Bullet resistant barrier

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/361,768 filed Mar. 5, 2002.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to bullet resistant barriers, and more particularly to such barriers that are portable.

[0003] There are many locations and situations where law enforcement/security personnel or others, such as workers in financial institutions, are regularly placed in harm's way. If the individuals are located in the same station everyday, that station may be equipped with bullet resistant properties to protect the occupant. However, in situations when the personnel must be mobile or move to various locations, it would be useful to have some bullet resistant barrier that could be moved with them. In addition, it would be useful for such a barrier to provide bullet resistant coverage to the personnel's entire body.

[0004] It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a bullet resistant barrier that is movable.

[0005] It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a bullet resistant barrier that provides protection to the entire body of an occupant.

[0006] It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a bullet resistant barrier that may be broken down for ease of transport.

[0007] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.

[0008] In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention contemplates a barrier comprising a base unit composed of a bullet resistant material, such as metal, plastic, ceramic or a composite material, and a transparent upper wall removably interconnected to the base unit and composed of a bullet resistant material, such as a bullet resistant plastic or glass. The base unit includes a front wall and two side walls extending from the front wall to provide protection to the front and sides of a person standing behind the barrier. A series of casters, preferably locking casters, are attached to the bottom edges of the side walls, and a pair of handles are connected to each of the side walls permitting the barrier to be conveniently transported from one site to another.

[0009] A bracket assembly comprising first and second upstanding channel members interconnected by an S-shaped double channel member extending transversely there between serves to removably interconnect the upper wall to the base unit. The S-shaped member hooks over the upper edge of the front wall with its lower channel being positioned to receive the bottom edge of the upper wall. The two upstanding channel members are positioned at opposite ends of the S-shaped member and engage the opposite side edges of the upper wall. The upper wall may be slid into or out of engagement with this bracket assembly, thereby facilitating convenient break-down of the barrier.

[0010] The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating use of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 a barrier device designated generally by reference numeral 10, designed to protect personnel (a target) 12 from the gunshots of a perpetrator (a source) 14. Barrier 10 generally comprises a base unit 16 and a transparent, upper wall 18 removably interconnected to the base unit, both of which are composed of bullet resistant materials (for instance, base unit 16 may be composed of metal, plastic, ceramic or a composite material, and upper wall 18 may be composed of Bullet resisting Plastic or Glass).

[0017] Base unit 14 comprises a front wall 20 and two side walls 22, 24 which extend perpendicularly rearward from opposing side edges of front wall 20. A first pair of casters 26 are connected to the bottom edges of side walls 22, 24, and a second pair of casters 28 interconnected to one another by an axle 30 are pivotally attached to front wall 20 in order to be movable into or out of engagement with the ground. A rod 32 and locking bar 34 may be used by target 12 to lock/unlock casters 28 and pivotally move them into or out of engagement with the ground (rod 32 may be snap engaged into bracket 36 mounted to the interior surface of side wall 24 to lock casters 28 in engaging relation with the ground). To assist in moving barrier 10, handles 38 are mounted to the exterior surfaces of side walls 22, 24 for grasping by the person moving the unit.

[0018] A bracket assembly is provided to interconnect upper wall 18 to base unit 16. The bracket assembly comprises an S-shaped member 40 that extends along a longitudinal axis and includes an upper channel member 42 that engages the upper edge of front wall 20, and a lower channel member 44 in which the bottom edge of upper wall 18 is positioned (alternatively, this member could simply comprise lower channel 44 attached to or integrally formed with front wall 20), as illustrated in FIG. 5. A pair of upstanding channel members 46, 48 are attached to (or could be integral with) base unit 16 and positioned at opposite ends of S-shaped member 42, and extend along respective longitudinal axes that are parallel to one another and essentially perpendicular to the axis along which S-shaped member 42 extends. The opposing side edges of upper wall 18 engage channel members 46, 48, respectively, thereby slidably and removably interconnecting upper wall 18 to base unit 16.