SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISSIPATING IMPACT MOMENTUM AND BLAST WAVE ENERGY
The invented device forms a flexible planar or nonplanar blast surface that is oriented to receive and dissipate energy and restrict penetrations received from objects, projectiles and/or blast waves received from and along a vector path. A flexible assembly forms a blast surface having a multitude of pinned or semi-pinned elongate entangled staples, wherein a multiplicity of the staples extend at least partially along a vector path, wherein the vector path is oriented perpendicularly relative to the blast surface. A flexible particulate assembly comprising a multitude of adjoining pinned, semi-pinned and/or semi-static particles assembled together to present interstitial areas no larger than the diameter of a selected projectile; and a flexible binding medium integrated with the multitude of adjoining particles and adapted to maintain the multitude of adjoining particles in a flexible semi-pinned semi-static array.
The present invention relates to systems and methods for protecting entities from projectiles, impact momentum, and blast energies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.
Protection against violent threat has a long history, likely beginning with the use of one's limbs to shield oneself, fashioning of shields to be presented to the threat, design of metal enclosures within which one could maneuver, to some degree, with protection in battle—yet needing to be hoisted upon a horse, to sliding, form-fitting, linked or chain-mail allowing greater levels of maneuverability, to thicker blocks of stone to protect those inside an enclosure (be they family or village) from organized attack, including thick metal sheets, or poured, possibly reinforced concrete surrounding stationary emplacements or mobile vehicles and ships, as well as increasing thicknesses of formed stone or metal.
As the armor has increased in thickness and weight, the projection of threats has increased in capability and mortal or morbid ingenuity. As the attackers have become more ingenious, the defenders have lost degrees of freedom in ability to maintain mobility simply in light of the sheer mass of the protective layers about them. In efforts to enhance effectiveness of armor, some are taking approaches employing multilayered structures, each layer of which intends some level of interaction with the incoming, and intruding, threat. Inclusion of sliding protective discs of metal or ceramic to both block the progress of projectiles and diminish their energy, or redirect the energy, by limited movement is showing up in protective personal armor. Others include interesting possibilities such as SILLYPUTTY™ intended to diminish the incoming threat's energy, possibly through phase change or simple stickiness. Various synthetic fabrics of glass fiber, stretched polymer, tough aramid polymers, carbon and derivatives, compressed stuffing for protective garb and other possibilities have been explored. Others propose the use of high-energy, violent countervailing energy, including but not limited to one or more energy types, for fixed protective emplacements by initiating outward-directed explosive energy against an impinging projectile as found in the work of Shah, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,406,909.
While a significant number of armor solutions arise for various situations and to address various posited threats, a motivation of the present invention arises from the long-felt needs for improved solutions to widely experienced needs for safe and comparatively lightweight structures, to include but not limited to, panels effective against low-to-moderate, or greater, level direct-fire threats as well as shrapnel with which defined areas of protection could be enclosed in situations of possible or expected threats of this sort. Some level of moveability is also desirable in such intended “temporary” protected areas. It is an object of the present invention is to provide structures that exhibit high levels of protection against blast waves and projectile impacts, ease of movement, easy field handling, and minimal thickness (allowing ease of movement) to meet the expected threats through sensible design, optionally including multiple layers, each of which contributes to reduction of the inward energy of incoming projectiles or shrapnel. The core concept of threat-protection for specific enclosures prompts an additional object of the present invention to enable design principles that are applicable and transferable to other protective applications including those involving more or less mobility.
In the field of protecting objects such as people, vehicles, and buildings from impacts—which might include everything from combat armor, to car crash mitigation, to packing fragile materials for shipping, and much more—there are many factors to account for, and the optimum solution may not always be something as straightforward as ‘a heavy metal plate for the impact to run into instead’. Many prior art solutions for mitigating the destructive effects of projectile penetration, momentum and/or shockwaves, particularly the indirect effects of ammunition, including but not limited bullets, rounds, artillery shells, and shrapnel, are rooted in diminishing the impact and/or blast energy and/or dispersing the momentum and received energy from the engagement of a shielding element with a projectile.
In the case of prior art combat armor, as a convenient example for the concepts illustrated herein, both kinds of impact mitigation are critical: even if a heavy metal plate might stop a projectile, the momentum behind something like a bullet, or the shock wave from an explosion such as a bomb, can still seriously bludgeon the wearer with their own armor, if said prior art armor doesn't also include elements for dispersing the momentum from impacts and shock waves safely, such as ‘springy’ elements or soft padding. Additionally, the prior art armor offers no protection against injuries caused by blast waves, such as traumatic brain injury.
Therefore, there is a need for a method to attach substrates of very hard materials, such as but not limited to, Transformation Toughened Zirconia ceramic (hereinafter, “TTZ”), boron nitride or the like, to tough encapsulants, such as glass-filled Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (hereinafter, “ABS”) plastic, toughened urethane, or the like, in order to provide a highly elastic collision and minimize the risk of catastrophic material failure caused by a compression wave.
Empirical data collected by the Applicant in experiments with TTZ inserts set in glass-filled ABS demonstrates that the geometry of the hard striking surface insert, and the means of attachment are critical to prevent failure, and can provide a means of reflecting the standing wave into an object struck, thereby imparting additional energy to the object.
Moreover, over twenty years of empirical studies have led to the Applicant's development of a new theory relating to the behavior of matter wherein the morphing of certain properties of matter that are proportional to time are employed by the method of the present invention. More particularly, Applicant has developed and offers the following mathematical description of said morphing of certain properties of matter that are proportional to time:
∫t2t1db∝T
Where db is a real-time physical property equation, and T is the interval of time to be analyzed.
Empirical demonstrations of various embodiments of the present invention range from very long time intervals, such as glass acting as a viscous liquid when the elapsed time interval is measured in centuries, to foam rubber behaving as a brittle solid when subjected to an impact duration measured in microseconds. A reexamination of material property equations when non-real-time events are studied should change the currently used coefficients and constants used to approximate observed events.
The method of the present invention exploits and applies the temporal differences exhibiting by morphing properties of materials in interaction with potentially destructive projectiles, externally sourced momentum and/or blast waves. Furthermore, the method of the present invention is particularly effective when the objects, projectiles and blast waves travelling faster than 600 feet per second. While the instant patent does not attempt to claim natural laws nor their equations, it does use Byron's Theory to claim Apparatuses and Methods to achieve objectives by teaching how to modify materials to optimize performance during non-real-time intervals of time.
It is therefore a long felt need to provide lower weight and more flexible materials and structures that protect persons, equipment, buildings and other entities from damage in interaction with high speed objects and blast waves, wherein said structures and materials employ the innate behavioral qualities of materials exhibited over short time spans in interaction with high speed objects and/or blast waves. Furthermore, the method of the present invention is particularly effective when applied in the design of devices intended to protect entities, e.g., persons, equipment, objects and buildings, from damage caused by interaction with blast waves, objects and projectiles travelling faster than 600 feet per second in speed relative to said entities
It is additionally an object of the present invention to exploit the behavior of materials and energy as exhibited in high speed collisions and other interactions over short time frames to protect entities from resultant damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTowards these and other objects of the method of the present invention (hereinafter, “the invented method”) that are made obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present disclosure, the invented method provides one or more layers of material that in various alternate preferred embodiments form a flexible planar or nonplanar blast surface that is oriented to accept and dissipate energy received from incoming objects, projectiles and/or blast waves traveling from and along a vector path. The flexible blast surface may be positioned to protect entities, including but not limited to persons, equipment, vehicles, buildings, structures and materiel, from energy directed toward one or more entities by projectiles, impact momentum, and/or blast waves.
It is noted that the invented method is generally directed to, but not limited to, providing a substantial advancement in the optimization of materials and structures adapted for this function of dispersing momentum and/or shockwave energy, and combines novel approaches to dispersing momentum and/or dispersing shock wave energy to provide significant advancements in the field of armoring and also in the field of impact and blast wave damage mitigation.
The invented method comprises novel and non-obvious aspects that exploit changes observed in the morphing of physics observed when materials are subjected to rapid collision impacts, rapid momentum transfers, and high speed blast wave receptions within critically brief time spans. Applicant has most clearly observed these changes in the dynamics of objects and energy at relative speeds of impact above 600 feet per second. The invented method utilizes the change of material properties that occur in materials subjected to very rapid events in order to optimize outcomes determined by material selection, geometry and integration as applied in various fabrication processes. The invented method additionally provides novel criteria and methods for selecting materials and device structures to fabricate protective systems and devices for specific end uses and to counter particular threats. The diffusion of momentum and the dispersal of blast wave energy into vectors that are both redirected from an original vector path of said momentum and/or blast energy and directed away from an entity to be protected are objects of the invented method.
The invented method comprises novel and non-obvious criteria applied in selecting materials and fabrication steps and in view of embodiment-specific intended end uses and pre-selected environments of end use.
In the case of a projectile, such as a bullet, striking certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, the initial impact of the projectile with said preferred embodiments of the present invention creates a rapidly promulgated discontinuity between the speed of a leading section of the projectile and the speed of a trailing section of the projectile. This instantaneous imposition of variances in speed of sections of the projectile are further effected by contemporaneous impositions of discontinuities of velocity and direction among finer grained compositive elements of the projectile. These rapid alterations in the direction of said projectile sections and composite elements of the projectile cause the momentum and blast energies emerging from the collision elements of the projectile with said preferred embodiments of the present invention to in large part scatter into multiple vectors diverging away from the projectile's original vector path, whereby the degree and incidence of transferred momentum, projectile penetration, and blast energy transmission to a targeted entity positioned behind one of said preferred embodiments of the present invention may be greatly reduced or effectively made harmless. An entity positioned behind or encompassed by one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention may thereby receive limited, effectively harmless, or possibly no detected effect resulting from the interaction of said preferred embodiments of the present invention with a high speed object, projectile, or blast wave. These objects of the invented method rely upon the fundamental observable dynamics of energy and momentum delivered to certain alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention as described herein in high speed collisions and over short time spans.
It is understood that the invented method relies upon certain properties of matter that morph at high speeds and over short time spans, and further that the invented method and present invention as claimed each include elements and limitations that exceed mere recitation of natural processes. In certain preferred alternate embodiments of the present invention, energy received by the structures thereof causes phase changes in elements of the present invention whereby received momentum and/or blast energy is directed and dissipated by said phase changes of these elements of the present invention. Said phase changes include, but are not limited to, compressive destruction, deformation, vaporization, and melting from solid to liquid forms.
In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, “the first version”), a multitude of elongate elements (hereinafter, “staples”) are entangled to form a felt structure is positioned between a shielding element and an entity. Some non-limiting examples of a shielding element as signified herein might include body armor, vehicle armor, or other suitable varieties of armor known in the art. The shielding element might preferably be selected to provide protection of the protected region or entity from projectiles or physical strikes, in combination with certain embodiments of the present invention which protect against shock waves and dissipate momentum, thus providing a more versatile protection by this combination. These staples may be fabricated in executions of commercially available fabric manufacturing steps by prior art manufacturing equipment applied in novel and nonobvious aspects to produce staples from high tensile yarn, such as but not limited to the materials of KEVLAR™ para-aramid fiber as marketed by DuPont de Nemours, Inc., of Wilmington, DE, SPECTRA™ Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene as marketed by Honeywell International, Inc. of Morristown, NJ, DYNEEMA™ ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber as marketed by DSM of Heerlen, Netherlands, and other suitable high tensile and high compression materials known in the art. In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the invented method, carding and/or felting needles are applied to a feedstock to form an invented matrix of staples from the multitude of staples; the invented method thereby forms a non-woven fabric comprising the multitude of staples.
In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the first version, the invented matrix comprises both a distal zone and a blast layer, wherein the distal zone is positioned along an edge zone within the invented matrix that is distal from an expected direction of travel of an energy to be dissipated. The distal zone includes certain staples in their entirety and at least a portion of the lengths of individual staples of a first multiplicity of staples of the first version. The blast layer comprises those elements of the multitude of staples wherein a Z component of each extending length enables the establishment of a blast surface. It is understood that the distal zone and the first version in its entirety is flexible and that the present reference an X-Y plane is made in the context that the Z orientation of the extending lengths is embodied relative to instantaneously changing flexed or flat positioning of the distal zone.
The often barbed felting needles are applied in fabrication of the invented matrix by repeated insertion into and removal from the invented matrix of staples. This felting action of the felting needles is employed to both (a.) entangle staples within the distal zone and (b.) encourage and increase Z-axis components of the orientation of at least many of the staples. The felting needle barbs catch scales or locations of various staples and thereby push some staple ends through just-forming layers of the invented matrix of staples, thereby tangling and binding entangling sections of the staples together, as well as encouraging alignment of certain sections of the staples that are distal from the distal zone along the Z-axis or other intended axis. This needling action both (a.) interlocks the staples at least within the distal zone to supports stability in a resulting entangled structure of the multitude of staples, and (b.) increases the number of staples that at least partially project along the Z-axis within and/or extending the distal zone and into the blast layer. These invented applications of prior art needles and felting machinery are generally effective for the generation of two-dimensional and three-dimensional preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that generally more staples extend at least partially along the Z-axis within and/or beyond the distal zone and present aligned lengths and/or front ends to contribute to the structure of the blast layer. It is preferable that the front lengths of certain staples are aligned along the Z-axis within the blast layer and/or extending within and/or within the distal zone.
More generally certain other alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, one or more staples are formed by cutting and separating thread from lengths of yarn by one or more suitable methods known in the art; one or more staples may be formed by cutting and separating suitable high tensile threads, such as but not limited to, KEVLAR™ feedstock, SPECTRA™ feedstock and/or other suitable high tensile and/or high compression materials known in the art in combination or in singularity.
A first multiplicity of staples of the multitude of staples present front lengths that extend within the blast layer and may be substantively parallel. The first multiplicity of staples comprises certain staples oriented so that that portions thereof and/or their respective front points are opposed to a notional vector path, wherein the aligned front points and their respective staple Z-axis components are placed in opposition to an energy, momentum and/or object travelling along the vector path and toward the multitude of staples. The first multiplicity of staples defines a blast surface that is preferably normal to this vector path. It is understood that the blast surface is not necessarily planar, as not all front points are positioned within a same plane. Preferably many staples of the first multiplicity of staples are entangled with multiple other staples of the multitude of staples.
The multitude of staples may optionally further comprise a second multiplicity of staples that are at least partially positioned relative to a second vector path, wherein the front lengths of certain staples of the second multiplicity of staples that are oriented so that portions thereof and/or their respective front points are opposed to a second notional vector path, wherein the aligned front points are meant to be placed in opposition to an energy, momentum and/or object travelling along the second vector path and toward the multitude of staples. The second multiplicity of staples defines a second blast surface that is preferably normal to the second vector path. It is understood that the second blast surface is not necessarily planar, as certain of the front ends of the second multiplicity of staples are not positioned within a same plane. Preferably many staples of the second multiplicity of staples are entangled with multiple other staples of the multitude of staples.
It is understood that the first multiplicity of staples may comprise more than half of the multitude of staples in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the invented method. Alternatively or additionally, the multitude of staples may comprise a third multiplicity of staples that are at least partially comprising a Z-axis component positioned in opposition to a third vector path. It is further understood, that in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the invented invention, the multitude of staples may comprise a multiplicity of collections of staples that include a unique grouping of staples that each comprise a Z-axis component positioned in opposition to an energy delivered along one of a multiplicity of alternate vector paths.
The multitude of staples when neither accompanied by nor coupled with layers of woven high tensile fabric are preferably positioned between a shielding element and the entity, wherein the first multiplicity of staples forms their blast surface normal to, and in opposition to, the vector path and the staple blast surface is positioned to be proximate to the shielding element and distal from the entity. Optionally or additionally, the multitude of staples may be distanced either from the entity and/or the shielding element to form one or more air gaps located between (a.) the multitude of staples and/or (b.) the entity or the shielding element.
In various alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, one or more staples of the multitude of staples may additionally, alternatively, optionally and/or selectively be (a.) at least partially coated and/or layered with a fire-proof or fire resistant material; (b.) at least partially coated and/or layered with a humidity-proof or humidity resistant material; (c.) at least partially enclosed within a fire-proof or fire resistant packaging material; and/or (d.) at least partially enclosed within a humidity-proof or humidity resistant packaging material.
In an additional preferred embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, “the invented sewn assembly”) the multitude of staples are enclosed within a flexible fabric structure. The invented sewn assembly is formed by threading together at least two or more invented matrices of staples.
It is noted that the prior art design of soft material armor structure and fabrication teaches that applying stitching to couple or join layers of prior art shielding material and/or prior art armor induces weakness into a resultant prior art structure. The prior art thus teaches limiting the use of stitching for the purpose of coupling prior art shielding material and/or prior art armor together to adding stitching at the corners of relevant prior art material assemblies. Furthermore, the prior art explicitly teaches away from applying stitching within or near regions to be protected from bullet strikes.
In patentable distinction, one optional aspect of the invented method applies stitching that in combination with two or more invented matrices adds reinforcement to the invented sewn assembly along the aforementioned Z-axis, whereby the placement of the stitching within the at least two invented matrices induces internal dynamics within the invented sewn assembly that are analogous to a cantilever bridge.
The threading of the invented sewn assembly preferably comprises a material that exhibits a high level of tensile strength and compressive strength, such as, but not limited, to a size 207 KEVLAR™/TEX 210/GOVT. 3-CORD threading, a size 346 KEVLAR thread/TEX 350/GOVT. 5-CORD threading, and other suitable threading known in the art. Threading needles suitable for stitching the threading into various preferred embodiments of the invented sewn assembly include a non-titanium coated Groz-Beckert 135×17 #26 threading needle, a Groz-Beckert 135×17 SAN 5 #24 threading needle, and other suitable threading needles known in the art.
In a yet alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, “the invented cladding system”), the multitude of staples is separated into a multiplicity of individual discrete sheets (hereinafter, “invented sheet”), wherein each invented sheet is individually paired with a unique and dedicated cladding element, and each invented sheet is positioned between said invented sheet's paired cladding element and an exterior wall of a building. Each pair of one cladding element and a single invented sheet is preferably separately and detachably attached to the building exterior wall by a cladding attachment assembly. Optionally, with each paired cladding element and invented sheet, at least two fasteners, and preferably four or more fasteners, of the fastener assembly both extend through one dedicated invented sheet and stably couple and position said dedicated invented sheet and to its paired cladding element, whereby the paired cladding element and invented sheet form a combined structure that may be attached to and detached from the building exterior as a unified structure.
Preferably, the combined weight of each cladding element and paired invented sheet of the invented cladding system is transferred to the building via its dedicated cladding attachment assembly, wherein no or little weight is transferred when attached to the building exterior from any paired cladding element and invented sheet to any other paired cladding element and invented sheet of the invented cladding system.
Alternatively, additionally and/or optionally, one or more embodiments of the invented sewn assembly are placed within and coupled with, or positioned as an alternative to, the invented sheet.
Various alternate, additional and/or optional aspects of the invented cladding system include: (a.) establishing and maintaining an air gap between each cladding element and its paired invented sheet; (b.) establishing and maintaining an air gap between each invented sheet and the building exterior wall; (c.) fastener assemblies that further or optionally include building attachment element sets that are durably or permanently attached to the building exterior wall and wherein each building attachment element sets are shaped, sized and positioned to enable detachable attachment of at least one paired cladding element and invented sheet to the exterior building wall.
In various alternate preferred embodiments of the invented cladding system, one or more cladding elements and/or invented sheets may additionally, alternatively, optionally and/or selectively be or comprise fire-proof, fire resistant, humidity-proof and/or humidity resistant material or materials in singularity or in combination.
In yet additional alternate preferred embodiments of the invented cladding system, one or more cladding elements and/or paired invented sheets may additionally, alternatively, optionally and/or selectively be (a.) at least partially coated and/or layered with a fire-proof or fire resistant material; (b.) at least partially coated and/or layered with a humidity-proof or humidity resistant material; (c.) at least partially enclosed within a fire-proof or fire resistant packaging material; and/or (d.) at least partially enclosed within a humidity-proof or humidity resistant packaging material.
It is preferred in certain even other alternate preferred embodiments of the invented cladding system that a majority or up to 99.9% of the staples of each invented sheet are oriented such that the Z-axis elements and/or ends of the staples define blast surfaces that are each proximate to the paired cladding element that these blast surfaces are preferably parallel to an exterior side of its paired cladding element and/or the building exterior wall, wherein the exterior side of each paired cladding is preferably placed distally from the building exterior wall, when the paired cladding elements and invented sheets are attached to the building exterior wall.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, (hereinafter, “the invented compilation”) includes at least a first multitude of staples, one or more woven sheets of fabric, a second multitude of staples, and a threading, wherein the threading forms a stitching that numerously passes through the first multitude of staples, the one or more woven sheets of fabric, and the second multitude of staples to form the invented compilation into a unified and flexible structure.
It is understood that the stitching provides a reinforcement to the invented compilation in the Z-axis to assist in counteracting a received energy travelling along this Z-axis.
In certain additional alternate preferred embodiments of the invented compilation, one or more layers of woven, high tensile strength fabric are positioned between two or more layers of high tensile strength nonwoven material, wherein the nonwoven material comprises multitudes of partially entangled staples, and more than one multiplicity of staples of the layers of nonwoven fabric provides front ends that are substantively opposing a common vector path.
Optionally and additionally, the invented compilation may include a protective blast face sheet and a distal face sheet, wherein the blast face sheet and the distal face sheet in combination enable the handling, shipment and placement of the invented compilation. The stitching preferably extends through the blast face sheet, the first multitude of staples, the one or more woven sheets of fabric, the second multitude of staples, and the distal face sheet to form the invented compilation into an alternate unified and flexible structure. It is understood that the blast face sheet and the distal face may be or comprise a single sheet of fabric that is doubled over and around the first multitude of staples, the one or more woven sheets of fabric, the second multitude of staples.
It is further understood that the blast face sheet and the distal face sheet may be or be comprised within a compilation packaging that at least partially encloses the two or more sheets of staples and the one or more woven sheets, and that the compilation packaging and/or one or more woven sheets may (a.) be or comprise at least partial coating and/or layering with a fire-proof or fire resistant material; (b.) be or comprise at least partial coating and/or layering with a humidity-proof or humidity resistant material; (c.) be or comprise at least partial enclosing within a fire-proof or fire resistant material; and/or (d.) be or comprise at least partial enclosing within a humidity-proof or humidity resistant material.
It is understood that the blast face sheet is preferably positioned proximate to the blast layer of the first multitude of staples, and that the blast layer of the second multitude of staples is positioned distally from the distal face sheet and proximate to the one or more woven sheets,
The threading of the invented compilation preferably comprises material that exhibits both a high level of tensile strength and a high level compressive strength, such as, but not limited, to a size 207 KEVLAR™/TEX 210/GOVT. 3-CORD threading, a size 346 KEVLAR thread/TEX 350/GOVT. 5-CORD threading, and other suitable threading known in the art. Threading needles suitable for threading various preferred embodiments of the invented compilation include a non-titanium coated Groz-Beckert 135×17 #26 threading needle, a Groz-Beckert 135×17 SAN 5 #24 threading needle, and other suitable threading needles known in the art.
In still alternate preferred embodiments of the invented compilation, the invented compilation comprises and is formed by threading that stitches together, pierces, and travels through the multitudes of staples and the one or more woven layers to form peripheral seams located at the peripheries of the blast face sheet and the distal face sheet. Optionally, additional threading further pierces and traverses through the multitude of staples sheets and woven sheets to form additional internal seams that each extend within the invented compilation to form sewn sheets coupled by the internal seams.
In a still additional preferred embodiment of the invented compilation, the invented compilation is attached to an attachment element, wherein the attachment element enables a positioning of the invented compilation to hang down as influenced by gravity as a fabric window curtain hangs vertically as affected by gravity. In these preferred embodiments, the invented compilation is often placed behind an exterior shielding element and in front of one or more entities to be protected, wherein a blast vector is expected to pass from and through the exterior shielding element and from the exterior shielding element toward the invented compilation. An air gap may be maintained in the placement of the invented compilation between the invented curtain and the exterior shielding element; alternatively, optionally or additionally the placement of the invented compilation may establish an additional or alternate air gap between the invented curtain and one or more entities to be protected by the invented curtain.
In certain preferred applications of the method of the present invention, one or more layers of the invented matrix are placed within an equipment and between a shielding element of the equipment and an inner protected region positioned within the equipment. It is preferable in these preferred applications of the method of the present invention that an air gap be maintained between the invented layers(s) and the inner protected region.
Alternatively, additionally and/or optionally, one or more embodiments of the invented compilation are placed within and coupled with, or positioned as an alternative to, either the first multitude of staples and/or the second multitude of staples. It is understood that the blast surface sheet of the compilation may be comprise a invented sewn assembly positioned most distal from the one or more woven sheets. It is further understood that a distal sheet of the compilation positioned most distal from the blast surface sheet may be or comprise a rear sheet of one instance of the invented sewn assembly.
It is preferred in certain alternate preferred embodiments of the invented curtain that a majority or up to 99.9% of the staples of the multitude of staples are oriented such that a multiplicity of the front ends define a planar or nonplanar blast surface that is normal to the curtain blast vector.
Still alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a multitude of discrete durable pieces maintained in an elastic band (hereinafter, “interrupter layer”) such that the interstitial volumes between the pieces are generally filled in with an elastic. The compositions of the pieces and the elastics are preferably selected to ensure that the elastic adheres to most or all of each piece of the multitude of discrete durable pieces to maintain the multitude of discrete durable pieces in a semi-pinned, semi-static, and stable position when at rest. The elastomer geometrically binds thereby geometrically binds the pieces within a three dimensional array and that the elastomer acts against relative movement of the pieces without imposing an internal rigidity within the interrupter layer. It is preferable that the pieces are positioned so that received energy or momentum may be transferred from one or more initially receiving pieces to be dissipated by vibration and displacement contained within the interrupter layer.
One or more pieces are preferably spherical and exhibit a surface hardness parameter of at least or about 8 MOHS or higher. Optionally, additionally, and/or alternatively, other pieces include compressible and/or flame retardant material encapsulated in a spherical or other outer shell, wherein said outer shell exhibits a surface hardness parameter of at least or about 8 MOHS or higher. Optionally, additionally, and/or alternatively, even additional alternative pieces present irregular and/or asymmetrical outer surfaces that exhibit a surface hardness parameter of at least or about 8 MOHS or higher.
In one inventive aspect of the interrupter layer, the size of each piece, location of each piece, and proximity of neighboring as positioned by the elastic all serve to interrupt, limit and inhibit travel of a projectile along a vector path, wherein the vector path is directed to extend through the interrupter layer.
In various alternate preferred embodiments of the invented method, the durable pieces may comprise linked elements including, but not limited to, chain mail elements and/or riveted brigandine elements.
It is understood that an objective of a projectile is to transfer the maximum amount of energy to its target in order to move, deform, damage, and/or break said target. Therefore, an elastic collision of an implement with a surface of a target is generally preferred by the originator of the projectile so as to damage to the target. However, this ideal is difficult to realize in practice since some of the impact energy transferred to the target from the projectile may be transformed to heat the striking surface of the target and thereby plastically deforms the striking implement; the momentum of the projectile is thus transferred from projectile to the striking surface, whereby compression waves which can damage structure of the projectile itself may also result. The contraposition also holds since a projectile striking a striking surface will cause that striking surface to demonstrate the same effects. Increasing the hardness of said striking surface will reduce plastic deformation of said striking surface and will thereby resist indentions imposed on the striking surface caused by impact with the projectile. In general, the harder the surface of the striking surface, the more efficient the elastic collision.
A major design constraint in designing protective armor and other shielding lies in balancing the use of an efficient hard surface with the propensity of materials to exhibit an increase in brittleness as the hardness is increased, and therefore be more likely to exhibit tension failure due to compression waves.
Hard, tough, efficient materials are currently available that can meet the design requirements of a near ideal striking surface. However, current methods of attachment can cause these materials, or their substrates, to fail catastrophically in use due to the compression wave. The effects of this wave can be amplified by refraction, and the part geometry and fastening method may result in a standing wave with an amplitude that causes the part to fail. There is no known prior art similar to the instant invention as it applies to the use of hard inserts as striking surfaces interacting with high velocity projectiles, e.g., projectile velocities above 600 feet per second. There exist systems that employ hard inserts, and these prior art systems do not take into account methods to obviate the deleterious effects of compression waves generated at or exhibiting high speeds and over brief time spans of promulgation or impact.
The discrete durable pieces are preferably positioned within the elastic such that each piece may be touching two or more neighboring pieces and the interstitial volumes between the pieces each form unique interstitial surface planes that are each instantaneously normal to the vector path. It is preferable that no interstitial surface plane present any length in any dimension than is equal to or greater than the caliber of a pre-selected bullet type. It is understood that the invented durable layer is made flexible by the nature of the elastic and that the establishment of interstitial surface planes is a dynamic process and further that the interstitial surface planes morph and reform relative to the vector path as the invented durable layer is flexed.
One or more of the durable pieces may form an irregular shape, a spheroid, a sphere, a hemisphere, a partial spheroid, a hollow sphere, a hollow spheroid, or other suitable shape known in the art.
The invented durable layer may present an interrupting blast surface that is normal to the vector path and comprises a first multiplicity of pieces, wherein the one or more pieces of the first multiplicity of pieces may be or comprise material that is compressive, flame-proof, and or flame retardant. Alternatively, optionally or additionally, one or more pieces of the first multiplicity of pieces may (a.) be or comprise at least partial coating and/or layering with a fire-proof or fire resistant material; (b.) be or comprise at least partial coating and/or layering with a humidity-proof or humidity resistant material; (c.) be or comprise at least partial enclosing within a fire-proof or fire resistant material; and/or (d.) be or comprise at least partial enclosing within a humidity-proof or humidity resistant material.
It is understood that the one or more optional layer sheets may be or comprise, or be comprised within, a layer packaging that at least partially encloses the interrupter layer, and that the layer sheets may be or comprise (a.) a fire-proof or fire resistant material; and/or b.) a humidity-proof or humidity resistant material.
Yet additional alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention present a structured or unstructured combination of the interrupter layer placed between the multitude of staples and an entity to be protected. Both the interrupter layer and the multitude of staples are positioned to present both the interrupting blast surface the blast surface of the multitude of staples as distal from the entity to be protected. The multitude of staples may be comprised within the invented compilation and/or the invented curtain. Alternatively or additionally, the multitude of staples may be positioned relative to the invented durable layer to establish an air gap between the multitude of staples and the invented interrupter layer. Further optionally, alternatively or additionally, the multitude of staples may be positioned relative to one or more entities to be protected to form an additional or alternate air gap between the multitude of staples and one or more entities to be protected.
It is understood that in even additional alternate preferred embodiments, two or more multiplicities of threads and/or pieces are positioned and oriented to oppose alternate vector paths, wherein particular instantiations of the present invention exhibit more than one blast surface, wherein each blast surface is oriented to oppose a projectile, momentum, penetration, and/or blast wave energy travelling among one particular vector path of a plurality of possible vector paths, whereby a single instantiation of the device forms two or more blast surfaces of differing orientations.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCEAll publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure incorporates by reference U.S. Pat. No. 7,406,909 (Inventors Shah, et al.) issued on Aug. 5, 2008, and titled “Apparatus comprising armor”; U.S. Pat. No. 8,015,617 (Inventors Carbaj al, et al.) issued on Sep. 13, 2011, and titled “Ballistic resistant body armor articles”; U.S. Pat. No. 9,615,611 (Inventors Wyner, et al.,) issued on Apr. 11, 2017, and titled “Breathable impact absorbing cushioning and constructions”; and U.S. Pat. No. 9,908,028 (Inventors Wyner, et al.) issued on Mar. 6, 2018, and titled “Flexible cushioning pads, items incorporating such pads, and methods of making and using”; U.S. Pat. No. 10,184,759 (Inventors Wadley, et al.) issued on Jan. 22, 2019, and titled “Lightweight ballistic resistant anti-intrusion systems and related methods thereof”; individually indicated to be incorporated by reference, including U.S. Pat. No. 9,301,557 titled HEAT PIPE MATERIAL AND GARMENT issued to Inventor Santos, Elmer, on Apr. 5, 2016; and People's Republic of China Patent Application CN204599382U, FIRE-FIGHTING TEMPERATURE REDUCTION VEST filed by Zhongyuan University of Technology on May 21, 2015; U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,591 for AMORPHOUS AND NANOCRYSTALLINE GLASS-COVERED WIRES issued to Chiriac, H., et al., issued on Aug. 7, 2001; European Patent Office Patent Application Publication No. EP0870308 of Application No. 96940189.2, titled AMORPHOUS MAGNETIC GLASS-COVERED WIRES AND PROCESS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION by Chiriac, H., et al., published on Oct. 14, 1998; and European Patent Office Patent Application Publication No. EP1288972 of Patent Application EP02019256A, titled NANOCRYSTALLINE MAGNETIC GLASS-COVERED WIRES AND PROCESS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION by Chiriac, H., et al., published on Mar. 3, 2003.
The above-cited US Patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes.
The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.
In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are described. However, it will be clear and apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that the invention can be adapted for any of several applications.
It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims. Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events.
Where a range of values is provided herein, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the range's limits, an excluding of either or both of those included limits is also included in the invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the methods and materials are now described.
It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation.
When elements are referred to as being “connected” or “coupled,” the elements can be directly connected or coupled together or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when elements are referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled,” there are no intervening elements present.
Throughout this specification, like reference numbers signify the same elements throughout the description of the figures.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
It is noted that the terms ‘multitude’ and ‘multiplicity’ are utilized herein, wherein a ‘multitude’ is a group, plurality, or subset of elements and a ‘multiplicity’ is the set of all elements as specified.
A prior art barbed needle 6 having a barb 6A extending from a needle body 6B is penetrated through the first grouping 2 to cause the staple end lengths 4A & 4B of the staples 4 to orient generally along the Z-axis, e.g., each of the staple end lengths 4A & 4B preferably substantively parallel to the Z-axis, that is, separately and substantively extending within +/−20 degrees in parallel with the Z-axis or more preferably substantively extending within +/−10 degrees in parallel with the Z-axis.
An exemplary staple 8 of the many staples 4 is shown being captured between the barb 6A and the needle body 6B of the barbed needle 6 and thereby forcing a pair of exemplary staple ends 8A & 8B of the exemplary staple 8 to separately align in greater parallelism with the Z-axis. It is an inventive aspect of the invented method that the staple end lengths 4A & 4B of the staples 4 generally, and the exemplary staple end lengths 8A & 8B of the exemplary staple 8 as a specific example, are preferably positioned by the barbed needle 6 to terminate more proximately towards a notional threat region 10. A plurality of potential threat vectors 12 (“the vector paths 12”) pass from the threat region 10 and into and potentially through the first grouping 2 and towards a protected region 14. It is noted that, in the absence of an actual incoming object, the vector paths 12 might be considered as preferred notional vector paths, that is, directions from which an incoming threat or object might preferably approach. It is noted that protective gear need not be hit ‘straight on’ from the front, i.e. from a single ideal preferred incoming notional vector path, in order to provide at least some protective benefit, and further that a ‘direct hit’ from an actual incoming threat at the ideal angle for maximal effectiveness of one's protective gear is rarely a good thing to count on. It may therefore be preferable to account for a range or variety of notional vector paths, rather than to orient the entirety of a piece of protective gear in the same direction on the assumption that the gear would only ever receive incoming threats from that single same notional vector path. Accordingly, a plurality of the vector paths 12 are presented here.
It is understood that the scope of the meaning of the term “the threat region 10” as used within the present disclosure includes a region that the first grouping 2 is intended to face and receive energy from. It is also understood that the scope of the meaning of the term “the protected region 14” as used within the present disclosure includes a region expected to encompass an entity for which the first grouping 2 is oriented to protect and/or dissipate energy originally received from the threat region.
It is understood that the threat region 10 faces the protected region 14 and that the first grouping 2 is preferably disposed between the threat region 10 and the protected region 14. It is further understood that the first grouping 2 is entirely positioned with a notional front plane 16 and a notional back plane 18, wherein no staple extends beyond either the front plane 16 or the back plane 18. The front plane 16 is positioned between the first grouping 2 and the threat region 10, and the back plane 18 is positioned between the first grouping 2 and the protected region 14.
These penetrations of the first grouping 2 by the barbed needle 6 encourage or increase an incidence of orientations of many of the staple end lengths 4A & 4B along the Z-axis. The Z-axis is selected as an anticipated primary direction of an incoming energy that the first grouping 2 would be positioned to accept. The first grouping 2, as an aggregate of the staples 4, will absorb and diffuse the energy received by the first staple grouping 2 when said energy passes from the threat region 10 to engage with the first grouping 2.
It is understood that the term “energy” as defined and used within the present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, a blast wave, a projectile, and/or transferred kinetic energy.
Increased alignment of any particular one of the staples 4 along any particular one of the vector paths 12 results in an increased potential of that instant one of the staples 4 to accept, diffuse, and dissipate blast energy travelling along that same one of the vector paths 12. It is understood that a given one of the staples 4 does not need to be exactly parallel with a particular threat vector path 12 to accept energy travelling along said one of the vector paths 12; any dimensional component evidenced within a three dimensional shape of any one of the staples 4 that is parallel with a particular one of the vector paths 12 will generally enable said one of the staples 4 to more effectively accept energy travelling along the instant one of the vector paths 12. It is understood that the staples 4 may absorb and dissipate some received energy in a phase change imposed by separate interactions of individual ones of the staples 4 with an energy travelling from the threat region 10 at high speed and toward the first grouping 2, such as faster than 600 feet per second.
The staples 4 preferably comprise one or more high tensile strength and high compression strength materials, such as but not limited to, KEVLAR™, SPECTRA™, DYNEEMA and other suitable high tensile and high compression materials known in the art.
In certain alternate preferred embodiments one or more of the staples 4 present a maximum elongate length of between 0.5 inch and 4.0 inch and a cross-sectional diameter 0.004 inch+/−0.003 inch. It is understood that not every staple 4 of the first grouping 2 is or must be entangled.
It is understood that as referenced herein any length Z value is measured in parallel with the Z-axis, and any other length parameter is expressed as a distance along an X-axis, wherein the Z-axis and the X-axis are mutually orthogonal.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
It is understood that any one of the staples 4 might be measured or understood, regardless of any instant or immediate orientation or positioning of the instant one of the staples 4, in terms of having an elongate dimension of a maximum length of the staple and a cross-sectional area. It is understood that one or more of the staples 4 may have a substantively continuous cross section relative and perpendicular to the elongate dimension of the instant one of the staples 4 that may be substantively round, elliptical, square, rectangular, triangular, or other cross-sectional shape known in the art. It is understood that one or more of the staples 4 may have a substantively non-continuous cross section relative to the elongate dimension of the instant one of the staples 4 that may vary over the elongate length of the instant one of the staples 4.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
The preferred density of the staples 4 of the entangled structure 300 is preferably in the range of 0.1 ounce to 1.0 ounce per square foot of the entangled structure 300 in the X-Y plane, and more preferably within the range of 0.42 ounce per square foot +/−25% of an invented matrix 600, as introduced in
In
It is emphasized that one or more staples 4, such as the exemplary staple 8 of
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
It is understood that the packaged grouping 400 is preferably disposed between the threat region and the protected region 14.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
It is understood that the primary role of the shielding structure 500 may be to directly receive and interceded a projectile (not shown) traveling toward the entangled structure 300 along one of the vector paths 12 and toward an external shielding side 500A of the shielding structure 500. It is further understood that a primary function of the entangled structure 300 is to receive and dissipate energy received from an internal shielding side 500B of the shielding structure 500 as generated by a collision of one or more projectiles (not shown) passing from the threat region 10 and onto the external shielding side 500A. One or many of a prior art shielding structure layer 500C of internally and separately consistent or discrete shielding material may be comprised within the prior art shielding element 500. The prior art shielding element 500 may be or comprise a prior art armor or armor material, such as, but not limited a woven Kevlar fabric, a hard shell Kevlar material, and/or other suitable shielding or armor structures known in the art.
An additional key function of the entangled structure 300 is to receive and dissipate any energy that passes from the shielding structure 500 and into the entangled structure 300, particularly when received from the threat region 10.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
The preferred density of the staples 4 of the invented matrix 600 is in the range of 0.1 ounce to 3.00 ounce per square foot of the invented matrix 600 in the X-Y plane, and more preferably within the range of 0.71 ounce per square foot +/−25% of the invented matrix 600 in the X-Y plane.
It is understood that the invented matrix 600 is preferably disposed between the threat region 10 and the protected region 14. It is further understood that many of the staple end lengths 4A & 4B and the staple tips 4C & 4D are positioned preferably more proximate to the threat region 10 and distal from the protected region 14.
In certain preferred applications of the method of the present invention, one or more layers of the invented matrix 600 are placed within an equipment (not shown) and between a shielding element 500 (of
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
It is understood that the Z-axis, X-axis, and the Y-axis are mutually orthogonal. It is understood that as referenced herein any width parameter is expressed as a distance value measured along the Y-axis.
The top matrix 702 is bound by a top threading 704 that forms separate stitched columns 706 (“the columns 706”) and stitched rows 708 (“the rows 708”). One or more additional lengths of the top threading 704 is applied to form an optional boundary serging 710. The optional boundary serging 710 is positioned ½″ in from the outer edge of the assembly on all four external sides 712 thereof. It is noted that “serging” is a term of art in the field of sewing, and refers to a type of stitching generally done with a sewing machine that secures edges of a piece of fabric against fraying or raveling. It is noted that while the term serging is used, other means of securing the material as described herein besides a serging stitch may also be suitable as understood by one skilled in the art.
In certain still alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, the columns 706 and the rows 708 form squares, diamonds, parallelograms, spiral shapes, elliptical shapes, circular, angular shapes, or rectangles that preferably measure within the range of less than or equal to 1.00 inch to 2.00 inch or more in either length along the X-axis or width along the Y-axis.
The top threading 704 of the assembly 700 preferably comprises material that exhibits a high level of tensile strength, such as, but not limited, to a size 207 KEVLAR™/TEX 210/GOVT. 3-CORD threading, a size 346 KEVLAR thread/TEX 350/GOVT. 5-CORD threading, and other suitable threading known in the art. Sewing needles (not shown) suitable for threading various preferred embodiments of the assembly 700 include a non-titanium coated Groz-Beckert 135×17 #26 sewing needle, a Groz-Beckert 135×17 SAN 5 #24 sewing needle, and other suitable sewing needles known in the art. Alternatively or additionally, various still alternate preferred embodiments of the top threading 704 may be or comprise, in singularity of combination, (a.) Bonded Kevlar® #207 dimensioned at a 018″/0.46 mm diameter, and exhibiting a 64 lb. breaking strength; (b.) Bonded Kevlar® #346, dimensioned at 0.026″/0.65 mm diameter, and exhibiting a 124 lbs. breaking strength; and/or (c.) any suitable thread known in that having a strength +/−30% of any thread mentioned herein.
The unit weight of the top threading may be 1500 grams per 9,000 meters, i.e., 1500 dernier.
It is understood that the columns 706 and the rows 708 do not form pockets, nor quilted pockets, in the top matrix 702, but merely pass through the top matrix 702 preferably with minimal disturbance of the staples 4 of the top matrix 702.
In certain still other alternate preferred embodiments of the invented method, the stitched columns 706 are spaced at 1.5 inches apart, and the stitched rows 708 are spaced at 1.5 inches apart. The preferred stitching pattern, e.g., the columns 706 and the rows 708, spiral designs, etc., are best selected as a design choice in view of the particular composition and quantity of the top matrix 702, the number of layers of a nonwoven fabric material 800, and the how many instances of the invented matrix 600 are included in forming the internal matrix 802 of
In even other various alternate and distinguishable preferred embodiments of the assembly 700, a sewing pattern of top threading 704 may be positioned to form, in singularity or combination, (a.) an orthogonal vertical and horizontal stitching pattern, (b.) a square stitching pattern, (c.) a rectangular stitching pattern, (d.) a diamond stitching pattern, (e.) a spiral stitching pattern, (f.) and/or other patterns and variable stitches distances selected as a design choice typically made in view of a foreseeable threat.
In certain preferred applications of the method of the present invention, the assembly 700 is placed within an equipment (not shown) and between a shielding element 500 (of
A cut-away indicator 714 indicates a line across the top matrix 702 used as a point of view of
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, the internal matrix 802 may comprise two, three, or more discrete or joined instances of the invented matrix 600. In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, the woven material 800, in various alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, may comprise one, two, three, and up to between 12 to 18 layers or more, of high to moderate tensile strength fabric, in singularity, or in combination, such as, but not limited to, (1.) a fabric comprising a para-aramid synthetic fiber with a molecular structure of many inter-chain bonds, such as a Kevlar™ fabric, (2.) a fabric comprising an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, such as a SPECTRA™ fabric, (3.) a fabric comprising an alternate ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, such as a Dyneema™, and/or (4.) any suitable shielding or protective material known in the art.
The top matrix 702, the woven material 800, and the internal matrix 802 are all pierced by the top threading 704. A bobbin threading 804 running outside of the internal matrix 802 and proximate to the protected region 14 couples with the top threading 704 to stitch the columns 706 and the rows 704.
The bobbin thread 804, and a boundary serging bobbin thread (not shown) may be coupled with or comprise material that exhibits a high level of tensile strength, such as, but not limited, to a size 207 KEVLAR™/TEX 210/GOVT. 3-CORD threading, a size 346 KEVLAR thread/TEX 350/GOVT. 5-CORD threading, and other suitable threading known in the art. Sewing needles (not shown) suitable for threading various preferred embodiments of the assembly 700 include a non-titanium coated Groz-Beckert 135×17 #26 sewing needle, a Groz-Beckert 135×17 SAN 5 #24 sewing needle, and other suitable sewing needles known in the art. Alternatively or additionally, various still alternate preferred embodiments of the bobbin thread may be or comprise, in singularity of combination, (a.) Bonded Kevlar® #207 dimensioned at a 018″/.46 mm diameter, and exhibiting a 64 lb breaking strength; (b.) Bonded Kevlar® #346, dimensioned at 0.026″/.65 mm diameter, and exhibiting a 124 lbs breaking strength; and/or (c.) any suitable thread known in that having a strength+/−30% of any thread mentioned herein.
It is understood that due to the compressive nature of the top matrix 702 and the internal matrix 802 allow the top threading 704 and the bobbin thread 804 to cause depressions that extend toward the woven layer 800, and these depressions in no way segment either the top matrix 702 or the internal matrix 802 into pockets such as quilted pockets. It is understood that the stitched columns 704 and stitched rows 706 do not form pockets, such as quilted pockets, in the top matrix 702, the woven material 802, nor the internal matrix 802, but rather the top threading 704 merely passes through the top matrix 702, the woven material 800, and the internal matrix 802 preferably with minimal disturbance or displacement of the top matrix 702, the woven material 802, and the internal matrix 802.
Referring now to the top matrix 702 and the internal matrix 802, the staples 4 of each respective instance of the invented matrix 600, such as the top matrix 702 and the internal matrix 802, are preferably oriented such that most of the staple end lengths 4A & 4B are generally parallel with the Z-axis with a plus or minus deviation of less than 45 degrees from the z-axis, and more preferably with a plus or minus deviation of less than 20 degrees from the Z-axis, and that the staple tips 4C & 4D are preferably largely oriented to point away from the protected region 14 and toward the threat region 12. By this orientation of the staples 4 of both the top matrix 702 and the internal matrix 802, the assembly 700 provides a greater capacity to dissipate and absorb energy received from the direction of the threat region 10. It is understood that a minority of the staple end lengths 4A & 4B of the top matrix 702 and the internal matrix 802 are variously distributed in relation to the Z-axis to add robustness to the method of the present invention in protecting against threat vectors in traveling along vector paths that are more than 45 degrees oblique to the Z-axis.
Referring now to the woven material 800, a series of one or more discrete woven layers 800A-800E (“the woven layers 800A-E”) are positioned to form the woven material 800. Each of the woven layers 800A-800E is preferably a continuous and individual layer of high to moderate tensile strength fabric, in singularity, or in combination, such as, but not limited to, (1.) a fabric comprising a para-aramid synthetic fiber with a molecular structure of many inter-chain bonds, such as a Kevlar™ fabric, (2.) a fabric comprising an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, such as a SPECTRA™ fabric, (3.) a fabric comprising an alternate ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, such as a Dyneema™, and/or (4.) any suitable shielding or protective material known in the art.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
For the purpose of clarity of illustration and explanation,
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
An exemplary stitch 1000 is formed by a bobbin length 1002 of the bobbin threading 804, a top thread length 1004 of the top threading 704, a first coupling feature 900A and a second coupling feature 900B. A top thread length 1004 extends through (1.) a first coupling feature 900A and (2.) to and through a second coupling feature 900B, wherein the bobbin length 1002 extends to and through the first coupling feature 900A; the bobbin thread length 1002 further extends to through the neighboring second coupling feature 900B. It is understood that the coupling features, such as the stitch coupling feature 900, the first coupling feature 900A, and the second coupling feature 900B, are formed of and comprise elements of both the bobbin thread 804 and the top threading 704.
Various series of stitches 1000 are generally positioned to form the columns 706, the rows 708 and the optional boundary serging 710. One or more coupling features 900, 900A & 900B and/or stitches 1000 may be, include, or be comprised within, any suitable stitch known in the art, to include, but not limited to, a lock stitch, a chain stitch, a zigzag stitch, a running stitch, a back stitch, a satin stitch, and an overlock stitch, in singularity or in combination. The top threading 704 may also couple with a boundary bobbin thread (not shown) to form stitches 1000 that in turn form the boundary serging 710.
It is understood that each stitched column 706 and stitched row 708 comprise a plurality of stitches 1000. It is further understood that a series of stitches 1000 may be formed to create the boundary serging 710.
In even other various alternate and distinguishable preferred embodiments of the assembly 700, a sewing pattern of top threading 704 may be positioned to form, in singularity or combination, (a.) an orthogonal vertical and horizontal stitching pattern, (b.) a square stitching pattern, (c.) a rectangular stitching pattern, (d.) a diamond stitching pattern, (e.) a spiral stitching pattern, (f) and/or other patterns and variable stitches distances selected as a design choice typically made in view of a foreseeable threat.
In patentable distinction, one optional aspect of the invented method applies stitches 1000 in combination with two or more invented matrices 600 adds reinforcement to the invented sewn assembly 700 along the aforementioned Z-axis, whereby the placement of the stitches 1000 within the invented sewn assembly 700 induces internal dynamics within the invented sewn assembly 700 that are analogous to a cantilever bridge.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
For the purpose of clarity of illustration and explanation,
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Even further alternatively or additionally, cooling heat pipes 1302 may be or comprise suitable flexible thermal regulation systems known in the art based on suitable phase change materials (“PCM'S) known in the art to include, but not limited to, encapsulated PCM's positioned within or upon flexible supporting materials of the assembly 700, e.g., the staples 4, top matrix 702, the internal matrix 802, the woven fabric 800; these encapsulated PCMs provide a physical approach that may be based on capillarity and/or hydrogen bonding.
Even further alternatively or additionally, cooling heat pipes 1302 may be or comprise suitable flexible thermal regulation systems known in the art based on suitable phase change materials (“PCM'S) known in the art to include, PCM's grafted or positioned within or upon the assembly 700 onto the supporting materials, e.g., which is a chemical approach based on grafting reaction.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Alternatively or additionally, one or more sensors 1400-1406 may be or comprise one or more prior art devices to include, but not limited to, a wireless communications enabled (a.) pressure sensor, (b.) temperature sensor, and/or (c.) combined pressure and temperature sensor. Still alternatively or additionally, one or more sensors 1400-1406 may be or comprise one or more prior art devices to include, but not limited to, a wireless communications enabled ultra-miniature, high-temperature, low frequency, RFID passive wireless sensor, such as, but not limited to, one or more wireless communications enabled sensors as marketed by Phase IV Engineering, Inc. of Boulder Colorado, or other suitable wireless communications enabled sensors known in the art.
Still alternatively or additionally, one or more sensors 1400-1406 may be or comprise one or more prior art devices to include, but not limited to, a wireless communications sensor as marketed by RVmagnetics Kosice, Kosice, Slovakia (Slovak Republic), or other suitable wireless communications enabled sensor known in the art.
Still other potential elements comprising or comprised within one or more RFID sensors 1400-1406 may be or comprise RFID devices such as, but not limited to, an NFC Bluetooth FPC On-Metal Sticker Tag With Genuine RFID Chip Ntag213™ Universal Small Size [DIA 10 mm] as marketed by Far East Technology Co., Ltd of Shenzhen, China; an 5 mm*5 mm Mini Ntag213™ NFC Tag 13.56 MHZ FPC Sticker With RFID Micro Chip 144 Bytes 1 mm Reading Range as marketed by Ancient Code Store of Shenzhen, China; a Micro NFC/RFID Transponder—NTAG203™ 13.56 MHz as marketed by Kiwi Electronics of Den Haag, The Netherlands; a 5 pcs Programmable 12 mm NTag215 Micro Chip FPC Mini RFIDNFC Tag™ as marketed by Pack of Adventure of Florence, KY; and/or one or more other suitable RFID sensor devices known in the art.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
One or more spheres may comprise alumina ceramic, boron carbide ceramic, and/or other suitable materials known in the art.
It is understood that the interrupter layer 1500 in various other alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, may comprise elements having shapes other than spherical, such as a hemisphere, irregular shapes and/or any suitable shape known in the art.
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
In certain preferred methods of fabrication and repair of the interrupter layer 1500, the spheres 1502 may be aligned more towards a certain direction of Z-axis, as presented in
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
A cut-away indicator 1902 indicates a line across the compilation 1900 used as a point of view of
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
In certain preferred applications of the method of the present invention, the compilation 1900 is placed within an equipment (not shown) and between a shielding element 500 (of
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
In certain preferred applications of the method of the present invention, the alternate compilation 1904 is placed within an equipment (not shown) and between a shielding element 500 (of
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
It is understood that the interrupter layer 1500 of the
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
While selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment, it is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
The above description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. Further, various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the embodiments. Accordingly, the embodiments are not limited except as by the appended claims.
Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments.
The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example, by using italics and/or quotation marks. The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. One will recognize that “memory” is one form of a “storage,” and that the terms may on occasion be used interchangeably.
Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any term discussed herein, is illustrative only and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.
Without intent to further limit the scope of the disclosure, examples of instruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titles or subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control over and other cited, incorporated or referenced disclosures or patent documents.
Claims
1. A flexible fabric comprising a multitude of elongate entangled staples (“staples”), wherein each staple of a multiplicity of staples of the multitude of staples comprises a partial length that extends in a substantively parallel orientation.
2. The flexible fabric of claim 1, wherein the multitude of staples is present in the flexible fabric at an areal density of greater than 0.50 ounce per square foot.
3. The flexible fabric of claim 1, wherein the flexible fabric is positioned between an entity and a shielding element.
4. The flexible fabric of claim 1, wherein the entity is a human being.
5. The flexible fabric of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of the staples comprises a fire retardant.
6. The flexible fabric of claim 1, wherein each of the multiplicity of staples present an elongate dimension greater than 0.5 inches.
7. The flexible fabric of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of the staples comprises a material, in combination or in singularity, selected from the material group of a polymer, a metal, a metal alloy, a ceramic and a basalt component.
8. The flexible fabric of claim 7, wherein the multitude of staples is present in the flexible fabric at an areal density of greater than 0.50 ounce per square foot.
9. The flexible fabric of claim 1, wherein the multitude of staples further comprises a second multiplicity of staples, wherein the second multiplicity of staples is distributed to at least partially extend linearly in a range of orientations, wherein the range extends from parallel to the multiplicity of partial lengths of the first multiplicity of staples to orthogonal to the multiplicity of partial lengths of the multiplicity of staples.
10. The flexible fabric of claim 1, further comprising:
- a coupling edge formed within an edge of the flexible fabric; and
- a coupling feature attached to the coupling edge, wherein the coupling feature is adapted to enable the flexible fabric to be positioned vertically, whereby the partial lengths of the multiplicity of staples is positioned to be parallel to a horizontal ground plane.
11. The flexible fabric of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of staples is formed into a semi-pinned state.
12. A flexible fabric comprising a multitude of entangled staples (“staples”), comprising:
- a first fabric of a first multiplicity of the staples that comprises lengths extending in a substantively parallel orientation;
- a second fabric of a second multiplicity of the staples that comprise lengths extending in a substantively parallel orientation;
- an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer disposed between the first fabric and the second fabric; and
- a stitching, the stitching multiply stitching together and extending through the first fabric, the intermediate layer, and the second fabric.
13. The flexible fabric of claim 12, wherein the first multiplicity of staples is formed in a static state.
14. The flexible fabric of claim 13, wherein the second multiplicity of staples is formed in a semi-pinned semi-static state.
16. The flexible fabric of claim 12, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a woven fabric.
17. The flexible fabric of claim 16, wherein the woven fabric comprises a multiplicity of woven sheets.
18. The flexible fabric of claim 12, the first fabric further comprising an additional multiplicity of staples, wherein the additional multiplicity of staples distributed to extend in a range of orientations in reference to the vector path, wherein the range extends from parallel to the multiplicity of parallel lengths of the first multiplicity of staples to orthogonal to the orthogonal to the parallel lengths of the first multiplicity of staples.
19. The flexible fabric of claim 12, the second fabric further comprising an alternate multiplicity of staples, wherein the alternate multiplicity of staples distributed to extend in a range of orientations in reference to the vector path, wherein the range extends from parallel to the multiplicity of parallel lengths of the first multiplicity of staples to orthogonal to the orthogonal to the parallel lengths of the first multiplicity of staples.
20. A flexible particulate structure comprising:
- a multitude of adjoining particles, the adjoining particles assembled together to present interstitial areas no larger than the diameter of a selected projectile; and
- a flexible binding medium, the flexible binding medium integrated with the multitude of adjoining particles and adapted to maintain the multitude of adjoining particles in a flexible semi-pinned semi-static array.
21. The flexible particulate structure of claim 20, further comprising:
- the flexible particulate structure forming an internal surface; and
- an energy capturing layer positioned along the internal surface, the energy capturing layer comprising a multitude of elongate entangled staples (“staples”), wherein each staple of a multiplicity of the staples of the multitude of staples each comprise one or more partial lengths that extend in a substantively parallel orientation normal to the adjoining surface.
22. The flexible particulate structure of claim 20, wherein a multiplicity of adjoining particles is substantively spherical.
23. The flexible particulate structure of claim 20, wherein a multiplicity of adjoining particles is substantively semi-spherical.
24. The flexible particulate structure of claim 20, wherein a multitude of adjoining particles is substantively semi-spherical and comprises an outer layer and a filler element, wherein the outer layer is oriented proximally toward a predicted path of travel of the selected projectile.
25. The flexible particulate structure of claim 24, wherein the filler element is highly compressive.
26. The flexible particulate structure of claim 20, wherein the filler element is flame retardant.
32. The flexible particulate structure of claim 20, wherein the flexible semi-pinned semi-static array forms a multiplicity of layers of adjoining particles.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 5, 2022
Publication Date: Feb 8, 2024
Inventor: DAVID BYRON (LAKE MARY, FL)
Application Number: 17/882,495
