Armour for High Energy Bullets and Projectiles

Abstract

Described is a flexible armour useful in protecting persons and vehicles from bullets and projectiles. The comprising an inner and an outer component, the outer component comprising at least two layers of hard solid beads confined between at least two layers of flexible high impact cloth, and the inner pneumatic component comprising a compartment that is an airtight compartment and/or that is an inflatable compartment. The armour is lightweight and flexible, and can stop a high energy projectile with little or no blunt trauma injury to the wearer of the armour.

1 . A flexible armour comprising an inner and an outer component:
 a) the outer component comprising at least two layers of hard solid beads confined between at least two layers of flexible high impact cloth, and   b) the inner pneumatic component comprising a compartment that is an airtight compartment and/or that is an inflatable compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The armour of  claim 1  wherein the compartment is confined between at least two layers of flexible high impact cloth. 
     
     
         3 . The armour of  claim 1  further comprising one or more layers of flexible high-impact cloth disposed between the outer component and the inner component, disposed on an outer surface of the outer component, or disposed on an inner surface of the inner component. 
     
     
         4 . The armour of  claim 3  wherein the flexible high-impact cloth is KEVLAR and/or SPECTRA. 
     
     
         5 . The armour of  claim 1  wherein the compartment is an airtight compartment and the airtight compartment is filled with air or gas. 
     
     
         6 . The armour of  claim 1  wherein the compartment is inflatable and wherein the armour further comprises a sensor that detects a bullet or other projectile before it contacts the armour, and that triggers inflation of the compartment with air or gas before the bullet or other projectile contacts the armour. 
     
     
         7 . The armour of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are made of carbon fiber, aluminum, polycarbon or ceramic, optionally coated with carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         8 . The armour of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are made of SPECTRA or ALON, optionally coated with carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         9 . The armour of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are made of carbon fiber, aluminum, polycarbon or ceramic, optionally coated with carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         10 . The armour of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are made of SPECTRA or ALON, optionally coated with carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         11 . The armour of  claim 5 , wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are made of carbon fiber, aluminum, polycarbon or ceramic, optionally coated with carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         12 . The armour of  claim 6 , wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are made of carbon fiber, aluminum, polycarbon or ceramic optionally coated with carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         13 . The armour of  claim 1  wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are separated from each other by at least one separating layer comprised of a flexible high-impact cloth optionally coated with carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         14 . The armour of  claim 3  wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are separated from each other by at least one separating layer comprised of a high-impact cloth. 
     
     
         15 . The armour of  claim 5  wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are separated from each other by at least one separating layer comprised of a high-impact cloth. 
     
     
         16 . The armour of  claim 6  wherein the at least two layers of beads in the outer component are separated from each other by at least one separating layer comprised of a high-impact cloth. 
     
     
         17 . The armour of  claim 1  wherein the compartment comprises at least two subcompartments. 
     
     
         18 . The armour of  claim 3  wherein the compartment comprises at least two subcompartments. 
     
     
         19 . The armour of  claim 17  wherein the at least two subcompartments are formed by hollow spheres disposed within the compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The armour of  claim 17  wherein the at least two subcompartments are formed by a layer of airtight high-impact cloth disposed within the compartment.