US20120216324A1 - Body armor - Google Patents
Body armor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120216324A1 US20120216324A1 US13/033,884 US201113033884A US2012216324A1 US 20120216324 A1 US20120216324 A1 US 20120216324A1 US 201113033884 A US201113033884 A US 201113033884A US 2012216324 A1 US2012216324 A1 US 2012216324A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fabric
- layers
- rigid
- region
- piece
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F41—WEAPONS
- F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- F41H1/00—Personal protection gear
- F41H1/02—Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
Abstract
Body armor formed from a piece of fabric (1) comprising a plurality of layers of strong fabric with layers of film adhesive interposed between at least two adjacent ones of said layers of fabric. The layers of fabric are compressed together in at least one region. A rigid, e.g. ceramic, plate (4) is bonded to the fabric in said at least one region.
Description
- This invention relates to body armor.
- Known soft body armor is made from strong fabric, such as aramid, and is capable of stopping low-velocity fragments and soft-headed bullets. In order to upgrade this soft body armor so as to stop high-velocity fragments and armor-piercing rounds, a hard-faced plate is inserted into a pocket in the soft body armor. The plate is usually made from a ceramic material backed by a strong fabric such as aramid. The soft body armor can be in the form of a garment and can include more than one pocket, each pocket being arranged to contain a rigid plate.
- This known combination of rigid and soft armor is effective, but is relatively thick, heavy and expensive to manufacture.
- With the aim of alleviating these disadvantages, the present invention provides body armor comprising a piece of soft, strong fabric, and at least one rigid armor plate bonded to a portion only of said piece of fabric.
- The piece of fabric may comprise a plurality of layers, e.g. of aramid fabric. In the region in which the rigid plate is bonded thereto, said layers may be compressed together. A film of adhesive may be disposed between each two adjacent layers of fabric, at least in the region in which the rigid plate is bonded to the piece of fabric.
- The at least one rigid armor plate may comprise ceramic material.
- In an embodiment of the invention, the rigid armor plate is bonded to a central region of the piece of fabric, which is arranged to cover a wearer's chest and abdomen, lateral regions of the piece of fabric being arranged to cover the wearer's sides.
- The invention also provides a method of forming body armor, comprising the steps of: forming a piece of fabric from a plurality of layers of string fabric with layers of film adhesive interposed between at least two adjacent ones of said layers of fabric; heating said layers and compressing them together in a direction of their thickness in at least one region thereof; and bonding a rigid plate to the fabric in said at least one region.
- The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 shows a unit of body armor according to an embodiment of the invention; and -
FIG. 2 shows a garment incorporating two units ofFIG. 1 . - The drawing shows a protector comprising a flexible piece of
fabric 1, having a central portion 2 (e.g. a chest/abdomen portion) and twoside flaps 3. In this example, thefabric 1 is aramid fabric formed in a plurality of layers, e.g. 10 to 30 layers. - At least in the chest/
abdomen portion 1 layers of film adhesive, such as urethane or other suitable adhesive, is disposed between every two adjacent layers of aramid fabric. In this region ahard amour plate 4 is bonded. - Manufacture of the protector includes a step of compressing the layers of aramid fabric together in the direction of the thickness of the armor, with the application of heat, with a tool of size and shape similar to the “footprint” of the
plate 4. The fabric becomes rigid in this particular region. - Subsequently, the
hard armor plate 4—in this example formed of a ceramic material—is bonded to the compressed region of thefabric 1 with an adhesive such as urethane, epoxy or other suitable adhesive. The compressed layers of fabric afford to the rigid plate the same rigid backing as is provided by the aramid, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, or glass backing of the known removable plate. - In the present invention, the
rigid plate 4 is permanently bonded to thesoft fabric 1. In some military situations, regulations prohibit such removal of the plate and in such circumstances the permanent bond may be advantageous. - The protector can be provided with one or more straps, zips, buttons and/or other fasteners or suspension means either for suspending it from the neck or arms or for attachment to a garment. It is intended to be worn with the
rigid plate 4 on the outer side. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , two protectors of the type depicted inFIG. 1 can be attached together by means ofshoulder straps 5. They then form a tabard-style garment that can be placed over the wearer's head and fastened at the sides with a fastener such hook-and-loop closures such as Velcro ® 6, optionally arranged onstraps 7. Theplates 4 provide both front and rear protection. - In a modification of the protector, additional hard armor plates are bonded to side regions of the
fabric 1, such as theside flaps 3, for side protection. Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fabric could be used instead of aramid. Other modifications are feasible within the scope of the claims. - The body armor of the invention provides a similar ballistic performance to the known body armor, but has a reduced thickness and weight and is less expensive to manufacture. The fabric is also simpler as it is not necessary to form a pocket for housing the rigid plate.
Claims (12)
1. Body armor comprising a piece of soft, strong fabric, and at least one rigid armor plate bonded to a region of said piece of fabric.
2. Body armor according to claim 1 , wherein the fabric is aramid or ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fabric.
3. Body armor according to claim 1 , wherein the piece of fabric comprises a plurality of layers.
4. Body armor according to claim 3 , wherein, in the region in which the rigid plate is bonded thereto, said layers are compressed together.
5. Body armor according to claim 1 , wherein said region of said piece of fabric is a rigid region.
6. Body armor according to claim 3 , wherein a film of adhesive is disposed between each two adjacent layers of fabric, at least in the region in which the rigid plate is bonded to the piece of fabric.
7. Body armor according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rigid armor plate comprises ceramic material.
8. Body armor according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid armor plate is bonded to a central region of the piece of fabric, which is arranged to cover a wearer's chest and abdomen or a wearer's back, lateral regions of the piece of fabric being arranged to overlie the wearer's sides.
9. Body armor according to claim 8 , including rigid armor side plates bonded to said lateral regions.
10. A method of forming body armor, comprising the steps of: providing a piece of fabric comprising a plurality of layers of strong fabric with layers of film adhesive interposed between at least two adjacent ones of said layers of fabric; heating said layers and compressing them together in a direction of their thickness in at least one region thereof; and bonding a rigid plate to the fabric in said at least one region.
11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the fabric is aramid or ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fabric.
12. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the rigid armor plate comprises ceramic material.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/033,884 US20120216324A1 (en) | 2011-02-24 | 2011-02-24 | Body armor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/033,884 US20120216324A1 (en) | 2011-02-24 | 2011-02-24 | Body armor |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120216324A1 true US20120216324A1 (en) | 2012-08-30 |
Family
ID=46717990
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/033,884 Abandoned US20120216324A1 (en) | 2011-02-24 | 2011-02-24 | Body armor |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120216324A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140230638A1 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2014-08-21 | Blake Lockwood Waldrop | Multi-Layer Multi-Impact Ballistic Body Armor And Method Of Manufacturing The Same |
US20150082503A1 (en) * | 2013-09-26 | 2015-03-26 | Tyr Tactical, Llc | Ballistic vest system with ballistic vein component |
US20180010890A1 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2018-01-11 | Blake Lockwood Waldrop | Multi-layer multi-impact ballistic body armor and method of manufacturing the same |
US10081159B2 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2018-09-25 | Honeywell International Inc. | Materials gradient within armor for balancing the ballistic performance |
US20190353464A1 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2019-11-21 | PriveCo Inc. | Ballistic vest |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7284470B2 (en) * | 2005-07-22 | 2007-10-23 | Mine Safety Appliances Company | Ballistic resistant devices and systems and methods of manufacture thereof |
-
2011
- 2011-02-24 US US13/033,884 patent/US20120216324A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7284470B2 (en) * | 2005-07-22 | 2007-10-23 | Mine Safety Appliances Company | Ballistic resistant devices and systems and methods of manufacture thereof |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140230638A1 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2014-08-21 | Blake Lockwood Waldrop | Multi-Layer Multi-Impact Ballistic Body Armor And Method Of Manufacturing The Same |
US9726459B2 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2017-08-08 | Rma Armament, Inc. | Multi-layer multi-impact ballistic body armor and method of manufacturing the same |
US20170299345A1 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2017-10-19 | Rma Armament, Inc. | Multi-Layer Multi-Impact Ballistic Body Armor And Method Of Manufacturing The Same |
US20180010890A1 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2018-01-11 | Blake Lockwood Waldrop | Multi-layer multi-impact ballistic body armor and method of manufacturing the same |
US10782103B2 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2020-09-22 | Rma Armament, Inc. | Multi-layer multi-impact ballistic body armor and method of manufacturing the same |
US20150082503A1 (en) * | 2013-09-26 | 2015-03-26 | Tyr Tactical, Llc | Ballistic vest system with ballistic vein component |
US9435614B2 (en) * | 2013-09-26 | 2016-09-06 | Tyr Tactical, Llc | Ballistic vest system with ballistic vein component |
US10081159B2 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2018-09-25 | Honeywell International Inc. | Materials gradient within armor for balancing the ballistic performance |
US20190353464A1 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2019-11-21 | PriveCo Inc. | Ballistic vest |
US10845163B2 (en) * | 2018-05-18 | 2020-11-24 | PriveCo Inc. | Ballistic vest |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NP AEROSPACE LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MEDWELL, ROGER TERENCE ARTHUR;REEL/FRAME:026192/0747 Effective date: 20110413 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |