Protective shield

2,020,702

Nov. 12, 1935.

S. RUSSELL

PROTECTIVE SHIELD

Filed July 7, 1933

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Patented Nov. 12, 1935

2,020,702

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,020,70?

PROTECTIVE SHIELD

Samuel Russell, Kansas City, Mo., by decree of court to Ennis Russell, widow

Application July 7, 1933, Serial No. 679,413 (Cl. 89—36) by means of hinges 8 and 9. The hinges are preferably placed near the edges of the sections so that bullets will not bend the edges and render the shield inoperative. A depending flange 19 which is integral with upper section I serves with 5 the integral rim 10α to strengthen the lower edge of the upper section I and the upper edge of section 2 thereby preventing the impact of a bullet from deforming the edges which would prevent the sections from folding into closed posi- 10 tion. Similarly, the flange I ( and the integral rim I la prevent bullets from deforming the lower edge of section 2 and the upper edge of section 3.

A handle 12 is secured to the upper section I by any suitably means such as riveting or weld- 15 ing. A cooperating arm loop 14 is secured to the intermediate section 2 by means of ears 15. A resilient pad 13, preferably of rubber is glued to sections I and 2 to protect the arm against the · shock of the bullet impact. The pad is separated 3 ) at 17 to allow the top section I, to fold down over section 2. A port hole 16 is provided in the intermediate section 2 through which a gun may be fired. The bullet proof window 5 is held by a frame 4 across an aperture in section I. This allows the user of the shield a full view to the front while being fully protected from gunfire and serves as a sighting device enabling the user to more effectively direct gunfire.

Figure 4 shows the protective shield in a folded 30 position which makes it very convenient to carry. This is what I call the carrying position as distinguished from the action position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The operation of the protecting shield device 35 is as follows: Assuming the shield to be in the carrying position, the user grasps the handle 12 with the right hand. As the handle is lifted the upper section I unfolds allowing the lower section to drop down. The shield assumes a sub- 40 stantially vertical position when supported by the handle. The left arm is then thrust through the arm loop 14 and the handle 12 is grasped by the left hand. The right hand is then free to direct gunfire through the hole 16. The flange 45 10 on section I and the flange II on section 2 prevent the respective sections from folding back against the user of the shield. The handle 12 acts primarily as a support for the shield while the arm loop 14 acts as a guide for maintaining 50 the shield In a fixed position relative to the user’s ¹ arm. The loop is pivoted to the ears 15 so that > it may accommodate itself to various arm • lengths, and also reduce the space required for i the shield when the same is in the carrying posi- 55

Claims. I

This invention relates to a portable bullet proof protector shield designed to be carried so as to protect the user from bullets. It is particularly adapted for use by officers of the law in subduing ύ riots and mobs or prison breaks.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable shield which can be folded into a small space and conveniently carried when not in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a io device which will afford the maximum protection while providing the maximum of freedom of movement to the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protector device of the type described which will 1 5 protect all portions of the user’s body and which can be placed Into action position from the folded position within a minimum interval of time.

A further object of my invention is to provide a protective device which will be very light and 23 can be carried by the person to be protected.

In prior shield protecting devices the shields are of the rigid type and are therefore of no practical value where such devices are to be transported in vehicles or carried by the person to be ΐ:> protected and are required to be brought into action in a very short period of time. Likewise, the prior devices do not afford protection to all parts of the body and at the same time allow free movements of the body of the user. The so-called bullet proof vests are uncomfortable to the wearer and are of no great value unless worn constantly and cannot be readily discarded when not needed, as when it is necessary for the officer to give chase to a fugitive. Also these devices do 35 not afford protection to the head and lower parts of the body.

My invention has been designed to eliminate these practical disadvantages of the devices known to the prior art, and is illustrated by way 40 of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the backside of the protective shield made in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the protective de45 vice;

Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows the protective device in its folded position;

Figure 5 is a detail view of Figure 1 along line 50 A—A.

The protective shield as constructed in accordance with this invention is made up of an upper section I which is connected to an intermediate section 2, by means of hinges 6 and 7, and a lower 55 section 3 which is foldably connected to section

2,020,708 tion. The handle 12 is preferably fixed rigidly to the upper section so that it can be easily grasped in case of emergencies.

In the use of my invention it is important that C the handle be secured to one section and the arm loop be placed on another section of the shield so that the weight of the shield may be carried at times by the arm loop 14 fitting into the crotch of the forearm to rest the arm of the user while the 10 hand on the handle 12 of the section I will prevent the latter section from folding over the front of the intermediate section. This construction also allows the handle 12 to be on top of the folded shield where it can be easily grasped. The 15 resilient pad 13 prevents injury to the arm of the user which might otherwise be caused by a bullet impact upon the shield. The window 5 is made of heavy bullet-proof glass and is placed at a point in the upper section so that the user may 20 have a direct view to the front while being fully protected from gunfire. The sections I, 2 and 3 are made of any impact resisting material such as steel or other metal. The intermediate section is slightly longer than either ehd section to en25 able the end sections to be folded thereover. The total length of the shield is such that the body of the user is substantially protected from head to feet.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art 30 that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction of my invention without departing from the scope thereof. \