Protective Garments

Abstract

Garments made from a composite, protective fabric are disclosed. The composite fabric has microflex layers of woven para-aramid yarn placed in proximity to metallic mesh layers of woven stainless steel mesh. The individual poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide fibers in the para-aramid yarn have a denier of less than or equal to 2 dtex. The metallic mesh layers are woven from stainless steel fibers having a diameter of 0.2 mm or less and have a mesh aperture of 0.45 mm or less. The garments made using the fabric include gloves, bullet proof vests and chain-saw resistant trousers.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A protective garment, comprising:
 a composite fabric, comprising:
 a first, microflex bundle; 
 a second, microflex fabric layer; and 
 a first, metal mesh bundle; 
   wherein,   said composite fabric is arranged in said protective garment such that said first, microflex bundle is furthest from a garment wearer when said protective garment is worn; and said first, metal mesh bundle is situated proximate to said first, microflex bundle, and between said first, microflex bundle said second, microflex fabric layer;   said first, microflex bundle comprises two or more microflex fabric layers; said microflex fabric layers are comprised of a woven para-aramid yarn comprising poly-p-phenylene terephthalamide fibers having a denier of 2 dtex or less; and said microflex fabric layers are joined to each other by stitching extending across the interior of said microflex fabric layers;   said first, metal mesh bundle comprises two or more metal mesh layers, said metal mesh layer comprising a woven metallic mesh, said woven metallic mesh comprising stainless steel fibers having a diameter of 0.2 mm or less and a mesh aperture of 0.45 mm or less, and said metal mesh layers are joined to each other by stitching along a periphery of said metal mesh layers; and   said second, microflex fabric layer is comprised of said woven para-aramid yarn.   
     
     
         2 . The protective garment of  claim 1 ; further comprising, an outer protective layer and an inner protective layer; and; wherein, said first, microflex bundle, said first, metal mesh and said second, microflex fabric layer are sandwiched between said inner and outer protective layers which are joined at a periphery by stitching. 
     
     
         3 . The protective garment of  claim 2 ; wherein, said inner and outer protective layers comprise one of a cotton material, a denim material, a wool material, a silk material, a linen material and a bamboo material, or some combination thereof 
     
     
         4 . The protective garment of  claim 3 ; wherein, said first, microflex bundle comprises at least twenty of said microflex fabric layers; said first, metal mesh bundle comprises at least eight of said metal mesh layers; and said second, microflex fabric layer is joined to said first, metal mesh bundle by stitching along a periphery of said microflex fabric layer. 
     
     
         5 . The protective garment of  claim 4 ; wherein, said garment is a human wearable protective vest. 
     
     
         6 . The protective garment of  claim 1 ; further comprising:
 a second, metal mesh bundle;   a second, microflex bundle; and   wherein,   said composite fabric is arranged such that said second, metal mesh bundle is situated proximate to, and between, said first, metal mesh bundle and said second, microflex bundle;   said second, microflex bundle comprises two or more of said microflex fabric layers; and said microflex fabric layers are joined to each other by stitching extending across the interior of said microflex fabric layers; and   said second, metal mesh bundle comprises two or more of said metal mesh layers; and said metal mesh layers are joined to each other by stitching along a periphery of said metal mesh layers.   
     
     
         7 . The protective garment of  claim 6 ; further comprising, an outer protective layer and an inner protective layer; and; wherein, said first, microflex bundle, said first, metal mesh, said second microflex bundle, and said second, microflex bundle are sandwiched between said inner and outer protective layers which are joined at a periphery by stitching. 
     
     
         8 . The protective garment of  claim 7 ; wherein, said first, microflex bundle and said first, metal mesh bundle are joined to each other; and said second, microflex bundle and said second, metal mesh bundle are joined to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The protective garment of  claim 8 ; wherein, each of said first and second microflex bundles has at least three microflex fabric layers; and each of said first and second metal mesh bundles has at least three metal mesh layers. 
     
     
         10 . The protective garment of  claim 9 ; wherein, said protective garment is a human wearable pair of protective pants.