Multi-functional body armor

• US 8,776,662 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Hoenes, Eric C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Application Number:
  US14/080,393
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 89/360.5
• US Class Current: 89/36.05
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/28 Means for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/04 characterised by special function or use protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes A62B17/00; composition of materials for coverings or clothing affording protection against harmful chemical agents A62D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2459/00 Nets, e.g. camouflage nets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2571/00 Protective equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0457 Metal layers in combination with additional layers made of fibres, fabrics or plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0485 all the layers being only fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

A flexible, multi-functional, multi-ply material mix and device, capable of providing ballistic protection are herein presented. The device and material herein presented provide multiple electronic and ballistic functionality integrated into a soft body armor that is lighter in weight and more comfortable to wear than previously available alternatives.

Claims

1. A flexible, multi-functional body armor device comprising:

an outer cover material facing a threat side;

an inner cover material facing a skin of a user, the inner cover material being peripherally fastened to the outer cover material so as to form an inner compartment;

a non-conductive flexible ballistic outer layer disposed within the inner compartment, the non-conductive flexible ballistic outer layer having a plurality of conductive ballistic antenna fibers comprised on Carbon Nano-Tube (CNT) fibers weaved therein; and

at least one smart connector operatively connected to the plurality of conductive ballistic antenna fibers.

2. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim wherein the non-conductive flexible ballistic outer layer is disposed immediately below the outer cover material.

3. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 2, further comprising at least one non-conductive ballistic layer.

4. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 3, further comprising at least one ground plane EMI shield ballistic layer made of ballistic material.

5. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 4, further comprising at least one power and data distribution layer comprised of both conductive and non-conductive ballistic fibers weaved therein.

6. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 5, further comprising at least one thermal electric generating layer.

7. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 6, further comprising at least one layer of flexible electronics.

8. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 6, wherein the at least one thermal electric generating layer is made of a mixture of non-conductive ballistic materials and conductive ballistic materials.

9. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 7, wherein the at least one layer of flexible electronics can be selected from the group consisting of RF electronics, general purpose processing electronics and power management electronics.

10. A flexible, multi-functional body armor device comprising:

an outer cover material facing a threat side;

an inner cover material facing a skin of a user, the inner cover material being peripherally fastened to the outer cover material so as to form an inner compartment;

a non-conductive flexible ballistic outer layer disposed immediately below the outer cover material within the inner compartment, the non-conductive flexible ballistic outer layer having a plurality of conductive ballistic antenna fibers weaved therein;

at least one smart connector operatively connected to the plurality of conductive ballistic antenna fibers;

at least one ground plane EMI shield ballistic layer made of a ballistic material; and

at least one power and data distribution layer comprised of both conductive and non-conductive ballistic fibers weaved therein.

11. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 10, further comprising at least one thermal electric generating layer.

12. The flexible, multi-functional body armor device of claim 11, further comprising at least one layer of flexible electronics.