Field-deployable ballistic protection system

Abstract

A field-deployable ballistic protection system is described for protecting a structure or area from ballistic damage (such as by small arms, grenades, mortars, etc.). The field-deployable ballistic protection system includes a posterior sheet, an anterior sheet, and a spacing bracket. The posterior sheet is configured to be secured to a structure. The spacing bracket is configured to be secured to the structure through the posterior sheet. The anterior sheet is configured to be secured to the spacing bracket so as to create a void between the anterior sheet and the posterior sheet. The void is configured to receive a granular material, such as a locally-available soil, therein for providing ballistic protection to the structure. Also described are a free-standing embodiment of the field-deployable ballistic protection system and various methods of installation.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A field-deployable ballistic protection system comprising:
 a posterior sheet configured to be secured to a structure;   a spacing bracket configured to be secured to the structure through the posterior sheet; and   an anterior sheet configured to be secured to the spacing bracket so as to create a void between the anterior sheet and the posterior sheet,   wherein the void is configured to receive a granular material therein for providing ballistic protection to the structure.   
     
     
         2 . The field-deployable ballistic protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the anterior sheet is contiguous with the posterior sheet.   
     
     
         3 . The field-deployable ballistic protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the spacing bracket is a first spacing bracket,   further comprising:   a second spacing bracket configured to be separated vertically from the first spacing bracket; and   a third spacing bracket configured to be separated horizontally from the first spacing bracket,   wherein the first spacing bracket is identical to the second spacing bracket and the third spacing bracket.   
     
     
         4 . The field-deployable ballistic protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the spacing bracket presents a general capital sigma shape,   wherein the spacing bracket presents a first sheet interface and a second sheet interface.   
     
     
         5 . The field-deployable ballistic protection system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the spacing bracket presents a length,   wherein the length of the spacing bracket dictates a minimum thickness of the void such that the minimum thickness is the shortest distance between an installed anterior sheet and an installed posterior sheet.   
     
     
         6 . The field-deployable ballistic protection system of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the minimum thickness is determined based at least in part on an analysis of the locally available granular material,   wherein the minimum thickness is determined based at least in part on a threat to the structure.   
     
     
         7 . The field-deployable ballistic protection system of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the locally available granular material is sand,   wherein said analysis includes determining an S-number indicative of the ballistic resistance of the sand.   
     
     
         8 . The field-deployable ballistic protection system of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the anterior sheet is configured to allow the granular material to bulge outward away from the spacing bracket,   wherein the bulge outward defines a maximum thickness presented,   wherein the maximum thickness is configured to be reduced so as to reduce the load on the structure.   
     
     
         9 . A field-deployable ballistic protection system comprising:
 a posterior sheet associated with a posterior lattice;   an anterior sheet associated with an anterior lattice;   a spacing bracket secured to the posterior lattice and the anterior lattice,   wherein the spacing bracket creates a void between the anterior sheet and the posterior sheet;   a post configured to be installed into an underlying ground surface   wherein the post, being installed in the underlying ground surface, is configured to receive the void therearound so as to retain the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice in a vertical orientation,   wherein the void is configured to receive a granular material therein for providing ballistic protection to an area.   
     
     
         10 . The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the post is a fence post,   wherein the fence post is configured to be driven into a post hole in the underlying ground surface.   
     
     
         11 . The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the post is decoupled from the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice within the void,   wherein the post is surrounded by the granular material when the granular material is received within the void.   
     
     
         12 . The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first end sheet associated with a first end lattice; and   a second end sheet associated with a second end lattice.   
     
     
         13 . The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first end lattice and the second end lattice each present a thickness,   wherein the spacing bracket presents a thickness,   wherein the thickness presented by the first end lattice and the second end lattice is approximately the same as the thickness presented by the spacing bracket,   wherein the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice each present a length,   wherein the length presented by the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice is at least five times as long as the thickness presented by the spacing bracket.   
     
     
         14 . The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the spacing bracket is pivotably secured to the anterior lattice and pivotably secured to the posterior lattice,   wherein the spacing bracket is configured to be selectively placed into a collapsed position and an open position by pivoting the spacing bracket relative to the anterior lattice and the posterior lattice.   
     
     
         15 . The field-deployable ballistic protection systems of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the anterior lattice is parallel to the posterior lattice in both the collapsed position and the open position.   
     
     
         16 . A method of providing ballistic protection to a structure, the method comprising the following steps:
 securing a posterior sheet to a structure wall of the structure;   securing a spacing bracket to the posterior sheet and the structure wall;   securing an anterior sheet to an anterior end of the spacing bracket, so as to form a void therein; and   filling the void with a granular material for providing ballistic protection to the structure.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sealing a first end of the posterior sheet to a first end of the anterior sheet to prevent the granular material from escaping between the first end of the posterior sheet and the first end of the anterior sheet;   sealing a second end of the posterior sheet to a second end of the anterior sheet to prevent the granular material from escaping between the first end of the posterior sheet and the first end of the anterior sheet.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the spacing bracket is a first spacing bracket,   further comprising:   securing a second spacing bracket to the posterior sheet and the structure wall, wherein the second spacing bracket is laterally displaced from the first spacing bracket.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the second bracket is laterally displaced vertically above the first spacing bracket,   further comprising:   securing the second spacing bracket to the anterior sheet so as to vertically increase the void; and   filling the void with a second set of granular material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 securing an upper end of the anterior sheet to the structure so as to reduce erosion of the granular material out of the void.