Projectile Interceptor Mountable on a Firearm

• US 20150219425A1
• Filed: 10/15/2014
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher V. Beckman
• Original Assignee: Christopher V. Beckman
• Inventors: Beckman, Christopher V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/00 Accessories or details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/27 in revolver-type guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/62 having means for indicating the number of cartridges left in the magazine, e.g. last-round indicators last-round safeties F41A17/40
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/68 Plural magazines, e.g. tandem magazines ; Arrangements of cartridges in two or more independent rows or channels which are selectively or sequentially brought into operative position
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/70 Arrangements thereon for discharging, e.g. cartridge followers or discharge throats
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/83 Apparatus or tools for reloading magazines with unbelted ammunition, e.g. cartridge clips
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices constructional aspects see Section E, e.g. air-raid shelters E04H9/04; protective arrangements for buildings E04B1/92; extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire from, incendiary bombs A62C3/06; dynamic armour F41H5/007; ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals F41H13/0006; electronic countermeasures G01S
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/007 Reactive armour; Dynamic armour
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/12 for smallarms; for light-rocket launchers shields attached to smallarms F41C27/04
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/42 of illuminating type, e.g. carrying flares
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 27/00 Hand grenades F42B12/00 takes precedence; for practice or training F42B8/12
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/035 the cartridge or barrel assembly having a plurality of axially stacked projectiles each having a separate propellant charge

Abstract

Ballistic projectile protection devices, and methods for their use, are provided. In a preferred embodiment, a gun-mounted ballistic protection device is provided, comprising multiple interception media launchers that cover and protect a user'"'"'s vital organs from incoming projectiles. In some aspects of the invention, a control system using a microphone or other sensors, with multiple sampling points in a forward location, determine the location and trajectory of an incoming projectile, and deploy interception media to intercept the incoming projectile. In a preferred embodiment, a user may activate the projectile protection device with a partial trigger pull, or a button placed within reach of a user'"'"'s trigger finger.

Claims

1. A firearm-mounted ballistic protection system, comprising:

At least one interception media, held in a housing mounted on a firearm, and configured to be launched from said housing;

interception media launching propellant and at least one launching propellant trigger;

computer hardware, configured to control said at least one launching propellant trigger and a microphone or other emanating phenomena sensor mounted on said firearm;

wherein said microphone or other emanating phenomena sensor is mounted on said firearm, at a location forward from said housing, and is wired, or otherwise in communication, with said computer hardware, and is fixed at a distance from said computer hardware; and

wherein said computer hardware is capable of performing operations, based in part on said distance and said location, to determine a location and trajectory of a projectile approaching said firearm; and

wherein said computer hardware is capable of intercepting said projectile at least in part by triggering said propellant.

2. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said microphone or other emanating phenomena sensor comprises an extension with a first intake horn and a second intake horn, and wherein said first intake horn comprises a media denser than a media comprised in said second intake horn.

3. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said microphone or other emanating phenomena sensor comprises an extension with a first intake horn and a second intake horn, and wherein said first intake horn comprises a media with a different pattern than a media comprised in said second intake horn.

4. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second microphone or other emanating phenomena sensor.

5. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 4, further comprising:

a third microphone or other emanating phenomena sensor.

6. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said microphone or other emanating phenomena sensor comprises at least one camera; and

wherein said computer hardware is further configured to determine and issue at least one interception execution signal based at least in part on the transmission speed of electromagnetic radiation in space or air, based at least in part on the transmission speed of electricity through wiring, and based at least in part on the speed, or a range of possible speeds, of said projectile.

7. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 6, further comprising:

wherein said computer hardware is configured to compare input from said at least one camera to libraries of images or other recorded expressions of projectiles in flight; and

wherein said computer hardware is configured to determine a probable trajectory of said projectile based on said comparing.

8. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 7, further comprising:

Wherein said computer hardware is configured to determine an interception timing and path for launching said interception media, based at least in part on said probable trajectory.

9. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

multiple launching units, each comprising at least one separate propellant and interception media.

10. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 9, further comprising:

wherein said multiple launching units are trained or trainable on different regions of space, to cover different potential projectile trajectories.

11. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 9, further comprising:

wherein said computer hardware selects and/or trains at least one of said multiple launching units based on said trajectory of a projectile approaching said firearm.

12. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said interception media so intercepts said projectile by reducing the kinetic energy of said projectile.

13. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said interception media so intercepts said projectile by diverting the path of said projectile.

14. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said interception media so intercepts said projectile by sequestering said projectile.

15. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said interception media so intercepts said projectile by creating an increased surface area for an impact with a human body.

16. The firearm-mounted ballistic protection system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein said interception media comprises attitude-altering surface features.

17. A method for intercepting a ballistic projectile, comprising the following steps:

training a firearm with an attached or integral ballistic protection system toward a potential source of gunfire;

providing power to, or otherwise activating, said ballistic protection system;

detecting sound or other emanating phenomenon through multiple transmission media and/or sensors distributed in space;

which sound or other emanating phenomenon originates from a ballistic projectile fired from said potential source of gunfire; and

determining a flight trajectory of said ballistic projectile based on said detected sound or other emanating phenomenon through said multiple transmission media and/or sensors distributed in space.

18. The method for intercepting a ballistic projectile of claim 17, comprising the following additional step:

wherein said activating comprises partially pulling a trigger of said firearm; and

wherein said partially pulling a trigger of said firearm is detected by a sensor comprised in said ballistic projection system.

19. The method for intercepting a ballistic projectile of claim 17, comprising the following additional step:

wherein said activating comprises partially pressing a button or switch mounted within 3 inches of said trigger, and within reach of the user'"'"'s trigger finger when placed on said trigger.

20. The method for intercepting a ballistic projectile of claim 17, comprising the following additional step:

launching an interception media away from said ballistic protection system, along a trajectory projected to intercept said ballistic projectile.