Portable convertible blast effects shield
View Patent ↗A rapidly deployable portable convertible blast effects shield/ballistic shield includes a set two or more frusto-conically-tapered telescoping rings operably connected to each other to convert between a telescopically-collapsed configuration for storage and transport, and a telescopically-extended upright configuration forming an expanded inner volume. In a first embodiment, the upright configuration provides blast effects shielding, such as against blast pressures, shrapnel, and/or fire balls. And in a second embodiment, the upright configuration provides ballistic shielding, such as against incoming weapons fire, shrapnel, etc. Each ring has a high-strength material construction, such as a composite fiber and matrix material, capable of substantially inhibiting blast effects and impinging projectiles from passing through the shield. And the set of rings are releasably securable to each other in the telescopically-extended upright configuration by the friction fit of adjacent pairs of frusto-conically-tapered rings to each other.
1. A portable convertible blast effects shield comprising:
a standalone set of at least two frusto-conically-tapered telescoping rings each having a lesser diameter end and a greater diameter end and constructed from a composite fiber and matrix material substantially inhibiting blast effects from passing therethrough, said set of telescoping rings arranged so that for each adjacent pair of rings the diameter of the greater diameter end of a first ring is less than the diameter of the greater diameter end of a second ring but greater than the diameter of the lesser diameter end of the second ring, for enabling conversion of said set of telescoping rings between a telescopically-extended upright configuration having adjacent pairs of rings releasably secured to each other by friction fit so as to form an expanded inner volume, and a telescopically-collapsed configuration having adjacent pairs of rings disengaged from each other,
wherein the telescopically-extended upright configuration has opposing open ends formed by innermost and outermost ones of said rings, with the open ends dimensioned to receive a suspected explosive through one of the open ends so as to surround the suspected explosive,
whereby upon detonation of the explosive in the expanded inner volume, blast effects of the detonation are laterally shielded by the set of telescoping rings and directed out through said open ends.
2. The portable convertible blast effects shield of claim 1 ,
wherein said composite fiber and matrix material includes filament-wound fiber.
3. The portable convertible blast effects shield of claim 1 ,
further comprising an adapter ring removably connected to an outer surface of the outermost one of said frusto-conically-tapered telescoping rings, and having an outer rolling surface with a cylindrical profile to correct the frusto-conical taper and enable rolling in a straight line.
4. The portable convertible blast effects shield of claim 1 ,
wherein the outermost one of said frusto-conically-tapered telescoping rings has an outer rolling surface with a cylindrical profile to correct the frusto-conical taper and enable rolling in a straight line.