Abstract:
An hydraulically deployable vehicle defense shield having a plurality of coplanar ballistic resistant elements in a single defense barrier that provides protection from the side to the vehicles engine and tires when non-deployed and when deployed provides cover for personnel exiting the vehicle and during a firefight. The defense barrier may also be deployed for the purpose of ramming another vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to motor vehicles and, more specifically, to a motor vehicle defense barrier that is hydraulically deployable from within said vehicle in angular fashion from a substantially vehicle parallel position to a vehicle transverse position or any angle therebetween. 
     The defense barrier has an audible alarm to warn persons to move from the vehicle and deployable defense barrier path actuated by a sensor for sensing the presence of people in the vehicle or shield path thereby actuating the audible alarm and further provides exteriorly positioned lights of a flashing or warning nature. 
     When deployed a manually pivotally movable shelf or table is provided on the interior barrier side serving for the placement of articles thereon with the instant invention further providing an optional marquee serving as a sun shield and/or protective element from inclement weather. 
     Additionally provided is a plurality of defense barriers that are deployable from a plurality of vehicle engaging positions. 
     Uses of the defensive barrier includes obliquely deploying at least one of the defense barriers that can be used as a ram to disable or halt another vehicle and as a defensive element from small arms or rifle fire so that the vehicle occupants can tactically exit said vehicle and use said defense barrier as a shield when confronting an aggressor. 
     The defense barrier is comprised of a pair of coplanar members where one is both transparent and linearly extendible to augment the shield surface area with the other having a slot which is normally obstructed by the transparent shield member that when moved provides for the slot to serve as a port for firearm use. 
     The present invention further provides that the defense barrier of the present invention can be used on any motorized vehicle and may find application for military vehicles as well. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other protective devices designed for vehicles. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 2,871,763 issued to Blomquist on Feb. 3, 1959. 
     Another patent was issued to Forsyth, et al on Nov. 18, 1969 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,643. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,685 was issued to Lane on Jul. 6, 1971 and still yet another was issued on Oct. 5, 1976 to Kinder as U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,832. 
     Another patent was issued to Marshall on Jul. 23, 1985 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,519. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,035 was issued to Madden, Jr. on Dec. 6, 1994. Another was issued to Korpi on Nov. 19, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,508 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 30, 1997 to Madden, Jr. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,316. 
     Another patent was issued to Ivey on Dec. 26, 2006 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,517. Yet another U.S. Patent No. EP 0 658 738 was issued to Madden, Jr. on Jun. 21, 1995. Another was issued to Higuchi on Aug. 26, 2004 as Japan Patent No. JP2004239589. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,871,763 
     Inventor: Albert E. Blomquist 
     Issued: Feb. 3, 1959 
     A vehicle comprising a body, carrying means for said body, and protective armor means secured to said body along a margin of said body, said protective armor means being secured to said body by substantially horizontally pivoted hinge means for pivotal movement about said hinge means between upstanding position and laterally disposed position extending outwardly from said body, and means for maintaining said protective armor means in each of said positions, said protective armor means comprising a trough when said protective armor means is in said laterally disposed position which is disposed alongside said body and is adapted to contain a friable aggregate material for providing additional armor effective for protecting said body. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,643 
     Inventor: Robert W. Forsyth 
     Issued: Nov. 18, 1969 
     Ballastic shielding apparatus comprising: 
     a self-propelled vehicle having a body of predetermined configuration; at least one shield movably carried on said body adapted to be advanced outwardly from said body so as to define a personnel protection area between said shield and said body; 
     means carried on said body and operably coupled to said shield for selectively moving said shield away from and back to said body; and said moving means includes an electro-hydraulic actuator means having a switch means exposed exteriorly of said body in communication with the inside surface of said shield when said shield is in its fully retracted position against said body. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,685 
     Inventor: Frank B. Lane 
     Issued: Jul. 6, 1971 
     A mobile revetment of vehicular form. Armor plate is normally stored in a stowed, retracted position on a low slung wheeled frame. Self-contained power means deploys the armor and controls its return to retracted position. The device has connections on its ends so that multiple units may be towed as a train for disposing in protective array. In a stowed condition units may be stacked one upon another for ease of transportation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,832 
     Inventor: Floyd A. Kinder 
     Issued: Oct. 5, 1976 
     An amphibious vehicle is provided with pivoted plates on either side for ement between an extended position approximately horizontal and a “folded” position approximately vertical with respect to the normal position of the vehicle. A third plate may also be attached beneath and parallel to the bottom of the vehicle. These plates are so shaped that in the extended position they serve as planing skis and are fabricated from a material which will afford armor protection to the vehicle when the plates are in the folded or retracted position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,519 
     Inventor: Donald J. Marshall 
     Issued: Jul. 23, 1985 
     A system for protecting the doors and part of the side panels of a stationary vehicle includes a sheet-like shield that is selectively power actuated from a recessed position within the body of the vehicle to an extended position to protect the vehicle&#39;s door panels and part of the side panels. The shield, formed of flexible, yet rigid, material, is engaged by a motor-driven spindle mounted within a cylindrical housing. Projecting members, affixed to the inside of the shield, include end portions that are slidably housed within tracks secured to the door frame to provide paths extending from the cylindrical housing (located within the vehicle&#39;s rocker panel) so that, upon activating of the motor, the shield is unwound from the spindle and guided to a side covering position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,035 
     Inventor: James R. Madden, Jr. 
     Issued: Dec. 6, 1994 
     Removable bulletproof apparatus for the back of the front seat of a vehicle includes a transparent panel which is secured to or disposed adjacent to the front seat of the vehicle and a flexible curtain is secured to the bottom portion of the transparent panel. Both the transparent panel and the curtain are bulletproof. The curtain may be easily installed and easily removed from the transparent panel. The curtain is made of layers of fibrous material, such as woven cloth, preferably of an aramid fiber, such as a “Kevlar” cloth, or “SPECTRA SHIELD” material. Wing portions may be secured to the curtain and extended to door posts to provide additional protection for the occupants of the front seat from bullets fired from the rear of the vehicle or from rearwardly of the front door. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,508 
     Inventor: John G. Korpi 
     Issued: Nov. 19, 1996 
     A vehicle&#39;s armor assembly has a track on the vehicle&#39;s exterior, a pair of arriers translatable along the track, and a rotatable threaded rod for effecting relative axial motion of the carriers along the track. Arms of unequal length pivot on the carriers, the longer arm having a more elongate slot than does the shorter arm. A pin closely fits the slots and connects the arms at their intersection so that the arms are translatable and rotatable relative to the pin. The armor assembly has an armor plate or like element to which is fixed a pair of hinge elements, and the hinge elements have rotational connections to the arms. The carriers, arms and hinges act in concert to move the armor element from a retracted position to a deployed position. The retracted position is near the exterior zone and is parallel thereto, whereas the deployed position is remote from the exterior zone and oblique thereto. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,703,316 
     Inventor: James R. Madden, Jr. 
     Issued: Dec. 30, 1997 
     Bullet resistant curtain apparatus protects the rear of a vehicle. The curtain apparatus includes a curtain secured to the trunk lid of the vehicle and is deployed when the trunk lid is opened. The curtain apparatus includes a flexible curtain made of a plurality of bullet resistant cloth layers. The curtain folds as the trunk closes. A second embodiment includes a movable base with posts to which the curtain may be secured to comprise a portable shield. The base includes wheels for moving the portable shield. The curtain is removably secured to the trunk lid and is thus easily converted into the movable, portable shield. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,517 
     Inventor: D C Ivey 
     Issued: Dec. 26, 2006 
     A defensive shield for a ship has a support arm, pivotally mounted to a ship, and a shield pivotally mounted to one end of the support arm. The support arm is movable between a retracted position and a plurality of deployed defensive positions. In the deployed positions, the shield is outwardly spaced from the ship and angled to defend against attacks, such as aerial attacks and underwater attacks. 
     European Patent Application Number EP 0658738 
     Inventor: James R. Madden, Jr. 
     Published: Jun. 21, 1995 
     Removable bullet-resisting apparatus for a vehicle includes a transparent panel which is secured to or disposed adjacent to a vehicle window and a flexible curtain is secured to a bracket to which the bottom portion of the transparent panel is secured. Both the transparent panel and the curtain are bullet-resisting. Both the panel and the curtain are easily installed and easily removed from their common bracket and from the vehicle. Depending on the particular design or structure of a vehicle in which the apparatus is installed, various top bracket structures may be used. The curtain is made of layers of cloth, which may be woven or nonwoven material. In one embodiment, as for use in law enforcement vehicles, the curtain includes a bottom flap or portion that may be pivoted down when the door is opened to provide an officer with essentially a full length bullet-resisting shield. The full length shield includes both the transparent panel and the curtain and its flap. A similar curtain and transparent panel may be secured to and behind the front seat to protect the occupants of the front seat from bullets fired from the rear of the vehicle or from rearwardly of the front door. 
     Japan Patent Number JP2004239589 
     Inventor: Kuzuyuki Higuchi 
     Issued: Aug. 26, 2004 
     PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED 
     To provide safety of a policeman, a Self-Defense official, a guard, or the like carrying out patrol, transportation of valuables, or the like on a two wheeler. 
     SOLUTION 
     The shield with the windscreen function is normally attached to a vehicle body as a windscreen device of a two wheeler front part, and it is removed from the vehicle body and used as a shield to carry out self-defense and suppression in an emergency situation. The material is a lightweight material such as glass or plastic having bulletproof and stab-proof functions, or a similar material. 
     While these ballistic shields may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle with a deployable defense barrier. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier that is hydraulically deployable. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier that is angularly deployable from the body of the vehicle. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier wherein said defense barrier is angularly deployable from a substantially vehicle parallel position to a vehicle transverse position or any angle therebetween. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle with a defense barrier that is controllably deployable from the interior of the vehicle. 
     A further another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier having an audible alarm to warn persons to move from the vehicle and deployable defense barrier path. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a sensor for sensing the presence of people in the vehicle or shield path thereby actuating the audible alarm. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier with exteriorly positioned lights of a flashing or warning nature. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier that when deployed provides a pivotally movable shelf or table on the interior barrier side serving for the placement of articles thereon. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an optional marquee for said deployable defense barrier as a sun shield and/or protective element from inclement weather. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle with a plurality of defense barriers that are deployable from a plurality of vehicle engaging positions. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier that can be deployed obliquely whereby said defense barrier can be used as a ram against another vehicle. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier forming a ballistics defense shield. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle with extendible defense barrier forming a shield whereby the vehicle occupants can tactically exit said vehicle and use said defense barrier as a shield when confronting an aggressor. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier wherein said defense barrier is comprised of a pair of coplanar members where one is linearly extendible to augment the shield surface area. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle defense barrier wherein one of the pair of coplanar shield members is transparent for viewing a hostile situation while affording a protective shield. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide one of the pair of coplanar shield members with a slot which is normally obstructed by the transparent shield member that is movable whereby the slot serves as a portal for firearm use. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a motor vehicle defense barrier that is hydraulically deployable from within the vehicle in angular fashion having defense barrier exterior lights and sensor for sensing the presence of a person and audible to warn persons to move from the vehicle and deployable defense barrier path. 
     The defense barrier can be used to disable another vehicle by angularly deploying the barrier and ramming the other vehicle without damaging the defense barrier enabled vehicle and as a defensive element from small arms or rifle fire so that the vehicle occupants can tactically exit said vehicle and use said defense barrier as a shield. 
     The defense barrier is comprised of a pair of coplanar members where one is both transparent and linearly extendible to augment the shield surface area with the other having a slot which is normally obstructed by the transparent shield member that when moved provides for the slot to serve as a port for firearms use. When deployed a manually pivotally movable shelf or table is provided on the interior barrier side serving for the placement of articles thereon with the invention further providing an optional marquee serving as a sun shield and/or protective element from inclement weather. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the present invention un-deployed; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention in first deployment stage; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the present invention in second deployment stage; 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed top view of the present invention un-deployed; 
         FIG. 7  is a detailed side view of the present invention in first deployment stage; 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed top view of the present invention in second deployment stage; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the present invention in first stage of deployment; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the present invention in second stage of deployment; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram of the ballistics of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a topographic view of the present invention having radar identification and warning system; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of optional equipment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of optional equipment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  a perspective view of optional equipment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Deployable Vehicle Defense Shield of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures. 
     Deployable Vehicle Defense Shield of the present invention
           12  vehicle     13  door of  12       14  defense barrier     16  armored shield     18  transparent ballistic shield     19  Lexan     20  halogen light     22  flashing light strip     24  track mount     26  slidable track     27  user control unit     28  hydraulic piston     30  hydraulic cylinder     32  shaft of  28       34  pivot hinge     36  first end of  30       38  second end of  30       40  first end of  32       42  second end of  32       44  cylinder slide mount     46  first end of  24       48  second end of  24       50  first end of  16       52  second end of  16       56  ballistic shield housing     58  shaft pivot mount     60  front armor plate     61  slot     62  rear armor plate     64  viewing and firing port     66  small arms fire     68  magnum pistol fire     70  medium rifle fire     72  high velocity armor piercing rifle fire     74  radar identification and warning system     76  radar     78  radar sensor     80  audible alarm     82  pedestrian     84  target vehicle     86  front defense barrier     88  rear defense barrier     90  flip down table top     92  hinge of  90       94  thumbscrew of  90       96  locking port     98  marquee screen       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is a frontal illustrative view depicting the present invention as being a vehicle  12  mounted deployable defensive barrier  10  being field expedient and deployable by personnel to provide ballistic defense or a hardened extension of said vehicle blocking or ramming a target vehicle. The primary components of the present invention  10  comprises a pivotable defense barrier  14  with an armored plate  16  and an integral coplanar bulletproof transparent shield  18  that selectively extends therefrom. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the present invention  10 . Shown is a side view of the present invention  10  with a front defense barrier  86  and a rear defense barrier  88  mounted on a vehicle  12  in the closed position when not in use. While depicted on a police vehicle  12  the deployable shield  10  has a pivoting defense barrier  14  that will find application in any vehicle  12  requiring ballistic protection or ramming, such as military vehicles. The defense barriers  14  are hydraulically deployable from the interior of the vehicle  12  and can be deployed in whole or in part as a ballistic barrier or as a ram for disabling a target vehicle without damaging the police/military vehicle  12  having the deployable plates mounted thereon. In the closed position the defense barriers  14  also prevent gunfire or shrapnel from damaging the engine compartment and vehicle tires. The defense barrier  14  may also include flashing light strips  22  and/or halogen lights  20  on the outer surface of the armored shield  16 . 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the present invention  10  with the defense barrier  14  un-deployed and neatly folded against the side of a vehicle  12  so as to maintain a narrow profile and cover and protect substantially the tires and sides of said vehicle  12  from ballistic material and positioned so as not to obstruct the opening and closing of the doors  13 . 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention  10  in the first deployment stage wherein the defense barrier  14  is deployed to a 90 degree angle utilizing lateral forces applied to push the hydraulic piston  28  along a slidable track  26 . At the first stage of deployment the present invention  10  provides optimum strength for ramming or providing ballistic defense from large caliber/high velocity rifle fire. A user control unit  27  is provided to operate the functions of the defense barrier  14  and may be integral with the vehicle and or hand held remote units. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the present invention  10  in the second deployment stage. Shown is the defense barrier  14  pivoted into position and its inner clear ballistic panel  18  extended from its housing in the armored shield  16  utilizing forces applied by the extension of the shaft  32  from hydraulic cylinder  30  to provide for a larger area of protection and defense for personnel from most small arms/pistol fire. 
       FIG. 6  is a detailed top view of the present invention  10  un-deployed. The defense barrier  14  is neatly folded against the side of a vehicle  12  so as to maintain a narrow profile and cover and protect substantially the tires and sides of said vehicle  12  from ballistic material. Also shown is the pivot hinge  34  and its relation with the slide track mount  24  and the defense barrier  14 . 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed side view of the present invention  10  in first deployment stage. Shown is the hydraulic piston  28  comprising a cylinder  30  and a shaft  32  with the cylinder having a first end  36  slidably fastened to the slide track  26  and a second end  38  through which the shaft  32  extends and retracts. At the first stage of deployment the present invention  10  provides optimum strength for ramming or providing ballistic defense from large caliber/high velocity rifle fire. 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed top view of the present invention  10  in second deployment stage. The defense barrier  14  is deployed and its transparent ballistic shield  18  extended from its housing within the armored shield  16  by the hydraulic piston  28  to provide for a larger area of protection and defense for personnel from most small arms/pistol fire. The piston shaft  32  has a first end  40  that is acted upon and travels within the hydraulic cylinder  30  and a second end  42  that is mounted to the transparent shield  18  wherein extension and retraction thereof is accordingly responsive to the action of the shaft  32 . 
       FIG. 9  is a detailed perspective view of the present invention in  10  first stage of deployment. Shown is the track mount  24  secured to the vehicle  12  and having a slidable track  26  extending longitudinally therein for receiving a pivoting cylinder slide mount  44  disposed on the first end  36  of the cylinder  30 . The track mount  24  has a first end  46  disposed proximal the end of the vehicle  12  and a second end  48  that terminates prior to reaching the door in order to avoid interfering with the function thereof whether or not the defense barrier  14  is deployed. The physical pivoting connection between the track mount  24  and the defense barrier  14  is provided by the pivot hinge  34  disposed at the first end of said track mount  24 . The armored shield  16  has a first end  50  pivotally engaged with the pivot hinge  34  and a distal second end  52 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the present invention  10  in second stage of deployment whereby it is best suited for providing a larger field of protection to personnel from most small arms fire. The transparent ballistic shield  18  is typically composed of Lexan and is deployed outward due to force applied by the hydraulic piston  28 . The armored shield  16  has a hollow interior portion defining a housing  56  in which the ballistic shield  18  resides and travels therethrough thus resulting in a front armored plate  60  and a spaced apart rear armored plate  62  with the housing  56  and ballistic shield  18  disposed therebetween. The shaft  32  is fastened to the ballistic shield  18  with a shaft pivot mount  58  disposed on the second end  42  thereof. Extension of the hydraulic shaft  32  extracts the ballistic shield  18  from its housing  56  through the open second end  52  of the armored shield  16 . Corresponding slots  61  in the armored plates  60 , 62  form a viewing and firing port  64  to enable personnel to view through the defense barrier  14  without exposing themselves and to fire therethrough when the ballistic shield  18  is extended. 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram of the ballistics of the defense barrier  14  comprising the front armored plate  60  and the rear armored plate  62  of the armored shield  16  with the ballistic shield  18  (preferably fabricated of Lexan  19 ) disposed therein and the defense provided from small arms pistol fire  66 , magnum pistol fire  68 , medium rifle fire  70  to high velocity/armor piercing rifle fire  72  in its first stage of deployment. 
       FIG. 12  is a topographic view of the present invention  10  having radar identification and warning system  74  being used during deployment while in pursuit of a target vehicle. Shown is the present invention having radar  76  which sends out a radar sensor  78  to locate pedestrians  82  who may be entering harms way and warn them with an audible alarm  80 . 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of optional equipment of the present invention  10  with the rear defense barrier  88  deployed. Shown is a flip down table top  90  attached to the rear barrier of the present invention. Thumb screws secure the table top in a closed position. The thumb screws are turned to release the hingedly attached table for use. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of optional equipment of the present invention  10 . Shown is the optional flip down table top  90  attached to the rear barrier  88  in a flipped down position. Thumb screws  94  secure the table top  90  in a closed position when secured in their respective locking ports  96 . The thumb screws  94  are turned to release the hingedly  92  attached table  94  for use. 
       FIG. 15  a perspective view of optional equipment of the present invention  10 . Shown is the optional marquee screen  98  having a weather resistant roof and screened side walls that can be fully closed in or partially rolled up. The device protects the user from sun or inclement weather conditions. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention