Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Ballistic Ridge Cover
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
100011 The present patent application claims priority to and the
benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 63/246,575 filed on September 21, 2021, and
entitled
Female Ballistic Ridge, which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety for any
purpose.
Technical Field
100011 Aspects of the present disclosure relate to body armor
systems and more
particularly to body armor systems with improved ballistic performance based
on user's
anatomy.
Background
100021 The performance of ballistic protective equipment, namely
vests, carriers, can
be affected or decreased based on the anatomy of a wearer. For example, the
breast tissue of
a female use may create an angled strike face for ballistic panels or armor.
The angle strike
face can create performance issues. There is a need to improve ballistic
performance of body
armor regardless of the user's anatomy.
Summary
100031 The present disclosure is directed a ballistic system
comprising, a ballistic vest, a
soft body armor package, a ballistic support, and a ballistic cover. The
ballistic vest may have a
front pocket and a back pocket. The soft body armor package may comprise a top
portion and a
bottom portion. The soft body armor package may be installable in the front
pocket of the vest.
The ballistic support may be installable with the soft armor package. The
ballistic cover may
comprise one or more layers of felt. Each layer of the one or more layers of
felt having a first end
and a second end. Each first end may be formed into a first plurality of tabs.
Each second end may
also be formed into a second plurality of tabs. The ballistic cover may also
comprise one or mor
layers of ballistic fabric. Each layer of the one or mor layers of ballistic
fabric (e.g., Kevlar fabric)
forms fabric a third end and a fourth end. Each third end may be formed into a
third plurality of
tabs. Each fourth end may be formed into a fourth plurality of tabs. The
ballistic cover may be
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installed over a piece of the soft body armor package.
100041 Other implementations are also described and recited
herein. Further, while
multiple implementations are disclosed, still other implementations of the
presently disclosed
technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed
description, which shows and describes illustrative implementations of the
presently disclosed
technology. As will be realized, the presently disclosed technology is capable
of modifications
in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the
presently disclosed
technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be
regarded as
illustrative in nature and not limiting.
Brief Descriptions of the Drawings
[0005] The subject matter of the present disclosure is
particularly pointed out and
distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more
complete
understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by
referring to the
detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing
figures,
wherein like numerals denote like elements.
[0006] Figure 1A illustrates an example ballistic system with
interior components
shown in a distributed arrangement, including a ballistic cover, in accordance
with various
embodiments;
[0007] Figure l B illustrates an example ballistic system with
interior components
shown in a stacked arrangement, including a ballistic cover, in accordance
with various
embodiments;
100081 Figure 2 illustrates a ballistic cover, in accordance with
various embodiments;
[0009] Figure 3A illustrates a ballistic assembly and a ballistic
cover with a ballistic
vest, in accordance with various embodiments;
[00101 Figure 3B illustrates a ballistic structure with a
ballistic cover, in accordance
with various embodiments;
100111 Figure 3C illustrates a ballistic package (e.g., a
ballistic structure, a soft armor
package and a hard armor package) with a ballistic cover, in accordance with
various
embodiments;
100121 Figure 4A illustrates a ballistic vest for use with a
ballistic cover, in accordance
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with various embodiments;
100131 Figure 4B illustrates a ballistic vest internal volume
including an integral
ballistic cover, in accordance with various embodiments;
100141 Figures 5A illustrates a ballistic structure with a
ballistic trauma pad in a first
configuration, in accordance with various embodiments;
100151 Figures 5B illustrates a ballistic structure with a
ballistic trauma pad in a second
configuration, in accordance with various embodiments; and
100161 Figures 5C illustrates a ballistic structure with a
ballistic trauma pad and a
ballistic cover, in accordance with various embodiments.
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Detailed Description
100171 The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein
refers to the
accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of
illustration. While these
exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those
skilled in the art to
practice the inventions, other embodiments may be realized, and that logical,
chemical, and
mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the inventions.
Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of
illustration only and not of
limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process
descriptions may be
executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented.
Furthermore, any
reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more
than one component
or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to
attached, fixed,
connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial,
full and/or any other
possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or
similar phrases) may
also include reduced contact or minimal contact.
100181 Aspects of the present disclosure involve ballistic covers
that improve the
overall ballistic performance of ballistic systems. In this regard, where the
ballistic item is
disposed at an angle as a result of the user's anatomy, the ballistic cover
disclosed herein,
improve the overall ballistic performance of ballistic systems. In various
embodiments and
with reference to Figure 1A, a ballistic system 100 for a user incorporating
aspects of the
presently disclosed technology as shown. Ballistic system 100 is provided as
an example of
ballistic protective equipment that may incorporate aspects of the presently
disclosed
technology and is not intended to be limiting. Other examples of ballistic
protective equipment
for a wearer (e.g., humans or animals) that may incorporate aspects of the
presently disclosed
technology, include, without limitation, carriers, belts, cummerbunds,
ballistic accessories
(e.g., shoulder protection, pouches, abdomen protection, groin protection, leg
protection,
bicep/deltoid upper arm protection, etc.) and the like. As such, although
discussed herein in
the context of a ballistic vest, it will be appreciated that the presently
disclosed technology
applies to other types of ballistic protective equipment as well.
100191 The present disclosure is directed to a ballistic cover
that may be used to enhance
the ballistic capabilities of soft and/or hard armor warn by female users. In
various embodiments
and with reference to Figures 1A ¨ 1B, a ballistic system 100 can include a
ballistic vest 110.
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Ballistic system 110 may also include a ballistic structure 120. Ballistic
system 100 can
include an armor package 130, including for example, a soft armor package
and/or a hard
armor package. Ballistic system 100 may also include a ballistic cover 140.
Ballistic cover
140 may be a stand-alone fixture. Ballistic cover 140 can be installable over
a potion of armor
package 130. Ballistic cover 140 may be installable of ballistic structure
120. For example,
ballistic cover 140 may be a foldable fixture that covers a top potion,
surface, or profile of at
least one of a ballistic structure 120, an armor package 130, and/or both a
ballistic structure
and an armor package 130.
100201 With reference to Figure 2, ballistic cover 240 may
comprise a one or more layers
of a felt 241. Felt 241 may be a ballistic felt. Ballistic cover 240 may also
comprise one or more
layer of a fabric 243. Fabric 243 may be a ballistic fabric. The one or more
layers of fabric 243
may be layers of ballistic fabric, such as for example, Kevlar fabric or
another suitable ballistically
resistant fabric.
100211 Any of the one or more layers of felt and or fabric may be
cut into gusseted portions
or tabs. For example, and as shown in Figure 2, ballistic cover 240 may have a
plurality of tabs,
such as, tab 242, tab 244, tab 246 and the like. In this regard, the felt
and/or fabric may be cut or
stress relieved to conform to a particular profile. The profile may match a
profile portion of a
ballistic stmcture, such as for example, ballistic structure 120. The cuts or
stress reliefs of ballistic
cover 240 may be cut, relieved, or shaped to conform to a profile that is
straight, curved, or
irregular. The width of the cuts and/or corresponding gussets may be uniform
or irregular.
100221 Ballistic cover 240 may also include a fold seam, a
centerline, or a pivot line 248.
In this regard, ballistic cover 240 may be folded in half about centerline
248. Ballistic cover 240
may form a pocket. Ballistic cover 240 may also be folded in a taco
arrangement, such that ballistic
cover 240 defines a channel or receivable slot. The gusseted portions of
ballistic cover 240 may
be adjacent each other, when ballistic cover 240 is folded about centerline
248.
100231 In various embodiments and with references to Figures 3A ¨
3C, ballistic cover 340
may define a channel or receivable slot 349. Slot 349 may be sized and/or
configured to receive
one or more pieces of ballistic system 300, including for example, ballistic
structure 320, an armor
package and/or the like. The armor package may include a soft armor component
330, a hard armor
component 350, or both.
100241 Ballistic cover 340 may be sewn or attached to ballistic
structure 320. Ballistic cover
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340 may be sewn or attached to the armor package (e.g., to soft armor 330).
Ballistic cover 340
may also be a separate component that is installed over the armor package,
ballistic structure 320,
or any other suitable items in ballistic system 300.
[00251
With reference to Figures 4A and 4B, ballistic system 400 comprises a
suitable
ballistic vest or plate carrier 410. Ballistic vest 410 may define an internal
pocket 412. Internal
pocket 412 may be defined by one or more pieces of fabric. Internal pocket 412
may be sized to
receive ballistic cover 440. Ballistic cover 440 may be sewn or otherwise
attached to ballistic vet
410 in internal pocket 412. Ballistic cover 440 may be positioned in internal
pocket 412 to cover
or shroud top portions of one or more components of any of the ballistic
systems described herein.
100261
In various embodiments and with reference to Figures 5A ¨ 5C, ballistic
structure
520 may be configured with a trauma pad 560. Trauma pad 560 may be sewn or
otherwise attached
to ballistic structure 520 along a seam 562. Trauma pad 560 may comprise a
fabric pouch or pocket.
'The pouch can receive an armor component. When worn by a user as part of a
ballistic system,
trauma pad 560 may be positioned over a user's chest or trunk. More
specifically, trauma pad 560
may cover vital portions of the cardiac and respiratory systems or a wearer's
anatomy, providing
additional protection to a wearer in the event of a penetration of the primary
armor system. Ballistic
structure 520 and trauma pad 560 may also be used in connection with ballistic
cover 540.
100271
The soft body armor assemblies described herein provide numerous
advantages
over monolithic and other designs. For example, soft body armor assemblies are
comfortable,
durable, flexible, lightweight, and provides increased performance, including
resistance to
ballistic penetration, back face deformation performance, resistance to
mechanical fatigue,
and resistance to fragmentation threat, and the like.
100281
The flexible ballistic ply structures may be, for example, a resin
impregnated
woven fabrics, unidirectional laminates, multi-axial fabrics, and/or the like.
In one
implementation, the flexible ballistic ply structures can be generated using
high strength yarns
including, without limitation, aromatic polyamides such as poly(p-phenylene
teraphthalamide), poly(metaphenylene isophthalam ide), p-
phenylenebenzobisoxazole,
polybenzoxazole, polybenzothiazole, aromatic unsaturated polyesters such as
polyethylene
terephthal ate, aromatic polyimides, aromatic
polyamideimides, aromatic
polyesteramideimides, aromatic polyetheramideimides and aromatic
polyesterimides or
copolymers of any of the above mentioned classes of materials, and UTIMWPE, or
any
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combination of these yarns. In another implementation, the flexible ballistic
ply structures are
woven fabrics generated from high strength fiber are woven structures produced
using yarns
containing aromatic polyamides including poly(p-phenylene teraphthalamide),
poly(metaphenylene isophthalamide), p- phenylenebenzobisoxazole,
polybenzoxazole,
polybenzothiazole, aromatic unsaturated polyesters such as polyethylene
terephthalate,
aromatic polyimides, aromatic polyamideimides, aromatic polyesteramideimides,
aromatic
polyetheramideimides and aromatic polyesterimides or copolymers of any of the
above
mentioned classes of materials or any combinations of these yarns.
100291 Any one of the stitch consolidated assemblies of plies for
soft body armor
assembly described herein is achieved using any stitching thread and any type
of stitching
method to achieve through-thickness connectivity of the plies, including chain
stitching or
lock stitching to secure all plies in the assembly together. In one
implementation, a stitching
pattern that is uniform across the surface of the entire assembly is used.
Such a uniform
stitching pattern may be, for example, a grid pattern (e.g., quilt pattern),
co-linear rows of
stitching, concentric circles, a spiral, and/or the like. In another
implementation, the stitching
pattern of any one of the stitch- consolidated assembly of plies is not
uniform across the
surface of the entire assembly.
100301 To achieve a desired level of protection, soft body armor
assemblies described
herein are configured to inhibit the complete penetration of a particular
ballistic threat by
overcoming the energy associated with the ballistic event. Two examples of
commercially
available high strength fibers routinely used to generate anti-ballistic ply
structures used in
soft body armor assembly include para-aramid fiber, such as Kevlar fiber from
Dupont and
Twaron fiber from Teijin, and UHMWPE, including Spectra fiber from Honeywell
and
Dyneema fiber from DSM.
100311 The performance of ballistic protective equipment
utilizing ply structures
generated from high strength fiber is generally measured based on penetration
resistance, as
well as the resistance to back face deformation that can lead to blunt trauma
injuries.
Penetration resistance is routinely reported as the VSO, which is defined as
the velocity at
which a specific ballistic threat will penetrate an armor construction 50% of
the time. A
methodology routinely used for determining the VSO of a particular armor
system against a
specific threat is outlined in Mil - STD 662F VSO Ballistic test for Armor and
Purchase
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Description FQ/PD 07-0SG, Body Armor, Multiple Threat/Interceptor Improved
Outer
Tactical Vest (IOTV) Generation Ill. The methodology for determining back face
deformation
is outlined in NIJ Standard 0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor. As
will be
understood from the comparative and experimental examples provided herein, the
soft body
armor assembly for soft body armor assembly 110 meets these standards and
provides
numerous advantages over monolithic and other hybrid designs. For example,
soft body armor
assembly 110 is comfortable, durable, flexible, lightweight, and provides
increased
performance, including resistance to ballistic penetration, back face
deformation performance,
resistance to mechanical fatigue, and resistance to fragmentation threat, and
the like.
100321 Woven fabrics generated using para-aramid fiber have long
demonstrated
robust ballistic performance as anti-ballistic ply structures used in flexible
armor systems.
Woven anti-ballistic fabrics rely on mechanical interlacing of yarns using
commercial
weaving equipment and are a desired when designing systems that provide
flexibility,
comfort, conformability, and improved breathability. Additionally, the
mechanically
interlocked woven fabrics are very durable, requiring no adhesives or matrix
resins to create
the ballistic ply structure. Woven anti-balli stic fabrics and can undergo
significant flexural
fatigue without losing ballistic performance. Several investigations of
flexible body armor
fabricated using woven para-aramid fabrics reclaimed after more than a decade
of continuous
use in the field have demonstrated no ballistic performance loss when compared
to the
performance of the same designs when first issued.
100331 While mechanical properties of UI-LVIWPE fibers can
significantly exceed those
of para-aramid fibers such as Keylarg, woven fabrics generated from UHMWPE
fiber have
routinely been observed to underperform para-aramid fabrics. One proposition
for this
observation is that the low friction coefficient of UHV1WPE fibers greatly
facilitates slip and
translation of the warp and fill yarns at the point of impact in woven
constructions made
therefrom during the ballistic event. This significantly reduces yarn
engagement of the
ballistic threat, allowing it to pass through the woven structures with
limited loading of the
UHLV1VVPE yarns.
[0034] Unidirectional laminates represent a second type of anti-
ballistic ply structure
used in the manufacture of flexible body armor systems. Unidirectional
laminates are
constructed from two or more layers of unidirectionally oriented high strength
yarns
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adhesively bound together using matrix resins and optionally polymer films.
The
unidirectional fiber layers in the unidirectional laminate are cross-plied;
having fiber direction
of individual layers rotated 90 degrees relative to the neighboring layers
they are laminated
to. Unidirectional laminates have demonstrated improved ballistic VSO
performance and
improved back face deformation performance against high energy deformable
projectiles such
as bullet threats when compared to woven fabric systems for the same areal
density.
Disadvantages associated with the unidirectional laminate structure include
reduced
fragmentation threat resistance, increased stiffness and potentially reduced
mechanical fatigue
resistance when compared to woven structures generated with the same fiber.
100351 Due to the issue associated with its use in woven
constructions, the
unidirectional laminate was conventionally the preferred anti-ballistic
structure for UHN4WPE
fiber. UHMWPE has found significant commercial success in soft armor systems
when used
in unidirectional laminate structures. These materials are commercially
available under the
trade names Spectra Shield from Honeywell, or Dyneema Unidirectional from
DSM.
These unidirectional laminate materials are generated using tacky adhesive
matrix resins
capable of overcoming the low surface friction and low surface energy of the
UHMWPE fiber,
resulting in mechanically stable anti-ballistic structures.
100361 While the present disclosure has been described with
reference to various
implementations, it will be understood that these implementations are
illustrative and that the
scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations,
modifications, additions, and
improvements are possible. More generally, implementations in accordance with
the present
disclosure have been described in the context of particular examples.
Functionality may be
separated or combined in blocks differently in various implementations of the
disclosure or
described with different terminology. These and other variations,
modifications, additions,
and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the
claims that
follow.
100371 Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have
been described
herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines
shown in the
various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary
functional relationships
and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted
that many
alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may
be present in a
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practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems,
and any elements
that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more
pronounced are
not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements
of the disclosure.
The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than
the appended
claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to
mean "one and only
one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." Moreover, where a
phrase similar
to "at least one of A, B, or C" is used in the claims, it is intended that the
phrase be interpreted
to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present
in an
embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination
of the
elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and
B, A and C,
B and C, or A and B and C.
[0038] Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided herein. In
the detailed
description herein, references to -one embodiment," -an embodiment," -various
embodiments," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a
particular feature,
structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include
the particular
feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not
necessarily referring to the
same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described
in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the
knowledge of one skilled
in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection
with other
embodiments whether explicitly described. After reading the description, it
will be apparent
to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in
alternative
embodiments.
[0039] Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the
present disclosure
is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element,
component, or
method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to
be construed
under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly
recited using the
phrase "means for." As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or
any other
variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that
a process, method,
article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only
those elements but
may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,
method, article,
or apparatus
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