Abstract: A fabric includes a fabric substrate and a plurality guard plate assemblies affixed to the fabric substrate in a spaced relationship to each other. Each guard plate assembly includes a first layer of material affixed to the fabric substrate and a second layer of material joined to the first layer of material on a surface opposite the fabric substrate. The second layer of material has characteristics different than the first layer of material and are chosen commonly to meet the demands of the application to which the fabric is designed.

Abstract: A punture, pierce, and cut resistant fabric comprised of a plurality of sheets of plates arranged in a repeating pattern. A material interconnects the plates. The fabric is twistable, bendable, and flexible. It is constructed of substances that will withstand cutting, puncture, and piercing forces encountered in medical or other environments.

Abstract: A cut resistant and flame-retardant fabric-like material. A plurality of guardplates are made of a flame-retardant material and resin is affixed to a fabric substrate to provide a fabric-like material with superior cut resistant and flame-retardant properties. An optional second plurality of guardplates can be affixed to substrate opposite a first layer of guardplates. Also, an optional layer can be disposed over the guardplates to add another property to the fabric-like material such as heat or abrasion resistance, grip, or additional flame retardance.

Abstract: The present inventions introduce fabrics having an array of closely spaced, non-overlapping plates. The inventive fabrics are both mechanically strong yet highly flexible and can be used in applications requiring a high degree of abrasion, wear, cut, tear, and puncture resistance, and optional, heat resistance. The inventive fabrics can be useful in fabric applications such as gloves, garments, aprons, knee pads, luggage, tarps, and roofs for convertible cars.

Abstract: A puncture and cut resistant fabric comprised of identical platelets and rivets arranged into an array whereby the tops of adjacent platelets are reversed so that tabs on each platelet slidably engage with tabs of each adjacent platelet and are held in engagement by hooks depending from each tab and the rivets placed through apertures formed by the edges of the tabs. The fabric is twistable, bendable, and stretchable. It is constructed of material that will withstand cutting and piercing forces encountered in medical or other environments and is of thin walled construction to allow ease of use.

Abstract: A puncture, pierce, and cut resistant fabric comprised of a plurality of sheets of solid objects arranged in a repeating pattern. The solid objects are connected so that they are slideable relative to one another. Each sheet is in a stacked arrangement with the other sheets and are slideably interconnected to one another. Rivets are placed through apertures formed in or between the solid objects to hold the fabric together and to provide the slideable interconnection between the sheets. An interconnecting material interconnects the sheets of solid objects. An interconnecting material of elastomer returns the sheets from a stretched position to a compressed position. The fabric is formed with a means for limiting the movement of the solid objects relative to one another a predetermined amount, such as an elastomeric material inherently stretchable to a predetermined limit. The fabric is twistable, bendable, and stretchable.