Ballistic tire-deflation device for security vehicles

• US 7,895,788 B1
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Watchguard Video Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enforcement Video Incorporated (Enforcement Technology Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vanman, Robert V., Cilia, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US12/181,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20110067562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 421/06, 89/14.1, 891/26, 891/27
• US Class Current: 42/106
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/68 for multibarrel guns or multibarrel rocket launchers or multicanistersF41A19/65 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/04 Muzzle covers
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 9/00 Other smallarms, e.g. hidden smallarms or smallarms specially adapted for underwater use
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 9/02 Concealed pistols, e.g. in pencils
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 1/08 Multibarrel guns, e.g. twin guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/22 for vehicle-borne armament, e.g. on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/08 Barbed-wire obstacles; Barricades; Stanchions; Tank traps; Vehicle-impeding devices; Caltrops making barbed wire B21F25/00; barbed-wire fencing E04H17/04; road barricades, obstructing passage of vehicles or pedestrians E01F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/145 for dispensing gases, vapours, powders, particles or chemically-reactive substances from projectiles F42B12/46

Abstract

A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus includes an optical module adapted to provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus further includes a firing mechanism adapted to fire a projectile towards the object and a housing containing the firing mechanism. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle.

Claims

1. A ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus comprising:

an optical module adapted to provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object;

a firing mechanism adapted to fire a projectile towards the object;

a control computer comprising;

a communication mechanism;

a processor; and

a memory;

wherein the communication mechanism is operable to communicate information between the control computer and the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus;

wherein, responsive to the speed of a vehicle falling below a pre-determined threshold speed, the control computer communicates information to the firing mechanism that causes the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus to disarm; and

wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted to the vehicle.

2. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the firing mechanism comprises a plurality of projectile barrels.

3. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of projectile barrels is fired singularly.

4. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of projectile barrels are fired simultaneously.

5. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of projectile barrels are mounted behind a sacrificial cover;

and

the sacrificial cover prevents foreign objects from entering the plurality of projectile barrels.

6. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus further comprises:

at least one radiation module adapted to project infrared (IR) radiation towards the object; and

a range-detector module adapted to project laser light towards the object.

7. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one radiation module comprises at least one infrared illuminator.

8. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the range-detection module comprises a laser symbol projector.

9. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the range-detector module is operable as a range finder.

10. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the range-detector module is operable as an aiming mechanism.

11. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is manually aimed by aligning the vehicle so that the laser light is on the object.

12. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the control computer is interoperably connected to at least one of the optical module, the range-detector module, and the firing mechanism.

13. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in an assisted mode.

14. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 6, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in an automatic mode.

15. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical module comprises an infrared camera.

16. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical module utilizes infrared radiation to illuminate the object.

17. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover.

18. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover is adapted to protect against inadvertent firing of the firing mechanism.

19. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover prevents foreign objects from entering the firing mechanism.

20. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover is adapted to be rotated and positioned to cover substantially an entire front surface of the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus.

21. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover is adapted to be slid into to cover substantially an entire front surface of the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus.

22. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover is adapted to be rotated and positioned to cover the firing mechanism.

23. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover comprises at least one of plastic and metal.

24. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 17, wherein the cover is sacrificial.

25. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is operable in at least one of a manual mode, an assisted mode, and an automatic mode.

26. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted on a front portion of the vehicle.

27. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted adjacent a license plate on the driver'"'"'s side of the vehicle.

28. The ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is adapted to fire frangible ammunition.

29. A vehicle-mounted ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus comprising:

an optical module adapted to provide visual feedback to a user to aim at an object;

a firing mechanism adapted to fire a projectile towards the object;

a control computer comprising;

a communication mechanism;

a processor; and

a memory;

wherein the communication mechanism is operable to communicate information between the control computer and the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus; and

wherein, responsive to the speed of a vehicle to which the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus is mounted exceeding a pre-determined threshold speed, the control computer communicates information to the firing mechanism that causes the ballistic vehicle-immobilization apparatus to disarm.