Patents by Inventor Howard L. Thomas

Howard L. Thomas 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).

  • Patent number: 7700503
    Abstract: A ballistic-resistant material having a first exterior layer formed of a ballistic-resistant non-woven textile, a second exterior layer formed of a ballistic-resistant non-woven textile, and an interior layer of ballistic-resistant woven textile arranged between the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer. The woven textile is a tight weave. The woven layer a high occupation, high fabric density woven textile at or near the technical jamming point of fabric construction. Also disclosed are articles made from the ballistic-resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventor: Howard L. Thomas, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090291605
    Abstract: A ballistic-resistant material having a first exterior layer formed of a ballistic-resistant non-woven textile, a second exterior layer formed of a ballistic-resistant non-woven textile, and an interior layer of ballistic-resistant woven textile arranged between the first exterior layer and the second exterior layer. The woven textile is a tight weave. The woven layer a high occupation, high fabric density woven textile at or near the technical jamming point of fabric construction. Also disclosed are articles made from the ballistic-resistant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventor: Howard L. Thomas, JR.
  • Publication number: 20030022583
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ballistic resistant material having a V50 value of at least about 1000 feet per second. The ballistic resistant material includes at least two types of fibrous materials, which are blended and consolidated together, preferably by needlepunching, to create a single layer of nonwoven, composite material. The needle punching is preferably in the range of 200 to 1000 needlepunches per square inch. The fibrous materials are characterized by being deformed when subjected to the impact of a ballistic object. One of the fibers phase changes, e.g. melting, upon impact and at least one other fiber fibrillates upon impact. One of the fibers must phase change at a temperature at least 80° C. lower than the highest melting or destruction point fiber in the high modulus fiber blend.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Howard L. Thomas, Greg J. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5736474
    Abstract: A ballistic resistance multi-structure material having multiple layers. The material has at least one layer of hard surfaced ballistic resistant woven material, at least one layer of ballistic nonwoven material and one layer ballistic nonwoven material with at least one layer of a plurality of deflection devices embedded within. The deflection devices are adjacent one another and have a ballistic deflecting geometric. The path of a bullet is diverted by crushing the structure of the bullet, altering the angle of the path of projection or stopping the penetration of the bullet beyond the layer of multiple geometric shapes. In a further embodiment, for use with lasers, the ballistic deflecting geometric shapes have a reflective surface. A reflective layer can be placed adjacent the layer of geometric shapes, reflecting laser beams away from the user's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Inventor: Howard L. Thomas