Ballistic Shields

Abstract

A novel hand carried ballistic shield is disclosed. Optimal shields have a shield plate, a forestock seat, and a forearm carrier generally provided as a plurality of adjustable straps. If fixed to the plate, the straps are aligned at an upward forearm angle; if the carrier is rotatably adjustable with straps mounted on the rotatable plate, the angle of the forearm relative to the horizontal lever of the shield plate can be individually adjusted to achieve an optimum upward angle of the forearm to avoid anatomical strain, and to place the forestock hand just below the forestock seat. The forestock seat is formed in the shield plate at an upper corner of the plate and inset in an upper corner cut-out in the plate. The bottom of the cut-out desirably has a rounded profile to optimally receive the forestock of the primary weapon. The seat is positioned in the shield plate to be just above where the forearm straps position the user's hand.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A ballistic shield comprising a shield plate, a forestock seat, and a plurality of forearm straps, the straps aligned at an upward forearm angle, the forestock seat formed in the shield plate at an upper corner of the plate and inset in an upper corner cut-out in the plate the cut-out having a rounded shape at its bottom, the forestock seat positioned to be just above where the forearm straps position a user's hand. 
     
     
         2 . The shield of  claim 1  further comprising on an outer side of the forestock seat cut-out a shield extension. 
     
     
         3 . The shield of  claim 1  having a height optimized to cover a kneeling user from the ground to above the top of the user's head. 
     
     
         4 . The shield of  claim 2  having a height of the bottom of the forestock seat optimized for optimum kneeling shooting platform. 
     
     
         5 . The shield of  claim 1  further comprising a rotatably adjustable forearm strap carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The shield of  claim 1  having a weight bearing center of the forearm carrier located at or near a center of mass of the shield. 
     
     
         7 . The shield of  claim 1  further comprising a viewing system. 
     
     
         8 . The shield of  claim 7 , the viewing system comprising separate front of shield and back of shield components, a back on shield component comprising a view screen, a front of shield component comprising an image capture device. 
     
     
         9 . The shield of  claim 1  further comprising a high intensity lamp on the front of the shield. 
     
     
         10 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the straps are adjustable to fit various sized forearms.