US5472769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Soft body armor material with enhanced puncture resistance comprising at least one continuous fabric having knit portions and integrally woven hinge portions
Assignee: ADVANCED ARMORED MATERIALS Inc
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Filing: 1993-12-10
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Granted: 1995-12-05
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Expires: 2013-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A soft body armor material with enhanced puncture resistance is fabricated from knitted light weight, durable fibers, such as aramid fibers. The knitted portions are joined by interwoven portions providing an integrally formed hinge-like effect for flexibility. A deflection shield formed from a thin mesh of stainless steel or titanium wire or a sheet of light weight metal, such as titanium, with corrugations or dimples on the externally facing surface provides additional penetration resistance for sharp pointed objects. An inner resilient trauma shield and a removable moisture absorbing inner layer are also optionally included. Hollow fibers are employed in some of the layers to provide a ventilation or cooling capability, and fibers having an electrically resistive component can be employed in conjunction with a battery to provide resistance heating for warmth and moisture dissipation.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Goerz, Jr.
- 👤 Hugh R. Smith, Jr.
- 👤 Kenneth C. Miguel-Bettencourt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:49
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; B32B15/00; B32B15/02; B32B15/14; B32B27/00; B32B27/12; B32B27/36; B32B27/365; B32B3/00; B32B3/26; B32B3/28; B32B3/30; B32B5/02; B32B5/026; F; F41; F41H; F41H1/00; F41H1/02; F41H5/00; F41H5/02; F41H5/04; F41H5/0471; F41H5/0485; B32B2311/00; B32B2311/18; B32B2311/30; B32B2369/00; B32B2571/00; B32B2571/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/902; Y10S428/911; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24322; Y10T428/24331; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24612; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/2936; Y10T428/2973; Y10T428/2975; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/10; Y10T442/102; Y10T442/109; Y10T442/116
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A soft armor material for resistance to bullets and sharp points comprising: (a) a plurality of knitted fiber layers forming a first face of the armor material, at least one of the layers being a continuous fabric including: (i) knitted portions having a density which provides substantial frictional resistance to sharp points, and (ii) integrally woven hinge portions providing flexibility and energy absorption between adjacent knitted portions, and (b) a deflection layer for enhanced penetration resistance, the deflection layer being substantially impermeable to sharp points.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A soft armor material for resistance to bullets and sharp points comprising: (a) a plurality of knitted fiber layers forming a first face of the armor material, at least one of the layers being a continuous fabric including: (i) knitted portions having a density which provides substantial frictional resistance to sharp points, and (ii) integrally woven hinge portions providing flexibility and energy absorption between adjacent knitted portions, and (b) a deflection layer for enhanced penetration resistance, the deflection layer being substantially impermeable to sharp points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein the deflection layer is interposed between successive knitted fiber layers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The armor material of claim 1 further comprising a trauma shield forming a second face of the armor material for reducing impact shock, the second face being proximate to an object to be protected and the first face being proximate to a strike surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The armor material of claim 3 wherein the trauma shield is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, foam, and rubber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The armor material of claim 3 wherein the deflection layer is disposed between the knitted fiber layers and the trauma shield.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein the knitted fiber layers comprise a fiber composition selected from the group consisting of aramid fibers and high strength fiberglass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein the knitted fiber layers include a main fiber component and an additional fiber component having a surface friction greater than the main fiber component.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The armor material of claim 7 wherein the additional fiber component is selected from the group consisting of metal fibers and ceramic fibers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The armor material of claim 7 wherein the additional fiber component is wound about the main fiber component.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The armor material of claim 7 wherein the additional fiber component is interspersed with the main fiber component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein at least some of the woven hinge portions of different knitted fiber layers are arranged to overlap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein the deflection layer comprises a finely woven metal mesh.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The armor material of claim 12 wherein the metal mesh is fabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel wire and titanium wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The armor material of claim 12 wherein the metal mesh is substantially flat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The armor material of claim 12 wherein the metal mesh is textured.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein the deflection layer comprises a thin sheet of high strength material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The armor material of claim 16 wherein the high strength material comprises polycarbonate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The armor material of claim 16 wherein the high strength material comprises titanium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The armor material of claim 16 wherein the deflection layer includes corrugations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The armor material of claim 16 wherein the deflection layer includes dimpled projections.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein at least some of the knitted portions of the knitted fiber layers are impregnated with a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin and thermoplastic materials.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein at least some portion of the knitted fiber layers is fabricated from hollow fibers capable of conducting a fluid therethrough to provide cooling or ventilation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The armor material of claim 1 wherein at least some portion of the knitted fiber layers includes an electrically conductive component capable of providing resistive heating.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The armor material of claim 1 further comprising a removable moisture absorbent layer positioned away from the first face of the armor material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The armor material of claim 1 further comprising a ventilation spacer element interspersed within the knitted fiber layers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The armor material of claim 25 wherein the ventilation spacer element comprises an apertured matrix of flexible material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The armor material of claim 25 wherein the ventilation spacer element comprises a plurality of hollow tubes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The armor material of claim 27 wherein the hollow tubes are braided.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
69 words
A bullet and sharp point resistant armor material for garments, the armor material comprising: (a) a layer of knit panels, the panels having substantially rigid knitted portions and at least one of the panels including a continuous fabric having substantially flexible woven portions between adjacent knitted portions, the density of the knit construction sufficient to substantially retard pointed objects, and (b) a deflection layer, substantially impermeable to pointed objects.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
69 words
A bullet and sharp point resistant armor material for garments, the armor material comprising: (a) a layer of knit panels, the panels having substantially rigid knitted portions and at least one of the panels including a continuous fabric having substantially flexible woven portions between adjacent knitted portions, the density of the knit construction sufficient to substantially retard pointed objects, and (b) a deflection layer, substantially impermeable to pointed objects.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein the deflection layer is positioned between successive knit panels.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein the deflection layer is positioned adjacent to the layer of knit panels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein the knit panels are comprised of fibers selected from the group consisting of aramid fibers and high strength fiberglass.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein the knit panels are comprised of a main fiber component and an additional fiber component having a greater surface friction than the main fiber component.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The armor material of claim 33 wherein the additional fiber component is selected from the group consisting of metal fibers and ceramic fibers.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein at least a portion of the knit panels is impregnated with a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin and thermoplastic materials.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein the woven portions of different knit panels are positioned to overlap.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein the deflection layer is a finely woven mesh fabricated from wire selected from the group consisting of stainless steel wire and titanium wire.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
15 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein the deflection layer is a sheet of polycarbonate.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The armor material of claim 29 wherein the deflection layer is a sheet of metal having a textured surface.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
The armor material of claim 39 wherein the metal comprises titanium.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The armor material of claim 39 wherein the textured surface is of a pattern selected from the group consisting of corrugations and dimpled projections.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
12 words
The armor material of claim 29 further comprising a resilient trauma shield.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
12 words
The armor material of claim 29 further comprising a moisture absorbent shield.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
80 words
The armor material of claim 29 further comprising a cooling or ventilation mechanism selected from the group consisting of (i) a plurality of hollow tubes interspersed within the knit panels, (ii) a plurality of braided hollow tubes interspersed within the knit panels, (iii) an apertured flexible matrix layer positioned within the knit panels, and (iv) a plurality of hollow fibers capable of conducting a fluid therethrough, the hollow fibers providing an additional fiber component for fabrication of the knit panels.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The armor material of claim 29 further comprising an electrically conductive component in the layer of knit panels for resistive heating.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a bullet and sharp point resistant garment, a fabric providing frictional resistance, energy absorption, and flexibility, the fabric comprising: a plurality of fiber panels having substantially rigid knitted portions and at least one of the panels including a continuous fabric having substantially flexible woven portions between adjacent knitted portions of the panels, the fiber component of the panels including aramid fibers and one of the group consisting of metal fibers and ceramic fibers, the panels layered in an overlapping manner and joined.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
83 words
In a bullet and sharp point resistant garment, a fabric providing frictional resistance, energy absorption, and flexibility, the fabric comprising: a plurality of fiber panels having substantially rigid knitted portions and at least one of the panels including a continuous fabric having substantially flexible woven portions between adjacent knitted portions of the panels, the fiber component of the panels including aramid fibers and one of the group consisting of metal fibers and ceramic fibers, the panels layered in an overlapping manner and joined.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fabric of claim 46 further comprising a lateral deflection layer with textured formations.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fabric of claim 47 wherein the lateral deflection layer includes titanium.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fabric of claim 47 wherein the lateral deflection layer is in the range of 0.020 to 0.030 inch thick with textured formations in the range of 0.125 to 0.250 inch high.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-04 | 1999-06-05 | 1999-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-04 | 2003-06-05 | 2003-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-04 | 2007-06-05 | 2007-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |