US 11,852,444 B1Granted

Personal armor resistant to pointed or sharp weaponry

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorsJames Gregory Pinsky, Philip J. Dudt, Devin P. Murphy

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Abstract

According to exemplary inventive practice, a personal armor system includes a textile-based layer not exceeding ½-half-inch thickness, and an elastomeric coating not exceeding ⅛-inch thickness. The textile-based layer includes a fiber reinforcement and a resin binder. The combined areal density of the textile-based layer and the elastomeric coating does not exceed 2.5 psf. According to a first mode of inventive practice, the elastomeric coating is essentially a strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomer, and the areal density of the textile-based layer does not exceed 2.3 psf. According to a second mode of inventive practice, the elastomeric coating is essentially a microparticle-filled strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material, and the areal density of the textile-based layer does not exceed 1.7 psf. The microparticles (e.g., spherical glass microparticles) do not exceed, by weight, 30 percent of the strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material. The textile-based layer affords ballistic protection; the elastomeric coating affords protection against sharp/pointed objects.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A composite armor system comprising:

a ballistic fabric-based backing layer, said ballistic fabric-based backing layer having an areal density no greater than approximately 1.7 pounds per square foot;
and
an elastomeric coating strike-face layer, said elastomeric coating strike-face layer consisting essentially of a particle-filled strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material and covering at least one area of said ballistic fabric-based backing layer, said particle-filled strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material having a combination of an elastomer matrix and a quantity of particles in said elastomer matrix, said quantity of particles by weight constituting no greater than approximately 50 percent of the weight of said elastomer matrix;
wherein in said at least one area of said ballistic fabric-based backing layer:
said elastomeric coating strike-face layer is bonded onto said ballistic fabric-based backing layer;
said elastomeric coating strike-face layer does not infiltrate into said ballistic-fabric-based backing layer;
said elastomeric coating strike-face layer and said ballistic fabric-based backing layer, in combination, have an areal density no greater than approximately 2.5 pounds per square foot;
said elastomeric coating strike-face layer has a thickness no less than 0.06 inch;
wherein, upon impact by a sharp or pointed object, said elastomeric coating strike-face layer undergoes strain-rate-sensitivity hardening that impedes said sharp or pointed object.

6 more elements

A composite armor system comprising:

a ballistic fabric-based backing layer, said ballistic fabric-based backing layer having an areal density no greater than approximately 1.7 pounds per square foot;
and
an elastomeric coating strike-face layer, said elastomeric coating layer consisting essentially of a particle-filled strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material, said elastomeric coating layer covering at least one area of said ballistic fabric-based backing layer, said particle-filled strain-rate-sensitivity-hardening elastomeric matrix material having a combination of an elastomer matrix and a quantity of particles in said elastomer matrix, said quantity of particles by weight constituting no greater than approximately 50 percent of the weight of said elastomer matrix;
wherein in said at least one area of said ballistic fabric-based backing layer:
said elastomeric coating strike-face layer is bonded onto said ballistic fabric-based backing layer;
a portion of said elastomeric coating strike-face layer infiltrates said ballistic fabric-based backing layer;
an infiltration region is formed representing both a sublayer of said elastomeric coating strike-face layer and a sublayer of said ballistic-fabric-based backing layer;
said infiltration region has a thickness in the approximate range of 10 to 60 percent of the thickness of said ballistic fabric-based backing layer;
said elastomeric coating strike-face layer and said ballistic fabric-based backing layer, in combination, have an areal density no greater than approximately 2.5 pounds per square foot;
said ballistic fabric-based backing layer has a plurality of plies, said plurality of plies including a front-most ply;
said infiltration region extends through approximately the entire said front-most ply;
wherein, upon impact by a sharp or pointed object, said elastomeric coating strike-face layer undergoes strain-rate-sensitivity hardening that impedes said sharp or pointed object.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/529,477Filed 1 Aug 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 8 Feb 2019
Granted: 26 Dec 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification42 codes

F41H 5/0478
Layered armour containing fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers: fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers in combination with plastics layers
A41D 31/24
Characterised by special function or use: resistant to mechanical stress, e.g. pierce-proof
A41D 31/245
Resistant to mechanical stress, e.g. pierce-proof: using layered materials
B32B 5/02
Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure , i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam…