Patent Publication Number: US-8534271-B2

Title: Microprossesor based vehicle ejection device used to deflate tires

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Currently in law enforcement, a popular method of stopping a vehicle being driven by a criminal suspect is to strategically place on a road section, where said vehicle will pass over, a contained supply of sharp protruding Teflon® coated metallic multi-directional spiked quills that act as valves, releasing air at a safe, controlled rate from a vehicle. A successful product using said Teflon® multi-directional spiked quills contained within a triangular plastic tube is STOP-STICK® as well as other similar and equivalent prior art method means. 
     Tire deflation devices are manually placed in the roadway by law enforcement personnel. During a pursuit, law enforcement personnel have to position themselves well ahead of the pursuit, retrieve the tire deflation device from the truck, and manually place the device in the path of the suspect vehicle. This current practice is also extremely dangerous to the law enforcement officer. 
     The present invention, referred to as a microprocessor based vehicle ejection device, can allow law enforcement officers to deploy into the path of a fleeing vehicle without leaving the safety of the vehicle. Said vehicle ejection device can allow the officer to employ the use of any vehicle stopping apparatus means, such as a STOP-STICK® or equivalent apparatus or a plurality of same while; (a) completely stopped, (b) moving in the same direction as the fleeing vehicle, or (c) while moving in the opposite as in an on-coming direction of the fleeing vehicle situation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     All aspects of the embodiments of present invention teaches that a safe method means of stopping any moving vehicle suspected as being involved in criminal activity, as in a vehicle chase situation or road block stance, is possible and is novel and patentable art of this present invention. 
     Further this present invention teaches, and should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art, that a projectile member means or plurality of projectile member means exits said present invention from either a moving or stopped law enforcement vehicle to travel through the air and land on a road surface in front of a suspect vehicle of pursuit; this being part and parcel to the function and operation of said present invention. 
     Further this present invention teaches that all control of arming, firing of projectiles, and system monitoring can automatically be executed under the control of a programmed microprocessor, which is the system control method means. 
     When a vehicle flees from law enforcement, short of ramming the fleeing vehicle, one way to stop the vehicle can be by using tire deflation devices. Said vehicle ejection device can eject hollow triangular shaped tubes filled with sharp multi-directional spiked quills towards the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle. The law enforcement officer(s) can use the device in different ways without exiting the police vehicle, such as when said police vehicle is in a stopped position with the fleeing vehicle either traveling in the same direction or on-coming to said police vehicle; when said police vehicle is in motion and said officer(s) is pursuing the vehicle, where said officer(s) can pull slightly ahead of and to the right side of said fleeing vehicle; and when said police vehicle is in motion and said fleeing vehicle approaching said police vehicle in an on-coming lane. If said vehicle ejection device is mounted on the front of said police vehicle a novel modified push-bar could be used to house and protect this device. Said present invention can be designed to mount on a push-bar collision safety member means, or can be designed to be mounted on any reasonable and effective area of a law enforcement vehicle for proper function and operation of said present invention. 
     Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for its mounting on any law enforcement vehicle as with a novel methodology of securely mounting said invention to said vehicle protective push-bar system and in electrical connection with, and controlled electronically by a novel control triggering switch member means inside of said law enforcement vehicle that has said present invention installed. 
     Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for the triggered firing of a singular hollow triangular tube filled with sharp metal multi-directional spiked quills or a plurality of hollow triangular tubes filled with sharp metal multi-directional spiked quills; with the plurality of firing method means, said firing can be a series sequence or simultaneous firing of all plurality of sharp multi-directional spiked quill filled triangular hollow tubes; whereby said hollow triangular tube(s) are housed for firing in a novel firing chamber method means, and all firing controlled by a programmed microprocessor method means. 
     Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention is for utilizing a novel gas filled cylinder or a plurality of gas filled cylinders as the projection force to launch effectively from said firing chamber method means, the hollow triangular tube filled with sharp metal multi-directional spiked quills. 
     Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention utilizes a novel safe operation method means under the control of a programmed microprocessor method means of triggered firing of a singular hollow triangular tube filled with sharp metal multi-directional spiked quills or a plurality of hollow triangular tubes filled with sharp metal multi-directional spiked quills using a fail-safe method means; whereby a safety latch member means covers the exit point of said hollow triangular tube(s) and prevents any pre-triggering by extraneous interference, either by physical method means or electrical so method means. Only by a valid command from within said law enforcement vehicle will fire said hollow triangular tube projectiles. Said triggered firing system means can be of a rapid plunger piston, a spring activated, or any other design means that will effectively launch a designated projectile or series of projectile onto a road surface for the purpose of stopping, by tire deflation, any suspect vehicle pursued by a law enforcement vehicle. 
     Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention utilizes a novel capability and method means for a simple procedure means for replacing discharged gas cylinder member means. 
     Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention utilizes a novel safety lock down cover member means to insure against unwarranted entry to said gas cylinder supply housing member means. 
     Another aspect of embodiments of said present invention utilizes a novel method means of securely containing said triangular hollow tubular projectiles against premature or false firing as a fail-safe means by utilizing a latched door method means at the front opening of said ejection chamber method means. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 , is an overall perspective view of the present invention installed and mounted on a typical vehicle front end push-bar device. 
         FIG. 2 , is an illustration of a typical vehicle push-bar mechanism on which the present invention is installed and mounted. 
         FIG. 3 , is the complete stand-alone vehicle ejection device. 
         FIG. 4 , is a perspective view of the firing chamber that stores for firing, triangular hollow sharp multi-directional spiked quill filled tubes. 
         FIG. 5 , Housing with protective cover lid and container for gas filled metal cylinders for projecting triangular tubes from the firing chamber. 
         FIG. 6 , a perspective view of gas cylinder container showing the position and arrangement of gas filled cylinders. 
         FIG. 7 , a functional block diagram of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of said present invention, since the scope of said present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     An exemplary embodiment of said present invention  100  and its inherent novel features are shown in  FIG. 1 , as installed on a typical vehicle push-bar means  101 , but not limited to this method means of positioning and installment on said vehicle. A mounting base method means  102  is mounted to the underside of a typical vehicle push-bar member means  101  and in addition, exists as a support substrate method means for said present invention&#39;s component member means comprised of; a chamber  103  for containing at least one, but not limited to one hollow triangular tube(s) member means  115  containing within, a supply of sharp multi-directional spiked quills utilized for tire deflation purposes as with a current product named STOP STICK® or any similar equivalent product; at least one, but not limited to one, gas cylinder container support member means  104 ; a protective lid covering member means  105 ; at least one or a plurality of gas cylinder firing solenoid member means  106  that instantly pierces and thereby instantly releases said contained gas within said cylinder member means  111  and said released gas is channeled via a flexible tube member means (not shown, but should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art), to a piston release system member means (internal to firing chamber  103  and should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art) that forces triangular projectiles  115  out of said firing chamber  103  that is shot out into the air and lands in front of a suspect vehicle with full intention of stopping said suspect vehicle in pursuit. A solenoid member means  109  moves latch member means  108  and opens safety door member means  107  and another set of internal firing chamber pistons method means (not shown but its importance and functioning in said present invention should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art) fire said triangular hollow tube member means  115 , either all in sequence or all simultaneously. Said present invention  100 , can be installed on any typical push-bar vehicle collision safety member means  101  with additional features of a protective guard member means  101 A &amp;  101 B as shown in  FIG. 1  &amp;  FIG. 2 . Said protective member means  101 A &amp;  101 B in  FIG. 1  &amp;  FIG. 2  are present to prevent foreign objects such as dirt, road salt, and other objects that may compromise the functioning of said present invention. 
     An embodiment of said present invention  100  of  FIG. 1  is further detailed in  FIG. 3 ; when in a typical situation of pursuit, with a criminal suspect fleeing and fighting all efforts by law enforcement officers in a dynamic police vehicle chase or a stationary police vehicle deterrent stance, there exists the need for utilizing said vehicle ejection device for tire deflation comes into play. In a fail-safe mode, as is the default condition of said vehicle based ejection system, said system is non operational in a safe de-triggered mode. Upon a command decision by a law enforcement officer, either as a driver or as a passenger, a pushbutton select switch within said police vehicle occupant interior is pushed and it sends a signal by a connecting cable to the exterior of said vehicle; which turns on, arms and activates said vehicle based projectile ejection tire deflating system. 
     An embodiment of the methodology associated with the various member means in  FIG. 3  is by the action of; solenoid  109  being actuated and it re-tracks its plunger to pull up door  107  hold down latch  108  that readies and exposes said hollow triangular tube(s)  115  causing them to be available for a launch command. Said firing chamber member means  103  houses a single or a plurality of hollow triangular tube(s)  115 ; and said hollow triangular tube(s)  115  are set into and connected to a firing butt member means  110  that is connected to said firing chamber member means  103  at one end. Further, said firing butt member means  110  has a plurality of hole member means  112 , which are connected in a closed circuitous fluidic manner means by a plurality of tubing member means (not shown in the figure) to a plurality of hole member means  113  on said plurality of gas cylinder firing solenoid member means  106  that is mounted and connected to said gas cylinder housing member means  104 . Said gas filled cylinders  111  are screwed into said solenoid member means  106  for an air tight mechanical connection to said solenoid member means  106 . 
     Another embodiment of said present invention is in  FIG. 4 , with said triangular hollow tube member means  115  (hidden from view in this illustration, but represented in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 6 ) contained within said firing chamber member means  103  and secured within at both ends of said firing chamber member means  103  by said safety door  107  at one end and said firing butt retainer  110  at the opposite end of said firing chamber member means  103 . Said input ports  112  are portal member means that are fitted with flexible tubing (not shown, but should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art) that are connected to said gas cylinder firing solenoids  106 . Released gas from said solenoids  106  are channeled by said flexible tubing and enter with calculated and sufficient force that instantly forces triangular hollow tubes  115  out of said firing chamber member means  103  and are instantly launched into the air away from said law enforcement vehicle and onto a road surface armed and in a favorable position to stop any suspect vehicle in pursuit by law enforcement personnel. 
     Another embodiment of said present invention is shown in  FIG. 5  where an assembled arrangement of said gas filled cylinder solenoid member means  106  are physically attached and secured to said gas cylinder housing member means  104 , and said gas cylinder member means  115  (hidden from view in this illustration, but represented in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 6 ) are screwed into threaded portal member means  113  of said gas filled cylinder solenoid member means  106 . A hinged lid cover member means  105  that is connected to said gas cylinder housing member means  104 , protects said gas cylinders  115  from exposure that may cause pre-triggering by external foreign objects accidently piercing said gas cylinders  115  and for the prevention of unauthorized personnel obtaining access to, and tampering with, said gas cylinder member means  115 . 
     Another embodiment of said present invention in  FIG. 6 , illustrates where said gas filled cylinder member means are inserted into said cylinder bed member means  114  used as a method means to eliminate any stress or strain on said gas cylinder member means  111  that is screwed into said gas filled cylinder solenoid member means  106 . This method means prevents any false accidental instant gas release from said gas filled cylinders  111 . 
     As presented in  FIG. 7 , a microprocessor (CPU)  120  is operational and programmed as the core for the fail-safe operation of said present invention. Said microprocessor (CPU)  120  is housed within a control panel enclosure (not shown, but should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art) that is physically situated within a law enforcement vehicle and has a connecting cable (not shown, but should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art) that runs from inside said vehicle to the outside of said vehicle and connected to the associated remaining members of said present invention. For said present invention&#39;s operation, a driver, law officer, or other passenger so designated to operate same can sit with said control panel enclosure and when it is determined that a suspect vehicle is within a reasonable range of effectiveness for proper operation. Said operator with control panel first arms the system by flipping member means, ARM SWITCH  133 . Now said microprocessor (CPU)  120  takes over to sequence through a pre-programmed algorithm that waits for a FIRE COMMAND; said FIRE COMMAND is displayed on alphanumeric display  121  for the operator&#39;s viewing. When said operator makes a decision to fire the system  100 , said operator pushes a mushroom “FIRE” labeled momentary contact pushbutton switch member means  134  and a signal is sent along wire member means  134   c  to said microprocessor (CPU)  120 . Depending upon programmed settings and either all of said hollow triangular tube(s) member means  115  that contains within, a supply of sharp multi-directional spiked quills can be fired simultaneously, or they can be fired in a time delayed sequence one at a time. Said firing sequence is executed as the microprocessor (CPU)  120  sends a signal along a wire  119  first to door  107  latch  108  and its associated solenoid  109  to open said door  107 , and then sends a firing signal to all of said gas filled cylinder solenoid member means  106  by said cable (not shown, but should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art) along wire member means  106   a ,  106   b , and  106   c  inclusive. 
     NOTE: A spare gas filled cylinder solenoid member means  106 S is a member of said present invention for obvious reasons and functioning to anyone steeped in the art. 
     Said gas filled cylinder solenoid member means  106  are connected to said gas filled cylinders  111  and are securely screwed in said gas filled cylinder solenoid member means  106  and said cylinders  111  lay in said cylinder bed member means  114  used as a method means to eliminate any stress or strain on said gas cylinder member means  111  that is screwed into said gas filled cylinder solenoid member means  106 . Further, said gas filled cylinders  111  are connected by flexible plastic hose (not shown, but should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art) to supply a blast of gas for propulsion and ejection of said hollow triangular tube(s) member means  115  that contains within, a supply of sharp multi-directional spiked quills. 
     A sensor member means  117  is mounted and positioned on the firing cylinder door  107  and detects whether said door member means  107  is open “after a firing sequence” and a signal is sent to said microprocessor (CPU) member means  120  by a wire member means  118  that tells said microprocessor (CPU)  120  to reset and wait for another “FIRE” COMMAND signal from switch member means  134 . 
     Further in  FIG. 7 , there are four indicator LED member means  129 ,  130 ,  131 , &amp;  132  that serve as visual signal indicators as to “SYSTEM ARMED” LED  129 , “READY TO FIRE” LED  130 , “STATUS” LED  131 , &amp; “FAULT” LED  132 . Their functions should be obvious to anyone steeped in the art. The momentary pushbutton switch member means  125 ,  126 ,  127 , &amp;  128  enable through a grounding contact  137 , a series of functions that perform a system test with switch  125 , a status report switch  126 , a reset switch  127 , &amp; a sensor and sequence test switch  128 . Power supply member means  135  for said present invention is contained within said control panel enclosure member means and is powered by said vehicle&#39;s 12 volt battery and supplies a regulated voltage means by power bus member means  136  to all of the electrical components used in said present invention.