Abstract:
This invention relates generally to devices that are used by law enforcement agencies and others for intentionally puncturing the rubber tires of a motor vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to an assembly that can be placed in front of or in back of one or more tires of a stationary vehicle for the purpose of deploying one or more spikes from the assembly in the event the vehicle is moved. It also relates to a vehicle tire puncturing and deflating spike assembly that is compact, that protects the spikes and the person carrying them during storage and otherwise, and that is quickly and easily used in the field.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/662,529, filed Mar. 3, 2006. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to devices that are used by law enforcement agencies and others for intentionally puncturing the rubber tires of a motor vehicle. More particularly, this invention relates to an assembly that can be placed in front of or in back of one or more tires of a stationary vehicle for the purpose of deploying one or more spikes from the assembly in the event the vehicle is moved. It also relates to a vehicle tire puncturing and deflating spike assembly that is compact, that protects the spikes and the person carrying them during storage and otherwise, and that is quickly and easily used in the field. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is well known that it is occasionally necessary for law enforcement agencies to impede and stop the movement of a speeding motor vehicle. One method of accomplishing this is by the strategic placement of one or more tire-deflating mechanisms in the path, or the anticipated path, of the moving vehicle to impede and stop its movement. Such portable tire-deflating mechanisms often take the form of strips of material that can be set down on a roadway, the strips including some sort of puncturing device attached to it. One such mechanism, invented by this inventor, is formed with a “scissors-like” base having a plurality of tire-puncturing spikes, each of which is removably held within the base. That mechanism, including the detail of the tire-deflating spikes that are used with it, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,961 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,189 issued to this inventor, respectively. 
         [0004]    In the experience of this inventor, there is another scenario where a tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly can be effectively used as a deterrent against movement of a motor vehicle. That is where a motor vehicle must remain at rest for a sufficient time for authorities to check the motor vehicle, or its passengers or cargo, for one reason or another. In such a scenario, it would be desirable for the user to have an ability to temporarily place an array of spikes between the front wheel and the rear wheel at one side or the other of a motor vehicle such that movement of the vehicle in either a forward or rearward direction would result in a deployment of one or more spikes into the tire of the motor vehicle. It would also be desirable to make the placement of the array between the tires, as well as removal of the array from between the tires, a rather simple and effective process, a preferably one which can be accomplished in a single step. Such an application may be where a check-point attendant is performing some sort of security check of the vehicle or of its driver, although there are many other applications for such an assembly and the list provided here is not intended to be all inclusive or limiting in any way. 
         [0005]    Although the tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly described in the patents referred to above could, at least in theory, be used for such check-point applications, such use would be cumbersome and inconvenient at best. Deployment of the assembly as described in the patents is really intended for situations where a motor vehicle is approaching, but has yet to arrive. Where a motor vehicle is already in place and clearance between the lowermost portion of the motor vehicle and the roadway surface is relatively small, prior assemblies would require the user to position himself or herself as close to the ground as possible so as to insure proper positioning of the assembly and without causing damage to the lower body portions of the motor vehicle by inadvertent contact with the spikes of the assembly. The same concern would exist when removing the assembly from underneath the motor vehicle. Accordingly, repeated placement and removal of such an assembly would be very impractical and time-consuming. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a new, useful, and uncomplicated stationary tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly that can be placed from one side of a stationary vehicle and at a point that is behind the front tire and in front of the rear tire of that vehicle to prevent movement of that vehicle. It is another object of this invention to make the assembly a portable one when such is desired or required. It is still another object of this invention to provide such a tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly that can be mountable into a first position where the spike array extends from the first position to a second position, the second position being as described by the principal object of this invention. It is yet another object of this invention to provide such a tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly that requires only a minimal number of elements of construction, that is easy to use and that allows for ease in placement and in removal when compared to assemblies of current availability used in similar application. 
         [0007]    The present invention has obtained these objects. It provides for a longitudinally-extending slide base and a spike holder that is longitudinally-movable along the slide base to thereby extend the spike holder and spikes beneath a stationary vehicle. The slide base includes a foot or anchor plate from which one or more slide base plates extend. The anchor plate can be placed in a fixed position. Alternatively, the assembly may be used as a portable one where the user stands on the foot plate to immobilize it. 
         [0008]    The spike holder includes a longitudinally-extending aperture defined in it for receiving a portion of the slide base plate, thereby allowing the spike holder to be slidable along the slide base plate. The spike holder includes a “kick” plate that can be used to urge the spike holder under the vehicle by foot. As the spike holder glides into position, a stop member is provided to prevent disengagement of the spike holder from the slide base plates. The kick plate also includes means for quickly retracting the spike holder from beneath the vehicle when its intended usage is completed and such is desired. 
         [0009]    The foregoing and other features of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly constructed in accordance with this invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front, top and left side perspective view of a check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the assembly and its elements in an exploded view. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “retracted” position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “retracted” position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the assembly shown in the same position as in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged and sectioned left side elevational view of the foot or anchor plate portion of the tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged and sectioned front elevational view of the assembly of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7A  is a top plan view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “retracted” position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7B  is a top plan view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “extended” position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a left side elevational view of the check-point tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly of the present invention and showing the spike holder in its “extended” position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectioned view illustrating the stop element of the assembly of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numbered elements refer to like elements as well,  FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the check-point tire-puncturing and deflating spike retaining assembly, generally identified  10 , that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  10  includes a longitudinally-extending slide base, generally identified  20 , and a spike holder, generally identified  30 , that is longitudinally-movable along the slide base  20  to thereby extend the spike holder  30  and spikes  12  beneath a stationary vehicle (not shown). In detail, the slide base  20  includes a foot or anchor plate  22  from which one or more longitudinally-extending slide base plates  24  extend. In the preferred embodiment, two base plates  24  are provided. However, such is not a limitation of the present invention. A single base plate  24  could be used as could more than two. As shown, the base plates  24  are longitudinally parallel to one another and each includes a proximal end  25  and a distal end  27 , each proximal end  25  being fastened to the foot or anchor plate  22  by means of a plurality of fasteners  21 . As previously alluded to, the anchor plate  22  can be placed in a fixed position as shown. Alternatively, the assembly  10  may be used as a portable one where the user stands on the foot plate  22  to immobilize it. When used in a fixed fashion, however, the distal end  27  of each base plate  24  may be secured to a surface by using additional fasteners (not shown) there. See  FIG. 2  also. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , it will be seen that each base plate  24  is configured in a dovetail fashion to allow for slidable movement of the spike holder  30  along the base plates  24 , but allowing for no transverse movement between those elements. In the preferred embodiment, the base plates  24  and the spike holder  30  are made of a self-lubricating nylon material or other like material. Such is not, however, a limitation of the present invention. The advantage of using like materials for both the base plates  24  and the spike holder  30  is that the rate of expansion of each element relative to the other will be the same, regardless of environmental factors such as extremely hot or extremely cold conditions exist and where different materials could create “pinching” of the elements and render the assembly  10  marginally operational or even completely inoperable. 
         [0022]    In greater detail,  FIG. 1  illustrates that the longitudinally-extending spike holder  30  includes a top surface  32  having opposing ramp portions  31 ,  33  that extend downwardly from the top surface  32 . The ramp portions  31 ,  33  are provided so as to allow a motor vehicle tire (not shown) to more easily run atop the spike holder  30  without tending to push it away from the tire. The longitudinally-extending spike holder  30  also includes a bottom surface  34 , the bottom surface having a pair of longitudinally-extending apertures  46  defined in it for receiving a portion of the slide base plate  24  within each aperture  46 , thereby allowing the spike holder  30  to be slidable along the slide base plate  24 . See  FIGS. 2 through 4 , and also  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  8 . An additional slot  48  is defined within each aperture  46 , the purpose of which will be further apparent in this detailed description. 
         [0023]    The spike holder  30  of the assembly  10  includes a proximal end  36  and a distal end  37 . The proximal end  36  of the spike holder  30  includes a transversely-disposed and slightly upwardly-extending “kick” plate  38  with which the user can slidably urge the spike holder  30  under a vehicle (not shown) by his or her foot. As the spike holder  30  glides into position, a stop member  28  is provided and which is attached to the distal end  27  of each slide base plate  24  by means of fasteners  29  to prevent disengagement of the spike holder  30  from the slide base plates  24 . See  FIG. 9 . That is, the additional slot  48  runs along the aperture  46  of each slide base plate  24 , but stops short of the entire length of the plate  24 . In this fashion, the uppermost portion of the stop member  28  engages the slot  48  and prevents the spike holder  30  from disengaging the base plates  24 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the kick plate  38  also includes an eye-hook  39  or similar connector for attaching one end of a string or rope (not shown) to it. The user may pull on the string (not shown) and quickly retract the spike holder  30  from beneath the vehicle (also not shown) when its intended usage is completed. 
         [0025]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 through 3  and  FIG. 6 , it will be seen that the top surface  32  of the spike holder  30  includes a plurality of circular spike apertures  42 . Each spike aperture  42  includes a spike retaining device  14  of the type known in the art. It is to be understood that the precise kind or type of spike retaining device  14  used is not a limitation of the present invention. To one side of each spike aperture  42  is a transverse slot  44 . The slot  44  is provided to allow the spike  12  to lay down and for slight rotation of the spike  12  as the spike  12  is deployed from the assembly  10 . 
         [0026]    In application, the assembly  10  would be mounted in a fixed position relative to a secure check-point. Alternatively, it could be portable as desired or required by the particular application. If the assembly  10  is used in a fixed position setting, the anchor plate  22  of the base  20  would be secured to a flat horizontal surface as would each of the slide base plates  24 . The assembly  10  would be secured in such a way that the movement of the spike holder  30  relative to the base plates  24  would be generally transverse to the path of movement of the motor vehicles with which the assembly  10  would be used. As a motor vehicle approaches the assembly at this point, the spike holder  30  would be in a fully retracted position as is shown in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . As the motor vehicle (not shown) moves towards the assembly  10 , and into the anticipated path of the assembly  10  when fully extended, the motor vehicle should be stopped at a point where extension of the assembly  10  effects placement of the spike holder  30  preferably between the front vehicle tire and the rear tire. The user then uses the kick-plate of the spike holder  30  to urge the spike holder  30  along the base plates  24  and under the motor vehicle. At this point, the spike holder  30  is in its fully extended position as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 8 . With the spike holder  30  in this position, it is not possible to move the motor vehicle without deploying one or more of the spikes  12  as the tire, front or rear, moves up and over one or the other of the ramped surfaces  31 ,  33  and the upper surface  32  of the spike holder  30 . When the purpose of the check-point has been completed, the user simply pulls on a rope or string (not shown) that is attached to the eyehook  39  of the spike holder  30  to retract the spike holder  30  to its initial position, thus allowing the motor vehicle to continue on its way without harm to its tires. 
         [0027]    Accordingly, it will be seen that there has been provided a new, useful and non-obvious tire-puncturing spike and retainer assembly that is preferably placed between the front and rear wheels of a vehicle, that can, for example, be moved underneath a vehicle when the vehicle is stationary so as to prevent the vehicle from moving without puncturing one more tires, and that can be just as easily removed from underneath a vehicle.