Patent US5943694A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5943694A
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US
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Specially shaped multilayer armor
Assignee: DuPont de Nemours International SARL
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Filing: 1998-11-20
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Granted: 1999-08-31
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Expires: 2018-11-20
Abstract
Abstract Armor, in particular body armor for female wearers is made of multiple layers (30) of penetration-resistant material for example made of polyaramid fibers, specially shaped to fit over a shaped area to be protected, e.g. the bust of a female wearer. The armor's shaped part is held in shape by a series of darts (37) in successive layers (30) of the material. Each dart in a material layer comprises a generally V-shaped section (35) whose edges (37) are joined to form the dart. The V-shaped section (35) of the material is folded on itself to form a pleat (40) which is folded over to one side of the dart (37) to form an added thickness overlaying or underlying an adjacent part of the material (30). The darts (37) are angularly offset from one another with the pleats (40) oriented in directions so that the added thickness is distributed substantially evenly, thereby avoiding bulges or stiffness and improving the wearing comfort. Preferably, the layers of material are fabric covered over selected areas thereof to be protected with a bonded or coated reinforcing film, except in the folded V-shaped sections.
Inventors
- 👤 Beatrice Moureaux
- 👤 Friedrich V. Pfister
- 👤 Nicolas A. Van Zijl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:48
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41H; F41H1/00; F41H1/02; A; A41; A41D; A41D31/00; A41D31/04; A41D31/24; A41D31/245; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Armor made of multiple layers of flexible relatively inelastic penetration-resistant material shaped to fit over a shaped area to be protected, wherein the layers are held by a plurality of darts in successive layers of the material, each of said layers of material having at least one dart and each dart in a layer comprising a generally V-shaped section whose edges are joined to form the dart, with the V-shaped section folded on itself and folded over to one side to form an added thickness overlaying or underlying an adjacent part of the layer, the darts in said multiple layers being angularly offset from one another with the folded V-shaped sections oriented so that said added thickness is distributed substantially evenly around said shaped area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Armor made of multiple layers of flexible relatively inelastic penetration-resistant material shaped to fit over a shaped area to be protected, wherein the layers are held by a plurality of darts in successive layers of the material, each of said layers of material having at least one dart and each dart in a layer comprising a generally V-shaped section whose edges are joined to form the dart, with the V-shaped section folded on itself and folded over to one side to form an added thickness overlaying or underlying an adjacent part of the layer, the darts in said multiple layers being angularly offset from one another with the folded V-shaped sections oriented so that said added thickness is distributed substantially evenly around said shaped area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 1 in which the folded V-shaped sections are oriented in different directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 2 in which pairs of the layers of material have darts at the same angular location, with their folded V-shaped parts oriented in opposite directions so they do not overlay one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 3 in which the layers forming said pairs with darts at the same angular location are alternate layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 1 in which the darts extend radially from at least one point of convergence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 5 in which the darts are angularly staggered from one another around a point of convergence by an angle which is equal to or greater than the angle of the V-shaped sections.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 1 which is body armor comprising at least one part shaped to fit over a shaped part of the body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 7 which is shaped to fit over the bust of a female wearer, having two laterally-spaced internally concave recessed parts corresponding to the bust, in which the darts are angularly offset around each of the two laterally-spaced recessed parts about which said added thickness is distributed substantially evenly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 8 in which said two laterally-spaced concave recessed parts corresponding to the bust are formed by darts around the upper, lower and outer edges of the recessed parts, defining a continuous shaped bust ("mono-cup") for receiving the two breasts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 8 or 9 in which the darts extend radially from two laterally-spaced points of convergence corresponding to the centers of said recessed parts, the darts extending above and below the two points of convergence over an overall angle of at least about 180 degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 1 in which the V-shaped sections each make an angle of 10 to 40 degrees.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 1 comprising darts in at least three angularly offset positions about a point of convergence.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 12 comprising darts in at least six angularly offset positions about a point of convergence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 1 in which the layers of penetration-resistant material comprise polyaramid fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 1 in which at least one of the layers of penetration-resistant material comprises a fabric bonded to or coated with a reinforcing continuum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 15 in which the reinforcing continuum extends over a selected area to be protected of said at least one layer, with the exception of the or each folded-over V-shaped section forming the or each dart, said folded-over V-shaped section consisting of fabric only.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 16 in which there are discontinuities in the reinforcing continuum in the area of the folded over darts, said discontinuities being covered by the folded over layers of the fabric forming the darts, the angular offsetting of said darts distributing the darts and said discontinuities in the reinforcing continuum of the different layers to avoid bulges and excessive stiffness.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 16 in which said reinforcing continuum is a polymeric film or coating layer, a metal foil or a sheet of rubber or elastomer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Multilayer shaped armor according to claim 1 in which at least two successive layers of penetration-resistant material are glued or bonded together as a sandwich.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
144 words
A method of manufacturing multilayer shaped armor as defined in claim 1, comprising: providing multiple layers of flexible relatively inelastic penetration-resistant material to be assembled into the shaped armor, each layer having fold lines defining at least one dart comprising a generally V-shaped section of the material, the darts of the different layers being angularly offset from one another around at least one point of convergence; joining the edges of the V-shaped sections to form the dart(s) in each layer, the layers with formed darts all having substantially the same peripheral shape for assembly into the shaped armor; assembling the multiple layers to form the shaped part, with darts of different layers angularly offset to one another and with the V-shaped sections of material folded in directions to distribute the added thickness substantially evenly; and attaching the shaped multiple layers to form the armor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 20 in which pairs of the layers of material have darts at the same angular location, the V-shaped sections of these layers being folded in opposite directions so they do not overlay one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 20 in which the pairs of layers with darts at the same angular location are assembled in alternate layers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method according to claim 20 in which at least one of the layers of penetration-resistant material comprises a fabric bonded to or coated with a reinforcing continuum which extends over a selected area to be protected of said at least one layer with the exception of the or each folded-over V-shaped section forming the or each dart, said folded-over V-shaped section consisting of fabric only.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 23 in which the reinforcing continuum is applied to the fabric, with the application of heat and pressure, before folding the darts.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 23 in which the reinforcing continuum is applied to the fabric after folding of the dart(s).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 23 in which a peripheral edge part of the fabric is free from the reinforcing continuum, and the successive layers are joined by sewing around said peripheral edge part of the fabric.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 20, 21 or 22 in which the edges of the V-shaped sections are joined to form the darts by sewing, stapling, riveting or gluing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 20 in which the darts are folded and joined before assembling the multiple layers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 20 in which several layers are preassembled before the darts therein are folded, followed by folding darts from the individual assembled layers or folding a single dart from several layers to shape the assembly.
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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) | 2002-08-30 | 2003-03-01 | 2003-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-30 | 2007-03-01 | 2007-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-30 | 2011-03-01 | 2011-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |