Caltrop Launcher Assembly for Standoff Vehicle Interdiction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional manual deployment of caltrop belts by law enforcement officers poses a high risk of injury or death due to the proximity of the deployment to the vehicle, as the driver may lose control upon impact.

Innovation Solution

A launcher system with a hollow launch tube and a caltrop system that includes a tug, deployment cord, and a bracket system for safe and ranged deployment of caltrops, utilizing a firearm-like mechanism to propel the caltrop system at a target vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual deployment of caltrop belt is performed by an officer running across the roadway, then the caltrop belt can be deployed quickly, but the officer is at high risk of injury or death due to proximity to the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidrisk of injury to officer

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a launcher system as an intermediary device between the officer and the caltrop belt. The launcher propels the caltrop belt through the air onto the roadway, eliminating the need for the officer to physically run across the road while maintaining quick deployment capability. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling rapid deployment from a safe distance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical deployment method (officer running and stretching the belt) with a ballistic projection system. The launcher uses explosive or pneumatic propulsion to launch the caltrop belt, substituting human physical effort with a mechanical projection system that achieves both speed and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the caltrop belt is deployed close to the vehicle to prevent evasive action, then the deployment is effective, but the officer is exposed to extreme danger when the driver loses control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of caltrop deploymentVSAvoidrisk of injury to officer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The launcher system allows the officer to pre-position themselves at a safe distance and then project the caltrop belt toward the vehicle. The preliminary action of loading and aiming the launcher occurs from safety, followed by the projection of the caltrop belt that arrives at the vehicle just in time to prevent evasive action, while the officer remains protected throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The air-launched caltrop belt acts as an intermediary that carries the deployment function from the safe position of the officer to the critical position near the vehicle. This intermediary transmission allows the caltrop to reach the vehicle effectively while the officer never exposes themselves to the danger zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the officer manually stretches the caltrop belt across the roadway, then the deployment is simple, but the timing window is small and requires precise execution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of deploymentVSAvoiddeployment timing window

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the simple but time-critical manual stretching action with a ballistic projection system. The launcher provides a more reliable timing mechanism through controlled projection, eliminating the need for the officer to precisely time their running and stretching actions while maintaining operational simplicity through the automated launch sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system allows for safer deployment of caltrops by maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle, reducing the risk of injury to officers and ensuring controlled deployment.

Implementation Method 1

a propellant in a magazine configured to transform chemical energy to kinetic energy to propel the tug

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical energy to kinetic energy transformation: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS20260036405A1Assembly for deployment of caltrop systems

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 NON-SUCH LLC

AI summary

A system for launching a caltrop line including one or more caltrops at a target, such as a vehicle, from a distance. The system may include a launcher system and a deployment system. The deployment system may include a tug coupled to a deployment cord including the caltrop line. In some cases, the launcher system may propel or launch the tug causing the tug to pull the caltrop line at the target.