NO347326B1

NO347326B1 - Collapsible ballistic protection module

Info

Publication number: NO347326B1
Application number: NO20220907A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Roar Godager Eide; Henrik Ulrich Godager Eide
Original assignee: Vardalife As
Priority date: 2022-08-24
Filing date: 2022-08-24
Publication date: 2023-09-18
Also published as: NO20220907A1; EP4328538A1

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a collapsible ballistic protection module for protecting structures and personnel, and more specifically to a collapsible ballistic protection module configured for filling with local mass.

Background

Ballistic protection modules are known in the art as means for protecting structures and personnel from impact with ballistic objects such as projectiles, blast waves and debris. Ballistic protection modules withstand impacts from bullets and explosions, and prevent infrastructure protected by the ballistic protection modules from being damaged. It’s often advantageous that such ballistic protection modules are easy to move when not in use, and therefore local mass may be used to fill the ballistic protection module. Local mass such as gravel, dirt, sand, rocks, and so on is readily available, and because of high density it has excellent ballistic damping properties.

Ballistic protection modules may be collapsible in order to make them easy to move and relocate. A well-known example of a collapsible ballistic protection module is a bag filled with sand. Bags are easily transported, and may be filled with sand or other local mass at the location where they are intended to be used. When such a collapsible ballistic protection module has served its purpose, or is to be moved, the local mass may be removed from the bag.

However, e.g. sandbags are not intended to be stacked high, and as such make poor walls. By nature, walls made of sandbags are wide at the bottom, in order to keep the wall stable, and narrower at the top. As such, excess ballistic protection is present at the bottom of the wall, and too little ballistic protection is present at the top. Bags intended to be filled with sand also commonly have a small volume, because they would be difficult to handle if they were bigger, and as such a lot of bags must be filled, and emptied, to make up a large ballistic area. Walls made of sandbags may also easily collapse under the impact of projectiles and blast waves, due to their unstable nature.

Other known collapsible ballistic protection modules are either complex by nature or are dependent on specialized equipment to mount and set up. Many collapsible ballistic protection modules comprise elements that are inherently ballistic and as such heavy and not suitable for easy and rapid transportation. Such collapsible ballistic protection modules are often expensive to both manufacture and acquire, and are therefore utilized in more specialized operations.

There is therefore a need for an improved collapsible ballistic protection module to reduce or eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages of known techniques.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a cost-effective collapsible ballistic protection module that utilizes local mass to provide homogenous protection across the height of the ballistic protection module. A further object is to provide a collapsible ballistic protection module that can be easily transported and stored. A further object is to provide collapsible ballistic protection modules that may easily stack on top of each other, and that are adapted to be secured to each other and to adjacent structures.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a collapsible ballistic protection module for protection of structures and personnel. The collapsible ballistic protection module comprises a canvas structure comprising outer wall segments. The outer wall segments defining an inside configured for filling with local mass. Vertical rods for supporting the outer wall segments, longitudinal rods and transversal rods for interlocking with the vertical rods and configured for supporting the canvas structure.

According to an embodiment, the canvas structure comprises vertical guides at vertical edges of the outer wall segments (8), for securing the canvas structure to the vertical rods.

According to an embodiment, the longitudinal rods comprise upper longitudinal rods and lower longitudinal rods, for supporting upper and lower portions of the outer wall segments.

According to an embodiment, the canvas structure comprises longitudinal guides at upper portions of at least two opposing outer wall segments, for securing the upper portions of the at least two opposing outer wall segments to upper longitudinal rods.

According to an embodiment, the vertical rods, longitudinal rods and transversal rods are configured for connection to each other at each corner of the collapsible ballistic protection module.

According to an embodiment, the outer wall segments comprise flaps for tucking in below the canvas structure.

According to an embodiment, the flaps of at least two opposing outer wall segments comprise handles for easy handling of the flaps when emptying the collapsible ballistic protection module.

According to an embodiment, the vertical rods comprise first connection means at one end, and second connection means at the other end, where the first and second connection means of the collapsible ballistic protection module are configured for mating with respectively second or first connection means of a second collapsible ballistic protection module.

According to an embodiment, the collapsible ballistic protection module further comprising transversal connection means for connection with adjacent structures in a transversal direction of the collapsible ballistic protection module.

According to an embodiment, the collapsible ballistic protection module further comprising longitudinal connection means for connection with adjacent collapsible ballistic protection modules or structures in a longitudinal direction of the collapsible ballistic protection module.

According to an embodiment, the canvas structure comprises inner wall segments connecting at least two opposite outer wall segments for strengthening the canvas structure.

According to an embodiment,an assembly of collapsible ballistic protection modules are configured for connection to each other in a vertical direction by first and second connection means, and the collapsible ballistic protection modules are configured for connection to each other in a longitudinal direction by longitudinal connection means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying figures. The figures are provided to illustrate the general structures of the invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a collapsible ballistic protection module.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the collapsible ballistic protection module with flaps outspread.

Fig. 3 shows a top view of the collapsible ballistic protection module with inner wall segments.

Fig. 4 shows two collapsible ballistic protection modules placed on top of each other.

Detailed description

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which preferred example embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claim, the articles "a", "an" and "the" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements or steps unless the context explicitly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a unit" or "the unit" may include several devices, and the like. Furthermore, the words "comprising", "including", "containing" and similar wordings does not exclude other elements or steps.

With reference to figure 1 and 2, an embodiment of a collapsible ballistic protection module 1 is shown. The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 comprises a canvas structure 2, vertical rods 3, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7. When assembled, the vertical rods 4, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7 make up a stiff rod skeleton supporting the canvas structure 2. The canvas structure 2 comprises outer wall segments 8 that define an inside 9.

The longitudinal rods 4,5 may comprise upper longitudinal rods 4 and lower longitudinal rods 5. The upper longitudinal rods 4 may be connected to an upper part of the vertical rods 3, and the lower longitudinal rods 5 may be connected to a lower part of the vertical rods 3. The transversal rods 6,7 may comprise upper transversal rods 6 and lower transversal rods 7. The upper transversal rods 6 may be connected to an upper part of the vertical rods 3, and the lower transversal rods 7 may be connected to a lower part of the vertical rods 3.

The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 may comprise a plurality of vertical rods 3. The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 of the illustrated embodiment comprises four vertical rods 3, placed in horizontal corners of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 of the illustrated embodiment further comprises two upper longitudinal rods 4, two lower longitudinal rods 5, two upper transversal rods 6 and two lower transversal rods 7. The vertical rods 3, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7 may as such make up the edges of a rectangular prism. A collapsible ballistic protection module comprising four vertical rods 3 form a shape that may be generally rectangular when viewed from above. Such a shape is beneficial when connecting together a plurality of collapsible ballistic protection modules 1 (described later) and provides homogenous protection across the height and with of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 may as such comprise any number of longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7.

Each outer wall segment 8 spans between two adjacent vertical rods 3, and the outer wall segments 8 of the canvas structure 2 thus form a closed shape when viewed from above. The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 of the illustrated embodiment comprises four outer wall segments 8, thus forming a generally rectangular shape when viewed from above. The transversal rods 6,7 may penetrate the canvas structure 2 to further secure the canvas structure 2 to the rod skeleton. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower transversal rods 7 penetrate the canvas structure 2.

The vertical rods 3, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7 may preferably be made from a light-weight and stiff material. The vertical rods 3, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7 may as such be made from aluminum, steel, titanium, composite materials, glass-fiber reinforced polymer materials, carbon-fiber materials or the like. The vertical rods 3, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7 may be hollow or solid, or a combination, and may be made from different materials.

The canvas structure 2 is in the illustrated embodiment open at an upper side. The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 may comprise a piece of canvas fabric or similar, configured to be placed on top of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. This may act as a cover for preventing e.g. water from entering the inside 9 of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. Local mass such as gravel, sand or dirt may be filled into the inside 9 of the canvas structure 2, making up a heavy and durable collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The local mass may be filled into the canvas structure 2 until the local mass reaches the upper longitudinal rods 4 and/or the upper transversal rods 5. The canvas structure 2 may be made from fiberglass fabrics, plastic fabrics, reinforced fabrics or any fabric or material that may fold and is easily collapsible, and sufficiently strong to hold the local mass. The material of the canvas structure 2 may preferably be static in order to hold the local mass more predictably. The canvas structure 2 may preferably be made from generally a single material, in order to keep the production cost low. The canvas structure 2 may preferably comprise canvas segments sewn together.

The vertical rods 3 may be approximately 70 cm long. A collapsible ballistic protection module 1 that is 70 cm tall may protect a person standing on his knees while firing, while two such collapsible ballistic protection modules 1 having a total height of 140 cm may protect a person standing and firing. The longitudinal rods 4,5 may be approximately 1 m long, and the transversal rods 6,7 may be approximately 35 cm long. A collapsible ballistic protection module 1 with a thickness of 35 cm. which is filled with local mass is found to sufficiently withstand impacts from bullets and explosions. A collapsible ballistic protection module 1 with a thickness of 35 cm may even be filled with hardpacked snow or ice, or even branches, to sufficiently form a ballistic barrier.

The canvas structure 2 may comprise vertical guides 10. The vertical guides 10 secure the canvas structure 2 to the vertical rods 3, and, more specifically, secure the vertical edges of the outer wall segments 8 of the canvas structure 2 to the vertical rods 3. As such, the outer wall segments 8 may be firmly secured, and will not bulge excessively under the weight of the local mass on the inside 9. The vertical guides 10 comprise in the illustrated embodiment a continuous sleeve formed as an integrated part of the canvas structure 2. The vertical guides 10 may as such be formed from the fabric of the canvas structure. Upon assembly, the vertical rods 3 may be fed into the vertical guides 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vertical guides 10. In other embodiments, the vertical guides 10 may be rings or loops attached along the outer wall segments 8, either made from fabric or a stiff, separate material. The vertical rods 3 may alternatively be secured to the vertical guides 10 by Velcro, zipper, or other known means for reversibly securing a rod to a canvas.

The canvas structure 2 may comprise longitudinal guides 11. The longitudinal guides 11 secure the canvas structure 2 to the upper longitudinal rods 4, and, more specifically, secure upper portions of two opposing outer wall segments 8 of the canvas structure 2 to the upper longitudinal rods 4. As such, the opposing outer wall segments 8 are secured firmly at the top, and this prevents sagging and bulging of the outer wall segments 8 due to the weight of the local mass on the inside 9. The longitudinal guides 11 comprise in the illustrated embodiment a continuous sleeve formed as an integrated part of the canvas structure 2. The longitudinal guides 11 may as such be formed from the fabric of the canvas structure. Upon assembly, the vertical rods 3 may be fed into the longitudinal guides 11 in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal guides 11. In other embodiments, the longitudinal guides 11 may be rings or loops attached along the outer wall segments 8, either made from fabric or a stiff, separate material. The upper longitudinal rods 4 may alternatively be secured to the longitudinal guides 11 by Velcro, zipper, or other known means for reversibly securing a rod to a canvas. The lower longitudinal rods 5 may similarly be secured to the canvas structure 2, but need not be. If the canvas segment 2 is secured to vertical rods 3 and upper longitudinal rods 4, the outer wall segments 8 may be sufficiently held in place. In order to ease assembly, the canvas segment 2 need not be secured to the lower longitudinal rods 5.

The vertical rods 3, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7 are configured for interlocking at each corner of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1, thus making up a stiff rod skeleton for the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The rod skeleton may as previously described make up the edges of a rectangular prism. In the illustrated embodiment, a transversal rod 6,7 penetrates at both distal ends a vertical rod 3 and a longitudinal rod 4,5. The transversal rod 6,7 may as such be of a smaller diameter than the vertical rods 3 and longitudinal rods 4,5. The vertical rods 3 and longitudinal rods 4,5 may comprise holes or openings through which a distal end of the transversal rod 6,7 may penetrate. The transversal rod 6,7 may comprise a stopping element 12 and e.g. a threaded portion to which a locking element 13 may be fixed or screwed. The stopping element 12 may e.g. be a nut or a cotter pin, either fixed or removable, and the locking element 13 may be a nut or a cap, a cotter pin or other such means.

Instead of the transversal rods 6,7 penetrating the vertical and longitudinal rods 3,4,5, the vertical or longitudinal rods may penetrate the other rods. The vertical rods 3, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7 may not directly penetrate each other, but are configured for interlocking with each other.

The stopping element 12 and locking element 13 may alternatively also be provided on the vertical rods or longitudinal rods, in order to connect the vertical rods 3, longitudinal rods 4,5 and transversal rods 6,7 to each other. The rods may also be connected to each other by other means known in the art of connecting rods.

The outer wall segments 8 may comprise flaps 14. The flaps 14 are located at the lower part of the outer wall segments 8, and extend the outer wall segments 8 downwards past the vertical rods 3, the lower longitudinal rods 5 and lower transversal rods 7. The flaps 14 may be tucked in below the inside 9 of the canvas structure 2 (as illustrated in figure 1) or outspread from the outer wall segments 8 (as illustrated in figure 2). When tucked in, the flaps 14 help maintain local mass inside the canvas structure 2, and prevent local mass from unintentionally leaking out from the inside 9, as the local mass rests on the flaps 14. The flaps 14 may be moved from one position to the other by pulling handles 15. Especially when the flaps 14 are tucked in below the inside 9 filled with local mass, the handles 15 may be of a size or length such that it is possible to reach the handles 15 from outside the collapsible ballistic barrier 1 and pull out the flaps 14 from underneath the local mass. The handles 15 may be fixed to the flaps 14. Preferably, the flaps 14 of at least two opposing outer wall segments 8 comprise handles 15.

The vertical rods 3 may comprise first connection means 16 at one end, and second connection means 17 at the other end. The first connection means 16 of a collapsible ballistic protection module 1 is configured for mating with second connection means 17 of another, similar collapsible ballistic protection module. This is shown and described more in detail with reference to figure 4. In the illustrated embodiment, the first connection means 16 is a male connection, and the second connection means 17 is a female connection.

The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 may comprise transversal connection means 18. The transversal connection means 18 make it safe and easy to secure the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 to adjacent structures in a transversal direction of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The transversal connection means 18 are preferably provided on the locking elements 13. Providing the transversal connection means 18 on the locking means 13 reduces the number of projecting elements, and eases assembly of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 as the locking elements 13 should not interfere with the vertical guides 10 nor the longitudinal guides 11. Each locking element 13 may comprise a transversal connection mean 18, and the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 may comprise four transversal connection means 18 on two opposite sides. The transversal locking means 18 is in the illustrated embodiment a stiff loop, but may also be a hole, a hook, a ring, a looped wire, etc., providing easy and secure fixing of the collapsible ballistic protection module to any structure. In yet other embodiments the transversal locking means 18 may simply be an opening through the transversal rod 6,7, the vertical rod 3 or the longitudinal rod 4,5.

The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 may comprise longitudinal connection means 19. The longitudinal connection means 19 make it safe and easy to secure the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 to adjacent structures or other collapsible ballistic protection modules in a longitudinal direction of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The longitudinal connection means 19 are preferably provided on the distal ends of the longitudinal rods 4,5. Providing the longitudinal connection means 19 on the distal ends of the longitudinal rods 4,5 reduces the number of projecting elements, and eases assembly of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 as the longitudinal connection means 19 should not interfere with the vertical guides 10 nor the longitudinal guides 11. The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 may comprise four longitudinal connection means 19 on two opposite sides. The longitudinal locking means 19 is in the illustrated embodiment a hole through the longitudinal rods 4,5, but may be any opening, hook, ring, looped wire, etc., providing easy and secure fixing of the collapsible ballistic protection module to other collapsible ballistic protection modules or structures in a longitudinal direction of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1.

Referring now to figure 3, the inside 9 of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 is more clearly shown. The canvas structure 2 may comprise inner wall segments 20 provided on the inside 9. The inner wall segments 20 may connect at least two opposite outer wall segments 8, and preferably the outer wall segments 8 defined by the vertical rods 3 and longitudinal rods 4,5. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner wall segments 20 have an undulating shape when seen from above, and the vertexes are connected to the opposite outer walls 8. The inner wall segments 20 may be sewn or glued to the outer wall segments 8. In other embodiments, the inner wall segments 20 may be provided e.g. perpendicular to the outer wall segments 8. As the inside 9 is filled with local mass, the outer wall segments 8 will be forced outwards due to the weight of the local mass. The inner wall segments 20 strengthen the canvas structure 2 and prevent the outer wall segments 8 from excessive bulging. A collapsible ballistic protection module 1 filled with local mass may therefore have approximately plane outer wall segments 8.

As also shown in figure 3, the canvas structure 2 may not be provided with a base or bottom. The flaps 14 act as a canvas bottom when they are tucked in below the inside 9, and local mass may rest upon the flaps 14. When the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 is to be emptied of local mass, the flaps 14 may be pulled out from underneath, and the local mass may be dug out and exited from the lower part of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The collapsible ballistic protection module 1 may also be lifted up or tilted, in order to help remove local mass from the inside 9 of the canvas segment 2.

Referring now to figure 4, the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 is shown with a second collapsible ballistic protection module 1’ placed on top of the first collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The first connection means (not visible) of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 mates with the second connection means (not visible) of the second collapsible ballistic protection module 1’, and the second collapsible ballistic protection module 1’ rests securely on top of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1. The flaps 14 of the second collapsible ballistic protection module 1’ are tucked inside the outer walls 8 of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1, such that there is no gap between the insides of the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 and the second collapsible ballistic protection module 1’, and local mass is prevented from escaping through the joint between the collapsible ballistic protection module 1 and the second collapsible ballistic protection module 1’.

Claims

1. A collapsible ballistic protection module (1) for protection of structures and personnel, comprising;

a canvas structure (2) comprising outer wall segments (8);

the outer wall segments (8) defining an inside (9) configured for filling with local mass;

vertical rods (3) for supporting the outer wall segments (8);

longitudinal rods (4,5) and transversal rods (6,7) for interlocking with the vertical rods (3) and configured for supporting the canvas structure (2).

2. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to claim 1, where the canvas structure (2) comprises vertical guides (10) at vertical edges of the outer wall segments (8), for securing the canvas structure (2) to the vertical rods (3).

3. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, where the longitudinal rods (4,5) comprise upper longitudinal rods (4) and lower longitudinal rods (5), for supporting upper and lower portions of the outer wall segments (8).

4. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, where the canvas structure (2) comprises longitudinal guides (11) at upper portions of at least two opposing outer wall segments (8), for securing the upper portions of the at least two opposing outer wall segments (8) to upper longitudinal rods (4).

5. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, where the vertical rods (3), longitudinal rods (4,5) and transversal rods (6,7) are configured for connection to each other at each corner of the collapsible ballistic protection module (1).

6. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, where the outer wall segments (8) comprise flaps (14) for tucking in below the canvas structure (2).

7. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to claim 6, where the flaps (14) of at least two opposing outer wall segments (8) comprise handles (15) for easy handling of the flaps (14) when emptying the collapsible ballistic protection module (1).

8. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, where the vertical rods (3) comprise first connection means (16) at one end, and second connection means (17) at the other end, where the first and second connection means (16, 17) of the collapsible ballistic protection module (1) are configured for mating with respectively second or first connection means (17,16) of a second collapsible ballistic protection module (1`).

9. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising transversal connection means (18) for connection with adjacent structures in a transversal direction of the collapsible ballistic protection module (1).

10. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising longitudinal connection means (19) for connection with adjacent collapsible ballistic protection modules or structures in a longitudinal direction of the collapsible ballistic protection module (1).

11. The collapsible ballistic protection module (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, where the canvas structure (2) comprises inner wall segments (20) connecting at least two opposite outer wall segments (8) for strengthening the canvas structure (2).

12. An assembly of collapsible ballistic protection modules (1, 1’) according to any one of the preceding claims, where the collapsible ballistic protection modules (1, 1’) are configured for connection to each other in a vertical direction by first and second connection means (16, 17), and where the collapsible ballistic protection modules (1, 1’) are configured for connection to each other in a longitudinal direction by longitudinal connection means (19).