Composite body armor

Abstract

Apparatus for protecting an individual from oncoming projectiles comprises a hardened steel plate; a support member supporting the hardened steel plate against the body of the individual; a plastic member; and an armor fiber secured to the plastic member, the armor fiber and said plastic member forming an interface layer, the interface layer being secured to the hardened steel plate at a position where the hardened steel plate is positioned between the interface layer and the body of the individual to be protected.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A protective device for protecting an individual from oncoming projectiles, comprising:
 (a) a substantially rigid member having a length and a width sufficient to overlie a portion of the body of the individual to be protected, said substantially rigid member having a front side oriented toward an incoming projectile and a reverse side in facing relationship to said portion of the body of the individual to be protected, said substantially rigid member being configured to spread out energy from said incoming projectile to a plurality of points on said portion of the body of the individual to be protected;   (b) an energy absorbing member; and   (c) a support member for supporting said energy absorbing member on said substantially rigid member at a position where energy from an oncoming projectile is transferred to and absorbed by said energy absorbing member.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member comprises an energy absorbing material which deforms resiliently and/or non-resiliently in response to applied force. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein said substantially rigid member is elastic, and the energy absorbing member is supported adjacent the reverse side of said substantially rigid member, whereby an increase in dimension of said reverse side of said substantially rigid member in response to flexure of said substantially rigid member being hit by an incoming projectile hitting said front side of said substantially rigid member, causes an increase in dimension in said energy absorbing member. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a spacing member positioned over and secured to said front side of said substantially rigid member, and wherein the energy absorbing member is secured in place disposed over said spacing member, whereby incoming projectiles impacting said energy absorbing member deform said energy absorbing member and proceed into the space occupied by said spacing member before said incoming projectiles can directly impact said substantially rigid member. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member is secured in place disposed over said substantially rigid member, whereby incoming projectiles impacting said energy absorbing member deform said energy absorbing member before said incoming projectiles can directly impact said substantially rigid member. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member is secured in place disposed over the front of said substantially rigid member. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorbing member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of Kevlar, Nomex and other aramid fibers, and Spectra, Dyneema and other ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers; and said substantially rigid member is selected from the group consisting of metal plate and ceramic armor plate. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member comprises a first energy absorbing fiber structure which deforms resiliently and/or non-resiliently in response to applied force and wherein said substantially rigid member is elastic, and the energy absorbing member is supported adjacent the reverse side of said substantially rigid member, whereby an increase in dimension of said reverse side of said substantially rigid member in response to flexure of said substantially rigid member being hit by an incoming projectile hitting said front side of said substantially rigid member, causes an increase in dimension in said energy absorbing member, and wherein said support member comprises a second energy absorbing fiber structure, said first energy absorbing fiber structure being integral with said second energy absorbing fiber structure, said first energy absorbing fiber structure and said second energy absorbing fiber structure being formed by winding or wrapping a single energy absorbing fiber fabric around said substantially rigid member. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a foam spacing member positioned over and secured to said front side of said substantially rigid member, and wherein the energy absorbing member is secured in place disposed over said spacing member, whereby incoming projectiles impacting said energy absorbing member deform said energy absorbing member and proceed into the space occupied by said spacing member before said incoming projectiles can directly impact said substantially rigid member. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a solid polymeric spacing member positioned over and secured to said front side of said substantially rigid member, and wherein the energy absorbing member is secured in place disposed over said spacing member, whereby incoming projectiles impacting said energy absorbing member deform said energy absorbing member and proceed into the space occupied by said spacing member before said incoming projectiles can directly impact said substantially rigid member. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member comprises a metallic energy absorbing material which deforms resiliently and/or non-resiliently in response to applied force, and wherein said substantially rigid member is elastic, the energy absorbing member being supported adjacent the reverse side of said substantially rigid member, whereby an increase in dimension of said reverse side of said substantially rigid member in response to flexure of said substantially rigid member being hit by an incoming projectile hitting said front side of said substantially rigid member, causes an increase in dimension in said energy absorbing member. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a spacing member positioned over and secured to said front side of said substantially rigid member, and wherein a first portion of the energy absorbing member is secured in place disposed over said spacing member, whereby incoming projectiles impacting said energy absorbing member deform said energy absorbing member and proceed into the space occupied by said spacing member before said incoming projectiles can directly impact said substantially rigid member, and wherein a second portion of the energy absorbing member is supported adjacent the reverse side of said substantially rigid member, whereby an increase in dimension of said reverse side of said substantially rigid member in response to flexure of said substantially rigid member being hit by an incoming projectile hitting said front side of said substantially rigid member, causes an increase in dimension in said energy absorbing member. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a second substantially rigid member oriented at an angle between 20 degrees and 100 degrees to said substantially rigid member, said substantially rigid members being made of steel. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein said substantially rigid member comprises AR500 steel or the equivalent. 
     
     
         15 . A protective device for protecting an individual from oncoming projectiles, as in  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorbing member wraps around said substantially rigid member and said support member for supporting said energy absorbing member and said energy absorbing member are formed by a single member wrapped around said substantially rigid member substantially without any slack. 
     
     
         16 . A protective device for protecting an individual from oncoming projectiles, as in  claim 15 , wherein said energy absorbing member has a T configuration formed by a central portion and three arms. 
     
     
         17 . A protective device for protecting an individual from oncoming projectiles, as in  claim 15 , wherein said energy absorbing member has a cross configuration formed by a central portion and four arms. 
     
     
         19 . A protective device for protecting an individual from oncoming projectiles, as in  claim 15 , wherein said energy absorbing member comprises Kevlar® or another aramid synthetic fiber, or a high strength film such as polyparaphenelynebenzobisthiazole film, or ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fiber. 
     
     
         20 . A protective device for protecting an individual from oncoming projectiles, as in  claim 1 , wherein said energy absorbing member comprises metal wire mesh-like material.