Abstract:
An ordinance, such as a rocket propelled grenade, shield includes a net with hard points at select nodes of the net and cable guides on the side of the net. Cables under tension extend through the cable guides supporting the net typically in conjunction with a top cross bar, spaced top struts, and spaced bottom struts. This framis design facilitates entering and exiting the vehicle or structure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/807,532 filed Sep. 8, 2010 and claims the benefit of and priority thereto under 35 U.S.C. §§119, 120, 363, 365, and 37 C.F.R. §1.55 and §1.78, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/386,114 filed Apr. 14, 2009, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/124,428 filed Apr. 16, 2008. 
     
    
       [0002]    This invention was made with U.S. Government support under Contract No. HR0011-09-C-0017 awarded by DARPA. The Government has certain rights in the invention. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The subject invention relates to ordnance shielding. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and other ordnance are used by terrorist groups to target military vehicles and structures. See WO 2006/134407 incorporated herein by this reference. 
         [0005]    Others skilled in the art have designed intercept vehicles which deploy a net or a structure in the path of an RPG in an attempt to change its trajectory. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,190,304; 6,957,602; 5,578,784; and 7,328,644 all incorporated herein by this reference. Related prior art discloses the idea of deploying an airbag (U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,558) or a barrier (U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,499) in the trajectory path of a munition to deflect it. These references are also included herein by this reference. 
         [0006]    Many such systems require detection of the RPG and deployment of the intercept vehicle quickly and correctly into the trajectory path of the RPG. 
         [0007]    Static armor such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,170,690; 5,191,166; 5,333,532; 4,928,575; and WO 2006/134,407 is often heavy and time consuming to install. When a significant amount of weight is added to a HMMWV, for example, it can become difficult to maneuver and top heavy. Such an armor equipped vehicle also burns an excessive amount of fuel. 
         [0008]    Moreover, known static systems do not prevent detonation of the RPG. One exception is the steel grille armor of WO 2006/134,407 which is said to destroy and interrupt the electrical energy produced by the piezoelectric crystal in the firing head of the RPG. Bar/slat armor is also designed to dud an RPG. But, bar/slat armor is also very heavy. Often, a vehicle designed to be carried by a specific class of aircraft cannot be carried when outfitted with bar/slat armor. Also, if the bar/slat armor is hit with a strike, the RPG still detonates. Bar/slat armor, if damaged, can block doors, windows, and access hatches of a vehicle. 
         [0009]    Chain link fence type shields have also been added to vehicles. The chain link fencing, however, is not sufficiently compliant to prevent detonation of an RPG if it strikes the fencing material. Chain like fencing, although lighter than bar/slat armor, is still fairly heavy. Neither bar/slat armor nor the chain link fence type shield is easy to install and remove. 
         [0010]    Despite the technology described in the above prior art, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other threats used by enemy forces and insurgents remain a serious threat to troops on the battlefield, on city streets, and on country roads. RPG weapons are relatively inexpensive and widely available throughout the world. There are varieties of RPG warhead types, but the most prolific are the PG-7 and PG-7M which employ a focus blast or shaped charge warhead capable of penetrating considerable armor even if the warhead is detonated at standoffs up to 10 meters from a vehicle. A perfect hit with a shaped charge can penetrate a 12 inch thick steel plate. RPGs pose a persistent deadly threat to moving ground vehicles and stationary structures such as security check points. 
         [0011]    Heavily armored, lightly armored, and unarmored vehicles have been proven vulnerable to the RPG shaped charge. Pick-up trucks, HMMWV&#39;s, 2½ ton trucks, 5 ton trucks, light armor vehicles, and M118 armored personnel carriers are frequently defeated by a single RPG shot. Even heavily armored vehicles such as the M1 Abrams Tank have been felled by a single RPG shot. The PG-7 and PG-7M are the most prolific class of warheads, accounting for a reported 90% of the engagements. RPG-18s, RPG-69s, and RPG-7Ls have been reported as well, accounting for a significant remainder of the threat encounters. Close engagements 30 meters away occur in less than 0.25 seconds and an impact speed ranging from 120-180 m/s. Engagements at 100 meters will reach a target in approximately 1.0 second and at impact speeds approaching 300 m/s. 
         [0012]    The RPG-7 is in general use in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and weapon caches are found in random locations making them available to the inexperienced insurgent. Today, the RPG threat in Iraq is present at every turn and caches have been found under bridges, in pickup trucks, buried by the road sides, and even in churches. 
         [0013]    Armor plating on a vehicle does not always protect the occupants in the case of an RPG impact and no known countermeasure has proven effective. Systems designed to intercept and destroy an incoming threat are ineffective and/or expensive, complex, and unreliable. 
         [0014]    Chain link fencing has been used in an attempt to dud RPGs by destroying the RPG nose cone. See, for example, DE 691,067. See also published U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0164379. Others have proposed using netting to strangulate the RPG nose cone. See published U.S. Application No. 2009/0217811 and WO 2006/135432. 
         [0015]    WO 2006/134407, insofar as it can be understood, discloses a protective grid with tooth shaped members. U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,605 discloses disruptive bodies secured to armor. The disruptive bodies are designed to penetrate into an interior region of a shaped charge to disrupt the formation of the jet. The shaped charge disclosed has a fuse/detonator mechanism in its tail end. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    No known prior art, however, discloses a net supporting a spaced array of hard points at a set off distance from a vehicle or a structure wherein the hard points are designed to dig or tear into the nose cone of an RPG and dud it. 
         [0017]    Pending U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0266227, incorporated herein by this reference, discloses a novel vehicle protection system. The following reflects an enhancement to such a system. 
         [0018]    In the field, if a hard point net is placed over a door, window, or other means of ingress or egress, it can be a slow process to remove the net from the frame and open the door or window in order to enter or exit the vehicle or structure. The same is true if it is desirable to remove one or more hard point nets and their frames for maneuvers, staging operations, transportation of a vehicle, or the like. The tubular frame members also add some weight to the vehicle or structure. Also, the frame members, if struck by an RPG, may cause detonation of the RPG. 
         [0019]    In various aspects of the invention, in some embodiments, ingress and egress are made easier and a lighter weight system is provided. The subject invention results from the at least partial realization that, in one preferred embodiment, hard point nets with one or more cables serving as the frame components allow easier ingress, egress, provide improved coverage, and results in a lighter weight system. When two adjacent nets share the same cable, hard point coverage is even further improved. 
         [0020]    The invention, in one example, includes a shield comprising a net including hard points at select nodes of the net. One or more sides of the net include a plurality of cable guides such as eyelets and at least one cable under tension extends through the cable guides supporting the net. 
         [0021]    One specific design, the eyelets include a peripheral groove for receiving a net chord therein, the hard points include a body portion with a cavity and a plug received in the cavity, and a net chord extends between the plug and the body portion, around the eyelet groove, and back between the plug and the body portion. Typically, the hard points include slots in the body portion for the net chords. 
         [0022]    Besides the cable(s), the framis for the net may include a top cross bar for supporting the net. In one version, spaced top struts interconnect the top cross bar with the vehicle or structure. In one example, the top cross bar includes a tensioning mechanism for the cable. 
         [0023]    If the vehicle or structure includes a door, both top struts can be connected to the door or, alternatively, one top strut can be connected to the door and one top strut can be connected to the vehicle or structure. In the later design, the top struts are preferably pivotable with respect to the top cross bar and with respect to the door or vehicle structure. 
         [0024]    The framis for the net, in some examples, includes spaced bottom struts for opposing sides of the net. In one example, the bottom struts are foldable with respect to the vehicle or structure and/or include a shock absorbing device. In one version, each bottom strut is connected to a net cable but the net cable is removable from its associated bottom strut. In but one example, a pin is removably received in a bottom strut and connected to the net. In one design, a cable extends through cable guides at the top and bottom of a first side of the net, over to a second side of the net and through cable guides at the bottom and top of the second side, to the top of the net, then through cable guides at the middle on the second side, then to the bottom of the net, over to the first side of the net, through cable guides of at the middle of the first side of the net, and then to the top of the net. 
         [0025]    In another example, a member is provided for tensioning sides of the net and typically resides between the net and the vehicle or structure. 
         [0026]    In several examples, a tray on the vehicle or structure is provided for storing the net. Typically, there are cable guides on opposing sides of the net and spaced cables, one on each side of the net. An adjacent net can be provided with cable guides and a cable then extends through the cable guides of both nets. 
         [0027]    The invention also features a shield comprising a net with opposing sides of the net including a plurality of cable guides for supporting the net when a cable is provided under tension through the cable guides on each side of the net. 
         [0028]    A method of manufacturing a shield, in accordance with one example, includes running chords of a net through a body portion of a hard point, direction the chord to a cable guide, redirecting the chord back between through the body portion of the hard point; and forcing a plus into the body portion of the hard point locking the chord therein. Preferably, the net chord is directed about the cable guide. 
         [0029]    The invention also features a method of manufacturing a shield comprising securing hard points at select nodes of a net, adding cable guides to one or more sides of the net, and providing at least one cable under tension through the cable guides to support the net in a spaced relation with respect to a vehicle or structure. 
         [0030]    One method includes supporting the net by a top cross bar and interconnecting the top cross bar with the vehicle or structure using spaced top struts. The method may further comprise making the top struts foldable with respect to the vehicle or structure. The method typically includes tensioning at least one cable. A method may include supporting the net via spaced bottom struts, making the bottom struts foldable with respect to the vehicle or structure, and/or equipping each bottom strut with a shock absorbing device. A bottom fabric portion may be provided for the net. 
         [0031]    In one method, a member is provided for tensioning sides of the net and typically the member is placed between the net and the vehicle or structure. 
         [0032]    The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these objectives. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view showing an example of a hard point net and a frame for the hard point net; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a schematic front view showing another frame structure for a hard point net attached at the front of a vehicle; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a schematic three-dimensional front view showing an example of two nets sharing the same cable wherein each net is attached to the cable via cable guides in accordance with an embodiment of the subject invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing a portion of one side (the top, bottom, or left or right hand side) of a hard point net in accordance with an example of the subject invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5A  is a schematic rearview showing a portion of a hard point in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the subject invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 5B  is a schematic front view of the hard point portion shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  is a schematic three-dimensional front view showing additional structure associated with the two nets shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 7  is a schematic three-dimensional front view showing an example of a hinged and pivotable frame structure and a net folded up in a tray in accordance with an example of the subject invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  is a schematic depiction showing an example of a hard point net over a door of a military vehicle in accordance with another example of the invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 9  is a highly schematic view showing how the cabling of the hard point net shown in  FIG. 8  is routed through the eyelets of the net in order to prevent hour glassing of the hard point net; 
           [0044]      FIG. 10  is a schematic enlarged depiction showing a portion of the top of the hard point net shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 11  is a schematic close-up depiction of a portion of the bottom of the hard point net shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 12  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing several of the primary components associated with the tensioning subassembly for the net shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 13  is a schematic cross sectional depiction of the left hand side of the top cross bar assembly shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 14  is a schematic three dimensional view of the cable redirecting structure shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 16  is a schematic three dimensional side view of a cable retaining pin as shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 17  is a schematic side view of the cable retaining pin shown in  FIG. 16  extending through a cable retainer as shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 18  is a schematic three dimensional view showing another example of a framis for a net shield in accordance with the invention; 
           [0052]      FIG. 19  is a schematic depiction showing a portion of the bottom of a net shield in accordance with another example of the invention; 
           [0053]      FIG. 20  is a schematic depiction showing one side of still another framis structure for the net shield shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 21  is a schematic top view showing an example of net shield systems attachable to adjacent doors of a military vehicle in accordance with the invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 22  is a schematic depiction showing a unique method of attaching a top cross member net shield supporting structure to the door of a vehicle and the vehicle itself; and 
           [0056]      FIG. 23  is a schematic depiction showing a supplemental pulley for tensioning one or more cables supporting a net shield in accordance with still another example of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]    Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction, or disclaimer. 
         [0058]      FIG. 1  shows an example net subsystem  10  and including an array of hard points  12  configured to impact a projectile (e.g., the nose cone of an RPG) striking net  14 . In this example, there is a hard point  12  at each node of the net defined by intersecting net chords  14 . Frame  16  includes mounting brackets  18   a - 18   d  attached to rearwardly extending members  19   a  and  19   b . The function of frame  16  and net  14  is to position hard points  12  in a spaced relationship with respect to a vehicle or structure and to space the hard points  12  apart from each other in an array. When an RPG impacts net  14 , hard points  12  may angle inwardly towards the nose of the RPG tearing into it and duding the electronics and/or electrical or electronic signals associated with the arming or detonation mechanisms of the RPG. By flexible, we generally mean a net which does not retain its shape unless supported in some fashion. When not attached to frame  16 , net  14  can be rolled and then folded and/or net  14  can be bunched up. 
         [0059]    Preferably, net subsystem  10  is removeably secured to frame  16  and frame  16  is removeably secured to a vehicle (e.g., a HMMWV vehicle). In one particular example, tubular frame members  22   a - 22   d  include hook type fasteners secured to the outside thereof and the fabric net periphery  24 ,  FIG. 1  includes loop type fasteners on the inside thereof. Loop type fasteners are also secured to the rear of frame  16  mounting brackets  18   a - 18   d  and corresponding pads or patches  28   a - 28   d ,  FIG. 2 , adhered to vehicle  20 , include outer faces with hook type fasteners. The hook and loop fastening mechanisms, however, maybe reversed and other flexible fastener subsystems may also be used. The hook and loop fastening subsystems of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,928,575; 5,170,690; 5,191,166; and 5,333,532 are preferred. 
         [0060]      FIG. 2  shows another type of frame structure  16 ′ attached to the front of vehicle  20 . 
         [0061]    If the frame structure of  FIG. 1  or  2  is placed over a door, window, portal, or other means of ingress or egress, however, it can make ingress to and egress from the vehicle or structure more complicated and/or slower and it can add time to conducting certain maneuvers, staging operations, transportation, or the like if the net and/or frame members need to be disassembled from the vehicle. The frame members shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  can also add weight to the vehicle and can cause detonation of an RPG or other ordinance. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , new net  10   a  with hard points  12  at the nodes of the net also includes cable guides such as eyelets or grommets  40   a , in this particular example, on one side of the net and eyelets  40   b  on the opposite side of the net. Cable  42   a  under tension extends through eyelets  40   a  and cable  42   b  under tension extends through eyelets  40   b . The cables  42   a  and  42   b  may be made of metal, fabric, rope material, or the like. Bottom strut members  46   a  and  46   b  provide tension to cables  40   a  and  40   b . Quick release pin  50   b , for example, releasably couples cable  42   b  to strut member  46   b  and pin  50   b  can be pulled along with quick release pin  50   a  (which couples cable  42   a  to member  46   a ) and net  10  can then be rolled upwards providing for fairly quick and easy ingress to and egress from vehicle portal  60 . Deploying the shield is also a fairly quick procedure. Struts  46   a  and  46   b  are typically secured to a vehicle below windows or portals  60  and are foldable with respect to the vehicle body. 
         [0063]    Strut members  46   a  and  46   b  may also be designed to be easily removed from the vehicle structure via quick release pins and/or the like. Members  46  could also be pivotably attached to the vehicle or structure. Other means for securing the net to the one or more cables can also be used and there are other ways possible for tensioning the cables. 
         [0064]    As shown more clearly in  FIG. 4 , hard points  12  preferably include a body portion  72  defining a cavity receiving plug  68  therein. Each eyelet  40  includes a peripheral groove as shown at  76  for receiving a net chord  14  therein. In this particular example, net chord  14  passes through slots  73   a  and  73   c  of body portion  72  of the hard point, around eyelet  40  and in its groove, and back through slot  73   c  and  73   a  of hard point body portion  72 . Plug  68  is then press fit into the body portion. Note how closely the hard point is to eyelet  40 . The coverage of the hard points is thus improved which results in increased protection especially when two nets  10   a  and  10   b  are placed adjacent each other as shown in  FIG. 3 . Cable  42   b  extends through the eyelets on the right hand side of net  10   a  and through the eyelets on the left hand side of net  10   b . Other cable guide means, however, are possible. There are other ways to secure the cable guides to the net. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  more clearly show hard point  12 . Forward facing base portion  72  has cavity  70  receiving post or plug  68 ,  FIG. 4  therein in a friction fit manner. This hard point is designed for nets including horizontal chords intersecting vertical chords. See  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . In this preferred design, the net chords are received through slots  73   a - d  in wall  74  of hard point  72 . The slots, as shown for slot  73   a , terminate in rounded portion  77  preventing wear of the net chords. Wall  74  in this embodiment defines a six-sided structure with six sharp corners  75   a - 75   f  which dig into the skin of an RPG ogive. Top surface  76  may be flat as shown or concave. Slots  73   a  and  73   c  receive a vertically extending chord while slots  73   d  and  73   b  receive a horizontally extending chord. In one specific design, the hard point and the plug were made of steel, hard point  72  was 0.625 inches from one edge to an opposite edge, and 0.72 inches tall. Cavity  70  was 0.499 inches in diameter and 0.34 inches deep. Five gram cylindrical plug  68 ,  FIG. 4  was 0.35 inches tall, 0.500 inches in diameter and may include knurling on the outer wall surface thereof. 
         [0066]    Side walls  74   a - 74   f ,  FIGS. 5A-5B  extend rearward from front face  76  defining cavity  70  surrounded by the side walls. Opposing sidewalls  74   a  and  74   d  have slots ( 73   a ,  73   c ) in the middle of each side wall. Slots  73   d , and  73   b , in turn, are between adjacent sidewalls  74   b  and  74   c  and  74   f  and  74   e , respectively. Sidewall  74   b  and  74   c  are between opposing sidewalls  74   a  and  74   b  on one side of member  72  while sidewall  74   f  and  74   e  are between opposing sidewalls  74   a  and  74   d  on the opposite side of member  72 ′. 
         [0067]    In this specific design, the base portion  72  and plug were made of hardened steel (e.g., ASTM A108 alloy 12L14) and combined weighed between 10 and 80 grams. A base portion with more or less sides is also possible. For a six sided design, the area of face  76 ,  FIG. 5B , is typically about 0.5 in. 2 , e.g. between 0.1 and 0.8 in. 2 . Sidewalls  74   a - f  typically have an area of 0.37 in. 2 , e.g., between 0.1 and 0.8 in. 2 . Slots  73   a - d  may be 0.05-0.15 inches wide and between 0.2 and 0.8 inches long. 
         [0068]    Manufacturing of a net with hard points in accordance with the subject invention is thus simplified. A net node is placed in cavity  70 ,  FIG. 5A  with the net chords exciting through slots  73   a - 73   d  and a plug is then driven in to cavity  70  to lock the node of the net in the hard point. The hard points are typically made of conductive material and may include a protective rust resistant non-reflective, conductive coating (zinc plating, flat olive in color). In one example shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B , base portion  72  weighed 30 grams and was machined from 0.625 hex bar stock. Walls  74   a - 74   f  were 0.72″ tall. Slots  73   a - 73   d  were 0.080 inches across and 0.350″ in length. These dimensions will vary, however, depending on the design of the net. 
         [0069]    There are trade offs in the design of the hard points and also the net. The aspect ratio of the hard points, their size, center of gravity, mass, and the like all play an important role. Hard points which are too large, for example, and a net mesh size which is too small, results in too much surface area to be stricken by an RPG, possibly detonating the RPG. Hard points which are too small may not sufficiently damage the RPG ogive and dud the RPG. Steel is a good material choice for the hard points because steel is less expensive. Tungsten, on the other hand, may be used because it is heavier and denser, but tungsten is more expensive. Other materials are possible. The hard points may be 0.5 inch to 0.75 inches across and between 0.5 inches and 1 inch tall. 
         [0070]    It is preferred that the net node is placed at the center of gravity at the hard point. The length of the hard point is preferably chosen so that when an RPG strikes the net, the hard point tumbles 90 degrees and digs into the RPG ogive. The moment of inertia of the hard point is designed accordingly. In still other designs, the hard point may have more or less than six sides. The hard points may weigh between 10 to 80 grams although in testing 60 grams was found to be optimal, e.g., a 30 gram base portion and a 30 gram plug. Hard points between 10 and 40 grams are typical. 
         [0071]    The net material may be polyester which provides resistance to stretching, ultraviolet radiation resistance, and durability in the field. Kevlar or other engineered materials can be used. A knotted, knotless, braided, or ultracross net may be used. The chord diameter may be 1.7 to 1.9 mm. Larger net chords or multiple chords are possible; however, the chord(s) design should be constrained to beneath threshold force to dynamic break loads typical of RPG impact and engagements. The typical net mesh size may be 176 mm (e.g., a square opening 88 mm by 88 mm) for a PG-7V RPG and 122 mm for a PG-7 VM model RPG. But, depending on the design, the net mesh size may range from between 110 and 190 mm. 
         [0072]    The preferred spacing or standoff from the net to the vehicle is between 4 and 24 inches, (e.g., 6-12 inches) but may be between 4 and 60 centimeters. Larger standoffs may extend the footprint of the vehicle and thus be undesirable. Too close a spacing may not insure closing of the electrical circuitry of the RPG ogive by the hard points. The struts and the like are designed to result in the desired spacing. 
         [0073]    It is desirable that the net material and mesh size be chosen and the net designed such that an RPG ogive, upon striking a net chord, does not detonate. RPGs are designed to detonate at a certain impact force. Preferably, the breaking strength of the net chord material is around 240 lbs so that an RPG, upon striking a net chord or chords, does not detonate. The net is thus designed to be compliant enough so that it does not cause detonation of the RPG. Instead, the hard points dig into the RPG ogive and dud the RPG before it strikes the vehicle or structure. 
         [0074]    This design is in sharp contrast to a much more rigid chain link fence style shield which causes detonation of the RPG if the RPG strikes a wire of the fence. The overall result of the subject invention is a design with more available surface area where duding occurs as opposed to detonation. 
         [0075]      FIG. 6  shows another design with top cross member  100  attached to vehicle  102  over portals  60   a  and  60   b  via rearwardly extending top struts such as struts  104   a  and  104   b . Cross member  100  supports the top of both nets  10   a  and  10   b  (with or without a fabric border) and also the top of cable  42   b , cable  42   c , and the like. Velcro and the like can be used to secure the top of the nets  10   a  and  10   b  to cross member  100 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 7  shows door  110  of the vehicle and top cross member  100 ′ supported over door  110  attached to the vehicle by pivoting top struts  112   a  and  112   b  which can be quickly locked in place and then released. Hard point net  10  can thus be stored in tray  114  which is positioned over door  110 . Cables  42  are supported by top frame member  100 ′ and at both bottom ends by members such as struts  46   a ,  46   b ,  FIG. 3 . In this way, a hard point net or other flexible shield can be deployed and also quickly stowed for ingress and egress through door  110 ,  FIG. 7 , for various maneuvers, staging operations, and the like. Velcro wraps  120   a ,  120   b , and  120   c  are also shown in  FIG. 7  for securing net fabric periphery  122  about folding top cross member  100 ′. 
         [0077]    The result, in various embodiments, is a lighter weight system which is easy to deploy and then deactivate and stow. In some embodiments, coverage of the hard points is also improved. 
         [0078]      FIG. 8  shows an example for a vehicle door net shield including top cross bar  100 ″ pivotably secured over the door via spaced top struts foldably connected to the vehicle body or roof and extending rearwardly of top cross bar  100  as shown, for example, for top strut  112   b . The bottom struts such as strut  46   b ′ are foldable and may include shock absorbing portion  200 . Here, the net  10 ′ includes fabric bottom  202 . Top cross bar  100 ″ includes therein spring loaded tensioning member  206 ,  FIG. 9  and cable redirecting structure  207 . Cable  208  is secured to tensioner  206 , extends out of top cross bar  100 ″ as shown at  210  and extends through the top third or so of the eyelets as shown at  212  skipping the middle third eyelets as shown at  214  and then again extends through the bottom third or so of the eyelets as shown at  216  on the right hand side of net shield  10 . The cable then extends through a cable retainer discussed below with reference to  FIG. 11 , through fabric bottom portion  202 , through another cable retainer, and up through the bottom third group of eyelets  218  or so on the left hand side of net shield  10 , skipping the middle third group of eyelets  220 , and extending through the top third or so of the eyelets  222  on the left hand side of net shield  10 , again into top cross bar member  100 ′, around cable redirecting mechanism  207 . Then, as shown at  224 , cable  208  skips the top third or so of the eyelets on the left hand side of net shield  222 , extends through the middle third group of eyelets  220 , and skips the bottom third group of eyelets or so on the left hand side of net shield  218 . The cable then extends back through the cable retainer at the bottom left hand side of the net, through fabric portion  202 , through the cable retainer on the right hand side of the bottom of the net, and then skips the bottom third eyelets or so as shown at  216 , extends through the middle third group of eyelets as shown at  214 , skips the top third group of eyelets or so as shown at  212 , and, as shown at  226 , the cable enters the right hand side of top cross bar member  100 ″ and is secured to tensioning member  206 . 
         [0079]    In this manner, hour glassing of the opposing sides of net shield  100  is prevented.  FIG. 10  more clearly depicts the cable portion  210  which extends through the top third group of eyelets and cable portion  226  which skips the top third group of eyelets.  FIG. 11  depicts pin  230   a  extending through grommet  232   a , through cable retainer  236   a , and into bottom strut  46   b ′ and secured therein via quick release pin  234   a  extending through hole  238   a ,  FIG. 16-17 , in pin shaft  230   a .  FIG. 12  shows top cross bar member  100 , tensioning mechanism  206  with spring(s)  225  and  FIG. 13  more clearly shows cable redirecting member  207  (typically in the form of a pin secured within top cross bar member  100 ″).  FIG. 14  also shows tensioning mechanism  206 , spring(s)  225  and slider  226 . The cable as shown at  FIG. 9  is secured to slider  206  as shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 15  more clearly shows cable redirecting pin  207 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 18  depicts an example with simpler top cross bar  300 , folding spaced top struts  302   a  and  302   b  interconnecting top cross bar  300  with tray structure  308  itself securable to a vehicle or structure. Fabric bottom  303  is also shown as are folding bottom struts  304   a  and  304   b . Member  310 , in this example, between the vehicle or structure and the net, is configured to tension cable sides  312   a  and  312   b  apart to prevent hour glassing. Member  310  may be a slat or bar type structure which rests against the vehicle or structure. 
         [0081]    In  FIG. 19 , net  320  includes bottom fabric portion  321  with spaced buckles such as buckle  320   a  attached thereto. The sides of the net again include a cable as shown for cable  330 . The framis for this version includes spaced, typically foldable bottom struts as shown for strut  322   a  with hook portion  334   a  releasably receiving buckle  322  therein. Each side cable then extends to top cross member  340  which is configured to tension the side cables. For example, top cross bar member  340  may be configured to roll with respect to frame portion  342  via handle  344  in order to tension cable  330  by winding it about the top cross bar member after which handle  334  could be locked with respect to structure  332  which, as discussed above, typically includes net storage tray  344 . This may be similar to a window shade type device. In still other examples, the net shield is extended and retracted in a manner which is similar to awnings on trailers. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,494,246 and 5,192,111 incorporated herein by this reference. In the example shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , handle  344  is released, the side cables such as cable  330  is released from being in a state of tension, and buckle  322   a  is easily removed from bottom strut  322   a  in order to fold net shield  320 ,  FIG. 19  up into tray  344 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 21  shows an example where spaced top struts  350   a  and  350   b  attached to door  352  to secure cross member  354  thereto may interfere with door  356  when both doors are open. As shown, door  356  typically also includes spaced top struts  358   a  and  358   b  supporting top cross bar  360 . In order to address this potential problem,  FIG. 22  shows a design for door  370  of a vehicle or structure hinged thereto via hinges  372   a ,  372   b , and  372   c  and opened in the direction shown by arrow  374 . In this design, top strut  376   a  is pivotable with respect to vehicle body, roof, or structure  380  and pivotable with respect to top cross bar member  382 . Strut member  376   a  may also be foldable upwards with respect to structure  380  and/or releasable from cross bar member  382 . Top strut member  376   b , in contrast, is secured to and pivotable with respect to the top of door  370  and also pivotable with respect to cross bar member  382 . As in previous designs, cross bar member  382  supports the top of a net shield. The bottom of the net can be supported by struts as shown, for example, with respect to  FIG. 8  attached to the bottom of door  370 . In this way, if there are adjacent doors in the vehicle, then the net shield frame for one door will not interfere with the net shield frame of the adjacent door when one or both of the doors are open. 
         [0083]      FIG. 23  shows an example where an extra cabled pulley  390  is provided attached to a portion of the vehicle in order to tension a side cable or cables as shown at  392 . 
         [0084]    Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. 
         [0085]    In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of any claim element presented in the application as filed: those skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are many other reasons the applicant can not be expected to describe certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element amended. 
         [0086]    Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.