Exponent, Inc.

Brian John Smyth

John David Pye

Cleve Ivan Bare

A method and apparatus for inhibiting the motion of a vehicle comprising a housing having a cavity, the cavity adapted to contain a net so that the net may be made available for release on command; tire engagement spikes supported by the housing, the spikes being movable to a first position to engage the tires of an oncoming vehicle, the spikes also being movable to a second position to avoid tire engagement, the spikes being positioned to grasp the net when in the first position; and an actuator for moving the spikes between the first and the second positions on command, wherein the spikes comprise at least two barbs adapted to penetrate a pneumatic tire, the spikes also having a hook for grasping a loop of the leading edge of the net. The method of the invention is a method of inhibiting the motion of a moving vehicle comprising the steps of providing a housing in the path of the vehicle, the housing being adapted to releasably contain a net having spikes arranged at a leading edge of the net; transmitting an electronic command manually to a motor that exposes the spikes to the moving vehicle; engaging the tires of the moving vehicle with the spikes by puncturing them; pulling the net from the housing by wrapping the net around the tires as the tires continue to move forward; and limiting continued forward motion by tightening the net around the axles thereby ultimately constraining the tires from further rotation.

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Brian John Smyth