Transparent armor construction

A transparent armor construction comprising:

• an asymmetric laminate structure having at least two layers, a front surface having a first periphery, a back surface having a second periphery, and an outer edge, wherein said first and second peripheries define said outer edge between said front surface and said back surface, said at least two layers being constructed from different materials selected from the group of glass, ceramic, resin, polymeric material, and plastic, said different materials being substantially transparent and having different coefficients of thermal expansion,
• a first bonding material disposed between said at least two layers which secures said at least two layers together,
• a planar frame having an open central portion and an outer border, said frame bonded to either the front surface or the back surface of said asymmetric laminate structure by a second bonding material so that an outer periphery of said border is positioned closely adjacent said outer edge of said asymmetric laminate structure, said frame selected from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially the same as at least one of the at least two layers and less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of a layer to which said frame is bonded, wherein said layer to which said frame is bonded is sandwiched between said frame and said at least one layer having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially the same as said frame,
• wherein said outer periphery of said border is inside of or substantially flush with said outer edge and does not confine said outer edge of said asymmetric laminate structure,
• and further wherein said asymmetric laminate structure is designed to protect from ballistic threats and can effectively operate when subjected to temperatures below −30° Centigrade.

A transparent armor construction comprising:

• an asymmetric laminate structure having at least two layers, a front surface having a first periphery, a back surface having a second periphery, and an outer edge, wherein said first and second peripheries define said outer edge between said front surface and said back surface, said at least two layers comprising a first layer constructed a materials selected from the group of glass, ceramic, and plastic and having a first coefficient of expansion, a second layer constructed a materials selected from the group of glass, ceramic, and plastic and having a second coefficient of expansion that is different than said first coefficient of thermal expansion, and said materials being substantially transparent,
• a first polymeric bonding material disposed between said first layer and said second layer,
• a planar frame having an open central portion and an outer border, said frame bonded to either the front surface or the back surface of said asymmetric laminate structure by a second polymeric bonding material so that an outer periphery of said border is positioned closely adjacent said outer edge of said asymmetric laminate structure, said frame selected from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is substantially the same as at least one of the at least two layers and less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of a layer to which said frame is bonded, wherein said layer to which said frame is bonded is sandwiched between said frame and said at least one layer having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially the same as said frame,
• wherein said outer periphery of said border is inside of or substantially flush with said outer edge and does not confine said outer edge of said asymmetric laminate structure.