Transparent Armor Coupling System
A panel mounting assembly operable to mount a panel in an opening defined by at least two frame members. More particularly, a panel mounting assembly operable to mount a ballistic resistant panel in the opening between lower and upper frame members of a vehicle window frame of a vehicle.
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A panel mounting assembly operable to mount a panel in an opening defined by at least two frame members. More particularly, a panel mounting assembly operable to mount a ballistic resistant panel in the opening between lower and upper frame members of a vehicle window frame of a vehicle door of a vehicle.
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More particularly, the panel (2) can be a ballistic resistant panel (10) comprised of a ballistic glazing resistant to being penetrated when struck by a projectile. An example of a ballistic glazing suitable for use as a ballistic resistant panel (10) can be an optically transparent polycarbonate laminate that meets UL 752 Level 3 rating for 0.44 Magnum ballistic attack, HP White TP 0500 Level IV, and ASTM F 1233 Class 5. However, this example is not intended to preclude embodiments which do not include ballistic resistant panels (10) and depending upon the application, the panel (2) can be formed, molded or fabricated from a ballistic resistant or a ballistic non-resistant material to provide a panel thickness between the panel inner and outer surfaces (20)(21) and joined by a perimeter edge (22) defining dimensional relations of the panel (2) suitable for a numerous and wide variety of applications.
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The lower mount face (34) affixed to the lower frame member (5) disposes the at least one cam surface (35) between the lower frame member (5) and the upper frame member (6) of the vehicle window frame (7). The perimeter lower edge (24) of the panel (2) can engage the at least one cam surface (35) which can be rotated to move the perimeter upper edge (23) of the panel (2) (or ballistic resistant panel (10)) into mated engagement with the upper frame member (6) of the vehicle window frame (7). Particular embodiments can, but need not necessarily, include a pair of cam surfaces (35)(39) each engagable with the perimeter lower edge (24) of the panel (2). The pair of cam surfaces (35)(39) can be interdependently rotatable or discretely rotatable to move the perimeter upper edge (23) of the panel (2) to engage the upper frame member (6) of the vehicle window frame (7).
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As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. The invention involves numerous and varied embodiments of a panel mounting assembly (1) and a panel (2) and methods for making and using the panel assembly (1) and the panel (2) for mounting the panel (2) in an opening (3) including the best mode.
As such, the particular embodiments or elements of the invention disclosed by the description or shown in the figures or tables accompanying this application are not intended to be limiting, but rather exemplary of the numerous and varied embodiments generically encompassed by the invention or equivalents encompassed with respect to any particular element thereof. In addition, the specific description of a single embodiment or element of the invention may not explicitly describe all embodiments or elements possible; many alternatives are implicitly disclosed by the description and figures.
It should be understood that each element of an apparatus or each step of a method may be described by an apparatus term or method term. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all steps of a method may be disclosed as an action, a means for taking that action, or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each element of an apparatus may be disclosed as the physical element or the action which that physical element facilitates. As but one example, the disclosure of a “cam” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “camming”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “camming”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “cam” and even a “means for camming.” Such alternative terms for each element or step are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood to be included in the description for each term as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition, each definition hereby incorporated by reference.
All numeric values herein are assumed to be modified by the term “about”, whether or not explicitly indicated. For the purposes of the present invention, ranges may be expressed as from “about” one particular value to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value to the other particular value. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all the numeric values subsumed within that range. A numerical range of one to five includes for example the numeric values 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, and so forth. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. When a value is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term “about” generally refers to a range of numeric values that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited numeric value or having the same function or result. Similarly, the antecedent “substantially” means largely, but not wholly, the same form, manner or degree and the particular element will have a range of configurations as a person of ordinary skill in the art would consider as having the same function or result. When a particular element is expressed as an approximation by use of the antecedent “substantially,” it will be understood that the particular element forms another embodiment.
Moreover, for the purposes of the present invention, the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity unless otherwise limited. As such, the terms “a” or “an”, “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to claim at least: i) each of the panel mounting assembly and panels herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative embodiments which accomplish each of the functions shown, disclosed, or described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, x) the various combinations and permutations of each of the previous elements disclosed.
The background section of this patent application provides a statement of the field of endeavor to which the invention pertains. This section may also incorporate or contain paraphrasing of certain United States patents, patent applications, publications, or subject matter of the claimed invention useful in relating information, problems, or concerns about the state of technology to which the invention is drawn toward. It is not intended that any United States patent, patent application, publication, statement or other information cited or incorporated herein be interpreted, construed or deemed to be admitted as prior art with respect to the invention.
The claims set forth in this specification, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent application or continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon.
Additionally, the claims set forth in this specification, if any, are further intended to describe the metes and bounds of a limited number of the preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as the broadest embodiment of the invention or a complete listing of embodiments of the invention that may be claimed. The applicant does not waive any right to develop further claims based upon the description set forth above as a part of any continuation, division, or continuation-in-part, or similar application.
Claims
1. An armor system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a ballistic resistant panel having an inner panel surface opposite an outer panel surface joined at a perimeter edge, said perimeter edge including a perimeter upper edge and a perimeter lower edge; and
- a panel mounting assembly including: a panel mount having a lower mount face affixable to lower frame member of a vehicle window frame; and a cam surface engagable with said perimeter lower edge of said ballistic resistant panel, said cam surface rotatable to move said perimeter upper edge of said ballistic resistant panel to engage an upper frame member of said vehicle window frame.
2. The armor system of claim 1, wherein said panel mount further comprises an upper mount face opposite said lower mount face, said upper mount face having a pair of legs defining a longitudinally extending channel which receives said perimeter lower edge of said ballistic resistant panel to engage said cam surface rotatably disposed between said pair of legs.
3. The armor system of claim 2, further comprising a flange outwardly projecting from said lower mount face, said flange removably insertable into a lower receiving channel of said lower frame member of said vehicle window frame.
4. The armor system of claim 3, wherein said flange extends along the length of said lower mount face.
5. The armor system of claim 2, further comprising a shaft rotatably supported by said pair of legs, said cam surface coupled to said shaft.
6. The armor system of claim 5, further comprising a handle coupled to said shaft, said handle movable about a shaft rotation axis of said shaft to correspondingly rotate said at least one cam surface to move said perimeter upper edge of said ballistic resistant panel to engage an upper frame member of said vehicle window frame.
7. The armor system of claim 6, further comprising a locking member disposed on said shaft between said pair of legs and said handle, said locking member rotatingly responsive to said shaft to align a locking element outwardly projecting from said locking member with a locking aperture disposed in said pair of legs, said locking aperture insertingly receiving said locking element to prevent rotation of said cam surface.
8. The armor system of claim 7, further comprising:
- a springing element disposed between said pair of legs and said locking member, wherein said handle further comprising a pivot end pivotally coupled to said shaft, said pivot end including a pivot end cam surface engaging said locking member, said handle rotatable about said shaft rotation axis to align said locking element with said locking aperture, said handle rotatable about said pivot axis between an unlocked condition in which said springing element maintains said locking element outside of said locking aperture and a locked condition in which said pivot end cam surface forcible urges said locking element into said locking aperture.
9. The armor system of claim 1, further comprising a groove disposed along the length of said perimeter upper edge between said inner panel surface and said outer panel surface to divide said perimeter upper edge into an inner furcate edge and an outer furcate edge.
10. The armor system of claim 9, wherein said groove disposed only along the length of said perimeter upper edge between said inner panel surface and said outer panel surface to divide said perimeter upper edge into an inner furcate edge and an outer furcate edge.
11. The armor system of claim 9, wherein said groove insertingly receives a door seal flange of said upper frame member of said vehicle window frame to dispose said inner furcate edge and an outer furcate edge on opposite sides of said door seal flange.
12. The armor system of claim 11, further comprising a recessed margin disposed in said inner panel surface along said perimeter lower edge of said panel inner surface which matingly receives one of said pair of legs.
13. The armors system of claim 12, wherein said inner surface and said outer surface of said ballistic resistant panel comprise substantially planar inner and outer surfaces.
14. The armor system of claim 1, wherein said cam surface comprises a pair of cam surfaces each engagable with said lower edge of said ballistic resistant panel and each of said pair of cam surfaces rotatable to move said upper edge of said ballistic resistant panel to engage said upper frame member of said vehicle window frame.
15. The armor system of claim 14, further comprising a pair of shafts rotatably supported by said pair of legs, one of said pair of cam surfaces correspondingly coupled to each of said pair of shafts.
16. The armor system of claim 5, further comprising a pair of handles one coupled to each of said pair of shafts, each of said pair of handles correspondingly movable about a pair of shaft rotation axis of said pair of shafts to correspondingly rotate said pair of cam surfaces to move said upper edge of said ballistic resistant panel to engage said upper frame member of said vehicle window frame.
17. The armor system of claim 16, further comprising a pair of locking members one disposed on each of said pair of shafts between said pair of legs and said pair of handles, each of said pair of locking member rotatingly responsive to a corresponding one of said pair of shafts to align each one of a pair locking element outwardly projecting from said pair of locking member with a pair of locking apertures disposed in said pair of legs, said pair of locking aperture corresponding insertingly receiving said pair of locking elements to prevent rotation of said pair of cam surfaces.
18. The armor system of claim 17, further comprising a pair of springing elements one disposed between said pair of legs and each of said pair of locking members, wherein said pair of handles each further comprise a pivot end pivotally coupled to one of said pair of shafts, each said pivot end including a pivot end cam surface correspondingly engaging said pair of locking members, each of said pair of handles correspondingly rotatable about said pair of shaft rotation axis to align said pair of locking elements with said pair of locking aperture, said pair of handles each rotatable about one of said pair of pivot axes between an unlocked condition in which a corresponding one of said pair of springing elements maintains a corresponding one of said locking elements outside of a corresponding one of said locking apertures and a locked condition in which each one of said pivot end cam surfaces forcible urges a corresponding one of said pair of locking elements into a corresponding one of said locking apertures.
19-23. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 6, 2017
Publication Date: Jul 19, 2018
Applicant: Angel Armor, LLC (Fort Collins, CO)
Inventors: Brian L. Martin (Loveland, CO), Ross M. Hinschberger (Cheyenne, WY)
Application Number: 15/425,930