FOR USING SAME

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to United States provisional patent application Serial No. 62/333,389 filed May 9, 201 6, entitled "A Hand-Held Tool for Breeching Laminated Glass, Tempered Glass and Film-Covered Glass and Method for Using Same" which is incorporated herein by reference

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a hand held tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass and film-covered glass, such as automotive windshields and architectural windows, and an associated methods of use.

[0004] Background Information

[0005] Laminated glass, which is a type of safety glass, utilizes two or more regular or specially strengthened glass sheets bonded together with a special plastic interlayer to form a clear, see-through barrier with enhanced impact and shatter resistance. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plastic is commonly used as the interlayer which enhances the glass further by increasing sound insulation and blocking nearly 99% of ultraviolet radiation. The interlayer maintains the layers of glass bonded even when broken, and the relative high strength of the interlayer prevents the glass from breaking up into large sharp pieces. This produces a characteristic "spider web" cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the laminated glass. Laminated glass is normally used when there is a possibility of human impact or where the glass could fall if shattered. Laminated glass is standard in automobile windshields and is routinely used in building architectural windows or curtain walls (a non-structural outer covering of a building), skylights, and in prisons. More recently, laminated glass is used for automobile side windows and for blast and hurricane protection for architectural windows.

[0006] Automobile windshields are a clear, see-through wind barrier which provides impact resistance from insects, road debris, vandalism, etc., roof crush resistance, airbag support and resistance to occupant ejection. Windshields can become damaged during normal use and during vehicle crashes. When windshields fracture, the glass fragments are contained and occupant injury risk is minimized. It should be noted that the term windshield is used generally throughout North America while the term windscreen is the usual term in the British Isles and Australasia for all vehicles. In the United States, by 2018 all vehicle glass will require advanced safety measures for side and rear windows, which include laminated glass in all vehicle windows.

[0007] During automobile crashes, there are instances when the vehicle occupants become trapped within the vehicle, possibly in need of emergency assistance, but where the occupants cannot be accessed via the doors. When this occurs, emergency personnel are required to remove the windshield or the side windows or rear window to access the occupants. There are two methods employed for windshield removal: 1 ) blunt impact or 2) cutting. Blunt impact with an object like a hammer or a fire axe can fracture or tear the windshield. Handheld or powered saws can cut windshield glass after creating an access hole. Each of these methods increases the risk of injury to the patients/vehicle occupants and/or the emergency personnel by flying glass debris and possible increased extrication time. The conventional power saws additionally create a large amount of harmful silica dust, discussed further below, as it ribs apart a ribbon of the windshield that is slightly wider than the saw blade. An improved hand held tool for cutting laminated glass and film- covered glass that is particularly useful for removing windshields is disclosed in U.S. Publication 2013/0283985 and U.S. Patent No. 9,409,813 which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0008] Automobile crashes sometimes result in water submersion. When this occurs, the windows are difficult or unable to be retracted for escape and breaking the windows is very difficult. An advanced method for breeching automobile glass would permit escape or access by emergency personnel.

[0009] A refined method for breeching laminated glass and film-covered glass would permit automobile occupants to self-extricate, assist emergency personnel to extricate trapped occupants and minimize personal injury associated with vehicle occupant extrications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] One aspect of this invention is directed to an apparatus for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass and film-covered glass and an associated methods. A laminated glass, tempered glass and film-covered glass breeching tool in accordance with this invention may have a plastic or metal housing which utilizes a mechanical, pneumatic or electrical power system within the housing to drive a hardened ram into the laminated glass or film-covered glass to generate a breech or an access hole.

[0011] Meeting the need for a laminated glass and film-covered glass breeching tool, the present inventor developed hand-held tools each with a sharp hardened ram. When breeching laminated glass, tempered glass, and film-covered glass in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the device housing is placed against the glass. The device is activated to release the sharp, hardened ram. The ram plunges against and into the glass to a controlled depth beyond the glass undersurface creating the breech. The ram will either manually or automatically return within the housing for the next activation. The sharp hardened ram is constructed with high strength, high hardness metal and or composite. The shape of the ram point may be round, polygonal, sharp, snub, tapered, flat, blunt, bullet, star, or spine.

[0012] One aspect of the invention provides a hand-held tool with a sharp hardened ram not moveable relative to the housing handle. When breeching laminated glass, tempered glass, and film-covered glass in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the sharp, hardened ram is manually plunged against and into the glass to a controlled depth beyond the glass undersurface creating the breech. The ram is manually withdrawn from the glass for the next activation. The sharp hardened ram is constructed with high strength, high hardness metal and or composite. The shape of the ram point may be round, polygonal, sharp, snub, tapered, flat, blunt, bullet, star, or spine.

[0013] One aspect of the invention provides a method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass comprising the steps of: providing a manual breeching tool having a sharp ram tip and a hand held housing; and plunging the ram tip of the breeching tool against and into the glass to a controlled depth beyond the glass undersurface.

[0014] The method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides that the manual breeching tool includes a guard and wherein the controlled depth is defined by the position of the guard.

[0015] The method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention further comprising the steps of retracting the ram tip from the glass and repeating the plunging step at a new location on the glass to create a plurality of breeches in the glass, and wherein the plurality of breeches form a perforation pattern in the glass.

[0016] The method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides that the controlled depth is less than 2", generally about 1 ½".

[0017] The method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention comprising the step of retracting the sharp ram tip to a loaded position within the hand held housing followed by placing the tool against the glass while grasping the housing the prior to the plunging step. The method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides wherein the manual breeching tool includes a manual trigger on the housing and wherein the plunging step is accomplished by actuation of the trigger mechanism with the tool in the loaded position to cause the plunging of the ram tip of the breeching tool against and into the glass to a controlled depth beyond the glass undersurface. The method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides that the manual breeching tool includes a spring which biases the ram tip away from the loaded position tool and when the tool is released from the loaded position causes the plunging of the ram tip of the breeching tool against and into the glass to a controlled depth beyond the glass undersurface. The method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides that the manual breeching tool includes a manual actuation handle configured to allow the user to move the ram tip relative to the housing to the loaded position.

[0018] The method of breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides that the ram tip is fixed relative to the hand held housing and wherein the manual breeching tool includes a guard and wherein the controlled depth is defined by the position of the guard and wherein the plunging of the ram tip against and into the glass by manually swinging the breeching tool.

[0019] One aspect of the invention provides a manual breeching tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass comprising: a hand held housing; a trigger mechanism on the hand held housing; a ram tip moveable between loaded position in which the ram tip is positioned within the hand held housing, and a breeching position is which ram tip extends a controlled depth beyond the housing, and wherein actuation of the trigger mechanism with the ram tip in the loaded position causes the movement of the ram tip to the breeching position. The manual breeching tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides that the manual breeching tool further includes a spring which biases the ram tip away from the loaded position tool and when the tool is released from the loaded position causes a plunging of the ram tip of the breeching tool against and into the glass to the controlled depth beyond the glass undersurface. The manual breeching tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film- covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides wherein the manual breeching tool further includes a manual actuation handle configured to allow the user to move the ram tip relative to the housing to the loaded position. The manual breeching tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention provides wherein the manual breeching tool further includes an end guard at an end of the housing configured to be a surface of the tool that rests against the glass in operation.

[0020] One aspect of the invention provides a manual breeching tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass or film-covered glass comprising a hand held housing; an end guard at an end of the housing configured to be a surface of the tool that rests against the glass in operation; and a ram tip fixed to and extending from the housing and the end guard and configured to be manually swung and plunged against and into the glass to the controlled depth beyond the glass undersurface.

[0021] These and other advantages are described in the brief description of the preferred embodiments in which like reference numeral represent like elements throughout.

Brief Description of the Figures

[0022] FIG. 1 is shows a side elevation section schematic view of a hand-held tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass and film-covered glass according to one aspect of the invention with the tool in the unloaded position.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation section schematic view showing the tool of figure 1 in the loaded position. [0024] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the tool of figure 1 in-use after activation where the ram has created the breech in a glass substrate, such as a vehicle window.

[0025] FIG. 4 is shows a side elevation section schematic view of a hand-held tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass and film-covered glass according to another aspect of the invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0026] The present invention is an apparatus and associated method for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass and film-covered glass. Many specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in FIGS. 1 -4 to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the present invention may have additional embodiments, or that the invention may be practiced without several of the details described in the following description.

[0027] FIGS. 1 -3 show schematic views of a hand-held tool 10 for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass and film-covered glass 100 according to one aspect of the invention. The tool 1 0 includes a manually held typically cylindrical housing 1 2 generally formed of metal or high strength plastic or composite material. The tool 10 includes a trigger mechanism 14 on the housing 12 which is configured to be engaged by the user to release a cocked or loaded ram tip 1 6.

[0028] The ram tip 16 is preferably formed of maximum hardened tool steel or equivalent, such as a high impact composite. The shape of the ram tip 16 or point may be round, polygonal, sharp, snub, tapered, flat, blunt, bullet, star, or spine. For use on certain glass 100 substrates the shape of the ram tip 16 may be designed to create an elongated puncture hole (e.g., an elongated oval or rounded rectangular shape) in the glass 1 00 (assuming it does not shatter), whereby the user may elect to repeat to create a dashed perforated pattern along or around the glass 100 effectively creating a score line upon which the glass 100 can be broken out. An elongated shaped hole created by the tip 16 in the glass 100 creates a visual cue to the operator for aligning the next puncture hole in a desired perforated pattern, and further it provides an immediately or instinctively understood visual cue the operator does not have to think about. [0029] The tip 16 is coupled to a shaft 18 extending into the housing 12 and a spring base 19 within the housing at a distal end of the shaft 18 from the tip 16. A compressible spring 20, metal or composite, is within the housing 12 resting against the base 19 on one end and an opposite end anchored to the housing 1 2. The spring 20 can rest against the end of the housing 20 as well, but is not shown in that manner to illustrate the handle 22 clearly. Handle 22 is coupled to the base 19 and extends through the housing 12 to be gripped by the user and used to retract the tip 16, and shaft 18 and base 19 and compress the spring 20 until the trigger mechanism 14 is engaged as shown in figure 2 with the tip 16 retracted within a cavity 24 within the housing 1 2. Additionally the tool 10 includes an end guard 26 is at the end of the housing 12 and is the surface of the tool 10 that rests against the glass 1 00 in operation. The guard 26 provides an enlarged glass engaging surface for the tool 100 and can protect the user.

[0030] The trigger mechanism 14 will include a conventional latch (not shown) engaging the base 19 or shaft 18 after it is pulled back to the loaded or cocked position. Conventionally the latch can be lifted out of position by depressing the trigger mechanism 14 on the housing 1 2 by the user. Additionally, conventionally the latch can be lifted out of the way by the retracting base 19 such as via a ramp surface on one side of the latch. The latch can take many forms and is conventional.

[0031] As discussed above the trigger mechanism 14 releases the ram tip 16 after it is cocked so that it moves from the position of figure 2 to the position of figure 1 . The metal or composite spring 20 when compressed as shown in figure 2, provides the compressive force against the ram tip 1 6 via the base 1 9 and shaft 18 which drives it downward against and into the glass 100 as shown in figure 3. The handle 22 is used to pull back the tip 16 and compress the spring 20 providing the mechanical compressive force to drive the ram tip 1 6 against and into the glass 100 to create the breech or access hole. When the handle 22 is manually pulled away from the housing 12 and the tool 1 0 is cocked and held in place by the trigger mechanism 14. The trigger mechanism 14 is depressed by the user to release the force of the spring causing the ram tip 1 6 to be projected against and into the glass 100.

[0032] In operation, the operator cocks or loads the tool 10 (if not pre-loaded) to place it in the position of figure 2 and places the guard 26 of the tool 1 0 against the glass 100 while grasping the housing 12 and activates the trigger mechanism 14 causing the ram tip 1 6 to plunge downward against and into the glass 100. The ram tip 1 6 is then manually returned to loaded position within the housing 12.

[0033] The manually loaded, spring biased tool 10 is on version of the tool. The spring operation could be replaced with a pneumatic cylinder biasing mechanism. With such a system compressed gas (C02, air or the like) could be used to both force the tip 16 toward the glass 100 and to retract the tip 1 6 such as via a double acting piston formed by base 19. If a double acting arrangement is provided to allow for automatic loading of the tool 10, then the trigger mechanism 14 would include dual operation controls, such as a toggle switch between fire/release and load/cock. Other power sources are possible such as hydraulic, electric motor driven, magnetic drives or the like, but the spring and the pneumatic are likely the most cost effective solutions for this tool 10.

[0034] FIG. 4 is shows a side elevation section schematic view of a hand-held tool for breeching laminated glass, tempered glass and film-covered glass 100 according to another aspect of the invention wherein the hand-held tool 10' includes a sharp hardened ram 1 6' and shaft 18 that is coupled to and not moveable relative to the housing handle 12'. The housing handle 12' is shown molded to provide ease of gripping by the user. The tool 1 0' includes the guard 26 coupled to the housing 12 and the shaft 18 and which effectively limits the depth of penetration of the tip 1 6 in use, whereas in the embodiment of figures 1 -3 the depth of penetration of the tip 16 is determined by the stroke or movement of the tip 16 beyond the guard 26. In both embodiments the depth of penetration is less than 2 inches, generally about 1 ½ inches. When breeching laminated glass, tempered glass, and film-covered glass 100 with tool 10', the sharp, hardened ram tip 16' is manually swung and plunged against and into the glass 100 to a controlled depth beyond the glass undersurface defined by the position of the guard 26, creating the breech in the glass 100. The ram tip 16' is manually withdrawn from the glass 100 for the next activation. The sharp hardened ram tip 1 6' is again constructed with high strength, high hardness metal and or composite and the shape may be as described above.

[0035] First responders like fire fighters, police and emergency medical personnel often are required to remove the windshield, side or rear glass 1 00 to gain access to vehicle occupants in need of emergency removal and/or medical care. Current cutting methods require the glass to have an access hole to permit cutting. The current embodiment of this laminated glass and film-covered glass breeching tool 10 or 1 0' will permit automobile occupants to break the windows to escape after a crash and/or water submersion, and reduce the risk of injury and greatly decrease the time necessary to perform the activity. The tool 10 or 10' of the invention is particularly helpful in under water application in which conventional breeching tools would have limited effectiveness.

[0036] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the driving force for the ram may be spring-loaded, pneumatic or electric. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the claims.