System and method for non-lethal vehicle restraint
AssigneeEngineering Science Analysis Corporation
InventorsMartin A. Martinez, Patrick J. Barnhill, Steven A. Floyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An undercarriage immobilization device and method of restraining a vehicle uses tendrils and straps to engage the vehicle. The tendrils and straps will wrap around moving parts of the vehicle and restrain the moving parts to eventually incapacitate the vehicle. The undercarriage immobilization device includes a housing that contains tendrils that are launched from the housing by a propellant or compressed gas. The tendrils may be attached to the straps carried by the undercarriage immobilization device. Straps may be pulled off the housing leaving the housing near the point of deployment.
Claims19
An apparatus for ensnaring a component of a terrestrial vehicle, comprising:
- a housing having at least one barrel;
- a pressure generator disposed in the housing, the barrel operably coupled with the pressure generator;
- a projectile carried in the barrel and having a tendril;
- and
- a strap operably coupled to the tendril, wherein the strap is coupled to the housing;
- wherein activation of the pressure generator in the vicinity of a moving terrestrial vehicle causes the projectile to adhere to the vehicle, thereby causing the strap to dislodge from a stored position and entangle the component of the terrestrial vehicle, and further wherein the entanglement of the strap with the component of the moving terrestrial vehicle causes the strap to separate from the housing.
An apparatus for non-lethal ensnarement of a target comprising:
- a housing having an exterior surface and a pressure manifold inboard of the exterior surface of the housing;
- a first pressure generator disposed in the housing;
- a primary tubular strap operably coupled to be inflated by the first pressure generator;
- a first activation device operably coupled with the first pressure generator;
- a second pressure generator disposed in the housing;
- a barrel extending from the exterior surface of the housing, the barrel operably coupled with the pressure manifold;
- a projectile disposed in the barrel, the projectile having a frangible ball and a tendril, the barrel and pressure manifold being operably coupled with the second pressure generator;
- and
- a second activation device operably coupled with the second pressure generator.
An apparatus for decelerating movement of a terrestrial vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of projectiles configured to be launched from a housing toward a rotating element of the terrestrial vehicle;
- and
- at least one strap coupled to at least one of the projectiles and the housing, the strap being configured to wrap around the rotating element;
- wherein the strap constricts on the rotating element to inhibit rotation of the rotating element, and
- further wherein the constriction of the strap on the rotating element causes the strap to be stripped from the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.