Shape Or Composition Patents (Class 89/36.02)
  • Publication number: 20120291616
    Abstract: A shield kit for projectile protection and associated systems and methods. A portable shield kit is disclosed including a flexible shield configured to be fastened to a bar armor frame which is maintained a predetermined standoff distance from a structure, such as a vehicle. The shield kit can be deployed in the field to cover a portion of the vehicle. The shield is configured to prevent a projectile, such as a shaped charge, from detonating as designed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Michael I. Andrewartha, Douglas J. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20120291617
    Abstract: An article is provided and includes a first ballistic particle impenetrable material, which is formable into a pack and a second material, which is formable into an enclosure for the pack, the enclosure having an interior facing surface in abutment with a substantial entirety of an exterior of the pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: VIBRAM SP.A.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Favreau, Linda B. McGinley, Zenon Smotrycz
  • Publication number: 20120285316
    Abstract: Protective armor panels comprising a grid formed of a plurality of strips of material having a front edge, a back edge, and side surfaces and a sheet of material secured to the front surface of the grid are disclosed. The strips of material can be contoured to form an armor panel having virtually any arbitrary shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
  • Publication number: 20120279383
    Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Dynamic Defense Materials LLC
    Inventors: John Carberry, George Forsythe, Harvey Kliman, Katherine Leighton, John Garnier, Ray Ballario, Wiktor Serafin, Jason Ickes
  • Patent number: 8297168
    Abstract: A non-planar ceramic composite and method of making are provided. The non-planar ceramic composite is transparent serves as transparent armor. In a non-limiting embodiment, the non-planar composite provides adequate protection from projectiles while exhibiting large surface areas and relatively low areal densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Jones, Jeffrey B. Rioux, John W. Locher, Eric S. Carlson, Kathleen R. Farrell, Brian C. Furchner, Vincent Pluen, Matthias Mandelartz
  • Patent number: 8297177
    Abstract: Ballistic projectile armour includes a hard shell, kinetic energy absorption material and an energy diffusing backing layer. The hard shell is made from a material capable of deforming a projectile and slowing a velocity of the projectile. The kinetic energy absorption material is capable of deforming to further slow and capture the projectile after it has pierced the hard shell. The energy diffusing backing layer is capable of diffusing energy transferred from the projectile into the kinetic energy absorption material. Elastic containment keeps the kinetic energy absorption material sandwiched between the hard shell and the energy diffusing backing, while accommodating expansion of the kinetic energy absorption material during energy absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: In the Line of Fire Inc.
    Inventor: Darren S. Schulte
  • Publication number: 20120266744
    Abstract: A ballistic-resistant panel in which the entire panel or a strike-face portion thereof is formed of a plurality of sheets of high modulus high molecular weight polyethylene tape. The sheets of high modulus polyethylene tape can be in the form of cross-plied laminated layers of tape strips or a woven fabric of tape strips. The strips of UHMWPE tape include a width of at least one inch and a modulus of greater than 1400 grams per denier. The ballistic-resistant panel may include a backing layer of conventional high modulus fibers embedded in resin. A wide variety of adhesives were found acceptable for bonding the cross-plied layers of high modulus polyethylene tape together for forming the ballistic-resistant panels of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Fielder Stanton Lyons, Kenneth C. Harding, Lisa Owen, Joseph Mitchell, Gene C. Weedon, Jeffrey A. Mears, Peter Anthony Russell
  • Publication number: 20120266745
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing protection from ballistic rounds, projectiles, fragments and explosives. The apparatus includes a core, grinding layer and bonding layer. The core is shaped and configured as a structural truss of the apparatus, in which the core includes a plurality of parallel, adjacent rows and the core distributes and dissipates force impacting on the apparatus. The grinding layer is positioned on at least one side of the core facing towards potential threats, in which the grinding layer grinds rounds, projectiles, fragments or other materials impacting the apparatus, helping to dissipate the impacting material and its momentum. The bonding layer bonds the grinding layer together and the grinding layer to the core and provides an outer coating to the apparatus on a side of the apparatus facing potential threats and through which rounds, projectiles, fragments or other materials impact and penetrate the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: David H. WARREN
  • Patent number: 8291657
    Abstract: An attack-resistant window assembly that can be easily maintained without requiring the use of tools. The attack-resistant window assembly includes a slidable plate for securing the attack-resistant pane into the window assembly. The window assembly also has ballistic-resistant armor around the peripheral sides of the ballistic-resistant pane to prevent bullets from exiting the peripheral sides of the ballistic-resistant pane and coming into the space on the protected side of the window assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Defenshield, Inc.
    Inventor: William Collins White
  • Patent number: 8291808
    Abstract: An assembly useful for constructing concealable, flexible, lightweight protective body armor includes a flexible support layer to which is bonded a mosaic of rigid, adjacent tiles having a high bending performance, such as type 5 titanium alloy, which includes 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium by weight. The inner support layer can include woven para-aramid and/or STF-treated Kevlar™. The tiles can have interlocking and/or thickened edges. An additional backing layer can include para-aramid and/or carbon nanofiber embedded UHMWPE UD-laminate. An inner layer can have high moisture transport, anti-microbial properties, and low friction. An outer layer can be shaped with anatomical features to hide the armor. The assembly can be flame resistant. Assemblies with 2 mm thick tiles and total thickness less than 5 mm can provide V50 protection against 9 mm FMJ projectiles at more than 1000 feet/second, and can also protect against knife and spike assaults at 65 Joules force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Warwick Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A Howland
  • Publication number: 20120260792
    Abstract: This invention is directed to energy absorbing or dissipating composite materials used to reduce structural damage from explosive blast energy and ballistic projectiles, either separately or in combination, and to methods of employing such materials. More particularly, this invention is directed to a blast damage suppression and/or ballistic shielding material comprising at least three independent layers; a layer comprising fiber based panels; a spray foam coating material and a coating layer comprising an elasto-plastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald Grossman, Thomas Harris
  • Publication number: 20120255430
    Abstract: A ballistic-resistant article includes a stack of sheets containing reinforcing linear tension members, the direction of the linear tension members within the stack being no unidirectionally, wherein some of the linear tension members are linear tension members comprising high molecular weight polyethylene and some of the linear tension members comprise aramid. A sheet and a consolidated sheet package contain the ballistic-resistant article, and a method of manufacturing produces the ballistic-resistant article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: TEIJIN ARAMID B.V.
    Inventors: Soon Joo Bovenschen, Joris Van Der Eem, Sanjay Rastogi, Jules Armand Wilhelmina Harings, Adriaan Anton Schaap
  • Publication number: 20120255429
    Abstract: An electrically conductive apron and a removable ground strap worn as an electric stun device misuse countermeasure made from metal coated fabrics, that effectively short circuits the electric stun device to itself and/or to an electrically ground floor when the stun voltage is applied to the electrically conductive apron. The electrically conductive apron is lightweight, does not decrease mobility, readily concealable, can be worn under or over street clothes, has an option of padding elements and is easily manufactured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: John Louis Kotos
  • Publication number: 20120255428
    Abstract: An armor blast shield for use on the bottom of a vehicle to protect occupants of the vehicle from improvised explosive devices. A preferred embodiment is configured in a V-shaped configuration formed by at least two planar blast resistant panels and an I-beam having channels with inclined walls which receive the panels at an obtuse angle. The panels are adhesively adhered to the I-beam channel walls and at least one bolt is secured through the I-beam and a panel to provide superior blast resistant performance as compared to welded panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Richard L. Allor, Thomas J. Husak, Dainius E. Skiotys
  • Patent number: 8281702
    Abstract: A net deployment system which, in one example, includes a manifold assembly including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port. A weight is disposed in each weight duct and each weight is tied to the net. A bladder is behind the net and is over the bladder port. At least one inflator charge is associated with the manifold for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Foster-Miller, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Hoadley, Robert Knochenhauer, Thieu Truong, Gary Anderson, Micheal Farinella
  • Patent number: 8281700
    Abstract: The invention provides a composite armor plate for absorbing and dissipating kinetic energy from high-velocity projectiles, the plate comprising a single internal layer of pellets which are bound and retained in plate form by an elastic material, substantially internally within the elastic material, such that the pellets are bound in a plurality of spaced-apart rows and columns, the pellets being made of ceramic material, and the pellets being substantially fully embedded in the elastic material so that the pellets form an internal layer, wherein the solidified material and the plate are elastic, and wherein a majority of each of the pellets is in direct contact with six adjacent pellets in the same layer to provide mutual lateral confinement therebetween, each of the pellets being characterized by a body having a substantially regular geometric cross-sectional area and first and second end faces, each of the end faces projecting from the body and having an outwardly decreasing cross-sectional area wherein th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Cohen
  • Publication number: 20120248837
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to Anti-ballistic Chairs with the preferred embodiment consisting of a conventionally appearing stacking chair with padded seat cushion and back rest, having a tubular framework with arm rests, having the addition of a skirt section below the seat extending to the floor level. The core of the chair will consist of layers of flexible anti-ballistic fabric, also known as soft armor, wrapped in two directions around the tubular members of the back rest, seat and skirt section. Alternatively, the stacking chair will be constructed of pre-manufactured hard anti-ballistic armor components, also known as hard armor. Two additional embodiments will be folding chairs with tubular frameworks, the first having hard armor anti-ballistic surfaces and the second being able to have hard armor or soft armor anti-ballistic surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: PETERS SECURITY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Fred E. Peters
  • Publication number: 20120247313
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to Anti-ballistic Chairs with the preferred embodiment consisting of a conventionally appearing stacking chair with padded seat cushion and back rest, having a tubular framework with arm rests, having the addition of a skirt section below the seat extending to the floor level. The core of the chair will consist of layers of flexible anti-ballistic fabric, also known as soft armor, wrapped in two directions around the tubular members of the back rest, seat and skirt section. Alternatively, the stacking chair will be constructed of pre-manufactured hard anti-ballistic armor components, also known as hard armor. Two additional embodiments will be folding chairs with tubular frameworks, the first having hard armor anti-ballistic surfaces and the second being able to have hard armor or soft armor anti-ballistic surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: PETERS SECURITY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Fred E. Peters
  • Publication number: 20120247315
    Abstract: A blast shield for deflecting a blast incident on a ground vehicle includes an impact section having an exterior impact surface to face a source of the blast. The exterior impact surface defines a cross-sectional profile defining a smooth continuous curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Sean Kevin Treadway, Michael Robert Eidell
  • Publication number: 20120247316
    Abstract: A shield system for an ordnance includes a frame and a flexible net subsystem supported by the frame. Diagonal lines of net material intersect at nodes forming diamond shaped mesh openings and a hard point is attached to at least select nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Farinella, William Lawson, Scott Quigley, Robert Curran
  • Publication number: 20120247314
    Abstract: A ballistic baffle includes an abrasion and impact layer for deflecting bullets and one or more layers of energy dissipating material. The abrasion and impact layer takes the impact of a projectile while the energy dissipation material disperses the energy thereof to reduce or eliminate the risk of the bullet penetrating the abrasion and impact material. The composite baffle enables the use of baffles that are lighter weight, less expensive and/or have improved performance characteristics over conventional single layer baffles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: David Bassett, Ernest John, Thomas Wright, Sherman Clark Bronson
  • Publication number: 20120247312
    Abstract: A structural insert with a cellular core as a holder for filler materials, in combination with other dense or porous material types arranged in the structural insert, to achieve a desired shear strength and stiffness in desired locations. The insert having metal within any areas of open porosity and the insert capable of being used as a component in a composite system such as a light weight armor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Richard W. Adams, Renee MacPherson, James Sorensen
  • Patent number: 8276497
    Abstract: A blast attenuator includes an enclosure defining a cavity; a core defining a plurality of interconnected pores, the core disposed in the cavity; and a shear thickening fluid disposed in the cavity, such that the shear thickening fills a portion of a pore volume of the core. A blast attenuation assembly includes a blast attenuator including a shear thickening fluid and a crushable element that omits a shear thickening fluid operably associated with the blast attenuator. A method includes the steps of providing a rigid core defining a plurality of interconnected pores and placing an enclosure about the core, the enclosure defining a filling port. The method further includes the steps of filling at least a portion of a pore volume of the core with a shear thickening fluid and closing the filling port to seal the enclosure and form a first blast attenuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Hunn
  • Publication number: 20120240756
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a trauma reducing pack, comprising at least one first layer of textile fabric consisting of yarns with fibers having a tensile strength of at least 900 MPa having an inner and outer surface, at least one second layer of textile fabric consisting of yarns with fibers having a tensile strength of at least 900 MPa having an inner and outer surface, an assembly of three to ten layers of a polyolefinic textile fabric, and a polyolefinic adhesive having a melting point of from 90° C. to 170° C., wherein the inner surface of the at least one first and the at least one second layer of textile fabric consisting of yarns are in contact with the assembly, and wherein the at least one first layer, the at least one second layer and the assembly are bonded together by means of the polyolefinic adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: YVES BADER, Nicolas Pont, Dominique Burr
  • Publication number: 20120240757
    Abstract: A grille having a plurality of s-louvers shaped to increase the efficiency of air flow through the grille without decreasing the effectiveness of the louvers at stopping or deflecting projectiles. Each louver has a hooked portion at the end of the louver to present a ballistic hook for stopping projectiles ricocheting through the circuitous path defined between the louvers. An insert having a closeout for covering the ballistic hook is positioned within each hooked shape portion to eliminate the eddy or stall created at the end of the circuitous path by ballistic hook. The closeout can be penetrated by projectiles ricocheting through the circuitous path such that the ballistic hook can still capture projectiles within the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: David Arthur Schade, Torrey Pike, George Thomas, Quan Nguyen, Mike Iwen
  • Publication number: 20120240759
    Abstract: A modular, wheeled vehicle suitable for military use, includes a driver module having a width for seating one person and having length for seating a second (and optional third) person therebehind, and an engine module disposed behind the driver module containing an engine for powering the modular vehicle. The engine module has a rear surface adapted to receive a storage module. The driver module and the engine module form a central element having a pair of sides, a bottom, and a top. The central element is adapted to receive the modules on both of the central element sides. The central element has air inlet for personnel and for the engine disposed atop the central element. The bottom of the central element and troop side pods generally are V-shaped with slanted, upward extending sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Donald R. Halliday
  • Publication number: 20120240758
    Abstract: An armor system pellet and an array and armor composed therefrom are provided. The pellet includes a pellet body and a plurality of projections for interlocking adjacent pellets when arranged in an array. The projections are configured for maximizing a contact area between adjacent pellets without substantially restricting independent movement of each of the pellets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Edan Administration
    Inventor: Hananya COHEN
  • Publication number: 20120240755
    Abstract: A composite ballistic armor or other composite component may be formed by placing one or more ceramic cores in a mold and introducing molten base metal into the mold, such that the molten base metal encapsulates the one or more ceramic cores to form the composite component. The ceramic cores may comprise, for example, porous packed-particle ceramic cores or pre-cast porous ceramic cores. The base metal may comprise, for example, a steel alloy, such as FeMnAl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Spokane Industries
    Inventors: Tyrus Neil Tenold, Gregory George Tenold, Robert Gordon Tenold, Edward Robert Kaczmarek, Rod Alan Grozdanich
  • Patent number: 8272309
    Abstract: A composite truss armor and a method of manufacturing the same. The composite truss armor includes a filler material and a three-dimensional (3D) ordered truss structure. The 3D ordered truss structure includes: a plurality of first truss elements defined by a plurality of first self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a first direction; a plurality of second truss elements defined by a plurality of second self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a second direction; and a plurality of third truss elements defined by a plurality of third self-propagating polymer waveguides and extending along a third direction. The first, second, and third ordered truss elements interpenetrate each other at a plurality of nodes to form a continuous material. The first, second, and third truss elements define an open space. The filler material occupies at least a portion of the open space, and the 3D ordered truss structure is self-supporting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Robert W. Cumberland, Alan J. Jacobsen, Adam F. Gross, William B. Carter
  • Publication number: 20120234163
    Abstract: An armor includes a metallic matrix; a plurality of ceramic rods disposed in the metallic matrix, the plurality of ceramic rods and the metallic matrix forming a core; and a spall liner disposed adjacent a rear face of the core. The metallic matrix places a compressive stress on the plurality of ceramic rods. A method for making an armor includes the steps of providing a plurality of ceramic rods in a desired configuration and embedding the plurality of ceramic rods in a metallic matrix to form a core, such that the metallic matrix provides a compressive stress to the plurality of ceramic rods. The method further includes providing a spall liner and disposing the spall liner adjacent a rear surface of the core to form an armor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: David L. Hunn
  • Publication number: 20120234164
    Abstract: A composite armor plate includes a fracture layer placed adjacent to a ceramic layer. The ceramic layer provides a ballistic resistant layer that receives a ballistic impact and propagates a compression wave. The fracture layer is placed behind the ceramic layer and absorbs a portion of the compression wave propagating out in front of the ballistic impact. The absorbed compression wave causes the fracture layer to at least partially disintegrate into fine particles, which dissipates energy in the process. To cause a higher degree of fracturing (and thus larger dissipation of compression wave energy) the fracture layer includes a plurality of resonators embedded in a fracture material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NOVA RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Yan R. Kucherov, Graham K. Hubler, Brant G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8267001
    Abstract: A composite armor panel and a method for making the armor is disclosed. In one embodiment the armor consists of a plurality of ceramic tiles (21) individually edge-wrapped (52) with fiber or edge-wrap fabric, which are further wrapped with a face-wrap fabric, and encapsulated in a hyperelastic polymer material (31) permeating the fabric and fibers, with a back plate (41) adhered to the encapsulated tiles. In one embodiment the hyperelastic polymer (31) is formed from a MDI-polyester or polyether prepolymer, at lease one long-chain polyester polyol comprising ethylene/butylene adipate diol, at least one short-chain diol comprising 1,4-butanediol, and a tin-based catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Jay Sayre, Scott Versluis, Kary Valentine
  • Publication number: 20120227578
    Abstract: Bullet proof, or bullet resistant, materials have been produced and improved since at least the Middle Ages. Initially these were simply the armor that fighters wore in order to protect themselves during battles. Today the goal is to manufacture a material that would protect both people and property from high speed projectiles. The bullet resistant material that we wish to present will be made out of a strain hardened carbon steel. Strain hardening will provide for a stronger material. In addition, carburization will supply extra strength. A special technique of production needed to manufacture our bullet resistant material will also be presented in this document. The product proposed by us can easily be used as armor for tanks, planes, helicopters, ships, and any protective walls, such as in bunkers. It can also be used as a material for bullet resistant vests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Stefan Klapyk, Miroslaw Klapyk
  • Publication number: 20120222544
    Abstract: A protective device is provided that includes material strips made of at least two different materials, wherein the thickness of the strips is considerably larger than the height and the height of the strips is at least half as large as the calibre of the explosively formed projectile and both materials have considerably different strengths. The alignment of the sandwich composition is such that the material layers arranged on top of each other face the impact direction. Thus, a projectile designed in the direction of the protective structure shears off and no longer slide through the protection in a straight manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Inventor: Stephan Schaare
  • Publication number: 20120222543
    Abstract: A unit of modular armor. The module has a box-like, optically opaque outer shell of ballistic-protection material enclosed to exclude light from the module's interior. The shell contains transparent armor plates and the shell contains a self-diagnostic system for ascertaining whether the plates have been damaged. The self-diagnostic system includes a first PC board disposed along first edges of the plates, the board being divided into strips on which are mounted rows of lights. The self-diagnostic system further includes a second PC board at second, opposed edges of the plates divided into strips on which are mounted rows of light receptors. The PC boards incorporate circuitry for illuminating the rows of the lights in a row-by-row sequence, and for allowing activation only of the receptors directly opposed to illuminated lights. This circuitry has an analysis means for determining the health of the plates in response to signals from the receptors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Thomas J. Meitzler, Jason A. Schrader, Thomas P. Reynolds, Samuel E. Ebenstein, Gregory H. Smith
  • Patent number: 8257814
    Abstract: Composite structures and methods of fabrication thereof are disclosed. An embodiment of a composite structure, among others, includes: a backing substrate; a layer of structures distributed over the backing substrate; and a thermoplastic disposed onto the structures and the backing substrate, wherein the thermoplastic substantially binds the backing substrate and layer of structures together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: University of Alabama at Birmingham
    Inventors: Shane Bartus, George Husman, Uday Vaidya
  • Publication number: 20120216670
    Abstract: There is disclosed armour having an outer metallic layer, an inner fibre composite layer, and a supporting framework between the inner and outer layers. The supporting framework can include projections from the outer layer arranged to mechanically interlock with the fibres of the fibre composite, and can be arranged to provide an open region between the inner and outer layers that can be filled with a functional filler material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Jennifer Laura McDonald, David Baker, Amir Rezai
  • Publication number: 20120216669
    Abstract: A ballistic-resistant molded article having a compressed stack of sheets including reinforcing elongate bodies, where at least some of the elongate bodies are polyethylene elongate bodies that have a weight average molecular weight of at least 100,000 gram/mole. Methods for manufacturing ballistic-resistant molded articles are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: TEIJIN ARAMID B.V.
    Inventors: Soon Joo BOVENSCHEN, Marinus Johannes Gerardus JOURNEÉ, Joris VAN DER EEM, Erik Oscar NIENHUIS, Johannes BOS
  • Publication number: 20120216668
    Abstract: An armor uses optimally shaped ceramic cross-pellets and a matrix for containing the cross-pellets. The armor comprises front and back plates and an array of interlocking ceramic cross-pellets of repeating shape between front and back plates. Each cross-pellet may have a horizontal cross-section in the shape of a cross and comprises a center and four fingers projecting therefrom. Each cross-pellet in a non-peripheral portion of the array may be supported by fingers of other cross-pellets which may include two fingers from each of four other cross-pellets. The result is lightweight, composite hybrid structure. The dense, hard armor has good fracture toughness, hardness and a high capacity to absorb impacts for ballistic protection particularly suited to tactical ground vehicles. Valley spaced is minimized. A polymer resin may be situated in spaces between the ceramic cross-pellets and between the array and at least one of the back plate and front plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: Hananya Cohen
  • Publication number: 20120210860
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a fibre composite product with embedded ballistic protection with at least one layer of reinforced fibres which are arranged by fibre filament windings and forms a pipe-shaped fibre composite product. Such pipe-shaped fibre composite product is typical circular pipe-shaped; however may also be oval or even angular. Simultaneously such fibre composite product is essentially suitable for use in different constructions where it is desired to built-in armouring elements, including the body of the vehicles, for instance in military vehicles. In connection with manufacturing military vehicles attempts are made to reduce the weight of the vehicles compared to the load capacity of the vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Jan Falck-Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8245621
    Abstract: A vehicle and structure shield includes a flexible net subsystem including an array of rods or hard points supported by the net subsystem and configured to impact a projectile striking the net. A frame includes mounting brackets attached thereto positioning the frame in a spaced relationship with respect to the vehicle or structure. A first releasable fastener subsystem releasably secures the net subsystem to the frame and a second releasable fastener subsystem releasably secures the mounting brackets of the frame to a vehicle or structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: QinetiQ North America
    Inventors: Michael D. Farinella, Robert Lee Cardenas, William R. Lawson, Brendan LaBrecque, Frances Rush, David Hoadley, Michael Wheaton, Michael Anderson, Thomas Mann, Abed Kanaan, Patrick Callahan
  • Patent number: 8245619
    Abstract: A blast-resistant panel may include a layer of a pre-cured elastomeric material having a predetermined thickness, a body portion, and a plurality of flanges, each of the plurality of flanges having a substantially equal width and depending away from a same side and at approximately equivalent right angles to the body portion. The blast-resistant panel may also include a plurality of fastener elements for securing the cured elastomeric material layer to a surface of a structure through the plurality of flanges of cured elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Life Shield Engineered Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Hall
  • Patent number: 8245622
    Abstract: A vehicle and structure shield includes a flexible net subsystem including an array of rods or hard points supported by the net subsystem and configured to impact a projectile striking the net. A frame includes mounting brackets attached thereto positioning the frame in a spaced relationship with respect to the vehicle or structure. A first releasable fastener subsystem releasably secures the net subsystem to the frame and a second releasable fastener subsystem releasably secures the mounting brackets of the frame to a vehicle or structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: QinetiQ North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Farinella, Robert Lee Cardenas, William R. Lawson, Brendan LaBrecque, Frances Rush, David Hoadley, Michael Wheaton, Michael Anderson, Thomas Mann, Abed Kanaan, Patrick Callahan
  • Patent number: 8245620
    Abstract: A shield system for an ordnance having a fuse sensitivity includes a frame and a flexible net subsystem supported by the frame. Chords of net material intersect at nodes forming mesh openings and a hard point is attached to at least select nodes. The net material has a breaking strength such that a chord will break upon impact of an ordnance fuse with the chord for a predetermined percentage (e.g., 100%) of ordnance fuse impacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: QinetiQ North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Farinella, William Lawson, Matthew Ebbs
  • Publication number: 20120207966
    Abstract: A ballistic structure having at least one laminate sheet of a plurality of fiber bundles or tapes is disclosed. In embodiments having more than one laminate sheet, the inter-laminate shear strength between the laminate sheets is controlled to control ballistic effectiveness of the ballistic structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: TENCATE ADVANCED ARMOR USA, INC.
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Dickson
  • Publication number: 20120204711
    Abstract: An armor system for protecting a vehicle from a projectile, the projectile having an expected trajectory, is disclosed. The armor system has a material capable of being detonated and configured to substantially retain a shape, wherein the material leads a vehicle exterior surface relative to the expected projectile trajectory. The material has a dimensional thickness that is greater than a minimum detonation thickness of the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory W. Engleman, Robert A. Cole, Thomas E. Borders, III, Vernon P. Joynt, Keith T. Williams, James E. White
  • Publication number: 20120198989
    Abstract: There is a transparent armor system. The system comprises a transparent front region comprising a strike-face layer. The front region includes a mass of a type of material characterized by having sufficient energy absorption capacity and energy dissipation properties to reduce radial tensile stresses and hoop tensile stresses caused by an impact at the strike face to a set reduced level. The impact has impact energy caused by an impact projectile having a mass hitting the strike-face layer. The system further comprises a transparent back region comprising a potassium-sodium exchanged glass characterized by having a surface compression of at least about 50,000 psi and a compression case depth of at least about 200 microns. The potassium-sodium exchanged glass is present in one of a layer and a plurality of layers in the back region. There are also associated methods of making and methods of using.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Arun K. Varshneya, Patrick Kenneth Kreski
  • Patent number: 8234965
    Abstract: An armor plate for use in the ballistic protection of a structure against projectiles incoming from an expected threat direction, the plate having an outer face facing the threat direction and comprising a layer of first pellets made of ballistic material of a high density S1 and having a characteristic diameter DP, and second pellets which have a low density section with a central axis transverse to the outer face, along which the low density section at least partially extends, the low density section of the second pellets having a density S2 which is in the range 0?S2<<S1, the second pellets having an outer characteristic diameter DOUT substantially equal to the diameter DP and the low density section having an inner characteristic diameter DIN, DIN<DOUT, each second pellet being surrounded only by the first pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Plasan Sasa Ltd.
    Inventors: Moshe Ravid, Avram Ya'akobovich
  • Patent number: 8234967
    Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Dynamic Defense Materials LLC
    Inventors: John Carberry, George Forsythe, Harvey Kliman, Katherine Leighton, John Garnier, Ray Ballario, Wiktor Serafin, Jason Ickes
  • Patent number: 8234966
    Abstract: An armor plate is provided for use in the ballistic protection of a structure against projectiles incoming from an expected threat direction. The armor plate comprises a layer of pellets made of ballistic material; a gap having a contour at least partially defined by circumferential surfaces of those of the pellets that are exposed to the gap, and occupying an area corresponding to a plurality of the pellets; and an insert inserted within the gap and having an outer surface at least a part of which has an outer shape mimicking the contour of the gap. There is also provided a method for producing the armor plate and an insert for use therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Plasan Sasa Ltd.
    Inventor: Mark Shapochnik