Ballistic Shield System and Methods

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for a ballistic shield system that enables a shooter to very accurately fire a handgun or a rifle while remaining well protected by the ballistic shield and looking through a bullet resistant viewing window comprising the ballistic shield. A high visibility green laser sight/high output white light illumination system may be mounted onto the firearm for aiming and illumination, with the firearm being precisely but removably mounted to the side of the shield at a location where the firearm's grip can be ergonomically grasped in the shooter's dominant hand, both for operating the firearm and for controlling the position and orientation of the ballistic shield for aiming purposes. An interface that enables the firearm to be precisely but removably mounted to the shield may comprise a quick-draw holster that is mounted directly onto the ballistic shield.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for a ballistic shield system, comprising:
 a shield for protecting the upper body and the head of a shooter;   a handle for supporting the shield;   a bullet resistant window for viewing in front of the shield; and   a mount for precisely but removably coupling a firearm with the shield.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a high visibility green laser sight and/or a high output white light illumination system that is mounted directly on the shield. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the shield is configured to accommodate a high visibility green laser sight and/or a high output white light illumination system that is mounted directly on the firearm. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the bullet resistant window includes an optical filter that is configured to enhance the visibility of the green laser sight in high ambient light conditions. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is configured to accommodate any of a suppressor, a flash hider, or a muzzle brake mounted that may be mounted onto the firearm. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mount is configured to precisely but removably attach the firearm to a side of the shield at a location where a grip of the firearm can be ergonomically grasped by the shooter's dominant hand. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mount comprising a holster portion that is configured to precisely but removably attach the firearm to a side of the shield at a location where a grip of the firearm can be ergonomically grasped by the shooter's dominant hand. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the holster portion is configured to allow the firearm to be precisely but removably secured to the shield by way of an illumination system that is coupled with the firearm. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is configured and positioned on the shield to enable the shooter to support the ballistic shield system by way of a nondominant hand while grasping a grip of the firearm by way of a dominant hand. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the handle and the grip of the firearm are configured to enable the shooter to move and orient the ballistic shield system for the purpose of aiming the firearm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a monopod configured to contact the ground so as to support the ballistic shield system such that the bullet resistant window is positioned at about same height as eyes of the shooter. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the monopod includes a spring that extends a piston having a bottom end that contacts the ground for supporting the ballistic shield system. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the monopod is vertically adjustable on the shield to position the center of the bullet resistant window at about same height as the eyes of the shooter when the monopod is fully supporting the ballistic shield system. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a mobility system that includes wheels whereby the ballistic shield system can be rolled around. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the mobility system and the monopod are configured to be used interchangeably to support the ballistic shield system. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the monopod is configured to be extended so as to fully support the ballistic shield system; and wherein the monopod is configured to be retracted so as to allow the mobility system to fully support the ballistic shield system. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a red dot sight is incorporated into the bullet resistant window and sighted into the firearm to operate as an alternate or in addition to a green laser sight mounted directly on the firearm. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a sighting-in distance ranges between about 25 meters and about 50 meters. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein one or more additional lasers are incorporated into the ballistic shield system and in communication with one or more processors configured to substantially eliminate an influence due to a horizontal offset and a vertical offset between the positions of the red dot sight and the green laser sight of the firearm. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the red dot sight is moveable with respect to the shield for the purpose of sighting-in the firearm.