Staple Fiber Conductive Fabric

Abstract

A fabric for protecting a wearer thereof from an energy weapon. The fabric is made of a plurality of coupled strands. Each strand is made from staple fibers. At least 30% of the staple fibers are an electrically conductive material for conducting electric current from an energy weapon that contacts or is adjacent to the fabric.

1 . A fabric for protecting a wearer thereof from an energy weapon, comprising:
 a plurality of coupled strands each of which comprises coupled staple fibers, said staple fibers comprising at least 30% electrically conductive material.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said coupled strands are knit, each of said strands comprises at least three plies each comprising at least 50% electrically conductive staple fibers, and each of said plies comprises a length per weight of between approximately 15,000 to 19,000 yards per pound. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plies comprises a length per weight of between approximately 16,500 to 17,500 yards per pound. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein said knit strands comprise a gauge of between approximately 10 to 15. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric of  claim 4 , wherein said knit strands comprise a gauge of approximately 13. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric of  claim 4 , wherein said knit strands comprise a needle count of between approximately 65 to 95. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric of  claim 6 , wherein said knit strands comprise a needle count of between approximately 73 to 88. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric of  claim 2 , wherein at least 60% of said staple fibers of each of said strands comprise stainless steel, and at least 30% of said staple fibers of each of said strands comprise cotton. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric of  claim 8 , wherein at least 95% of said stainless steel staple fibers comprise a diameter of between 8 to 12 microns and a length of between 2 to 3 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said coupled strands are woven and each of said strands comprises a length per weight of between approximately 23,000 to 27,000 yards per pound. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein each of said strands comprises a length per weight of between approximately 24,500 to 25,500 yards per pound. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein said woven strands comprise a density of between approximately 160 to 200 threads per inch. 
     
     
         13 . The fabric of  claim 12 , wherein said woven strands comprise a density of between approximately 175 to 185 threads per inch. 
     
     
         14 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein at least 40% of said staple fibers comprise stainless steel. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric of  claim 10 , wherein at least 30% of said staple fibers comprise stainless steel, at least 30% of said staple fibers comprise cotton, and at least 30% of said staple fibers comprise polyester. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said staple fibers is heat resistant. 
     
     
         17 . The fabric of  claim 16 , wherein a portion of said staple fibers comprises aramid. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said staple fibers is penetration resistant. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of said staple fibers comprises aramid. 
     
     
         20 . The fabric of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of said staple fibers comprises polyethylene. 
     
     
         21 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive staple fibers are configured to conduct an electric current from the energy weapon when the energy weapon is adjacent the fibers. 
     
     
         22 . The fabric of  claim 1 , wherein the combination of said electrically conductive staple fibers of each of said strands is configured to protect the wearer from the energy weapon when the energy weapon delivers up to fifty watts of power to said strands. 
     
     
         23 . A garment for protecting a wearer thereof from an energy weapon, comprising:
 a fabric comprising a plurality of coupled strands each of which comprises coupled staple fibers, said staple fibers comprising at least 30% electrically conductive material.   
     
     
         24 . The garment of  claim 23 , wherein said coupled strands are knit, each of said strands comprises at least three plies each comprising at least 50% electrically conductive staple fibers, and each of said plies comprises a length per weight of between approximately 15,000 to 19,000 yards per pound. 
     
     
         25 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein said fabric comprises a first layer of fabric, and further comprising a second layer of electrically non-conductive fabric joined with and enclosing said first layer of fabric, and a third layer of fabric joined with and enclosed by said first layer of fabric, said first, second, and third layers configured to protect a hand of the wearer, said third layer comprising at least 10% electrically conductive material. 
     
     
         26 . The garment of  claim 25 , wherein said third layer comprises at least 15% electrically conductive material and at least a portion of elastic material. 
     
     
         27 . The garment of  claim 25 , wherein each of said plies comprises a length per weight of between approximately 16,500 to 17,500 yards per pound, said knit strands of said first layer of fabric comprise a gauge of between approximately 10 to 15 and a needle count of between approximately 65 to 95. 
     
     
         28 . The garment of  claim 24 , wherein said fabric comprises a first layer of fabric, and further comprising a second non-electrically conductive layer of fabric joined with and enclosed by said first layer of fabric, said first and second layers configured to protect a torso of the wearer. 
     
     
         29 . The garment of  claim 28 , wherein each of said plies comprises a length per weight of between approximately 16,500 to 17,500 yards per pound, said knit strands of said first layer of fabric comprise a gauge of between approximately 10 to 15 and a needle count of between approximately 65 to 95. 
     
     
         30 . The garment of  claim 23 , wherein said coupled strands are woven and each of said strands comprises a length per weight of between approximately 23,000 to 27,000 yards per pound. 
     
     
         31 . The garment of  claim 30 , wherein the garment comprises a ballistic missile resistant vest, said fabric comprises a surface facing the wearer that is positioned adjacent to a layer of ballistic missile resistant material and another surface facing away from the wearer that is positioned adjacent to an electrically non-conductive outer shell. 
     
     
         32 . The garment of  claim 31 , wherein each of said strands comprises a length per weight of between approximately 24,500 to 25,500 yards per pound, and said woven strands comprise a density of between approximately 160 to 200 threads per inch. 
     
     
         33 . The garment of  claim 32 , wherein at least 30% of said staple fibers comprise stainless steel, at least 30% of said staple fibers comprise cotton, and at least 30% of said staple fibers comprise polyester.