Fabric (woven – knitted – or nonwoven textile or cloth – etc.) – Coated or impregnated woven – knit – or nonwoven fabric which... – Coating or impregnation is resistant to penetration by solid...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-11-20
Cole, Elizabeth M. (Department: 1771)
Fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.)
Coated or impregnated woven, knit, or nonwoven fabric which...
Coating or impregnation is resistant to penetration by solid...
C442S134000, C428S102000, C428S911000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319862
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to body armor constructions and, more particularly, to an improved body armor construction which, among other important advantages, reduces the blunt action trauma produced by a projectile, e.g., a bullet or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In my U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,201, and my co-pending application Ser. No. 09/266,842, filed on Mar. 12, 1999, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference, there are disclosed a penetration resistant protective armor constructions which afford a number of important advantages. Although the armor construction of my patent certainly serves its intended purpose and, insofar as I am aware, does so in a manner that is superior to all body armor presently available on the market, the present invention concerns further improvements in such armor constructions.
As discussed in the above-mentioned application Ser. No. 09/266,842, one important aspect of the damage done by a bullet upon impact is referred to as blunt action trauma. In general, this is the impact trauma produced by the bullet in the immediate area of impact, in addition to the penetration damage. In a clay test target used to simulate the body, this trauma is manifested by a substantial blunt deformation of the clay around the entry site of the bullet. It will be appreciated that in some instances this blunt trauma can be more significant than the damage done by the passage of the bullet itself into and/or through the body depending, for example, on whether the bullet strikes a vital organ or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a protective armor construction is provided which reduces blunt action trauma, and provides excellent penetration resistance, while being relatively inexpensive to manufacture. According to the invention, a protective armor construction is provided which comprises, arranged in serial relation between the front and back of the armor construction: a first plurality of layers of a penetration resistant material fabricated of high strength fibers, the layers being secured together at the peripheral edges thereof; a first plurality of backing layers of a thermoplastic polyester extrudable in sheet form; a further plurality of layers of a penetration resistant material fabricated of high strength fibers, the further plurality of penetration resistant layers being disposed in serial contacting, unsecured relation; and a further plurality of layers of a thermoplastic material extrudable in sheet form.
Advantageously, said first plurality of layers of a penetration resistant material are sewed together by stitching extending around the periphery of the layers in adjacent spaced relation to said peripheral edges. Preferably, the stitching is spaced from between about ⅛ inch to 1 inch from the peripheral edges.
Preferably, the backing layers of thermoplastic polyester include an adhesive coating affixing the corresponding backing layer to an adjacent layer.
In an important embodiment, the penetration resistant material is comprised of high strength, high modulus aramid fibers and the thermoplastic polyester comprises a long chain synthetic polymer of dihydric alcohol and dibasic acids or esters thereof. Preferably, the synthetic polymer comprises a polyester of dihydric alcohols and aromatic dicarboxylic acids or esters. More preferably, the polyester comprises polyethyleneterephalate. In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one backing sheet of polyethyleneterephalate has an adhesive coating thereon.
Advantageously, the first plurality of layers of penetration resistant material comprises at least four layers, with eight layers being employed in a beneficial implementation.
Advantageously, the first plurality of backing layers comprises at least three layers, with five layers being employed in a beneficial implementation.
Advantageously, the further plurality of penetration resistant layers comprises at least three layers, with four layers being employed in a beneficial implementation.
Advantageously, the further plurality of backing layers comprises at least three layers.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a protective armor construction is provided which comprises, arranged in serial relation from front to back: a first plurality of layers of a penetration resistant material secured together so as to provide blunting the shape of a projective striking the layers, the penetration resistant material comprising high strength aramid fibers; a first backing sheet of polyethyleneterephalate adhered to the rearmost layer of the first plurality of layers; at least one further backing sheet of polyethyleneterephalate adhered to the first backing sheet; a second plurality of layers of a penetration resistant material arranged in unsecured serial relation to one another so as to flex and expand in response to striking thereof by a projectile, the penetration resistant material of the second plurality of layers comprising high strength aramid fibers; a second backing sheet of polyethyleneterephalate adhered to the rearmost layer of the second plurality of layers; and at least one additional backing sheet of polyester adhered to the second backing sheet.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in, or apparent from, the detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof which follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5677029 (1997-10-01), Prevorsek et al.
patent: 5723201 (1998-03-01), Czetto, Jr.
Cole Elizabeth M.
Ruddock Ula C.
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