Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Borders

Thomas E. Borders has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20120204711
    Abstract: An armor system for protecting a vehicle from a projectile, the projectile having an expected trajectory, is disclosed. The armor system has a material capable of being detonated and configured to substantially retain a shape, wherein the material leads a vehicle exterior surface relative to the expected projectile trajectory. The material has a dimensional thickness that is greater than a minimum detonation thickness of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory W. Engleman, Robert A. Cole, Thomas E. Borders, III, Vernon P. Joynt, Keith T. Williams, James E. White
  • Patent number: 8146478
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a blast-resistant armored land vehicle. Wheels or tracks may be attached to the vehicle by an independent suspension. The vehicle may include a body comprised of sheet materials, the body having a longitudinal centerline, an upper portion including opposite side portions, a first bottom portion defining a V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and extending along a portion of the vehicle, and a second bottom portion defining a V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and extending along another portion of the vehicle. The first bottom portion further includes an energy-absorbing member extending longitudinally within an interior of the first bottom portion. The energy-absorbing member may be on the inside of the apex of the V and be held in position during the blast by its own inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Force Protection Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon P. Joynt, John W. North, Jonathan W. Georgas, James E. White, Michael L. Williams, Thomas E. Borders, III
  • Patent number: 8033208
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a blast-resistant armored land vehicle. Wheels or tracks may be attached to the vehicle by an independent suspension. The vehicle may include a body comprised of sheet materials, the body having a longitudinal centerline, an upper portion including opposite side portions, a first bottom portion defining a V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and extending along a portion of the vehicle, and a second bottom portion defining a V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and extending along another portion of the vehicle. The first bottom portion further includes an energy-absorbing member extending longitudinally within an interior of the first bottom portion. The energy-absorbing member may be on the inside of the apex of the V and be held in position during the blast by its own inertia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Force Protection Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon P. Joynt, John W. North, Jonathan W. Georgas, James E. White, Michael L. Williams, Thomas E. Borders, III
  • Patent number: 7987762
    Abstract: A armor system for protecting a vehicle from a projectile, the projectile having an expected trajectory and the vehicle having a hull, is disclosed. The armor system has a modular armor subsystem configured to be mounted exterior to the vehicle hull. The modular armor subsystem has a leading layer having metal, leading relative to the expected projectile trajectory, and an intermediate sheet-like layer having low density material, of a density less than metal, abutting a rear surface of the leading layer. The armor system also has an intermediate sheet-like layer having glass fiber material and abutting a rear surface of the intermediate low density material layer, and an intermediate sheet-like layer having metal and abutting a rear surface of the intermediate glass fiber layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Force Protection Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon P. Joynt, Robert A. Cole, Thomas E. Borders
  • Publication number: 20110138994
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a blast-resistant armored land vehicle. Wheels or tracks may be attached to the vehicle by an independent suspension. The vehicle may include a body comprised of sheet materials, the body having a longitudinal centerline, an upper portion including opposite side portions, a first bottom portion defining a V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and extending along a portion of the vehicle, and a second bottom portion defining a V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and extending along another portion of the vehicle. The first bottom portion further includes an energy-absorbing member extending longitudinally within an interior of the first bottom portion. The energy-absorbing member may be on the inside of the apex of the V and be held in position during the blast by its own inertia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Vernon P. Joynt, John W. North, Jonathan W. Georgas, James E. White, Michael L. Williams, Thomas E. Borders, III
  • Publication number: 20100294123
    Abstract: A armor system for protecting a vehicle from a projectile, the projectile having an expected trajectory and the vehicle having a hull, is disclosed. The armor system has a modular armor subsystem configured to be mounted exterior to the vehicle hull. The modular armor subsystem has a leading layer having metal, leading relative to the expected projectile trajectory, and an intermediate sheet-like layer having low density material, of a density less than metal, abutting a rear surface of the leading layer. The armor system also has an intermediate sheet-like layer having glass fiber material and abutting a rear surface of the intermediate low density material layer, and an intermediate sheet-like layer having metal and abutting a rear surface of the intermediate glass fiber layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Vernon P. Joynt, Robert A. Cole, Thomas E. Borders
  • Publication number: 20100275766
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a blast-resistant armored land vehicle. Wheels or tracks may be attached to the vehicle by an independent suspension. The vehicle may include a body comprised of sheet materials, the body having a longitudinal centerline, an upper portion including opposite side portions, a first bottom portion defining a V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and extending along a portion of the vehicle, and a second bottom portion defining a V, with the apex of the V substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and extending along another portion of the vehicle. The first bottom portion further includes an energy-absorbing member extending longitudinally within an interior of the first bottom portion. The energy-absorbing member may be on the inside of the apex of the V and be held in position during the blast by its own inertia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Vernon P. Joynt, John W. North, Jonathan W. Georgas, James E. White, Michael L. Williams, Thomas E. Borders, III
  • Publication number: 20090293709
    Abstract: The disclosed armor system for protecting a vehicle from high energy projectiles includes a leading layer, relative to the projectile trajectory, positioned exterior to the hull; a first plurality of sheet-like layers of a low density material positioned between the leading layer and the hull; and a second plurality of sheet-like high strength metal layers positioned between the leading layer and the hull. The individual ones of the first plurality of high strength metal layers are positioned alternating with, and to the rear of, individual ones of the second plurality of low density material layers. The leading layer can be one of a sheet-like metal layer, a metalicized grid layer, and the outer-most layer of the first plurality of low density materials layers. The materials of the high strength metal layers may be selected from high strength steel and high strength aluminum, and the materials of the low density material may be selected from low density polypropylene composites and R-Glass composites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Vernon P. Joynt, Robert A. Cole, Thomas E. Borders