WO2006116359A2

WO2006116359A2 - Portable protection system

Info

Publication number: WO2006116359A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/015563
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Forsythe; Harvey Kliman; Katherine Leighton; John Garnier; Ray Ballario
Original assignee: Dynamic Defense Materials, Llc
Priority date: 2005-04-25
Filing date: 2006-04-25
Publication date: 2006-11-02
Also published as: WO2006116359A3

Abstract

A frame for supporting a protection member that includes first and second opposing frame portions and an expandable member disposed between the first and second frame portions connecting the first and second frame portions. The first and second frame portions are movable between a collapsed position with the first and second frame members being adjacent one another and an expanded position with the first and second frame members being laterally spaced from one another. The expandable member is releaseably lockable in the expanded position by a locking member. A holding member is disposed on at least one of the first and second frame portions for releaseably engaging the protection member.

Description

PORTABLEPROTECTION SYSTEM

Field of the Invention

This invention was made with Government support under contract no. N41756-04-C- 4218 awarded by the Navy Engineering Logistics Office. The Government has certain rights in this invention.

[0001] The present invention relates to a portable protection system that can be assembled in various configurations to meet a particular protection need, such as ballistic, blast, or chemical protection. More specifically, the present invention relates to a plurality of portable frames that are interlockable to form a protective wall.

Background of the Invention

[0002] In military operations and high risk areas for civilian operations, protection of personnel and critical equipment from projectiles, such as bullets or fragmentation shrapnel, from chemical attacks, or from other armed threats, is critical. Exterior protection of buildings, soft structures or interior areas, such as hallways, guard areas, office entrances and office working locations, is usually not designed as part of the original structure. As a result, it is often necessary to use a shield system that is not readily movable. [0003] Examples of conventional shield systems are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos.

6,681,679 to Vives et al., 6,807,890 to Fugua, 6,581,505 to Levell, 5, 386,788 to Linker et al., and 4,398,446 to Pagano et al., the subject matter of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. These conventional shield systems are often not readily portable, difficult to assemble, limited in the protection provided, limited to a single set up configuration, support only one type of armor, and not adjustable to various threat levels or environments.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable protection system that can be assembled in various configurations and can support various types of protection, such as armor, to adjust to various threat levels. [0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable protection system that can be rapidly set-up and disassembled, and is readily moveable. [0006] The foregoing objects are basically attained by a frame for supporting a protection member that includes first and second opposing frame portions and an expandable member disposed between the first and second frame portions connecting the first and second frame portions. The first and second frame portions are movable between a collapsed position with the first and second frame members being adjacent one another and an expanded position with the first and second frame members being laterally spaced from one another. The expandable member is releaseably lockable in the expanded position by a locking member. A holding member is disposed on at least one of the first and second frame portions for releaseably engaging the protection member.

[0007] The foregoing objects are also attained by a frame for supporting a protection member that includes first and second opposing frame portions and an expandable member disposed between the first and second frame portions connecting the first and second frame portions. The first and second frame portions are movable between a collapsed position with the first and second frame members being adjacent one another and an expanded position with the first and second frame members being laterally spaced from one another. At least one locator member is disposed on the frame for engaging another frame. A holding member is disposed on at least one of the first and second frame portions for releaseably engaging the protection member.

[0008] The foregoing objects are also attained by a frame assembly for supporting protection members that has a first frame including a first holding member releaseably supporting a first protection member and including a first locator member. A second frame separate from the first frame includes a second holding member releasbly supporting a second protection member and including a second locator member. The first and second locator members of the first and second frames being engageable to gang the first and second frames together to form a protective wall.

[0009] The foregoing objects are also attained by a frame assembly for supporting protection members that has first and second frames releasbly supporting first and second protection members. Each of the first and second frames including first and second frame portions and an expandable member connecting the first and second frame portions. The expandable member allows each of the first and second frames to move between a collapsed position with the first and second frame portions adjacent one another and an expanded position with the first and second frame portions laterally spaced from one another. A first locator member is disposed on the first frame. A second locator member is disposed on the second frame engageable with the first locator member to gang together the first and second frames to form a protective wall.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a frame of the portable protection system in accordance with the present invention, showing the frame in an expanded position;

[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 1, showing protection members supported on the frame with one of the protection members exploded from the frame;

[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the frame in a partially collapsed position;

[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the frame in a fully collapsed position;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view an expandable member of the frame illustrated in

FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another expandable member of the frame illustrated in FIG. 1; [0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the expandable member illustrated in FIG. 6, showing the expandable member in a collapsed position;

[0019] FIG. 8a is a front elevational view of one configuration of the portable protection system in accordance with the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 8b is a side elevational view of the portable protection system illustrated in FIG. 8a;

[0021] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another configuration of the portable protection system in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of two expandable members of two frames ganged together of the portable protection system in accordance with the present invention

[0023] FIG. 11 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the expandable members illustrated in FIG. 10;

[0024] FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a holding member of the frame illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the holding member in an unlatched position;

[0025] FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the holding member similar to FIG. 12, showing the holding member in a latched position;

[0026] FIG. 14 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a locking member of the frame illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the locking member in an unlocked position; and

[0027] FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the locking member similar to FIG. 14, showing the locking member in a locked position.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0028] Referring to Figs. 1-15, a portable protection system 10 in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of frames 100 which each support at least one protection member 102, as seen in Fig. 2, and can be ganged together to form a protective wall, such as wall 12, as seen in Fig. 8a. The wall 12 can be used for various protection needs including ballistic, blast, and chemical protection. Any number of frames 100 can be ganged together in various wall configurations, such as walls 12 and 14, as seen in Figs. 8a and 9, to meet any need. Each frame 100 is portable, lightweight, and self-standing. Also, each frame 100 can be rapidly assembled from a collapsed position (Fig. 4) to an expanded position (Fig. 1), and disassembled without the need for any tools. The portable protection system 10 of the present invention can be easily moved and quickly set-up in any location, and the protection members 102 can be adjusted or changed to meet any threat level. [0029] Various types of protection members 102 can be supported by each frame 100 based on the threat level. For example, various armor panels 104 (Fig. 2) are preferably used, such as steel plates, ceramic tiles, transparent armor, fragmentation blankets, or activated carbon and/or neutralization blankets. In addition, the interior space of the frame 100 can contain armor, such as sand bags, or other container bags filled with rocks, water or thickening fluids. The armor panels 104 can be supplemented with steel, ceramic, aluminum, polymer, glass, or titanium. Different armor panels 104 can be combined and mounted on the front or back of the frame 100, or both, depending on the threat level. For example, if the threat level is small arms, a ceramic tile panel mounted on the front of the frame 100 may be sufficient. For a heavier arms threat, more than one panel 104 can be combined and mounted on the front of the frame 100 with a fragmentation blanket mounted on the back. A metallic armor foam 105 can be added to the outside of the armor panels 104. [0030] As seen in Figs. 1-4, each frame 100 includes first and second frame portions

106 and 108 connected by first, second, third, and fourth expandable members 110, 112, 114, and 116. The frame 100 can be made of aluminum, steel, fiber reinforced composites or polymers, or the like. The first frame portion 106 includes first and second side sections 118 and 120 and first and second end sections 122 and 124 extending between the side sections 118 and 120. The sections can be welded together to form the frame portion 106. Preferably, the side sections 118 and 120 are longer than the end sections 122 and 124 so that the first portion 106 has a substantially rectangular shape. For example, the frame portions can be 44 inches by 28 inches or 48 inches by 22 inches. Alternatively, the side sections 118 and 120 can be the same length or shorter than the end sections 122 and 124.

[0031] As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, at each corner of the first frame portion 106 is a corner hollow piece 126 (Fig. 14) extending toward the second frame portion 108. A cantilevered end 128 of each hollow piece 126 includes a locking member 130 for engaging the second frame portion 108 when the frame 100 is the collapsed position. Each locking member 130 is preferably a spring biased pin 132 received in a cylinder housing 134. A lock ring 136 can be provided to maintain the pin 132 within housing 134 against the bias of the spring. As seen in Fig. 15, when released, pin 132 extends into the hollow piece 126. [0032] Similar to the first frame portion 106, the second frame portion 108 includes first and second side sections 140 and 142 and first and second end sections 144 and 146 extending between the first and second side sections 140 and 142, as seen in Fig. 1. The sections can have the same thickness, be less thick than, or be thicker than the sections of the first frame portion 106. As seen in Figs. 14 and 15, at each corner of the second frame portion 108 is a corner post 148 extending toward the first frame portion 106 and is receiveable in respective hollow pieces 126. Each post 148 includes a hole 150 that receives pin 132 of the first frame portion 106 to lock the frame 100 in the collapsed position. Specifically, pin 132 is released by turning the lock ring 136 approximately 90° until it engages slots 138 of the housing 134, thereby allowing the pin 132 to extend into the hollow piece 126 and into hole 150. Although use of locking member 130 is preferred to lock the frame portions 106 and 108 in the collapsed position, any known locking arrangement can be used such as, fasteners like bolts, straps, a frictional engagement between hollow piece 126 and post 148, and the like.

[0033] As seen in Fig. 1, the first and second side sections 118 and 120 of the first frame portion 106 include first opposing inner surfaces 152 and 154, and similarly the side sections 140 and 142 of second frame portion 108 include first opposing inner surfaces 156 and 158. A central brace 160 extends between the inner surfaces 152 and 154 of frame portion 106 and between the inner surfaces 156 and 158 of second frame portion 108, thereby diving each frame portion 106 and 108 into upper and lower halves. First side sections 118 and 140 of frame portions 106 and 108 include second opposing inner surfaces 162 and 164 and second side sections 120 and 142 include second opposing inner surfaces 166 and 168, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4. Holes 170 (Fig. 1) can be provided in the second end sections 124 and [0034] A plurality of holding members 174 are provided on both first and second frame portions 106 and 108 for releaseably supporting protection members 102, as seen in Fig. 1. Preferably, multiple holding members 174 are disposed on the upper and lower halves of both frame portions 106 and 108. For example, four holding members 174 can be located on each first opposing inner surface 152 and 154 of the first and second side sections 118 and 120 of frame portion 106, as seen in Fig. 1 (showing four holding members 174 on inner surface 154). Two of the holding members 174 are located in the upper half of each side sections 118 and 120, and two of the holding members 174 are located in the lower half. Preferably, the holding members 174 located on the upper half support one protection member 102 and the holding members 174 in the lower half support another protection member 102, as seen in Fig. 2. Protection members 102 can be provided with overlap portions (not shown) that overlap one another when mounted on frame 100, providing additional protection. First opposing inner surfaces 156 and 158 of the first and second side sections 140 and 142 of second frame portion 108 each likewise include four holding members 174 for supporting protection members 102.

[0035] As seen in Figs. 12 and 13, each holding member 174 includes a latch 176 having a leg 177 attached to a respective inner surface 152, 154, 156, or 158 (Figs. 12 and 13 showing inner surface 158 only). A loop 178 of the latch 176 catches a catch or hook member 179 located on a rib 175 of the back surface 103 of the protection member 102. Once the loop 178 engages the catch member 179 of the protection member 102, the latch 176 can be snapped into a locked position. To remove the protection member 102, a grip 181 of the latch 176 is pulled to release the latch 176 and disengage the loop 178 from the catch member 179. Holding members 174 can be any known releasable attachment member, such as a bolt, a strap, a tie, or a wire that catches the catch member 179 of the protection member 102, or vise versa. Any number of holding members 174 can be employed, such as pins or hook and loop material, and including a single holding member 174, as long as the protection member 102 is releaseably supported. [0036] As seen in Figs. 1-4, first expandable member 110 extends between first side sections 118 and 140 of first and second frame portions 106 and 108, respectively. First expandable member 110 includes first and second gates 180 and 182 pivotally attached to each other at the center of member 110 by hinges 184. Hinges 184 allow gates 180 and 182 to collapse on one another, as seen in Fig. 4, when the frame 100 is collapsed. The opposite outer sides 186 and 188 of gates 180 and 182 are pivotally connected to frame portions 106 and 108, respectively. As seen in Fig. 3, a first hinge 190 is attached to the second opposing inner surface 162 of the first side section 118 of first frame portion 106 and to the outer side 186 of first gate 180 allowing gate 180 to pivot with respect to the first frame portion 106. Similarly, a second hinge 192 is attached to the second opposing inner surface 164 of the first side section 140 of the second frame portion 108 and to the outer side 188 of the second gate 182, thereby allowing gate 182 to pivot with respect to the second frame portion 108. Hinges 190 and 192 are conventional piano hinges having two interfitting parts with a bolt extending through the parts, thereby allowing the hinge to pivot. Any type of hinge can be used to pivotally attach the gates of the extension members to frame portions 106 and 108. [0037] When in the expanded position, the gates 180 and 182 are flat, as seen in Fig.

5. Support braces 193 extend between the opposite ends 194 and 196 of each gate 180 and 182. Each gate 180 and 182 has an overlap extension 195 at ends 194 and 196 which cover part of the other gate. A locking member 198 is provided at each end 194 and 196 for releaseably locking the gates 180 and 182 in the expanded or flat position. Fig. 5 shows a portion of a brace cut out to showing one of the locking members 198. Preferably, each locking member 198 includes a spring loaded pin 199 that extends into a hole 200 (Figs. 5 and 7) of the respective gate and into a hole 202 (Fig. 5) in the overlap extension 195 which aligns with hole 200 when gates 180 and 182 are flat, thereby releasbly locking the first expandable member 110 in the expanded position. Locking member 198 is the same construction as locking member 130 of first frame portion 106. Locking member 198 is released to allow the gates 180 and 182 to collapsed by withdrawing the pin 199 in the same manner as pin 132 of locking member 130 is withdrawn. Locking member 198 can be any known releaseably fastener, such as a screw.

[0038] As seen in Fig. 5, each gate 180 and 182 includes a locator member 206 located at the opposite ends 194 and 196 for engaging another frame (Fig. 10). Each locator member 206 can be a female connector, such as a bracket 208 with a hole 210 for receiving a male connector of another frame. Both brackets 208 extend outwardly from the frame 100 at a generally 90° angle away from the support braces 193. Although it is preferable that the locator members 206 be disposed on the gates 180 and 182 of the first expandable member 110, locator members 206 can be alternatively provided on the frame portions 106 and 108 of the frame 100.

[0039] As seen in Fig. 6, the second expandable member 112 is similar to the first expandable member 110. As seen in Figs. 1 and 7, the second expandable member 112 extends between second side sections 120 and 142 of first and second frame portions 106 and 108, and includes first and second gates 212 and 214 hinged at the center of the member 112 allowing the gates 212 and 214 to pivot with respect to one another. A first hinge 216 pivotally connects the outer side 218 of the first gate 212 to the second opposing inner surface 166 of the second side section 120 of the first frame portion 106, as seen in Figs. 1 and 6. A second hinge 220 pivotally connects the outer side 222 of the second gate 214 to the second opposing inner surface 168 of the second side section 142 of the second frame portion 108.

[0040] Gates 212 and 214 operate in the same manner as gates 180 and 182 of the first expandable member 110 and each include a locking member 224 that operates in the same manner as locking member 198 of the first expandable member 110, that is to releaseably lock gates 212 and 214 in the flat position to lock the second expandable member 112 in the expanded position. Fig. 6 shows a portion of a brace 193 cut out to show one of the locking members 224.

[0041] As seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, locator members 226 are on located on opposite ends 228 and 230 of the second expandable member 112 for engaging another frame. Each locator member 226 can be a male connector, such as a spring biased pin 232, as seen in Fig. 6, similar to locking members 130, 196 and 224. Each locator member 226 is spaced from locking members 224 and the pin 232 extends through respective ends 228 and 230 of the gates 212 and 214 to engage a mating female connector of another frame. As seen in Figs. 10 and 11, showing the connection of first expandable member 110 of one frame and second expandable member 112 of another frame, the pin 232 of each locator member 226 of member 112 is received in the hole 210 of each locator member 206 of member 110. That allows continuous ganging together of more than one frame 100 in a side-by-side relationship. The frames can be disconnected by releasing each pin 232 in the same manner as the pin 132 of the locking member 130 is released. Locator members 226 of the second expandable member 112 are oriented so that they do not extend beyond the frame portions 106 and 108, unlike the brackets 208 of the locator members 206 of the first expandable member 110. That allows frame 100 to stand on the side of the frame 100 where the second expandable member 112 is located, because there will be no interference from the locator members 226.

[0042] Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, third expandable member 114 is the same as the first expandable member 110, except the third expandable member 114 extends between first end sections 122 and 144 of first and second frame portions 106 and 108. Locator members 234 similar to locator members 206 of the first expandable member 110 are disposed on the ends of the third expandable member 114 for engaging another frame. Fourth expandable member 116 is the same as the second expandable member 112, except fourth expandable member 116 extends between second end sections 124 and 146 of the first and second frame portions 106 and 108. Locator members 236 similar to locator members 226 of the second expandable member 112 are disposed at the ends of the fourth expandable member 116 for engaging another frame. Locator members 236 of fourth expandable member 116 of one frame can engage locator members 234 of third expandable member 114 of another frame to gang the frames together in an end-to-end relationship. Multiple frames 100 can be ganged together in the same manner.

[0043] As alternatives to locator members 206, 226, 234 and 236, any known female/male connectors can be used to gang multiple frames 100 together. The female locators 206 and 234 of the first and third expandable members 110 and 114 and the male locators 226 ad 236 of the second and fourth expandable members 112 and 116 can be reversed. Other types of locators can be used such as bolts, hooks, clips, latches, or ties to gang together multiple frames. [0044] First, second, third and fourth expandable members 110, 112, 114, and 116 can be any expandable or expansion member for collapsing and expanding frame 100. For example, a single gate can be used that is pivotally attached to one of the frame portions that pivots inwardly or outwardly when the frame is collapsed. Other expandable/expansion members that can be employed include telescoping members, twist locking cylinders, pivotally interconnected struts, springs, and the like.

[0045] As an alternative to using first, second, third and fourth expandable members

110, 112, 114, and 116, rigid structures can be used between first and second frame portions 106 and 108, such that frame 100 is non-collapsible. For example, the rigid structure can be welded or fastened, such as with pins, to the frame portions 106 and 108 of the frame 100. [0046] The portable protection system 10 is configured by initially setting up the individual frames 100. Each frame 100 is set up from a collapsed position (Fig. 4) to an expanded position (Fig. 1) by unlocking the comers of the frame portions 106 and 108 by retracting each locking member 130. Each ring 136 (Figs. 14 and 15) of each locking member 130 is pulled to remove pin 132 from its respective hole 150 of corner posts 148 until pin 132 clears its respective corner hollow piece 126. The frame portions 106 and 108 can then be separated so that each of the first, second, third and fourth expandable members 110, 112, 114, and 116 unfold until they extend flat between the frame portions 106 and 108. When expanding the frame portions 106 and 108, the locking members 198 (Fig. 5) of the first and second expandable members 110 and 114 and the locking members 224 (Fig. 6) of the second and fourth 112 and 116 expandable members are in their retracted position with pin 199 (Fig. 5) withdrawn from hole 200 (Fig. 7). Once the expandable members 110, 112, 114 and 116 are flat, their respective first and second gates, 180 and 182, and 212 and 214, can be locked in place by releasing the pins 199 of each locking member 198 and 224 which will spring into their respective holes 200.

[0047] Each frame 100 can be set up side-by-side or end-to-end, that is, either on its bottom end 250 (Fig. 1) where the fourth expandable member 116 is located or on its side 252 where the second expandable member 112. The top end 254 and side 256 opposite side

252 are mateable with another frame to form a protection wall of system 10, such as walls 12 (Fig. 8a) and 14 (Fig. 9). Two of frames 100 are mated or ganged together by mating either the side 256 of one frame and the opposite side 252 of the other frame, or the top end 254 of one frame with the bottom end 250 of the other frame. For example, as seen in Figs. 10 and 11, the gates 180 and 182 of first expandable member 110 of the first frame abut gates 212 and 214 of second expandable member 112 of the second frame. The locator members 226 (Figs. 6 and 10) of second expandable member 112 of the second frame are initially retracted so as not to interfere with the locator members 206 of first expandable member 110 of the first frame. The pin 232 (Fig. 6) of each locator member 226 of the second frame are released allowing pin 232 to spring into hole 210 of each locator member 206 of the first frame, thereby releaseably locking the two frames together.

[0048] Two frames can be ganged together end-to-end in the same manner as described above. The locator members 234 (Figs. 1 and 3) of third expandable member 114 of the first frame engage the locator members 236 (Fig. 1) of fourth expandable member 116 of the second frame. The ganging together of multiple frames 100 side-by-side or end-to-end allows the portable protection system to be formed in any modular configuration to meet a particular need. As seen in Fig. 8a, multiple frames 100 are mated both side-by-side and end- to-end to create the wall 14 that has a wider bottom section and a half that is taller than the other. As seen in Fig. 8b, supports 260 can be added to the front and back of the wall 12 for securing the wall 12 to the floor. Alternatively, the wall 12 can be mounted to a wall of a structure or enclosure. As seen in Fig. 9, multiple frames are mounted horizontally end-to- end to form a U-shaped wall 14. Corner frames 270 can be provided that mate to frames 100 in the same manner as described above. The corner frames 270 are substantially triangular in shape and would have one side that supports a protection member 102 and two sides that are mateable to other frames.

[0049] Protection members 102 can be mounted on each of the bottom and top ends

250 and 254 of each frame 100 using holding members 174, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The loop 178 of each holding member 174 on frame portions 106 and 108 catch hook members 179 of the respective protection member 102, as seen in Fig. 12. The holding member 174 can then be latched to hold the protection member 102 in place. Holding members can also be added to the bottom and top ends 250 and 254 of each frame 100 to support additional protection members 102. Other protection members, such as a fragmentation blanket, can be mounted over the protection members 102, to provide additional protection, such as blast protection. Protection members, such as sand, water or gel bags can be placed between the frame portions 106 and 108 of each frame 100 for further protection. [0050] With the above system 10, protection walls, such as walls 12 and 14, can be rapidly and easily set up in any configuration without the need for tools. The system 10 can also be rapidly disassembled by unlatching holding members 174; removing the protections members 102 of each frame; retracting the locating members 226 or 236 to disconnect the mated frames; retracting the locking members 198 or 224 of each of the expansion members 110, 112, 114 and 116 of each frame; collapsing the frame portions 106 and 108 of each frame by folding the first and second gates 180 and 182 and 212 and 214 together; and releasing the locking members 130 to lock the corners of each frame portion 106 and 108 of each frame. Given the lightweight nature of each frame 100, the frames can be easily moved to another location to set up another protection wall.

[0051] While a particular embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1.. A frame for supporting a protection member, comprising: first and second opposing frame portions; a first expandable member disposed between said first and second frame portions connecting said first and second frame portions, said first and second frame portions being movable between a collapsed position with said first and second frame members being adjacent one another and an expanded position with said first and second frame member being laterally spaced from one another, said expandable member being releaseably lockable in said expanded position by a first locking member; and a first holding member disposed on at least one of said first and second frame portions for releaseably engaging the protection member.

2. A frame according to claim 1, further comprising a locator member disposed on said frame for engaging another frame.

3. A frame according to claim 1, wherein said first locking member being a pin located on said first expandable member and adapted to extend into a hole of said first expandable member to releaseably lock said first expandable member in said first expanded position.

4. A frame according to claim 1, wherein said first expandable member being releaseably locked in said collapsed position by a second locking member.

5. A frame according to claim 4, wherein said second locking member being a pin located on said first frame portion receivable in a hole in said second frame portion.

6. A frame according to claim 1, wherein each of said frame portions includes first and second side sections and first and second end sections extending between said first and second side sections; said first expandable member being disposed between said first side sections of said first and second frame portions; and a second expandable member being disposed between said first end sections of said first and second frame portions.

7. A frame according to claim 6, wherein a locator member for engaging another frame is disposed on at least one of said first and said second expandable members.

8. A frame according to claim 1, wherein a protection member is located between said first and second frame portions.

9. A frame according to claim 1, wherein a second holding member being disposed on the other of said first and second frame portions for engaging another protection member.

10. A frame according to claim 1, wherein said first expandable member includes first and second hinged gates pivotally connected to said first and second frame portions, respectively.

11. A frame according to claim 1 , wherein the protection member is armor.

12. A frame for supporting a protection member, comprising: first and second opposing frame portions; a first expandable member disposed between said first and second frame portions connecting said first and second frame portions, said first and second frame portions being movable between a collapsed position with said first and second frame members being adjacent one another and an expanded position with said first and second frame members being laterally spaced from one another; at least one locator member disposed on said frame for engaging another frame; and a first holding member disposed on at least one of said first and second frame portions for releaseably engaging the protection member.

13. A frame according to claim 12, wherein said locator member being either a male or female connector located on said expandable member.

14. A frame according to claim 13, wherein said male connector being a pin adapted to be inserted into a hole of another frame; and said female connector being a bracket with a hole adapted to receive a pin of another frame.

15. A frame assembly for supporting protection members, comprising: a first frame including a first holding member releaseably supporting a first protection member and including a first locator member; and a second frame including a second holding member releasably supporting a second protection member and including a second locator member, said first and second locator members of said first and second frames being engageable to gang said first and second frames together to form a protective wall.

16. A frame assembly according to claim 15, wherein each of said first and second frames includes a frame portion with first and second side sections and first and second end sections extending between said first and second side sections; and either said first and second side sections of said first and second frames being adjacent when said first and second locator members of said first and second frames are engaged, or said first and second end sections of said first and second frames being adjacent when said first and second locator members of said first and second frames are engaged.

17. A frame assembly according to claim 16, wherein said side sections are longer than said end sections.

18. A frame assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a third frame including a third holding member supporting a third protection member and including a third locator member, said third locator being engageable with a fourth locator member located on one of said first and second frames, thereby ganging said one of said first and second frames and said third frame together.

19. A frame assembly according to claim 15, wherein each of said first and second frames including an expandable member allowing each frame to move between expanded and collapsed positions.

20. A frame assembly according to claim 19, wherein each of said first and second frames are locked in said expanded and collapsed positions by first and second locking members, respectively.

21. A frame assembly according to claim 15, wherein each of said first and second holding members engage a catch member of said first and second protection members, respectively, thereby releaseably supporting said first and second protection members.

22. A frame assembly according to claim 15, wherein said first and second frames are substantially identical.

23. A frame assembly according to claim 15, wherein each of said protection members being an armor.

24. A frame assembly for supporting protection members, comprising: first and second frames releasbly supporting first and second protection members, each of said first and second frames including first and second frame portions and an expandable member connecting said first and second frame portions, said expandable member allowing each of said first and second frames to move between a collapsed position with said first and second frame portions adjacent one another and an expanded position with said first and second frame portions laterally spaced from one another; a first locator member disposed on said first frame; and a second locator member disposed on said second frame engageable with said first locator member to gang together said first and second frames to form a protective wall.

25. A frame assembly according to claim 24, further comprising a locking member disposed on each of said first and second frames for releasbly locking each of said first and second frames in said expanded position.

26. A frame assembly according to claim 24, wherein said first and second protection members being armor.