# US 10,119,793 B2 · Multi-layer slash protective body armor

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- Number: US 10,119,793 B2
- Document ID: US10119793B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/299,959
- Filed: 2016-10-21
- Published: 2017-04-27
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-22
- Assignees: Warwick Mills, Inc.
- Applicants: Warwick Mills Inc.
- Inventors: Charles A Howland
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119793B2

## CPC

- 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}
- B32B 3/06: for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support {, or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking}
- B32B 3/085: {spaced apart pieces on the surface of a layer}
- B32B 3/18: characterised by an internal layer formed of separate pieces of material {which are juxtaposed side-by-side (B32B5/02 takes precedence)}
- B32B 5/022: {Non-woven fabric}
- B32B 5/024: {Woven fabric}
- B32B 5/026: {Knitted fabric}
- B32B 5/06: characterised by a fibrous {or filamentary} layer {mechanically connected, e.g. by needling} to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper
- B32B 5/08: the fibres or filaments of a layer being of different substances {, e.g. conjugate fibres, mixture of different fibres}
- B32B 5/142: {Variation across the area of the layer}
- B32B 5/26: another layer {next to it} also being fibrous or filamentary {(relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12)}
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 7/14: applied in spaced arrangements, e.g. in stripes
- F41H 1/02: Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics {(F41H5/04 takes precedence)}
- B32B 2250/20: All layers being fibrous or filamentary
- B32B 2250/44: Number of layers variable across the laminate
- B32B 2262/0261: Polyamide fibres
- B32B 2262/0284: Polyethylene terephthalate [PET] or polybutylene terephthalate [PBT]
- B32B 2262/062: Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton
- B32B 2262/14: Mixture of at least two fibres made of different materials
- B32B 2307/581: Resistant to cut
- B32B 2307/718: Weight, e.g. weight per square meter
- B32B 2307/724: Permeability to gases, adsorption
- B32B 2307/732: Dimensional properties
- B32B 2317/10: Natural fibres, e.g. wool, cotton
- B32B 2367/00: Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
- B32B 2571/02: defensive, e.g. armour plates or anti-ballistic clothing
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM

## Abstract

A slash-protecting panel is affordable, comfortable, flexible, light, and concealable, while providing at least 80N HOSDB slash protection. A plurality of solid elements are aligned on upper and lower backing sheets in rows and columns separated by continuous gaps between 25% and 95% as wide as the solid elements, the upper elements being centered above the gap intersections of the lower elements, leaving isolated gap “islands” uncovered but no continuous gaps. Embodiments further include a third layer with smaller “button” solid elements arranged behind the gap islands, leaving no gaps. The solid elements can be ceramic or metal, and the backing sheets can be ballistic fabric, or any convenient woven, non-woven, or warp knit. Solid elements can be attached to the sheets by rivets or adhesives, or held in pockets. Embodiments include an inner and/or an outer covering layer of a knit or similar fabric for added comfort.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A slash-protecting armor panel, comprising:
a first layer including a first plurality of unitary solid elements affixed to a first backing sheet; and
a second layer including a second plurality of unitary solid elements affixed to a second backing sheet;
said solid elements being aligned horizontally and vertically on said backing sheets in rows and columns that are separated so as to form intersecting vertical and horizontal gaps therebetween, widths of said vertical and horizontal gaps being between 25% and 95% of widths and heights respectively of the solid elements;
said first and second layers being attached to each other so as to position the second plurality of solid elements centrally over the intersections of the vertical and horizontal gaps of the first layer; and
said panel thereby including isolated gap islands that are bounded by said first and second solid elements but are not blocked by any solid elements in the slash-protecting armor panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the solid elements are square, rectangular, hexagonal, or circular.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the solid elements include rounded corners.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the solid elements are ceramic.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the solid elements are metal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The armor panel of claim 5, wherein the solid elements are cold-rolled, work-hardened ASTM 301 stainless steel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least some of the solid elements are riveted to said backing sheets.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least some of the solid elements are held within pockets provided on said backing sheets.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least some of the solid elements are attached by an adhesive to said backing sheets.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The armor panel of claim 9, wherein the adhesive includes at least one of thermoplastic urethane, reactive urethane, sulfur cure elastomer, and thermoplastic elastomer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the backing sheets includes a fabric containing fibers having a penetration resistance equal to or greater than para-aramid.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the backing sheets is a woven, a non-woven, or a warp knit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one of the backing sheets includes at least one of PET, cotton, and nylon.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the layers are attached to each other only about their peripheries.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the backing sheets are attached to each other at least partly by stitching about a periphery of the panel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, wherein the panel is able to pass an 80 N HOSDB slash test.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The armor panel of claim 1, further comprising a knit textile cover layer located either above the second layer or below the first layer.

### Claim 18

A slash-protecting garment comprising a slash-protecting panel, said panel including:
a first layer including a first plurality of unitary solid elements affixed to a first backing sheet; and
a second layer including a second plurality of unitary solid elements affixed to a second backing sheet;
said solid elements being aligned horizontally and vertically on said backing sheets in rows and columns that are separated so as to form intersecting vertical and horizontal gaps therebetween, widths of said vertical and horizontal gaps being between 25% and 95% of widths and heights respectively of the solid elements;
said first and second layers being attached to each other so as to position the second plurality of solid elements centrally over the intersections of the vertical and horizontal gaps of the first layer; and
said panel thereby including isolated gap islands that are bounded by said first and second solid elements but are not blocked by any solid elements in the slash-protecting garment.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The garment of claim 18, wherein the garment is one of a T-shirt, a shirt, an apron, a sleeve, a smock, a jacket, and a pair of pants.