Assembly for deployment of caltrop systems

Abstract

A system for launching a caltrop line including one or more caltrops at a target, such as a vehicle, from a distance. The system may include a launcher system and a deployment system. The deployment system may include a tug coupled to a deployment cord including the caltrop line. In some cases, the launcher system may propel or launch the tug causing the tug to pull the caltrop line at the target.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for deployment of caltrops comprising:
 a launcher system, the launcher system comprising a launch tube and a trigger mechanism; and   a caltrop system releasably coupled to the launcher system, the caltrop system including a deployment cord and a deployment tube, the deployment cord configured to be propelled at a target from the launcher system in response to an activation of the trigger mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 1 , wherein the deployment cord further comprises a tug configured to be received into the launch tube. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 2 , wherein the deployment cord further comprises:
 a caltrop line having a first end coupled to the tug and a second end, the caltrop line including one or more caltrops;   a breakaway line coupled to the second end of the caltrop line at a first end and having a second end, the breakaway line configured to decouple from the caltrop line in response to a force being applied to the caltrop line; and   a ribbon line coupled to the second end of the breakaway line at a first end and having a second.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 3 , wherein the caltrop line is formed from approximately ¼ an inch thick Kevlar rope. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the caltrop line is between approximately 7 feet and approximately 11 feet in length; and   the caltrop line includes between 6 and 10 caltrops.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 3 , wherein the caltrop line is formed from approximately ¼ an inch thick Kevlar rope. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the breakaway line is formed from between approximately 50-pound test line and approximately 150-pound test line; and   the breakaway line is between approximately 2 inches and approximately 10 inches in length.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the ribbon line is formed from approximately ⅛ an inch thick Kevlar rope; and   the ribbon line is between approximately 4 feet and approximately 120 feet in length.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the deployment tube comprises a tubular portion, a front cap releasably coupled to the tubular portion at a first end, and an end cap fixedly coupled to the tubular portion at a second end opposite the first end, the end cap including a reel bracket; and   the ribbon line is wound around a spool, the spool is releasably coupled to the reel bracket via a temporary tie.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly for deployment of caltrops of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket system, the bracket system including:
 an upper bracket having a first aperture and forming an upper half of a second aperture, the first aperture configured to receive and couple to the launch tube of the launcher system; and   a lower bracket forming the second half to the second aperture, the lower bracket coupled to the upper bracket via a hinge and a clasp system, the second aperture to releasably couple to the deployment tube.   
     
     
         11 . A caltrop system comprising:
 a deployment cord including at least one caltrop;   a tug configured to be received into a launch tube of a launcher system, a first portion of a deployment cord coupled to a first end of the tug;   a deployment tube for housing a second portion of the deployment cord;   a removable front cap coupled to a first end of the deployment tube; and   an end cap coupled to a second end of the deployment tube, the second end opposite the first end.   
     
     
         12 . The caltrop system of  claim 11 , wherein;
 the first portion of the deployment cord is a caltrop line including the at least one caltrop;   the second portion of the deployment cord is a ribbon line wound around a spool within the deployment tube; and   the deployment cord includes a breakaway line coupled between the caltrop line and the ribbon line, the breakaway line configured to decouple the caltrop line from the ribbon line during use.   
     
     
         13 . The caltrop system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the caltrop line is formed from approximately ¼ an inch thick Kevlar rope;   the breakaway line is formed from approximately 100-pound test line; and   the ribbon line is formed from approximately ⅛ an inch thick Kevlar rope.   
     
     
         14 . The caltrop system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the deployment tube comprises an end cap; and   a reel bracket for receiving the spool.   
     
     
         15 . The caltrop system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the ribbon line is releasably coupled to the spool via a bread tie; or   the spool is releasably coupled to the reel bracket via the bread tie.   
     
     
         16 . The caltrop system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the caltrop line is approximately 9 feet in length;   the breakaway line is approximately 8 inches in length; and   the ribbon line is approximately 120 feet in length.   
     
     
         17 . The caltrop system of  claim 11 , wherein the caltrop system is releasable coupled to a launcher system via a bracket coupling the deployment tube to a launch tube of the launcher system. 
     
     
         18 . A deployment cord for use with a caltrop system comprising:
 a caltrop line having a first end coupled to a tug and a second end, the caltrop line including one or more caltrops;   a breakaway line coupled to the second end of the caltrop line at a first end and having a second end; and   a ribbon line coupled to the second end of the breakaway line at a first end and having a second.   
     
     
         19 . The deployment cord of  claim 18 , wherein the breakaway line configured to decouple from the caltrop line in response to a force being applied to the caltrop line. 
     
     
         20 . The deployment cord of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the caltrop line is formed from approximately ¼ an inch thick Kevlar rope;   the breakaway line is formed from approximately 100-pound test line;   the ribbon line is formed from approximately ⅛ an inch thick Kevlar rope;   the caltrop line is approximately 9 feet in length;   the breakaway line is approximately 8 inches in length; and   the ribbon line is between approximately 4 feet and approximately 120 feet in length.