Multi-component lightweight ballistic resistant garment

Abstract

A ballistic resistant protective garment having a ballistic resistant pad which has at least three panels including a first panel constructed of a plurality of overlying layered sheets in which each sheet is constructed of a first type of high tensile strength woven fiber, a second panel constructed of a plurality of overlying layered sheets in which each sheet is constructed of lyotropic liquid crystal polymer material, and a third panel constructed of plurality of overlying layers of composite body armor material positioned at a body side of the pad in which the first, second and third panels are in overlying relationship to one another to form the pad. The employment of the panel of layered sheets of lyotropic liquid polymer fibers introduces a synergistic effect with the ballistic resistant materials of the other panels. The synergistic effect enhances the anti-ballistic performance of the high strength material of the other panels through increased lateral energy dispersion, reduces bunching and balling of the pad in a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) laboratory test environment and further improves blunt trauma performance.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.