United States Patent [15] 3,648,613

Cunn
(45) Mar. 14, 1972
54 BOMB BLANKET 57 ABSTRACT
(72) Inventor: Arthur Cunn, 62 Burns Avenue, A bomb blanket adapted to be placed over a bomb about to
Hicksville, N.Y. 1 1801 explode so as to minimize the lateral blast effect and to con
22 Filed: Nov. 4, 1970 tain the spread of shrapnel, said blanket including upper and
lower covers fabricated from moisture-resistant and fire-re
(21) Appl. No.: 86,902 tarding material, a plurality of layers of ballistic cloth located
between the covers to make the blanket shrapnel proof, and a
plurality of centrally located apertures extending through the
52 U.S.C. ................................................ 102122,89/36D ballistic cloth with the size, number, and orientation of the
(51) int. Cl............................................................F42d 5100 apertures being parameters selected to permit the gas released
58) Field of Search............................... 102122,23; 89/36, 1 by an explosion to vent therethrough and create a vacuum
under the central portion of the blanket.
56) References Cited The effectiveness of the blanket is due to the downward flex
UNITED STATES PATENTS ure or puckering of the corners of the blanket about the bomb
as the bomb explodes so as to reduce the lateral blast effect
3,491,847 1/1970 Abbott................................. 102122 X and to prevent spread of shrapnel, such puckering being
2,326,713 8/1943 Wesseler................................89/36. A primarily attributable to the partial vacuum or venturi effect
FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS
created on the underside of the blanket in the central region
thereof as the gas released by an explosion vents through the
262,765 2/1964 Australia............................ 102/22 apertures. The effect is enhanced by limiting the number of
1,743 1877 Great Britain.........................89/36A layers of ballistic cloth which extend the full dimension of the
161,425 1 1/1957 Sweden..................................89/36A blanket so as to allow the corners of the blanket to more readi
ly flex downwardly to enclose about the bomb. The effect is
Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle still further enhanced by tightening an adjustable strap ar
Attorney-Arthur T. Groeninger rangement to initially set the blanket in a puckered state about
the bomb prior to explosion.
13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
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2
BOMB BLANKET DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the bomb blanket
1. Field of the Invention constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
The instant invention relates generally to blankets for FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on lines II-II of FIG. I.
minimizing the explosive forces of bombs and like explosive FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating various contours
devices. More particularly, the invention relates to bomb blan of the blanket and it's positions relative to ground as a bomb
kets for reducing the lateral blast effect and for trapping the explodes.
shrapnellike fragments released by the explosion of a bomb. O FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the working face of a
2. Description of the Prior Art bomb blanket which includes straps to allow handling and to
Blasting mats have been used in the excavation industry for allow initial puckering.
many years for localizing or muffling the explosive forces of FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate manners in which the blanket can be
dynamite and blasting powder and thus minimizing the handled.
hazards attendant upon the dispersion of rock fragments. The 15
mats are substantial in size and possess considerable weight DETAILED DESCRIPTION
for they are fabricated from a plurality of interconnected vehi Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which
cle tire casings or elongated tubes, or rigid girders.
Representative blasting mats are depicted in U.S. Pat. No. similar reference numerals refer to similar parts, FIG. 1 de
2,926,605 granted to Hammel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,322 picts a bomb blanket indicated generally by reference numeral
20 10. The blanket 10 is adapted to be placed over a bomb as
granted to Belander, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,371,604 granted to
Wikimer et al. shown at 12, the bomb being shown packaged as is conven
Such cumbersome blasting mats are not suitable for police tionally the case encountered by bomb squads.
or military bomb squads use, as such must be moved by ex Referring to FIG.2, bomb blanket 10 includes a lower cover
cavating machinery from blast site to blast site. These blasting 25
14 and an upper cover 16 with a plurality of layers of ballistic
mats lack the flexibility necessary for one to easily position a cloth generally designated 18 disposed between the covers.
mat about a small object, such as a box thought to contain ex The ballistic cloth is conventionally available ballistic cloth
plosive contents of an unknown type contained therein, and such as that shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,816,578
furthermore lack of any provision for reducing lateral blast ef or as described in U.S. military specifications MIL-C-7812C
fect and for trapping the shrapnellike fragments therein if an 30 Mar. 31, 1959), MIL-F-43539 Aug. 23, 1967), or MIL-C-1
explosion does occur. 2369E (July 25, 1968) available through Naval Supply Depot,
Heretofore, no one has devised a readily handled bomb 5801 Tabor Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19120, and by this
blanket suitable for police work wherein the primary concern reference incorporated herein.
is to protect life and property and which is capable of minimiz The covers 14 and 16 which are rectangular in shape, are
ing the lateral blast effect and containing the flying shrapnel of 35 sewn or otherwise secured together along their edges (not
an exploding bomb. shown). Covers 14 and 16 are imperforate and fabricated
from a fire-retarding material, i.e., not capable of supporting a
SUMMARY flame, and moisture-resistant material to protect the ballistic
Thus with the deficiencies of the prior art devices enu against water and fire damage. The moisture resistance is
merated above in mind, the invention contemplates an effi 40 required to protect ballistic cloth 18 as water acts as a lubri
cient and easily manipulated lightweight bomb blanket that cant and reduces the resistance of ballistic cloth. Fire-retard
envelopes a bomb as it explodes thereby trapping shrapnel and ing material is required so as to protect the ballistic cloth from
preventing lateral blast effect. The invention is particularly a burning fuse or smolding Molotov cocktail and it enhances
suitable for police and military bomb squad use. the smothering effect to extinguish a burning fuse prior to ex
The blanket comprises a plurality of layers of ballistic cloth 45 plosion.
which resists penetration of shrapnel and the like. The layers As shown in FIG. 2, the layers of ballistic cloth 18 comprise
of cloth are protected by upper and lower imperforate cover a plurality of upper layers 18A which only cover the central
members which are fabricated from flame-retardent and portion of the blanket, generally less than three-fourths the
waterproof material to prevent water or flame damage to the dimension of the blanket, and a plurality of lower layers 18B
cloth. 50 which extend the full dimension of the blanket. The purpose
The blanket includes a plurality of apertures extending for this arrangement is to provide maximum strength in the
through its central portion. These apertures allow the gas central impact area while increasing the flexibility of the outer
released by the bomb to vent therethrough at a velocity which edges of the blanket so that the blanket more readily encloses
causes the blanket to lift from the ground and create a vacuum about a bomb as it explodes, as hereinafter more particularly
under the central portion thereof. The vacuum causes the 55 described. .
edges of the blanket to collapse about the bomb thereby con The greater the number of layers of ballistic cloth 18, the
taining shrapnel and minimizing the lateral blast effect. greater the strength of the blanket. The exact number will de
The central portion of the blanket includes additional layers pend on the thickness and resistance character of the particu
of ballistic cloth as it is this portion of the blanket which is lar ballistic cloth used and number of layers used in lower
placed directly over the bomb and subject to the greatest im 60 layers 18A should not be so great as to prevent flexing. While
pact. These extra layers of ballistic cloth do not extend to the not shown in FIG. 2, when using commercially available bal
edges of the blanket, the reduced number of layers at the listic cloth as described by the aforenoted MIL Spec., the
edges increasing flexibility and enhancing the bomb envelop lower layers 18B should comprise between five and 15 layers
ing effect. and the central portion comprising both lower and upper layer
The blanket may optionally further include an adjustable 65 groups 18A and 18B should comprise at least 15 layers.
strap on one cover which functions as a handle and can further Layers 18 may be secured together by sewing in any con
function to flex downwardly the corners of the blanket so that venient pattern and the assembly of layers snugly contained
the blanket assumes a puckered condition as it is placed over between the covers 14 and 6.
the bomb. This initial puckered consition of the blanket func In order to allow gas to vent through the central portion of
tions in a positive manner to assure that the released gas will 70 the blanket, a first series of spaced apertures 20 are situated
be directed to the centrally located apertures. near the middle of ballistic cloth 18 and a second series of
Other objects, advantages and desirable features of the in spaced apertures 22 are located radially outwardly therefrom.
stant invention will become apparent in light of the following The cover members 14 and 16 are not perforated so as to pro
description of the invention when construed in connection tect the ballistic cloth as hereinbefore described. However,
with the accompanying sheet of drawings. 75 upon explosion, portions of the covers overlying and underly

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 3,648,613
3 4
ing the apertures are blasted through thereby allowing gas to pucker. The dotted lines in FIG. 4 indicate such puckering.
escape through the apertures. Web 32 may be used as a handle as illustrated in FIG. 5 in
The size, number and location of apertures 20 and 22 are approaching a bomb to be covered. The blanket provides pro
parameters selected to permit the gas released by an explosion tection for the police officer as he approaches the bomb.
to properly vent therethrough. Gas flow from the explosion Straps 24, 26, 28 and 30 also include loop portions as shown
must be directed upward to minimize the deathly and destruc at 36, 38, 40 and 42.
tive lateral blast effect and to cause a vacuum beneath the A bomb may have to be removed from a particular location,
center of the blanket so as to cause the same to envelope and in this instance, loops 36, 38, 40 and 42 may be con
about the bomb. In order to accomplish the above results, veniently utilized to receive a pole 44 which when slipped
each aperture should be no less than 4 inch in diameter, nor O through the loops as indicated in FIG. 6 serves as a handle so
greater than one inch and preferably between 96 inch and 4 that the blanket and the bomb contained therein can be
inch. When less than 4 inch in diameter, the gas cannot vent manipulated and carried to a safe area.
rapidly enough through the apertures and as a result, the gas The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of
spreads laterally preventing the blanket from collapsing about the invention which is exemplary in nature. Manifestly, the in
the bomb. When greater than 1 inch, shrapnel goes through 15 vention is not limited in scope to the specific configuration
the blanket and the blanket does not lift as the gas vents too detailed above, but includes all such variations as falls within
rapidly. the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts by the instant in
The number of apertures will vary with the size of the blan vention.
ket. The arrangement of FIG. containing 14 apertures is What is claimed is:
designed for a blanket 4 feet square and in this size range, the 20 1. A blanket comprising
number of apertures can vary from between five and 30 but a. a first plurality of layers of ballistic cloth,
preferably between 10 and 20. As with the size of the aper b. a second plurality of layers of ballistic cloth superim
tures, the number of apertures should not be too few so as to posed on a central portion of said first plurality of layers
prevent sufficiently rapid venting nor to numerous to cause to of ballistic cloth,
rapid venting. 25 c. the periphery of said second plurality of layers of ballistic
While not critical, it is preferred that the apertures 20 and cloth terminating short of the periphery of said first plu
22 be disposed in circular paths as the bomb blasts out in all rality of layers of ballistic cloth whereby the periphery of
directions and the circular path arrangement assures a more said blanket is flexible and light in relation to the central
uniform collapse about the bomb. It is also preferred that each portion of said blanket,
of the apertures be circular in cross section to eliminate 30 d, a plurality of aperture means extending through said first
corner portions which have a greater tendency to tear. The and second plurality of layers of ballistic cloth for allow
number of aperture paths can be greater than the two illus ing passage of sufficient gas therethrough to create a par
trated providing venting is not to rapid. In addition, the aper tial vacuum under said central portion when a bomb ex
tures should be contained within the reenforced area which in plodes beneath said blanket.
cludes extra ballistic layers 18A so as not to interfere with the 35 2. The blanket of claim , means for flexing the corners of
flexing at the periphery of layers 18B. said blanket.
Referring to FIG. 3, the blanket is shown in a series of posi 3. The blanket of claim 2, wherein the means for flexing the
tions from the time a bomb explodes. In position A, the blan corners of said blanket includes a plurality of spaced straps
ket 10 rests over the bomb prior to explosion. In position B, secured to the top of said blanket, each of said straps having a
the bomb has exploded, covers 14 and 16 have to be blasted 40 loop at its inner end, and means passing through all of said
out at 4A and 6A to expose the apertures and the blankets straps, means for adjusting the length of said last mentioned
and bomb fragments rise as gas vents through apertures caus means to exert a pulling force upon said straps.
ing a vacuum under the central portion. In position C, the 4. The blanket of claim 1, including upper and lower imper
blanket and fragments continue to rise, and, due to the gas forate cover members covering said ballistic cloth to protect
escaping through the apertures, the vacuum is set up, and the 45 the same from fire and moisture.
blanket completely collapses about the exploding bomb frag 5. The blanket of claim 4, said cover member being con
ments. The blanket with it's contents will rise to considerable structed from material which is waterproof and flameproof.
height but the lateral effect is minimal. The central portion 6. The blanket of claim 1, means for releasably securing a
reenforced by extra layers of ballistic cloth 18A withstand the pole to said blanket.
major blast effect. The relatively flexible peripheries of layers 50 7. The blanket of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of
18B readily collapse to the position shown. layers comprise between five and fifteen layers of ballistic
The enveloping action can be improved if the blanket is ini cloth.
tially flexed at the time of the explosion. For this purpose, and 8. The blanket of claim 1, the dimension of said first plurai
as shown in FIG. 4, cover 14, the working face of the blanket ty of layers is less than three-fourths the dimension of said
10 in contact with the bomb (the blanket shown upside down 55 second plurality of layers.
in FIG. 4) may optionally have sewn thereto a series of four 9. The blanket of claim 1, said plurality of apertures each
straps 24, 26, 28 and 30. The straps have a loop portion at having a diameter less than 1 inch and greater than A of an
their inner most end and extend outwardly at 90 intervals inch.
about the cover. A web 32 passes through the loop portion of 10. The blanket of claim 9, said plurality of apertures rang
all the straps. The web and straps are preferably constructed 60 ing in number between five and 25 for each 4 square foot area
of a material having a tensile strength greater than 2,000 lbs. of blanket.
per square inch. 11. The blanket of claim 1, said plurality of apertures ar
Buckle 34 is placed upon web 32 so as to adjust the length ranged in circular paths.
thereof. Buckle 34 may be of any conventional type whereby 12. The blanket of claim 1, each of said apertures being cir
the web may be adjusted in length and may be of the type con 65 cular in cross section.
ventionally used in auto or aircraft safety belts. By foreshor 13. The blanket of claim 1, wherein said plurality of aper
tening web 32, a pulling force is exerted upon straps 24, 26, 28 tures are situated in two concentric rows.
and 30 and the corners of the blanket tend to flex inwardly or : : sk k

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