A ballistic helmet comprising a ballistic shell, wherein within the thickness of the ballistic shell, or inside the ballistic shell, there is provided one or more circuit layers forming a circuit, which circuit comprises a power bus and a data bus, and wherein one or more power connections and one or more data connections are provided on the inside and/or on an edge of the ballistic shell for providing power and data to/from one or more electrical devices through the circuit.

A ballistic helmet comprising a ballistic shell, wherein within the thickness of the ballistic shell, or inside the ballistic shell, there is provided one or more circuit layers forming a circuit, which circuit comprises a power bus and a data bus, and wherein one or more power connections and one or more data connections are provided on the inside and/or on an edge of the ballistic shell for providing power and data to/from one or more electrical devices through the circuit.

A rigid ballistic-resistant composite includes large denier per filament (dpf) yarns. The yarns are held in place by a resin to form a rigid composite panel with improved ballistic performance. The large dpf yarns may be selected from aromatic heterocyclic co-polyamide fibers, polyester-polyarylate fibers, high modulus polypropylene (HMPP) fibers, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers, poly-diimidazo pyridinylene (dihydroxy) phenylene (PIPD) fibers, carbon fibers, and polyolefin fibers.

A rigid ballistic-resistant composite includes large denier per filament (dpf) yarns. The yarns are held in place by a resin to form a rigid composite panel with improved ballistic performance. The large dpf yarns may be selected from aromatic heterocyclic co-polyamide fibers, polyester-polyarylate fibers, high modulus polypropylene (HMPP) fibers, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers, poly-diimidazo pyridinylene (dihydroxy) phenylene (PIPD) fibers, carbon fibers, and polyolefin fibers.

Impact-dissipating liners, helmets having an impact-dissipating liner, and methods of fabricating impact-dissipating liners are provided. The liners include a fluid impermeable enclosure having cavities with sidewalls and a fluid contained in the enclosure. The enclosure may have a central portion and lobes extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion and the lobes are adapted to conform to the shape of an internal surface of a helmet. The helmets may include bodies positioned within the cavities of the liner, where, under impact loading, contact between the bodies and the liner absorbs at least some of the energy of the impact loading. Aspects of the invention are particularly adapted for use for head protection, such as, helmets; however, aspects of the invention are also adaptable to provide impact-dissipation for any body or surface that would benefit from such protection.

Impact-dissipating liners, helmets having an impact-dissipating liner, and methods of fabricating impact-dissipating liners are provided. The liners include a fluid impermeable enclosure having cavities with sidewalls and a fluid contained in the enclosure. The enclosure may have a central portion and lobes extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion and the lobes are adapted to conform to the shape of an internal surface of a helmet. The helmets may include bodies positioned within the cavities of the liner, where, under impact loading, contact between the bodies and the liner absorbs at least some of the energy of the impact loading. Aspects of the invention are particularly adapted for use for head protection, such as, helmets; however, aspects of the invention are also adaptable to provide impact-dissipation for any body or surface that would benefit from such protection.

The invention relates to a three dimensional shaped article having an outer and inner surface, the outer surface comprising at least one fabric (100) of polyethylene fibers having a tensile strength of at least 1.5 GPa, the fabric is impregnated with an acrylic based thermoplastic material. The three dimensional shaped article may further comprise monolayers with unidirectional aligned fibers. The three dimensionally shaped article has an improved surface appearance which would therefore need little or no post treatment and has good adhesion to coatings and paints.

A fiber-reinforced composite material, consisting of an amorphous thermoplastic matrix distributed over a surface of an aramid fabric and forming a surface thermoplastic film partially interpenetrated with and adhering to the aramid fabric. The production method comprises the steps of: unwinding an aramid fabric on conveyor means; distributing a thermoplastic matrix in the form of micrometric powder over the whole upper surface of the aramid fabric as it is unwound; passing the material through a first hot section and then through a second relatively cold section; the first section applies a temperature and a pressure such as to form a surface thermoplastic film on the fabric; the second section facilitates detachment of the coated material from the conveyor means. The plant comprises a conveyor belt on which an aramid fabric is unwound; a powder scattering station adapted to distribute a thermoplastic matrix in the form of micrometric powder on the aramid fabric as it is unwound on the conveyor belt; a system of double belts in contact through which the fabric is conveyed; the system of double belts in contact defines a first hot section and a second relatively cold section; the first section applies a temperature and a pressure functional to the formation of a surface thermoplastic film on the fabric; the second section facilitates detachment of the fabric.

A helmet includes a ballistic helmet shell with an accessory mount, a helmet appliqu, and a removable panel. The helmet appliqu has a rigid outer shell and an energy absorbing layer. At least one of the rigid outer shell and the energy absorbing layer are attached to the ballistic helmet shell. The removable panel is configured to attach to at least one of the rigid outer shell, the energy absorbing layer, the ballistic helmet shell, and the accessory mount. The removable panel covers the accessory mount.

A helmet includes a ballistic helmet shell with an accessory mount, a helmet appliqu, and a removable panel. The helmet appliqu has a rigid outer shell and an energy absorbing layer. At least one of the rigid outer shell and the energy absorbing layer are attached to the ballistic helmet shell. The removable panel is configured to attach to at least one of the rigid outer shell, the energy absorbing layer, the ballistic helmet shell, and the accessory mount. The removable panel covers the accessory mount.