Tire disabling device

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a tire disabling device. A tire disabling device may comprise a spike-bearing plate that may be contained, in its undeployed state, in a handled enclosure. Upon deployment, the spike bearing plate may be disposed under the tire of a stopped vehicle, which may puncture the tire if the vehicle is moved. Such a device may be beneficial in preventing car chases that begin with traffic stops, by deflating tires upon an attempted evasion from the stop, and by signaling a deterrent to attempt such evasion.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A tire disabling device comprising:
 an enclosure having an opening to an interior cavity;   a handle attached to the enclosure;   a spike plate comprising at least one of:
 at least one integrated spike, and 
 at least one spike configuration feature; 
   at least one spike, wherein the at least one spike comprises at least one of:
 the at least one integrated spike, and 
 a spike interfaced with the at least one spike configuration feature; 
   a coupling mechanism, disposed near the top of the enclosure, configured to interface with a distal end of the spike plate so as to detachably secure the spike plate in place; and   a pivot mechanism, disposed near the bottom of the enclosure, configured to pivotably couple with a proximal end of the spike plate so as to permit the spike plate to pivot from a secure configuration, wherein the distal end of the spike plate is proximate to the coupling mechanism and the at least one spike is enclosed within the enclosure, and a deployed configuration, wherein the distal end of the spike plate is substantially in contact with a ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The tire disabling device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is retractable. 
     
     
         3 . The tire disabling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety mechanism configured to prevent the handle from completely detaching from the tire disabling device in the event of an interaction between the tire disabling device and a vehicle tire. 
     
     
         4 . The tire disabling device of  claim 3 , wherein the safety mechanism comprises a spring-loaded retractor, a handle connector, and a cord, wherein the cord is connected at one end to the spring-loaded retractor and at the other end to the handle connector, further wherein the handle connector is fixed to the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The tire disabling device of  claim 1 , wherein the spike plate further comprises a tab. 
     
     
         6 . The tire disabling device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         7 . The tire disabling device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises at least one of:
 a clasp,   a notch,   a tab,   a spring,   a hinge, and   a pin.   
     
     
         8 . The tire disabling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a base plate disposed on a bottom surface of the enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The tire disabling device of  claim 8 , wherein the base plate further comprises at least one of:
 a wheel,   a ball,   a glider, and   a friction-reducing element.   
     
     
         10 . The tire disabling device of  claim 1 , further comprising an alerting feature comprising at least one of a reflector, a light, a sound-emitting device, and a wireless communication element. 
     
     
         11 . The tire disabling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a countermeasure comprising at least one of:
 netting,   expanding elements,   releasable substances, and   a car electronics disruptor.   
     
     
         12 . A storage apparatus for storing a tire disabling device, the storage apparatus comprising:
 an enclosure comprising an interior cavity and plurality of retention plates,
 the plurality of retention plates disposed in an orientation substantially perpendicular to a surface of the enclosure so as to form the interior cavity, configured to permit the ingress of the tire disabling device into the interior cavity; 
   at least one strap disposed on the enclosure, configured to releasably secure the tire disabling device,   wherein the plurality of retention plates together with the at least one strap are configured to secure the tire disabling device within the interior cavity and substantially prevent the egress of the tire disabling device from the storage apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The storage apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of retention plates comprises a top plate, a bottom plate, and four side plates, further wherein the at least one strap comprises lengths of webbing material terminated with side-release buckles, further wherein the at least one strap is configured to releasably secure the tire disabling device by encircling the tire disabling device and engaging the side-release buckles. 
     
     
         14 . A method of utilizing a tire disabling device, the method comprising:
 placing the tire disabling device in the proximity of a stopped vehicle;   deploying a spike plate, the spike plate comprising one or more spikes, each of the one or more spikes comprising a puncturing element, wherein deploying the spike plate exposes the puncturing element of at least one of the one or more spikes; and   disposing the spike plate in front of and below at least part of a tire of the stopped vehicle, such that the puncturing element of at least one of the one or more spikes is positioned to puncture the tire upon the traversal of the tire over the spike plate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising an initial stage of removing the tire disabling device from a storage apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein placing the disabling device in the proximity of the stopped vehicle further comprises rolling the device along the ground on at least one of:
 a wheel,   a ball,   a glider, and   a friction-reducing element.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of placing the disabling device in the proximity of the stopped vehicle, deploying the spike plate, and disposing the spike plate in front of and below at least part of the tire of the stopped vehicle further comprises the activation of an alerting feature comprising at least one of a light, a sound-emitting device, and a wireless communication element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a final stage wherein the tire traverses the spike plate, puncturing the tire by the puncturing element of at least one of the one or more spikes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the final stage further comprises the deployment of at least one of:
 netting,   expanding elements,   releasable substances, and   a car electronics disruptor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a safety mechanism configured to prevent a handle of the tire disabling device from completely detaching from the tire disabling device in the event of an interaction between the tire disabling device and a vehicle tire prevents the handle from completely detaching from the tire disabling device.