Support structure for a shield and weapons system

Abstract

A support structure for a shield has a frame adapted for connection to a wearer, the frame having an elongated first portion defining a frame axis and adapted for positioning adjacent to the spine of the wearer, the frame having an upper end, a boom connected to the upper end of the frame and having a first boom portion extending away from the frame, and a second boom portion angled with respect to the first boom portion and extending away from the frame axis, the boom having a free end, a cable reel mechanism connected to the frame, a cable having a first end connected to the cable reel mechanism and a free end extending from the free end of the boom and adapted to connect to the shield, and the cable reel mechanism including a biasing facility to exert tension on the cable to provide support for the shield.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 842,759, entitled “SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR A WEAPONS SYSTEM,” filed Sep. 1, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 159,894 filed on May 11, 2015, entitled “REAPER,” which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to firearms and shields, and more particularly to a support structure for a shield and weapons system that allows the user to operate a protective shield and / or weapons system for much longer periods of time compared to an unsupported shield and / or weapons system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]For several years, military and law enforcement agencies have been researching and developing products that assist the individual firearm operator with gear carriage and operation. A significant emphasis has been placed o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an improved support structure for a shield and weapon system. It includes a frame that connects to the wearer's spine and a boom that extends from the frame. A cable reel mechanism is connected to the frame and a cable extends from it to the shield. The cable reel mechanism includes a biasing facility to provide tension on the cable, which supports the shield. This invention provides better support for shields and weapon systems.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, heavier shields that provide greater protection often require the user to use both hands to carry the shield, thereby preventing the user from also carrying a rifle or side arm in a ready position.

Furthermore, although one prior art solution to the problem of carrying a heavy shield is to mount the heavy shield on wheels, the wheels limit shield maneuverability and do not eliminate the need for the heavy shield to be carried when the user encounters rough terrain or stairs that the wheels cannot navigate.

Although the Easyrig® 3 Cinema is suitable for its intended field of use in handheld camera operation, it has a number of disadvantages that make it unsuitable for use as a support structure for a shield or a weapons system.

As a result, the cable rubs on the boom at the exit aperture, which has the potential for causing cable failure with disastrous consequences if a dangerous high-powered weapons system or a shield is attached to the cable instead of a camera.

Other features of the boom make the boom unsuitable for use as a support structure for a shield or a weapons system.

The boom is quite large and bulky and presents itself too much if pointed towards an enemy position.

The boom is also enclosed, which makes it extremely difficult for the wearer to access the boom's internal components if maintenance or repair is required, making it unsuitable for repair in the field.

Additional characteristics of the Easyrig® 3 Cinema that make it unsuitable for use as a support structure for a shield or a weapons system include a handheld-camera specific camera hook attachment mechanism that does not adequately support a weapons system or a shield and cannot be quickly released if immediate separation of the object being supported by the Easyrig® 3 Cinema is required.

Finally, the Easyrig® 3 Cinema utilizes a single shock absorber to hold the majority of the weight of the camera, which does not provide any redundancy in the event the shock absorber were to fail, and which instead creates sudden loss of support.

This is a very dangerous outcome if a high-powered weapons system or a heavy shield is attached to the cable instead of a camera.

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