U.S. patent application number 10/791054 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for armored assembly.
Invention is credited to Lujan, Dardo Bonaparte.
Application Number | 20050005762 10/791054 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34994154 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050005762 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lujan, Dardo Bonaparte |
January 13, 2005 |
Armored assembly
Abstract
An armor for providing ballistic protection, the armor
comprising a front panel that is comprised of a side-by-side
arrangement of a plurality of movable pieces made of a deformable
material and detachably retained into the panel in a manner that a
piece is removed from the panel by any projectile impinging the
piece and passing through the panel, whereby the piece becomes
attached to the projectile in order to increase the size and shape
of the projectile to cause the projectile to be more easily stopped
by any further panel provided for stopping the projectile.
Inventors: |
Lujan, Dardo Bonaparte; (Mar
Del Plata, AR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
David W. Carstens
Carstens Yee & Cahoon, LLP
Suite 900
13760 Noel Road
Dallas
TX
75240
US
|
Family ID: |
34994154 |
Appl. No.: |
10/791054 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10791054 |
Mar 2, 2004 |
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10361415 |
Feb 10, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
89/36.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 5/0442 20130101;
F41H 5/0478 20130101; F41H 5/0492 20130101; F41H 5/0414 20130101;
F41H 5/0471 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
089/036.02 |
International
Class: |
F41H 005/02 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An ballistic panel for providing ballistic protection, the panel
comprising a plurality of deformable pieces that are arranged
side-by-side and detachably retained into the panel in a manner
that a piece impinged by a projectile becomes attached to the
projectile and removed from the panel, whereby the size and shape
of the projectile is increased by the attachment of the piece in
order to be more easily stopped by any further panel provided for
stopping the projectile.
2. The panel of claim 1, wherein the pieces are arranged in at
least one plane.
3. The panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pieces is a
plurality of compact ballistic units that are arranged into a
side-by-side pattern and compacted into a dense panel, wherein each
ballistic unit comprises a plurality of fibers arranged into a
bundle that is folded and entangled into a compact mass of
fibers.
4. The panel of claim 3, wherein each compact ballistic unit
comprises a bundle of fibers that is folded and entangled into a
knot.
5. The panel of claim 1, wherein the pieces form part of at least
one high-tensile strength fabric cut into said pieces.
6. The panel of claim 5, wherein the at least one high-tensile
strength fabric comprises a plurality of fabric sheets arranged
into a pattern in that the pieces of a fabric sheet are offset
relative the pieces of any adjacent fabric sheet.
7. The panel of claim 5, wherein the high-tensile strength fabric
is made of polymeric threads selected from the group comprising
aramid threads, polyester threads, synthetic threads, aramid
fibers, ultra high resistance polyethylene fibers, thread fibers,
and mixtures thereof.
8. The panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pieces is a
plurality of side-by-side arranged ring members, each ring member
defining an inner diameter smaller than an outer maximum dimension
of the projectile.
9. The panel of claim 8, wherein each ring member is selected from
the group comprising lock washers, tooth washers, spring washers,
rings, spring coil, sand clock-shaped spring and mixtures
thereof.
10. The panel of claim 8, wherein the ring members are connected to
each other and arranged into at least one plane.
11. The panel of claim 8, wherein the ring members are arranged
side-by-side in more than one adjacent planes in a manner that the
ring members of one plane are offset of the ring members of the
adjacent plane.
12. The panel of claim 1, wherein the deformable pieces are
arranged side-by-side into a material selected from the group
comprising cardboard, rubber, polymers, plastics, EVA,
composites.
13. The panel of claim 8, wherein the projectile is provided with a
piercing tip having a minor dimension and the inner diameter of the
ring member is larger than the minor dimension of the projectile
member, for blocking the piercing tip.
14. The panel of claim 3, wherein the fibers of the ballistic units
are made of polymeric threads selected from the group comprising
aramid threads, polyester threads, synthetic threads, aramid
fibers, ultra high resistance polyethylene fibers, thread fibers,
and mixtures thereof.
15. A ballistic armored assembly for providing ballistic
protection, the assembly comprising: i. at least one ballistic
panel comprising a plurality of side-by-side deformable pieces that
are detachably retained into the panel in a manner that a piece
impinged by a projectile is removed from the panel and attached to
the projectile, whereby the size and shape of the projectile is
increased by the attachment of the piece; and ii. at least one
projectile-stopping panel for stopping the projectile having said
increased size and shape.
16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the assembly has a front side
and a rear side and the at least one ballistic panel is located at
least at the front side for receiving the impinging projectile and
the at least one projectile-stopping panel is located at least at
the rear side for stopping the projectile having the increased size
and shape after passing through the ballistic panel.
17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the projectile-stopping panel
is a projectile-trapping panel and the plurality of pieces is a
plurality of compact ballistic units that are arranged into a
side-by-side pattern and compacted into a dense panel, wherein each
ballistic unit comprises a plurality of fibers arranged into a
bundle that is folded and entangled into a compact mass of
fibers.
18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the fibers of the ballistic
units are made of polymeric threads selected from the group
comprising aramid threads, polyester threads, synthetic threads,
aramid fibers, ultra high resistance polyethylene fibers, thread
fibers) and mixtures thereof.
19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the projectile-stopping panel
is a projectile-trapping panel and the pieces form part of at least
one high-tensile strength fabric cut into said pieces, the fabric
being made of polymeric threads selected from the group comprising
aramid threads, polyester threads, synthetic threads, aramid
fibers, ultra high resistance polyethylene fibers, thread fibers
and mixtures thereof.
20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the at least one high-tensile
strength fabric comprises a plurality of fabric sheets arranged
into a pattern that the pieces of a fabric sheet are offset
relative the pieces of any adjacent fabric sheet.
21. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the projectile-stopping panel
is a projectile-trapping panel and the plurality of pieces is a
plurality of side-by-side arranged ring members, each ring member
defining an inner diameter smaller than an outer maximum dimension
of the projectile.
22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein each ring member is selected
from the group comprising lock washers, tooth washers, spring
washers, rings, spring coil, sand clock-shaped spring and mixtures
thereof.
23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the ring members are
connected to each other and arranged into at least one plane.
24. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the ring members are arranged
side-by-side in more than one adjacent planes in a manner that the
ring members of one plane are offset of the ring members of the
adjacent plane.
25. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the deformable pieces are
arranged side-by-side into a material selected from the group
comprising cardboard, rubber, polymers, plastics, EVA,
composites.
26. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the projectile is provided
with a piercing tip having a minor dimension and the inner diameter
of the ring member is larger than the minor dimension of the
projectile member, for blocking the piercing tip.
27. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the panels form a pack with
the panels attached to each other.
28. The assembly of claim 27, wherein at least one impact
cushioning panel is provided at the rear side.
29. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the projectile-stopping panel
is a projectile-trapping panel comprised of a compacted mass of
loosely-entangled fibers, whereby the projectile having said
increased size and shape is more easily stopped by the
projectile-trapping panel.
30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the fibers of the at least
one projectile-trapping panel are formed from polymeric threads
selected from the group comprising aramid threads, polyester
threads, synthetic threads, aramid fibers, ultra high resistance
polyethylene fibers, thread fibers and mixtures thereof.
31. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the fibers of the
projectile-trapping panel are wrapped around a core support to form
said at least one projectile-trapping panel.
32. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the fibers of the
projectile-trapping panel are confined into an outer cover.
33. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the at least one
projectile-trapping panel is a panel compacted into a press.
34. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the at least one
projectile-trapping panel is a panel compacted by extracting any
air in the mass of entangled fibers by means of a vacuum chamber.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of armors and
more particularly to a light ballistic panel and armored assembly
including the panel, for absorbing energy such as temperature,
sound, impact and shock energy, preferably impact energy from
ballistic projectiles, the ballistic panel and assembly being
capable of forming protective panels or packs for use in armoring
vehicles, buildings, and the like and/or for use in manufacturing
ballistic jackets for individuals, wherein the armored assembly
comprises a combination of panels for absorbing the energy of
projectiles and retaining the projectiles trapped into one or more
microfiber made panels.
[0003] While specific reference will be made in this specification
to the application of the inventive assembly in the ballistic
field, this structure may be well applied to other fields where a
subject or space must be isolated or protected of undesired
impinging energy.
[0004] For the purpose of this description, the term projectile or
bullet must be understand as one or more bullets per se as well as
splinters, pieces and fragments of bombs, explosives and the like.
Ballistic panel and front panel may be used indistinctly because
the ballistic panel is generally used, but not necessarily, at a
front side of any ballistic or armor assembly.
[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0006] It is well known to provide synthetic fibers or threads like
aramids for manufacturing ballistic jackets or armored panels for
armoring cars, for example. The concept employed for manufacturing
these armored products were based in providing combined woven
materials and resin materials strong enough, and having a high
resistance, to form a solid "wall" against a projectile in order to
stop the projectile against the wall generally formed by a compact
panel. In these armors the projectile generally impinges against
the solid materials and results deformed and stopped against this
wall. To stop a bullet, however, these panels must be compact and
dense with a high number of layers and material thus having
excessive weight that causes these armored or ballistic jackets and
panels to be uncomfortable for personal use and no cost effective
for use in cars.
[0007] In connection to such armor assemblies providing solid walls
to stop a bullet, U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,940 to Chediak et al.
discloses a bullet-proof fabric including a plurality of solid
rigid ceramic pieces with the purpose of forming a barrier against
a bullet, wherein the pieces are connected by high strength
threads, epoxy adhesives, rivets, an the like, with the purpose of
keeping the pieces forming a resistant structure to stop the
bullet. Other armor systems consisting of a plurality of rigid
solid pieces that are broken when attempting to stop a bullet are
those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,515,541 to Sacks et al. and
6,510,777 to Neal.
[0008] Other jackets and panels employ synthetic fibers forming a
mat or a plurality of mats and webs or fabrics. These webs and
fabrics are woven with threads forming warps and wefts thus leaving
a lot of free spaces, interstices and voids, particularly in the
weft-warp crossings and, while a plurality of layers of these webs
are employed to manufacture a panel or jacket, any impinging
object, particularly a bullet having a sharp tip, may pierce and
run through the interstices in the multi layer pack.
[0009] Both, the solid or multi layer packs, panels or jackets, do
not address the penetration problem by trying to form a kind of
"spider web" to receive the projectile and retain the same into the
web. The several ballistic packs neither took advantage of the
rotation that a projectile is provided of when shoot from a
corresponding weapon. This rotation could be used for facilitating
the trapping of the bullet into the pack.
[0010] This rotation effect has been taken into account by the
applicant of the present invention and disclosed in his U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/265,851 relating to a process and apparatus
for manufacturing a microfiber structure for absorbing impact
energy, sound energy and/or temperature, the structure being
preferably used in the ballistic field, wherein the method
comprises providing a plurality of threads consisting of
microfibers, subjecting the threads to a pressurized air jet to
open the threads by separating the microfibers into each thread,
and entangling the threads to form a mass of loosely-entangled
microfibers, with the mass being confined into a pack which may be
appropriately compacted for absorbing impact energy, preferably
from a bullet or projectile provided with rotating movement. This
structure is formed into a fiber-entangled structure, with the
fibers forming preferably curls or loops, thus taking advantage of
the rotation of the bullet to cause the bullet be wrapped by the
fibers or curls when penetrating the structure. When wrapped by the
fibers the bullet increases its mass and size and hence it is
prevented from passing through the structure.
[0011] The inventor has developed an improved armored assembly
comprising a front panel that includes a plurality of side-by-side
arranged ring members capable of being penetrated by a bullet and
trapped around the bullet in order to increase the size and enlarge
the shape of the bullet which, after passing through the front
panel, is easily stopped in a further adjacent trapping panel
formed by an entangled mass of fibers.
[0012] While the above structures disclosed in the U.S. patent
application Ser. Nos. 10/265,851 and 10/361,415 have shown to work
efficiently in trapping a bullet or any other kind of projectile,
the inventor has found that such structures can be improved by
providing a front panel that improves and enhances the effect of
increasing the size and the shape of the impinging projectile in
order to be more easily trapped in a trapping panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is therefore one object of the present invention to
provide an armored structure comprising the combination of a
plurality of panels wherein the panels comprise a plurality of
entangled-fibers panels working like the ones disclosed in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/265,851, to the same applicant, and
at least one front panel comprising ring members capable of being
partially penetrated by any impinging projectile in a manner that
the projectile enters at least one of the ring members and the ring
member or members penetrated by the bullet remain affixed to the
bullet thus increasing the mass and size of the bullet or
projectile for improving the wrapping effect of the fibers around
the projectile.
[0014] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a ballistic armor comprising a plurality of sandwiched
panels, with a front panel defining an outside surface for
receiving the impact of projectiles, the front panel including a
plurality of side-by-side arranged ring members, and at least one
projectile-trapping panel including a mass of loosely-entangled
microfibers, the panels being attached to each other to form a
ballistic resistant pack for use in the protection of vehicles,
buildings and/or for manufacturing ballistic jackets.
[0015] It is even another object of the present invention to
provide a ballistic armored assembly for providing protection
against ballistic projectiles having an outer maximum dimension,
the assembly comprising:
[0016] i. at least one front panel including a plurality of
side-by-side arranged ring members, each ring member defining an
inner diameter smaller than the outer maximum dimension of the
ballistic projectile, and
[0017] ii. at least one projectile-trapping panel comprised of a
mass of loosely-entangled microfibers.
[0018] It is even another object of the present invention to
provide a ballistic panel for providing ballistic protection, the
panel comprising a plurality of deformable pieces that are arranged
side-by-side and detachably retained into the panel in a manner
that a piece impinged by a projectile becomes attached to the
projectile and removed from the panel, whereby the size and shape
of the projectile is increased by the attachment of the piece in
order to be more easily stopped by any further panel provided for
stopping the projectile, with the panel comprising one or more
layers of the following layers:
[0019] a). a layer including a plurality of said pieces wherein the
plurality of pieces is a plurality of compact ballistic units that
are arranged into a side-by-side pattern and compacted into a dense
panel, wherein each ballistic unit comprises a plurality of fibers
arranged into a bundle that is folded and entangled into a compact
mass of fibers, such as a knot;
[0020] b). a layer including a plurality of said pieces wherein the
plurality of pieces is part of at least one sheet of any deformable
material such as metal, high resistance plastics and preferably
high-tensile strength fabric cut into said pieces and, when more
than one sheet or fabric is employed, the plurality of fabric
sheets arranged into a pattern that the pieces of a fabric sheet
are offset relative the pieces of any adjacent fabric sheet;
and
[0021] c). a layer including a plurality of said pieces wherein the
plurality of pieces is a plurality of side-by-side arranged ring
members, each ring member defining an inner diameter smaller than
an outer maximum dimension of the projectile.
[0022] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a ballistic armored assembly for providing ballistic
protection, the assembly comprising:
[0023] i. at least one ballistic panel comprising a plurality of
side-by-side deformable pieces that are detachably retained into
the panel in a manner that a piece impinged by a projectile is
removed from the panel and attached to the projectile, whereby the
size and shape of the projectile is increased by the attachment of
the piece; and
[0024] ii. at least one projectile-trapping panel comprised of a
compacted mass of loosely-entangled fibers, whereby the projectile
having said increased size and shape is more easily stopped by the
projectile-trapping panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The present invention is illustrated by way of example in
the following drawings wherein:
[0026] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective, diagrammatical view of
a plurality of panels forming and armored assembly according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 shows an elevation, cross-sectional view of an
armored assembly, with all the panels attached into a pack,
according to another embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspective diagrammatical partial view of a
ring member arrangement for an ballistic panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a front diagrammatical partial view of a ring
member arrangement for the ballistic panel, according to another
embodiment of the invention;
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a front diagrammatical partial view of a ring
member arrangement in a support plate for the ballistic panel,
according to another embodiment of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a front diagrammatical partial view of a ring
member arrangement for the ballistic panel, according to another
embodiment of the invention;
[0032] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of a front panel
according to another embodiment of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of a front panel
according to another embodiment of the invention;
[0034] FIG. 9 shows a perspective exploded view of the inventive
assembly illustrating the behavior of a bullet impinging on the
front panel, passing through this panel and carrying a ring member,
thus increasing the size and impinging surface of the bullet, which
bullet is entangled in the fibers of a first trapping panel in a
manner that the fibers are elongated with the bullet thus
increasing its size in a more extent up to impacting the a further
following trapping panel wherein the bullet is finally trapped;
[0035] FIG. 10 shows a perspective diagrammatical view of a ring
member for the front panel, according to another embodiment of the
invention, wherein the ring member is of the spring-type for
receiving and blocking the piercing tip of the bullet;
[0036] FIG. 11 shows a front diagrammatical partial view of a
three-plane ring member arrangement for the front panel, according
to another embodiment of the invention;
[0037] FIG. 12 shows a partially cross-sectional, perspective
diagrammatical view of a ballistic panel according to another
embodiment of the invention;
[0038] FIG. 13 shows a cross sectional view of panel of FIG. 12,
illustrating the behavior of a bullet impinging on the front or
ballistic panel, passing through the panel and carrying a ballistic
unit made of compacted fibers, like a knot, thus increasing the
size, shape and impinging surface and/or profile of the bullet;
[0039] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of a ballistic unit
consisting of a compact bundle of fibers which may be obtained by
compressing the fibers or treating the bundle under vacuum;
[0040] FIG. 15 shows a partially cross-sectional, perspective
diagrammatical view of a ballistic panel according to another
embodiment of the invention; and
[0041] FIG. 16 shows a cross sectional view of panel of FIG. 15,
illustrating a bullet impinging the panel and carrying a piece of
the sheet, either metal, fabric, etc. to increase the size, shape
and impinging surface and/or profile of the projectile or
bullet;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] Now referring in detail to the drawings it may be seen from
FIG. 1 a preferred arrangement of panels to form a ballistic
resistant assembly or pack. The panels are shown in exploded view
to clearly appreciate the construction thereof. The ballistic
assembly is indicated by general reference 1 and it forms a pack
having a front side or outside surface 2 and a rear side or inside
surface 3. Surface 2 is designed to face the zone from which the
projectiles can be expected to come and surface 3 is the side to
face the object, room or individual to be protected against the
projectile. The panels are arranged in a "sandwiched" pattern as
shown in FIG. 1, comprising at least one basic structure A formed
by a front panel 4, preferably a ballistic panel, and at least one
projectile-trapping panel 5. While the inventive assembly may be
manufactured and may effectively operate with this basic structure
A only, FIG. 1 shows another similar basic structure B, like the
arrangement of structure A, formed by at least one front panel 4
and at least one projectile-trapping panel 5. Thus, the basic
structure may be repeated to form a multiple layer ballistic
assembly.
[0043] Preferably, as shown in cross-section in FIG. 2, the
assembly comprises a front panel 4, two or three panels 5, another
panel 4 and two or three panels 5. Alternatively, the assembly may
comprise the above mentioned panels, FIG. 2, or may additionally
include, at the inside surface, at least one impact cushioning
panel 6, see FIG. 1, such as an EVA panel, a resistant cloth, etc.,
which may be made of any convenient material such as of polymeric
threads selected from the group comprising aramid threads,
polyester threads, synthetic threads, Kevlar.RTM. (aramid fibers),
Twaron.RTM. (aramid fibers), Dyneema.RTM. (ultra high resistance
polyethylene fibers), Roving.RTM. (thread fibers), carbon and/or
mixtures thereof.
[0044] Preferably, all the panels are attached to each other
forming a pack and the attachment may be carried out by any
convenient means such as adhesives, sewing, etc. These attached
panels form a ballistic armor assembly for providing protection
against ballistic projectiles wherein the projectile may be a
bullet or any fragment from explosives. In any event, the
projectile will have an outer maximum dimension and, if it is a
bullet, a tip with a minimum dimension.
[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, the inventive ballistic
panel, preferably employed as a front panel, comprises a plurality
of deformable pieces that are arranged in at least one plane,
preferably side-by-side, and detachably retained into the panel in
a manner that a piece impinged by a projectile becomes attached to
the projectile and removed from the panel, whereby the size and
shape of the bullet or projectile is increased by the attachment of
the piece in order to be more easily stopped by any further panel
provided for stopping the projectile. More specifically, the pieces
of the ballistic or front panel comprise a plurality of
side-by-side arranged ring members 7, shown in generic views in
FIGS. 1 and 2. The ring members provide an increasing of the size,
volume, shape and/or impact surface of the bullet, taking profit of
its temperature and rotation. The main object of panel 4 is not to
stop the bullet but to alter the size, shape and general
characteristics of the bullet by attaching at least one removable
piece, such as a ring, to the bullet in order to bar the movement
thereof through the subsequent remaining panels in the pack or
assembly. Each ring member defines an inner diameter that is
smaller than the outer maximum dimension of the ballistic
projectile, however, for the event that the projectile member is
provided with a tip having a minor dimension, a piercing tip for
example, the inner diameter of the ring member is larger than the
minor dimension of the projectile member. Thus, the inner diameter
of the ring member is larger than the tip diameter of a projectile
to permit the projectile to enter the ring member up to an extent
that the projectile is wedged or locked into the ring member due to
the fact that the outer maximum diameter of the projectile is
larger than the inner diameter of the ring member. Consequently,
the ring member, when penetrated by a bullet, is carried by the
projectile, remaining firmly affixed to the projectile, thus
increasing the size, volume, shape and/or mass of the
projectile.
[0046] According to several embodiments of the invention, the front
panels may have their ring members arranged in different convenient
manners. For example, ring members may be lock washers, tooth
washers, spring washers, rings, spring threads and mixtures
thereof. Ring members may be also made of any convenient material
such as synthetic material, plastics, composites, resins, metals,
etc.
[0047] Ring members may be loosely arranged side-by-side in at
least one plane or in more than one plane and the ring members may
be also interconnected to each other. In this event, the connection
should be strong enough to keep the ring members arranged as
desired during use but the connection must be capable of being
broken upon the impact and penetration of an impinging projectile
into a ring member. Thus, if a projectile penetrates a ring member
this ring member will be detached from the adjacent ring members
and will be carried onto the projectile without altering the
remaining structure of the front panel and the assembly. This
concept is valid for any of the inventive removable pieces,
preferably deformable pieces that are part of the inventive panel
and assembly.
[0048] FIG. 3 shows a partial view of a preferred arrangement of
ring members, generally indicated by reference 7, formed by spring
washers individually indicated by reference 8.
[0049] FIG. 4 shows a partial view of another arrangement of ring
members, generally indicated by reference 7, formed by conventional
rings individually indicated by reference 9.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, ring members 7 may be arranged
side-by-side in a ring member support plate 10 made of any
appropriate material such as cardboard, rubber, polymers, plastics,
EVA, composites, etc. In this embodiment rings 7 are shown
interconnected through connections 11 which are breakable as
explained above. The connections are between the rings and/or the
support plate.
[0051] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of ring members, generally
indicated by reference 7, formed by rings individually indicated by
reference 12 arranged in a first plane, and rings individually
indicated by reference 13 which are offset, that is out of center
or alignment, of the ring members of the first plane and arranged
at another plane adjacent to the first mentioned plane. When the
pieces are in more than one plane or layer, such as the rings in
this FIGURE, it may be not necessary that the pieces are
side-by-side arranged.
[0052] The arrangement of FIG. 6 may be further improved, as shown
in FIG. 11, by placing a third ring-plane comprising ring members
19. Only four ring members have been illustrated for clarity
purposes and the third plane rings are off-set of the ones in the
first and second planes, as shown in this FIGURE to prevent any
bullet to enter in any interstice that may be formed between rings
12 and 13.
[0053] The aim of the arrangements of FIGS. 6 and 11 is to avoid
the presence of interstices between the rings which interstices
would be penetrated by a bullet without a ring being affixed to and
carried by the bullet. Thus, with the rings arranged as shown in
FIGS. 6, 11, a projectile, even if passing through an interstice
between the rings of the first plane will penetrate a ring of the
second plane located behind the first plane or a ring 19 of the
third plane placed in front of the first plane. This arrangement
may be employed with any of the ring members disclosed in this
specification, either loosely arranged or interconnected to each
other in the same plane or between planes.
[0054] According to another alternative embodiment of the
invention, the pieces of the invention, such as the illustrated
rings, may be embedded into a support plate made of any plastic or
polymeric material, EVA, for example, indicated by reference 14 in
FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows rings 7 in only one plane and FIG. 8
shows the rings 12, 13 arranged as shown in FIG. 6, embedded into
the support plate, also indicated by reference 14.
[0055] As to the projectile-trapping panels 5, the same may be
manufactured under the teachings of U.S. Ser. No. 10/265,851 and
may comprise a mass of loosely-entangled microfibers 15, FIGS. 1
and 2. The loosely-entangled microfibers may be formed from
polymeric threads such as aramid threads, polyester threads,
synthetic threads, Kevlar.RTM. (aramid fibers), Twaron.RTM. (aramid
fibers), Dyneema.RTM. (ultra high resistance polyethylene fibers),
Roving.RTM. (thread fibers), and mixtures thereof. The threads and
fibers employed in this invention are preferably high tensile
fibers, threads, yarns, etc.
[0056] The fibers, microfibers or threads are treated for
maintaining the longitudinal continuity of the fibers into each
thread, that is, the fibers of a thread are spaced apart or
separated by employing the method of U.S. Ser. No. 10/265,851, thus
maintaining such fibers continuous into the thread in order to
guarantee the thread continuity, resistance and strength,
particularly the tensile strength. The fibers are entangled all
together to form a mass comprising loosely-entangled fibers.
[0057] The term "entangling" must be understood in this
specification as a generic term including the actions of carding,
entangling, wrinkling, rumpling, disheveling, etc. which action has
the purpose of arranging the threads and fibers aleatory and, even
loosely, accommodated into a formless, shapeless, amorphous, body
or mass, with the threads and fibers being arranged for preventing
any free direct passage being formed through the body, mass or
structure. The threads and fibers are most preferably carded and
entangled in a manner to form loops, curls, or ringlets. As will be
explained in connection to FIG. 9, these curls will be wrapped
around the projectile in an easier manner because of the piece, a
ring in this embodiment, attached to the projectile after passing
through panel 4. This wrapping will occur when the projectile
enters the mass of trapping panels 5 with a spinning or rotating
movement after shoot from the corresponding weapon. While trapping
panel 5 is shown as formed by entangled fibers, this panel may be
anyone capable of stopping the bullet or projectile once the
projectile has been altered by the attaching of a piece of the
ballistic or front panel 4.
[0058] For the purposes of the present description, the term
"microfiber" must be understood as encircling all kind of fibers,
filaments, threads and the like. The prefix "micro" does not refer
to the fiber as being very short or short but is rather employed to
refer to thinness of the fibers.
[0059] Projectile-trapping panel 5 may be formed into a pack by
providing a determined amount of mass of entangled fibers and
wrapping the same with an outer cover 16, FIG. 1, which cover may
comprise a laminar synthetic material such as a Kevlar (aramid
fibers) cloth, etc. Then, the pack may be compacted into a
conventional press or any air may be extracted from the pack by
means of a vacuum chamber not illustrated because it is a well know
technique.
[0060] Alternatively, also to form the projectile-trapping panel,
the entangled fibers may be wrapped around a core support to form a
panel 17 as exemplary shown in FIG. 9. The core support may
comprise a plate made, for example, of an elastic material, such as
EVA, or any other supporting material. The mass of
loosely-entangled fibers may be wrapped around the core support in
several directions in order to prevent the formation of interstices
through the several layers formed by the plurality of crossed wraps
of the entangled threads or fibers.
[0061] FIG. 9 shows the sequences of a bullet passing through the
several panels and the operation of the assembly of the invention
when used for ballistic purposes. As it will be explained in
connection to this FIGURE the entangled fiber panels operates
adequately as an antitrauma ballistic panel or jacket because the
bullet energy is entirely absorbed before reaching the wearer body
and the projectile is retained into the structure. According to the
invention the deformable removable pieces, like the ring members
and the pieces below disclosed, enhances the trapping effect after
the projectile has passed through panel 4 and increased its size,
volume and shape.
[0062] As it is clearly depicted in FIG. 9, a bullet 18 is
approaching a front panel 4 of the inventive assembly with a
spinning or rotation movement as indicated by the curved arrows.
When penetrating the front panel, the tip of the bullet penetrates
at least one ring 7 and this ring is detached and removed from the
panel as well as it attaches and remains affixed to bullet 18, as
may be seen in the path portion between panels 4 and 5. Then, the
bullet with the ring, which are still under rotation, enter into
contact with the entangled and/or curled fibers of trapping panel
5. As a result of the rotating movement of the bullet plus the ring
outwardly extending from the bullet profile the fibers become more
easily wrapped around the bullet/ring and the fibers result
completely retained or "adhered" to the bullet/ring. As a result of
the bullet-ring combination more fibers are wrapped around the
bullet-ring with the ring forming a kind of screw thread that
enhances the wrapping of fibers.
[0063] As the bullet continues moving ahead and rotating, more
fibers wrap around the bullet/ring thus increasing the bullet size,
volume, shape and mass, therefore trapping, stopping and retaining
the bullet wrapped in the fibers mass of panel 17 and stopped
therein. The bullet and the fibers wrapped around it may form a
swelling or bump 21 not transmitted through end panel 6. As may be
seen, the bullet energy is entirely absorbed and not transmitted to
rear side 3 of the assembly, thus preserving the life of the user
of a ballistic jacket and preventing the user from any trauma. As
the several tests have shown, the bullet is finally deformed into
the entangled mass of fibers and the fibers have found embedded in
the bullet metal.
[0064] Finally, FIG. 10 shows an alternative ring member 20
comprising a spring coil having the shape of a sand clock and
designed to receive the impact of bullets having a piercing tip PB.
While the tip of the bullet is sharp to easily perforate any
member, the tip is blocked when trapped in the narrow or tight
portion 22 of the spring ring 20. A plurality of springs 20 may be
arranged in like manner as it is illustrated in the remaining
FIGURES, for any of the other ring members, 8, 9, 12, 13, 19,
etc.
[0065] According to the invention front panel or ballistic panel 4
may comprise a plurality of any kind of pieces, preferably
deformable pieces, that are arranged side-by-side and detachably
retained into the panel, in one or more layers or planes, in a
manner that a piece impinged by a projectile becomes attached to
the projectile and removed from the panel, with such pieces
comprising pieces of metal, fabric sheets, compacted and dense
ballistic units formed by fibers, and the like. In any case the
pieces should be removed from the ballistic panel to be attached to
the bullet in order to increase the size, volume and shape of the
projectile whereby the projectile with the piece or pieces attached
thereto is more easily stopped by any further panel provided for
stopping the projectile, such as one or more panels 5.
[0066] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the ballistic
panel, herein indicated by number reference 23, comprises a
plurality of pieces consisting of compact ballistic units 24 that
are arranged into a side-by-side pattern and compacted into dense
panel 23, wherein each ballistic unit comprises a plurality of
fibers arranged into a bundle that is folded and entangled into a
compact mass of fibers, with the fibers being preferably folded and
entangled into a knot. Alternatively, ballistic units may be formed
by a body of compacted body of fibers 25 as shown in FIG. 14 that
may be obtained by compacting the mass or bundle of fibers or by
extracting any air from the fibers in a vacuum chamber. The fibers
may be arranged within any kind of cover not illustrated.
Preferably, the fibers of the ballistic units are made of polymeric
threads such as aramid threads, polyester threads, synthetic
threads, Kevlar.RTM. (aramid fibers), Twaron.RTM. (aramid fibers),
Dyneema.RTM. (ultra high resistance polyethylene fibers),
Roving.RTM. (thread fibers), and mixtures thereof.
[0067] As it is shown in FIG. 13, as bullet 18 impinges panel 23 it
does it through one or more units 24 in such a manner that unit 24
impinged by the bullet is removed from the panel and the unit
attaches to the bullet under the action of the high energy, heat
generated by the bullet and deformation of the bullet. This
attachment increases the size, volume and shape parameters of the
bullet and, therefore, the bullet is more easily trapped into the
mass or against the surface of any further ballistic panel, such as
the panels of FIGS. 1 and 9.
[0068] According to even another embodiment of the invention, the
ballistic panel, indicated by number reference 26 in FIG. 15,
comprises one or more sheets of any material, such as fabric,
plastics, metal, etc. capable of being deformed and attached to the
impinging bullet. Preferably, sheet 27 comprises a high-tensile
strength fabric sheet that is cut into a plurality of pieces 28.
More preferably, the panel consists of a plurality of fabric sheets
arranged into a pattern in that pieces 28 of one fabric sheet are
offset relative the pieces of any adjacent fabric sheet. The
high-tensile strength fabric may be made of polymeric threads such
as aramid threads, polyester threads, synthetic threads,
Kevlar.RTM. (aramid fibers), Twaron.RTM. (aramid fibers),
Dyneema.RTM. (ultra high resistance polyethylene fibers),
Roving.RTM. (thread fibers), and mixtures thereof. The fabric
sheets may be attached into a panel by any appropriate means,
adhesives and the like, the fabrics may be compacted or subject to
vacuum to form the panel.
[0069] FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view of panel 26 of FIG. 26
with only one fabric sheet for clarity purposes but is clear that a
plurality of sheets may be arranged as shown in FIG. 15. As it is
clearly illustrated in FIG. 16 as bullet 18 impinges panel 26 it
does it through one or more pieces 28 in such a manner that piece
28 impinged by the bullet is removed from the panel and the piece
attaches to the bullet under the action of the high energy from the
bullet, heat generated by the bullet and a light deformation of the
bullet. This attachment increases the size, volume and shape
parameters of the bullet and, therefore, the bullet is more easily
trapped into the mass or against the surface of any further
ballistic panel, such as the panels of FIGS. 1 and 9.
[0070] The ballistic panel of the invention may be combined into
any desired assembly pattern with other panels, such as fiber-made
panels, etc. with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 9 being only
two of a several arrangements that are possible to be constructed
with the inventive panel. Generally, the invention provides a
ballistic armored assembly comprising at least one ballistic panel
comprising a plurality of side-by-side deformable pieces that are
detachably retained into the panel in a manner that a piece
impinged by a projectile is removed from the panel and attached to
the projectile, whereby the size and shape of the projectile is
increased by the attachment of the piece; and at least one
projectile-stopping panel, or trapping panel, preferably comprised
of a compacted mass of loosely-entangled fibers, whereby the
projectile having said increased size and shape is more easily
stopped by the projectile-stopping or trapping panel.
Projectile-stopping panel, however may be made of any other
material appropriate for stopping the bullet. As above already
disclosed, the assembly has a front side and a rear side and the at
least one ballistic panel is located at least at the front side for
receiving the impinging projectile and the at least one
projectile-stopping panel is located at least at the rear side for
stopping the projectile having the increased size and shape after
passing through the ballistic panel.
[0071] Preferably, the panels according to the invention form a
pack with the panels attached to each other, with least one impact
cushioning panel made of EVA being provided at the rear side.
[0072] Another alternative assembly illustrated in FIGS. 17, 18,
comprises a ballistic panel 29 made according to the teachings of
the invention, namely one or more panels 23, 26 or any other panel
comprising the ring members of the invention. Panel 29 is covered
at both sides thereof by projectile-trapping panels 30, FIG. 29, or
may be encapsulated by an integral panel 31, FIG. 18, which panels
may be formed by an entangled mass of fibers 32 that may be
selected from aramid threads, polyester threads, synthetic threads,
Kevlar.RTM. (aramid fibers), Twaron.RTM. (aramid fibers),
Dyneema.RTM. (ultra high resistance polyethylene fibers),
Roving.RTM. (thread fibers), and mixtures thereof. Alternatively,
the fibers of the projectile-trapping panels may be wrapped around
a core support to form said at least one projectile-trapping panel
or may be confined into an outer cover 33. Panels 30, 31 may be
compacted in a press or the air in the mass of entangled fibers may
be extracted by means of a vacuum.
[0073] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled
in the art that various changes and modifications may be made
therein without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *