GB2402155A

GB2402155A - Road-vehicle halting device

Info

Publication number: GB2402155A
Application number: GB0418720A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Basil Walter Lowndes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-13
Filing date: 2001-02-13
Publication date: 2004-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2021-02-13
Also published as: GB2373011B; GB2402153A; GB2402156A; GB0418718D0; GB0103468D0; GB2373011A; GB0418721D0; GB0418720D0; GB2402155B; GB2402156B; GB2402154B; GB0418715D0; GB2402154A; GB2402153B

Abstract

The road-vehicle halting device includes an, in use, upwardly facing surface which is provided with one or more support elements 26 which each releasably retain a spike 25, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from the support element as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, the device being characterised in that at least some of the support elements retaining spikes include a shock absorbing element 30. The shock absorbing element may include a resilient element interposed between the base 27 of the spike and the support element and the resilient element may be attached to the support member. Alternatively, the shock absorbing element may include a resilient material interposed between the upwardly extending peripheral surface of the spike and the support element.

Description

2402 1 55 Title: Road-Vehicle Halting Device

Description of Invention

This invention relates to a road-vehicle halting device of the kind which is intended to be deployed in the path of the vehicle, and which has plurality of vehicle tyre engaging spikes which are adapted to puncture vehicle lyres.

There have been several proposals for such devices. One commercially successful device is described in US patent A-5536109.

In this prior proposal, the device includes a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms, some of which have secured thereto support members which releasably retain the tyre engaging spikes. As a vehicle tyre impinges upon the spikes, the spikes are removed from the as they puncture the tyre.

The road-vehicle halting device described in US patent A-5536109 is a relatively heavyweight device designed to halt not only automobiles, but heavyweight vehicles too/ Accordingly, the device necessarily is heavy and consequently can be difficult to deploy rapidly, e.g. in the path of an oncoming vehicle, and to recover after use, before another vehicle drives over the device, e.g. a police vehicle in pursuit of the vehicle to be halted.

According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a road-vehicle halting device including an, in use, upwardly facing surface with one or more support members which each releasably retain a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, characterised in that at least some of the support members retaining tyre engaging spikes, include a shock absorbing means.

Thus as a device in accordance with the invention is deployed, e.g. from an airborne or other moving vehicle, shocks which may loosen or disengage the spikes from their support members are absorbed.

The shock absorbing means may each includes a resilient member interposed between a base of the spike and the support member, such as a coil spring, wave spring or Belleville washer for examples only. The resilient member is preferably attached to the support member, for example by a securing member which secures the support member to an arm of the device.

Alternatively, the shock absorbing means may each include resilient material interposed between an upwardly extending peripheral surface of the spike and an adjacent surface of the support member.

Conventionally, the tyre engaging spikes of road-vehicle halting devices have been made of metal. Particularly as tyre technology has advanced and lyres have become more difficult to puncture, it has been thought that metal spikes are essential.

According to a second aspect of the invention I provide a road-vehicle halting device including a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms, at least some of which have secured to or integral therewith, in use, upwardly facing surfaces thereof, support members which each releasably retain a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, the arms of the device being relatively pivotal to enable the device to be folded into a compact stowed condition and opened into an expanded condition during deployment, characterized in that the device includes a plurality of slider means provided on downwardly facing surfaces of the arms, the slider means being adapted to facilitate movement of the arms of the device over the road during deployment and recovery of the device, and the device including means to attach a cord to the device at a position towards an outermost end thereof, and cord guide means along the length of the device, whereby the device may be folded during recovery by pulling on the cord.

By virtue of the invention, deployment and recovery of the device is facilitated.

Preferably the slider means are provided at the positions of pivotal connection of the arms of the device. The slider means may include roller balls which are adapted to slide over the road surface during deployment and recovery of the device.

At least some of the slider means may include a resilient urging means resiliently to urge the slider means towards the road surface, which resilient urging means may be coil springs, wave springs, or Belleville washers for examples only, to provide a suspension for the device, thus further facilitating movement of the device over the road surface during deployment and recovery.

The slider means and resilient urging means, where provided, may be parts of pivotal connection means connecting the arms.

To ensure that the device is firmly resting on the road surface when a vehicle passes over the device, downwardly extending road engaging formations may be provided, which, until a vehicle drives over the device are substantially non-functional, but as the vehicle drives over the device and the resilient urging means are compressed, the road engaging formations engage the road surface and retain the device in engagement with the road surface.

The means to attach the cord to the device may include an eye formation provided on an upper surface of an arm of the device, which eye formation may be provided at a pivotal connection between an endmost pair of arms.

Similarly, the cord guide means may include a plurality of eye formations provided along the device, preferably positioned so that the cord extends substantially straight along the extent of the device at least when the device is deployed.

Thus as the cord is pulled, the arms of the device will fold for stowage.

This feature of the invention is particularly but not exclusively useful where the device has first arms which are pivotally connected both at their ends and generally mid positions along their lengths to second arms which too are pivotally connected both at their ends and at generally mid positions along their lengths to first arms whereby the device is of a scissors configuration.

However the invention is applicable to road-vehicle halting devices of other pivoted arm configurations.

Where the device is of a scissors configuration the cord guide means eye formations may be located at positions where the first and second arms are pivotally interconnected at their generally mid positions.

The road halting device of the first aspect of the invention may have any of the features of the road-vehicle halting device of the second aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention I provide a road-vehicle halting device including a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms, at least some of which have secured to or integral therewith, in use, upwardly facing surfaces thereof, support members which each releasably retain a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, the arms of the device being relatively pivotal to enable the device to be folded into a compact stowed condition and opened into an expanded condition during deployment, characterized in that at least some of the slider means include resilient urging means to urge the slider means towards the road surface.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention I provide a road-vehicle halting device including a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms, at least some of which have secured to or integral therewith, in use, upwardly facing surfaces thereof, support members which each releasably retain a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, the arms of the device being relatively pivotal to enable the device to be folded into a compact stowed condition and opened into an expanded condition during deployment, characterized in that there are provided downwardly extending road engaging formations which until a vehicle is driven over the device are substantially non- functional but as the vehicle is driven over the device, the road engaging formations engage the road surface to retain the device in engagement with the road surface.

It has been found that particularly when deploying a road-vehicle halting device of the kind to which this invention relates, there is a risk that one or more of the tyre engaging spikes will become disengaged or at least loosened from engagement with respective support members which typically are plastic cups which are provided on an upwardly facing surface of the device to mount the spikes until the spikes engage and pierce a tyre and are removed from the support members.

The device may be deployed from the roadside, or may be deployed for example from an airborne or moving vehicle. In the latter cases the problem of spikes becoming loosened or disengaged is exacerbated.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention I provide a road-vehicle halting device including an, in use, upwardly facing surface, which is provided with one or more support members which each releasably retain a spike, the spikes being is adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, characterized in that at least some of the spikes include a body which in use is retained by a support member until disengaged therefrom until the spike has punctured a tyre, and a tip including a pointed formation which is adapted to puncture the vehicle tyre, the body being made substantially of non-metallic material, and the tip being at made at least substantially of metallic material.

It has been found surprisingly that a spike in which the body is made at least partially, but if desired exclusively, from a suitable non-metallic material such as carbon fibre, performs adequately to puncture a vehicle tyre, provided that the tip is made of metal or substantially of metal.

A spikes which includes a body of non-metallic materials such as carbon fibre or another synthetic material can be more economic to manufacture in bulk than entirely metallic spikes, and the spikes are considerably lighter than comparable all metal spikes. Thus the overall weight of the road halting device can be reduced, whilst the device otherwise may be substantial enough to provide the benefits of a heavyweight road-vehicle halting device. Where the device has a plurality of arms providing upwardly facing surfaces, the arms may be made of plastic, and the support members may be integrally formed with the arms where it is desired to produce a lighter weight device.

The device of the fifth aspect of the invention may have any of the features of a device of the first or second or third or fourth aspects of the invention.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention I provide a spike for a device according to the first, second, third, fourth_or fifth aspects of the invention characterised in that the spike includes a body which is adapted to be retained in use by a support member until disengaged therefrom when the spike has punctured a tyre, and a tip including a pointed formation which is adapted to puncture the vehicle tyre, the body being made substantially of non-metallic material, and the tip being made at least substantially of metallic material.

To connect the body and tip, the tip may have a female threaded opening and the body a correspondingly male threaded part, the body and the tip being attached together by the inter-engagement of the male and female threads.

The body may include an inner hollow which opens at or adjacent a base of the spike, with there being at least one passage through the body into the hollow for air from a punctured tyre to escape through and thus cause deflation of the tyre.

So as to provide a controlled deflation of a punctured tyre, air is preferably permitted to escape relatively slowly as it is the case that a vehicle with a punctured tyre may continue to be driven for some distance before the tyre is fully deflated and the vehicle should stop. Moreover, desperate criminals may continue to drive the vehicle with an entirely deflated tyre in an effort to escape arrest.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention I provide a road-vehicle halting device including an upwardly facing surface having at least one support member which releasably retains a spike, the spike being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from the support member as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, characterised in that the spike includes a body in which there is contained a quantity of traceable material, and the spike includes means to release the traceable material when the spike has pierced the tyre.

Thus in the event that a vehicle continues to be driven with an at least partially deflated tyre, the traceable material will provide a trail by means of whic_ the vehicle may be traced.

In one example, the traceable material is a visually traceable material such as a dye, which may be luminescent, or fluorescent for examples only to aid Facing e.g. from a following helicopter. Alternatively the traceable material may emit radiation in a spectrum detectable by radiation detecting means, such as non-visible ultraviolet radiation for example.

The means to release the traceable material may include a pump which is operated by at least one of air pressure within the tyre prior to the tyre becoming fully deflated, and mechanical actuation of the pump upon each revolution of the tyre causing a pumping member to release the traceable material.

The traceable material may be contained within the body of the spike in a capsule, with there being a passage for the escape of air from the tyre around at least part of the capsule.

The spike may include a capsule puncturing means which is adapted to puncture the capsule as the spike pierces the vehicle tyre.

The device of the seventh aspect of the invention may include any of the features of the device of the first, second, third, fourth or fifth aspects of the invention.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention I provide a spike for a device according to the second, third or fifth aspects of the invention, characterised in that the spike includes a body in which there is contained a quantity of traceable material, and the spike including means to release the traceable material when the spike has punctured the tyre.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention I provide a road-vehicle halting device including a surface which in use is upwardly facing, the surface having at least one support member which releasably retains a spike, the spike being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from the support member as a vehicle tyre passes over the device, characterized in that the upwardly extending surface includes at least two parts which are hinged together, a first of the parts having the support member for the spike, and the other part being foldable relative to the first part at least partially to cover the spike for stowage.

Thus there is provided what may be a small-sized device, suitable-for putting adjacent a vehicle tyre whilst the driver of the vehicle is being questioned, to deter the driver from driving away. The first and second parts of the device may be folded to protect the user from accidental contact with the spike, and deployed by unfolding the first and second parts to their upwardly facing conditions.

Preferably the, in use, upwardly facing surface includes three parts, the first and second parts and the first and third parts being hinged together along generally parallel hinge axes so that the second and third parts are foldable relative to the first part to positions where the spike is at least substantially concealed.

The device may include a lanyard by means of which the device may be readily recovered from deployment adjacent a vehicle tyre.

The device of the ninth aspect of the invention may have a spike with any of the features of the spike according to the sixth or eighth aspects of the invention.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention I provide in combination, a road-vehicle halting device including a surface which in use is upwardly facing, the surface having a plurality of support members each of which releasably retains a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre passes over the device, and a deployment apparatus, characterised in that the surface of the device having the support members is flexible and prior to deployment the surface is at least partially rolled relative to the deployment apparatus, and the deployment apparatus permitting the device to be unrolled during deployment.

For one example, the deployment apparatus may include an elongate element about which the device is rolled, and the elongate element may be supported by a support means. Alternatively, the deployment apparatus may include a support means which supports a mid region of the flexible surface, opposite ends of the flexible surface being rolled inwardly towards the support means, and the support means being adapted to release the mid region of the flexible surface during deployment of the device and to permit the opposite ends of the flexible surface to unroll outwardly to assume an upwardly facing orientation on a road surface.

At least one spike of the device of the tenth aspect of the invention may be in accordance with the sixth or eighth aspects of the invention.

According to an eleventh aspect of the invention I provide a road-vehicle halting device adapted to be deployed from a moving vehicle, the device including a surface which in use is upwardly facing, the surface having a plurality of support members each of which releasably retains a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a lyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre passes over the device, the device being stowable in or on the vehicle in a folded or rolled stowed condition and being unfolded or unrolled during deployment, characterised in that means are provided actively to unfold or unroll the device during deployment.

In one embodiment, the device is of the kind including a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms, at least soine of which provide upwardly facing surfaces for the support members and spikes, the arms of the device being relatively pivotal to enable the device to be folded into a compact stowed condition and opened into an expanded condition during deployment, the unfolding means including at least one resilient element which acts between the folded arms upon deployment to expand the device.

Such a device may have any of the features of the device of the first, second, third or fourth aspects of the invention.

Alternatively, the surface of the device having the support members is flexible and prior to deployment the surface is at least partially rolled, the unrolling means including resilient means such as spring steel strips provided within the flexible surface which actively cause the surface to unroll during deployment.

A device according to the eleventh aspect of the invention may have at least one spike in accordance with the sixth or eighth aspects of the invention.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention I provide a method of deploying a road halting device according to the eleventh aspect of the invention characterized in that the moving vehicle is an aircraft.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is an illustrative view of a first embodiment of a road-vehicle halting device in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a more detailed illustration of a first part of the device of figure 1; FIGURE 2a is view similar to that of figure 2 but of an alternative construction; FIGURE 3 is a detailed illustrative view of a spike and support member which may be used in the device of figure 1; FIGURES 4 and 5 are respectively a side view of an alternative spike and plan view of a support member for the spike; FIGURE 6 is an illustrative view of another spike containing a quantity of traceable material; FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of figure 6, but of an alternative spike containing a quantity of traceable material; FIGURE 7a is a section on the line A-A of Figure 6; FIGURE 8 is a detailed view of a part of a puncturing mechanism for the spike of figure 7; FIGURES 9 and 9a are views of an alternative road-vehicle halting device in accordance with the invention showing the device in stowed and deployed conditions; FIGURE 10 is a side view of another embodiment of road-vehicle halting device in accordance with the invention, in a stowed condition in combination with a deploying apparatus; FIGURE 11 is a view similar to figure 10 but of another embodiment.

Referring to figure 1 there is shown a road-vehicle halting device 10 which includes a plurality of first arms 1 la, l lb, etc. each of which (apart from end arm 1 la) is pivotally connected at its ends E and in mid regions 13 thereof to second arms 12a, 12b etc., whereby the device 10 is of a substantially scissors configuration and of any desired length depending upon the number of first and second arms 11, 12 are provided. The general configuration of such a device 10 is well known and more detailed description of the general arrangement is not considered necessary.

Referring now to figure 2, at each mid region 13 where the first 11 and second 12 arms are pivotally interconnected, there are provided eye formations which are integral with the pivotal connections, and which will be described in more detail below.

The endmost eye formation 15 indicated at mid region 13e in figure 1, has secured to it a cord 16 e.g. of rope or the like, and the cord 16 passes through each of the other eye formations IS of the mid regions 13, so that at least when the device 10 is deployed in an expanded condition as indicated in figure 1, the cord 16 is substantially straight.

When it is desired to recover the device 10 e.g. for stowage, an operator pulls on an end 16a of the cord 16, and consequently the arms 11, 12 of the device 10 will relatively fold, to reduce the length of the device 10 until the arms 11, 12 are all generally side by side and the device 10 is in a compact condition suitable for stowage. The device 10 may be stowed in a container if required.

Using the cord 16, the device 10 may be recovered rapidly thus reducing the risk of the device 10 being operated to cause damage to a vehicle which it is not desired to halt.

Referring again to figure 2, it can be seen that at each pivotal interconnection of the mid regions 13, the pivotal connection is achieved by means of a pivot pin 18 which passes through aligned openings 19 in the pair of arms 11, 12. The pivot pin 18 includes a shoulder 20 which abuts an undersurface of the lowermost of the arms (the second arms 12 in this case), and the pivot pin 18 is retained relative to the upper (first) arm 11 by means of a circlip 21 received in a groove of the pivot pin 18. The distance between the shoulder 20 and the groove for the circlip 21 is sufficient to allow the arms 11, 12 relatively to pivot.

At a base of the pivot pin 18, i.e. the end of the pin 18 which faces the road surface, there is provided a slider means which in the present example is a ball 23. Within the pivot pin 18 there is a resilient means which in the example shown in figure 2 is a coil spring 24. The spring 24 bears on the ball 23.

As the device 10 is deployed and recovered, it is necessary for the device easily to slide over the road surface. The provision of the balls 23 at the pivotal connections at the mid regions 13 facilitates sliding of the device 10 over the road surface. Moreover, by virtue of the resilient means, i.e. the springs 24, the balls 23 are sprung and accordingly the slider means offer some shock absorbency as the device 10 is deployed and recovered.

When a vehicle passes over the device 10, the balls or other slider means 23 will be urged against the springs 24, inwardly of the pivot pins 18, to allow road engaging formation, such as downwardly extending spikes or serrated edges or the like provided elsewhere on the underside of the device 10, to engage and dig into the road surface to offer the device 10 stability. During deployment and recovery, the springs 24, urging the balls or other slider means 23 outwardly of the pivot pins 18, will maintain such road engaging formations, where provided, out of contact with the road surface to ensure that the formations do not engage the road surface and inhibit sliding of the device 10.

It will be appreciated that slider means such as described with reference to figure 2 may be provided at other positions on the underside of the device 10, for example at the pivotal connections E between the ends of the first and second arms 11, 12. However, in such alternative positions of the device 10, the inclusion of an eye formation such as indicated at 15 in figure 2 is not required.

Referring to figure 2a, an alternative slider means is illustrated which includes a foot 23a, again provided at a base of a pivot pin 18, but the foot 23a is biased towards the road surface by a resilient means which is a compression spring 24 which acts between the foot 23a and the underside of the lowest arm, 12. The foot 23a operates similarly to the ball 23 described above with reference to figure 1 to aid sliding of the device 10 during deployment and recovery.

It will be appreciated that the form of the slider means 23 is not critical provided that the slider means facilitates sliding of the device 10 over the road surface during deployment and recovery. Instead of using a resilient means being a compression spring 24, any other suitable resilient means may be provided, such as for example a wave spring, or Belleville washer, for examples only, or no such resilient means may be provided..

In another embodiment, where the arms 11, 12 are made of a suitable resilient material, the slider means need not be sprung, but the arms 11, 12 may be configured so that during deployment and recovery of the device_10, the slider means engage and slide over the road surface, but as a vehicle passes over the device 10, the arms resiliently deform to allow downwardly extending road engaging formations which may be provided on the undersides and/or edges of at least some of the arms 11, 12, to dig into the road surface and give the device 10 stability as the vehicle passes over the device 10.

Referring again to figure 1, it can be seen that the uppermost arms 1 la, fib etc. of the device 10 have provided thereon, a plurality of upwardly extending spikes 25, each of which is adapted to pierce and puncture a vehicle tyre, and to be removed from a support member 26, as the vehicle tyre passes over the device 10.

Referring to figure 3 the support members 26 are each plastic cups and may be secured to the upper surfaces of the arms 11, e.g. by a pop rivet or other fastener, as shown, although particularly where the arms 11 are made of a plastic material, the support members 26 may be formed integrally with the arms 11.

The support members 26 in this example are made of a plastic material and are deformable as necessary to ensure that a spike 25 supported thereby, can be released from the support member 26 and become embedded in a vehicle tyre.

The spike 25 shown in figure 3 has an internal hollow which opens to a base 27 of the spike 25, and otherwise the spike 25 has a plurality of passages, e.g. formed by slits 28, so that when the spike 25 is embedded in a lyre, air may escape from the tyre through the passages 28, into the internal hollow H of the spike 25 and hence from base 27 to atmosphere.

The spike 25 may be of any desired cross sectional shape, and thus may be generally conical as shown in figure 3 but with a cylindrical shaped lower end 29, to assist in providing a firm mounting for the spike 25 in the support member 26, or the spikes 25 may be triangular in cross section, with sharp edges which help pierce the vehicle tyre, but preferably again with a cylindrical shaped lower end 29. In accordance with the invention, to at least reduce the risk of the

spikes becoming loosened in their support members 26 during deployment especially, and thus incorrectly aligned-to pierce a tyre passing over the device 10, the spikes 25 are provided with shock-absorbing means 30 which in the present example are coil springs provided between a base 27 of the spike 25 and the adjacent inside support member surface, indicated at 32.

Thus shocks to which the spikes 25 may be subjected during deployment and recovery ofthe device 10 are absorbed by the springs 30.

In figures 4 and 5 an alternative shock absorbing arrangement is shown in which there is shock absorbing material 33 provided between an upwardly extending cylindrical peripheral wall of the lower end 29 of the spike 25 and an adjacent inside cylindrical surface 31 of the support member 26. Such material 33 may be rubber (natural or synthetic) or a suitable plastic material.

The material 33 may be provided both on the spike 25 and in the support member 26 as indicated, in a longitudinally ribbed pattern so that the ribs of the material 33 of the support member 26 and spike 25 interact, or shock absorbing material may be provided on one only of the spike 25 and support member 26.

Of course the material need not be ribbed as indicated, but may otherwise be provided.

Referring again to figure 3, in accordance with the invention, the spike shown is not made entirely of metal as is conventional in the art. Rather, the spike has a body 35 and a tip 36 with a pointed formation P. the body 35 having a threaded part 34a and the tip 36 a female threaded opening 36b. Thus the body 35 and tip 36 are connected together by the screw threads. The body 35 is made entirely or substantially of a synthetic material, such as reinforced carbon fibre. The tip 36 however is made of metal, such as hardened steel.

It has been found surprisingly, that a spike 25 with a non-metallic body is sufficiently strong to enable the spike 25 to pierce vehicle lyres. A spike with a non-metallic body 35, is substantially lighter than a comparable all metal spike, thereby making carriage, deployment and recovery of the device easier.

As indicated in figure 3, the tip 36 of the spike 25 has barbs 37, although these need not be provided in a spike of another configuration.

Referring now to figure 6, a spike 25a of a very different configuration to the spikes of figures 3 and 4 is illustrated.

The spike 25a has a body 35a and integral tip 36a, and the body 35a has an internal hollow 40 into which air may pass from a passage 41 in the tip 36a of the spike 25a, when the spike is embedded in a vehicle tyre, and hence from the hollow 40 via an annular passage 42 provided at a base 27 of the spike 25a.

Within the spike 25a there is contained a capsule 45 containing a quantity of traceable material such as a fluorescent or luminescent dye. The capsule 45 is retained in the position indicated prior to impingement of the spike 25a on a vehicle tyre, by a frangible diaphragm 43 at an upper end of the capsule 45, and by a spring 44 acting between the capsule 45 and a metering unitlpump 46 at a lower end of the spike 25a.

When the spike 25a pierces a vehicle tyre passing over the device 10, air from the tyre entering the hollow 40 via the passage 41, will cause the upper diaphragm 43 to rupture and the capsule 45 to move in the hollow 40 towards the metering unit/pump 46. As the spike 25a is removed from its support member 26, a diaphragm 48 provided in the support member 26 to seal the lower end of the spike 25a, will be ruptured, and the metering unit/pump 46 may be moved outwardly of the base of the spike 25a a small amount by the spring 44.

Thereafter, upon each rotation of the vehicle tyre, the metering unitlpump 46 will be urged inwardly of the base 27 of the spike 26a as the metering unitlpump 46 engages the road surface, thereby providing a pumping action. This together with air pressure continuing to act on the dye capsule 45, will cause the dye to be pumped from the capsule and deposited onto the road surface. The metering unit/pump 46 meters the flow of traceable material.

Thus a vehicle which continues to be driven as the tyre is deflated, or even with the tyre fully deflated, will leave a Mail which may be followed e.g. by a following vehicle, or even from a helicopter for example. Thus the dye may be visible andlor may emit a radiation in a spectrum which can be detected by sophisticated equipment in the tracing vehicle or helicopter.

Figure 7 and Figure 7a show an alternative spike 25b similar to that of Figure 6 with similar parts indicated by the same reference numerals, which spike 25b also contains a quantity of traceable material in a capsule 45. In this example, the capsule 45 and metering unit/pump 46b are adjacent with a tube t extending between the capsule 45 and the metering unit 46_.

The metering unit 46_ has a bellows-like peripheral wall 47b with a plurality of passages p around, for the passage of air from a tyre, via opening 41 at the sharp end of the spike 46_ and the internal hollow 40.

The metering unit 46b includes a proud foot f which extends below the lower end of the spike body 35_.

A disc 43 separates the capsule 45 from the opening 41. The disc 43 has a plurality of holes h circumferentially arranged, which allow communication between the opening 41 and the hollow 40 to allow air to escape when the spike 25_ becomes embedded in a tyre.

However the disc 43 also include a frangible membrane m arranged centrally. The membrane m separates the opening 41 from the dye of the capsule 45 until the spike 25b enters a tyre. The pressure of air in the tyre will rupture the membrane m and exert a pressure on the dye in the capsule 45 which may then flow through tube t into the metering unit 36b.

When the spike 25b is removed from its support (not shown) upon each rotation of the tyre, the foot f will come into contact with the ground to collapse the metering unit 36_ and cause dye contained therein to be ejected from the unit 36_ via a metering orifice 48_. Air may enter to escape from the tyre via the hollow 40 and passages p. A spring (not shown) may return the metering unit 36b to the condition shown in figure 7, as the foot f disengages the ground.

If desired the holes h in the disc 43b may have membranes which rupture when subjected to the pressure of air from within a tyre.

If desired, the tube t may be replaced by a hollow spike 49, as indicated in Figure 8. The dye capsule 45 may be punctured initially by the spike 49 carried by the metering unit 36b, upon the metering unit 36_ contacting the road surface the first time. l9

The dye may be a liquid or preferably a gel.

Any of the spikes 25, 25a or 25b may be used and in any combination with the road-vehicle halting device 10 of figure 1, or with another road vehicle halting device, for example a road-vehicle halting device which instead of being of a scissors configuration, is of zigzag configuration, having a plurality of arms connected only end to end pivotally with adjacent arms.

In figures 9a and 9b there is shown a very different kind of road-vehicle halting device 10, lea which is not adapted to be deployed in the path of an oncoming vehicle, but is intended to be placed manually in front of a vehicle lyre 55, for example while the vehicle driver is being questioned, as a deterrent to the vehicle being driven away.

The device lea includes an upwardly facing surface 50 on which there are provided a plurality of spikes 25c mounted in support members 26, the spikes 25c for example being of the kind shown and described above, or otherwise.

The upwardly extending surface 50 has three parts 51, 52, 53 and in use as indicated in figure 9b, these three parts extend alongside one another on a generally fiat configuration. The spikes 25c are all provided on a first, middle part S 1 of the device lea, and the second and third parts 52, 53 are each hinged to the middle part 51 for hinging about respective generally parallel axes Al and A2.

The device lOa is intended to be stowed in the condition shown in figure 9a, with the parts 52 and 53 folded up thus to conceal the spikes 25c and protect an operator from the spikes 25c. When a vehicle is stopped and it is desired to question the driver, the device lea is placed in front of a vehicle tyre 55 to deter the driver attempting to drive away.

The device lea has attached thereto a lanyard 56 so that the device lea may swiftly be removed from adjacent the lyre 55 subsequently.

If desired, both for the device 10 of figure 1 and the device lea of figures 9a and 9b, and the alternative and modified devices described herein, to protect an operator from accidental contact with the spikes 25, 25a, 25b, 25c, the points of the spikes at least may be may be covered with a rubber material which readily ruptures as the spike pierces and punctures a vehicle tyre.

Referring now to figure 10, there is shown a road-vehicle halting device led which has an, in use, upwardly facing surface 60 on which a plurality of spikes 25 are supported by respective support members 26. The spikes 25 may be of the kind described herein above or of an alternative kind.

The device led is shown in a stowed condition in combination with a deployment apparatus 61 which includes a support means 63 and an elongate support element 64 extending laterally from the support means 63. The device led is rolled about the elongate element 64 and may be retained in a rolled condition by any desired restraint means.

The deployment apparatus 61 may be provided in a vehicle, and adapted so that the device led may be deployed while the vehicle is moving. It is envisages that the deployment apparatus 61 may be provided in an unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV), or in a helicopter, or in a road vehicle.

Preferably the surface 60 which is rolled about the elongate element 64 is made of or includes spring elements, such as strips of spring steel. Thus when the restraining means is released, the device lOd will tend to unroll with the active assistance of the spring elements. Using a drogue or otherwise ensuring that a free end 65 of the device led is brought into engagement with the ground, as the device led unrolls, the device led will automatically deploy, e.g., in the path of a vehicle it is desired to halt.

In figure 11, a similar combination of road-vehicle halting device lee and deployment apparatus 61 is illustrated. However in this example, an elongate element 64 of the deployment apparatus 61 supports a mid region of the device lee and opposite ends of the device are inwardly rolled towards the elongate element 64. Thus the deployment apparatus 61 would need to be adapted, e.g., for the elongate element 64 to fold, to allow the device 10e automatically to deploy when restraining means maintaining the device 10e in the rolled stowed condition shown, are released.

A road-vehicle halting device having foldable arms, such as the device illustrated in figure 1, or a device with arms pivotally connected only at their ends may also be adapted to be deployed automatically from a moving vehicle, for example by providing between the arms 11, 12 resilient elements. The arms may be folded to a compact stowed condition against the urging of the resilient elements and restrained in such a compact stowed condition by a restraining means of a deployment apparatus. When the restraining means are released during deployment, the arms may automatically unfold to expand the device.

A road-vehicle halting device may be deployed from in or on a moving vehicle as desired.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result,_as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A road-vehicle halting device including an, in use, upwardly facing surface which is provided with one or more support members which each releasably retain a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, characterized in that at least some of the support members retaining tyre engaging spikes include a shock absorbing means.

2. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the shock absorbing means each includes a resilient member interposed between a base of the spike and the support member.

3. A device according to claim 2 characterized in that the resilient member is attached to the support member.

4. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that the shock absorbing means each includes resilient material interposed between an upwardly extending peripheral surface of the spike and the support member.

5. A road-vehicle halting device including a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms, at least some of which have secured to or integral therewith, in use, upwardly facing surfaces thereof, support members which each releasably retain a spike, the spikes being is adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, the arms of the device being relatively pivotal to enable the device to be folded into a compact stowed condition and opened into an expanded condition during deployment, characterized in that the device includes a plurality of slider means provided on downwardly facing surfaces of the arms, the slider means being adapted to facilitate movement of the arms of the device over the road during deployment and recovery of the device, and the device including means to attach a cord to the device at a position towards an outermost end thereof, and cord guide means along the length of the device, whereby the device may be folded during recovery by pulling on the cord.

6. A device according to claim 5 characterized in that the slider means are provided at the positions of pivotal connection of the arms of the device.

7. A device according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterized in that the slider means include roller balls which are adapted to slide over the road surface during deployment and recovery of the device.

8. A device according to claim 5 or claim 6 or claim 7 characterized in that at least some of the slider means include a resilient urging means resiliently to urge the slider means towards the road surface.

9. A device according to claim 8 characterized in that the slider means, and resilient urging means where provided, are parts of pivotal connection means connecting the arms.

10. A device according to claim 8 or claim 9 characterized in that the device includes downwardly extending road engaging formations which until a vehicle drives over the device are substantially non-functional, but as the vehicle drives over the device and the resilient urging means are compressed, the road engaging formations engage the road surface and retain the device in engagement with the road surface.

11. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 10 characterised in that the means to attach the cord to the device includes an eye formation provided on an upper surface of an arm of the device.

12. A device according to claim 11 characterised in that the eye formation is provided at a pivotal connection between an outermost pair of arms.

13. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 12 characterised in that the cord guide means includes a plurality of eye formations provided along the device.

14. A device according to claim 14 characterised in the eye formations are positioned so that the cord extends substantially straight along the extent of the device at least when the device is deployed.

15. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 14 characterised in that there are first arms which are pivotally connected both at their ends and at generally mid positions along their lengths to second arms which too which are pivotally connected both at their ends and at generally mid positions along their lengths to first arms whereby the device is of a scissors configuration.

16. A device according to claim 1 S where dependent upon claim 10 characterised in that the cord guide means eye formations are located at positions where the first and second arms are pivotally interconnected at their generally mid positions.

17. A road halting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that device has any of the features of the road-vehicle halting device of any one of claims 5 to 16.

18. A road-vehicle halting device including an, in use, upwardly facing surface which is provided with one or more support members which each releasably retain a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, characterised in that at least some of the spikes include a body which in use is retained by a support member until disengaged therefrom until the spike has punctured a lyre, and a tip including a pointed formation which is adapted to puncture the vehicle lyre, the body including non-metallic material, and the tip being at least substantially made of metallic material.

l 9. A device according to claim 18 having any of the features of a device of any one of claims 1-17.

20. A spike for a device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the spike includes a body which is adapted to be retained in use by a support member until disengaged therefrom until the spike has punctured a tyre, and a tip including a po nted Connation which is adapted to puncture the vehicle tyre, the body including non-metallic material, and the tip being at least substantially made of metallic material.

21. A spike according to claim 20 characterized in that the tip has a female threaded opening and the body has a correspondingly male threaded part, the body and the tip being attached together by the interengagement of the male and female threads.

22. A spike according to claim 20 or claim 21 characterized in that the body includes an inner hollow which opens at or adjacent a base of the spike, and there is at least one passage through the body into the hollow for air from a punctured tyre to escape and thus cause deflation of the tyre.

23. A road-vehicle halting device including an upwardly facing surface having at least one support member which releasably retains a spike, the spike being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from the support member as a vehicle tyre runs over the device, characterised in that the spike includes a body in which there is contained a quantity of traceable material, and the spike including means to release the traceable material when the spike has punctured the tyre.

24. A device according to claim 23 characterised in that the traceable material is a visually traceable material such as a dye.

25. A device according to claim 23 characterized in that the traceable material emits radiation in a spectrum detectable by radiation detecting means.

26. A device according to any one of claims 23 to 25 characterized in that the means to release the traceable material includes a pump which is operated by at least one of air pressure within the tyre prior to the tyre becoming fully deflated, and mechanical actuation of the pump upon each revolution of the tyre causing a pumping member to release the traceable material.

27. A device according to any one of claims 23 to 26 characterized in that traceable material is contained within the body of the spike in a capsule, with there being a passage for the escape of air from the tyre around at least part of the capsule.

28. A device according to any one of claim 27 characterised in that there is provided a capsule puncturing means which is adapted to puncture the capsule as the spike pierces the vehicle tyre.

29. A device according to any one of claims 23 to 28 having any of the features of the device of any one of claims 1 to 19.

30. A spike for a device according to any one of claims 1 to 19 or 23 to 28 characterised in that the spike includes a body in which there is contained a quantity of traceable material, and the spike including means to release the traceable material when the spike has punctured the tyre.

31. A road-vehicle halting device including a surface which in use is upwardly facing, the surface having at least one support member which releasably retains a spike, the spike being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from the support member as a vehicle tyre passes over the device, characterised in that the upwardly extending surface includes at least two parts which are hinged together, a first of the parts having the support member for the spike, and the other part being foldable relative to the first part at least partially to cover the spike for stowage.

32. A device according to claim 31 characterised in that the in use upwardly facing surface includes three parts, the first and second parts and the first and third parts being hinged together along generally parallel hinge axes so that the second and third parts are foldable relative to the first part to positions where the spike is at least substantially concealed.

33. A device according to claim 31 or claim 32 characterised in that the device includes a lanyard by means of which the device may be readily recovered from deployment adjacent a vehicle tyre.

34. A device according to any one of claims 31 to 33 characterized in that the spike has any of the features of the spike according to 20-22 or claim 30.

35. In combination, a road-vehicle halting device including a surface which in use is upwardly facing, the surface having a plurality of support members each of which releasably retains a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre passes over the device, and a deployment apparatus, characterized in that the surface of the device having the support members is flexible and prior to deployment the surface is at least partially rolled relative to the deployment apparatus, and the deployment apparatus permitting the device to be unrolled during deployment.

36. A combination according to claim 35 characterized in that the deployment apparatus includes an elongate element about which the device is rolled

37. A combination according to claim 35 or claim 36 characterized in that the elongate element is supported by a support means.

38. A combination according to claim 35 characterized in that the deployment apparatus includes a support means which supports a mid region of the flexible surface, opposite ends of the flexible surface being rolled inwardly towards the support means, and the support means being adapted to release the mid region of the flexible surface during deployment of the device and to permit the opposite ends of the flexible surface to unroll outwardly to assume an upwardly facing orientation on a road surface.

39. A combination according to any one of claim 35 to 38 characterised in that at least one spike of the device is in accordance with any one of claims 20 to 22 or claim 30.

40. A road-vehicle halting device adapted to be deployed from a moving vehicle such as an aircraft, the device including a surface which in use is upwardly facing, the surface having a plurality of support members each of which releasably retains a spike, the spikes being adapted to engage and puncture a tyre and be removed from their support members as a vehicle tyre passes over the device, the device being stowable in or on the vehicle in a folded or rolled stowed condition, and condition and being unfolded or unrolled during deployment, characterised in that means are provided actively to unfold or unroll the device during deployment.

41. A device according to claim 40 characterise_ in that the device is of the kind including a plurality of pivotally interconnected arms, at least some of provide upwardly facing surfaces for the support members and spikes, the arms of the device being relatively pivotal to enable the device to be folded into a compact stowed condition and opened into an expanded condition during deployment, the unfolding means including at least one resilient element which acts between the folded arms upon deployment to expand the device.

42. A device according to claim 41 characterised in that the device has any of the features of the device of any one of claims 1 to 17.

43. A device according to claim 40 characterised in that the surface of the device having the support members is flexible and prior to deployment the surface is at least partially rolled the unrolling means including resilient means which actively cause the surface to unroll during deployment.

44. A device according to any one of claims 40 to 43 characterized in that at least one of the spikes is in accordance with any one of claims 20 to 22 or claim 30.

45. A method of deploying a road halting device according to any one of claims 40 to 44 characterized in that the moving vehicle is an aircraft.

46. A road-vehicle halting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 1 to or figures C to D or figure etc.

47. A spike for a road-vehicle halting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figure 1 to or figures C to D or figure etc.

48. A method of deploying a road-vehicle halting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

49. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.