Targeted tethered tire capture projectile

• US 7,275,889 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David T. Mcgill
• Original Assignee: David T. Mcgill
• Inventors: McGill, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann; Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US11/449,929
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6, 180/287, 280/762
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/12 for forcibly arresting or disabling vehicles, e.g. spiked mats

Abstract

A pursuit vehicle carries a projectile housed within a launcher mounted on its front end. The projectile is able to be directed at high speed from the launcher toward a tire of a pursued vehicle. A tether line is coiled about a tether reel within the chase vehicle and is fixed to the projectile. The projectile has folded barbs that extend once the projectile has entered the tire and which keeps the projectile from flying out of the tire due to centripetal force. Being penetrated, the tire quickly looses pressure and deflates while the tether line wraps itself around the wheel'"'"'s axle and brakes which can cause the wheel to stop spinning.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a chase vehicle supporting at a front end thereof, and at an elevation approximately at the center of tires of the chase vehicle, a projectile housed within a tubular projectile launcher;

a tether having a length of tether line coiled thereon, one end of the tether line fixed to the projectile;

the projectile launcher providing a propulsor positioned and adapted for propelling the projectile from the launcher forward of the chase vehicle;

a video camera positioned adjacent to the tubular projectile launcher for sighting forward of the chase vehicle at an elevation of the projectile;

a video image display positioned for viewing from within the chase vehicle, the video image display adapted for receiving an image from the video camera for targeting the projectile on a tire of a pursued vehicle, and a propulsor enabler within the chase vehicle, the propulsor enabler in communication with the propulsor for launching the projectile.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the propulsor is one of:

a compressed gas canister, a compressed expansion spring and an explosive charge.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a reel motor engaged with the tether reel and with the propulsor enabler for driving the tether reel to unwind the tether line simultaneously with activating the propulsor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tether line is comprised of at least one of:

a steel alloy, a titanium alloy, a polymer, and a carbon fiber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the projectile has plural pivotal barbs positioned thereon, the barbs adapted for swinging outwardly from the projectile upon deceleration thereof, the barbs incapable of withdrawing so as to secure the projectile within a tire.