many building owners, although in need of protection from airborne attacks, may not want to physically alter the appearance of the building. This particular embodiment allows for no physical changes to be made to the building itself.  
         [0030]    Finally, FIG. 6 illustrates a cable arrangement which provides protection to a plurality of buildings within a particular area. As shown, a column  10  is erected in a metropolitan area or the like which will provide a central unit from which a plurality of high strength cables  3  will radiate from. The cables  3  terminate upon the roof tops or sides of different buildings  1  within the vicinity of the column  10 . The cables may be attached to the buildings using conventional fastening means.  
         [0031]    The support beams may be comprised of a number of rigid materials, i.e. metal, cement, or the like. Support beams may further include a means to prevent bending or bowing caused by high wind conditions, i.e. small holes to allow the passage of air there-through. As such bending or bowing would cause movement of the cables, it is important to minimize such movement so as to preclude excessive wear which may compromise the attachment means.  
         [0032]    The cables may comprise various types of high strength materials currently commercially available. In addition, the cables may be electrically charged such that should an aircraft or the like come into contact with the cables, they will receive an electric shock. Such a shock would be intended to cause a malfunction of the aircraft.  
         [0033]    The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention should not be limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the present invention before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.