Abstract:
A multifunctional tactical device for fire, police, military and other tactical invasive and protective actions includes a main elongated housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and having a central axis in its elongated direction; at least one back handle connected to the main housing approximate the proximal end; at least one forward handle connected to the main housing at a location away from the proximal end and away from the distal end; a flat ram area located at the distal end of the main housing, the flat ram area being at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees from the central axis; a plurality of claws located at the distal end of the main housing, the plurality of claws extending outwardly therefrom at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees from the central axis, at least one of the claws being a flat pry bar claw and at least one of the claws being a tapered shackle busting spike claw.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     a. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates generally to a multifunctional tactical device for serving military, law enforcement, fire and security personnel. The present invention device is a single unit that serves as an extra wide pry bar, a set of claws, a ram, a padlock and shackle buster, a sledgehammer, a window rake, a fireman&#39;s tool, a shovel, a tow bar and many other functions. It is the most diversified, most capable and most efficient tactical tool ever offered to serve the men and women who defend and protect us. 
     b. Description of Related Art 
     The following patents are representative of the state of the art of tactical devices: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,946 to Studley et al. describes an improved forcible entry tool for opening locked or jammed doors by emergency personnel for the purpose of apprehending criminal suspects, gathering evidence, and preserving lives of people who become trapped by fire, earthquake, tornadoes, or by other circumstances beyond their control. The tool of the present invention comprises an elongated frame with a piercing pivot blade on the front end of the tool. The pivot blade is configured to pivot perpendicular to the frame upon penetration through a door, thereby enabling the tool operator to effectively pull back on the tool to break open an outwardly swinging door. A detachable ram head may be mounted over the front end of the frame for purposes of breaking through a door that swings inward (i.e. away from the tool operating personnel). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,850 to Hull et al. describes a forcible entry tool which enables law enforcement personnel such as SWAT teams or police or other persons such as firemen to breach a heavily fortified door or the like in a matter of seconds without the use of explosives. A ram is adjustable in weight to suit the needs of an individual and which may be inter-locked with another ram of the same structure in order to “gang” them and several can be locked together, forming a heavy, multi-manned battering ram. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,171 to Kee et al. describes a battering ram operable by one person for battering objects that has in one arrangement a concrete-filled tube with first and second ends with an epoxy resin contact face at the first end, a first handle located proximate to the center of gravity of the body, and a second handle located at the second end. 
     Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to multifunctional tactical devices for fire, police, military and other tactical invasive and protective actions. The device includes a main elongated housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and having a central axis in its elongated direction; at least one back handle connected to the main housing approximate the proximal end; at least one forward handle connected to the main housing at a location away from the proximal end and away from the distal end; a flat ram area located at the distal end of the main housing, the flat ram area being at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees from the central axis; a plurality of claws located at the distal end of the main housing, the plurality of claws extending outwardly therefrom at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees from the central axis, at least one of the claws being a flat pry bar claw and at least one of the claws being a tapered shackle busting spike claw. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the plurality of claws extends outwardly from the flat ram area. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the plurality claws have a total external width of at least four inches. In other embodiments, smaller versions may have a total external width less than four inches. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the plurality of claws includes at least three claws with two outer claws and at least one central claw. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the two outer claws are flat pry bar claws and the at least one central claw is a tapered shackle busting spike claw. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, flat pry bar claw includes a tapered cutting edge. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the device includes an internal cutting edge at one location selected from the group consisting of the main housing, one claw, and two claws. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the device has a mass of at least twenty pounds. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the plurality of claws includes at least two claws having a tapered space therebetween for placement under objects for pull and lift actions. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the device further includes a flat sledge hammer area at said distal end of the main housing located at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees from said flat ram area. 
     In some preferred embodiments of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the main housing has a cross sectional shape at a right angle to its central axis that is selected from the group consisting of a circle, an oval, a triangle, a square, a rectangle and a polygon having at least five sides. 
     The present invention also relates to multifunctional tactical device for fire, police, military and other tactical invasive and protective actions that includes a main elongated hollow housing having a proximal end and a distal end, and having a central axis in its elongated direction, wherein the hollow housing includes a storage area; at least one back handle connected to the main housing approximate the proximal end; at least one forward handle connected to the main housing at a location away from the proximal end and away from the distal end; a flat ram area located at the distal end of the main housing, the flat ram being at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees from the central axis; a plurality of claws located at the distal end of the main housing, the plurality of claws extending outwardly there from at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees from the central axis, at least one of the claws being a flat pry bar claw and at least one of the claws being a tapered shackle busting spike claw. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the plurality claws extends outwardly from the flat ram area. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the plurality of claws have a total external width of at least four inches. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the plurality of claws includes at least three claws with two outer claws and at least one central claw. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the outer two claws are flat pry bar claws and the at least one central claw is a tapered shackle busting spike claw. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, flat pry bar claw includes a tapered cutting edge. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the device includes an internal cutting edge at one location selected from the group consisting of the main housing, one claw, and two claws. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the device has a mass of at least twenty pounds. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the plurality of claws includes at least two claws having a tapered space therebetween for placement under objects for pull and lift actions. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the device further includes a flat sledge hammer area at a the distal end of the main housing located at an angle of about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees from the flat ram area. 
     In some preferred embodiments of this version of the present invention multifunctional tactical device, the main housing has a cross sectional shape at a right angle to its central axis that is selected from the group consisting of a circle, an oval, a triangle, a square, a rectangle and a polygon having at least five sides. 
     Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a multifunctional tactical device with a rectangular main housing; 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a present invention multifunctional tactical device; 
         FIG. 3  is another embodiment of a present invention multifunctional tactical device; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of another alternative embodiment present invention multifunctional tactical device; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of yet another alternative embodiment present multifunctional tactical device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention device may be used as a tool for professionals, and for emergency response personnel, demolition, military, fire, national and other law enforcement entities, including but not limited to police, sheriff, FBI, AFT, DEA, national guard, etc. 
     The present invention device has more than one hundred diverse uses, including, but not limited to the following top twenty one examples: 
     (1.) Wide Pry Bar: With a plurality of claws and a preferred external claw width of at least four inches, this device will easily pry open almost any door. 
     (2.) Double Fork Pry Bar: The plurality of claws enables a user to break a door with both a knob lock and a separate dead bolt lock, in one action. 
     (3.) Ram: The front (distal) end has a large flat ram that easily busts through doors, shattered windows, etc and is more effective and more powerful than commercially popular ram devices. 
     (4.) Padlock Buster: The claws may grip and pull right through a padlock, i.e., rip it off its hasp or eyelets. Alternatively, the claws may be positioned with the spike claw inside the lock shackle and the device hammered or struck to shatter the lock. 
     (5.) Shackle Buster: The claws will grip and break right through shackles. 
     (6.) Hammer Claws: The claws may be used like a large set of hammer claws and pull large bolts and spikes and rip through wood, metal etc., by being slid under the item and either pulling or push-levering, like a hammer removing nails or ripping off a piece of wood. 
     (7.) Sledge Hammer: with the claws facing away from the target, the flat sledge hammer area may be used to smash upon the target or as a driver to drive in something large, e.g. emergency tent spikes. 
     (8.) Wall Buster: Given the size and weight of various embodiments, the present invention device will manually break wood, wood and drywall, and other construction material walls. It even breaks through block walls without machines or hydraulics. 
     (9.) Diversion Tool: The present invention devices may be thrown through closed windows followed by tear gas and other diversionary devices. 
     (10.) Window Rake: The present invention devices are extremely efficient at raking out broken window glass wooden cross member, shades, etc. to create clear passage areas. 
     (11.) Fireman&#39;s Tool: The present invention devices are excellent tools for ripping apart burning debris, beams, walls, etc. 
     (12.) Shovel: The present invention devices are powerful manual shovels, using the claws for digging. 
     (13.) Step Booster: When placed against a wall or building, the present invention devices aid police and others to reach windows, sealed walls, etc. 
     (14.) Tow Bar: the present invention devices may be used to pull items when connected to a chain on rope and vehicle. 
     (15.) Wood Splitter: In a military environment or otherwise where firewood or fuel is needed, the present invention device is an excellent log splitter. 
     (16.) Weapon: In extreme circumstances, the present invention devices will outpower and destroy knife, machete, bayonet, or other weapon and will effectively take on plural attackers in seconds. 
     (17.) Stump Remover: The present invention devices are effective for removal of stumps and other earth-embedded items. 
     (18.) Emergency Door Brace: To protect a single soldier or law enforcement officer or to lock up an escape route, the present invention devices may be forced under a door to prevent opening from the opposite side. 
     (19.) Hinge Remover: For gates and large doors and even steel and other metal doors, the present invention devices are excellent hinge removal devices. 
     (20.) Storage Box: The hollow versions of the present invention devices may be used to store other tactical or useful law enforcement/emergency service/military items e.g. a fire blanket or a flexible stretcher. 
     (21.) Chain Buster: The spike claws of present invention multifunctional tactical device may be inserted into a chain link and hammered so as to bust open the link and thereby break the chain. In this application, as in others above, a second present invention device may be inserted and used as the hammer. 
     The above twenty one uses include many of the preferred uses, but many other uses are also viable with the present invention devices. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a present invention multifunctional tactical device  100 . It includes a main housing  101  with a proximal end  103  and a distal end  107 . In this embodiment, main housing  101  is rectangular in cross-section and is hollow with proximal end  103  open to create storage area  105 . Distal end  107  includes ramming plate  121  welded or otherwise attached to main housing  101 . Plate  121  may be used for all of the above purposes stated and is an effective battering ram when held by two hands at handles  127  and  111 , swung back and thrust forward. 
     Claws  113 ,  115 , and  117  function together to make an extremely wide claw width that is superb for prying open doors and gates, ripping windows, and many other uses as said forth above. In addition, claw  117  is a spike claw that may be positioned in a lock keyhole or shackle that will pierce and shatter the lock when device  100  is struck at its top. Additionally, flat claws  113  and  115  have tapered edges for various penetration and leverage actions. Further, when inverted, device  100  becomes a driving device and sledgehammer, particularly at surface  109 . Orifices  123  and  125  at proximal end  103  may be used for insertion of ropes or chains and device  100  may then be used as a tow or pull device. For example, when attached to a vehicle or pulled by a team of men, device  100  may be used to pull down and topple an entire wall or other large objects. 
     When device  100  is stood up vertically like a boot, it may be used as a support for a post, rifle rest, or may be used as a stopping device, e.g., when pinned under a doorknob or door bottom to prevent escape. It may also be used as a step to facilitate high level entry or even as a grapple. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a present invention multifunctional tactical device  200 . It includes a main housing  201  with a proximal end  203  and a distal end  207 . In this embodiment, main housing  201  has a circular cross-section and is hollow with proximal end  203  open to create storage area  205 . Distal end  207  includes ramming plate  211  welded or otherwise attached to main housing  201 . Plate  211  may be used for all of the above purposes stated and is an effective battering ram when held by two hands at handles  221  and  223 , swung back and thrust forward. 
     Claws  215  and  217  function together to make an extremely wide claw width that is superb for prying open doors and gates, ripping windows, and many other uses as said forth above. In addition, claw  215  is a spike claw that may be positioned in a lock keyhole or shackle that will pierce and shatter the lock when device  200  is struck at its top. Additionally, flat claw  217  has a tapered edge for various penetration and leverage actions. Further, when inverted, device  200  becomes a driving device and sledgehammer, particularly at surface  209 . Orifices  231  and  233  at proximal end  203  may be used for insertion of ropes or chains and device  200  may then be used as a tow or pull device. For example, when attached to a vehicle or pulled by a team of men, device  200  may be used to pull down and topple an entire wall or other large objects. 
     When device  200  is stood up vertically like a boot, it may be used as a support for a post, rifle rest, or may be used as a stopping device, e.g., when pinned under a doorknob or door bottom to prevent escape. It may also be used as a step to facilitate high level entry or even as a grapple. Additionally, in this embodiment, handles  223  and  225  are diametrically opposed so that the device  200  may be used as a vertical hammering device by being held on opposite sides and reciprocally pulled up and dropped or pushed down. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a present invention multifunctional tactical device  300 . It includes a main housing  301  with a proximal end  303  and a distal end  307 . In this embodiment, main housing  301  has a hexagonal cross-section and is hollow with proximal end  303  open to create storage area  305 . Distal end  307  includes ramming plate  321  welded or otherwise attached to main housing  301 . Plate  321  may be used for all of the above purposes stated and is an effective battering ram when held by two hands at handles  325  and  327 , swung back and thrust forward. Also, because handle  325  extends to the bottom, device  300  may be used upright in a vertical position and used as a hammer, vertical driver or tamping device by holding opposite sides of handle  325  and moving vertically in a reciprocal motion. 
     Claws  313 ,  315  and  317  function together to make an extremely wide claw width that is superb for prying open doors and gates, ripping windows, and many other uses as said forth above. In addition, claw  315  is a spike claw that may be positioned in a lock keyhole or shackle that will pierce and shatter the lock when device  300  is struck at its top. Additionally, flat claws  313  and  317  have tapered edges for various penetration and leverage actions. Further, when inverted, device  300  becomes a driving device and sledgehammer, particularly at surface  309 . Orifices  331  and  333  at proximal end  303  may be used for insertion of ropes or chains and device  300  may then be used as a tow or pull device. For example, when attached to a vehicle or pulled by a team of men, device  300  may be used to pull down and topple an entire wall or other large objects. 
     When device  300  is stood up vertically like a boot, it may be used as a support for a post, rifle rest, or may be used as a stopping device, e.g., when pinned under a doorknob or door bottom to prevent escape. It may also be used as a step to facilitate high level entry or even as a grapple. 
       FIG. 4  shows a front-end view of a present invention multifunctional tactical device front plate  401 . It includes a sledgehammer surface  403 , two wide claws  405  and  409  and one spike claw  407 . Additionally, there is a notch  419  with a sharp crescent edge for cutting telephone lines, cords, ropes, wires, etc., and a notch  415  with a straight cutting edge  417  for similar or different cutting purposes. Finally, both wide claws  405  and  409  have cutting edges  411  and  413  so that the device may be used like a hatchet, axe, or pick. In some embodiments, the crescent blade and/or the straight cutting edge blade may be integrally formed with the front plate as a single structure, while in other embodiments, the blades may be separate pieces that are screwed to or otherwise removably attached to the device for replacement as needed. 
       FIG. 5  shows a front-end view of a present invention multifunctional tactical device front plate  501  that has a generally hexagonal shape but with a spike claw  505  and wide claws  507 ,  509  and  511  at right angles to spike claw  505 . It includes a sledgehammer surface  503 . Additionally, there is a notch  515  with a sharp crescent edge for cutting telephone lines, cords, ropes, wires, etc., and a notch  511  for pulling nails, spikes, bolts and the like. 
     Although the present invention multifunctional tactical devices may be hand carried, it is preferred that one or two straps be attached thereto for shoulder or over the shoulder transport purposes. Preferred are straps with quick-release mechanisms and/or velcro-type attachments. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.