Abstract:
A portable ballistic shield for law enforcement, military, and private security contractors operating in high threat cases. More specifically, a ballistic shield with a viewing window, a handle, a ball turret, an aiming laser, and at least one disruptor light used to disorient possible attackers. The shield provides protection to a user&#39;s entire upper body and enables a user to fire from a position in which the head of the user is better aligned with the weapon site.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/828,866 filed May 30, 2013, titled BALLISTIC SHIELD. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure pertains to a portable ballistic shield for use by law enforcement, military and private security contractors operating in high threat areas. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Law enforcement, military and civilian high threat security contractors have a need for protective gear when they respond to active shooter situations, acts of terrorism, military operations, high threat warrants, arrests and other acts of violence that require specialized equipment. The need for a portable lightweight ballistic shield that provides added protection to the military, security and law enforcement operator is imperative. 
         [0004]    Conventional ballistic shields typically require that the operator expose his or her hand or arm to return fire. In addition, conventional ballistic shields often require the operator to return fire from a position in which the head of the operator is not aligned with the weapon site. The present disclosure provides an improved ballistic shield and related methods that address the above shortcomings and others. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a ballistic shield is provided having a ballistic glass window, a handle used for holding the shield in front of the user&#39;s body, a quick release harness strap that clips around the user&#39;s shoulders/arms for additional stabilization, a ball turret with aiming laser, a quick release sleeve system that enables various weapon platforms to interchangeably fit into the ball mount turret, and a series of high density LED disruptor lights used to disorient possible attackers. A method of using a ballistic shield is also provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like reference numerals, and in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a portable ballistic shield in accordance with principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the ball turret and protection cover for the ball turret of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a quick release sleeve system of the ball turret of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  consists of additional views of the ball turret and protection cover and views of additional components of the ball turret assembly of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of one embodiment of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a rear elevation view of one embodiment of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a view of one embodiment of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 1 , wherein the shield is in use as a stretcher in accordance with principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 1  in accordance with principles of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of the ballistic shield of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The exemplary embodiments described herein in detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular shield, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ballistic shield is formed of a ballistic material that has a tinted viewing window  102  at the top of the shield, as depicted in  FIG. 1 . A handle  206  is mounted to the reverse face (rear) of the shield, shown in  FIG. 2 , so that an operator (e.g., a law enforcement, military or security operator) may hold the shield. The rear of the shield may also house a removable quick release harness  208  that helps the operator to balance the shield for longer uses. 
         [0020]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the ballistic shield uses a handle  206 , which is a forearm cuff type. As an alternative example, and as depicted in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the ballistic shield may use an open-bottom handle  1002  to allow a user to quickly and easily remove their arm from the handle  1002 . Some embodiments may include an additional handle  1004  to improve an operator&#39;s grip on the shield. 
         [0021]    Referring again to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , located below the handle  206  is an internal ball turret  106  with a laser  110  housed in the ball turret  106  for aiming the various weapon platforms at the target. The laser  110  can be attached to the weapon using a rail system. In some embodiments, the laser  110  is not a built-in component of the ball turret  106  and can slide onto the weapon. Then, a second rail system on the laser  110  can line up with a rail system on the ball turret  106 , and a user can use the laser&#39;s second rail system to slide the laser  110  and attached weapon into the ball turret  106 . In some embodiments, the laser  110  may be permanently affixed to the ball turret  106  and the weapon will slide directly into the ball turret  106  using the corresponding rail system on the laser  110 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the ball turret&#39;s rail system enables the weapon to lock into place and stay secure. This can prevent the weapon from improperly firing. In another embodiment, the laser is omitted altogether. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the weapon is secure enough in the ball turret  106  that the ball turret  106  may only permit the slide on the weapon to move back and forth when a shot is fired and a shell case is released. The ball turret  106  may further include a protection cover  108 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the ball turret  106  and protection cover  108  for the ball turret  106  of the ballistic shield. 
         [0023]    As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the internal ball housing also encompasses a quick release sleeve system  212  in the rear of the ball that can hold interchangeable gun sleeves for various weapon platforms that connect to the ball turret  106 . The sleeves can, for example, snap onto the accessory rail (e.g., Picatinny rail, weaver mount, under barrel universal rail, etc.). The sleeve can be attached to the ball housing via a locking mechanism in a quick release sleeve system  212  (set screw, over center lever, etc.).  FIG. 4  also depicts a possible location of the laser  110 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  depicts additional views of the ball turret  106  and protection cover  108  and views of additional components of the ball turret assembly of the ballistic shield. The pictured components include a ball mount  502 , a cover  504 , ball mount hardware  506 , a quick release pin  508 , and a ball mount washer  510 . 
         [0025]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the front top of the shield houses a series of LED disruptor lights  104  that are controlled by a power switch  204  on the rear of the shield; the LED lights&#39; power source  202  is also located on the rear of the shield in this embodiment. 
         [0026]    In the depicted embodiment, the ballistic material forming the shield may be selected, preferably, from the group consisting of: boron, carbide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, alumina ceramic, titanium diboride, reinforced fiberglass competitive and mixtures of such materials as well as other rigid, semi-rigid or flexible materials that can withstand some level of bullet impact. The tinted viewing window  102  through the shield may be formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: bulletproof glass and polycarbonate polymers. The interchangeable sleeve is formed, preferably, by a material from the selection of the following groups: plastic, polycarbonate polymers, metal, aluminum. 
         [0027]    In the depicted embodiment, the ballistic shield houses an internal ball mount  502  and green or other colored laser  110  that will be formed, preferably, by a material from the following groups: plastic, steel, metal, aluminum, polycarbonate polymers and boron, carbide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, alumina ceramic, titanium diboride, reinforced fiberglass competitive and mixtures of such materials. 
         [0028]    As discussed above, the ballistic shield in the depicted embodiment further comprises one or more disruptor lights  104  mounted to the front of the shield. The disruptor lights  104  may be advanced flash bars, LED lights, or strobe lights or halogen lamps or flat panel lights. A shroud can be provided between the disruptor lights  104  and the viewing window  102  to minimize glare back towards the viewing window  102 . 
         [0029]    The disclosure provides a handheld lightweight ballistic shield comprising a front side and rear side that are formed of a ballistic material; a ballistic tinted viewing window  102  through the shield; a handle  206 ,  1002 ,  1004  used for carrying or holding the shield in front of at least a portion of the user&#39;s body; and a quick release harness  208  using a nylon-type material that clips around the user&#39;s shoulders and arms for additional stabilization. The ballistic shield houses a ball mounting system, the parts of which are illustrated in  FIG. 5 , with an internal laser  110  used for aiming various interchangeable weapon platforms. The ball mounting system utilizes a quick release sleeve system  212  with interchangeable sleeve (sleeves) for various weapon platforms such as automatic pistols, machine pistols and submachine guns. 
         [0030]    In addition, the front shield houses a series of high-density LED disruptor lights  104  used to disorient, blind, and confuse potential attackers. The LED disruptor lights  104  are powered by a battery pack located on the top of the shield that is operated by a power switch  204  that may be, for example, located on the handle  206  of the shield in some embodiments. Alternatively, a power switch  204  located above the ball mounting system, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , may activate the battery pack. 
         [0031]    As depicted in  FIG. 6 , some embodiments of the shield may have four hard points  602  located in each corner of the shield with a reinforced nylon or Kevlar strap  604  that allows the operator to use the shield as a stretcher if a team mate or civilian needs to be evacuated.  FIG. 8  depicts use of the disclosed shield as a stretcher in this manner. In addition, the inside top of the shield may have attachment strips  702  that allow for carrying cases  704  to be attached and carried, as depicted in  FIG. 7 . The attachment strips  702  may be made of Velcro. The carrying cases  704  may be soft pouches. The carrying cases  704  may be used to carry extra pistol, carbine or sub machine gun magazines, flash bang grenades or other tactical items needed by the operator to accomplish his/her mission. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment of the present disclosure the viewing window  102  has multi hit capabilities and is 4×16 inches in size, the total weight of the shield is 22 lbs., the height is 36inches and the width is 26.5 inches, the ballistic glass has a silver coating, and the shield has five LED disruptor lights  104  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The size and weight, as well as the number of LED disruptor lights  104  included, may vary. For example, the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 9  has three LED disruptor lights  104 . 
         [0033]    The disclosed ballistic shield configuration enables an operator to fire from a position wherein the weapon is aligned with the operator&#39;s body and head, rather than substantially offset therefrom. In addition, the operator can fire without exposing the operator&#39;s hand/arm from behind the shield. As depicted in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 11 , the shield may also have flared edges  902  on the left and right hand side, which can match the dimensions of common doors found in the United States so that when the operator goes to a knee, the door and shield become a fixed bunker position affording the operator full protection. The flared edges  902  can be modified to the dimensions of doors in other countries, for example, those in Europe, the Middle East or Asia. Alternatively, the shield could have rounded edges or could be flat across the face. In another embodiment, the door itself could serve as a shield, with the ball turret mounted in the door, and further including a viewing aperture to enable aiming and firing accurately from behind the door. 
         [0034]    Many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the location of the ball turret  106  can vary and the configuration of the turret itself can vary. In addition, the location and configuration of the disruptor lights  104  and the ballistic glass can vary. Many other configurations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.