U.S. patent application number 11/893462 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-19 for spring assisted articulating window armor system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ceradyne, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael K. Benjamin, Christopher J. Brady, Matthew R. Fodal, Gerald J. Holmes, Alan J. Peleshok, Dainius E. Skiotys, John J. Sterne.
Application Number | 20090044695 11/893462 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40361948 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090044695 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Benjamin; Michael K. ; et
al. |
February 19, 2009 |
Spring assisted articulating window armor system
Abstract
In the spring assisted articulating window armor system
invention, lightweight opaque armor is stored in the down position
when not needed. When the armor is needed, a locking pin is
released and two air cylinders or gas springs move the armor into
the protected position. Then the upper half is hinged to the lower
half and the upper armor is raised into position and the locking
pin is reinstalled to hold the armor in position. The system in the
down position allows for a complete unobstructed viewing area. In
the semi-deployed or partial up position, the system provides
partial ballistic coverage for the occupant, and still allows for
some occupant vision capability. In the fully deployed, or full up
position, the system provides full ballistic coverage for the
occupant.
Inventors: |
Benjamin; Michael K.;
(Germantown, TN) ; Brady; Christopher J.; (Warren,
MI) ; Fodal; Matthew R.; (Dearborn Heights, MI)
; Holmes; Gerald J.; (Livonia, MI) ; Peleshok;
Alan J.; (Livonia, MI) ; Skiotys; Dainius E.;
(Farmington Hills, MI) ; Sterne; John J.; (White
Lake, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONARD TACHNER, A PROFESSIONAL LAW;CORPORATION
17961 SKY PARK CIRCLE, SUITE 38-E
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Assignee: |
Ceradyne, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
40361948 |
Appl. No.: |
11/893462 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
89/36.08 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 5/26 20130101; F41H
7/04 20130101; F41H 5/16 20130101; F41H 5/013 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
89/36.08 |
International
Class: |
F41H 5/26 20060101
F41H005/26 |
Claims
1. A ballistic armor assembly for use with openable planar windows
of vehicles and boats, the assembly comprising: at least one opaque
armor panel positioned in permanent parallel juxtaposition to said
window on a pair of slide assemblies mounted on a wall surface on
opposing sides of said window inside said vehicle or boat for
linear translation thereon from a first lower position not
obstructing said window to a second upper position at least
partially obstructing said window.
2. The ballistic armor assembly recited in claim 1 comprising two
said opaque armor panels attached to one another along a common
edge in hinged overlapped relation by at least one hinge whereby
one such panel may be selectively rotated into coplanar contiguous
relation with the other such panel.
3. The ballistic armor assembly recited in claim 1 further
comprising at least one spring-based device connected at a first
end to said at least one armor panel and connected at a second end
to said wall surface for assisting the translation of said at least
one armor panel from said first position to said second
position.
4. The ballistic armor assembly recited in claim 2 further
comprising a pair of spring-based devices positioned on opposed
side edges of one of said two armor panels and each being connected
at a first end to said one of said two panels and each being
connected at a second end to said wall surface for assisting the
translation of said hinged panels from said first position to said
second position.
5. The ballistic armor assembly recited in claim 3 wherein said
spring-based device comprises a gas spring.
6. The ballistic armor assembly recited in claim 4 wherein each of
said spring-based devices comprises a gas spring.
7. The ballistic armor assembly recited in claim 2 further
comprising a latch affixed to an edge of said rotated panel for
attachment of said rotated panel to a first latch retainer affixed
to said wall surface above said window to retain said rotated panel
in an elevated position.
8. The ballistic armor assembly recited in claim 7 further
comprising a second latch retainer affixed to said wall surface
below said window to retain said two panels in overlapped rotation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
window armor and more particularly to a relatively lightweight
window armor solution that is especially useful for vehicles and
boats. Moreover, the present invention pertains to a window armor
that still permits full use of the existing standard production
glass window when no threat is present.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Ballistic-resistant transparent glass is inherently heavier
than opaque armor for the same threat level. Thus, the traditional
method for providing protection for threats on windows, which
requires ballistic glass, can be quite thick and heavy due to the
amount of glass needed to stop the threat. In most installations,
the production glass is removed and replaced with ballistic glass.
Most ballistic glass systems are stationary and can't be opened.
Alternatively, they may be provided with motors and special support
structure to enable moving the glass up and down or back and forth
to open and close the windows. Thus, in addition to the added
weight of the ballistic glass, in order to enable one to open a
window, there is still more weight for extra motors and special
support structure. Such significant added weight is especially
disadvantageous on a boat where the added weight may affect speed
and balance.
[0005] Thus, there is a need to find a way to protect window areas
from ballistic threats, which does not unduly add weight and/or
make the windows un-openable, especially for boats, which may be
readily affected by added weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention solves the aforementioned need by
protecting windows with opaque armor plates that are nominally
positioned to allow use of the original standard glass, plexiglass
or other transparent windows.
[0007] The spring assisted articulating window armor system is a
system which is mounted to the inside of a vehicle or boat leaving
the original transparent glass in place and intact.
[0008] In the spring assisted articulating window armor system
invention, lightweight opaque armor is stored in the down position
when not needed. When the armor is needed, a locking pin is
released and two air cylinders or gas springs move the armor into
the protected position. Then the upper half is hinged to the lower
half and the upper armor is raised into position and the locking
pin is reinstalled to hold the armor in position.
[0009] The system in the down position allows for a complete
unobstructed viewing area. In the semi-deployed or partial up
position, the system provides partial ballistic coverage for the
occupant, and still allows for some occupant vision capability. In
the fully deployed, or full up position, the system provides full
ballistic coverage for the occupant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present
invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof,
will be more fully understood herein after as a result of a
detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in
conjunction with the following drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a spring assisted
articulating window armor assembly shown in its fully open position
at the lower end of a conventional glass window; and
[0012] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of the window armor
assembly of FIG. 1, but shown in a partially closed position where
it has been elevated into position by gas springs and is ready for
being fully closed for maximum threat protection.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to the accompanying drawings and initially to FIG.
1, it will be seen that a spring assisted articulating window
assembly 10 is shown therein in its fully open position. The
preferred embodiment depicted in the accompanying figures comprises
a lower window opaque armor panel 11 and an upper window opaque
armor panel 12. Lower panel 11 is secured within four brackets 13
(two on each opposing side edge) which are, in turn, secured to a
pair of opposing slide assemblies 14, which are, in turn, mounting
to the wall of the vehicle or boat adjacent the existing window 24,
by four mounting blocks 15, (two on each opposite side of the
window).
[0014] Lower panel 11 and upper panel 12 are hingedly
interconnected by a pair of hinges 16. A latch 18 is affixed to the
lower edge of upper panel 12 where it is held by a first retainer
17. A securing strap 19 may also be used to interconnect the lower
edges of both panels 11 and 12.
[0015] The panels 11 and 12 may be translated from the lower stowed
position shown in FIG. 1 to the upper deployment position shown in
FIG. 2 with the assistance of a pair of gas springs 23. The gas
springs are connected at their lower ends to respective brackets 21
at ball studs 22 and at their upper ends to brackets 20 which are
secured to the lower panel 11. After the gas springs 23 are fully
extended, the lower panel 11 is translated into the position shown
in FIG. 2 along the lower half of window 24 and the upper panel 12
is in position to be hingedly rotated into juxtaposition with the
upper half of window 24. This is done after releasing securing
strap 19 and latch 18 from the lower latch retainer 17 and then
re-latching latch 18 to upper retainer 17.
[0016] Once the upper panel 12 is in its fully closed position as
shown by the dotted line in the upper left hand corner of FIG. 2,
the window 24 is completely secure by being completely covered by a
layer of opaque ballistic armor (panels 11 and 12) which is at
least as protective as an equivalent, but much thicker and heaver
layer, of ballistic glass. After the threat is abated, the upper
panel 12 may be released from the upper latch retainer 17 and
rotated around hinges 16. The gas springs 23 may then be released
thereby allowing the upper and lower panels to be lowered along
slide assemblies 14 to the stowed position shown in FIG. 1. In this
position, window 24 is again almost fully uncovered, passing light
into the boat or vehicle interior and fully accessible to be opened
to allow air to enter as well.
[0017] It will now be apparent that what has been disclosed herein
comprises a novel window armor assembly which provides significant
protection against ballistic threats, but with substantially
reduced weight and while allowing complete access to the existing
original equipment standard window when the armor is in a stowed or
standby condition. The preferred embodiment employs gas springs and
slide assemblies to assist in lifting two hinged opaque armor
panels from the stowed position below the standard window glass
into a deployable position adjacent the existing window glass for
rotation of an upper panel to close the armor panels into a fully
protecting configuration. Those having skill in the window armor
art, will now perceive various modifications and additions which
may be made to the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, the scope
hereof is to be limited only by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *