INFLATABLE FRAME FOR FLEXIBLE BALLISTIC SHIELD WITH INTEGRATED ALERT AND TRACKING SYSTEMS

Abstract

A personal ballistic shield includes a flexible ballistic blanket and a pneumatic frame connected to and supporting the ballistic blanket. A handle assembly is attached to a back side of the ballistic blanket. A warning mechanism is incorporated in the shield and is adapted to detect a deployment of the pneumatic frame and transmit an alert signal reporting the deployment of the shield.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/773,965, filed on Mar. 7, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

This invention relates to ballistic shields and in particular the application or deployment of soft or flexible ballistic shields in dynamic, rapidly evolving emergency situations such as a mass shooting in a public place (i.e. active shooter incidents).

BACKGROUND

Ballistic shields comprised of woven materials to provide protection from projectiles such as bullets are in common use today within military, law enforcement, and civilian fields of endeavor. Generally, ballistic shields come in two varieties, rigid ballistic shields and soft, flexible ballistic shields, sometimes referred to as ballistic blankets.

Traditional laminated shields provide a rigid, maneuverable defensive ballistic platform. However, they are inherently bulky, making them difficult to employ in confined spaces. Additionally, their size and lack of flexibility limits their storage and carriage options.

Flexible ballistic shields are generally deployed in applications where a rigid ballistic shield would prove to be too cumbersome or where the storage of the rigid ballistic shield is not possible given space constraints. Flexible shields lack rigidity which severely limits their maneuverability and inhibits their ability to stand on their own as a portable bunker. Flexible shields can be made rigid by way of introducing aluminum poles or rods inside sleeves in the cover of those shields but this is time-consuming and requires the user to have access to additional accessories not contained in the main body of the shield, thus exacerbating storage constraints as well as deployment time of the shield.

These constraints limit the effective use of both traditional shield approaches (rigid shields and soft armor blankets) to known and/or anticipated conflicts by trained personnel. Additionally, these traditional systems operate in isolation and only function to provide a defensive ballistic protection tool.

SUMMARY

The increased frequency of mass shootings in public places has provided a demonstrated need for an easily stored, readily accessible, rapid deployment ballistic protection system that, in addition to its inherent defensive ballistic protection capabilities, may provide one or more of the following further components:

• • Active notification of its deployment/implementation to the appropriate authorities;
  • Location of the deployed systems;
  • Audio and video transmission and recording for intelligence gathering and evidentiary purposes; and/or
  • Audible and visual distraction/disorientation systems.

The present invention solves some of the above-described problems and provides a distinct advancement in the deployment of ballistic shields and blankets and in the management of mass, active shooter incidents. Further to this, the flexibility of storage options and inherent portability of the invention will greatly enhance the accessibility of a ballistic protective device for first reponders challenged with reacting to an emerging threat. Their safety will be further enhanced through the alert, location and disorientation components of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented in a variety of configurations to meet a wide variety of requirements. In one exemplary embodiment, the invention is implemented with at least one flexible ballistic pneumatic shield, one or more receiving/monitoring nodes and one or more repeater/relay nodes. The flexible pneumatic shield may communicate and exchange data and other information with the receiving/monitoring nodes and the repeater/relay nodes via a wireless network and/or a communications network. The idea includes integrating these technologies into a ballistic shield in such a way that the user is protected from bullets or shrapnel, and the information is integrated into a larger alert/alarm system.

Multiple shields can be deployed in the same area, and each may be identified individually by a unique identification. This can be done by electronically assigning a unique number or code to each shield.

The shield can be made readily available through the use of a wall-mount system similar to a fire extinguisher cabinet. Shields can be deployed strategically around a building or any area to be protected to facilitate use in stressful situations.

Also, the shield can be mounted in a car for use in either private or government vehicles for military, law-enforcement, fire/rescue, and any other vehicle that requires rapid access to ballistic protection. The shield can be placed under the seat of the vehicle, in the trunk or on the exterior, depending on the need. Each of the mounting mechanisms can be equipped with an automatic deployment mechanism, alert signals (radio, optical, acoustic, or other alerting signal), and easy-to-use handles to simplify use in stressful conditions.

The shield can also be used in aircraft using the onboard communications network or satellite-based communications.

The shield can also be carried or worn on the body. Carrying the shield is critical to emergency and first responders. The kits worn by first responders such as police, fire, and medical professionals can be equipped to carry the shield as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the back side of an example of the ballistic shield described herein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the front side of a ballistic shield as described herein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a deflated, undeployed example of a ballistic blanket as described herein.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a backside of an alternative example of a ballistic shield as described herein.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the shield shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shield shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 with the shield in the deflated, undeployed condition.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of wall mount containing a shield as described herein.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a trunk mount of a ballistic shield as described herein.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a backpack version of a shield as described herein.

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of the operation of a ballistic shield as described herein.

FIG. 11 is a functional flow chart of the operation of one example of a shield system disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the flexible ballistic pneumatic shield is comprised of a flexible ballistic blanket, a pneumatic frame, a handle assembly and an outer carrier.

The flexible ballistic blanket may be comprised of any combination of ballistic materials sufficient to stop the anticipated threat. The blankets may be manufactured in a wide range of sizes. For example, flexible ballistic blankets may be intended for the protection of one user or for the protection of multiple persons. These blankets can be constructed from various ballistic materials such as aramids, aramid derivatives, or ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylenes. Contemporary examples of these materials include, but are not limited to, Kevlar®, Twaron®, Dyneema®, and Spectra®. Additionally, these blankets can be manufactured from one material or a combination of materials, and the methods of construction may also vary. The invention is not specific to the ballistic material used. It is expected that the invention may utilize additional materials as ballistic materials science advances.

The frame for the flexible ballistic blanket described herein is a pneumatic frame that enables rapid user deployment of the flexible ballistic blanket by providing the capability to become rigid at the discretion of the user. The pneumatic frame may be made of a variety of air-tight materials such as but not limited to plastic coated nylon fabric of the type found in an inflatable personal floatation device. The pneumatic frame may also be made from other non-permeable fabrics or materials as dictated by the proposed environment of deployment. The pneumatic frame is comprised of chambers that are spaced and arranged in such a way as to provide substantially complete expansion and tension across the surface area of the frame and the ballistic blanket. In some examples, the pneumatic frame may have additional inflatable chambers on the rear of the frame to act as support mechanisms.

The pneumatic frame may have compressed gas vessels attached to valves for rapid inflation of the frame chambers. These valves may be mechanical and/or electro-mechanical. Inflation may be initiated manually, semi-automatically or automatically. Gas is stored in pressurized cylinders of sufficient capacity to rapidly inflate the size pneumatic frame to which they are attached. These vessels are screwed into the valve with an actuator that punctures the seal on the vessel or opens the valve and directs the gas into chambers in the inflatable frame. Typically the gas is carbon dioxide as it is inert and cost effective, but the invention applies to any gas used.

In an alternative example, manual inflation valves that may facilitate inflation by mouth or by external compressor or other inflation device may be operatively connected to the pneumatic frame chambers. These manual valves may be used instead of or as a backup for the compressed gas cylinder system.

The pneumatic frame may be of whatever dimensions necessary to provide support and rigidity to any size of flexible ballistic blanket. The pneumatic frame provides equal benefit to flexible ballistic blankets of a wide range of sizes, for example, flexible ballistic blankets intended for the protection of one user as well as larger ballistic blankets intended for the protection of multiple persons. The pneumatic frame may be affixed to or integrated in the ballistic shield in a variety of ways. The pneumatic frame may be contained within the overall cover of the ballistic shield or it may be attached via metal or polymer mechanical connectors that attach at points on the frame between or outside the spaces meant to be inflated or deflated.

The shield carrier may be made of woven nylon, neoprene, hypalon, or any other material sufficient to support the shield frame and ballistic blanket. The carrier is constructed in such a way as to allow for expansion of the interior frame bladder. The carrier is also made to accommodate the sockets for attachment of the handles.

The flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket may be configured to roll up in a single roll similar to the way a sleeping bag is typically stored. Additionally, the ballistic pneumatic blanket may be configured to roll up from each opposing end inward, with the rolls meeting in the center of the shield. In at least one example, single-handed deployment is facilitated through the configuration and orientation of the roll, the location of the handle and inflation actuator, and the type of carriage system employed.

The deployment/activation of the shield may be initiated manually, semi-automatically or automatically. The flexible ballistic pneumatic shield may be equipped with a handle, strap or lever to allow for manual deployment. The handle, strap, or lever is large enough for a person to operate under stressful conditions. Because of the natural responses of the human body, fine motor movements are impeded in stressful conditions, thus the manual deployment method is made large enough to allow for gross-motor movements by a person under stress to deploy the shield effectively. The handle/strap/bar or any manual deployment method will have sufficient size to allow for simplified deployment.

In other embodiments, semi-automatic deployment may be initiated by the release of a captive pin as the ballistic pneumatic blanket is removed from its storage or carriage container. In one exemplary method, the ballistic shield, which is mounted inside a cabinet to a wall similar to a fire extinguisher, will automatically deploy when removed from the wall-mounted cabinet. This mechanism is enabled using a simple retention/release mechanism such as a hook that captures the deployment pin. When removed from the wall-mounted cabinet, the pin is removed, thus initiating inflation and deployment of the flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket.

In other embodiments, the flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket may be deployed automatically, upon receiving an initiation instruction from an external input over the wireless network and/or other communications network. This input may be generated by an external alarm/alert system; a command initiated at a monitoring location such as the main office of a school or security office at a hospital or airport, or any other means utilized to detect threats related to and/or in proximity to the flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket of concern. A single flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket or multiple flexible ballistic pneumatic blankets may be deployed simultaneously in this automatic fashion.

The deployment of a shield, either manual or automatic, is detected by a sensing mechanism and/or a switch that identifies that the shield has been deployed. Upon identification that the shield has been deployed, an alert signal is automatically transmitted through a wireless network or other communications networks to an external monitor such as a receiving/monitoring node. This signal may travel directly to the external monitor or it may travel through one or more repeater/relay nodes. The receiving/monitoring node may relay the signal automatically to an external resource such as the police department or other first responder. Once the initial alert signal is sent, additional status and location updates may be automatically transmitted through the same means. Additionally, the alert signal may be used to automatically activate a secondary external system such as a building alarm or holdup alarm. This automatic alert/status component facilitates rapid identification and location of the threat, so that the appropriate resources can respond rapidly. The elimination of the requirement for human interaction to relay information in a critical event will allow emergency response personal to eliminate unnecessary delays. In one exemplary method, alert signals may be initiated through the use of a magnetic switch. Magnetic alarm switches provide a method of detecting the separation of the shield from its storage position. The switch in proximity to the magnet is in its natural resting state, and when the switch is separated from the magnet, the switch state changes, thus producing an alert signal to the radio.

In accordance with another important aspect of this invention, the rapid-deployment flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket may be integrated with communications modules, location modules or technologies, audio and image transmission and recording modules, and audible and visual distraction/disorientation systems managed by a computing module. These technologies and capabilities may be enabled singularly or in any combination. The flexible pneumatic shield may communicate and exchange data and other information with the receiving/monitoring nodes and the optional repeater/relay nodes via a wireless network and/or a communications network. The communications component includes a communications module integrated into the flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket, receiving/monitoring nodes, and optional repeater/relay nodes. The communications module communicates and exchanges data and other information with other components of the system, including receiving/monitoring nodes and the repeater/relay nodes via a wireless network and/or a communications network.

The external monitor or receiving/monitoring node receives data and other information from deployed devices, including but not limited to health status, deployment status, alerts, duress signals, ballistic/projectile contact, and location. The receiving/monitoring node provides a graphical user interface indicating status of above-referenced conditions and the location of the device(s) under its management. In some embodiments, the receiving/monitoring node can provide instructions to the fielded shield(s), such as a command to deploy/activate or to remotely update firmware. In other embodiments, the receiving/monitoring node has relay functionality, transmitting the alerts and statuses to an additional receiving/monitoring node. Alerts and statuses may be received directly from the device at multiple receiving/monitoring nodes and/or through the relay function depending on the communications architecture implemented. Repeater/relay nodes extend the range or coverage area by repeating or relaying communications from a deployed device back to a receiving/monitoring node. A receiving or monitoring node may be maintained on site at a building or campus. It may be maintained remotely by an emergency service. Or, it may be maintained at a public first responder system like 911 or the police.

The communications component may transmit and receive any communications utilizing wireless data transfer methods such as optical, radio frequency (RF), cellular telephony, WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth™, ANT®, ultra-wide band (UWB), infrared, acoustic, satellite, etc. In one embodiment, the communications component is a cellular transceiver. For example, the communications component may transmit the alerts and statuses directly to the police, greatly reducing response time, ensuring the appropriate resources are activated, and enhancing situational awareness of the responding personnel. In other embodiments, a radio frequency (RF) signal is sent to an alarm system to provide instant communication to a call-center, police, fire, data collection center, tracking center, or other recipient.

The location-determining component determines locations of the device as it is carried or otherwise moved from place to place and generates corresponding location data that may be transmitted to the receiving/monitoring node via a wireless network and/or a communications network. The location data may be displayed within the graphical user interface as a variety (color/shape/style) of icons to visually indicate location and additional statuses. In a particular embodiment, the location-determining component is a satellite navigation receiver that works with a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) such as the global positioning system (GPS), the GLONASS system primarily used in the Soviet Union, or the Galileo system primarily used in Europe. A GNSS includes a plurality of satellites in orbit about the Earth.

The location-determining component and the computing component are operable to receive navigational signals from the satellites and to calculate positions of the device as a function of the signals. The location-determining component and computing device may also determine track logs or any other series of geographic coordinates corresponding to points along a road or other path traveled by the user of the device.

The location-determining component may include an antenna to assist in receiving the satellite signals. The antenna may be a patch antenna, a helical antenna, or any other type of antenna that can be used with navigational devices. The antenna may be mounted directly on or in the housing or may be mounted external to the housing.

The location-determining component may include one or more processors, controllers, or other computing devices and memory so that it may calculate location and other geographic information without the computing device or it may utilize the components of the computing device. Further, the location-determining component may be integral with the computing component such that the location-determining component may be operable to specifically perform the various functions described herein. Thus, the computing component and location-determining component can be combined or be separate or otherwise discrete elements.

Although embodiments of the flexible ballistic pneumatic shield device may include a satellite navigation receiver, it will be appreciated that other location-determining technology may be used. For example, the communication component may be used to determine the location of the device by receiving data from at least three repeater nodes and then performing basic triangulation calculations to determine the relative position of the device with respect to the transmitting locations. For example, cellular towers or any customized transmitting radio frequency towers or nodes can be used instead of satellites. With such a configuration, any standard geometric triangulation algorithm can be used to determine the location of the flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket.

In one embodiment, the flexible ballistic pneumatic blanket may use both a GPS receiver and cell tower or other radio frequency triangulation to determine its position. For example, the device may first attempt to obtain a signal fix from at least three GPS satellites. If it is unable to do so due to blocked or otherwise unavailable satellite signals, it reverts to cell tower triangulation until satellite signals are received again. This allows the device to be used inside buildings and other places where GPS devices do not always work.

In other embodiments, the location-determining component need not directly determine the current location of the device. For instance, the location-determining component may determine the current geographic location through a communications network, such as by using Assisted GPS (A-GPS), or from another electronic device. The location determining component may even determine location data from the locations of other devices. Additional location techniques may be employed singularly or in any combination such as, but not limited to, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared (IR), sensor networks, ultra wide band (UWB), radio signal strength indication (RSSI), and Wi-Fi. These techniques may be combined with additional sensor data, supported by fusion algorithms and dynamic mapping tools to increase location accuracy. The invention is not specific to the location technique implemented. It is anticipated that the present invention will utilize additional techniques as location technologies advance in capability.

The image capturing and transmission component may comprise a camera or the like operable to capture video or still images, a digitizing element, an embedded computing element and a solid-state memory storage component. When desired, the transmission component may be supported with analog circuitry. The image capturing component may be communicably coupled with various other components of the communication module for transmission of data and may be configured for direct control via user interface and/or remote control by the monitoring team.

The audio capturing component may comprise of a microphone for detecting sounds a digitizing element, an embedded computing element and a solid-state memory storage component. In one embodiment, the audio capturing component may be supported by processing algorithms designed to locate specific sounds such as the impulse noise generated by a gunshot.

The shield with audio and video sensors can use the audio and video information to color code the position information to indicate what is happening at the scene. In one example, icons of a user defined variety (color/shape/style) would represent locations where gunshots were heard through the microphones. Another color/shape/style might represent tracks where no events of interest have triggered, and a further color/shape/style represents a place where the shield stopped moving. Parameters such as the amount of time the shield stopped moving before being called a ‘stop’ are user-defined. Other events can be used to determine unique icon style or signature in the tracking system such as visual information like a muzzle flash from a gun, or other acoustic signatures such as a car, emergency siren, horn, etc. All of this information is recorded on the shield and/or transmitted to a remote location.

Additional important aspects of this invention include the implementation of self-defense weapon technologies designed to disrupt human behavior(s). These technologies may introduce confusion, nausea and other emotional and physical disruptors through visual means or audible means. Strobe lights are the most common visual means, and are well-documented to cause nausea and behavioral changes when turned on and off at the appropriate frequency. Similarly, acoustical systems can cause disruptions by the tone and/or volume of the noises.

The shields can each have unique identifying information such that the radio system can identify, transmit and store information regarding the history and health of each individual shield system. In this way, a central monitoring station or a smartphone can query any shield and manage them remotely. This remote or local management allows access to any shield to determine the use history, date of last inspection, when it was last deployed, pressure of the compressed gas vessel, age of the ballistic material and functional checks of any onboard system such as audio, video, and tracking systems and any other available information of interest.

This remote management system can be controlled through a computer or personal electronic device with appropriate application software resident. This idea of central monitoring allows the shield systems to be operated either as a stand-alone system, or integrated into other types of alarm systems. In this way, the shields are simply handled as another device in a larger alarm system. In conjunction with typical alarm system sensors and infrastructure, the shield can be monitored persistently and/or queried upon request as part of the larger alarm system.

Using cellular, satellite, and internet communications, the shield system can be managed worldwide. This allows the opportunity for a centrally managed shield alert system to be deployed anywhere in the world with single or multiple monitoring/management stations with client users that can connect with the system from portable electronic devices such as smartphones or other portable electronic devices.

For the automatically or manually deployed shields, a bypass mechanism may be implemented to allow the user to remove the shield from the mount, or manually deploy the unit, without sending an alert. This bypass method must be made sufficiently complex and/or obscured so as to reduce the possibility of accidentally bypassing the alerts. For example, the idea of inserting a tool such as a screwdriver into a small opening in the wall-mount or care-mount to engage a switch, thus disabling the shield automatic deployment and alert system is a simple and effective approach. Also, the use of a combination or key lock to disable the system is a viable option.

Once a shield is safely detached from its mounting system, a disable mechanism can be included to allow the use of the shield without sending alerts or radio signals. Likewise, there must be an enabling, or arming, mechanism. The arming and disarming mechanism can either accomplished through push-button control or wirelessly through a Bluetooth™ connection, or other wireless communication protocols such as Wi-Fi. A RF enabled key fob or smartphone could be used to control the arming and disarming functions much like a home alarm system. Using the smartphone, an application loaded on the phone could be used to remotely enable or disable the shield devices.

Also, if a shield is accidentally deployed, there is a mechanism to disable the alert systems and send a message to any remote monitoring sites telling them that it is a false alarm. This false alarm indicator is sent upon successful disabling of the shield alert system. Upon either mechanical disabling or wireless disabling, the shield sends out an alert through the radio and backhaul infrastructure to indicate that the shield deployment was a false alarm. This allows first-responders, or other remote recipients of the alerts, to cancel or alter the emergency responses that would be set in motion. Typically, these responses would not be cancelled, but the disabling signal provides important information for first responders.

This disabling technology must be sufficiently easy to use and readily available so as to minimize the time to respond and disable a false alarm. Wireless methods are widely used for this type of function, but mechanical methods would be the most readily available to a user of the shield. The wireless methods might be more prevalent with home users who have ready access to the key fob or appropriate phone. Vehicle-mounted shields also lend themselves to the use of key fobs for enabling/disabling. Also, for training purposes, wireless control is important in order to be able to control the alert system.

This disabling technology is an important consideration because most deployments of a shield will be performed by someone who neither has access to a matching key fob nor to a phone with the appropriate application (for example, in a school building where teachers or children might deploy it). An effective method is a relatively large button in a visible location on the back of the shield. When pressed multiple times, pressed in a known pattern, or holding it down for a long period of time, the alert system is disabled, and a false alarm indication is sent to any receiving location.

Example 1 of a personal ballistic shield is shown in FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 1 illustrates the back of the shield 10. In this view, the shield 10 includes a fabric cover 14 and has a bottom side 16 and top side 17. Handles 12 are attached to the backside of the shield 10 in FIG. 1. As shown, the handles 12 are mounted toward the top side 17 of the shield 10. Near the bottom side 16 of the shield 10, there is a manual inflation valve 18 and a semi-automatic inflation system 20. The shield 10 includes a pneumatic frame 15 inside the fabric cover 14. The pneumatic frame 15 is either inflated manually by a user blowing into or otherwise pumping up the frame through use of the manual inflation valve 18 or alternatively through deployment of the semi-automatic inflation system 20.

The semi-automatic inflation system 20 includes a gas canister 22, an inflation housing 24 and a pullstring 26. Additionally, not shown, there is a warning mechanism configured in the shield 10 that is triggered when a user pulls on the pullstring 26. By pulling a pullstring 26, the gas canister 22 is opened and gas fills the pneumatic frame 15. The pullstring 26 is a simple mechanical way of deploying the shield 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the shield 10 is covered predominately by the flexible fabric cover 14. As shown in the cutaway portion of FIG. 2, a flexible ballistic blanket 19 is connected to and supported by the pneumatic frame 15 inside the fabric cover 14. Additionally, however, there is a front panel 36. Mounted in the front panel 36 are a speaker 40, a camera 42, and lights 38 and 44 (the light 38 is shown without a lens cover as compared with light 44 having a lens cover). As already explained, the camera 42 may be used to provide video information to a remote monitor. The video that is picked up by the camera 42 can be transmitted to the third party monitor or other first responder. The speaker 40 (sound emitter) and lights 38 and 44 (light emitters) may be used as self-defense weapons as explained herein. The speaker 40 may broadcast disabling noises or otherwise disorienting signals. The lights 38 and 44 may be used as a strobe or otherwise in a disabling fashion.

As shown in a partial cutaway view in FIG. 2, the pneumatic frame 15 is made up of vertical ribs that form the frame that makes the shield 10 relatively rigid, but still lightweight and easy to be handled by a user.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the shield 10 as shown in the rolled-up or storage position. If a user needs to deploy the shield 10, they simply pull the pullstring 26 which causes the shield to be inflated for deployment.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-6 there is shown a second example of a flexible ballistic shield. The flexible ballistic shield 100, referring now to FIG. 4, includes a handle assembly 102. The handle assembly 102 includes a handle 104 and frame members 106 on either side of the handle. The shield 100 is covered by a flexible fabric cover 108.

FIG. 5 shows the front side of the personal ballistic shield 100. On the opposite side of the shield 100 from the handle assembly 102 is a front panel 130. Similar to the first example, this second example includes a front panel 130 having a sound emitter speaker 132, light emitters 136 and 138, and a camera 134. The speaker 132 and the lights 136 and 138 can be used as defensive weapons to disable or disorient an attacker. Also similar to the first example, this personal ballistic shield 100 includes a pneumatic frame 125 that is made up of a series of vertical ribs that are inflated when deployed. A ballistic blanket 127 is attached to and supported by the pneumatic frame 125 inside the cover 108.

FIG. 6 illustrates a storage, undeployed illustration of the ballistic shield 100. The handle assembly 102 is shown in a partial cutaway view where the semi-automatic inflation system 110 includes an inflation housing 118, a gas canister 114, a string 116, and handle trigger 112 that are used in combination to allow gas to flow from the canister into the shield when the shield is deployed. Also shown in the handle assembly 102 is a circuit board 120.

The circuit board 120 performs all the electronic management functions for the shield, and interfaces with the sounder, microphones, camera, communications devices, and lights. The management functions include the initiation of alerts, recording events, and communication as well as power management such as battery charging and battery monitoring. The location information is collected and managed by the circuit board 120 as well, and all recorded information is stored by onboard recording media. The circuit board 120 does not have to be one contiguous board, but can be separated into multiple boards connected either wirelessly or by hardwire means.

Turning now to FIGS. 7-9, there are alternative examples of mounting systems for the personal ballistic shield. In FIG. 7, a personal ballistic shield 152 is stored in a box 150 that is shown mounted on a wall. In this example, the shield 152 is positioned where it is strategically available to multiple persons who may need to remove it for deployment. FIG. 8 shows the personal ballistic shield 160 having a trunk mount 155 onto which is mounted a deflated ballistic shield. The automobile 157 has a trunk lid 159 with the trunk mount 155 mounted on the bottom side thereof. It is proposed that this could be used in first responder vehicles such as police vehicles. Alternative vehicle mounted examples include mounts inside the passenger compartment for higher accessibility. In FIG. 9, a backpack 165 is shown that includes a shoulder strap 167, a waist strap 169, and the deflated ballistic shield 171 mounted thereon. The person 166 is able to easily carry the shield and have access to it if it needs to be deployed. Alternative backpack examples might include a single shoulder strap as an alternative construction or attachment points facilitating adaptation to other carriage means, such as a firefighter's self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

FIG. 10 is schematic illustration of the mechanism by which a shield 180 can be used to call help from first responders 192. Briefly, the shield 180 will communicate via a wireless network and/or other communications network 194 through means of a repeater 182, and/or directly with a local receiver/monitoring station 184, and/or directly with a remote receiver/monitoring station 186. That local receiver/monitoring station 184 and/or remote receiver/monitoring station 186 may further communicate with other local receiver/monitoring stations 188 or remote receiver/monitoring stations 190. These communications may be through the same wireless network and/or other communications network 194, and/or an alternate form of wireless network and/or other communications network 196. In either case, the first responders 192 may be summoned and notified of a deployment of the shield 180.

FIG. 11 is a functional flow chart that demonstrates the operation of a shield as described fully earlier herein. Initially, the shield will have an undeployed status. Even though it is undeployed, the shield will remain in the armed state 200. When a threat is detected 202, a user may then deploy the shield and communicate an alert 204. The next step requires an assessment of the threat 206. If there is a determination of a false threat, then the user will disable the shield system 208 and the shield will return to its normal armed state 200. If a threat is assessed as being an active threat, then the shield will communicate alert notifications, status notifications, and requested data 210. In this active state, the functions of geolocation 212, initiation of disruptive mechanisms 214, and initiation of audio or video recording and transmission 216 may be activated. The initiation of disruptive mechanisms 214 may activate either a visible disruptive mechanism 220 or an audible disruptive mechanism 230. Either of these actions may be disabled, 222 and 232 respectively, or initiated by flashing a strobe light 224 and/or initiating a siren or horn 234. Upon initiation of audio or video recording and transmission 216, the system will transmit an image and/or video 240 or will transmit audio 250. This results in the recording of an image and/or video 244 or an audio 252. In either event, the video system may be disabled 242 or, likewise, the audio system may be disabled 254.

Finally, the communication of alert notifications and status notifications may be sent to a local receiver or monitoring station 260 or a remote receiver or monitoring station 270. The local receiver 260 may further communicate alert notifications, status notifications, false alarm notifications and requested data 262. The local receiver 260 may display data 264 and/or record data 266. Similarly, the remote receiver 270 may communicate alert notifications, status notifications, false alarm notifications and requested data 272. The remote receiver 270 may display data 274 and/or record data 276. This functional flow chart demonstrated in FIG. 11 is merely one example of the operation of the shield disclosed herein. Of course there may be additional functional features that may be added and/or subtracted from this exemplary system.

Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification. It is intended that the specification and Figures be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. A personal ballistic shield comprising:

a flexible ballistic blanket;

a pneumatic frame connected to and supporting the ballistic blanket;

a handle assembly attached to a back side of the ballistic blanket; and

a warning mechanism attached to the shield that is adapted to detect a deployment of the pneumatic frame and transmit an alert signal reporting the deployment of the shield.

2. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 1, wherein the handle assembly comprises a compressed gas container that is operatively connected to the pneumatic frame, and the handle assembly further comprises a mechanical switch to release the compressed gas into the pneumatic frame.

3. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 2, wherein the mechanical switch or other activation mechanism also actuates the warning system to transmit the alert signal.

4. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 3, wherein the handle assembly comprises a location transceiver connected to the warning mechanism, wherein the alert signal that is transmitted includes location information identifying the location of the deployed shield.

5. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 1, further comprising a self-defense weapon positioned on the opposite side of the ballistic blanket from the handle assembly.

6. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 5, wherein the self-defense weapon is a sound emitter.

7. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 5, wherein the self-defense weapon is a light emitter.

8. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 7, wherein the light emitter is a strobe light.

9. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 1, further comprising a recording device connected to the ballistic blanket and wherein the recording device comprises a transmitter for sending data recorded by the recording device.

10. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 9, wherein the recording device is an audio recorder.

11. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 9, wherein the recording device is a video recorder.

12. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 1, further comprising a communication transceiver device for enabling two-way communication between a person who is proximate the shield and a third party.

13. An emergency defense and warning system comprising:

a personal ballistic shield comprising:

a flexible ballistic blanket;

a pneumatic frame connected to and supporting the ballistic blanket;

a handle assembly attached to a back side of the ballistic blanket;

a warning mechanism attached to the shield that is adapted to detect a deployment of the pneumatic frame and transmit an alert signal reporting the deployment of the shield; and

an external monitor comprising a receiver for receiving the alert signal from the deployment of the ballistic shield;

whereby the external monitor is able to activate a first responder in response to the alert signal.

14. A personal ballistic shield as described in claim 1, further comprising a ballistic shield mount,

wherein the ballistic shield is positioned in the mount, and further wherein the mount is connected to the warning mechanism of the shield and the removal of the ballistic shield from the mount triggers the transmission of the alert signal.