Abstract: A robust, durable, easy to use, reusable shipping container is disclosed that is capable of protecting contents from surrounding high temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of at least three and a half hours. The container includes an inner chamber surrounded by an outer chamber. A phase change liquid (PCL) is sequestered in a porous support matrix contained in the inner chamber, while the outer chamber is filled with high temperature insulation, forming an outer barrier layer that is designed to reduce heat flux into the inner chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a power tool user includes a glove or other garment having at least one sensor that monitors proximity to the power tool. Glove embodiments can include finger and/or thumb proximity sensors, and/or sensors that detect hand position, finger and/or wrist joint angle, vibration, and/or acceleration. Sensing targets can be retroactively installed on the power tool, and can define warning and/or danger zones. Sensing can be via magnetic, electromagnetic, capacitive, eddy current, and/or range finding means. Sizes of warning and/or target areas can be controlled by selecting targets from a plurality of targets of various detection ranges. Protective responses can vary according to different sensed events, and can include audible, visual, and/or tactile alerts, and/or interruption of power to the tool. Embodiments can record proximity and/or status data during a work session for review, training, and certification purposes. A controller can be physically cooperative with the garment.

Abstract: A textile assembly suitable for integration into a wearable article includes an outer layer having a distributed pattern of penetrations configured to facilitate load carriage, and a protective layer having filament and staple yarns, at least 25% of which have an average tenacity of greater than 15 gpd. The penetrations can be approximately 1 inch long and 0.25 inches wide, and can have a tear resistance when loaded with al inch wide webbing strap of greater than 50 lbf. The textile assembly can have less than 2% consumption per ASTM D6413. In embodiments, at least one layer of polymeric or elastomeric coating substantially encapsulates the yarns of the protective layer. Embodiments provide greater than 600 fps 2 gr RCC protection as measured using Mil Std 662F. The textile assembly can be sewn into a garment, which can be a pant, a shirt, or a jacket.

Abstract: A slash-protecting panel is affordable, comfortable, flexible, light, and concealable, while providing at least 80N HOSDB slash protection. A plurality of solid elements are aligned on upper and lower backing sheets in rows and columns separated by continuous gaps between 25% and 95% as wide as the solid elements, the upper elements being centered above the gap intersections of the lower elements, leaving isolated gap “islands” uncovered but no continuous gaps. Embodiments further include a third layer with smaller “button” solid elements arranged behind the gap islands, leaving no gaps. The solid elements can be ceramic or metal, and the backing sheets can be ballistic fabric, or any convenient woven, non-woven, or warp knit. Solid elements can be attached to the sheets by rivets or adhesives, or held in pockets. Embodiments include an inner and/or an outer covering layer of a knit or similar fabric for added comfort.

Abstract: A lightweight, low bulk, mobile CB shelter fabric includes a high tensile strength woven scrim laminated between two thin CB-impenetrable polymer films. Laminate adhesives can include isocyanate adhesion promotors. Coatings can provide camouflage, increased light opacity, increased CB protection, sun, fire, and weather resistance. Lamination heat and pressure can cause the films to conform and bond through the scrim, while a pre-applied coating does not flow and remains uniform in thickness. The resulting fabric weight can be approximately 50% of conventional CB fabrics. The films can be hard-drawn polymers. A coating of hammer milled kaolin clay can provide increased light opacity. The films can be 1 micron thick, and can be nylon, aliphatic nylon, urethane, or poly-ether. The scrim can be a 1500 denier Vectran® (liquid crystal polymer) with a 4.5 ends-per-inch warp and a 3.5 ends-per-inch fill. The scrim yarns can be flattened bundles of untwisted fiber.

Abstract: A protective garment system fabricated from ballistic textiles having a V50 on 2 grain RCC of at least 300 fps as measured by Mil-Spec 662F provides good ballistic and fragmentary protection, and can be worn in lieu of conventional clothing without discomfort to the wearer. Embodiments overcome prior art ballistic fabric limitations by incorporating novel construction, such as plaiting and/or twill or satin weaving, as well as novel yarn selection, to enable comfortable skin contact, and by applying coatings to improve abrasion resistance, UV resistance, and color acceptance. Embodiments incorporate layers of ballistic fabric in critical areas, either by overlapping protective clothing articles, and/or by incorporating multiple layers of protective fabric into an individual protective garment. Embodiments provide good moisture transport for long term comfort.

Abstract: A coated textile system comprising a fibrous substrate coated by an elastomer mixed with inorganic particles provides good drape and bending with very high cut resistance. The substrate can include conventional and/or high performance fibers. The elastomer includes particles of at least two sizes, and in embodiments three or more sizes, which fill in gaps between the largest particles and prevent a blade from pushing the particles aside and passing between them. The coating can be applied directly to the substrate, or pre-formed and adhered thereto. Particles can be pigmented, to impart a color to the textile. Pin holes formed by the particles and/or by mechanical manipulation can increase MVT. An elastomeric cover layer can enhance grip and/or reduce MVT. A plurality of layers of coated textile can be combined, in embodiments attached only about their perimeters, to provide even higher levels of cut resistance without sacrifice of bendability.

Abstract: A method of protecting a user from a strike by a maximum threat includes adhesively bonding a plurality of solid elements to a support structure in a planar array, dimensions and material properties of the solid elements, support structure, and adhesive being selected to cause an impacted solid element to be dislodged by the maximum threat, and to combine its mass with the projectile for reduced velocity and increased impact area. The support structure is configured to fail in tensile and to allow the combined projectile and solid element to pass through the support structure. The solid elements can be ceramic, and can be commutated upon impact while remaining substantially intact. The solid elements can include titanium backing layers. After formation, ceramic cores can be compressed upon cooling by an outer ceramic layer having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion, the outer layer being formed by glazing or doping.

Abstract: An MFA panel provides enhanced compressibility and off-axis threat protection by distributing solid elements among a plurality of vertically stacked, flexible supporting sheets, so that the elements on each sheet are spaced apart while the stacked arrangement provides adjacent or overlapping coverage of the panel, while allowing the solid elements to slide over each other during compression. The solid elements can be triangular or square, and can be metal or ceramic. The supporting sheets can be high tensile, such as para aramid, or low tensile, such as PET, Nylon, or cotton, for enhanced compressibility, flexibility, drape, and hand. A high tensile backing ply can be included to inhibit tensile failure of low tensile supporting sheets. In embodiments, the panels are attached to each other only at their edges. Fibers of para aramid supporting sheets can be unidirectional, so as to share the load of an impact throughout the panel.

Abstract: A carrier garment configured to carry protective panels on a user's torso allows adjustment of the carrier garment and the protective panels to accommodate a wide range of bust and torso sizes, from flat-chested to full figured bust and torso lines. Embodiments allow quick adjustment back to a flat configuration to accommodate rifle protection plates that require the carrier and the underlying panels to be flat. Various embodiments can be locked to ensure that the garment retains its adjusted shape. A shaping point and/or a slit can be provided to assist in shaping stiff materials. Embodiments include a plurality of attachment points to which a lower end of an adjustment lanyard can be attached. A lining or inner layer can be included, and can be configured to adjust in shape with the outer garment. The outer garment and/or the liner or inner layer can include a protective material.

Abstract: A flexible armor system adaptable to a garment suitable for extremity protection uses a planar array of polygon-shaped solid elements which detach upon projectile impact and combine their mass with the projectile for reduced velocity and increased impact area. The solid elements are bonded between an elastic strike-side spall cover and a high tensile strength flexible backer layer, and are further supported by a substantial fiber pack. In embodiments, the solid elements are ceramic, and are commutated but remain essentially intact after the projectile impact. Edge bars can cover junctures between solid elements, and center buttons can cover intersections between the junctures. Edge bars and center buttons can also be ceramic. The ceramic parts can include titanium backing layers. After formation, ceramic cores can be compressed upon cooling by an outer ceramic layer having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion, the outer layer being formed by glazing or doping.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for coloring knit, woven, or non-woven protective textiles made from yarns containing at least 20% synthetic high tenacity fibers, such as para-aramid or liquid crystal polyester (“LCP”), and for package-dyeing and skein-dyeing of such yarns. In embodiments, the textile is scoured to remove any impurities. A base coating of an adhesion promoting primer is then applied, which is typically a polymer or elastomer. The textile is typically immersed at zero tension in the primer liquor for an extended period. Afterward, the primer is dried and then cured at an elevated temperature to cross-link the primer and provide wash-fastness. A dye or printing ink of substantially any desired color and intensity is then applied. The protective yarns can include staple fibers and/or continuous filament fibers. The invention is further applicable to drum coating, jig processing, dye beck and other dying and coating processes.

Abstract: A moisture-permeable glove or other garment protects against user contamination and cross-contamination by providing both rapid and persistent sterilization. Exposure to halogen of inherent NH groups and/or attached hydantoin can form a persistent outer halamine sterilization layer. A second inner halamine layer intercepts any pathogens that penetrate the outer surface. The garment can be single layer, or can include a detachable inner liner. Embodiments are compatible with rapid decontamination using an alcohol-based agent. Some embodiments provide a 180 second 3-log kill rate for at least S. aureus ATCC and E. coli. Embodiments include a moistening agent to activate the halamine. An anti-cut/puncture layer and/or a pathogen barrier layer can also be included. The protective layer can include contiguous layers of soft and hard metal flexed to improve flexibility and Moisture Vapor Transport Rate (MVTR). The pathogen barrier can include urethane and/or CNT fibers. The garment MVTR can be greater than 0.

Abstract: A glove that has a high percentage of low stretch materials and a method for the designing thereof provides an accurate fit to the majority of hand anatomies without relying on material stretch. The method includes determining a hand length, selecting four critical dimensions from among bridge length, thumb length, index finger length, middle finger length, ring finger length, and pinky finger length, and calculating the four selected dimensions such that ratios of the selected dimensions divided by the hand length fall within corresponding ranges, where the corresponding ranges are from 0.46 to 0.49 for the bridge length, from 0.61 to 0.63 for the thumb length, from 0.37 to 0.40 for the index finger length, from 0.40 to 0.43 for the middle finger length, from 0.37 to 0.40 for the ring finger length, and from 0.30 to 0.33 for the pinky finger length.

Abstract: A carrier garment configured to carry protective panels on a user's torso allows adjustment of the carrier garment and the protective panels to accommodate a wide range of bust and torso sizes, from flat-chested to full figured bust and torso lines. Embodiments allow quick adjustment back to a flat configuration to accommodate rifle protection plates that require the carrier and the underlying panels to be flat. Various embodiments can be locked to ensure that the garment retains its adjusted shape. A shaping point and/or a slit can be provided to assist in shaping stiff materials. Embodiments include a plurality of attachment points to which a lower end of an adjustment lanyard can be attached. A lining or inner layer can be included, and can be configured to adjust in shape with the outer garment. The outer garment and/or the liner or inner layer can include a protective material.

Abstract: A fabric for use in chemical and biological (CB) protective garments includes at least one felt layer having from 25% to 100% carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers as a breathable physical barrier against toxic chemical droplets and/or pathogens. The felt layers are cleaned and consolidated into a mechanically competent sheet which can form adhesive seams having lapshear greater than the sheet itself. An additional supporting layer can be included. The supporting layer can be a wicking layer which is permeable with a chlorinated or otherwise chemically active solution to establish a reactive chemical barrier, the solution being dispensed on demand from a portable container. Embodiments include a second layer of CNT or of another backing fabric, sandwiching the wicking layer therebetween. Impermeable fluoropolymer seams can divide the fabric into a plurality of CNT/wicking cells. A layer of activated charcoal and/or halamine-forming hydantoin can be included for persistent reactive chemical protection.

Abstract: A method of protecting a user from a strike by a maximum threat includes adhesively bonding a plurality of solid elements to a support structure in a planar array, dimensions and material properties of the solid elements, support structure, and adhesive being selected to cause an impacted solid element to be dislodged by the maximum threat, and to combine its mass with the projectile for reduced velocity and increased impact area. The support structure is configured to fail in tensile and to allow the combined projectile and solid element to pass through the support structure. The solid elements can be ceramic, and can be commutated upon impact while remaining substantially intact. The solid elements can include titanium backing layers. After formation, ceramic cores can be compressed upon cooling by an outer ceramic layer having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion, the outer layer being formed by glazing or doping.

Abstract: A modular and field adaptable body armor system includes a plurality of flexible, air-permeable, thermally vented plates arranged in fixed relationships that provide flexible, modular, field-adaptable protection for the torso and extremities without excessive weight or heat burden. The TVA plates include protective cards suspended in a parallel, louvered relationship between inner and outer mesh layers, thereby permitting air to flow therebetween while providing a flexible, compressible, modular barrier that protects the torso and extremities against projectiles. In embodiments, the outer mesh layer resists penetration and compresses cards together to intercept a projectile that would otherwise pass therebetween. Protective cards can include thermally pressed and flexed laminated UHMWPE. TVA panels can be removed and exchanged in the field according to the requirements of each mission. In embodiments, the TVA plates are laced together and/or attached to an underlying fabric carrier garment.