EP2245415A1

EP2245415A1 - Protective divide and method for protection

Info

Publication number: EP2245415A1
Application number: EP09705820A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yossi Gur; Eli Levin
Original assignee: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2008-01-28
Filing date: 2009-01-19
Publication date: 2010-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 2029-01-19
Also published as: WO2009095903A1; AU2009208585B2; AU2009208585A1; IL189088A0; EP2245415B1; US20110000001A1; IL206633A0

Abstract

A surface-conforming protective divide (100) is formed by mutually adjacent interlocking sculptured elements (10), which have a first portion (101) different from a second portion (102). The first portion has a first surface (20) bound by a polygon wherefrom a plurality of lateral surface (26) extend from each side of the polygon (24). The second portion has many knuckles, each one associated with a first and then alternately with every other lateral surface. Each knuckle has a laterally protruding rotund surface extending radially outward from the first portion. The second portion has a plurality of recesses (32), each recess being associated with a second and then alternately with every other lateral surface. Each recess receives therein one knuckle pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element in mutual interlocking coupling. Each sculptured elements has a flat base surface (34) terminating the second portion and forming a basis.

Description

PROTECTIVE DIVIDE AND METHOD FOR PROTECTION

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a protective assembly, and more particularly, to a product and to a method for implementing a surface-conforming protective divide. Background Art

Protective armor is well known per se for the protection of human beings, of equipment and of structures, when used for the prevention, or at least the mitigation, of injuries or damage caused by incoming projectiles or fragments. Typically, such protective armor is made from a plurality of plates or elements formed out of ceramic, or metallic, or other suitable material, which are assembled to fit their purpose. Some examples of known efforts to make flexible protective armor are listed hereinbelow. US Patent No. 5,771,489 to R. Snedeker, recites a penetration-resistant hinge for joining adjacent armor plates, the hinge having a first part having a first face and a second part having a second face. One of said first and second faces have a central, cylindrical spline, a first mating surface located along one side of said spline, and a second mating surface located along the other side of said spline. The other of said first and second faces includes an elongate, central cut-out shaped to receive and closely fit with said cylindrical spline to substantially prevent movement of said first and second faces away from one another, and having edges which extend a sufficient distance around said spline to securely radially retain said spline in said cut-out, a first mating surface located along one side of said cut- out, and a second mating surface located along the other side of said cut-out.

US Patent No. 5,915,528 to E. Shmuelov, recites a protective assembly having a plurality of protective stripes. Each one of the plurality of protective stripe assemblies include a plurality of protective elements aligned stripewise adjacent one another. The protective elements are shaped and arranged such that a concave-convex interface is formed between adjacent protective elements of a protective stripe assembly. Each of the protective elements is formed with a tunnel passing from one end thereof to the other end. The plurality of protective elements are aligned stripewise adjacent one another by a wire inserted through the tunnels. Each of the protective stripe assemblies includes a flexible sleeve within which the plurality of protective elements are aligned stripewise adjacent one another. The plurality of protective stripe assemblies is connected to one another by stitches. US Patent No. 6,500,507 Bl to S. E. Fisher, recites a flexible impact resistant composite material having a strike face including impact-resistant adjacent tiles and a flexible material, wherein the tiles are integral with the flexible material.

EP Patent Application No. EP 1 517 111 A2 to Neal L. Murray, discloses a plurality of discus shaped discs, each disk having a radius, a first incline surface co-extensive with a segment of the radius and a thickness, the plurality of disks arranged in a imbricated pattern, and a tear and cut resistant substrate retaining the disks in an imbricated pattern.

UK Patent Application No. 2 422 086 A to T. Hallwell, discloses a body armour having a plurality of non-shattering balls. Two honeycomb layers bonded and sealed with outer skins may form cells to receive the balls.

International Publication No. WO 2006/103431 Al, by A. G. Baxter et al., divulges an armour panel comprising a layer of armour elements of hexagonal cross section, which have a lug on each side of a ceramic element. The lugs provide uniform spacing for a bond line between the side of the ceramic armour element and the sides of adjacent ceramic armour elements. A bond line is a layer '' of material, here an adhesive, between sides of adjacent ceramic armour elements. '\ In an array of hexagonal protective elements, there is a continuous space between H the sides of the elements allowing for adhesive flow and ingress and formation of ^■-; a layer of adhesive between the sides of elements.

Reference is now made to a paper entitled "A new concept in design of • materials and structures: assemblies of interlocked tetrahedron-shaped elements" ^: by A. V. Dyskin et al., published by Elsevier Science Ltd. in Scripta Materialia Vol. 44, No. 12, in 2001, pp. 2689-2694, referred to hereinbelow as Dyskin et al. Dyskin et al. mention building blocks with special locking keys, stating that the locking keys are obviously stress-concentrators that impose severe limitations on a structure as well as manufacturing difficulties. Therefore, Dyskin et al. propose a different approach to the production of interlocked structures, based on the possibility of establishing self-locking assemblies of simple convex-shaped elements free of stress concentrators. As an example, an interlocked structure of identical tetrahedron-shaped elements is discussed.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a protective divide, which is prone to conform to the three-dimensional shape of say, a portion of the body of a human being, or to the shape of equipment or objects to be protected. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide a protective divide, which would allow free movement to a user thereof by conforming to changes of shape of the body. Disclosure of Invention

One problem with interlocked or self-locking protective structures resides in the inability to conform to curved surfaces since the building blocks of the structure are rigid and fit closely together. To provide surface conforming capability to a self-locking structure, thus to allow some degree of freedom of relative mutual displacement, an interstice separating the building blocks of the protective device has to be permitted. However, interstices permit the passage therethrough of incoming fragments impinging on the protective structure, and therefore significantly reduce the degree of protection offered by the structure. As a solution, there is provided a rigid convex and concave three-dimensional sculptured element that may be interlocked with adjacent sculptured elements to be assembled into an interlocking surface-conforming protective divide. The three- dimensional shape of the sculptured element is configured to provide protection against incoming fragments even though interstices may be allowed, for the protective divide to become surface conforming. However, the interstices between adjacent elements do not contribute but to only a minimal loss of protection offered by the protective divide.

Furthermore, the sculptured element may be configured to deflect the trajectory of an incoming fragment or ballistic projectile impinging on the protective divide.

Moreover, the interlocking sculptured elements permits to assemble a protective divide in situ, practically anywhere, without the need for any jig, tool, glue, or adhesive.

Summary It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface-conforming protective divide PD, and a method for implementing such a protective divide. The protective divide PD may be assembled out of a plurality of rigid interlocking sculptured element 10. Each sculptured element may have a first portion 101 supported by a second portion 102. The first portion may have a first surface 20 bound by a polygon wherefrom a plurality of lateral surface 26 extend from each side of the polygon 24. The second portion may comprise a plurality of convex knuckles 30, a plurality of concave recesses 32, and a base surface 34. Each knuckle 30 out of the plurality of knuckles may be associated with a first lateral surface 26 and alternately with at least one other lateral surface, and each knuckle may have a laterally protruding rotund surface 36 extending radially outward and away from the first portion. Each recess 32 out of the plurality of recesses may be associated with a second lateral surface 26 and alternately with at least one other lateral surface, and each recess may be configured for receiving therein one knuckle pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element 10 in mutual interlocking coupling. The base surface 34, which terminates the second portion 102 may form a basis.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective divide with an interstice 28 that may separate apart immediately adjacent lateral surfaces 26 to provide degrees of freedom of displacement to the interlocked sculptured elements, and where each knuckle associated with a recess pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element may form a joint articulation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the sculptured element with at least one surface configured to deflect an incoming fragment impinging thereon, where the at least one surface may be selected as the first surface 20, the base surface 34, and as both the first surface 20 and the base surface 34.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide the protective divide with an interstice to separate apart immediately adjacent lateral surfaces (26). A ballistic fragment directed at the protective device and small enough to penetrate into the interstice will impinge on a knuckle when directed onto the first portion, and on a recess when directed onto the base surface.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a sculptured element where the polygon is a regular hexagon and the sculptured element has three knuckles and three recesses.

It is still an object of the present invention to provide the protective device with an interstice that separates apart mutually adjacent sculptured elements. The first portion may have a first surface 20 supported by an intermediate portion 103 having lateral surfaces 26, and the first surface may have a thickness above the intermediate portion, the thickness being zero when the first surface is a flat plane, and the thickness being hi when the first surface is a convex geometric surface disposed above the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion may have a thickness h2, and the second portion may have a thickness H above the base surface. Thereby, a projectile impinging onto the first portion of the sculptured element will meet a maximum thickness of hi plus h2 plus H, or only a thickness of h2 plus H when the first surface is a flat plane, and a minimum thickness of H2 when the projectile penetrates through an interstice.

It is yet still an object of the present invention to configure the sculptured element for mutual interlocking, which interlocking may be achieved when at least three mutually adjacent sculptured elements are assembled.

It is also an object of the present invention to configure the polygon as a regular polygon. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an assembled protective divide where each one of the sculptured elements has a same identical geometrical configuration.

It is yet an object of the present invention to provide a sculptured element where the first surface may be configured as a convex geometrical surface disposed above an intermediate surface 103 supported by the second portion 102.

For example, the first surface may be configured as a dome, a cupola, an ogive, a flat surface, and an umbrella-shaped surface.

It is yet an additional object of the present invention to provide the sculptured element with a base surface that may be selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of a flat surface and of a concave geometrical surface.

It is one object of the present invention to provide the plurality of interlocking sculptured elements to include at least a first type of sculptured elements having a first geometry and at least a second type of sculptured elements having a second geometry, where the first geometry is different from the second geometry.

It is moreover an object of the present invention to allow the first surface of the plurality of sculptured elements to be selected as regular polygons, irregular polygons, or as a combination of both.

It is one other additional object of the present invention to provide interlocked sculptured elements that may be packaged intermediate two layers of flexible tear, cut, and perforation resistant material (40) to form a packaged layer (42). A stacked package (44) may be assembled out of packaged layers disposed on top of each other.

Brief Description of Drawings In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments including the preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a sculptured element,

Fig. 2 presents a tessellation,

Fig. 3 is a schematic partial cross-section of adjacent sculptured elements, Figs. 4 to 7 show further tessellations,

Fig. 8 illustrates a packaged layer, and

Fig. 9 depicts a stacked package. Modes for Carrying out the Invention

The embodiments of the present invention relate to a protective divide for various uses, such as for example an armor against incoming ballistic bodies, including ballistic projectiles and ballistic fragments, for providing protection to constructions, equipment, and floors, or to become an envelope protecting products and objects. Moreover, the embodiments of the present invention provide a method for implementing such a protective divide.

The terms ballistic bodies, ballistic projectiles, projectiles, ballistic fragments, and fragments are used interchangeably hereinbelow. Various embodiments are now described with reference to Figs. 1 to 9.

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment 1000 of an exemplary solid sculptured element 10, showing one sculptured element out of a plurality of sculptured element from which a protective divide PD may be assembled. The sculptured element 10 has a first portion 101 and a second portion 102. The first portion 101 has a first surface 20 bound by a perimeter 22, such as a regular polygon 24, shown for example as a regular hexagon in Fig. 1. From the sides of the polygon 24 a plurality of flat lateral surfaces 26 extend and end on a common plane defining a volume bound by the first surface 20. The first surface 20, the flat lateral surfaces 26, and the common plane, envelope the body of the first portion 101.

The second portion 102, which supports the first portion 101, has a plurality of knuckles 30 alternating with a plurality of recesses 32, and a base surface 34. Each one knuckle 30 out of the plurality of knuckles has a laterally protruding rotund surface 36 originating at each other alternate lateral surface 26, or abutting surfaces 26, and extending radially outward and in the direction of the base surface 34, away from the first portion 101. The plurality of recesses 32 disposed intermediate each two successive knuckles 30 are each one configured for receiving therein in mutual mating, one knuckle 30 pertaining to another immediately adjacent sculptured element. The base surface 34 forms a basis on which the sculptured element 10 may be disposed.

A sculptured element 10 having a first surface that is selected as a regular hexagon may thus have three knuckles 30 alternating with three recesses 32.

The sculptured elements 10 may easily be mutually coupled and interlocked with each other by introducing a laterally protruding convex rotund surface 36 into a concave recess 32. For example, a plurality of sculptured elements 10 may be interlocked and disposed in the same orientation on a flat surface, for example on their base surface 34. Interlocking may be achieved when at least two knuckles 30 of a first sculptured element 10 are introduced into and retained by one recess pertaining to a second and to a third other immediately adjacent sculptured element, hence when three mutually adjacent sculptured elements are assembled together. Interlocking is a geometrical property of a body, which property is different from the provision of locking keys used for the assembly of self-locking bricks, but locking-keys behave as stress-concentrators. Interlocking establishes self- locking in assemblies of sculptured elements 10 free of stress concentrators. Furthermore, the sculptured elements 10 in an assembly may all be of same identical geometrical configuration, but may also have a different geometrical configuration.

A top elevation of an interlocked assembly of sculptured elements 10 having a first surface 20 configured as a regular hexagon, shown in Fig. 2, may be constructed as a tessellation 24H. For the sake of simplicity, knuckles 30 are not shown in Fig. 2. The top elevation of interlocked sculptured elements 10 resembles a honeycomb. Such an assembly of mutually interlocked sculptured elements 10 forms a protective divide PD.

Fig. 2 actually illustrates hexagons 24H separated apart by an interstice 28. However, the sculptured elements 10 may be built into an assembly, for example either with tightly fitting adjacent hexagons 24H without intermediate interstices 28, or with such interstices.

Once a protective divide PD is assembled in tight mutual abutment of the interlocked sculptured elements 10, thus without intermediate gaps 28, then a rather rigid tessellated surface may be obtained. However, when an interstice 28 is provided to separate apart mutually immediately adjacent sculptured elements 10, then some degrees of freedom of displacement may be provided to the protective divide PD. Thereby, mutual displacement of the elements becomes possible, to allow the PD to conform to a surface upon which the PD is disposed. Knuckles 30 and recesses 32 pertaining to immediately adjacent sculptured elements form a joint articulation and operate as such.

Fig. 3 depicts a partial cross-section through adjacent sculptured elements 10 mutually separated apart by an interstice 28. The width of the interstice 28, for example the distance separating apart two immediately adjacent lateral surface 26 of the polygons 24, provides degrees of freedom of displacement between the two adjacent sculptured elements 10, whereby the protective divide PD may become surface conforming. This means that an interstice 28 allows relative displacement between two mutually adjacent sculptured elements 20, and permits the protective divide PD to take the shape of a supporting surface or of a desired shape. The ability of the protective divide PD to conform to a supporting surface, or to be shaped into a desired form, is proportional to the width of the interstice 28.

Interstices 28 are not always necessary or desirable. For example when 5 shielding a wall or covering a floor, the PD divide may be selected to be rigid, thus without interstices 28. However, when it is desired to protectively envelope instruments, equipment, or products against harm, such as shock, noise, temperature, radiation, or projectiles, then surface conformation may be necessary and thus require interstices 28. i o For uses such as a personal protection device, for example as a body armor, the protective divide PD is preferably selected to be surface conforming to match, say, the torso of a user. Since interstices 28 are required to allow conformity, care is taken to prevent ballistic projectiles or ballistic fragments from defeating the protective divide PD by passing freely therethrough via the interstices.

15 In Fig. 3 the arrow marked Vl indicates a first direction of a ballistic body on trajectory toward the protective divide PD, such as a projectile or a fragment incoming onto the side of the first surface 20 and directed toward the interstice 28 for penetration therethrough. Even though the fragment may perhaps penetrate in between the lateral surfaces 26, the path of that fragment will end in collision with

20 the knuckle 30. Hence, a projectile or fragment small enough to pass or penetrate into an interstice 28 separating apart two immediately adjacent lateral surface 26 will impinge on a knuckle 30 when directed onto the first surface 20 of the first portion 101, and be arrested thereby. Likewise, a fragment directed onto the base surface 34 of the second portion 102 will be arrested by a recess 32. The three-

25 dimensional shape of the sculptured element 10 is thus intended to provide a protective divide PD having interstices 28 to allow conformity to a desired shape while still providing protection against incoming ballistic bodies such as projectiles or fragments.

The knuckle 30 is configured to have a thickness, or height shown in Fig. 3 as

30 H, which is the thickness of the second portion 102, to block the passage of a fragment directed toward the first portion 101. Due to the rotund shape of the knuckle 30, the thickness blocking a fragment diminishes but very slightly when the interstice 28 is widened.

In Fig. 3, the arrow marked V2 indicates a second direction of a ballistic body

35 on trajectory toward the second portion 102, such as a projectile or a fragment. A ballistic projectile incoming from the side of the base surface 34 to penetrate into the interstice 28 will be blocked by the concave surface of the recess 34 and be prevented from passing through the interstice. The base surface 34 may also be configured for deflecting an incoming projectile, and may be selected as a flat, concave, or flat and concave geometrical surface, or as any desired composite- shaped geometrical surface. Likewise, the first surface 20 may also deflect incoming projectiles when the first surface 20 is a convex, geometrical surface, for example an ogive, a hemisphere, pyramid, or in the shape of an umbrella. Hence, the sculptured element 10 may have at least one surface that is configured to deflect an incoming fragment impinging thereon, and the at least one surface may be selected as the first surface 20, the base surface 34, and as both the first and th base surfaces, respectively 20 and 34.

The maximal thickness of the sculptured element 10, or height encountered by a fragment impinging on the first surface 20 is measured from the apex 38 of the first surface 20 to the base surface 34, indicated as the sum of hi, h2, and H according to Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, the first portion 101 has a height or thickness hi plus h2, where hi is the height of a convex first surface 20, and h2 is the height of an intermediate portion 103. H is the height of the second portion 102. However, should a fragment penetrate into an interstice 28, then the minimum thickness met by the fragment is H.

The first portion 101 may have a thickness or a height hi when configured as a convex geometrical first surface 20. Such a first surface 20 may be for example a mantle of a cone, pyramid, hemisphere, ellipsoid, paraboloid, spherical cupola, dome, ogive, and umbrella-shaped surface, or any other mantle of a three dimensional solid. In addition, the intermediate portion 103 may have a second height h2, or thickness h2. However, the first surface 20 may also be configured with as a flat surface, having a height hi that is zero, and the height of the first portion 101 is thereby reduced to h2, which is the height of the intermediate portion 103.

The configuration of the first surface 20 may be selected to deflect the trajectory of an incoming projectile. The size of the sculptured elements 10 is selected according to needs and requirements for the task, which may evidently vary for the tessellation of a floor, the protection of a structure, and for a body-armor for example. For the sake of illustration only, one may consider a coat of mail implemented out of small or even minute mails of chain assembled out of sculptured elements 10 that are surface conformant. Evidently, the sculptured elements 10 may be selected to have any desired and practical size. The first surface 20 of the sculptured elements 10 forming a protective divide PD may be configured with regular or irregular polygons 24, and may include identical or different polygons 24.

A top view of a protective divide PD may be depicted as a two-dimensional tessellation of sculptured elements 10. For the sake of simplicity, the knuckles 30 and the recesses 32 are indicated only schematically and interstices are not shown in Figs. 4 to 7. For example, the protective divide PD may be configured to have only polygons with four sides, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or only polygons 24 with six sides, shown in Figs. 2 and 6. As another example, the protective divide PD may include polygons 24 such as four sides and octagons, shown in Fig. 7. Many other concave and convex polygon configurations may also be practical.

Figs. 2 and 4 to 6 illustrate a protective divide PD including a same type of sculptured elements 10, all with the same with identical geometry. In contrast, Fig. 7 depicts a protective divide PD including a first type lOfst of sculptured elements 10 having a first geometry and a second type lOsnd of sculptured elements having a second geometry. This means that a protective divide PD may include at least a first and a second type of non-identical sculptured elements 10, having respectively, a first geometry lOfst and a second geometry lOsnd , where both geometries are different from each other. Although not shown in the Figs. 2,and 4 to 7, each lateral surface 26 of a polygon 24 may be associated with more than one knuckle 30, more than one recess 32, and even a combination of knuckles and recesses.

Three-dimensionally shaped tessellations of interlocking sculptured elements may be assembled with various polygons 24 to form, for example, a spherical shape assembled from regular pentagons and regular hexagons, such as for making a soccer ball. Other polygon configurations are also possible and practical.

The sculptured elements 10 may be implemented out of various materials, selected according to a desired purpose of use. For a ballistic armor, the sculptured elements may be made for example out of materials such as ceramic, metal, composite, and concrete, selected alone and in combination.

If desired, it is possible to glue the sculptured elements 10 together, for example to protect a wall or to envelope a structure. When the sculptured elements 10 are glued together, an adhesive may fill the interstices 28, either with a rigid adhesive, or with a flexible adhesive that will still permit mutual degrees of relative motion to the sculptured elements. Hence, without adhesive, the protective divide PD may be configured as a permeable structure. On the contrary, an appropriate adhesive may provide an impermeable structure. The description hereinabove presents various embodiments of a rigid solid body interlocking sculptured element 10, and of a method for implementing such sculptured elements, a plurality of which may be used to assemble a surface- conforming protective divide PD. In general, the sculptured element 10 may have a first portion 101 supported by a second portion 102, and the first portion may have a first surface 20 bound by a polygon wherefrom a plurality of lateral surface 26 extend from each side of the polygon 24. The second portion may have a plurality of convex knuckles 30, a plurality of concave recesses 32, and a base surface 34, which terminates the second portion and forms a basis. Each knuckle 30 out of the plurality of knuckles may be associated with a first lateral surface 26 and with at least one other lateral surface 36, and each knuckle may have a laterally protruding rotund surface extending radially outward and away from the first portion,

Each recess 32 out of the plurality of recesses may be associated with a second lateral surface and with at least one other lateral surface, and each recess may be configured for receiving therein one knuckle 30 pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element 10, in mutual interlocking coupling.

Evidently, the sculptured elements may be confined between layers of rigid or pliable ballistic material. Fig. 8 shows a detail of a protective divide PD assembled out of interlocked sculptured elements 10 that are disposed intermediate two layers of tear, cut, and perforation resistant pliable material 40, assembled as a packaged layer 42. For other purposes, at least one layer of plastic and rigid foamed material may be practical, for example to shield instruments and equipment, or to package objects, either in replacement or in addition to the perforation resistant pliable material 40.

Fig. 9 illustrates as stack of layers 42 disposed one on top of the other, to form a stacked package 44 of protective layers, to provide enhanced protection. The sculptured elements 10 in each one of the packaged layers 42 are shown staggered relative to each other, but these may be aligned or assembled into other configurations that may be selected as desired.

The various embodiments of sculptured elements 10 described hereinabove permit the assembly of a protective divide PD of any desired type, size, and configuration in situ, practically anywhere, without the need for any jig, tool, glue, or adhesive. Industrial Applicability

The sculptured elements 10 and the method for implementing embodiments of a surface-conforming protective divide PD described hereinabove are applicable in industry, for example with the military and defense industries. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. For example, the sculptured elements are not limited for use as described hereinabove, but may be implemented for example as toys for children and as built structures for erection in situ. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

List of Items

1000 first embodiment

10 sculptured element lOfst first type lOsnd second type

101 first portion

102 second portion

103 intermediate portion

20 first surface

22 perimeter

24 polygon

24H tessellation

26 lateral surface

28 interstice or gap

30 knuckle

32 recess

34 base surface

36 laterally protruding rotund surface

38 apex

40 tear, cut, and perforation resistant pliable material

42 packaged layer

44 stacked package hi height of a convex first surface 20 h2 height of an intermediate portion 103

H height of the second portion 102

PD protective divide

Vl first direction toward the protective divide PD

V2 second direction toward the protective divide PD

Claims

1. A rigid interlocking sculptured element (10), a plurality of which is used to assemble a surface-conforming protective divide (PD), characterized in that: the sculptured element has a first portion (101) supported by a second portion (102), the first portion has a first surface (20) bound by a polygon wherefrom a plurality of lateral surface (26) extend from each side of the polygon (24), the second portion comprises: a plurality of knuckles (30), where each knuckle out of the plurality of knuckles is associated with a first lateral surface and alternately with at least one other lateral surface, and each knuckle has a laterally protruding rotund surface extending radially outward and away from the first portion, a plurality of recesses (32), where each recess out of the plurality of recesses is associated with a second lateral surface and alternately with at least one other lateral surface, and each recess is configured for receiving therein one knuckle pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element in mutual interlocking coupling, and a base surface (34) which terminates the second portion and forms a basis.

2. The protective divide according to Claim 1 , wherein: an interstice (28) separates apart immediately adjacent lateral surfaces (26) to provide degrees of freedom of displacement to the interlocked sculptured elements, and each knuckle associated with a recess pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element forms a joint articulation.

3. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: the sculptured element has at least one surface configured to deflect an incoming fragment impinging thereon, and the at least one surface is selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of the first surface (20) and the base surface (34).

4. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: an interstice separates apart immediately adjacent lateral surfaces (26), and a ballistic fragment directed at the protective device and small enough to penetrate into the interstice will impinge on: a knuckle when directed onto the first portion, and a recess when directed onto the base surface.

5. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: the polygon is a regular hexagon and the sculptured element has three knuckles and three recesses.

6. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: an interstice separates apart mutually adjacent sculptured elements, the first portion has a first surface (20) supported by an intermediate portion (103) having lateral surfaces (26), the first surface has a thickness above the intermediate portion, the thickness being zero when the first surface is a flat plane, and the thickness being hi when the first surface is a convex surface disposed above the intermediate portion, the intermediate portion has a thickness h2, the second portion has a thickness H above the base surface, and a projectile impinging onto the first portion of the sculptured element meets: a maximum thickness of hi plus h2 plus H, or a thickness of h2 plus H when the first surface is a flat plane, and a minimum thickness of H when the projectile penetrates through an interstice.

7. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: mutual interlocking is achieved when at least three mutually adjacent sculptured elements are assembled.

8. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: the polygon is a regular polygon.

9. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: each sculptured element assembled into a protective divide has a same identical geometrical configuration.

10. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: the first surface is configured as a convex geometrical surface disposed above an intermediate surface (103) supported by the second portion.

11. The protective divide according to Claim 1 , wherein: the base surface is selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of a flat surface and of concave geometrical surfaces.

12. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: the plurality of interlocking sculptured elements includes at least a first type (lOfst) of sculptured elements having a first geometry and at least a second type (1 Osnd)of sculptured elements having a second geometry , and the first geometry is different from the second geometry.

13. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: the first surface of the plurality of sculptured elements is selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of regular polygons and irregular polygons.

14. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein:

5 interlocked sculptured elements are packaged intermediate two layers of flexible tear, cut, and perforation resistant material (40) to form a packaged layer (42).

15. The protective divide according to Claim 1, wherein: the interlocked sculptured elements are packaged intermediate at least two o layers of flexible tear, cut, and perforation resistant material to form a packaged layer (42), and a stacked package (44) is assembled out of packaged layers disposed on top of each other.

16. A method for implementing a rigid interlocking sculptured element (10),5 a plurality of which is used to assemble a surface-conforming protective divide

(PD), the method being characterized by comprising the steps of: providing a sculptured element having a first portion (101) supported by a second portion (102), the first portion having a first surface (20) bound by a polygon wherefrom a plurality of lateral surface (26) extend from each side of the0 polygon (24), providing a second portion including: a plurality of knuckles (30), where each knuckle out of the plurality of knuckles is associated with a first lateral surface and alternately with at least one other lateral surface, and each knuckle has a laterally protruding rotund surface 5 extending radially outward and away from the first portion, a plurality of recesses (32), where each recess out of the plurality of recesses is associated with a. second lateral surface and alternately with at least one other lateral surface, and each recess is configured for receiving therein one knuckle pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element in mutual0 interlocking coupling, and a base surface (34) which terminates the second portion and forms a basis.

17. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: an interstice (28) separates apart immediately adjacent lateral surfaces (26) to5 provide degrees of freedom of displacement to the interlocked sculptured elements, and each knuckle associated with a recess pertaining to an immediately adjacent sculptured element forms a joint articulation.

18. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: the sculptured element has at least one surface configured to deflect an incoming fragment impinging thereon, where the at least one surface is selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of the first surface (20) and the base surface (34).

19. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: an interstice separates apart immediately adjacent lateral surfaces (26), and a ballistic fragment directed at the protective device and small enough to penetrate into the interstice will impinge on: a knuckle when directed onto the first portion, and a recess when directed onto the base surface.

20. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: the polygon is a regular hexagon and the sculptured element has three knuckles and three recesses.

21. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: an interstice separates apart mutually adjacent sculptured elements, the first portion has a first surface (20) supported by an intermediate portion (103) having lateral surfaces (26), the first surface has a thickness above the intermediate portion, the thickness being zero when the first surface is a flat plane, and the thickness being hi when the first surface is a convex surface disposed above the intermediate portion, the intermediate portion has a thickness h2, the second portion has a thickness H above the base surface, and a projectile impinging onto the first portion of the sculptured element meets: a maximum thickness of hi plus h2 plus H, or a thickness of h2 plus H when the first surface is a flat plane, and a minimum thickness of H when the projectile penetrates through an interstice.

22. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: mutual interlocking is achieved when at least three mutually adjacent sculptured elements are assembled.

23. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: the polygon is a regular polygon.

24. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: each sculptured element assembled into a protective divide has a same identical geometrical configuration.

25. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: the first surface is configured as a convex geometrical surface disposed above an intermediate surface (103) supported by the second portion..

26. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: the base surface is selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of a flat surface and of a concave geometrical surface.

27. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: the plurality of interlocking sculptured elements includes at least a first type (lOfst) of sculptured elements having a first geometry and at least a second type (lOsnd) of sculptured elements having a second geometry, and the first geometry is different from the second geometry.

28. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: the first surface of the plurality of sculptured elements is selected alone and in combination from the group consisting of regular polygons and irregular polygons.

29. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: interlocked sculptured elements are packaged intermediate two layers of flexible tear, cut, and perforation resistant material (40) to form a packaged layer (42).

30. The method according to Claim 16, wherein: interlocked sculptured elements are packaged intermediate at least two layers of flexible tear, cut, and perforation resistant material to form a packaged layer (42), and a stacked package (44) is assembled out of packaged layers disposed on top of each other.