AU2017204889A1 - Ballistic shield - Google Patents

Abstract

A ballistic shield includes a body adapted to be rolled-up and unrolled between an unrolled deployed configuration in which the ballistic shield is adapted to protect a user from impinging projectiles, and a rolled-up storage configuration in which the ballistic 5 shield is storable or transportable. The body includes one or more semi-rigid stiffening members configured to maintain the body in the unrolled deployed configuration and sufficiently flexible to allow the body, including the stiffening member(s), to be rolled-up and unrolled between the unrolled deployed configuration and the rolled-up storage configuration. '4 4b 416 bgAib 41 sos 10{4 \2 202-O of54 4B SFigure 1

Description

Ballistic shield

Field of the invention

The present invention generally relates to ballistic shields. Such shields are employed, for example, by law enforcement personnel. More particularly, the present invention relates to ballistic shields that are adapted to be rolled-up and unrolled between an unrolled deployed or in-use configuration in which the ballistic shield is ready for use, and a rolled-up storage configuration in which the ballistic shield may optionally be received within a duffel bag for storage or transportation.

Background of the invention U.S. patent no. 8,671,820 discloses a soft ballistic shield. The ballistic shield is of generally rectangular form when deployed, and may be rolled-up to a generally cylindrical form for storage and/or transportation. When unrolled, the shield is generally stiffened or made semi-rigid by the insertion of a pair of longitudinally extending support members or stiffening rods received in spaced parallel pockets in a rear face of the ballistic shield. Ballistic shields of this type suffer from a number of disadvantages including being relatively slow to deploy (due to the need to insert stiffening rods after unrolling) as compared to standard rigid (or unrollable) ballistic shields.

The present invention is directed to overcoming or at least alleviating one or more deficiencies of ballistic shields of the type described in the abovementioned U.S. patent.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and/or combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the invention

In an aspect, the present invention provides a ballistic shield comprising a body adapted to be rolled-up and unrolled between an unrolled deployed configuration in which the ballistic shield is adapted to protect a user from impinging projectiles, and a rolled-up storage configuration in which the ballistic shield is storable or transportable; wherein the body includes one or more semi-rigid stiffening members configured to maintain the body in the unrolled deployed configuration and sufficiently flexible to allow the body including the stiffening member(s) to be rolled-up and unrolled between the unrolled deployed configuration and the rolled-up storage configuration.

The one or more semi-rigid stiffening members are preferably configured to maintain the body in the unrolled (or straightened) deployed configuration by being sufficiently stiff that a persistent hand force is required to roll-up the body from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration. In other words, the one or more stiffening members are biased to an extended unrolled or straightened position, or have a natural resting position which is unrolled or straight, and which is overcome by a persistent hand force on the body.

In one embodiment, the one or more semi-rigid stiffening members comprise leaf springs, e.g. of spring steel or (optionally reinforced) such as fibreglass. The leaf spring(s) are preferably generally elongate. The leaf spring(s) are preferably adapted to be continually buckled along their length such that the body may be rolled-up by hand from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration. When viewed from their ends, the leaf spring(s) preferably have a slight concave/convex or arcuate crosssection. This cross-section may be effective to faciliate the aforementioned continuous buckling along their length.

Advantageously, by employing one or more included semi-rigid stiffening members, the ballistic shield of the present invention is relatively rapidly deployed from the storage configuration to the deployed or in-use configuration (as compared to prior rollable ballistic shields that require the insertion of separate rigid stiffening rods after unrolling to ensure sufficient rigidity in the deployed configuration).

The body is preferably elongate, and in one embodiment comprises, in its deployed configuration, a generally rectangular panel having a front face and a rear face. The front and rear faces comprise a soft synthetic material and are joined about respective peripheral edges to define an interior which houses the one or more semirigid stiffening members.

The rectangular panel preferably has a thickness that is substantially less than a length of the panel. The one or more semi-rigid stiffening members preferably extend longitudinally within one or more respective closed pockets within the elongate body. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the one or more semi-rigid stiffening members extend substantially the entire length of the elongate body. In an embodiment having a pair of semi-rigid stiffening members, the pair of members are preferably spaced-apart, co-planar in the deployed configuration, and arranged parallel to one another within the elongate body.

The front and rear faces of the panel preferably include one or more selectively openable pockets adapted to removably receive soft and/or hard anti-ballistic media as required, such as armour panels. The one or more pockets may be selectively openable by typical zip fasteners that extend horizontally across the front and rear faces of the elongate body.

The rear face preferably includes a central pair of spaced length-adjustable elongate straps adapted to receive a user’s forearm for holding the ballistic shield when in use, the user’s forearm being receivable between the rear face and a space defined by the length-adjustable elongate straps.

The rear face also preferably includes one or more loop fasteners adapted to engage with appropriate hook fasteners (such as Velcro) for selectively attaching desired accessories or utilites to the rear face of the ballistic shield. The rear face may also include one or more loop-style carry handles dimensioned to receive a hand to assist with carrying the ballistic shield. Furthermore, the rear face may include one or more sets of MOLLE webbing or loops dimensioned to receive suitably adapted equipment or utility pouches, weapons, camera systems, breaching equipment and the like.

The front face also preferably includes a loop-style carry handle located adjacent a lower end of the front face. The loop-style carry handle preferably comprises an elongate strap that extends horizontally across the front face, the strap being stitched to the front face partially across its length to define a hand-graspable loop.

The front face also preferably includes a set of press-fit buckles to assist with maintaining the ballistic shield in a generally cylindrical rolled-up form in the storage configuration. To further assist with compacting the ballistic shield in the storage configuration, the front face preferably includes a pair of air vent apertures that allow for the removal of air from within the elongate body during rolling.

The front face also preferably includes a generally rectangular space located at the upper end for an identification label, such as “POLICE”. Similar to the rear face, the front face may also include MOLLE webbing or loops to receive suitably adapted equipment or utility pouches, camera systems, flashlights and the like.

As described above, in the deployed configuration, the ballistic shield of the present invention may be utilised by being “hand-held” (the user’s forearm and hand of the same arm being received by the central pair of spaced length-adjustable elongate straps located on the rear face). In an alternative arrangement, the ballistic shield may be used “hands-free” by being supported on a separate assemblage stand. The ballistic shield may be received upon the assembled stand in either a horizontal or vertical orientation.

The ballistic shield may further include, along one longitudinally extending peripheral edge, a first longitudinal fastener such as a zipper fastener or velcro pad that may releasably join the ballistic shield to another ballistic shield of similar form, thereby extending the lateral extent of ballistic protection offered by the ballistic shield. The ballistic shield may also include a second longitudinally extending fastener, e.g. a zipper fastener or velcro pad, on its front face, adjacent the opposite peripheral edge as the first fastener, to alternatively releasably join the ballistic shield to the other ballistic shield of similar form at the second fastener. The second longitudinally extending fastener is preferably located inwardly of the opposite peripheral edge so that, when joined to the other ballistic shield, there is an overlap of anti-ballistic media between the releasably joined ballistic shields.

As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.

Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ballistic shield according to an embodiment of the invention depicted in its unrolled deployed configuration;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the ballistic shield of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ballistic shield of Figures 1 and 2 in a rolled-up storage configuration;

Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the ballistic shield of Figures 1 to 3 along the line A-A in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the ballistic shield of Figures 1 to 4 along the line B-B in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a top-down cross-sectional view of the ballistic shield of Figures 1 to 5 along the line C-C in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective exploded view of an assemblable stand upon which the ballistic shield of Figure 1 may be supported in its deployed configuration;

Figure 8 is another perspective view of the assemblable stand of Figure 7, the stand being shown in an assembled configuration;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a disassembled storage configuration of the assemblable stand of Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the ballistic shield of Figures 1 to 6 being supported on the stand of Figures 7 to 9 in a vertical orientation;

Figure 11 is similar to Figure 10, but the ballistic shield is shown in a horizontal orientation; and

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a duffel bag in which the ballistic shield of Figures 1 to 6 and the assemblage stand of Figures 7 to 9 are received for storage and/or transportation.

Detailed description of an embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, there is a shown a ballistic shield 10 comprising an elongate generally rectangular body 12 (when viewed front-on) adapted to be rolled-up and unrolled between an unrolled e.g. straightened deployed configuration (Figures 1 and 2) in which the ballistic shield is adapted to protect a user from impinging projectiles, and a rolled-up storage configuration (Figure 3) in which the ballistic shield is storable or transportable. The body 12 includes a pair of semi-rigid stiffening members 14 (which are illustrated shaded in Figure 1) configured to maintain the body in the unrolled deployed configuration and sufficiently flexible to allow the elongate body 12 including the semi-rigid stiffening members to be rolled-up and unrolled between the unrolled deployed configuration and the rolled-up storage configuration.

Body 12 is generally in the form of a flexible rectangular panel made of a suitable fabric. The flexible rectangular panel 12 comprises a front panel 16 (Figure 1) and a rear panel 18. The front and rear panels 16,18 define respective front 17 and rear 19 faces of the shield and comprise a flexible fabric. The front and rear panels 16, 18 are joined about respective peripheral edges 20 at seams 20a (Fig. 6) to define an interior that houses at least the pair of semi-rigid stiffening members14.

As is illustrated in the top-down cross-sectional view of Figure 6, the front panel 16 is a continuous piece of material that at each side of the body is folded back on itself in a general S-shape in cross-section. The then folded panel is stitched or welded to itself along longitudinal seams 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d to define a first pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending pockets 22 having openings 22a (adapted to respectively receive the pair of semi-rigid stiffening members 14) and a second pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending pockets 90 (adapted to respectively receive part of an assemblage stand 70, described later). The second pair of longitudinally extending pockets 90 generally overlies the first pair of pockets 22.

Secured to the front panel 16 by stitching or welding, intermediate the laterally spaced pairs of pockets 22, 90, is an additional piece of material 15 that is placed over the front panel 16 and stitched or welded thereto at seams 16a, 16b to define additional selectively openable pockets 24 adapted to removably receive hard armour, as is described later. As is illustrated throughout the figures, the rectangular body 12 has a thickness that is substantially less than a length of the body.

The semi-rigid stiffening members 14 comprise elongate steel leaf springs that extend longitudinally within the respective closed pockets 22 within the elongate body (Figures 4 and 6). The leaf springs 14 extend substantially the entire length of the elongate body 12, are co-planar and parallel (see Figure 6), and are respectively located adjacent longitudinal peripheral edges 20 of the elongate body 12. The leaf springs 14 appear generally rectangular when viewed front-on (Figure 1), but have a slight concave/convex or arcuate cross-section when viewed top-down, i.e. from their ends (Figure 6). This cross-section is effective to faciliate continuous buckling of the leaf springs along their length, as is described below. The leaf springs 14 may comprise spring steel.

The leaf springs 14 are adapted to be continually buckled along their length such that the body 12 including the leaf springs 14 may be rolled-up by hand from either end from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration. The leaf springs 14 are formed to have a natural resting position which is unrolled or straight (as shown in Figure 1), and are sufficiently stiff such that a persistant hand force is required to roll-up the rectangular body 12 from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration. In an alternative non-illustrated embodiment, the one or more semi-rigid stiffening members may comprise (optionally reinforced) plastic members of concave/convex cross-section when viewed top-down. In a further non-illustrated alternative embodiment, the ballistic shield 10 may include a single semi-rigid stiffening member of steel or (optionally reinforced) plastic that may extend a substantial portion of, or nearly the full width of, the body 12.

Advantageously, by employing semi-rigid stiffening members such as steel leaf springs 14, the ballistic shield 10 is relatively rapidly deployed from the storage configuration (Figure 3) to the deployed or in-use configuration (Figures 1 and 2), as compared to, for example, the ballistic shield of U.S. patent no. 8,671,820 which requires the additional step of inserting separate rigid stiffening rods after unrolling to ensure suitable rigidity in its deployed configuration.

As is described above, the front face 17 includes the selectively openable pockets 24 adapted to removably receive hard anti-ballistic media as required, such as hard armour plates 122 (Figures 5 and 6). The back face 19 includes aselectively openable pocket 26 adapted to removably receive soft anti-ballistic armour panel 120. The pocket 26 is defined by a piece of material 13 (Fig. 6) that is stitched or welded to the rear panel 18 at seams 20a. The pocket 26 extends subtantially the entire width of the rear panel 18 and almost the entire length of the elongate body 12 The anti-ballistic media 120,122 are adapted to protect a user from impinging projectiles.

The soft armour panel 120 includes a cover or jacket 120a of relatively softer material, e.g, fabric, that encases or encloses the soft armour panel 120. As is shown in Figures 4 to 6, the cover or jacket 120a comprises front and rear panels that are stitched or welded at peripheral seams. Inside the cover or jacket 120a and located adjacent the soft armour panel 120 towards front shield face 17 is a semi-rigid plastic stiffener 120b adapted to provide sufficient stiffness to the panel 120 to prevent it from collapsing laterally under its own weight, and to prevent collapsing when the ballistic shield 10 is gripped by a user about handles 28, 42.

There are two of the pockets 24, centrally located and arranged one above the other on the front panel 16. The pockets 24 are identical in width and extend approximately two-thirds across a width of the front panel 16. Additionally, in combination, the pair of pockets 24 extend between approximately two-thirds and three-quarters of the entire length of the elongate body 12. Each of the pockets 24 is defined by the material 15 and inner lining 24b (Fig. 5).

The pockets 24, 26 are respectively selectively openable by typical zip fasteners 24a, 26a that extend horizontally across the front and rear panels 16,18.

The rear panel 18 (Figure 2) includes a central pair of spaced length-adjustable elongate straps 28 adapted to receive a user’s forearm and hand of the same arm for holding the ballistic shield 10 when in use, the user’s forearm and hand being receivable between the rear panel or face 18 and a space defined by the length-adjustable elongate straps. The elongate straps 28 are laterally spaced to a sufficient extent to allow the user’s forearm to extend under one elongate strap 28 and grip the other elongate strap 28 with the hand of the same arm. The elongate straps 28 are each separately length-adjustable by a standard length-adjusting buckle 30 to ensure a tight fit for the user’s forearm and hand.

The rear panel 18 also includes one or more loop fasteners adapted to engage with appropriate hook fasteners (such as Velcro) for selectively attaching desired accessories or utilities to the rear panel or face 18 of the ballistic shield. The loop fastener(s) are generally rectangular in form and extend longitudinally on the rear face 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear panel or face 18 includes a set of three upper rectangular loop fasteners 32 adjacent an upper end 34 of the rear face 18 and a set of three lower rectangular loop fasteners 36 adjacent a lower end 38 of the rear face. The sets of loop fasteners 32, 36 are laterally spaced and have a similar length so as to define a pair of generally square (or rectangular) attachment surfaces 40. The attachment surfaces 40 may receive a releasably attachable utility panel having hook fasteners. A releasably attachable utility panel (not shown) may include weapons, camera systems, breaching equipment, and the like. As is shown in Figure 2, the central pair of length-adjustable elongate straps 28 are located between the upper and lower sets of loop fasteners 32, 36 and are co-linear with the outermost rectangular loop fasteners of the upper and lower sets of fasteners 32, 36.

The two outermost loop fasteners of the upper set of loop fasteners 32 each include loop-style carry handles 42 along an outer edge dimensioned to receive a hand to assist with carrying the ballistic shield 10. Furthermore, the rear panel 18 also includes two parallel sets of MOLLE webbing or loops 44 that extend horizontally, one above the other, along the upper end 34 of the rear panel 18 (above the upper loop fasteners 32). The webbing or loops 44 are dimensioned to receive suitably adapted equipment or utility pouches, weapons, camera systems, breaching equipment and the like.

The front face 17 (Figure 1) includes a loop-style carry handle 46 located adjacent a lower end 38 of the front face 16. The loop-style carry handle 46 comprises an elongate strap 48 that extends horizontally across the front face 17 to the same lateral extent as the selectively openable pockets 24. The strap 48 is stitched to the front face 16 partially across its length to define the hand-graspable loop 46.

The front face 17 also includes a set of press-fit buckles to assist with maintaining the ballistic shield 10 in a generally cylindrical rolled-up form in the storage configuration (Figure 3). In the illustrated embodiment, a first pair of press-fit buckles 49 are approximately centrally located (in the longitudinal dimension) on the front face 17, the pair of press-fit buckles 49 being spaced-apart and located adjacent the outer peripheral edges 20 of the front face 17. The pair of press-fit buckles 49 each include a female portion 49a attached to the front face 17, the female portion 49a being adapted to releasably receive a male tongue portion 49b that includes an elongate strap 50 secured at one end to the front face 16 by stitching. The elongate straps 50 are between 10 to 20 cm long and may function as carry handles when the male tongue portion 49b is releasably received in the female portion 49a. The front face 17 also includes a second pair of female buckle portions 52a co-linear with the first pair of press-fit buckles 49 and located adjacent the lower end 38 of the front face 16.

After use, the ballistic shield 10 may be rolled-up from the deployed configuration (Figure 1) to the storage configuration (Figure 3) starting from the upper end 34 of the elongate body 12. The front face 16 is to be rolled towards the rear face 18 such that, when the elongate body 12 including leaf springs 14 is substantially entirely rolled-up, the male tongue portions 49b of the first pair of press-fit buckles 49 are positioned so as to be releasably receivable within the respective second pair of female buckle portions 52a to secure or maintain the ballistic shield 10 in the rolled-up storage configuration. To further assist with compacting the ballistic shield 10 in the storage configuration, the front panel 16 includes a pair of air vent apertures 54 that allow for the removal of air from within the elongate body 12 during rolling, the pair of air vent aperatures 54 being located adjacent the second pair of female buckle portions 52a along the elongate strap 48 of the loop-style carry handle 46.

The front face or panel 16 also includes a generally rectangular space 60 located at the upper end 34 for an identification label 62, such as “POLICE”. Similar to the rear face of panel 18, the front face 16 also includes two parallel sets of MOLLE webbing or loops 64 to receive suitably adapted equipment or utility pouches, camera systems, flashlights and the like. The sets of MOLLE webbing or loops 64 extend horizontally along the upper end 34 of the front face 16 (above the space 60 for the indentification label 62).

As is described above, in the deployed configuration (Figures 1 and 2), the ballistic shield 10 of the present invention may be utilised by being “hand-held” (the user’s forearm and hand of the same arm being received by the central pair of spaced length-adjustable elongate straps 28 located on the rear face 18). In an alternative arrangement (illustrated in Figures 10 and 11), the ballistic shield 10 may be used “hands-free” by being supported on a separate assemblable stand 70 (Figures 7 to 9).

Referring to Figure 7 in particular, the assemblable stand 70 comprises a plurality of generally tubular members that are releasably joinable by a pair of junction blocks 72, each junction block having at least two cylindrical apertures adapted to releasably receive two respective tubular members. In the illustrated arrangement, the junction blocks 72 are releasably joined by a horizontally-oriented tubular crossbar member 74, each end of the crossbar member being releasably received within one of the cylindrical apertures 72a of each junction block 72.

Upstanding from each junction block 72 is a fixed tubular column member 76 adapted to be received within the elongate body of the ballistic shield 10 in the manner described below. The tubular column members 76 extend vertically from each junction block 72. The assemblable stand 70 further includes a pair of tubular foot members 78, each foot member 78 being received at one end in a further cylindrical aperture 72b of each junction block 72, the tubular foot members 78 being generally perpendicular to the horizontal crossbar member 74. The tubular foot members 78 also include a male locking collar or neck 80a of reduced diameter at one end to assist with releasably locking the foot members 78 within a female locking collar 80b of the junction block 72. As is shown in Figure 8, the female locking collar 80b is opposite to the aperture 72b such that a portion of the neck 80a of each tubular foot member 78 extends through each junction block 72. The tubular foot members 78 further include cone-shaped end caps 82 at both ends. The assemblable stand 70 is dimensionsed such that the fixed tubular column members 76 extend at an angle of approximately 80° with respect to the tubular foot members 78.

The horizontally-oriented tubular crossbar member 74 is substantially hollow and includes a central elastic cord 74a extending from both ends which is received within, and connected to an inside surface of, the aperture 72a of each junction block 72. Each tubular foot member 78 is also substantially hollow and includes a similar central elastic cord 78a extending from the end including the male locking collar or neck 80a. The elastic cord 78a of each foot member 78 is connected to one of the end caps 82. The elastic cords 74a, 78a ensure that all components of the assemblable stand 70 are loosely connected in a partially disassembled or diassembled configuration (Figures 7 and 9). The assemblable stand 70 may also include a keeper or retention strap 130 adapted to be received around the tubular members 74, 76, 78 in the disassembled configuration (Figure 9) to assist with packing.

The ballistic shield 10 of the present invention may be received upon and supported by the assemblable stand 70 when in an assembled configuration (Figure 8). The ballistic shield 10 may be received upon the assembled stand in either a horizontal or vertical orientation. In a vertical orientation (Figure 10), the tubular column members 76 of the assembled stand 70 are received through the laterally spaced longitudinally extending pockets 90 (Figures 4 and 6) in the elongate body 12 of the ballistic shield 10, the pockets having generally square pocket openings 92 (Figure 1) at the lower end 38 of the front face 16 of the elongate body 12. The pocket openings 92 are respectively co-linear with, but disposed lower than, the second pair of female buckle portions 52a. The keeper or retention strap 130 is received about the carry handle 46 in the vertical orientation to releasably secure the ballistic shield 10 to the assembled stand 70.

In a horizontal orientation (Figure 11), each of tubular column members 76 is respectively received through two pairs of aligned generally looped apertures 94 (Figures 1 and 11) located on the front face 16 of the elongate body 12. Each looped aperture 94 is located at opposite peripheral edges of the selectively openable pockets 24. A first pair of apertures 94a is located approximately one-third of the way along the front face 16 from the lower end 38 (in the longitudinal dimension). A second pair of apertures 94b is located approximately two-thirds of the way along the front face 16 from the lower end 38 (in the longitudinal dimension). The keeper or retention strap 130 is received about the elongate strap 50 in the horizontal orientation to releasably secure the ballistic shield 10 to the assembled stand 70.

Referring back to Figure 1, the ballistic shield 10 further includes, along one longitudinally extending peripheral edge 20, a first longitudinal fastener in the form of a first zipper fastener 102 that may releasably join the ballistic shield 10 to another ballistic shield of similar form (not illustrated), thereby extending the lateral extent of ballistic protection offered by the ballistic shield 10. The ballistic shield 10 also includes a second longitudinally extending fastener in the form of a second zipper fastener 104 on its front face 16. The second zipper fastener 104 is located along one lateral edge of the selectively openable pockets 24 adjacent the opposite peripheral edge 20 to which the first zipper fastener 102 is stitched. The second zipper fastener 104 is adapted to releasably join the ballistic shield 10 to a further additional ballistic shield of similar form, in particular to a first zipper fastener 102 of the further additional ballistic shield.

Referring now to Figure 12, there is a shown a generally cylindrical duffel-style bag 110 which includes a first lower compartment 112 adapted to receive the ballistic shield in its generally cylindrical storage configuration. The bag 110 also includes a second upper compartment 114, above the first lower compartment 112, adapted to receive the assemblage stand 70 in a disassembled configuration (Figure 9). Attached to the second upper compartment 114 at an outside surface is a pair of loop-style carry handles 116 adapted to receive a hand to assist with carrying the bag 110. The bag 110 further includes, at one end, a circumferential two-way (double-separating) zip opening 118 that may be rapidly opened by a loop-style puller 120 extending therefrom. The bag 110 also includes, at an opposite end to the circumferential zipper 118, an additional loop-style tipping handle 122 adapted to tip the bag 110 such that the zip opening 118 faces generally towards the ground when desired (for example, when the user is ready to deploy the ballistic shield 10).

The ballistic shield 10 described above offers a distinct advantage compared to prior known soft ballistic shields, such as the one disclosed in US patent no. 8,671,820. In particular, the ballistic shield 10 does not require the separate insertion of stiffening rods to maintain suitable rigidity in the deployed configuration, and therefore, the ballistic shield 10 is simple to use and is relatively rapidly deployed when desired.

Claims (17)

1. A ballistic shield comprising: a body adapted to be rolled-up and unrolled between an unrolled deployed configuration in which the ballistic shield is adapted to protect a user from impinging projectiles, and a rolled-up storage configuration in which the ballistic shield is storable or transportable; wherein the body includes one or more semi-rigid stiffening members configured to maintain the body in the unrolled deployed configuration and sufficiently flexible to allow the body including the stiffening member(s) to be rolled-up and unrolled between the unrolled deployed configuration and the rolled-up storage configuration.

2. A ballistic shield according to claim 1 wherein the one or more semi-rigid stiffening members are configured to maintain the body in the unrolled deployed configuration by being sufficiently stiff that a persistent hand force is required to roll-up the body from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration.

3. A ballistic shield according to claim 2 wherein the one or more semi-rigid stiffening members are biased to an extended unrolled or straightened position, or have a natural resting position that is unrolled or straight, which unrolled or straightened position or natural resting position is overcome by a persistent hand force on the body.

4. A ballistic shield according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the one or more semirigid stiffening members comprise one or more leaf springs.

5. A ballistic shield according to claim 4 wherein the leaf spring(s) are generally elongate and are adapted to be continually buckled along their length such that the body may be rolled-up by hand from the unrolled deployed configuration to the rolled-up storage configuration.

6. A ballistic shield according to claim 4 or 5 wherein, when viewed from their ends, the leaf spring(s) have a slight concave/convex or arcuate cross-section.

7. A ballistic shield according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the body is elongate and comprises, in its unrolled deployed configuration, a generally rectangular panel that has a front face and a rear face and defines an interior which houses the one or more semi-rigid stiffening members.

8. A ballistic shield according to claim 7 wherein the front and rear faces of the panel include one or more selectively openable pockets adapted to removably receive soft and/or hard anti-ballistic media as required.

9. A ballistic shield according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the rear face of the panel includes a central pair of spaced length-adjustable elongate straps adapted to receive a user’s forearm for holding the ballistic shield when in use, the user’s forearm being receivable between the rear face and a space defined by the length-adjustable elongate straps.

10. A ballistic shield according to claim 7, 8 or 9 wherein the rear face includes one or more loop fasteners adapted to engage with appropriate hook fasteners for selectively attaching desired accessories or utilities to the rear face of the ballistic shield.

11. A ballistic shield according to any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the front face includes a loop-style carry handle located adjacent a lower end of the front face.

12. A ballistic shield according to any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the front face includes a set of press-fit buckles to assist with maintaining the ballistic shield in a generally cylindrical rolled-up form in the storage configuration.

13. A ballistic shield according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the one or more semi-rigid stiffening members extend longitudinally within one or more respective closed pockets within the elongate body.

14. A ballistic shield according to claim 13 wherein there are a pair of said semirigid stiffening members, spaced-apart, co-planar in the unrolled deployed configuration, and arranged parallel to one another within the elongate body.

15. A ballistic shield according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further including, along a further including longitudinally extending peripheral edge, a first longitudinal fastener to releasably join the ballistic shield to another ballistic shield of similar form, thereby extending the lateral extent of ballistic protection offered by the ballistic shield.

16. A ballistic shield according to claim 15 further including a second longitudinally extending fastener on its front face, adjacent the opposite peripheral edge as the first fastener, to alternatively releasably join the ballistic shield to the other ballistic shield of similar form at the second fastener.

17. A ballistic shield according to claim 16 wherein the second longitudinally extending fastener is located inwardly of the opposite peripheral edge so that, when joined to the other ballistic shield, there is an overlap of anti-ballistic media between the releasably joined ballistic shields.