Patent ID: 8475077

Claim:
A nonlethal barrier system comprising: a first base comprising: a frame; a shaft rotatably coupled to the frame; and a first brake comprising: a stationary magnet physically coupled to the frame, wherein the shaft passes through the stationary magnet; an adjustable magnet magnetically coupled to the stationary magnet to create a magnetic field between the stationary magnet and the adjustable magnet such that the strength of the magnetic field is alterable by rotating the adjustable magnet; and a slab physically coupled to the shaft, wherein the slab is disposed in the magnetic field between the stationary magnet and the adjustable magnet; and a net furled around the shaft of the first base such that when an external force is applied to the net, the shaft of the first base rotates and unfurls at least a portion of the net; wherein: the slab of the first base applies a resistance to the shaft of the first base to control the rate at which the net unfurls from the shaft of the first base; and the resistance is based at least in part on the strength of the magnetic field of the first brake.