Patent Publication Number: US-2022236035-A1

Title: Protective shield

Description:
The present invention relates to a protective shield that can be worn by a person. This shield encloses this person&#39;s upper body and is made of unbreakable material, plastic such as polycarbonate or a bullet-resistant material. The person which is surrounded by such a shield is protected against influences such as bullets, shrapnel and blows from the outside, but also against weather influences such as rain and cold. This bullet resistant shield also protects the wearer&#39;s arms. There may be extra openings in one or more sides of the shield to allow the arms to pass through. The shield has the shape of a hollow cap and can completely cover the upper body. Due to the round shape of the surface, the weight is minimal. 
     The shield includes straps or a harness on the inside, which is attached and tied to the wearer of the shield. 
     The protective shield preferably consists of two concentric hollow half cylindrical or conical halves. 
     The top of each half is slightly rounded and can include a transparent bullet or impact resistant viewing window. The first half has slightly smaller outer dimensions than the second half and includes belts or straps, such that the wearer can carry this first half on his back like a backpack. The second larger half is rotatably mounted on the outside of this first half and can rotate approximately 180 degrees about a vertical axis of rotation. In this unfolded state the entire upper body of the wearer is covered by the protection shield and the user is optimally protected. This axis of rotation can be designed as a pin/screw through the tops of both halves. The two halves each also comprise one or more circular guides, such that they can support the rotary movement of the second half. The circular guide of the second half slides into the circular guide of the first half. Both halves can comprise a sturdy, preferably steel frame, in which curved protective plates can be mounted. These plates can include a metal liner provided with curved ceramic plates and/or bullet-resistant Kevlar or Dyneema plastic panels. 
     The protective shield can also include more than two concentric hollow cylinder-segment-like or conical halves, such that the protective shield can be folded in more compactly. 
     Each half can also be composed of two or more semi-cylindrical parts, that can telescopically slide into each other in the vertical longitudinal direction. 
    
    
     The present invention will be further elucidated here below with reference to the annexed figures of several examples of embodiments: 
       FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the invention with an opened protective shield in which the first smaller half  1  is nested entirely within the second larger half  2 . Half  1  comprises a cylindrical bottom  5  and a conical top  4 . The conical top  4  is closed by a roof ( 3  in  FIG. 2 ). This roof  3  includes a pin  13 , which acts as a vertical rotation axis for the second larger half  2 . The cylindrical bottom  5  and conical top  4  of half  1  are composed of a tubular frame of tubes  17  which are connected to circular guidance elements  7  and  16  respectively with tube connectors  8 . 
     Bullet-resistant or fragment-resistant panels can be placed in this tubular frame. Straps or loops  18  can be mounted on the inside of half  1 , allowing the wearer of the protective shield to insert his arms through and the protection shield, in the configuration shown in this figure, can be transported as a backpack. 
     The half  2  comprises a cylindrical bottom  12  and a conical top  11 . The conical top  11  is closed by a roof  10 . In this roof  10  is located a pin  13 , which functions as a vertical axis of rotation. The cylindrical bottom  12  and the conical top  11  of half  2  are composed of tubular frame of tubes  6  which are fixed to circular guidance elements  14  and  15  with tube connectors  8 . In this tubular frame, bullet-resistant or fragment-resistant panels can be placed. 
       FIG. 2  shows the protection shield with the outer half  2  rotated forward approximately 180 degrees about the vertical axis  13  and in this way a completely closed compartment is realized. The half  1  includes a cylindrical bottom  5  and a conical top  4 . The conical top  4  is closed by a roof  3 . This roof  3  comprises a pin  13 , which acts as a vertical axis of rotation for the second larger half  2 . The cylindrical bottom  5  and a conical top  4  of half  1  are composed of a tubular frame of tubes ( 17  in  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) which are attached to circular guidance elements  7  and  16  respectively, using tube connectors. Bullet-resistant or fragment-resistant panels can be placed in this tubular frame  17 . 
     The half  2  comprises a cylindrical bottom  12  and a conical top  11 . The conical top  11  is closed by a roof  10 . In this roof  10  is located a pin  13  that acts as a vertical axis of rotation. The cylindrical bottom  12  and the conical top  11  of half  2  are composed of a tubular frame of tubes  6  which are attached to circular guidance elements  14  and  15  with tube connectors  8 . Bullet-resistant or fragment-resistant panels can be inserted in this tubular frame. 
       FIG. 3  depicts the method of carrying the protective shield. 
     In the inner half  1  there are two or more straps or loops  18 , which are attached to the inner surface of the inner half  1  of the shield. The wearer of the protective shield can put his arms through these loops  18  and wear the protection shield on his back. In case of bad weather or danger, the wearer can rotate the outer half  2  forward and his upper body is completely covered by the protective shield. 
       FIG. 4  shows a preferred embodiment of the opened protection shield, which includes three hollow parts, nested into each other and the smallest inner part  19  comprising a harness  22  and the outer two parts  20  and  21  can be rotated forward about the vertical axis  13 . Both hollow parts  20  and  21  each comprise a cylindrical bottom and a conical top. The outer hollow part  20  includes a handle  26  and the middle hollow part  21  includes a handle  27  so that the user can move both parts forward in one movement to protect himself quickly. The harness  22  includes at the top two loop-shaped hooks  23 , which can rest on the shoulders of the user. 
     As a result, the user has his arms free and the arms are not burdened by the weight of the shield. 
     The harness  22  also includes an upper backrest  24  and a lower backrest  25 . 
     The protective cap can also be worn on the belly instead of the back, with the upper backrest  24  and a lower backrest  25  of the harness  22  now resting on front side of the user. 
       FIG. 5  shows the protective cap of  FIG. 4 , with the outer part  20  and the middle part  21  are turned forward about the vertical axis  13  and in this way form a completely closed compartment with the inner part  19  at the rear of the protective cap. 
     The undersides of the outer part  20  and the middle part  21  include a guidance system to allow both parts to turn smoothly about the vertical axis  13  and to give extra strength to the construction. The outer part  20  includes protusions  28  and  29 . The inner part  19  and the middle part  21  include similar protusions  28  and  29  (not shown here). On the the latter protrusions of the middle part  21  are guidance strips  30  and  31  attached, which can slide into similar guidance strips of the inner part  19 . 
       FIG. 6  provides a detailed view of a preferred embodiment of this guidance system for the outer part  20  in the open configuration of  FIG. 4 . The inner part  19  comprises protuberances  28  and  29  with guidance strips  36  and  37  attached thereto. The inside of the outer part  20  comprises a protuberance with a guidance strip  33  mounted thereon such that the guidance strip  33  is clamped between the guidance strips  36  and  37  of the inner part  19 . 
     The inner part  19  in this embodiment also comprises a guide wheel  38  in a holder  35 . In this guide wheel  38  a guide strip  32 , which is attached to the inside of the part  20 , can move without friction. The guide wheel  38  can be implemented as ball bearing shaft which is rigidly attached to the holder  35 . In  FIG. 6  one end of a guidance strip  39  is shown. The outer part  20  includes on it opposite end of this guide strip  39  is a similar guide wheel  38 , which rolls over the guide strip  36  of the center cap  19  (not shown here). The middle section  21  includes a similar guidance system as shown here. 
     It will be apparent to the skilled person that the inventive concept allows a wide application and is certainly not limited to the given embodiments, which serve only by way of illustration.