Tire rapid entanglement and arresting device

Apparatus for inhibiting the motion of a vehicle comprising:

• a housing having a cavity, the cavity adapted to contain a net so that the net may be made available for release on command;
• tire engagement spikes supported by the housing, the spikes being movable to a first position to engage the tires of an oncoming vehicle, the spikes also being movable to a second position to avoid tire engagement, the spikes being positioned to grasp the net when in the first position;
• and
• an actuator for moving the spikes between the first and the second positions on command.

A method of inhibiting the motion of a moving vehicle comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing in the path of the vehicle, the housing being adapted to releasably contain a net having spikes arranged at a leading edge of the net;
• transmitting an electronic command manually to a motor that exposes the spikes to the moving vehicle;
• engaging the tires of the moving vehicle with the spikes by puncturing them;
• pulling the net from the housing by wrapping the net around the tires as the tires continue to move forward;
• and
• limiting continued forward motion by tightening the net around the axles thereby ultimately constraining the tires from further rotation.

A net comprising:

• a body, said body comprising a series of diamond-shaped interwoven cells formed from the interconnection of strands of rope or other linear material;
• a leading edge adapted to engage tires of a vehicle, said leading edge comprising loops or partially disconnected cells of material integrally connected to said net;
• a trailing edge, said trailing edge having elastic components attached intermittently to the trailing edge of the net in breakaway design;
• and
• edge treatments comprising stringers that laterally traverse the edge of said net from the outer portion of said net to a position inboard, the length of said stringer being sufficient to cinch tires as they are enwrapped.