Protective armour element

Abstract

The invention is directed to a protective amour element ( 2 ), to body armour comprising one or more of such elements, and to a preventive method of reducing behind amour blunt trauma of an individual. The protective armour element (2) of the invention comprises a fabric and/or a fibre based composite, wherein said amour element, prior to impact of a projectile, has a concave strike face.

1 . A protective armour element comprising a fabric and/or a fibre based composite, wherein said armour element, prior to impact of a projectile, has a concave strike face. 
     
     
         2 . The protective armour element according to  claim 1 , wherein said element comprises a reinforced fibre material. 
     
     
         3 . The protective armour element according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective armour element comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylenes, polyamides (including aromatic polyamides such as poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide), poly(metaphenylene isophthalamide and poly(metaphenylene terephthalamide)), poly(p-phenylene 2,6 benzobisoxazole) and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The protective armour element according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective armour element consists of polymer fabric and/or polymer fibre based composite. 
     
     
         5 . The protective armour element according to  claim 1 , wherein the concave strike face of the armour element has a radius of curvature that is at least 20% greater than the average thickness of the armour. 
     
     
         6 . The protective armour element according to  claim 1 , having an equivalent circular diameter in the range of 1-100 cm. 
     
     
         7 . An armour system, comprising a ceramic and/or metal strike face and at least one protective armour elements according to  claim 1  as a backing for said ceramic or metal strike face. 
     
     
         8 . A body armour comprising at least one protective armour elements according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The body armour according to  claim 8 , further comprising at a body face of the armour and opposite the concave strike face, an anti trauma liner. 
     
     
         10 . The body armour according to  claim 9 , wherein said anti trauma liner comprises foam material. 
     
     
         11 . The body armour according to  claim 8  in the form of a helmet, an insert for a vest, or a side protection plate. 
     
     
         12 . The body armour according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of ceramic material, metallic material, and composite material. 
     
     
         13 . The body armour according to  claim 8 , comprising a plurality of protective armour elements, while the overall strike face of the body armour is convex. 
     
     
         14 . A method of preventing or reducing behind armour blunt trauma of an individual comprising protecting said individual with body armour according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The protective armour element according to  claim 5  wherein the concave strike face of the armour element has a radius of curvature that is one of at least 50% greater, at least 100% greater, at least 200% greater, at least 300% greater, at least 400% greater, at least 500% greater, at least 1000% greater, or at least 2000% greater than the thickness of the armour. 
     
     
         16 . The protective armour element according to  claim 6  having an equivalent circular diameter in the range of 1-50 cm. 
     
     
         17 . The protective armour element according to  claim 6  having an equivalent circular diameter in the range selected from 2 cm-40 cm, 2 cm-25 cm, or 3 cm-10 cm. 
     
     
         18 . The body armour according to  claim 13 , comprising at least 5, or at least 10, or at least 20 protective armour elements, while the overall strike face of the body armour is convex.