| Lightweight soft body-armor product -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Lightweight soft body-armor productUSPTO Application #: 20060037121Title: Lightweight soft body-armor product Abstract: A ballistic panel is provided for being incorporated into a lightweight soft body-armor product adapted for covering an area of the body. The ballistic panel includes an assembly of woven fabric plies with warp and fill yarns formed of bundled Poly (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fibers. The plies have a collective areal density of no greater than 1.0 pounds per square foot, and a V50 ballistic limit of no less than 1925 feet per second using a .22 caliber, 17 grain FSP at 0 degrees obliquity. (end of abstract) Agent: Schwart Law Firm, P.C. Southpark Towers - Charlotte, NC, US Inventor: Andrew D. Park USPTO Applicaton #: 20060037121 - Class: 002002500 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, Penetration Resistant The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060037121. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This application relates to a lightweight soft body-armor product. The invention is particularly applicable for military use in anti-fragmentation and small-arms protection garments. More specifically, the invention is a lightweight flak vest weighing less than 8.8 pounds and exhibiting extraordinary fragmentation resistance. [0002] In traditional warfare, the highest percentage of casualties are caused by fragments from mines, grenades, mortars, shell fragments, and other related munitions. For years, the U.S. military has used soft body-armor products to protect against fragments. These products have generally performed well, are relatively lightweight as compared to hard armor, and afford a wide-range of mobility. The overall weight of the product, and more importantly, its ballistic resistance performance are critical. [0003] In the ballistics industry, performance is generally determined based on V50 ballistic test limits for impacts on an 18''.times.18'' test cloth. The test cloth is formed of multiple overlying plies of ballistic fabric. The V50 ballistic test limit is the average of 10 fair impact velocities consisting of the five lowest complete penetration velocities and five highest partial penetration velocities provided that the spread for the 10 velocities is not greater than an allowable range of 150 feet per second (fps). If the 10-round average cannot be attained within the allowable range, the ballistic cloth is retested. The V50 ballistic limit is determined for a given-size steel fragment by averaging the V50 test results for three test cloths. [0004] Current soft body-armor garments incorporating KEVLAR.RTM. fabric represent a substantial advancement over traditional nylon garments. KEVLAR is a high-tech aramid fiber developed by E.I. duPont deNemours and Co., Inc. Pound for pound, KEVLAR.RTM. is five times stronger than steel, has a very high stretch resistance, is inherently flame resistant, and will not melt. When struck by artillery or shrapnel, KEVLAR.RTM. fibers absorb the impact energy and disperse it to other fibers in the fabric weave. Its non-melting, self-extinguishing properties keep heat and flames outside of the ballistic garment, and away from the body. [0005] The prior art Personal Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) Vest developed for the Army uses KEVLAR.RTM. fibers. This vest weighs approximately 12.0 pounds (medium size), and has a V50 ballistic test limit of 1650 fps using a .22 caliber, 17 grain Fragmentation Simulated Projectile (FSP) at 0 degrees obliquity. To meet a demand for increased ballistic performance, a fragmentation vest upgrade including hard-armor plates was specifically designed to integrate with the PASGT vest. While the vest upgrade improved performance against artillery fire, the overall weight of the combined PASGT vest jumped substantially making it generally undesirable for use in certain military applications. [0006] In recent years, a further military garment incorporating the requirements of the Army and Marines was developed to replace the PASGT/upgrade combination. The INTERCEPTOR is the model name for modular, multiple-threat body armor. This garment includes an outer tactical vest, and front and back small arms protective insert plates. Although the overall weight of the INTERCEPTOR body armor is substantially less than the PASGT/upgrade combination, the total weight remains relatively high. [0007] The present invention addresses a long-felt need in today's military for an improved soft body-armor garment with increased ballistic resistance performance and reduced overall weight. The invention provides both fragmentation and small-arms protection. The invention has particular application for use by Navy personnel aboard Navy ships to protect the wearer against fragments and artillery fire while performing duties above deck. [0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide soft body-armor product which provides increased ballistic resistance performance and reduced overall weight. [0010] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which is designed to reduce casualties caused by fragments and artillery fire. [0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which weighs substantially less than the PASGT vest designed for the Army. [0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which has an overall weight of less than 8.8 pounds. [0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which has an overall weight of between 6 and 6.5 pounds. [0014] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which provides substantially increased ballistic resistance performance than the vest used in the INTERCEPTOR body armor system. [0015] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which has a minimum V50 ballistic test limit of 1925 fps. [0016] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which has increased flexibility. [0017] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which is ergonomically engineered for increased comfort, mobility and versatility. [0018] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which protects against threat levels as high as IIIA, as defined by the U.S. National Institute of Justice Standard. [0019] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which incorporates high performance, high modulus, Poly (p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) fibers, known in the industry as PBO fibers. [0020] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which incorporates high performance PBO fibers manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd. and sold under the trademark ZYLON.RTM.. [0021] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which incorporates PBO fibers which are post treated to reduce moisture regain. [0022] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which promotes enhanced diffusion of moisture through PBO fiber bundles incorporated in the fabric plies. [0023] It is another object of the invention to provide a soft body-armor product which incorporates PBO fibers that are step drawn to reduce the continuous length of machinery required for post treatment. Continue reading... Full patent description for Lightweight soft body-armor product Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Lightweight soft body-armor product patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Lightweight soft body-armor product or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Next Patent Application: Visor hinged lens system Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Lightweight soft body-armor product patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.43963 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers |
||
