Patent ID: 6896443

Claim:
A device for capturing a target vehicle traveling along a pathway, comprising: first and second support members ( 70 A, 70 B); a flexible barrier ( 20 ) which, with the device in at least deployed condition, is held extending at least partially between said first and second support members at a height that is effective to engage the target vehicle as said target vehicle passes between the support members and having: an upper barrier member ( 22 ) extending generally horizontally across the pathway when the device is in the deployed condition; a lower barrier member ( 24 ) extending generally horizontally across the pathway when the device is in the deployed condition; a plurality of linking members ( 26 , 28 A, 28 B, 30 A, 30 B) extending between the upper and lower barrier members and coupled to the upper and lower members effective to transfer a restraining force applied to at least one of the upper and lower members to the vehicle when the vehicle is engaged to the flexible barrier; wherein on either side of a barrier median, in at least an area starting about a foot (0.3 m) from the median and continuing to at least about four feet (1.2 m) from the median measured along the lower barrier member, each of the linking members extends outward relative to the median from the lower barrier member to the upper barrier member when the device is in the deployed condition and leave one or more large gaps in the barrier effective so that a vehicle tire overriding the lower barrier member and any lower portion of any linking member will encounter such a gap and, thereby be unable to draw the barrier beneath the vehicle to drive over the barrier.