Vehicle and structure shield

• US 8,245,621 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: QinetiQ North America Incorporated (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Inventors: Farinella, Michael D., Cardenas, Robert Lee, Lawson, William R., LaBrecque, Brendan, Rush, Frances, Hoadley, David, Wheaton, Michael, Anderson, Michael, Mann, Thomas, Kanaan, Abed, Callahan, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEMAN, JOSHUA E
• Application Number:
  US13/136,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20120067199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 89 3601- 3617, 109/49.5, 114/241, 296/187.07
• US Class Current: 89/36.08
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/013 Mounting or securing armour plates
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/026 Slat armour; Nets

Abstract

A vehicle and structure shield includes a flexible net subsystem including an array of rods or hard points supported by the net subsystem and configured to impact a projectile striking the net. A frame includes mounting brackets attached thereto positioning the frame in a spaced relationship with respect to the vehicle or structure. A first releasable fastener subsystem releasably secures the net subsystem to the frame and a second releasable fastener subsystem releasably secures the mounting brackets of the frame to a vehicle or structure.

Claims

1. A vehicle and structure shield comprising:

a flexible compliant net subsystem with strands designed to break if struck by a projectile;

an array of hard points on the net subsystem, the hard points designed and attached to the net subsystem in such a manner that the hard points tumble and angle inwardly digging into an ogive of a projectile striking the shield;

a frame including mounting brackets attached thereto positioning the frame in a spaced relationship with respect to a vehicle or structure; and

the net subsystem secured to the frame.

2. The shield of claim 1 in which the net subsystem includes first and second spaced nets having nodes interconnected by the hard points.

3. The shield of claim 2 in which each hard point includes a base portion with castellations for the first net and a post portion extending from the base portion and including castellations for the second net.

4. The shield of claim 1 in which the net subsystem includes a single net and the hard points each include a post portion and a base portion with a cavity receiving the post portion therein.

5. The shield of claim 1 in which said hard points include a multi-sided portion defining sharp corners.

6. The shield of claim 5 in which each hard point includes at least five sides and five sharp corners.

7. The shield of claim 5 in which the multi-sided portion includes a cavity frictionally receiving a plug therein.

8. The shield of claim 5 in which the multi-sided portion includes a wall with longitudinal slots therein for strands of the net.

9. The shield of claim 1 in which the frame includes telescoping members.

10. The shield of claim 1 further including fasteners on the frame and corresponding fasteners on the periphery of the net.

11. The shield of claim 1 in which the hard points weight between 10 to 40 grams, are between ½

inch to ¾

inches across, between ½

inch to 1 inch tall, and are multi-sided.