Vehicle arresting apparatus

Abstract

A vehicle arresting apparatus for launching a puncturing device onto a driving surface to puncture a motor vehicle's tires includes a projectile and a projectile launcher configured to launch the projectile. A deflation member is coupled to the projectile. The deflation member comprises a plurality of puncture members and a plurality of flexible links which are coupled together in alternating fashion. Each puncture member is configured to puncture a tire, and each flexible link couples a first end of one of the puncture members to a second end of another of the puncture members.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A vehicle arresting apparatus comprising:
 a projectile;   a projectile launcher configured to launch the projectile; and   a deflation member coupled to the projectile, the deflation member comprising a plurality of puncture members and a plurality of flexible links, the puncture members and the flexible links being coupled together in alternating fashion, each flexible link coupling a first end of one of the puncture members to a second end of another of the puncture members, each puncture member being configured to puncture a tire.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the projectile launcher comprises a body and a barrel, the barrel being coupled to and extending forwardly from the body, the barrel being open at a front end of the barrel, the projectile being receivable into the barrel and launchable out of the barrel upon actuation of the projectile launcher. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a cartridge mounted to the projectile launcher, the cartridge containing the deflation member in a stored configuration, the deflation member being removable forwardly from the cartridge upon launching the projectile via the projectile launcher. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , the deflation member following a serpentine path when in the stored configuration wherein the puncture members lie along a path substantially parallel to the barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a tether coupling the deflation member to the projectile, the tether being attached to a leading end of the deflation member, the tether extending through an open forward end of the cartridge when the deflation member is in the stored configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a cartridge mount removably coupling the cartridge to the barrel of the projectile launcher, the cartridge mount comprising a first mating member coupled to the projectile launcher and a second mating member coupled to the cartridge. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first mating member comprises a rail, the second mating member comprising a slider, the rail being oriented parallel to the barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the rail has a T-shaped cross section, the slider defining a cavity complementary in shape to the rail. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each puncture member is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each puncture member comprises a capsule and a plurality of quills, the plurality of quills being housed by the capsule, the capsule being configured to split under a weight of a motor vehicle, each quill having pointed ends configured to pierce the tire. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each quill is hollow wherein each quill facilitates a passage of air from the tire to an atmosphere when the quill is embedded in the tire. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each flexible link comprises a clip with a gate biased to form a closed loop. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each puncture member comprises an attachment loop which is interlocked with one of the flexible links. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a tether coupling a leading end of the deflation member to the projectile. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge mounted to the projectile launcher, the cartridge containing the deflation member in a stored configuration, the cartridge having an open forward end such that the deflation member may be removed through the open forward end. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the deflation member follows a serpentine path when in the stored configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the puncture members are elongated and lie parallel to each other when the deflation member is in the stored configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a cartridge mount removably coupling the cartridge to the projectile launcher, the cartridge mount comprising a first mating member coupled to the projectile launcher and a second mating member coupled to the cartridge. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first mating member comprises a rail, the second mating member comprising a slider, the rail having a T-shaped cross section, the slider defining a cavity complementary in shape to the rail. 
     
     
         20 . A vehicle arresting apparatus comprising:
 a projectile;   a projectile launcher configured to launch the projectile, the projectile launcher comprising a body and a barrel, the barrel being coupled to and extending forwardly from the body, the barrel being open at a front end of the barrel, the projectile being receivable into the barrel and launchable out of the barrel upon actuation of the projectile launcher;   a deflation member coupled to the projectile, the deflation member comprising a plurality of puncture members and a plurality of flexible links, the puncture members and the flexible links being coupled together in alternating fashion, each flexible link coupling a first end of one of the puncture members to a second end of another of the puncture members, each puncture member being substantially rigid, each puncture member comprising a capsule and a plurality of quills, the plurality of quills being housed by the capsule, the capsule being configured to split under a weight of a motor vehicle, each quill having pointed ends configured to pierce a tire, each quill being hollow wherein each quill facilitates a passage of air from the tire to an atmosphere when the quill is embedded in the tire, each flexible link comprising a clip with a gate biased to form a closed loop, each puncture member comprising an attachment loop which is interlocked with one of the flexible links;   a tether coupling a leading end of the deflation member to the projectile;   a cartridge mounted to the projectile launcher, the cartridge containing the deflation member in a stored configuration, the deflation member following a serpentine path when in the stored configuration wherein the puncture members lie along a path substantially parallel to the barrel, the cartridge having an open forward end such that the deflation member may be removed through the open forward end, the tether extending through the open forward end of the cartridge when the deflation member is in the stored configuration, the puncture members being elongated and lying parallel to each other when the deflation member is in the stored configuration; and   a cartridge mount removably coupling the cartridge to the barrel of the projectile launcher, the cartridge mount comprising a first mating member coupled to the projectile launcher and a second mating member coupled to the cartridge, the first mating member comprising a rail, the second mating member comprising a slider, the rail being oriented parallel to the barrel, the rail having a T-shaped cross section, the slider defining a cavity complementary in shape to the rail.