Joint and Modular Protection System

Abstract

A joint is provided for connecting two or more armoured panels of a modular protection structure. The joint has an elongate body, a first channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of one of the armoured panels, and a second channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of another armoured panel. One or more armoured strike plates are provided which substantially cover an area between the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the first channel and the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the second channel. This makes it easy to join two armoured panels, for example by slotting them into the first and second channels of the joint. An armoured strike plate is provided as part of the joint to inhibit ballistic leakage through the area of the joint between the armoured panels.

1 . A joint for connecting together two or more armoured panels of a modular protection structure, the joint comprising:
 an elongate body;   a first channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of one of the armoured panels;   a second channel extending along and within the elongate body, for receiving an edge of another of the armoured panels; and   one or more armoured strike plates which substantially cover an area between the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the first channel and the edge of the armoured panel which is received within the second channel.   
     
     
         2 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the edge of an armoured panel received in the first channel is provided with an edge connection member, the edge connection member being shaped to permit it to be slotted into the first channel via an open end of the first channel, and to inhibit it from being removed laterally from the first channel. 
     
     
         3 . The joint according to  claim 2 , wherein the edge connection member is bonded to the armoured panel. 
     
     
         4 . The joint according to  claim 2 , wherein the first channel and the edge connection member are provided with mutually engageable formations which inhibit the edge connection member from being removed laterally from the joint. 
     
     
         5 . The joint according to  claim 4 , wherein the first channel comprises a female formation for mating with a male formation of the edge connection member. 
     
     
         6 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the armoured strike plate is embedded within the elongate body. 
     
     
         7 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the armoured strike plate is fixed to the elongate body. 
     
     
         8 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second channels are arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are in substantially the same plane. 
     
     
         9 . The joint according to any  claim 1 , wherein the first and second channels are arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are at a predetermined obtuse angle with respect to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second channels are arranged with respect to each other such that the armoured panels connected by the joint are at right angles with respect to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The joint according to  claim 9 , wherein the armoured strike plate is provided at the convex side of the joint between the two armoured panels. 
     
     
         12 . The joint according to  claim 2 , wherein the edge connection member and the first channel are each shaped to permit the edge connection member to rotate within the channel to permit the angle between the armoured panels connected by the joint to be adjusted. 
     
     
         13 . The joint according to  claim 12 , wherein the edge connection member provides a first part of a revolute joint and the first channel provides a second part of the revolute joint. 
     
     
         14 . The joint according to  claim 12 , wherein the edge connection member comprises a part-cylindrical convex formation and the first channel comprises a concave formation shaped to receive the part-cylindrical convex formation. 
     
     
         15 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the joint comprises a foot at one end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         16 . The joint according to  claim 15 , wherein the foot comprises a fixing point for anchorage to the ground. 
     
     
         17 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body is formed of a first material selected from pultruded or moulded polyurethane, machined nylon or a similar material. 
     
     
         18 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the armoured strike plate is formed of a second material selected from steel, ceramic, laminate, alloy, composite, polyethylene, UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) or other similar ballistic protective material. 
     
     
         19 . The joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the armoured strike plate is positioned such that there is no direct path through the joint and between the armoured panels which is not intercepted by the armoured strike plate. 
     
     
         20 . An armoured panel for use with a joint according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . A modular ballistic protection structure comprising a plurality of armoured panels, the armoured panels being connected together by joints according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . The joint according to  claim 10 , wherein the armoured strike plate is provided at the convex side of the joint between the two armoured panels.