Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Nonplanar uniform thickness material
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-02
2001-01-16
Loney, Donald (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Nonplanar uniform thickness material
C428S158000, C428S318800, C248S562000, C181S290000, C049S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174587
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is directed to shock attenuation barriers, and more particularly to an improved shock attenuation barrier comprised of a plurality of layers of shock absorbing materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For safety reasons, it is imperative that explosives be stored, handled and transported under rigorous rules to preclude unintended or accidental detonation of the explosives. Unfortunately, even under the most controlled circumstances, unintended detonation may occur. It has thus been an objective to minimize to the extent possible any damage caused by such an unintended detonation. Foremost, it is highly desirable to contain an accidental explosion to the smallest area possible. For instance, it is important to prevent the propagation of explosion from one explosive device to another explosive device which might be stored immediately adjacent or near the device that has accidentally exploded.
Numerous types of anti-propagation schemes and blast protection/deflection structures have been proposed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,296 to Howe et al. discloses anti-propagation explosive packaging in the form of shields having a core formed of commercially available gypsum board and surrounded by cladding of any convenient material having sufficient abrasion resistance such as, for example, plywood, fiber board, cardboard and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,260 to Walker et al. discloses an apparatus for reduction of munition fratricide hazard comprising shields of tungsten-plastic composite material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,258 to Rock et al. discloses a non-propagating holder and package for explosive devices with radially spaced elastomeric walls.
While each of the structures in the above-cited patents are useful for their intended purpose, there nevertheless remains a demand for an efficient, simple and inexpensive shock attenuation barrier.
Furthermore, there is a need to provide increased protection to buildings by providing shock attenuation barriers to an exterior portion thereof. Specifically, in recent times, the threat to buildings by terrorist car bombs has significantly increased. Such bombings can be particularly destructive if the bomb blast reaches load-bearing elements of the building whereby a full collapse of the building might result.
In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shock attenuation barrier having a multi-layered structure that has superior shock attenuation, energy absorption characteristics and survivability, and which is equally useful as an anti-propagation structure and a general-purpose blast protection material for buildings or other structures.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shock attenuation barrier that can have a relatively flat or curved surface.
It still another object of the present invention to provide a shock attenuation barrier that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are achieved by the present invention by providing a shock attenuation barrier, comprising a plurality of layers successively arranged including a first shock attenuation layer, a second layer having a plurality of geometric shapes molded or otherwise disposed therein and a third, preferably, foam layer adjacent the second layer. The above described structure may further include additional layers, and preferably fourth and fifth layers having a configuration and comprising material substantially the same as the first and second layers, respectively.
In accordance with the present invention, the first and fifth layers preferably include a thermoplastic core and fiber reinforced thermoset resin faces.
The plurality of geometric shapes preferably include truncated tetrahedrons.
The third layer preferably has substantially smooth faces. Also, a filler material is preferably disposed within a cavity defined by the foam layer and an inside surface of the second layer. The filler material may be ceramic micro balloons, pumice or any other suitable shock absorbing material.
In one embodiment, the plurality of layers of the barrier are all substantially parallel to a single plane. In another embodiment, the barrier is curved.
Each of the plurality of layers of the barrier is adhesively bonded to an adjacent layer, and the thickness of the joined layered barrier preferably is about 1 to 7 inches.
In another embodiment, the barrier can be constructed in sections of about 4 feet high and 8 feet wide, or 8 feet high by 4 feet wide, depending on its orientation. The barrier may also be as thick as 4 feet, or any other suitable thickness, with correspondingly large geometric shapes.
The barrier can be used as a box liner to prevent explosion propagation of stored munitions and/or as building protection against external explosions, such as car bombs.
For building protection, the barrier preferably is incorporated into a wall that extends around the periphery of the building. The wall preferably defines a cavity in which sand or any other suitable material is disposed so that the wall becomes even more resistant to bullets and blasts from explosions. In a particular embodiment, the wall has a substantially right triangular cross-section such that the wall stably rests on the ground and has its hypotenuse facing away from the building the wall is intended to protect. The hypotenuse preferably has a curved surface so that any shock wave from an explosion is aerodynamically directed away from the building.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3940811 (1976-03-01), Tomikawa et al.
patent: 4025996 (1977-05-01), Saveker
patent: 4422382 (1983-12-01), Marz
patent: 4440296 (1984-04-01), Howe et al.
patent: 4586602 (1986-05-01), Levey
patent: 4763576 (1988-08-01), Kass et al.
patent: 4838166 (1989-06-01), Spies et al.
patent: 4850260 (1989-07-01), Walker et al.
patent: 5054399 (1991-10-01), Bilek et al.
patent: 5121832 (1992-06-01), Fiocchi
patent: 5133258 (1992-07-01), Rock et al.
patent: 5212337 (1993-05-01), Patteri et al.
patent: 5390580 (1995-02-01), Gibbons, Jr. et al.
Atlantic Research Corporation
Loney Donald
Nixon & Vanderhye PC
Presta Frank P.
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