Abstract:
A shield for use by police and law enforcement is disclosed. The shield has a variety of features useful in encounters with unknown persons, including a video capture mechanism.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/742,269 which was filed on Dec. 6, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a shield for use by police and law enforcement, and more specifically a shield with a variety of features useful in encounters with unknown persons, including a video capture mechanism.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     When law enforcement personnel encounters an unknown individual, surprises can happen where it may be desired to have suitable protection. It may also be useful to video-capture the encounter. Consequently, a means for achieving these results is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective shield for use by law enforcement personnel. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide means of video-capturing an encounter with an unknown person. It is yet another object of the present invention to achieve the above in a way that is accessible to a wearer who may be preoccupied with defending themself. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIGS. 1A-1C  show front, top, and side views of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2A  shows an interior view of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIGS. 2B-2C  show top and side views of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0008]      FIGS. 3A-3C ,  4 A- 4 C,  5 A- 5 C, and  6 A- 6 C show additional detail of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIGS. 7A-7C  show an arm-handle and control mechanism used within the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIGS. 7D-7E  show a retractable slider used within the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 8A-8E  show various portions of the arm-mount used within the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 9  shows a removable panel used within the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 10A-10C  show a weapon rest used within the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C , the shield  100  of the present invention comprises a roughly rectangular shaped, slightly curved, protective outer panel  1 , fitted with a series of user-operable devices. The body of the shield  100  is made of an impact resistant material designed to minimize the impact of projectiles of many types. The shield  100  is lightweight and capable of being carried on one arm, either left or right.  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C  and  2 A- 2 C, the devices capable of being deployed from the shield  100  include but are not limited to a high powered visible light  3 , audio/video recording capabilities, a weapon rest  15 , a pepper spray device  5 , a visible laser light  4 , a taser  12 , and a clipboard and information holding system  20 . The shield  100  also contains a speaker  7  capable of being used as a public address system, or for playing a pre-recorded message.  
         [0017]     The shield  100  comprises a rectangularly shaped impact resistant panel which contains on its outer surface an outer panel  1 . The outer panel  1  is made of a rigid, impact resistant material. From  FIG. 1C  it is apparent that the outer panel  1  has a slightly curved contour for the purposes of increasing its ability to deflect the force of a projectile.  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIGS. 1B-1C , the outer panel  1  has permanently attached to its inner surface an inner panel  2 . The inner panel  2  is also made of an impact resistant material for the purposes of increasing the ability of the shield to stop a projectile, which may have entered one of the device ports on outer panel  1 . The inner panel  2  encloses an open area  204  between the inner surface of inner panel  2  and the inner surface of outer panel  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , this open area  204  can contain a high output light  3 , laser light  4 , pepper spray  5 , video camera  6 , speaker port  7 , taser  12 , and a bionic ear  21 . The visible laser  4  will be of such a range and color as to allow it to be used to determine the distance to a target and a correct firing area. It is to be noted that this listing of devices is not meant to be comprehensive, so that other devices could be included within the present invention. Also, various embodiments of the present invention may selectively omit some of these devices.  
         [0019]     The outer panel I also has on its exterior surface an identification location area  8 . This identification location area  8  is designed to have applied to its surface a reflective, high visibility decal for clearly identifying any person or agency carrying the shield. Within various Figures herein, the identification location area  8  shows the word “POLICE”. However, other words and symbols are also contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention, so that the present invention should not be considered as limited exclusively thereto.  
         [0020]     Also as shown in  FIG. 1A , the outer panel  1  has located on its upper portion a safe viewing port  9 . The viewing port  9  is designed to allow an individual to view an area in front of the shield by looking through a clear impact resistant lens  9 , which is shaped to allow video  6  and laser  4  to operate through them while still retaining the maximum capability of safety.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2A  shows the shield  100  as seen by the user from the interior. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the inner surface of the inner panel  2  has a pivoting liquid crystal display  13  located on its upper portion. The liquid crystal display  13  allows viewing of the video camera  6  from the interior of the shield  100 , while still protecting the viewer.  
         [0022]     The back surface of the shield  100  has located at its approximate center a carrying arm-handle  14  and control mechanism  14 -C. The carrying arm-handle  14  and control mechanism  14 -C are designed to be easily changed from right to left hand carry, depending on the disposition of the user. As shown in  FIG. 5B , this bi-dexterity is facilitated by a mount bar  14 -A which allows the movement of arm-handle  14  by either a right or left-handed position. The ability to rotate and lock in two possible positions allows the arm-handle  14  to be utilized by either a right or left handed individual.  
         [0023]     The arm-handle  14  can also have a variety of tilting positions. For example, a first position exists for the purposes of holding and controlling the shield  100 . Separately, a second position allows that arm-handle  14  be pushed away from the user&#39;s hand and allows that hand total freedom of movement while the shield  100  is still clamped to the forearm.  
         [0024]     As shown in  FIGS. 8A-8E , hollow structures  14 -E are built into the interior of the shield  100 , so as to facilitate movement of the arm-handle  14  and the mount-bar  14 -A, yet maintain a secure attachment of the arm-handle  14  to the shield  100 .  
         [0025]     The effect of the shield  100  clamping to the forearm is achieved by the use of forearm clamps  14 -B. As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B ,  4 A,  4 C, and  8 A- 8 E, these clamps  14 -B are permanently fixed in the depression  304  in the back of inner shield panel  2 . The clamps  14 -B are designed so that placing the forearm in the correct position and pressing toward the shield  100  or utilizing a control feature of control arm-handle  14 , these clamps may be closed so that they firmly encircle the larger portion of a user&#39;s forearm. Also, for increased security, the clamps  14 -B will grasp near the wrist area of a user. The amount of pressure applied by these clamps  14 -B and their position can be controlled by the control mechanism  14 -C. These clamps  14 -B are also designed to hold the shield  100  in a position most suitable for use, but still be capable of allowing a user to easily and very quickly disengage from the shield  100  if necessary.  
         [0026]     The arm-handle  14  and controls  14 -C also act as a control mechanism for most of the devices that the shield can deploy.  
         [0027]     The arm-handle  14  also has a weapons rest  15  ( FIG. 2A ) and a weapons laser site  15 -A ( FIG. 10A ). The weapons rest  15  is designed in such a way that it telescopes out of the mount bar  14 -A along the retractable slider ( FIGS. 7D-7E ), thereby giving it two positions. The first is a closed position in which it is retracted inside the visible area of the shield  100 , and the second is an extended position in which the weapons rest  15  extends outward past the edge of the shield  100 , as shown in  FIG. 2A .  
         [0028]     The weapon rest  15  is designed in such a way that when a weapon is placed in its trough  15 -A, and the pressure sensor  15 -E activated, the laser light  4  will be illuminated that has been sighted in conjunction with the weapon platform being used.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIG. 10A , the weapon rest  15  is capable of rotary movement and has a ball type joint  15 -C at its end that allows for a maximum range of motion, yet still stabilizing the platform for the purposes of aiming. This will allow a person carrying a long firearm, for example an M-16, to be able to place the weapon in the weapon rest  15  actively supporting it during fire, while still maintaining the ability to hold the shield in a stable position.  
         [0030]     The weapon laser sight  15 -D also has the virtue of allowing an aiming point, but also allowing a user to activate the liquid crystal display and live active video feed  6  to aim and fire a weapon from an extremely defensive concealed position. This position can be achieved by holding the shield in such an area that video display  6  allows them to visibly see where the weapon system has been aimed, thereby allowing a user to operate a weapon system in an offensive or defensive manner from a concealed position.  
         [0031]     The pressure sensor at the base of the weapon rest  15  recognizes this action and closes by solenoid action a light gripper  15 -B against it, thereby placing the in a secure position for the purposes  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the inner side of the shield  100  has located on its upper centerline and lower centerline strap clips  11 -A and  11 -B. These strap clips  11 -A and  11 -B allow the attachment of the carrying strap  10  to the inner surface of the shield  100 , so as to allow the user to carry the shield  100  with their hands free or to place the shield in a protective position across their back. The strap  10  may also be useful for mounting purposes.  
         [0033]     The strap  10  may be designed in such a fashion that its length is controllable by a retractable device (not shown) that would allow for the concealment of the strap inside the shield itself and for the ability of the operator to quickly change the length of the strap or adjust the tension on the strap, for comfort and correct placement.  
         [0034]     The weapons rest  15 , in conjunction with laser sight  15 -A, may allow the user to fire a weapons system by viewing the laser sight  15 -A through the liquid crystal display  13 .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 6A , a taser  12  is coupled to the taser laser sight  12 -A. This allows for aiming and firing of the taser  12  from arm-handle  14  and control mechanism  14 -C. Pepper spray  5  is also coupled to the taser-laser site  12 -A and also controlled by arm-handle  14  and control mechanism  14 -C. The pepper spray container itself is a rechargeable unit or an interchangeable pressurized cartridge that can be inserted through a corresponding replacement opening on the inside of inner shield  2  for routine maintenance, checkup and replacement of the pepper spray canister.  
         [0036]     The arm-handle  14  and control mechanism  14 -C are electrically integrated with the various devices described herein in such a way that these devices can be controlled and deployed from the arm-handle  14  and control mechanism  14 -C. By virtue of the way they are attached to mount bar  14 -A allow for the handle during carrying of the shield to be placed in a first position angled slightly toward the operator in a slightly ergonomic position allowing maximum gripping ability, yet still allowing free movement of the thumb for the purpose of operating the pressure switches on the top of control mechanism  14 -C.  
         [0037]     When pivoted into a second position, the arm-handle  14  allows for the hand to be utilized for other purposes, while still allowing full control of the shield  100  and its secure placement on the arm.  
         [0038]     As shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C , the control mechanism  14 -C will allow the thumb of the user&#39;s hand to depress a series of recessed pressure switches designed to activate the various devices described herein. This control mechanism  14 -C will be developed in such a way that a series of safety measures and escalation protocols are designed to minimize the possibility of accidental deployment of devices. For example, pressing a switch on the control mechanism  14 -C could activate pepper spray  5 , and also activate a coupled laser  5 -A. However, the arm-handle  14  and control mechanism  14 -C can also incorporate a safety protocol. For example, pressing a button once might remove a safety mechanism. Pressing a button twice might light one of the visible lasers or other devices.  
         [0039]     A third press of a button could for example activate the pepper spray  5 , and also keep the pepper spray  5  in a position in which the solenoid could be cycled on or off according to the needs of the operator. This would effectively be the same safety protocol set up for any other active system on the shield  100 . For example, the taser  12  could operate similarly.  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 6A , battery power packs  19  are located on the inner surface of the shield  100 , and designed to allow quick interchange or charging of the DC power supplies that power the shield&#39;s electrical systems. These and other devices within the shield  100  can be accessed through a removable panel  24  ( FIGS. 6A, 9 ).  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C , a clipboard information system  20  is located on the interior surface of the shield  100  and allows the carrier to take notes or place reference materials nearby, by temporarily attaching it to this surface.  
         [0042]     As shown at least in  FIGS. 2A-6A , in the area  204  between outer panel  1  and inner panel  2  a bionic ear application  21  is located. The bionic ear  21  is an amplified listening system which contains various audio sensors that are placed on the external surface of the shield  100  and are connected to a sound amplification module located in the space  204  between  1  and  2 . The information and amplified sound is relayed to item  21 -A, which is an ear-fitting piece capable of fitting on the ear of a user. By receiving an amplified signal from  21 , a user of the shield  100  can listen at a higher level than is capable with normal hearing.  
         [0043]     The shield  100  may also be removed from a user&#39;s arm, placed in a strategic position, and left alone, thereby allowing a user to listen from a remote location that may be more safe. The arm-handle  14  and control mechanism  14 -C have a locking and unlocking system which automatically engages when the shield  100  is removed by a user, and needs to be reset when the shield  100  is re-engaged upon the operator&#39;s arm. For example, the depressing of some of the basic control buttons on the control mechanism  14 -C in a given pattern can unlock that mechanism, and allow the systems on it to be activated. This will ultimately be designed to prevent anyone but the qualified user from being able to activate any of the active systems on the shield as a safety measure.  
         [0044]     It is anticipated that various changes may be made in the arrangement and operation of the system of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.