Granted Patent B2

US 7,101,112 · App. 10/832,654 · Granted Sep 5, 2006

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. A portable ground surface risible barrier apparatus deployed by activation of a gas generator from a position in a plans substantially parallel to the ground surface comprising:

a. a gas generator within a first cylinder wherein the cylinder comprises a closed first end attached to a base;

b. second component moveable within the first cylinder in response to activation of the gas generator wherein the first cylinder and the second moveable component have an axis of orientation within a plane substantially parallel to a ground surface; and

c. said second component pivotally connected to a first end of a barrier having a first and second end to push the first barrier end along the axis of orientation and the second end in an upright direction from the plane in response to the movement of the second component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second component comprises a piston.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second component comprises a cylinder.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a structural member pivotally attached to the second barrier end and pivotally attached to the base.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the structural member is a single piece.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises a locking component to hold the first end of the barrier.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for activating the gas generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of first cylinders, second components and gas generators.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the barrier component further comprises a longitudinal axis of orientation substantially orthogonal to the plane after activation of the gas cylinder.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one compartment within the base for holding variable quantities of additional weight prior to activation of the gas cylinder.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the compartment can be controllably filled and drained of fluid.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the barrier can be deployed in at least 150 milliseconds and can stop an object weighing 15000 lbs and traveling 50 mph.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensor and communication component to activate the gas generator.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sensor detects movement of an object.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the base component contains the sensor mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the base component contains a power source.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sensor mechanism detects compression.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sensor mechanism utilizes RF signals.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sensor mechanism utilizes acoustic signals.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sensor mechanism utilizes light signals.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mass of an object to be stopped by the barrier is used to secure the barrier system in a fixed location.

22. A ground level protective barrier system that can be placed on a ground surface comprising:

a. a cylinder containing a gas generator and said cylinder comprising an axis of orientation substantially parallel to the ground end comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first cylinder end is closed and connected to a base;

b. a moveable piston comprising a first end located within the cylinder and a second end that can be extended along the axis of orientation past the second end of the cylinder in response to activation of the gas generator;

c. a barrier component comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first barrier end is pivotally attached to the second end of the piston and the first barrier end moves along the axis of orientation in response to activation of the gas generator; and

d. a structural member comprising a first end and a second end wherein the first end of the structural member is pivotally attached to the second end of the barrier and the second end of the structural member is pivotally attached to the base proximate to the connection of the first cylinder end.

23. A ground level protective barrier system comprising:

a. a housing component that can be placed on a ground surface comprising

i. at least one first cylinder having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is closed;

ii. a first connector holding the first end of the first cylinder to a housing;

iii. at least one second component located partially within the first cylinder and having a separate first end and a second end and having the same longitudinal axis of orientation of the first cylinder and moveable in relation to the first cylinder along the axis of orientation so that the second end of the said component can be extended past the second end of the first cylinder;

iv. the first cylinder and second component having an axis of orientation substantially parallel to the ground surface;

v. a gas generator located within the first cylinder to move the second component along the longitudinal axis of orientation in a manner that the second end of said component extends from the second end of the first cylinder;

vi. a barrier component having a first end and second end;

vii. a first pivot component connecting the first end of the barrier component to the second end of the second component;

viii. a locking mechanism fixed to the housing to lock the first end of the barrier component into a fixed position on the housing;

ix. a structural member having a first end and a second end;

x. a second pivot component connecting the second end of the barrier component to the first end of the structural member;

xi. a third pivot component connecting the second end of the structural member to the first connector of the housing;

b. a sensor component;

c. a communication component to convey an activation signal from the sensor component to the gas generator; and

d. a power source.

Assignments (12)