# US 10,119,792 B2 · Multi-layer, multi-element body armor panel with improved compressibility > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,792 B2 - Document ID: US10119792B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/820,828 - Filed: 2015-08-07 - Published: 2016-02-11 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-08 - Assignees: Warwick Mills, Inc. - Applicants: Warwick Mills Inc. - Inventors: Charles A. Howland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119792B2 ## CPC - F41H 5/0471: {Layered armour containing fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers (in combination with ceramic layers F41H5/0428, with metal layers F41H5/0457)} - F41H 5/0457: {Metal layers in combination with additional layers made of fibres, fabrics or plastics} - F41H 5/0492: {Layered armour containing hard elements, e.g. plates, spheres, rods, separated from each other, the elements being connected to a further flexible layer or being embedded in a plastics or an elastomer matrix} - F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL ## Abstract An MFA panel provides enhanced compressibility and off-axis threat protection by distributing solid elements among a plurality of vertically stacked, flexible supporting sheets, so that the elements on each sheet are spaced apart while the stacked arrangement provides adjacent or overlapping coverage of the panel, while allowing the solid elements to slide over each other during compression. The solid elements can be triangular or square, and can be metal or ceramic. The supporting sheets can be high tensile, such as para aramid, or low tensile, such as PET, Nylon, or cotton, for enhanced compressibility, flexibility, drape, and hand. A high tensile backing ply can be included to inhibit tensile failure of low tensile supporting sheets. In embodiments, the panels are attached to each other only at their edges. Fibers of para aramid supporting sheets can be unidirectional, so as to share the load of an impact throughout the panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A flexible and compressible armor panel suitable for constructing wearable multi-threat protection, the panel comprising: a plurality of flexible fabric supporting sheets arranged in a vertical stack to form a panel; and a plurality of unitary, rigid solid elements distributed among and adhered by an adhesive to the supporting sheets, said solid elements being horizontally spaced apart on the individual supporting sheets, but arranged in the stack in a vertically offset but horizontally adjacent or overlapping relationship that covers substantially all of a protective region of the panel, the supporting sheets being attached to one another only about their edges, thereby allowing portions of the supporting sheets to move horizontally relative to each other; and for each of the supporting sheets, said solid elements on said supporting sheet being slidable over each other so as to allow compression of the panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the solid elements include metal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The armor panel of claim 2, wherein the metal is steel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the supporting sheets includes para-aramid fibers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The armor panel of claim 4, wherein the para-aramid fibers staple fibers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the supporting sheets includes a yarn having an average tenacity of less than 10 gpd. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The armor panel of claim 6, wherein the supporting sheet is a woven fabric sheet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the solid elements are triangular, and are arranged when overlaid in a horizontally adjacent, hexagonal configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The armor panel of claim 8, wherein the solid elements are distributed in pairs among three of the supporting sheets, the pairs being directly opposed to each other and touching at only one central vertex. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the solid elements are square, and are arranged when overlaid in a square, horizontally overlapping configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least some pairs of horizontally adjacent or overlapping solid elements are vertically separated from each other by more than one layer of the stack of supporting sheets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the solid elements adhered to at least one of the individual supporting sheets are horizontally spaced apart from each other by a distance that is at least 10% of a smallest side dimension of the solid elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the armor panel provides protection against specified maximum ballistic, blade, and spike threats. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the armor panel is compressed by an amount equal to at least 25% of its effective width when tested by means of a vertical armor compression test. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, further comprising adhesive applied around and over edges of the solid elements attached to at least one of the supporting sheets, said adhesive creating a feathered elastomeric transition from a top of the solid element to an uncoated surface of the supporting sheet. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the supporting sheets contain yarn of tenacity of less than 10 g/denier. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the supporting sheets include at least one of nylon, polyester, PET, and cotton. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, further comprising a para aramid backer ply applied to a rear surface of the stack of the panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The armor panel of claim 18, wherein the para aramid backer ply is made from yarn with tenacity greater than 10 gpd and denier per inch greater than 15,000. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the adhesive provides a bond of approximately 100 lbf per inch of lap shear strength. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a sulfur cure chloroprene elastomer.