Protection and security apparatus and method

A method of enhancing or securing personal security against attack in a defined space, in which a flexible drop net (11) is secured to a ceiling structure of the space, comprising the steps of

• pulling up the net (11) by a pull-up means towards the ceiling structure of the space;
• collecting and storing at least a portion of the net in loose, bunched condition above a drop element (5);
• and
• abruptly dropping said net over an attacker located in said space by abruptly releasing said drop element.

A system for enhancing or ensuring security against an attack in a defined space comprising

• a flexible net (11);
• retaining means (5) for retaining the flexible net at a top region of the space;
• pull-up or raising means (13) coupled to the flexible net;
• a lifting mechanism (18) coupled to the pull-up or raising means for lifting the net towards the top region of the space and towards said retaining means (5);
• a triggering or releasing mechanism (6, 9) coupled to the retaining means and abruptly releasing the flexible net for dropping into the space and covering an attacker in the space;
• wherein said pull-up or raising means comprises a ball chain (13);
• and wherein said lifting mechanism (18) comprises motor-driven rollers (18) about at least part of which said ball chain is looped.

A system for enhancing or ensuring security against an attack in a defined space comprising

• a flexible net (11);
• retaining means (5) for retaining the flexible net at a top region of the space;
• pull-up or raising means (13) coupled to the flexible net;
• a lifting mechanism (18) coupled to the pull-up or raising means for lifting the net towards the top region of the space and towards said retaining means (5);
• a triggering or releasing mechanism (6, 9) coupled to the retaining means and abruptly releasing the flexible net for dropping into the space and covering an attacker in the space;
• and wherein the flexible net (11) comprises a net structure formed of ball chains and includes a plurality of ball chain elements (30) and interconnecting nodal structures (28), movably connecting said ball chain elements in a mesh or net structure.

A system for enhancing or ensuring security against an attack in a defined space comprising

• a flexible net (11);
• retaining means (5) for retaining the flexible net at a top region of the space;
• pull-up or raising means (13) coupled to the flexible net;
• a lifting mechanism (18) coupled to the pull-up or raising means for lifting the net towards the top region of the space and towards said retaining means (5),
• said lifting mechanism releasing at least a portion of the net to permit the net to accumulate in loose, bunched condition above the retaining means;
• and
• a triggering or releasing mechanism (6, 9) coupled to the retaining means (5) and abruptly releasing the flexible net retained above the retaining means for dropping into the space and covering an attacker in the space.