Case for small explosive device

Abstract

A container for containing an explosive device, including a mitigating layer defining an enclosure openable to insert the explosive device therein and closable to surround the explosive device, the mitigating layer reducing a force of a blast caused by an explosion of the explosive device, and a fragment-retaining layer substantially surrounding the mitigating layer, the fragment-retaining layer being resistant to a remainder of the force of the blast passing through the mitigating layer and retaining fragments propagated by the explosion of the explosive device, such as to reduce potential injury to a person in proximity of the container.

1 . A container for containing an explosive device, the container comprising: 
 a mitigating layer defining an enclosure openable to insert the explosive device therein and closable to surround the explosive device, the mitigating layer reducing a force of a blast caused by an explosion of the explosive device; and    a fragment-retaining layer substantially surrounding the mitigating layer, the fragment-retaining layer being resistant to a remainder of the force of the blast passing through the mitigating layer and retaining fragments propagated by the explosion of the explosive device, such as to reduce potential injury to a person in proximity of the container.    
   
   
       2 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fragment-retaining layer retains all fragments propagated by the explosion of the explosive device.  
   
   
       3 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an outer shell surrounding the fragment-retaining layer, the outer shell having a body and a cover, part of the fragment-retaining layer and mitigating layer being located within the body and a remainder of the fragment-retaining layer and mitigating layer being located within the cover, the body and cover being relatively movable between an open position to open the enclosure and a closed position to close the enclosure.  
   
   
       4 . The container as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the outer shell is made of shock resistant plastic.  
   
   
       5 . The container as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the outer shell includes a vent for high pressure gas created by the explosion of the explosive device.  
   
   
       6 . The container as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the vent includes an aperture defined through the outer shell and closed by a cover which is one of dislodged and expanded by the high pressure gas.  
   
   
       7 . The container as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the outer shell includes shielding preventing a transmission of electromagnetic radiation or interference therethrough.  
   
   
       8 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the blast effect mitigation material includes a honeycomb structure extending between two plies of friable tissue, the honeycomb structure being filled with attenuating filler material.  
   
   
       9 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fragment-retaining layer includes at least one of ballistic armor and polycarbonate.  
   
   
       10 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one blast effect mitigating divider extending across the enclosure and defining at least first and second compartments on either side thereof, each of the compartments being adapted to receive one of the explosive device and at least one additional explosive device therein, the divider reducing a risk of sympathetic detonation between the explosive devices.  
   
   
       11 . The container as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the divider includes a middle sheet for retaining fragments propagated by the explosion of any one of the explosive devices, the middle sheet being sandwiched between two panels of material reducing the force of the blast caused by the explosion.  
   
   
       12 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fragment-retaining layer has a first hole defined therethrough and the mitigating layer has a second hole defined therethrough in alignment with the first hole, at least one of the first and second holes being selectively opened and closed such as to define a port allowing at least one of insertion of an inspection device and injection of an agent into the enclosure.  
   
   
       13 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the fragment-retaining layer and the mitigating layer permits transmission therethrough of a desired portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.  
   
   
       14 . The container as defined in  claim 1 , wherein inner surfaces of the mitigating layer are coated with a fire-resistant material.  
   
   
       15 . A container for containing an explosive device, the container comprising: 
 an outer shell including a body and a cover relatively movable between an open position and a closed position;    a fragment-retaining layer disposed against inner surfaces of the body and the cover such as to substantially define a first enclosure when the body and the cover are in the closed position;    a mitigating layer disposed against inner surfaces of the fragment-retaining layer such as to define a second enclosure within the first enclosure when the body and cover are in the closed position, the second enclosure being adapted to receive the explosive device therein;    wherein the mitigating layer reduces a force of a blast caused by an explosion of the explosive device, and the fragment-retaining layer resists a remainder of the force of the blast passing through the mitigating layer and retains fragments propagated by the explosion.    
   
   
       16 . The container as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising at least one blast effect mitigating divider extending across the second enclosure and defining at least first and second compartments on either side thereof, each of the compartments being adapted to receive one of the explosive device and at least one additional explosive device therein, the divider reducing a risk of sympathetic detonation between the explosive devices.  
   
   
       17 . The container as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the divider is removable.  
   
   
       18 . The container as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the divider includes a middle sheet made of the same material as that of the fragment-retaining layer, the middle sheet being sandwiched between two panels of the same material as that of the mitigating layer.  
   
   
       19 . A method of containing an explosion of an explosive device, the method comprising: 
 reducing a force of the explosion using a mitigating layer surrounding the explosive device; and    containing the reduced force of the explosion and fragments projected by the explosion using a fragment-retaining layer surrounding the mitigating layer.    
   
   
       20 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising minimizing transmission of a shock wave produced by the explosion using the fragment-retaining layer.