Composite fabric assembly

Abstract

A composite fabric assemble having at least one layer of base fabric, to be worn adjacent to a user; is connected to a first layer of ballistic fabric which has portions thereof cut at least partially into strips of material. A second layer of ballistic fabric is connected to the first layer of ballistic fabric, and is punched at least partially therethrough to form at least one design or shape thereon, to improve the flexibility of the fabric assembly. Either the first layer of ballistic fabric or the second layer of ballistic fabric can be adjacently connected to and overlapping the base fabric, whereby the base fabric is covered.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A composite fabric assembly comprising:
 a) at least one layer of base fabric, the at least one layer of base fabric being constructed and arranged to be worn adjacent to a user;   b) at least a first layer of ballistic fabric having portions thereof cut at least partially into strips of material;   c) at least a second layer of ballistic fabric connected to the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric, and punched at least partially therethrough to form at least one design or shape thereon; and   wherein either of the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric or the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric are adjacently connected to and overlapping the at least a first layer of base fabric, whereby the at least one layer of base fabric is covered.   
     
     
         2 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base fabric is selected from the group consisting of a ballistic grade fabric, a fabric that is a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a dimensionally stable fabric, a high density fabric and a high tensile strength fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric or the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric is connected to and overlaps the at least one layer of base fabric in an offset manner. 
     
     
         4 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric and the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric are connected to each other in an offset manner. 
     
     
         5 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric comprises a plurality of ballistic fabric layers. 
     
     
         6 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of base fabric comprises a plurality of base fabric layers. 
     
     
         7 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric comprises a plurality of ballistic fabric layers. 
     
     
         8 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the composite fabric assembly comprises multiple layers of each of the at least one layer of base fabric, the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric and the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric, arranged in a stacked relationship with one another. 
     
     
         9 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the composite fabric assembly is constructed and arranged for use within a protective garment or protective accessory. 
     
     
         10 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the composite fabric assembly is positioned within at least one pocket formed on a surface of the protective garment or protective accessory. 
     
     
         11 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric is connected to the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric in an offset manner. 
     
     
         12 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the composite fabric assembly is positioned within the protective garment or protective accessory. 
     
     
         13 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric is punched at least partially therethrough to form at least one design or shape thereon. 
     
     
         14 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the composite fabric assembly is selectively sealable and enclosed in a membrane-like pouch/shell having UV-ultra violet light, and water resistant properties. 
     
     
         15 . The composite fabric assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one layer of base fabric is interspersed at various locations throughout the composite fabric assembly. 
     
     
         16 . A protective garment or protective accessory constructed and arranged to receive a composite fabric assembly for protecting a body region of a wearer, the assembly comprising:
 a) at least one layer of base fabric;   b) at least a first layer of ballistic fabric having portions thereof cut at least partially into strips of material;   c) at least a second layer of ballistic fabric connected to the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric, and punched at least partially therethrough to form at least one design or shape thereon, wherein either of the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric or the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric are adjacently connected to and overlapping the at least a first layer of base fabric, whereby the at least one layer of base fabric is covered; and   whereby the protective composite fabric assembly is positioned within at least one pocket formed on a surface of the protective garment or protective accessory, or positioned within the protective garment or protective accessory itself.   
     
     
         17 . The protective garment or protective accessory of  claim 16 , further comprising a biasingly resilient strap for securing the protective garment or protective accessory to the body region of the wearer. 
     
     
         18 . The protective garment or protective accessory of  claim 16 , wherein the body region is selected from the group consisting of head, neck, face, arms, fingers, back, upper torso, lower torso, groin, legs, Achilles region, feet and toes. 
     
     
         19 . A method for assembling a composite fabric assembly for use in a protective garment or protective accessory comprising:
 providing at least one layer of base fabric;   providing at least a first layer of ballistic fabric; and   providing at least a second layer of ballistic fabric connected to the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric, and;   cutting portions of the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric at least partially into strips of material;   punching, at least partially therethrough, portions of the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric to form at least one design or shape thereon;   connecting either of the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric or the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric to the at least one layer of base fabric so as to be in an adjacent and overlapping relationship therewith, whereby the at least one layer of base fabric is covered; and   positioning the composite fabric assembly in the protective garment or protective accessory.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein assembling the composite fabric assembly further comprises arranging multiple layers of each of the at least one layer of base fabric, the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric and the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric, in a stacked relationship with one another, and wherein the step of connecting the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric to the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric further comprises connecting the at least a second layer of ballistic fabric to the at least a first layer of ballistic fabric in an offset manner.