Soft armor

Abstract

Soft armor is disclosed. The soft armor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from soft armor material, and the armor structure is substantially imperforable by rifle fire.

1 . Soft armor comprising:
 an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of said threat side;   said armor structure being formed from soft armor material;   said armor structure being substantially imperforable by rifle fire.   
   
   
       2 . The soft armor of  claim 1 , wherein the soft armor material comprises a number of ballistic material layers, said ballistic material layers having a combined nominal thickness of 25.8 mm-82.1 mm. 
   
   
       3 . The soft armor of  claim 1 , wherein the soft armor material comprises a number of ballistic material layers, said ballistic material layers have a combined nominal weight of 542-1142.5 ounces per square yard. 
   
   
       4 . The soft armor of  claim 1 , wherein said armor structure comprises at least 258 layers of PBO fabric. 
   
   
       5 . The soft armor of  claim 1 , wherein said armor structure comprises a first section of at least 100 layers of PBO fabric, adjacent to a second section of at least 135 layers of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fabric. 
   
   
       6 . The soft armor of  claim 1 , wherein said armor structure comprises a first section of at least 90 layers of PBO fabric, adjacent to a second section of at least 26 layers of para-aramid fabric. 
   
   
       7 . An armor panel formed from the soft armor of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       8 . A garment comprising at least one of the armor panel of  claim 7 . 
   
   
       9 . A vest comprising at least one of the armor panel of  claim 7 . 
   
   
       10 . A helmet comprising the soft armor of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . Soft armor comprising:
 an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of said threat side;   said armor structure being formed from soft armor material;   said armor structure providing at least NIJ type III ballistic protection.   
   
   
       12 . The soft armor of  claim 11 , wherein the soft armor material comprises a number of fabric layers, said fabric layers having a combined nominal thickness of 25.8 mm-82.1 mm and a combined nominal weight of 542-1142.5 ounces per square yard. 
   
   
       13 . The soft armor of  claim 11 , wherein said armor structure comprises at least 258 layers of PBO fabric. 
   
   
       14 . The soft armor of  claim 11 , wherein said armor structure comprises a first section of at least 100 layers of PBO fabric, adjacent to a second section of at least 135 layers of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fabric. 
   
   
       15 . The soft armor of  claim 11 , wherein said armor structure comprises a first section of at least 90 layers of PBO fabric, adjacent to a second section of at least 26 layers of para-aramid fabric. 
   
   
       16 . An armor panel formed from the soft armor of  claim 11 . 
   
   
       17 . A garment comprising at least one of the armor panel of  claim 16 . 
   
   
       18 . The garment of  claim 17 , comprising a torso portion formed from the soft armor material and configured to wrap around a torso of a wearer, said torso portion providing at least NIJ type III ballistic protection against threats within a 360-degree threat envelope. 
   
   
       19 . A helmet comprising the soft armor of  claim 11 . 
   
   
       20 . Soft armor comprising:
 an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of said threat side;   said armor structure being formed from soft armor material;   said armor structure being substantially imperforable by armor-piercing handgun fire;   wherein said armor structure comprises:   a first section of at least 10 layers of PBO fabric, overlying a second section of at least 6 layers of para-aramid fabric, overlying a third section of at least 8 layers of para-aramid fabric.