Tire deflation tool delivery device

• US 7,377,715 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Lee Kruise
• Original Assignee: Ronald Lee Kruise
• Inventors: Kruise, Ronald Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartmann; Gary S.
• Application Number:
  US11/241,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20060078379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 404/6
• US Class Current: 404/6
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/12 for forcibly arresting or disabling vehicles, e.g. spiked mats

Abstract

This tire deflation tool deployment device is designed for use in situations where law enforcement officials desire to stop a vehicle in a chase situation. The device disclosed deposits a spiked deflation tool from beneath a command vehicle into the pathway of a target vehicle so as to puncture a tire of the target vehicle. The device includes a deflation tool storage and release housing. A fabric panel attached at one end to the housing has a second end wrapped about the tool and serves to lower the tool toward the pathway in an even and controlled manner before the tool leaves the fabric panel. From its release from the housing, movement and attitude of the tool are controlled by tether lines interconnecting the tool with the housing and payed out to a given extent limiting the distance the tool is towed behind the command vehicle.

Claims

1. In a tire deflation tool deployment device for depositing a spiked deflation tool from a command vehicle into the pathway of a moving target vehicle so as to cause puncturing of at least one tire of said target vehicle, said deployment device including a housing defining a first deflation tool restraining member for temporary storage of said deflation tool, said housing further including a wall movable from a closed position to an open position respectively for retaining and releasing said deflation tool, and said housing having a latch mechanism for temporarily latching said wall in said closed position, the improvement comprising:

a secondary deflation tool restraining member having a first end and a second end;

said secondary restraining member fixedly attached only at said first end thereof to said movable wall;

said second end of said secondary restraining member free of fixed attachment and configured to wrap about said deflation tool;

whereby, upon release of said latch mechanism and movement of said wall to its open position, said deflation tool wrapped within the second end of said secondary restraining member is eased from said housing in a manner controlled by said secondary restraining member.

2. The deflation tool deployment device of claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises:

said secondary restraining member is in the form of an elongated fabric panel, said fabric panel fixed only at its first end along an edge of said movable wall.

3. The deflation tool deployment device of claim 2 wherein the improvement further comprises:

said housing including at least one line box fixed thereto;

at least one tether line having a first end, a second end, and a predetermined extent;

said first end of said tether line attached at said line box, and said second end of said tether line configured to extend from said line box and to connect to said deflation tool;

whereby said tether line follows said deflation tool in its descent from said housing and limits the deployment thereof to said predetermined extent.

4. The deflation tool deployment device of claim 3, further defined by:

a pair of tether line boxes, including said at least one line box and a second line box, both said boxes affixed to said housing;

a pair of tether lines including said at least one tether line and a second tether line, each said tether line having a first and second end,

said first end of said at least one tether line attached at said first box;

said first end of said second tether line attached at said second box;

said second ends of said first and second tether lines are configured to attach to respective ends of said deflation tool;

whereby said first and second tether lines follow said deflation tool in its descent from said housing and control the movement and extent of said deflation tool into the pathway of said target vehicle.

5. A tire deflation tool deployment device for depositing a spiked deflation tool from a command vehicle into a pathway of a moving target vehicle so as to cause puncturing of at least one tire of said target vehicle, said device including:

a container housing including a plurality of walls defining interior space for temporarily securing said deflation tool in a stored position;

said container housing having at least one connector for mounting said container housing to said command vehicle;

a first one of said plurality of walls having a pivoted connection to a second one of said plurality of walls so as to define an exit from said container housing;

a fabric panel having at least a first and second edge, said fabric panel fixedly connected only at said first edge to at least one of said walls adjacent said exit and its second edge free of fixed attachment configured to enfold said deflation tool in said stored position;

at least one movable latch mechanism having a first and second latch position;

said first one of said plurality of walls having a latch engagement portion configured so as to be engaged by said at least one movable latch mechanism in said first latch position and to be disengaged from said at least one movable latch mechanism in said second latch position so as to permit controlled descent of the deflation tool as said fabric panel unfolds;

whereby said fabric panel fully unfolds to ease said deflation tool into the pathway of said target vehicle at said second edge of said fabric panel.

6. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 5 further defined by:

said first one of said plurality of walls including a latch receiving portion thereof configured for engagement of said at least one movable latch mechanism in said first latch position;

said at least one movable latch mechanism is further defined as a solenoid having a reciprocal plunger adapted to be engaged with said latch receiving portion of said first one of said plurality of walls.

7. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 6 wherein said latch receiving portion of said first one of said plurality of walls includes a wall surface defining a through hole.

8. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 6 further defined by:

an electronic control unit interconnected to said at least one movable latch mechanism;

a manual trigger unit interconnected to said electronic control unit;

whereby an operator of said command vehicle may activate said electronic control unit to activate said at least one movable latch mechanism so as to discharge said deflation tool and fabric panel.

9. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 5, wherein said device is further defined as including:

at least one line box located within said container housing interior;

at least one tether line attached at said line box and configured to connect to at least one end of said tire deflation tool;

whereby said at least one tether line acts to control movement of said deflation tool toward said target vehicle.

10. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 9 further defined as including:

a pair of line boxes, including said at least one line box and a second line box, both said line boxes located within said container housing interior;

a pair of tether lines, including said at least one tether line and a second tether line each said line attached to one of said pair of line boxes and configured to attach to a separate end of said tire deflation tool;

whereby said movement of said deflation tool with relation to said target vehicle is stabilized.

11. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 5 further defined by:

one of said plurality of walls is a top wall;

said at least one connector is located on said top wall and configured to connectively engage with an undercarriage of said command vehicle.

12. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 11 further defined by:

said first one of said plurality of walls is a bottom wall having a forward and a rearward edge;

a second one of said plurality of walls is a front wall;

said bottom wall has a pivot connection adjacent said front wall.

13. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 12 further defined by:

said first end of said fabric panel being connected to said bottom wall adjacent said rearward edge thereof.

14. A system for stopping a fleeing vehicle by causing a tire thereof to deflate by depositing a deflation tool from a chase vehicle into a pathway of said fleeing vehicle so as to cause puncturing of at least one tire of said second vehicle, said system including:

a tire deflation tool having an elongated base and multiple tool sides

said elongated base further including at least one spike affixed thereto, said at least one spike extending outwardly from said base in a direction opposite to at least one of said multiple tool sides;

a container housing including a plurality of walls defining an interior space for temporarily storing said tire deflation tool;

said plurality of walls including a pair of end walls;

said container housing having at least one connector for mounting said container housing to an undercarriage of said first vehicle, said at least one connector being attached to one of said plurality of walls;

a first one of said plurality of walls having a pivoted connection at each of said pair of end walls, and juxtaposed to another of said plurality of walls so as to define an exit opening from said container housing;

a latch mechanism temporarily holding said first one of said plurality of walls in a closed position

a control unit for releasing said latch mechanism;

said system further including an elongated fabric panel member having a first and second edge;

said fabric panel first edge connected to said first one of said plurality of walls adjacent said exit opening;

said fabric panel member having a first and a second position;

said fabric panel, in a first position, is furled and stored within said interior space;

in a second position, said fabric panel is unfurled and extended through said exit opening and outside said container housing;

whereby said tire deflation tool may be stored within said furled fabric panel member in said first position and, upon its release, controlled in its descent as said fabric panel unfurls so as to place said deflation tool base on one of its multiple tool sides with said at least one spike extending outwardly therefrom.

15. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 14 further defined by:

said latch mechanism includes at least one electrically controlled solenoid unit said solenoid having a reciprocal plunger adapted to lock said at least one of said plurality of walls in a closed position;

whereby said exit opening is closed so as to maintain said tire deflation tool and said furled fabric panel in stored position.

16. The tire deflation tool deployment device of claim 15, further including:

a pair of tether line boxes, including a first and second box affixed to said housing;

a first tether line having a first and second end, wherein said first end of said first tether line is attached at said first box;

a second tether line having a first and second end, wherein said first end of said second tether line is attached at said second box;

said second ends of said first and second tether lines are attached to respective ends of said deflation tool;

whereby said tether lines follow said deflation tool in its descent from said housing so as to control the attitude and extent of movement of said deflation tool into the pathway of said target vehicle.