Method and device for forced stopping of a vehicle

• US 6,176,519 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Markku Limingoja
• Original Assignee: Markku Limingoja
• Inventors: Limingoja, Markku
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YEAGLEY, DANIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/180,589
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 280/481, 280/598, 280/502, 280/762, 280/479.1, 280/491.5, 280/508, 280/727, 180/287, 173/90, 173/212, 169/70, 169/62, 414/24.5, 414/378, 414/444, 43/6, 431/321, 30/1, 294/1.1, 294/61, 294/126
• US Class Current: 280/762
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/54 collapsible or retractable when not in use, e.g. hide-away hitches B60D1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/58 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/12 acting otherwise than by retarding wheels, e.g. jet action

Abstract

A method for forced stopping of a second vehicle (B) by using a first vehicle (A) includes equipment (C) in the front end of the first vehicle (A) which can be used to engage sheet metal structures, and the front end of the first vehicle (A) is driven into the rear of the second vehicle (B) so that the equipment (C) in the front end of the first vehicle engages the sheet metal structure in the rear of the second vehicle (B), whereby the second vehicle (B) can be stopped by the first vehicle (A). The equipment (C) used can include a turning body part and a tip part with gripping device attached to the body part in a detachable way. The gripping device can contain a tip which penetrates the sheet metal structure. The method and the equipment according to the invention can be used to stop a fleeing vehicle without the need to drive beside it or to pass it or to try to force it off the road.

Claims

1. A method for forced stopping of a second vehicle from a first vehicle wherein a front end of the first vehicle is provided with equipment for engaging metal sheet structures by penetrating through metal, said equipment being moveable between a rest position, wherein the equipment is generally parallel to a bumper of the first vehicle, and a standby position, wherein the equipment is generally parallel to the length of the first vehicle, the method comprising steps of:

moving the equipment from said rest position to said standby position, driving the front end of the first vehicle into the rear of the second vehicle so that the equipment on the front end of the first vehicle engages the sheet metal structure of the rear of the second vehicle;

stopping the first vehicle, whereby the second vehicle is stopped.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein an operation of the equipment is controlled from a driver'"'"'s compartment of the first vehicle.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is provided with a cartridge, whereby gas is conducted to the second vehicle through the equipment.

4. A method according to claim 1, the equipment is attached to the front end of the first vehicle in a detachable way and they can be controlled to be detached from the front end of the first vehicle.

5. Equipment for forced stopping of a second vehicle from a first vehicle, said equipment comprising:

a fastening part attached to a front end of the first vehicle;

a body part attached to the fastening part;

gripping means attached to the body part for engaging a sheet metal structure of the second vehicle by penetrating through the metal sheet at a rear of the second vehicle;

wherein the body part is moveable between a rest position, wherein the body part is generally parallel to a bumper of the first vehicle, and a standby position, wherein the body part is generally parallel to the length of the first vehicle.

6. Equipment according to claim 5, wherein the gripping means is attached to the body part in a detachable way.

7. Equipment according to claim 6, further comprising an actuator attached to the fastening part and to the body part, wherein said actuator can be used to turn the body part between a rest position and a standby position.

8. Equipment according to claim 7, further comprising a control means which can be used to control an operation for controlling the turning of the body part and the detaching of the gripping means of the equipment from a driver'"'"'s compartment of the first vehicle.

9. Equipment according to claim 6, wherein the gripping means contains a cartridge for releasing gas when the gripping means are detached from the body part.

10. Equipment according to claim 6, further comprising a control means for controlling the detaching of the gripping means of the equipment from a driver'"'"'s compartment of the vehicle.

11. Equipment according to claim 5, wherein the gripping means contain a penetrating means for penetrating a sheet metal structure and the equipment further contains a cartridge for conducting gas via the equipment through the penetrated sheet metal structure.