GB2285209A

GB2285209A - Flexible protective cladding

Info

Publication number: GB2285209A
Application number: GB9500041A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lionel Bryant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-01-04
Filing date: 1995-01-04
Publication date: 1995-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2015-01-04
Also published as: GB9400025D0; GB9500041D0; GB2285209B

Abstract

Flexible protective cladding comprises circular primary plates (1) having an outer surface carrying peripherally located linking apertures or pins (2) and an inner surface carrying peripherally located linking pins or lugs (9). Double links (3) are adapted to link adjacent apertures or pins (2). Secondary plates (4) having an outer portion adapted to overlap the peripherally located apertures or pins (2) and an inner portion adapted to fill a major portion of the interstices between the edges of the primary plates (1) are located below the primary plates. The secondary plates (4) carry a centrally located linking pin (13). Triple links (10) are adapted to link three primary plates (1) by means of the peripheral pins or lugs (9) on the inner surface and enclose the linking pin. Flanges (11), adapted to be mounted on the centrally located linking pins (13), retain the triple links (10) so that the primary and secondary plates form a substantially continuous surface. <IMAGE>

Description

FLEXIBLE PROTECTIVE CLADDING This invention relates to flexible protective cladding and more particularly to cladding that may be used as protective body armour to reduce impact damage from knives, bullets and other concentrated energy sources.

Armour for protecting the human or animal body from impact damage has been available for centuries. In general such armour provided protection from daggers, swords and arrows.

However when the armour has sufficient thickness to provide adequate protection the mobility of the wearer is severely curtailed. Under conditions of ritual warfare such restrictions were generally acceptable.

Since the development of portable firearms and their widespread criminal use a need has arisen for body armour hy law enforcement officers and military personnel. Such armour must be flexible, permit the passage of both air and water vapour and be light weight so that it can be worn for periods of up to twelve hours. Such armour must also be capable of reducing the impact energy of piercing weapons, such as knives, and handgun bullets.

WO 92/00497 discloses flexible protective cladding comprising a set of overlapping plates connected by pins so that the cladding has a certain degree of flexibility. The cladding surface is free of interstices capable of allowing the passage of a knife point or small calibre bullet.

However the arrangement of plates and linking system using pins provides a very limited degree of flexibility. Body armour formed frnm rnrh rl2ddinn msv provide passive safety but is unduly restrictive when worn under confrontational conditions when a response may have to be made to an armed attacker.

It is an object of the present invention to provide flexible protective cladding with an excellent degree of flexibility.

It is a further object to provide protective body armour fabricated from the cladding of the invention that can be worn for long periods of duty.

It is also an object to provide flexible protective cladding which can withstand penetration by knives and hand gun bullets and other concentrated energy sources.

According to the present invention there is provided flexible protective cladding comprising a plurality of substantially circular primary plates having an outer surface carrying a set of peripherally located linking apertures or pins and an inner surface carrying a set of peripherally located linking pins or lugs, a plurality of double links adapted to link adjacent apertures or pins from the first set of peripheral apertures or pins so that the edges of the primary plates are maintained in substantially close packed formation, a plurality of secondary plates having an outer portion adapted to overlap the peripherally located apertures or pins and an inner portion adapted to fill a major portion of the interstices between the edges of the primary plates, the inner portion carrying a centrally located linking pin, a plurality of triple links adapted to link three primary plates by means of the set of peripheral pins or lugs on the inner surface and enclose the linking pin, and flanges adapted to be mounted on the centrally located linking pin on the inner surface of the secondary plates to retain the triple link whereby the primary and secondary plates form a substantially continuous surface.

The surfaces of the primary and secondary plates may be armoured by the attachment of energy absorbing or impact resisting discs. Such armour discs may comprise nylon, polycarbonate, hardened steel, titanium or ceramic discs according to the amount of penetration resistance required.

The surface of the armour discs may be smooth or uneven to reduce the power of ricochets and assist splitting of cased bullets. Preferably the outer surfaces of each plate carries a recess to accept a portion of an armour disc which is retained within the recess by means of an appropriate adhesive composition such as 3M 'Ballistic' adhesive, epoxyresin adhesives, cyanoacrylate adhesives, etc.,. (3M is a registered trade mark. ) The preferred discs are formed from a light weight ceramic composition.

The primary plates are preferably formed from aluminium or a similar energy absorbing low density metal or alloy.

The secondary plates are preferably formed from the same metal as the primary plates. The peripheral pins in the plates may be formed from blank discs by machining, pressing or separately formed and fitted into recesses in the plates. In the preferred embodiments the peripheral pins on the outer surface of the primary plate, if present, and the peripheral pins on the inner surface of the primary plate do not extend beyond the plate surface. In order to maintain the primary plates in close packed formation each plate will have peripheral contact with six other primary plates. In the embodiment in which the outer surface of the primary plate carries pins six peripheral pins are spaced equidistantly around the upper surface. The inner surface of the primary plate carries six peripheral pins lower surface periphery.In the embodiment in which the outer surface of the primary plate carries peripheral apertures there are six apertures spaced equidistantly around the upper surface between the locations of the pins on the inner surface.

The overall diameter of the primary plates can range from 20 to 80 mm. The larger diameters may result in insufficient flexibility when cladding formed from them is used for body armour while the smaller sizes involve the use of relatively large numbers of components for a given area.

In a preferred form the primary plates are approximately 44 mm overall diameter. A small allowance, 1 to 2 mm, is made for plate diameter variation and to provide flexibility so that the primary plates are linked to give a pitch of 45 to 46 mm between centres. The overall thickness of the primary plates can lie in the range 2.5 to 8 mm however the central area may be thinner, particularly if a recess is formed to accomodate an armour disc. The central portion of the plate preferably lies in the range 1.5 to 4 mm.

The double links used to join the primary plates depend on whether the primary plate carries pins or apertures. If the primary plate carries pins the double links are preferably formed from a sheet of resilient steel alloy or similar metal. The pins may be formed from a different material to the link surface, such as aluminium, so that the ends can be easily formed into a larger diameter head.

The double links are preferably bent centrally so that the pins to which they are attached are urged together. If the primary plate carries apertures the double links are preferably formed from a sheet of resilient steel alloy or similar metal carrying two pins adapted to fit into the peripheral apertures. The pins on the double link are retained in position by forming a larger diameter head by a hammer blow or similar forging means.

The secondary plates have an outer portion which is prefer ably in the form of a truncated triangle. The sides of the triangle will cover the periphery of the associated primary plates and the truncated apices will abut ensuring that o interstices exist in the assembled cladding. The inner portion of the secondary plates in a preferred embodiment will have a substantially triangular form with concave sides matching the periphery of the primary plates.

In an alternative embodiment the inner portion can have a circular or conical form which fills a major portion of each interstice between the edges of the primary plates.

The locking pin centrally located on the inner portion may be formed from the same metal blank as the plate by machining, pressing or separately formed and fitted into recesses in the plates.

The triple links used to join the primary plates by means of the second set of peripheral pins are preferably made from a resilient steel alloy or a similar metal in wire form. The triple links are triangular in form and preferably bent centrally along each side so that the pins to which they are attached are urged together. To ensure retention of the triple links each one is held in position by a flange which has a central aperture forced on to the locking pin forming a self-locking joint in known manner.

The edges of the flange extend outwardly so that each edge of the triangular triple link is covered and retained in position.

The primary and secondary plates are preferably laid out in a jig so that the links and flanges may be easily fitted.

The area of the cladding is determined by the number of plates assembled and is without limit. When asembling the cladding for use as body armour it may be necessary to form a series of sheets of cladding arranged to cover the vital organs and attached in overlapping form to ensure both complete protection and to permit rapid body movements.

Sections of cladding may be joined by strapping threaded through the sides of the triple links on the inner surface of the cladding. In order to reduce abrasion and chaffing the edges of each section of cladding may be fitted with shielding strips of rubber or other reslient material.

For comfort and convenience the cladding when used as body armour is covered on each side with at least one layer of a woven fabric. Preferably the fabric is woven from fibres of an aramid or similar energy absorbing material. The undersurface is preferably covered with a padding layer comprising a plurality of woven fibre layers of an aramid or similar material. The padding layer may range from 1.5 to 5 mm in thickness, a preferred thickness being 2.5 mm.

The assembled cladding has sufficient flexibility to conform to the contours of a human body. On impact by a concentrated energy source such as a knife blade or bullet the cladding will self-lock whether convex or concave initially. The self-locking action ensures that the energy is spredd over a wide area and the appropriate outer surface ensures that there is no penetration. In the event of any damage following impact indvidual plates, links and armour discs may be replaced enabling the cladding to be reused.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a sheet of flexible protective cladding according to the invention, Figure 2 is a side view across the cross section A-A of the cladding shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a rear view of a portion of the cladding shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a front view of a primary plate used to form the cladding of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a rear view of a primary plate used to form the cladding of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a side view across the cross section B-B of the plate shown in Figure 4, Figure 7 is a side view of the plate shown in Figures 4 and 5, Figure 8 is a rear view of a secondary plate used to form the cladding of Figure 1, Figure 9 is a side view across the cross section C-C of the plate shown in Figure 8, Figure 10 is a front view of a secondary plate used to form the cladding of Figure 1 Figures 11a and 11b are plan and side views of a triple link, Figures 12a and 12b are plan and side views of a double link, Figures 13a and 13b are plan and side views of a retaining flange, Figure 14 is an upper perspective view of the primary plate shown in Figure 5 showing its relationship with the double link shown in Figure 12 and an armour disc, Figure 15 is a lower perspective view of the primary plate shown in Figure 5 showing its relationship with the triple link shown in Figure 11, Figure 16 is an exploded upper perspective view of a heavy duty primary plate, protective ring and double link for an embodiment in which the primary plate carries peripheral apertures, Figure 17 is an exploded lower perspective view of a heavy duty primary plate, secondary plate and triple link for an embodiment in which the primary plate carries peripheral apertures, Figure 18 is an exploded upper perspective view of a light duty primary plate, protective ring and double link for an embodiment in which the primary plate carries peripheral apertures, and Figure 19 is an exploded lower perspective view of a heavy duty primary plate, secondary plate and triple link for an embodiment in which the primary plate carries peripheral apertures.

A portion of flexible protective cladding according to one embodiment of the invention, see Figures 1 and 2, consists of a plurality of circular primary plates 1 each having an outer surface carrying a set of peripherally located pins 2. Double links 3 fitted on the pins 2 join the plates 1 to each other. The plates 1 lie in a substantially horizontal plane and are held in close packed formation by the links 3. In such a formation the periphery of each plate 1 contacts the periphery of six other plates 1. Secondary plates 4 have outer portions 5 which overlap the peripherally located pins 2. The inner portion 6 of each of the the plates 4 fills the triangular space between the edges of the primary plates 1 in the illustrated embodiment.

The faces of the plates 1 and 4 may optionally carry armour discs 7 and 8. The outer surface of the armour discs may be flat, have a convex contour or be uneven as previously described.

The inner surfaces of the plates 1, see Figure 3, carry a second set of peripherally located linking pins or lugs 9.

The pins 9 are connected by triple links 10. The links 10 are retained by flanges 11 having a self-locking aperture 12 which is forced on to a centrally located locking pin 13 on the inner portion 6 of the secondary plate 4.

In order to improve the resilience of the cladding the double links 3 and the triple links 10 are bent inwardly before fitting, see Figures lib and 12b.

The edges of the plates 1 and the inner portion 6 of the plates 4 may be curved to facilitate interplate movement.

In a practical embodiment cladding has been prepared based on a series of circular aluminium primary plates having an overall diameter of 44 mm and an overall thickness of 4.5 mm. The thickness of the central portion of the plates was 1.5 mm. The plates were arranged to have a spacing of 45 to 46 mm between centres to allow for movement and manufacturing tolerances. The cladding was covered with a single layer of a woven aramid fibre in front and backed by a multi-layer pad of woven aramid fibre having an overall thickness of 2.5 mm. The overall thickness of the cladding was 7.5 mm.

Tests have shown that such body armour formed from cladding according to the invention can resist impact energies of at least one kilojoules and is capable of resisting double this energy if the thickness of the central portion of the primary plates is increased to 4 mm.

Flexible protective cladding according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated using a choice of primary plates according to the degree of hazard to which it is likely to be subjected. Where only knife attacks are expected lower energy needs to be abosorbed than when handgun rounds are expected. A heavy duty cladding, see Figures 16 and 17, is formed using a circular primary plate 21 having an outer surface 22 pierced by a set of peri pherally located apertures 23. A protective annulus 24 is pierced with å set of apertures 25 which correspond with the apertures 23-on the primary plate 21. The protective annulus 24 may be made of hardened steel, titanium or a suitable synthetic polymeric material to enhance the stopping power of the primary plate 21.The primary plate 21 is preferably formed from sluminium or a tough synthetic material such as Amodel. Double links 26 carry pins 27 which can pass through the apertures 23 and join plates 21 in a close packed manner. The double links 26 are retained in position by washer 28 pierced with a pair of apertures 29 through which the pins 27 can pass. The double links 26 are retained in position by the secondary plate 35. The apertures 23 may be blinded for extra strength.

For simplicity the washer 28 may be made of titanium, stainless steel, etc. and placed between the plate 26 and the plate 24, both being held in position, e.g. in blind ended holes, by the secondary plate 35. Such a construction avoids the need for an adhesively held or rivetted joint.

The inner surface of the plate 21, see Figure 17, carries a set of peripherally located linking lugs 29. The lugs 29 are connected by triple links 30. The links 30 are retained by flanges 31 having a self-locking aperture 32 which is forced on to a centrally located locking pin 33 on the inner portion 34 of a secondary plate 35. In order to improve the resilience of the cladding the the triple links 30 are bent inwardly before fitting. The plate 35 may be forged in steel or carry a tough top plate attached by adhesive or by rivets.

The light duty cladding, see Figures 18 and 19, is formed using a circular primary plate 35 having an outer surface 22 pierced by a set of peripherally located apertures 25.

The central portion of the plate 36 has well surrounded by a rim 37. Double links 26 carry pins 27 which can pass through the apertures 25 and join plates 36 in a close packed manner. The double links 26 are retained in position by the overlapping secondary plate 35.

The inner surface of the plate 36, see Figure 19, carries a set of peripherally located linking pins 38. The pins 38 are connected by triple links 39. The links 39 are retained by a self-locking aperture 32 which is forced on to a centrally located locking pin 33 on the inner portion 34 of a secondary plate 35. In this embodiment the triple link 39 is a single component with a self-locking centre. In one embodiment apertures 40 may be forced on to the pinns 38 on the plate 36.

The well formed in the centre of the light duty plates 36 may be filled with a synthetic polymer or a hard disc such as a steel or ceramic disc.

As a number of the components of the light duty and heavy duty cladding are interchangeable composite cladding may be fabricated with different area giving different degrees of protection.

For the lightest weight cladding, when only protection against knife thrusts is required, the primary plates 36 may be held further apart to give greater to give greater coverage for the same weight. In this embodiment the secondary plate 39 has apertures 40 at a greater pitch and the double link 26 has the pins 27 with an appropriately increased spacing. In this embodiment the rim 37 on the primary plate 37 may be omitted. It has been found that a weight saving of twenty percent can be achieved compared with the more substantial knife and bullet resistant cladding.

Claims

1. Flexible protective cladding comprising; a plurality of substantially circular primary plates having an outer surface carrying a set of peripherally located linking apertures or pins and an inner surface carrying a set of peripherally located linking pins or lugs, a plurality of double links adapted to link adjacent apertures or pins from the first set of peripheral apertures or pins so that the edges of the primary plates are maintained in substantially close packed formation, a plurality of secondary plates having an outer portion adapted to overlap the peripherally located apertures or pins and an inner portion adapted to fill a major portion of the interstices between the edges of the primary plates, the inner portion carrying a centrally located linking pin, a plurality of triple links adapted to link three primary plates by means of the set of peripheral pins or lugs on the inner surface and enclose the linking pin, and flanges adapted to be mounted on the centrally located linking pin on the inner surface of the secondary plates to retain the triple link whereby the primary and secondary plates form a substantially continuous surface.

2. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 1 in which the circular primary plates have an outer surface carrying a set of peripherally located linking pins or lugs.

3. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 1 in which the primary plates circular primary plates have an outer surface carrying a set of peripherally located apertures.

4. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 1 in which the surfaces of the primary and secondary plates are armoured by the attachment of energy absorbing or impact resisting discs.

5. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 4 in which the discs comprise nylon, polycarbonate, hardened steel, titanium or ceramic.

6. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which the outer surfaces of each plate carries a recess to accept a portion of an armour disc which is retained within the recess by means of an appropriate adhesive composition.

7. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the primary plates are formed from aluminium.

8. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the secondary plates are formed from the same metal as the primary plates.

9. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the peripheral pins in the plates are formed from blank discs by machining or pressing.

10. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the secondary plates are formed from the same metal as the primary plates.

11. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the overall diameter of the primary plates lies in the range from 20 to 80 mm.

12. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 11 in which the primary plates are approximately 44 mm overall diameter.

13. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the primary plates are linked to give a pitch of 45 to 46 mm between centres.

14. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the overall thickness of the primary plates lies in the range 2.5 to 8 mm.

15. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 14 in which the central portion of the plate preferably lies in the range 1.5 to 4 mm.

16. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the secondary plates have an outer portion which is in the form of a truncated triangle whose sides cover the periphery of the associated primary plates and whose truncated apices abut.

17. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the inner portion of the secondary plates has a substantially triangular form with concave sides matching the periphery of the primary plates.

18. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 16 in which the inner portion has a circular or conical form which fills a major portion of each interstice between the edges of the primary plates.

19. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the triple links are used to join the primary plates by means of the peripheral pins or lugs are made from a resilient steel alloy or a similar metal in wire form.

20. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the triple links are triangular in form and bent centrally along each side so that the pins to which they are attached are urged together.

21. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which each of the triple links is held in position by a flange which has a central aperture forced on to a locking pin centrally located on each upper surface of the secondary plates.

22. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 21 in which the locking pin centrally located on the inner portion is formed from the same metal blank as the plate by machining and pressing.

23. Flexible protective cladding as claimed in claim 1 and as herein described.

24. Flexible protective cladding as herein described with refrence to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.