# US 5,703,316 A · Trunk lid, bullet resistant apparatus

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- Number: US 5,703,316 A
- Document ID: US5703316A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/786,223
- Filed: 1997-01-21
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1997-01-21
- Inventors: James R. Madden, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703316A

## CPC

- F41H 5/16: for ordnance {or tanks (F41H5/18 takes precedence)}
- F41H 7/04: Armour construction (in general F41H5/00)
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

Bullet resistant curtain apparatus protects the rear of a vehicle. The curtain apparatus includes a curtain secured to the trunk lid of the vehicle and is deployed when the trunk lid is opened. The curtain apparatus includes a flexible curtain made of a plurality of bullet resistant cloth layers. The curtain folds as the trunk closes. A second embodiment includes a movable base with posts to which the curtain may be secured to comprise a portable shield. The base includes wheels for moving the portable shield. The curtain is removably secured to the trunk lid and is thus easily converted into the movable, portable shield.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Bullet resistant apparatus for a vehicle having a trunk opening, a lid pivotally secured to the vehicle and covering the trunk opening, and a trunk floor, comprising in combination:
bullet resistant means secured to the trunk lid and hanging downwardly therefrom when the trunk lid is open and including a lower portion disposed on the trunk floor for protecting the rear of the vehicle from ballistic elements fired from rearwardly of the vehicle; and
means for opening the trunk to deploy the bullet resistant means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for opening the trunk includes a strut secured to the vehicle body and to the trunk lid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the bullet resistant means includes a bullet resistant curtain.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3 in which the bullet resistant means further includes a first rod secured to the trunk lid, and the bullet resistant curtain is secured to the first rod.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 in which the first rod is removably secured to the trunk lid for removing the bullet resistant curtain from the vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5 in which the bullet resistant means further includes first and second bracket means secured to the trunk lid for supporting the first rod in the vehicle trunk.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 in which the bullet resistant means further includes a second rod to which the bullet resistant curtain is secured.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7 in which the bullet resistant means further includes a pair of brackets secured to the trunk lid for supporting the second rod.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 in which the bullet resistant means comprises a bullet resistant curtain removably secured to the trunk lid.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9 which further includes support base means to which the bullet resistant curtain may be secured when the curtain is removed from the trunk lid.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 in which the bullet resistant means further includes a bullet resistant window in the curtain for viewing when the curtain is secured to the support base means.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10 in which the support base means includes a pair of posts, and the bullet resistant means further includes sleeves secured to the bullet resistant curtain for receiving the posts to secure the bullet resistant means to the support base means.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 in which the bullet resistant means further includes a first rod for securing the curtain to the trunk lid and to the posts of the support base means.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13 in which the support base means further includes wheels for moving the support base means and the curtain to define a movable shield.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 in which the bullet resistant means further includes a transparent bullet resistant insert in the curtain for viewing through the curtain.