Tire rapid entanglement and arresting device

Abstract

An apparatus for inhibiting the rotation of the tires of a vehicle comprising a housing comprising a ramp for oncoming vehicular traffic, the ramp also having a cavity adapted to releasably contain a net having spikes arranged at a leading edge of the net to engage the tires, the net further comprising a trailing edge that is attached to a releasable restraining element; a platform within the housing upon which the spikes are supported and that is moveable between spikes exposed and spikes unexposed positions; and an actuator that transmits an electronic command to expose the spikes to the vehicle.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . Apparatus for inhibiting the rotation of the tires of a vehicle comprising:
 a housing comprising a ramp for oncoming vehicular traffic, said ramp also having a cavity adapted to releasably contain a net having spikes arranged at a leading edge of the net to engage said tires, the net further comprising a trailing edge that is attached to a releasable restraining element;   a platform within said housing upon which the spikes are supported and that is moveable between spikes exposed and spikes unexposed positions; and   an actuator that transmits an electronic command to expose the spikes to the vehicle.   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the housing comprises more than one section. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the housing comprises multiple housing sections that interlock with one another and together house a single unitary net. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49  wherein the multiple housing sections each comprise an individual net, each net having connectors that connect the individual nets at their lateral peripheries. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the leading edge comprises loops of material connected to the net, the loops forming an opening sufficient to allow the spikes to grasp the net. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the longitudinal edges of the net comprise lateral stringers attached at an inner cell junction and threaded through the cells towards the edge, and then attached at an outer edge of cell junction. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the housing platform comprises supporting ledges for the spikes. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the command comprises electromagnetic signals received by the housing for positioning the spikes in the spikes exposed or spikes unexposed positions. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the actuator comprises a wirelessly-activated electric motor. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the trailing edge of the net comprises a releasable elastic restraining element. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 56  wherein the releaseable elastic restraining element of the net comprises elastic members releasably attached to the housing whereby upon being fully stretched thereafter the elastic members will tear away from the housing. 
     
     
         58 . A cartridge containing the net of  claim 47 . 
     
     
         59 . A method for inhibiting the motion of a moving vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 providing an apparatus for inhibiting the rotation of the tires of a vehicle comprising:
 a housing comprising a ramp for oncoming vehicular traffic, said ramp also having a cavity adapted to releasably contain a net having spikes arranged at a leading edge of the net to engage said tires, the net further comprising a trailing edge that is 
 a platform within said housing upon which the spikes are supported and that is moveable between spikes exposed and spikes unexposed positions; and 
 an actuator that transmits an electronic command to expose the spikes to the vehicle; and 
   transmitting an electronic command manually to a motor that exposes the spikes to the moving vehicle.   
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising the step of transmitting an electronic command automatically to a motor that exposes the spikes to the moving vehicle. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the vehicle is selected from amongst a group of vehicles. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising engaging the front tires of the vehicle by puncturing them with the spikes. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising wrapping the net around the front tires as they continue to rotate. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising tightening the net around the axles of the vehicle whereby forward motion is significantly constrained.