WO2008105844A2

WO2008105844A2 - Armor

Info

Publication number: WO2008105844A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/021377
Authority: WO
Inventors: E. Mark Chelgren
Original assignee: Chelgren E Mark
Priority date: 2006-10-05
Filing date: 2007-10-05
Publication date: 2008-09-04
Also published as: WO2008105844A3

Abstract

A cell comprising a geometric form (sub-cell) having a plurality of sides forming a perimeter in combination with a plurality of arms around the perimeter of each sub-cell, for interconnection with a side of an adjacent cell, wherein each arm has a curved contour and a plurality of voids created between the plurality of arms and wherein the plurality of the cells and the plurality of arms operate to resist and dampen a pressure wave. The cell may be utilized in a repeating cellular like structure having multiple layers tailored for a multitude of applications. The cellular like structure may allow fluid flow through the plurality of voids in the cellular structure.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION Armor

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Applicant claim priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60,849,602 filed on October 5, 2006 and a non-provisional U.S. Patent Application filed on October 4, 2007, serial number unavailable, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention provides an armor material and various embodiments of the armor material for uses in absorbing or damping pressures associated with exploding materials or penetrating projectiles. The present invention also provides a cellular structure useful in absorbing pressure related to pressure waves or impacts or damping vibrations associated with suspensions in non-armor applications.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR

DEVELOPMENT

No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX Not Applicable BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a part of a panel of the armor showing its first surface.

FIG. 2 is a side plane view, greatly enlarged, of a slice of the armor of FIG. 1 taken from a first direction.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view, greatly enlarged, of a slice of the armor of FIG. 1 taken from a direction perpendicular to the direction of the view of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an individual cell comprising the cellular structure of the armor.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an individual cell comprising the cellular structure of the armor.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an individual cell comprising the cellular structure of the armor.

FIG. 6A is a top view of another embodiment of an individual cell.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an individual cell comprising the cellular structure of the armor.

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of an individual cell comprising the cellular structure of the armor.

FIG. 9 is a top view of an individual cell comprising the cellular structure of the armor as illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a part of a panel of the armor showing its first surface.

FIG. 11 is a side plane view, greatly enlarged, of a slice of the armor of FIG. 10 taken from a first direction.

FIG. 12 is a cross section view, greatly enlarged, of a slice of the armor of FIG. 10 taken from a direction perpendicular to the direction of the view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a cross section view of an embodiment of the armor constructed from multiple layers of panels illustrated in FIG. 10 having the cellular structure illustrated in FIGS 7-9.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a first surface of a panel of the armor of FIGS. 10 through 12.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a second surface of a panel of the armor of FIGS. 10 through 12.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a cap placed on the first surface of a cell.

FIG. 17 is a top view of a cap placed on the first surface of a cell. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - LISTING OF ELEMENTS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including", "comprising", "having", "containing", "involving" and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

The present art discloses and claims a type of armor 1 having a cellular structure 2 formed by a plurality of cells 3 as illustrated by panel 9 in FIG. 1. Each cell 3 has a plurality of sides 5 (labeled 5a-5f in FIG. 1) forming a cell perimeter 4. Each cell 3 has a plurality of arms 6 interconnected around the perimeter 4 of each cell 3 with a side 5 of an adjacent cell 3. The interconnecting arms 6 have a curved contour 7. A plurality of voids 8 are created between the plurality of arms 6 and the plurality of cells 3. The plurality of arms 6 and cells 3 comprising the panel 9 operate to dampen the pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from the explosive blast to flow through the plurality of voids 8. The cellular structure 2 comprising the armor 1 has a resilience and spring-like characteristic such that the impingement of a pressure wave from the blast of an explosion causes the cellular structure 2 of the armor 1 to flex, thereby absorbing and damping the effect of the pressure wave upon the present art armor 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a part of a single panel 9 of a first embodiment of the armor 1 of the present art. The panel 9 comprises a series of cells 3, which in this embodiment have a hexagonal shape (identified as 3a and defined as the sub-cell) and are joined together by arms 6 extending from the six sides 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e and 5f of each hexagonal shaped cell 3. Each cell 3 is small relative to the panel 9. The thickness of the cells 20 (illustrated in FIG. 5) is proportional to the diameter of the cells 19 (illustrated in FIG. 6), and the diameter of the cells 19 is in the range of eight to thirty-two multiples of the thickness of the cells 20. By way of illustration, if the thickness of the cells 20 is approximately 1/8 inch, the diameter of the cells 19 will be in the range of one to four inches. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-3, the panel 9 is composed of a single layer of cells 3 so the thickness of the panel 9 is determined by the thickness of the cells 20. As is disclosed and claimed herein, the armor 1 may also be comprised of multiple panels 9 to produce armor having multiple layers. (See FIG. 13.) Regardless of the material chosen, the surface area of a cell 3 (dependent on cell diameter 19) is typically in excess of its cell thickness 20. The increased diameter to thickness ratio in combination with the rigid but resilient cellular structure 2 results in the present art armor 1 having a relatively high strength-to-weight ratio. However, as stated above, the relative dimensions of the various elements in no way limit the scope of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, each arm 6 is curved between adjacent cells 3. The curved contour of the arm 7 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 approximates the contour of one half of a sine wave, having an angle of curvature 21 of thirty degrees relative to both a first cell 3 and an adjacent cell 3. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the arms 6 are concave when viewed from a first face 10 of panel 9. Depending on the particular application of the present art, a suitable angle of curvature 21 may be from five to forty-five degrees. (See FIG. 5) However, as stated above, the values for the angle of curvature 21 in no way limit the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side plane view, greatly enlarged, of a slice of the armor 1 of FIG. 1 taken from a first direction. FIG. 3 is a cross section view, greatly enlarged, of a slice of the armor 1 of FIG. 1 taken from a direction perpendicular to the direction of the view of FIG. 2. As illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 3, cells 3 are symmetrical and repeating throughout the cellular structure 2 of the panel 9. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, it may be seen that the material selected for the armor 1 should be both generally rigid and resilient. Any material that is suitable for the particular application of the armor 1 may be selected from, but not limited to, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, ceramics, an aramid fiber, Kevlar, urethane, impregnated nylon, phenolic resins, plastic and combinations thereof. In the selection of materials suitable to a particular application, preference should be given to materials that exhibit the quality of brittleness or are subject to fracture under pressure wave stresses. As those of ordinary skill in the art are aware, the material selected for a particular application may also be treated as necessary to reduce brittleness and increase strength through annealing and or tempering. Panel 9 may also be made of resilient fiber filled polymers as an alternative.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an individual cell 3 which makes up the repeating cellular structure 2 of the armor 1. FIG. 5 is a side view of an individual cell 3 comprising the cellular structure 2 of the armor 1. FIG. 6 is a top view of an individual cell 3 comprising the cellular structure 2 of the armor 1. FIGS. 1-6 are meant to be illustrative only and in no way limit the scope of the present invention. By way of illustration only, the armor 1 may be comprised of a cellular structure 2 having sub-cells 3a with none hexagonal shapes which includes without limitation other geometric shapes such as squares, octagons, and circular shapes. (Not shown) The interconnected arms 6 of the cells 3 of the armor 1 may be positioned equidistantly around the perimeter of the cells 4. The voids 8 created between the interconnected arms 6 should form equilateral triangles to preserve the symmetrical and repeating nature of the cellular structure 2 forming the armor 1. The cellular structure 2 of the present armor 1 may be secured to various support structures and/ or additional panels 9 of the armor 1 by securement means well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including, without limitation, screws, bolts, clamps and adhesives. FIG. 6A illustrates another embodiment of the present art armor 1 wherein an opening 12 has been placed in the cell 3. As discussed further herein, a pin 17 may be placed into and through opening 12 for securement or attachment of a panel 9 to another panel 9 (discussed further herein), a support structure or an asset to be protected such as a building or mobile vehicle. (Not shown) The shape of opening 12 shown in FIG.6A is a hexagon which in no way limits the scope of the present invention as other shapes may be chosen for the opening 12. FIGS. 7-15 illustrate a second embodiment of the present art armor 1. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the cellular structure 2 having a hexagonal-shaped sub-cell 3a, which is meant to be illustrative only and in no way limits the scope of the present invention. As shown the cellular structure 2 is comprised of a plurality of cells 3 wherein each cell 3 has a plurality of sides 5 (labeled 5a-5f) forming a perimeter 4. An opening 12 may be located within each said cell 3 as shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10. A plurality of arms 6 interconnects around the sides of each sub-cell (labeled 5a-5f) with a side 5 of an adjacent cell 3, each arm 6 having a curved contour 7. In this embodiment, however, a perimetric wall 14 is formed at the interface (perimeter 4) of the plurality of arms 6 with each sub-cell 3a, thereby creating a well 13 around the opening 12 and interior of the perimetric wall 14. Similar to the previous embodiment, a plurality of voids 8 are then created between the adjacent arms 6 attached around the cell 3. As illustrated in FIGS. 10, 14 and 15, the voids 8 in panel 9 are defined by adjacent trios of arms 6 and shaped as equilateral triangles. The cells 3 in combination with interconnecting arms 6, when assembled into a repeating cellular structure 2, may comprise a panel 9 that can operate to dampen a pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast. The various voids 8 allow the accompanying blast wave resulting from an explosive blast to flow through the voids 8 and by the cell 3 and arms 6. As illustrated in FIGS. 7-15, each well 13 has a hexagonal shape and is co-centered with opening 12 and perimetric wall 14 of each cell 3; that is, each sub-cell 3a having a hexagonal shape is symmetrical and every cell 3 is identical to the others. A small opening 12 passes through panel 9 in well 13 of each cell 3. As shown in FIGS. 7-15, each cell 3 comprises a curved perimetric wall 14 surrounding a well 13 when viewed from the first surface 10 of panel 9.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7-15, each arm 6 is curved between adjacent cells 3. As previously discussed with regard to the first embodiment, the curved contour of the arm 7 illustrated in FIGS. 7-15 approximates the contour of one half of a sine wave, having an angle of curvature 21 of thirty degrees relative to both a first cell 3 and an adjacent cell 3. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the arms 6 are concave when viewed from a first face 10 of panel 9. Depending on the particular application of the present art, a suitable angle of curvature 21 may be from five to forty -five degrees. However, as stated above, the values for the angle of curvature 21 in no way limits the scope of the present invention.

The present art armor 1 may be used for the protection of civilians, military personnel, mobile assets, buildings or other items contemplated by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, a plurality of panels 9 may be configured in several layers for a particular application. By way of illustration only, a blast shield 16 may be constructed of a plurality of panels 9a, 9b and 9c based on the armor 1 as shown in FIG. 13. The layers of panels 9a-9c may be assembled and fastened with pins 17 interconnecting the panels 9a-9c such as is illustrated in FIG. 13, wherein three layers of panels 9 are stacked with openings 12 in registry and with pins 17 interconnecting the layered panels 9. Each pin 17 is inserted through one of the openings 12 of each panel 9. FIG. 13 illustrates that enlargements 18 may be spaced along each pin 17, thereby restraining the movement of the well 13 of each cell 3 along pin 17. Pins 17 may be constructed from a multitude of resilient or semi-resilient materials, such as a high impact rubber compound, as determined by a particular application.

When a pressure wave strikes the first panel layer 9a, deflection of panel 9a is transmitted in part through pins 17 to panels 9b and 9c, thereby causing blast shield

16 to absorb a pressure wave greater than could be damped by a single panel 9. Pins

17 and enlargements 18 may be integrally formed so that enlargement 18 will not move along the length of pin 17. FIG. 13 illustrates a plurality of panels 9 stacked together to increase for increased protection and impact resistance. As shown in FIG. 13, the pins 17 positioned in openings 12 align the cells 3 of panel 9a with the cells of 9b and 9c. Although not illustrated, it should be understood that it is not necessary to align the adjacently positioned panels 9a-9c with pins 17, openings 12 or with the cells 3 of adjacent panels 9. Adjacently positioned panels 9a-9c may be positioned so that the cells 3 of each panel are offset in relation to the adjacent panel 9. Alignment or offset of the panels 9 may be used to control the deflection of a pressure or blast wave. Furthermore, as those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, panels 9 of the present art may also be interspaced with layers of prior art armor or other materials, as particular applications require.

FIGS. 16-17 illustrate another embodiment of the present art armor 1 wherein a cap 15 is placed on or over the cell 3 to improve blast resistance. The cap 15 may be placed on a side of the cell 4 to face a blast trajectory. As illustrated, the thickness of the cap 15 should be selected to not exceed the maximum height of the interconnected arms 6. The cap 15 may be made from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, ceramics, an aramid fiber, Kevlar, urethane, impregnated nylon, phenolic resins, plastic and combinations thereof. In the selection of materials suitable to a particular application, preference should be given to materials that resist deformation, are not brittle or are subject to fracture under pressure wave stresses.

FIGS. 1-17 have illustrated various embodiments of the present armor 1 formed by a cellular structure 2 comprised of a plurality of individual cells 3 sharing an identical and repeating pattern. As illustrated, the cellular structure is formed into panels 9. The panels 9 have been illustrated in FIGS 1-17 to have a generally flat and rectangular profile. It is within the purview of the inventor to also construct panels 9 using the cellular structure 2 disclosed herein having cylindrical or tubular shapes. By way of illustration, and without limitation, the cellular structure 2 of the present art armor 1 may be formed or constructed into cylindrical, non-cylindrical and irregular shapes. Additionally, the cellular structure 2 may first be formed around an object and then treated by methods well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, which may include by way of illustration but without limitation, heating, cooling, spraying, annealing, and affixation of hardening particles, or combinations therein, to attain shaped surface, resistance and deflection properties conducive to protection of the object. Although not illustrated by FIGS. 1-17, it should be understood that the cellular structure 2, cells 3 and panels 9 disclosed and claimed herein have uses and applications beyond the present art armor. For example, the cellular structure 2 lends itself to use in the exterior of automotive bodies for impact resistance and the interior of automotive bodies for passenger impact survival. The spring-like nature of the cellular structure in combination with material suitable for the application, lends itself to all manner of seating solutions in transportation vehicles including more particularly, pediatric car seats and or transport of the people with disabilities. The cellular structure 2, when constructed from material suitable for the particular application, may also be used in the transport of heavy cargo such as equipment or furniture. The formable shape, lightness and strength of the cellular structure 2, when constructed from material suitable for the application, could also be used as a medical splinting material, an exoskeleton reinforcement or as a medical prosthetic device. When combined with the application of mechanical forces, a robotic or responsive flexural exoskeleton or skin may be created. The voids 8 in the cellular structure 2 combined with the spring-like qualities of the cellular structure provide and allow for use and application as filtration netting. By way of illustration, and without limitation, the cellular structure 2 may be implemented into a net-like structure positioned across a river to allow water to pass thru but not logs or other debris.

Further, the vibration dampening properties of the cellular structure 2, cells 3 and panels 9 operating in cooperative fashion, in combination with material suitable for the particular application, lends itself to vehicle dashboards or cart surfaces for transportation of delicate electronics. The vibration resistance properties of the cellular structure 2, cells 3 and panels 9 operating in cooperative fashion, in combination with material suitable for the particular application, also lends itself to support structures for buildings for earthquake resistance or use in urban subjected to train, truck and or subway vibration. This may be particularly useful in construction applications that require irregular shapes. By way of illustration, and without limitation, the present art could be used as a drywall replacement allowing for construction of vibration resistance walls shaped to irregular patterns and applications.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended to apply to all similarly constructed material with cells 3 and arms 6, as well as armor and armor-based systems for protecting personal, equipment, assets, buildings, or other items contemplated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An armor structure comprising: a. a panel comprised of a cellular structure wherein each cell has a plurality of sides; b. a plurality of arms interconnected around the sides of each said cell with a side of an adjacent cell, each said arm having a curved contour; and, c. a plurality of voids created between said plurality of arms, wherein said cellular structure and said plurality of arms comprising said panel operate to dampen the pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from said explosive blast to flow through said plurality of voids.

2. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein said panel is in a single plane.

3. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein a plurality of panels form an armor structure having multiple layers.

4. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein said cell is a hexagon shape.

5. The armor structure of claim 4 wherein each of said arms is interconnected at the vertices of said hexagon shaped cell.

6. The armor structure of claim 5 wherein said plurality of voids form equilateral triangles.

7. The armor structure of claim 6 wherein a plurality of panels form an armor structure having multiple layers.

8. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein said cells are circles.

9. The armor structure of claim 8 wherein said interconnected arms are positioned equidistantly around the perimeter of said cells.

10. The armor structure of claim 9 wherein said plurality of voids form equilateral triangles.

11. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein said cells are symmetrical and repeated throughout each said panel.

12. The armor structure of claim 5 wherein said cells are symmetrical and repeated throughout each said panel.

13. The armor structure of claim 12 wherein a plurality of panels form an armor structure having multiple layers.

14. The armor structure of claim 13 wherein each panel of said plurality of panels forming each said layer of said multiple layers may be formed with symmetrical and identical forms.

15. The armor structure of claim 14 wherein each panel is comprised of symmetrical and identical cells to form a unique individual layer and wherein said cells of different said unique individual layer(s) are non-identical.

16. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein said cells have a first and a second side normal to said cell, said first side is orientated to face a blast trajectory and said second side to face away from said blast trajectory.

17. The armor structure of claim 16 wherein said first side is orientated to allow increased dampening of a pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from said explosive blast to flow through said plurality of voids.

18. The armor structure of claim 17 wherein the material comprising the form, the angle of interconnected arms and the sub-cell shape of the sub-cell are selected to increase dampening of a pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from said explosive blast to flow through said plurality of voids.

19. The armor structure of claim 18 wherein the material comprising said form, the angle of said interconnected arms and shape of said sub-cell are selected to allow an asymmetrical response to a pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from said explosive blast to flow through said plurality of voids.

20. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein said panel is made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, ceramics, an aramid fiber, Kevlar, urethane, impregnated nylon, phenolic resins, plastic and combinations thereof.

21. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein said interconnected arms are contoured to approximate the shape of a sinusoidal waveform.

22. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein an angle is present between said interconnected arms and each said cell, said angle in the range of 5-45 degrees.

23. The armor structure of claim 22 wherein said angle is 30 degrees.

24. The armor structure of claim 4 wherein an angle is present between said interconnected arms and each said cell, and said angle is in the range of 5-45 degrees.

25. The armor structure of claim 24 wherein said angle is 30 degrees.

26. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein a cap is placed on said cell.

27. The armor structure of claim 1 wherein said cells have a first and a second side normal to said cell, said first side orientated to face a blast trajectory and second side to face away from said blast trajectory, a cell cap is placed on said first side of said cell to increase said cell's resistance to said blast trajectory.

28. The armor structure of claim 27 wherein said cell cap thickness is sized not to exceed the maximum height of said interconnected arm.

29. The armor structure according to claims 26, 27 or 28 wherein said cap is made from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, ceramics, an aramid fiber, Kevlar, urethane, polyurethane, ceramic impregnated nylon, phenolic resins, plastic and combinations thereof.

30. The armor structure according to claims 1, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the ratio of the thickness of said cell to the diameter of said cell is in the range 0.03-1.0.

31. An armor structure comprising: a. a panel comprised of a cellular structure further comprised of a plurality of cells wherein each cell has a plurality of sides; b. an opening located within each said cell; c. a plurality of arms interconnected around the sides of each said cell with a side of an adjacent cell, each said arm having a curved contour; d. a perimetric wall formed by said plurality of arms at each said cell wherein a well is formed between said opening and said perimetric wall; e. a plurality of voids created between said plurality of arms wherein said plurality of said cells and said plurality of arms comprising said panel operate to dampen the pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from said explosive blast to flow through said plurality of voids.

32. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein said panel is in a single plane.

33. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein a plurality of panels form an armor structure having multiple layers.

34. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein said cell is a hexagon shape.

35. The armor structure of claim 34 wherein each of said arms is interconnected at the vertices of said hexagon shaped cell.

36. The armor structure of claim 35 wherein said plurality of voids form equilateral triangles.

37. The armor structure of claim 36 wherein a plurality of panels form an armor structure having multiple layers.

38. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein said cells are circles.

39. The armor structure of claim 38 wherein said interconnected arms are positioned equidistantly around the perimeter of said cells.

40. The armor structure of claim 39 wherein said plurality of voids form equilateral triangles.

41. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein said cells are symmetrical and repeated throughout each said panel.

42. The armor structure of claim 35 wherein said cells are symmetrical and repeated throughout each said panel.

43. The armor structure of claim 42 wherein said plurality of panels form an armor structure having multiple layers.

44. The armor structure of claim 43 wherein said panels forming each said layer of said multiple layers may be formed with symmetrical and identical forms.

45. The armor structure of claim 44 wherein each layer is comprised of symmetrical and identical cells and wherein said cells of the different layers may be non- identical.

46. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein said cells have a first and a second side normal to said cell, said first side orientated to face a blast trajectory and second side to face away from said blast trajectory.

47. The armor structure of claim 46 wherein said first side is orientated to allow increased dampening of a pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from said explosive blast to flow through said plurality of voids.

48. The armor structure of claim 47 wherein the material comprising the cell, the angle of said interconnected arms and the sub-cell shape are selected to increase dampening of a pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from said explosive blast to flow through said plurality of voids.

49. The armor structure of claim 48 wherein the material comprising the form, the angle of interconnected arms and the sub-cell shape are selected to allow an asymmetrical response to a pressure wave resulting from an explosive blast while allowing the blast wave resulting from said explosive blast to flow through said plurality of voids.

50. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein said panel is made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, ceramics, an aramid fiber, Kevlar, urethane, polyurethane, ceramic impregnated nylon, phenolic resins, plastic and combinations thereof.

51. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein said interconnected arms are contoured to approximate the shape of a sinusoidal waveform.

52. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein an angle is present between said interconnected arms and each said cell, said angle in the range of 5-45 degrees.

53. The armor structure of claim 52 wherein said angle is 30 degrees.

54. The armor structure of claim 34 wherein an angle is present between said interconnected arms and each said cell, and said angle is in the range of 5-45 degrees.

55. The armor structure of claim 54 wherein said angle is 30 degrees.

56. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein a cap is placed on said cell.

57. The armor structure of claim 31 wherein said cells have a first and a second side normal to said cell, said first side orientated to face a blast trajectory and second side to face away from said blast trajectory, a cap is placed on said first side of said cell to increase said cell's resistance to said blast trajectory.

58. The armor structure of claim 57 wherein the thickness of said cap is selected to not exceed the maximum height of said interconnected arms.

59. The armor structure of claim 56 wherein said cap is placed on said cell.

60. The armor structure according to claims 56, 57 or 58 wherein said cap is made from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, ceramics, an aramid fiber, Kevlar, urethane, impregnated nylon, phenolic resins, plastic and combinations thereof.

61. The armor structure according to claims 31, 34, 35, 36 or 37 wherein the ratio of the thickness of said cell to the diameter of said cell is in the range 0.03-1.0.

62. The armor structure of claim 33 wherein a plurality of armor plates form an armor structure having multiple layers and at least one non-panel material is adjacent at least one said panel structure.

63. The armor structure of claim 62 wherein at least one non-panel material is selected from the group consisting of Kevelar, polyurethane, urethane, Styrof oam, nylon and combinations thereof.

64. A cellular structure comprising: a. a sub-cell having a plurality of sides forming a perimeter; b. a plurality of arms around said perimeter of each said sub-cell for interconnection with a side of an adjacent sub-cell, each said arm having a curved contour; and, c. a plurality of voids created between said plurality of arms and wherein said plurality of said sub-cells and said plurality of arms may operate to cooperatively resist and dampen a pressure wave.

65. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said sub-cell is non-hexagon shaped and said plurality of arms are equidistantly spaced around said perimeter of said sub-cell and wherein said plurality of voids are equilateral triangles.

66. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure forms a product having a shape selected from the group consisting of a tube, a cylinder and a panel or combinations thereof.

67. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure forms a product having an irregular shape.

68. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure is first formed into a product having a shape selected from the group consisting of a tube, a cylinder and a panel or combinations thereof and then second is treated by a method selected from the following consisting of heating, cooling, spraying, annealing, and affixation of hardening particles or combinations therein, to attain a shaped surface having resistance and deflection properties conducive to protection of an object.

69. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure forms a seating product.

70. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure forms an automotive product.

71. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure forms a medical splinting material, an exoskeleton reinforcement material or a medical prosthetic device.

72. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure forms a net useful in filtration.

73. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure, cells and interconnected arms operate in cooperative fashion to dampen externally delivered vibrations.

74. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure, cells and interconnected arms operate in cooperative fashion to resist externally delivered vibrations.

75. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure forms an earthquake resistant structure.

76. The cellular structure according to claim 64 wherein said cellular structure forms a wall.

77. An apparatus comprising any new, inventive step, act, combination of steps and or acts or sub-combination of steps and/ or acts described herein related to force dissipation, deflection, absorption and/ or dampening.

78. A method of comprising any new, inventive step, act, combination of steps and or acts or sub-combination of steps and/ or acts described herein related to dissipating, deflecting, absorbing and/ or dampening forces or modifying apparatuses that dissipate, deflect, absorb and/ or dampen forces.