Anti-ballistic chair

Abstract

An Anti-Ballistic chair having a back portion, a seat portion, and an Anti-Ballistic panel within at least one of the back portion, and the seat portion, wherein the Anti-Ballistic portion comprises at least a first layer of Anti-Ballistic material formed from high-strength synthetic fibers extending in a first direction, and at least a second layer of Anti-Ballistic material formed from high-strength synthetic fibers extending in a second direction, different from the first direction.

Claims

1. An Anti-Ballistic chair comprising: a back portion; a seat portion; a skirt portion hingedly connected to the seat portion and configured to be moved between an extended portion extending downward from the seat portion and a folded position substantially parallel to the seat portion; and a first Anti-Ballistic panel removably inserted into a pocket having an opening formed within at least one of the back portion, the seat portion, and the skirt portion, wherein the Anti-Ballistic panel comprises at least a first layer of Anti-Ballistic material formed from high-strength synthetic fibers extending in a first direction, and at least a second layer of Anti-Ballistic material formed from high-strength synthetic fibers extending in a second direction, different from the first direction.

2. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 1, wherein the seat portion comprises a frame, wherein the first Anti-Ballistic panel comprises the frame of the seat portion, at least the first layer of high-strength synthetic fibers wrapped around the frame in the first direction, and at least the second layer of high-strength synthetic fibers wrapped around the frame in the second direction, different from the first direction.

3. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 2, further comprising a second Anti-Ballistic panel disposed within the back portion.

4. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 3, wherein the back portion comprises a back frame, wherein the second Anti-Ballistic panel comprises the back frame of the seat portion, at least a first layer of high-strength synthetic fibers wrapped around the back frame in a first direction, and at least a second layer of high-strength synthetic fibers wrapped around the frame in a second direction, different from the first direction.

5. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 3, wherein the back portion comprises the pocket having the opening; and wherein the first Anti-Ballistic panel is disposed removably inserted into the pocket in the back portion.

6. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 3, wherein the first Anti-Ballistic panel is a Hard Armor panel.

7. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 1, further comprising a storage compartment disposed in at least one of the seat portion, skirt portion and back portion, the storage compartment being shaped and sized to hold a firearm.

8. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 7, wherein the storage compartment is disposed on a bottom portion of the seat portion.

9. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 7, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to secure the storage compartment in a lock configuration.

10. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism is at least one of a combination lock, a push button lock, and a biometric lock.

11. An Anti-Ballistic chair comprising: a back portion; a seat portion; and a first Anti-Ballistic panel removably inserted into a pocket having an opening formed within at least one of the back portion, and the seat portion, wherein the Anti-Ballistic panel comprises at least a first layer of Anti-Ballistic material formed from high-strength synthetic fibers extending in a first direction, and at least a second layer of Anti-Ballistic material formed from high-strength synthetic fibers extending in a second direction, different from the first direction.

12. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 11, wherein the seat portion comprises a frame, wherein the first Anti-Ballistic panel comprises the frame of the seat portion, at least the first layer of high-strength synthetic fibers wrapped around the frame in the first direction, and at least the second layer of high-strength synthetic fibers wrapped around the frame in the second direction, different from the first direction.

13. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 12, further comprising a second Anti-Ballistic panel disposed within the back portion.

14. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 13, wherein the back portion comprises a back frame, wherein the second Anti-Ballistic panel comprises the back frame of the seat portion, at least a first layer of high-strength synthetic fibers wrapped around the back frame in a first direction, and at least a second layer of high-strength synthetic fibers wrapped around the frame in a second direction, different from the first direction.

15. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 13, wherein the back portion comprises the pocket having the opening; and wherein the first Anti-Ballistic panel is disposed removably inserted into the pocket in the back portion.

16. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 13, wherein the first Anti-Ballistic panel is a Hard Armor panel.

17. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 11, further comprising a storage compartment disposed in at least one of the seat portion, skirt portion and back portion, the storage compartment being shaped and sized to hold a firearm.

18. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 17, wherein the storage compartment is disposed on a bottom portion of the seat portion.

19. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 17, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to secure the storage compartment in a lock configuration.

20. The Anti-Ballistic chair according to claim 19, wherein the locking mechanism is at least one of a combination lock, a push button lock, and a biometric lock.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the Anti-Ballistic Chairs and together with the description, serve to explain the aspects of this application.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a first perspective view of an Anti-Ballistic Chair constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a front view of the Anti-Ballistic Chair constructed in accordance with the embodiment of the present application.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a second perspective view of an Anti-Ballistic Chair constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b depicts partial cut away views of the back panel and skirt panel respectively constructed in accordance an embodiment of the present application.

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a cross section through a segment of an Anti-Ballistic Panel illustrating two rigid members attached together over a tubular framework of the panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a cross section through a segment of an Anti-Ballistic Panel illustrating the two rigid aramid members attached together centrally located in the tubular frame work with a foam cushion and decorative fabric covering attached to the panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

(8) FIG. 7 depicts a cross section through a segment of an Anti-Ballistic panel illustrating two sheets of flexible fabric woven from the aramid fiber wrapped around the frame of the panel constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

(9) For a fuller understanding of the nature of the Anti-Ballistic Chairs, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and from a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the design and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(10) FIG. 1 depicts a first perspective view of an Anti-Ballistic Chair 100 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present application. Further, FIG. 2 depicts a front view of the Anti-Ballistic Chair 100 constructed in accordance with the embodiment of the present application. FIG. 3 depicts a second perspective view of an Anti-Ballistic Chair 100 constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

(11) As illustrated, the Anti-Ballistic chair 100 is a high back executive swivel chair as may be found in many offices and government agencies. The Anti-Ballistic chair 100 shown includes a back portion 105, a seat portion 110, and a front skirt 115 extending downward from the seat portion 110. The Anti-Ballistic chair may also include a head rest 120 positioned at an upper part of the back portion 105 and a pair of arm rests 125, each located on one side of the seat portion 110. The Anti-Ballistic chair illustrated also includes a storage compartment 130 disposed beneath the seat member 110 that can be accessed by a user of the chair. The Anti-Ballistic chair may also include a low friction swivel mechanism to allow the chair to be rotated quickly in response to a recognized danger and a wheel assembly 140 allowing the chair to be rolled across a floor surface.

(12) As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the back portion 105 and the seat portion 110 are positioned at angles to one another to provide a sitting area for a user. Additionally, in this embodiment, the front skirt 115 is connected to the seat portion 110 by a hinged portion 145 that allows the skirt portion 115 to be folded up to sit parallel to the seat portion 110 (as shown in FIG. 1) and be folded down (as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) to sit behind and provide shielding to the user's legs.

(13) Additionally, in some embodiments, the skirt portion 115 may also include a locking mechanism configured to hold the skirt portion 115 in the folded down position. The locking mechanism may prevent the skirt portion 115 from moving upward and potentially injuring a user of the chair 100 when struck by a bullet. By providing a locking mechanism to hold the skirt portion 115 in the folded down position, a ballistic trajectory of an incoming bullet may be better stopped or deflected.

(14) In the above discussed embodiments, a skirt portion is provided. However, embodiments of the present application need not have a skirt portion and embodiments of the present application are not required to have a skirt portion.

(15) As discussed in greater detail below with respect to FIGS. 4-7, at least one of the back portion 105, seat portion 110, and skirt portion 115 may be formed with an Anti-Ballistic panel incorporated therein. In some embodiments, the Anti-Ballistic panel may be incorporated into the core of any one of the back portion 105, seat portion 110, and skirt portion 115. For example, the back portion 105 may be formed with an internal frame and the Anti-Ballistic panel may be formed by wrapping high strength synthetic fibers such as aramid around the frame in at least two different directions. Additionally, as discussed in greater detail below, padding may be provided between the Anti-Ballistic panel and a covering surrounding back panel 105.

(16) Further, the seat portion 110 may also be formed with an internal frame and the Anti-Ballistic panel may be formed by wrapping high strength synthetic fibers such as aramid around the frame in at least two different directions. Additionally, padding may be provided between the Anti-Ballistic panel and a covering surrounding seat panel 110.

(17) Further, the skirt portion 115 may also be formed with an internal frame and the Anti-Ballistic panel may be formed by wrapping high strength synthetic fibers such as aramid around the frame in at least two different directions. Additionally, padding may be provided between the Anti-Ballistic panel and a covering surrounding skirt panel 115.

(18) In an alternate embodiment, the Anti-Ballistic panel may be independent from the core of the back panel 105. In this embodiment, the back panel 105 may be formed with a pocket or pouch that can receive Anti-Ballistic panel between the core and the cover of the back panel 105 and hold the Anti-Ballistic panel substantially parallel to the core. In such an embodiment, a slot or opening may be provided in the covering to allow insertion and removal of such an Anti-Ballistic panel, such as the slot 160. The Anti-Ballistic panel may be inserted into the pouch or pocket by being inserted into the slot or opening 160 in a portion of the back panel. The specific configuration of the pouch or pocket and the placement of the opening are not particularly limited as should be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the seat portions 110, and skirt portions 115 may be formed with constructions similar to the back panel 105.

(19) Further, in this embodiment, a storage compartment 130 is disposed beneath the seat member 110 and is configured to be accessible by the chair user. Specifically, the storage compartment 130 may be designed to hold a fire arm, such as a small semi-automatic pistol or revolver. Thus, in the event of a shooting, the user can draw the fire arm and return fire while still using the Anti-Ballistic panels of the chair to provide shielding. The compartment 130 may be accessible from either a side of the chair 100, or may be accessible from the front or rear of the chair 100, or some combination of the sides, front or rear. Further, the storage compartment 130 may also include a locking mechanism 165 next to the storage compartment. The locking mechanism 165 may be designed to hold the storage compartment 130 in a locked position until an authorized user open the compartment. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 165 may be a push button lock requiring the user push a combination of buttons in sequence, or simultaneously to allow the compartment 130 to be opened and the fire arm accessed. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the locking mechanism 165 may be a biometric lock requiring verification of biometric information of the user to open the compartment 130. For example, a finger print, retinal scan, or other piece of biometric information may be used to open release the locking mechanism 150 and allow the compartment 130 to be opened.

(20) Sometimes, the chair may be used in a situation where the user first hides or takes shelter behind the back portion 105, seat portion 110, and skirt portion 115 and then returns fire. Therefore, the compartment 130 for the firearm may be located in a place which a person hiding from fire behind the chair 100 is able to reach the firearm without exposing any part of his/her body to the fire. In such a situation, the person hiding behind the chair 100 has to move their left had out of the safe position in order to access a storage compartment 130 located under the seat portion 110 or in the arm rest 125. Thus, the storage compartment 130 may also be placed in the skirt portion 115 or in the seating portion 110, which may be reachable from the safe position behind the chair.

(21) As illustrated, the Anti-Ballistic chair 100 also includes a swivel mechanism 135 connecting the seat member 110 to a wheel portion 140. The swivel mechanism 135 may include a low friction bearing 135 to allow the chair 100 to be quickly rotated around a full 360° range of motion with minimal resistance so that a user can quickly turn the Anti-Ballistic portion toward a threat. Further, the wheel portion 140 includes a plurality of wheels at the end of a support base designed to support the chair and allow it to be quickly rolled about for mobile shield protection.

(22) FIG. 4a depicts a rear view of the Anti-Ballistic Chair 100 with the back portion 105 having a portion of the decorative outer covering and cushioning material removed exposing the Anti-Ballistic panel 150 that is disposed within the back portion 105. As illustrated, the Anti-Ballistic panel 150 is formed with a tubular metal frame 36 with aramid fiber protective material wrapped around the frame in at least two different directions. For example, in this embodiment, aramid fiber protective material is wrapped around the frame 36 in a horizontal direction the horizontal layers 32 of the aramid fiber protective material. Further, the aramid fiber protective material is also wrapped around the frame 36 in a vertical direction to form the vertical layers 34 of the aramid fiber protective material. As illustrated the horizontal layers 32 and vertical layers 34 cross at a substantially 90° angles, but embodiments of this application need not have the layers 32, 34 cross at substantially 90° angles, but could instead cross at angles less than or greater than 90°.

(23) In some embodiments, the frame 36 of the Anti-Ballistic panel 150 may also be the support frame of the back portion 105. In other embodiments, the frame 36 of the Anti-Ballistic panel 150 may be a separate panel independent from the support frame of the back portion 105.

(24) FIG. 4b depicts a front view of the Anti-Ballistic Chair 100 having a portion of the conventional decorative outer covering and cushioning material removed from the from skirt portion 115 exposing the Anti-Ballistic panel 155 disposed within the skirt portion 115. As illustrated, the Anti-Ballistic panel 155 includes a tubular metal frame 70 with aramid fiber protective material wrapped around the frame in at least two different directions. For example, in this embodiment, aramid fiber protective material is wrapped around the frame 70 in a horizontal direction the horizontal layers 38 of the aramid fiber protective material. Further, the aramid fiber protective material is also wrapped around the frame 70 in a vertical direction to form the vertical layers 40 of the aramid fiber protective material. As illustrated the horizontal layers 38 and vertical layers 40 cross at a substantially 90° angles, but embodiments of this application need not have the layers 38, 40 cross at substantially 90° angles, but could instead cross at angles less than or greater than 90°.

(25) In some embodiments, the frame 70 of the Anti-Ballistic panel 155 may also be the support frame of the skirt portion 115. In other embodiments, the frame 52 of the Anti-Ballistic panel 150 may be a separate panel independent from the support frame of the back skirt portion 115. Additionally, the seat portion of the Anti-Ballistic chair 100 may be made in a similar fashion with additional padding for comfort.

(26) It must be fully understood at this time that different Anti-Ballistic materials can be used for the purpose of constructing the Anti-Ballistic Chair 100 including a variety of soft materials along with hard surfaced resin impregnated laminated Anti-Ballistic materials some of which are sold by Du Pont under the registered trademark KEVLAR® and will still remain within the scope of this application.

(27) Additionally, the Anti-Ballistic portions of the Anti-Ballistic chairs may be fabricated using not only aramid fibers and KEVLAR® from DuPont, but also polyethylene fibers and GOLD SHIELD®, which is a KEVLAR® based material, and SPECTRA SHIELD®, which is polyethylene based material, both available commercially from Honeywell. GOLD SHIELD® and SPECTRA SHIELD® are high strength synthetic fibers impregnated in partially cured resin for use in ballistic material.

(28) Moreover, both of the Honeywell materials can be used as layered soft armor as well as hard armor when they are autoclaved or compression molded into Anti-Ballistic components for construction of the Anti-Ballistic chairs, as shown and described. Other similar materials of like purpose and function are also anticipated by this disclosure.

(29) FIG. 5 depicts a cross section through a segment of the frame 70 of an alternative embodiment of an Anti-Ballistic panel 555 that could be incorporated into any one of the back portion 105, seat portion 110, or skirt portion 115. As illustrated, the Anti-Ballistic panel 555 is configured to be incorporated into the seat portion 110. In this embodiment, the Anti-Ballistic panel 555 includes a upper rigid aramid panel 72 and a lower rigid aramid panel 74 attached together by the means of conventional fasteners (such as screws, nails, bolts, rivets, etc.) 92 and a bonding agent 90 (such as adhesive, epoxy, glue, etc.) over the tubular frame 70 of the anti-ballistic panel 555. Each of these rigid panels 72, 74 is formed from aramid fibers and the upper rigid panel 72 is oriented so that the fibers run in a first direction and the lower rigid panel 74 is oriented so that fibers run in a second direction, different from the first direction. Similar Anti-Ballistic panels could be incorporated into the back portion 105 or skirt portion 115. Alternatively, the Anti-Ballistic panel may incorporated as part of the core of any one of the back portion 105, seat portion 110, and/or skirt portion 115 as shown, for example in FIG. 6 below.

(30) FIG. 6 depicts a cross section of through a segment of the frame 70 of the Anti-Ballistic panel 655 incorporated in to the core of a seat portion 610. In this embodiment, 655 includes an upper rigid aramid panel 106 and a lower rigid aramid panel 108 attached together by the means of conventional fasteners (such as screws, nails, bolts, rivets, etc.) 92 and a bonding agent 90 (such as adhesive, epoxy, glue, etc.) over the tubular frame 70 of the Anti-Ballistic panel 655. Each of these rigid panels 106, 108 is formed from aramid fibers and the upper rigid panel 106 is oriented so that the fibers run in a first direction and the lower rigid panel 108 is oriented so that fibers run in a second direction, different from the first direction. Additionally, in this embodiment, decorative fabric covering 112 is provided over the seat portion 610 and a foam cushion 110 is provided between the fabric covering 112 and the Anti-Ballistic panel 655. A bracket 80 may also be connected to the seat portion 610 by fasteners 92. The bracket 80 may connect the seat portion 610 to a lower pivot mechanism (not shown). The back portion 105 and/or skirt portion 115 may have similar constructions to the seat portion 610 in similar embodiments.

(31) FIG. 7 depicts a cross section through a segment of an Anti-Ballistic panel 755 that could be incorporated into any one of the back portion 105, seat portion 110, or skirt portion 115. As illustrated, the Anti-Ballistic panel 755 is configured to be incorporated into the seat portion 110. In this embodiment, the Anti-Ballistic panel 755 includes a first sheet 38 of aramid fibers wrapped around the frame 70 in a first direction and a second sheet 40 of aramid fibers wrapped around the frame 70 in a second direction. Similar Anti-Ballistic panels could be incorporated into the back portion 105 or skirt portion 115. Alternatively, the Anti-Ballistic panel may incorporated as part of the core of any one of the back portion 105, seat portion 110, and/or skirt portion 115 as shown, for example in FIG. 6 above.

(32) Again, as previously described, the Anti-Ballistic portions of the Anti-Ballistic panels may be fabricated using not only aramid fibers and KEVLAR® from DuPont, but also polyethylene fibers and GOLD SHIELD,® which is a KEVLAR® based material, and SPECTRA SHIELD,® which is polyethylene based material both available commercially from Honeywell. GOLD SHIELD® and SPECTRA SHIELD® are high strength synthetic fibers impregnated in partially cured resin for use in ballistic material. Moreover, both of the Honeywell materials can be used as layered soft and/or as well as hard armor when they are autoclaved or compression molded into Anti-Ballistic components for construction of the Anti-Ballistic folding chairs, as shown and described. Other similar materials of like purpose and function are also anticipated by this disclosure. Additionally, in some embodiments an Anti-Ballistic panel in the rear portion may be a hard armor panel and an Anti-Ballistic panel in the seat portion or the skirt portion may be a soft armor panel. Conversely, an Anti-Ballistic panel in the seat portion or the skirt portion may be a hard armor panel and the Anti-Ballistic in the rear portion may be a soft armor panel, or any other combination as may be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

(33) The Anti-Ballistic Chairs and components shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present application. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements Anti-Ballistic Chairs in accordance with the spirit of this thereof other than those illustrated and described may be employed for providing disclosure, and such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this design as broadly defined in the appended claims.

(34) The abstract and any summaries provided herein are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, which is measured by the claims.