Lightweight armor plates, systems including same and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A lightweight armor plates, systems including same and methods of use thereof. Disclosed is a transparent armor plate which includes at least one glass layer, at least one plastic layer which contributes at least 50% of a total weight of the plate, at least one adhesive bonding two layers together. Further disclosed is an opaque armor plate including at least two hardened metal layers and a force-dissipating layer. Whether opaque or transparent, a total weight of the plate is less than approximately exactly 50 kg/M 2 . Further disclosed is a system for protecting a target from impact by a projectile including at least one armor plate as disclosed and a positioning device to engage and retain the armor plate in a position between the target and the projectile. Further disclosed is a method of protecting a target from impact by a projectile including ascertaining at least one source from which a projectile is likely to emanate and employing a positioning device to position at least one armor plate in a position between the target the ascertained source.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lightweight transparent armor plate, the plate comprising; 
 (a) at least one glass layer placed to receive an initial impact from a projectile;    (b) at least one plastic layer, said plastic layer situated behind said glass layer and designed and constructed to be impenetrable by said projectile, said plastic layer comprising at least approximately 50% of a total weight of the plate.    (c) at least one adhesive, said adhesive bonding two of said layers together; 
 wherein said total weight of the plate is less than approximately exactly 50 kg/M 2  of the plate and wherein a degree of transparency thereof permits visibility therethrough by a user thereof.  
   
     
     
         2 . The transparent plate of  claim 1 , wherein a total thickness of said at least one glass layer, said at least one plastic layer and said at least one adhesive is in the range of approximately 30 to approximately 40 mm.  
     
     
         3 . The transparent plate of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one glass layer comprises at least two glass layers.  
     
     
         4 . The transparent plate of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one plastic layer comprises at least two plastic layers.  
     
     
         5 . The transparent plate of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one plastic layer is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of an acrylic plastic and polycarbonate.  
     
     
         6 . The transparent plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a reversible attachment device.  
     
     
         7 . The transparent plate of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one adhesive is selected from the group consisting of PVB (polyvinyl butyrale) and polyurethane.  
     
     
         8 . A lightweight opaque armor plate, the plate comprising: 
 (a) a first hardened metal layer, said first hardened metal layer placed to receive an initial impact from a projectile;    (b) a force dissipating layer, said force dissipating layer situated behind said first hardened metal layer and being designed and constructed to absorb and disperse energy from said projectile,    (c) a second hardened metal layer, said second hardened metal layer situated behind said force dissipating layer and being designed and constructed to prevent penetration by said projectile; 
 wherein a total weight of the plate is less than approximately exactly 50 kg/M 2  of the plate.  
   
     
     
         9 . The opaque plate of  claim 8 , wherein a total thickness of said first and second hardened metal layers and said force dissipating layer is in the range of approximately 22 to approximately 32 mm.  
     
     
         10 . The opaque plate of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second hardened metal layers are each independently constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of heat treated aluminum and a heat-treated alloy.  
     
     
         11 . The opaque plate of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second hardened metal layers each independently contain at least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, silicon, titanium, copper, manganese and chromium.  
     
     
         12 . The opaque plate of  claim 8 , further comprising a reversible attachment device.  
     
     
         13 . The opaque plate of  claim 8 , wherein said force dissipating layer is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, Kevlar™, dynima, an acrylic plastic, magnesium, aluminum and iron.  
     
     
         14 . The opaque plate of  claim 8 , further comprising a coating.  
     
     
         15 . A system for protecting a target from impact by a projectile, the system comprising: 
 (a) at least one lightweight armor plate; and    (b) a positioning device designed and constructed to engage and retain said at least one lightweight armor plate in a position between the target and the projectile; 
 wherein a total weight of said armor plate is less than approximately exactly 50 kg/M 2 .  
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said at least one lightweight armor plate is selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) a transparent armor plate comprising; 
 (1) at least one glass layer placed to receive an initial impact from a projectile;  
 (2) at least one plastic layer, said plastic layer situated behind said glass layer and designed and constructed to be impenetrable by said projectile, said plastic layer comprising at least approximately 50% of said total weight of the plate.  
 (3) at least one adhesive, said adhesive bonding two of said layers together; wherein a degree of transparency thereof permits visibility therethrough by a user thereof; and  
   (ii) an opaque armor plate comprising: 
 (1) a first hardened metal layer, said first hardened metal layer placed to receive an initial impact from a projectile;  
 (2) a force dissipating layer, said force dissipating layer situated behind said first hardened metal layer and being designed and constructed to absorb and disperse energy from said projectile,  
 (3) a second hardened metal layer, said second hardened metal layer situated behind said force dissipating layer and being designed and constructed to prevent penetration by said projectile.  
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said positioning device includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of a reversible attachment device, a permanent attachment device, a base and an article of clothing modified to accommodate said at least one lightweight armor plate.  
     
     
         18 . A method of protecting a target from impact by a projectile, the method comprising: 
 (a) ascertaining at least one source from which a projectile is likely to emanate; and    (b) employing a positioning device to engage and retain at least one lightweight armor plate in a position between the target and said at least one source from which a projectile is likely to emanate.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising causing a total weight of said armor plate to be less than approximately exactly 50 kg/M 2 .  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing said at least one lightweight armor plate, wherein said lightweight armor plate includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of: 
 (i) a transparent armor plate comprising; 
 (1) at least one glass layer placed to receive an initial impact from a projectile;  
 (2) at least one plastic layer, said plastic layer situated behind said glass layer and designed and constructed to be impenetrable by said projectile, said plastic layer comprising at least approximately 50% of said total weight of the plate.  
 (3) at least one adhesive, said adhesive bonding two of said layers together;  
   wherein a degree of transparency thereof permits visibility therethrough by a user thereof; and    (ii) an opaque armor plate comprising: 
 (1) a first hardened metal layer, said first hardened metal layer placed to receive an initial impact from a projectile;  
 (2) a force dissipating layer, said force dissipating layer situated behind said first hardened metal layer and being designed and constructed to absorb and disperse energy from said projectile,  
 (3) a second hardened metal layer, said second hardened metal layer situated behind said force dissipating layer and being designed and constructed to prevent penetration by said projectile.  
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said employing a positioning device includes employing at least one item selected from the group consisting of a reversible attachment device, a permanent attachment device, a base and an article of clothing modified to accommodate said at least one lightweight armor plate.  
     
     
         22 . The opaque plate of  claim 8 , wherein a total thickness of said first and second hardened metal layers and said force dissipating layer is in the range of approximately 6 to approximately 12 mm.