Armor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible ballistic armor apparatus for deflecting high velocity firearm, fragmentation, or shrapnel projectiles with a flexible armor unit. The apparatus minimizes the deterioration of the armor when subjected to shock waves or shear forces of a ballistic impact. The present invention also relates to the use of a flexible armor unit with soft body armor, a vehicle, a vessel, an aircraft or in structural applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flexible ballistic armor unit comprised of at least two spherical units, an inner envelope and an outer envelope. 
     
     
         2 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the spherical units are comprised of a fragmentation material. 
     
     
         3 . The unit of  claim 2 , wherein the fragmentation material is selected from the group consisting of tempered amorphous silica, ceramic glass, ceramic or amorphous silica fiber infused with a liquid metal, quartz hardened graphene wrapped in ceramic/glass, silicon carbide, carbon/carbon composites, carbon/carbon/silicon carbide composites, boron carbide, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide particulate/aluminum metal matrix composites, quartz, feldspar, magnesium, graphene, graphene compounds and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The unit of  claim 2 , wherein the spherical unit is coated with a ceramic material. 
     
     
         5 . The unit of  claim 4 , wherein the ceramic material is selected from the group consisting of Barium titanate, strontium titanate, Bismuth strontium calcium copper oxide, Boron nitride, Earthenware, Ferrite, Lead zirconate titanate (PZT), Magnesium diboride (MgB2), Porcelain, Sialon (Silicon Aluminium Oxynitride), Silicon carbide (SiC), Silicon nitride (Si3N4), Steatite (magnesium silicates), Titanium carbide, Uranium oxide (UO2), Yttrium barium copper oxide (YBa2Cu3O7−x), Zinc oxide (ZnO), Zirconium dioxide (zirconia), Partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ), pottery, brick, tile, cement, glass and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The unit of  claim 4 , wherein the ceramic material has a Mohs hardness scale range from about 4.5 to 6.5. 
     
     
         7 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two spherical units are arranged along a horizontal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein each spherical unit is the same size. 
     
     
         9 . The unit of  claim 8 , wherein each spherical unit from about ⅛ inch to ⅞ inch. 
     
     
         10 . The unit of  claim 9 , wherein each spherical unit is ⅝ th  inch. 
     
     
         11 . The unit of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two spherical units are encased in the inner envelope. 
     
     
         12 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein the inner envelope is comprised of at least one layer of a non-ballistic fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The unit of  claim 12 , wherein the non-ballistic fabric is selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester and cotton polyester. 
     
     
         14 . The unit of  claim 13 , wherein the non-ballistic fabric is cotton. 
     
     
         15 . The unit of  claim 12 , wherein the spherical units are sealed in the inner envelope by ballistic thread. 
     
     
         16 . The unit of  claim 1 , wherein one inner envelope is encased in one outer envelope. 
     
     
         17 . The unit of  claim 16 , wherein the outer envelope is comprised of at least two layers of a fibrous fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The unit of  claim 17 , wherein the fibrous fabric is selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, liquid crystal polymers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The unit of  claim 18 , wherein the aramid fabric is an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber. 
     
     
         20 . A flexible ballistic armor apparatus comprised of at least two flexible ballistic armor units. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein each flexible ballistic armor unit is arranged parallel to at least one flexible ballistic armor unit. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the flexible ballistic armor units are offset by 0-100% of the radius of a spherical unit. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the flexible ballistic units are offset by 100% of the radius of a spherical unit. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the at least two flexible ballistic armor units are attached by ballistic thread. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one layer of a fibrous fabric. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the fibrous fabric is aramid fiber. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the aramid fabric is coated with graphene. 
     
     
         28 . A method of preventing penetration of high velocity firearm, fragmentation projectiles or shrapnel projectiles comprising providing at least two flexible ballistic armor units, each armor unit comprising at least two spherical units, an inner envelope and an outer envelope. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the spherical units are encased by the inner envelope. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the inner envelop is encased in an outer envelope. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the spherical units are comprised of a fragmentation material. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the material is selected from the group consisting of tempered amorphous silica, ceramic glass, ceramic or amorphous silica fiber infused with a liquid metal, quartz hardened graphene wrapped in ceramic/glass, silicon carbide, carbon/carbon composites, carbon/carbon/silicon carbide composites, boron carbide, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide particulate/aluminum metal matrix composites, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the spherical unit is coated with a ceramic material. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the spherical units are arranged along a horizontal axis. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein each spherical unit from about ⅛ inch to about ⅞ inch. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein each spherical unit is ⅝ th  inch. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least two spherical units is encased in the inner envelope. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the inner envelope is comprised of a non-ballistic fabric. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the outer envelope is comprised of at least two layers of a fibrous fabric. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the fibrous fabric is selected from the group consisting of carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, liquid crystal polymers, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the fibrous fabric is an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one layer of a fibrous fabric. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the fibrous fabric is aramid fiber. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the aramid fabric is coated with a graphene. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising body armor. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the body armor is comprised of a ballistic fabric. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least two flexible ballistic armor apparatuses are positioned within a vehicle, a vessel, an aircraft or a structure. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the high velocity firearm, fragmentation projectiles or shrapnel projectiles impact the flexible armor unit causing the high velocity firearm, fragmentation or shrapnel projectiles to change direction and change the force vector resulting in the high velocity firearm, fragmentation or shrapnel projectiles to turn an oblique position relative to the plane of the flexible armor unit. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the spherical units fragment forming an abrasive material. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the force of the high velocity firearm, fragmentation projectiles or shrapnel projectiles causes the spherical units to strikes adjacent spherical units transferring kinetic energy. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the force of the high velocity firearm, fragmentation projectiles or shrapnel projectiles causes the outer envelope to contact an adjacent outer envelope dissipating kinetic energy vertically. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein a first flexible armor unit contacts a second armor unit dissipating kinetic energy upon impact. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the fibrous fabric of the outer envelope absorbs kinetic energy. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the fragmentation of the spherical units lowers the kinetic energy of the projectile.