U.S. patent number 3,867,239 [Application Number 05/368,905] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-18 for body armor construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army. Invention is credited to Anthony L. Alesi, Roger A. Gagne, Verne E. Stimpert.
United States Patent |
3,867,239 |
Alesi , et al. |
February 18, 1975 |
BODY ARMOR CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
A flexible armor material comprising an array of platelets with
contoured ges or reinforced joints supported by a flexible
membrane.
Inventors: |
Alesi; Anthony L. (Wayland,
MA), Stimpert; Verne E. (Abington, MA), Gagne; Roger
A. (Natick, MA) |
Assignee: |
The United States of America as
represented by the Secretary of the Army (Washington,
DC)
|
Family
ID: |
23453249 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/368,905 |
Filed: |
June 11, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/48; 109/49.5;
2/2.5; 156/258; 428/177; 428/911; 52/592.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B
27/12 (20130101); F41H 5/0478 (20130101); B32B
7/12 (20130101); F41H 5/0428 (20130101); F41H
5/0457 (20130101); Y10T 156/1066 (20150115); Y10T
428/24653 (20150115); Y10S 428/911 (20130101); Y10T
428/164 (20150115); B32B 2311/24 (20130101); B32B
2311/18 (20130101); B32B 2311/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41H
5/04 (20060101); F41H 5/00 (20060101); B32b
003/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;161/37,42,43,44,149,404,49 ;2/2.5,51,243R ;109/49.5,79 ;156/258
;52/592 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rosdol; Leon D.
Assistant Examiner: Rollins; Edith L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gibson; Robert P. Major;
Theodore
Claims
1. A flexible personnel armor material adapted to be compatible
with the contours of a human body, said armor material
comprising:
a flexible membrane material;
an array of platelets overlaying said membrane, said platelets
having a stepped joint configuration so that the platelets lay in
substantially one plane while the joints overlap each other,
and;
2. A flexible personnel armor material adapted to be compatible
with the contours of a human body, said armor material
comprising:
a flexible membrane material;
a first array of square platelets affixed to one side of said
flexible membrane, said platelets having chamfered corners and
abutting each other;
a second array of square chamfered corner platelets affixed to the
other side of said membrane is abutting relationship and so
positioned with respect to said first array that the edges of the
platelets of the first
3. A flexible personnel armor material adapted to be compatible
with the contours of a human body, said armor material
comprising:
a flexible supporting membrane;
an array of square platelets overlaying said membrane and being
bonded thereto, said platelets further having scarf joints whereby
the joints
4. A flexible personnel armor material adapted to be compatible
with the contours of a human body comprising an array of platelets
having butt-joints, a reinforcement strip positioned over the
immediate butt-joints on the impact side of the platelets, a
flexible supporting membrane positioned over the reinforcement
strips, said supporting material being distorted so as to create an
air-space over the immediate
5. A flexible personnel armor material in accordance with claim 4
consisting of reinforcement strips and a flexible supporting
membrane on both sides of the platelets.
Description
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and
licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without
the payment to us of any royalty thereon.
This invention relates to a flexible armor material consisting of
an array of platelets supported on a flexible membrane, so that
when designed into a garment, the array of platelets will conform
to the body contours of the wearer and be capable of adjusting to
his movements even during violent physical motion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The customary arrangements for platelet constructions that more or
less completely cover a body area to be protected are those of
butted plates, or of overlapping plates. Butted joints gape open
when the joint is flexed leaving a zone between plates that has no
protection. Although butted platelets with thickened rims overcome
the loss of resistance at the joint line to penetration by
projectiles, they too are subject to gaps when the joints are
flexed. Overlapping constructions have three plates overlapping at
corners. These constructions are needlessly heavy and bulky because
of the triple overlap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to improved joint construction for butted,
scarf and overlapped joints in which platelets are mounted on one
or more supporting fabrics, membranes or netting.
It is an object of the present invention to provide and disclose an
improved flexible lightweight body armor.
It is a further object of the invention to provide and disclose a
flexible lightweight body armor capable of being designed into a
garment which conforms to the body contours of the wearer.
It is a further object of the invention to provide and disclose a
flexible lightweight body armor capable of adjusting to the
movements of the wearer even during violent physical activity.
It is a further object of this invention to provide and disclose a
flexible, lightweight armor comprising improved overlapped joints
construction mounted on one or more supporting fabrics.
It is a further object of this invention to provide and disclose a
flexible lightweight armor comprising improved butted joint
constructions mounted on one or more supporting fabrics.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be
had by referring to the following description and claims taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a top view of an array of square
platelets comprising an improved overlapped joint construction
mounted on supporting fabric.
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of a top view of an array of square
platelets positioned in one horizontal plane having chamfered
corners in order to permit overlap with a second array of platelets
positioned on a second horizontal plane proximate thereto.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a vertical sectional view through 4--4
of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of a top view of an array of square
platelets comprising an improved scarf joint construction mounted
on a supporting fabric.
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view through 6--6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional illustration of an improved butted
joint construction mounted on a supporting fabric.
FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional illustration of an alternative of
FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 generally illustrates the
nature of the invention. The system comprises an array of square
platelets designated 11 laying in one plane and with each one
having a step-joint as shown in FIG. 2. Supporting material 15 is
bonded to one side thereof by bonding material 17. A preferred
width of the step is approximately the same dimension as the
thickness of the plate as illustrated in FIG. 2. Fabrication of the
step is more easily accomplished with a two layered platelet where
the stepping can be achieved by positioning of layers of the same
size during assembly of the platelets.
Improved overlap joint constructions are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
The corners of the square platelets are chamfered to permit overlap
with the platelets being only in the two horizontal planes rather
than the three or more that would result with nonchamfered squares.
Platelets in a plane are in contact with each other only at the
chamfered corners. The amount of chamfer determines the overlap of
an upper plate (11U) on lower plate (11L) as shown in FIG. 4.
Preferably, the amount of overlap is at least one half the platelet
thickness, but not less than one-eighth inch. The supporting
membrane in this construction lies between the two planes of
platelets. Additional membranes may be used on either or both outer
sides of the platelets.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative of the present invention
comprising a scarf joint type of construction wherein the platelet
11 lay in one plane. The angle of the joint may be within a
practical range of 30.degree. to 60.degree..
Simple butt joints may be improved by the use of reinforcing strips
19 over the joints. Strip 19 may be positioned on one or both sides
of the armor as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In addition, supporting
material 15 is distorted so as to curve away from reinforcing strip
19 having an air space between the supporting membrane and
reinforcing strip 19.
The platelets may be constructed of any effective armor material
such as aluminum, titanium, steel, glass-reinforced plastic,
borosilicate glass -- glass reinforced plastic composite, bonded
nylon fabric, nylon felt, and multilayered plastic film assemblies.
Feasible thicknesses range up to one half inch.
Membrane material may be selected from a variety of materials
depending on flexibility and strength required. A vinyl plastisol,
Shore A hardness 42-55, 1200 psi minimum tensile strength and 340
percent minimum elongation and about 0.040 inch in thickness on one
or both sides of the platelet is one example. A foamed vinyl
plastisol of about one-sixteenth inch to one-eighth inch is
another. Other possible membrane materials include polyurethane
sheet, two-way stretch fabrics and nettings of various materials.
The latter two may also be incorporated into membranes as
reinforcements for strength and durability.
The membranes may be preferable self-adhering to the platelets or
bonded to the platelets by an adhesive. Various techniques may be
employed to attach the platelets to the membrane. These techniques
include: (a) casting a vinyl plastisol directly onto the platelet
assembly, (b) applying a membrane to both sides of the platelet
assembly with a suitable adhesive using contact pressure and/or
heat, and (c) applying membrane to both sides of the platelet
assembly with a suitable adhesive using a vacuum forming process
with or without heat.
Although we have described our invention with a certain degree of
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has
been made by way of example, and that various materials and
combinations thereof may be utilized without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *