Bulletproof protection elementary component

Abstract

A bulletproof protection elementary component of the tile type comprises a prism-shaped body having a first face and a second face of greater extension, which are opposite each other, and a side surface having a first height, at least one raised section from the first face by a second height, wherein the raised section is prism-shaped and has a base area which is less than an area of the first face. A ballistic panel and a bulletproof protection structure and a bulletproof vest, comprising a plurality of the elementary components, are also herein described.

Claims

1. A bulletproof protection elementary component comprising: a prism-shaped body having a first face and a second face of greater extension, which are opposite each other, and a side surface having a first height, at least one raised section raised from the first face by a second height, wherein the raised section is prism-shaped and has a base area which is less than an area of the first face, and wherein the prism-shaped body further has at least one recess realized in the second face thereof, the at least one recess extending into the prism-shaped body by a third height.

2. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, further comprising: a free surface surrounding the raised section.

3. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 2, wherein the raised section is concentric with the first face of the prism-shaped body.

4. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, wherein the second height of the raised section has values comprised between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

5. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, wherein the second height of the raised section has values greater than 2 mm.

6. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, wherein the first height of the prism-shaped body has values comprised between 2 mm and 15 mm.

7. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, wherein the recess has shape and dimensions comparable to the raised section and is realized concentrically thereto, with comparable meaning values that are equal to each other or that differ from each other by ±10%.

8. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, wherein the prism-shaped body has a hexagonal base and the raised section has a circular base.

9. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 8, wherein the hexagonal base of the prism-shaped body has a transverse diameter with values comprised between 22 mm and 44 mm and the circular base of the raised section has a diameter with values comprised between 17 mm and 39 mm.

10. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, wherein the prism-shaped body has a hexagonal base and the raised section has a polygonal base.

11. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, being made of a bulletproof material selected from a sintered material or a carbide.

12. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, wherein the raised section is made integral with the prism-shaped body.

13. The bulletproof protection elementary component of claim 1, wherein the prism-shaped body, the raised section and the recess are prism-shaped with a base having a shape selected from circular, oval, squared, rectangular, hexagonal, polygonal, a concave shape or a star shape.

14. A bulletproof protection ballistic panel comprising a plurality of elementary components, wherein each elementary component comprises: a prism-shaped body having a first face and a second face of greater extension, which are opposite each other, and a side surface having a first height, and at least one raised section raised from the first face by a second height, wherein the raised section is prism-shaped and has a base area which is less than an area of the first face, and wherein the prism-shaped body further has at least one recess realized in the second face thereof, the at least one recess extending into the prism-shaped body by a third height.

15. The bulletproof protection ballistic panel of claim 14, wherein each elementary component further comprises a free surface surrounding the raised section.

16. The bulletproof protection ballistic panel of claim 15, wherein the raised section of each elementary component is concentric with the first face of the prism-shaped body.

17. The bulletproof protection ballistic panel of claim 14, wherein the recess of the prism-shaped body of each elementary component has shape and dimensions comparable to the raised section of each elementary and is realized concentrically thereto, with comparable meaning values that are equal to each other or that differ from each other by ±10%.

18. The bulletproof protection ballistic panel of claim 14, wherein the raised section of each elementary component is made integral with the corresponding prism-shaped body.

19. The bulletproof protection ballistic panel of claim 14, wherein the elementary components are contiguous and independent with each other and define a plurality of free areas in the ballistic panel, each free area comprising free surfaces of a plurality of the elementary components, the ballistic panel comprising a plurality of preferential folding lines, arranged in the free areas.

20. A bulletproof protection structure comprising at least one flexible base and one reinforcing structure realized by means of at least one ballistic panel associated with the flexible base, wherein the ballistic panel comprises a plurality of elementary components which are singularly associated with the flexible base, structurally independent with each other and not linked to each other, wherein each elementary component comprises: a prism-shaped body having a first face and a second face of greater extension, which are opposite each other, and a side surface having a first height, and at least one raised section raised from the first face by a second height, wherein the raised section is prism-shaped and has a base area which is less than an area of the first face and wherein the bulletproof protection structure comprises a plurality of preferential folding lines, arranged in a plurality of free areas formed by free surfaces between consecutive elementary components, and wherein the elementary components are being linked to the flexible base in the free areas, the bulletproof protection structure being adapted to cover surfaces or structures with an irregular trend by folding according to the folding lines.

21. The bulletproof protection structure of claim 20, wherein the elementary components are connected with the flexible base only at the raised section.

22. The bulletproof protection structure of claim 21, further comprising connection means adapted to associate the elementary components with the flexible base.

23. The bulletproof protection structure of claim 22, wherein the connection means comprise a plurality of adhesive layers, each adhesive layer covering a raised section of an elementary component.

24. The bulletproof protection structure of claim 20, wherein the flexible base is made of ballistic fabric which comprises fibers selected from high tenacity fibers and high molecular weight polyethylene.

25. A bulletproof vest comprising a flexible base and a reinforcing structure made by means of a ballistic panel associated with the flexible base which form a bulletproof protection structure, wherein the ballistic panel is formed by a plurality of elementary components covering an area to be protected, the ballistic panel being foldable at folding lines housed in free areas made by free surfaces of adjacent elementary components wherein each elementary component comprises: a prism-shaped body having a first face and a second face of greater extension, which are opposite each other, and a side surface having a first height, and at least one raised section raised from the first face by a second height, wherein the raised section is prism-shaped and has a base area which is less than an area of the first face.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically shows a bulletproof protection structure made according to the prior art;

(2) FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically show a bulletproof protection structure made according to the prior art, in a frontal view thereof and in an enlargement of a detail, respectively;

(3) FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically show a portion of the bulletproof protection structure of FIG. 2, in respective frontal and side views;

(4) FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically show a portion of the bulletproof protection structure according to a known alternative embodiment, in respective frontal and side views;

(5) FIGS. 5A-5C schematically show a bulletproof protection elementary component made according to the present disclosure, in respective top, side and axonometric views;

(6) FIGS. 6A-6D schematically show un bulletproof protection elementary component made according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, in respective top, side and axonometric views;

(7) FIGS. 7 and 7A schematically show a ballistic panel made according to the present disclosure by using the elementary component of FIG. 5C, in a rear view thereof and in an enlargement of a detail, respectively;

(8) FIGS. 8A and 8B schematically show side views of a bulletproof protection structure comprising the ballistic panel of FIG. 7, in different application configurations thereof; and

(9) FIG. 9 schematically shows a frontal view of a bulletproof vest made according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) With reference to these figures and in particular to FIGS. 5A-5C, an elementary component 50 is described, which is adapted to make a bulletproof protection structure comprising a ballistic panel formed by a plurality of the components, which are independent and contiguous, associated with a flexible base of ballistic fabric.

(11) It should be noted that the figures represent schematic views and are not drawn to scale, but instead they are drawn so as to emphasize the important features of the disclosure. Furthermore, in the figures, the different elements are depicted in a schematic manner, their shape varying depending on the desired application. Furthermore, particular features described in relation to an embodiment may also be used in other embodiments, in any combination.

(12) In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C, the elementary component 50 is prism-shaped with cross-section or hexagonal base, having side L and transverse diameter or pitch Dt, which is meant as the distance between two opposite faces that are parallel in the hexagonal section.

(13) In a particularly preferred embodiment, the hexagonal elementary component 50 has side L of length comprises between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably equal to 20 mm or to 30 mm, usually indicated as having key dimension 20 or key 30, respectively.

(14) The elementary component 50 has a flattened prism shape with two faces of greater extension, in particular a first face F1 or bottom face and a second face F2 or top face, as well as a side surface 50s, the body 50c having height Hc. Essentially, the elementary component 50 has a shape similar to a tile.

(15) Suitably according to the present disclosure, the elementary component 50 of the tile type or tile-shaped elementary component 50 comprises a raised section 51 from the first face F1 of the body 50c. The first face F1 is intended in particular to be associated with a flexible base, for instance of ballistic fabric, to realize a bulletproof protection structure, as will be explained hereinafter.

(16) Preferably, the raised section 51 is made integral with the body 50c of the tile-shaped elementary component 50.

(17) More particularly, the raised section 51 has a prism shape with cross-section or circular base of diameter D1 adapted to be inscribed in the hexagonal cross section of the body 50c, and thus in the first face F1, and is made so as to protrude by a height H1 with respect to the body 50c, thus leaving a free surface 53 on the first face F1. In other words, the raised section 51 has a base area that is less than an area of the first face F1 and the free surface 53 is defined in the first face F1 as a remaining area around to the raised section 51, preferably made so as to be concentric to the first face F1. The raised section 51 may also have a prism shape with cross section or polygonal base.

(18) The sum of the heights Hc and H1 of the body 50c and of the raised section 51, respectively, is equal to the total height Ht of the tile-shaped elementary component 50, namely its overall dimensions according to a plane z that is orthogonal to the first and second faces F1 and F2, as indicated in the local reference of the figures.

(19) In particular, the height H1 of the raised section 51 has values typically comprised between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, preferably 1 mm and the height Hc of the body 50c has values comprised between 2 mm and 15 mm, preferably 10 mm. The height H1 of the raised section 51 may have values greater than 2 mm in dedicated cases.

(20) It is obviously possible to realize the tile-shaped elementary components 50 and the related raised sections 51 by means of prisms with differently shaped sections or bases with respect to those illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C, with the only constraint that the raised section 51 has a section with dimensions such that it can be contained in the body section 50c, namely in the first face F1 of the tile-shaped elementary component 50, leaving at least one exposed portion so as to realize a free surface 53.

(21) For instance, in case of a hexagonal tile-shaped elementary component 50 having a transverse diameter or pitch Dt equal to 32 mm, it is possible to use a raised section 51 with circular section of diameter D1 equal to 27 mm. In general, the hexagonal base of the body 50c has a transverse diameter or pitch Dt with values comprised between 22 mm and 44 mm and the circular base of the raised section 51 has a diameter D1 with values comprised between 17 mm and 39 mm Indeed, in this way, as it will be explained hereinafter, when a plurality of elementary components 50 may be arranged contiguously to each other to cover a certain area to be protected, the diameter D1 is less than the tangency of the hexagon sections of adjacent tile-shaped elementary components 50.

(22) Suitably, it is possible to choose among circular, oval, squared, rectangular, hexagonal or anyway polygonal sections or bases, in the case even with concave shapes like a star section.

(23) In any case, as it will be better clarified hereinafter, the raised section 51 is adapted to realize a connection delimited portion with a ballistic fabric, for instance with a flexible base of a bulletproof protection structure, so that the free surface 53 is not linked to the base.

(24) The tile-shaped elementary components 50 and the raised sections 51 are preferably made of a sintered material, such as aluminum oxide (ballistic ceramic) or carbides, such as silicon or boron carbides, materials which are usually used in the bulletproof protection of vehicles and/or people.

(25) According to an alternative embodiment schematically illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D, the tile-shaped elementary component 50 also comprises a recess 52, suitably realized in the body 50c at the second face F2, opposite the first face F1 from which the raised section 51 protrudes.

(26) In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D, the tile-shaped elementary component 50 has a hexagonal cross section or base and the raised section 51 and the recess 52 have circular transversal sections or bases.

(27) In particular, the recess 52 is made with shapes and dimensions equal to the raised section 51 and concentrically thereto along axis z; more particularly, the recess 52 has a diameter D2 of equal dimensions which are comparable to those of the diameter D1 of the raised section 51, with comparable meaning that the diameters D1 and D2 are equal to each other or differ from each other by ±10%. Furthermore, the recess 52 has a height H2, with respect to the second face F2, that is equal or comparable to the height H1 of the raised section 51 with respect to the first face F1.

(28) Essentially, the raised section 51 protrudes from the first face F1 of the body 50c by a height H1 that is substantially equal to the height H2 by which the recess 52 penetrates into the body 50c from the second face F2.

(29) In this way, suitably according to this alternative embodiment, it is possible to obtain a tile-shaped elementary component 50 having a substantially constant thickness over the entire surface extension thereof, namely in the plane defined by the axes x and y of the local reference of the figures. It is thus immediate to verify that such a tile-shaped elementary component 50 having a constant thickness suitably has a constant ballistic resistance.

(30) By using a plurality of tile-shaped elementary components 50 of the type illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5D or 6A-6C, it is possible to realize a ballistic panel 55 according to the present disclosure, schematically illustrated in FIG. 7. In particular, the ballistic panel 55 is finely divided into the plurality of tile-shaped elementary components 50, indicated in FIG. 7A, each one having a surface extension at the first and second faces F1 and F2 thereof which is less than that of the ballistic panel 55 as a whole.

(31) More particularly, each tile-shaped elementary component 50 comprises faces F1 and F2 having a surface extension equal to less than 20% of the surface extension of the ballistic panel 55.

(32) Suitably, the tile-shaped elementary components 50 of the ballistic panel 55 are contiguous and independent, a number of tile-shaped elementary components 50 being provided so as to be enough to realize a coverage of an area that should be protected.

(33) As previously explained, each tile-shaped elementary component 50 has a raised section 51 with dimensions suitable for being contained in the first face F1 of its body 50c, thus defining the free surface 53 on the first face F1.

(34) Suitably, the free surface 53 of a plurality of consecutive tile-shaped elementary components 50 realizes a free area 53A of the ballistic panel 55 where it is possible to perform the folding thereof without the tile-shaped elementary components 50 interfering with each other. The ballistic panel 55 has thus a plurality of preferential folding lines 54, arranged in the free areas 53A, where the interference between the tile-shaped elementary components 50 is limited.

(35) It is pointed out that, thanks to the combination of the plurality of tile-shaped elementary components 50 provided with raised sections 51 adapted to define a free surface 53 that substantially distributes along the entire periphery of the first face F1, the ballistic panel 55 comprises free areas 53A that substantially distribute in all directions and thus allow providing respective folding lines in any direction.

(36) It is thus possible to realize a bulletproof protection structure 60 comprising a reinforcing structure made by means of at least one ballistic panel 55 associated with a flexible base 56, made for instance by a layer of ballistic fabric 57 and provided with suitable connection means 58 with the ballistic panel 55, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 8A.

(37) More particularly, the layer of ballistic fabric 57 may be made of high tenacity fibers or of high molecular weight polyethylene, suitably associated with a ballistic panel 55 comprising a plurality of tile-shaped elementary components 50 made of a sintered material, such as aluminum oxide (ballistic ceramic) or carbides, such as silicon or boron carbides, the ballistic panel 55 realizing a reinforcing structure of the flexible base 56 of the bulletproof protection structure 60.

(38) The bulletproof protection structure 60 thus realized is in particular of the type adapted to ensure an effective bulletproof protection for calibers greater than 357 and 44 Magnum, namely greater than III level of the US NU regulation.

(39) Such a bulletproof protection structure 60 has an overall height Hp given by the sum of the height Ht of the tile-shaped elementary components 50 forming the ballistic panel 55 and of the thickness of the flexible base 56 and has values comprised between 0.7 mm and 20 mm, preferably 12 mm.

(40) It is possible to compare the tile-shaped elementary components 50 of the ballistic panel 55 to tiles that are distributed so as to uniformly cover an area to be protected AP like normal building tiles would cover a floor or a wall. In the case of the bulletproof protection structure 60, the floor or wall is actually a flexible base 56, realized by the layer of ballistic fabric 57, and the tile-shaped elementary components 50 are capable of following the possible deformations thereof, for instance in case one wishes to realize bulletproof coatings of non-regular surfaces.

(41) Suitably according to the present disclosure, the tile-shaped elementary components 50 of the ballistic panel 55 are arranged with their first face F1 facing towards the flexible base 56; in this way, the connection between the tile-shaped elementary components 50 and the connection means 58 of the flexible base 56 is only realized at the respective raised sections 51. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8A, the connection means 58 comprise a plurality of adhesive layers 58A, such as thermoplastic films, each covering a raised section 51 of a tile-shaped elementary component 50. It is obviously possible to use different connection means 58 such as mechanical connectors, screws or pins to integrally link the tile-shaped elementary components 50 to the flexible base 56, in particular to the layer of ballistic fabric 57.

(42) It is important to point out that the particular conformation of the tile-shaped elementary components 50, in particular the presence of the raised section 51, advantageously allows limiting the extension of the connection means 58 with the flexible base 56, namely the surface of the adhesive layers 58A.

(43) In this way, the fabric portions of the flexible base 56 corresponding to the free areas 53A defined by the free surfaces 53 of the adjacent tile-shaped elementary components 50, are thus free from adhesive and are free to move, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 8B, which shows the bulletproof protection structure 60 folded so as to adapt to a non-flat surface.

(44) The bulletproof protection structure 60 thus obtained is indeed advantageously extremely flexible in all directions, since the ballistic panel 55 therein comprised can be folded at the folding lines 54 arranged in the free areas 53A. The ballistic panel 55 and the corresponding bulletproof protection structure 60 may thus be used to protect shapes with complex geometries, such as for instance the human body.

(45) In particular, the bulletproof protection structure 60 may take up the shape of a bulletproof vest 60′, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 9.

(46) In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the bulletproof vest 60′ comprises a ballistic panel 55 made by a plurality of hexagonal tile-shaped elementary components 50 and is suitable for ensuring a bulletproof protection for calibers greater than 357 and 44 Magnum, namely greater than III level of the US NU regulation almost in the entire surface thereof, with a high versatility degree for the user wearing it. The bulletproof vest 60′ is substantially in the shape of a vest. It is obviously possible to provide for a different shape, but equally wearable by a user.

(47) In particular, the bulletproof vest 60′ comprises a flexible base 56 of ballistic fabric, in particular made of high tenacity fibers, for instance interwoven, in the case inserted in a containing lining 59.

(48) Suitably, the tile-shaped elementary components 50 of the ballistic panel 55 of the bulletproof vest 60′ have respective raised sections 51 adapted to define free surfaces 53 on the first face F1 of each tile-shaped elementary component 50 and thus free areas 53A inside the ballistic panel 55, where it is possible to define folding lines 54 for the bulletproof vest 60′ itself.

(49) In this case, the ballistic panel 55 made by the tile-shaped elementary components 50 substantially extends to the entire extension of the bulletproof vest 60′, so as to ensure a high degree bulletproof protection, in particular for calibers greater than 357 and 44 Magnum, namely greater than IIIa level of the US NIJ regulation, almost total for the user wearing it.

(50) As indicated in the figure, the ballistic panel 55 is thus realized so as to cover almost the whole chest, the lateral sides and also the back (not shown) of the user wearing the bulletproof vest 60′, also following the shape of the axillary portions, chinstrap and shoulders. The ballistic panel 55 is actually a total shield for the user wearing the bulletproof vest 60′ that can be folded without encountering resistance at the folding lines 54, being thus flexible and suitable for being worn in any circumstance and ensuring sufficient freedom of movement in any direction for the user wearing it.

(51) It is pointed out that the presence of the connection means 58, in particular adhesive layers 58A, only at the raised sections 51 of the tile-shaped elementary components 50 allows the maximum freedom degree for the bulletproof vest 60′ that comprises the flexible base 56 of ballistic fabric and the ballistic panel 55 realized by the tile-shaped elementary components 50, in particular, thus ensuring the correct covering of the user's body wearing it, meanwhile minimizing the impediments to movement.

(52) The bulletproof vest 60′ could also comprise a lower protection portion (not illustrated), in the form for instance of a strip still provided with reinforcing elementary components that can pass between the user's legs wearing it.

(53) In conclusion, the innovative configuration of the elementary components according to the disclosure allows realizing a ballistic panel and a bulletproof protection structure comprising it which can ensure an effective bulletproof protection for calibers greater than 357 and 44 Magnum, namely greater than IIIa level of the US NIJ regulation, in a finale structure that is flexible enough to also cover non-regular surfaces.

(54) For instance, it is possible to imagine that a bulletproof protection structure of the illustrated type may cover the hood of a vehicle such as a Jeep®.

(55) The bulletproof protection structure according to the present disclosure advantageously allows increasing the protection level until reaching calibers such as AK47 and SS109 NATO; furthermore, by increasing the thicknesses both of the portion of ballistic fabric and of the elementary components into which the ballistic panel is finely divided, it is possible to reach more important calibers, such as Dragunov or SVD rifle (acronym from the Russian: “Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova”) M2AP NATO.

(56) Furthermore, it is pointed out that the use of elementary components to form the ballistic panel of such a structure allows minimizing, at the limit eliminating, the portions of the area to be protected which are left uncovered, namely without reinforcing elementary components, though ensuring the flexibility and thus the possibility of folding the final structure thus obtained.

(57) Furthermore, thanks to the use of a ballistic panel finely divided into a plurality of elementary components or tiles provided with raised sections that can suitably limit the extension of the connection with a flexible base, it is possible to realize a bulletproof protection structure, such as a bulletproof vest, which remains flexible, but ensures a bulletproof protection for calibers greater than 357 and 44 Magnum, namely greater than IIIa level of the US NU regulation.

(58) In particular, the presence of the raised sections provided in all of the elementary components forming the ballistic panel comprised in a bulletproof protection structure allows defining free areas in the ballistic panel where the adjacent elementary components do not interfere with each other and the ballistic fabric of the flexible base is not glued thereto; more particularly, the free areas extend in any direction, since corresponding folding lines of the ballistic panel may be defined therein.

(59) Suitably, the bulletproof vest according to the present disclosure can protect more extended surfaces (in particular different parts of the body) with respect to the known solutions, maintaining the flexibility of the vest as a whole and thus a greater comfort for a wearer.

(60) Indeed, the user wearing such a bulletproof vest is not hindered in his movements, despite the maximization of the area to be protected until it substantially corresponds to the entire extension of the vest itself.

(61) Obviously, a person skilled in the art, in order to meet particular needs and specifications, may carry out several changes and modifications to the elementary components, the ballistic panel and the bulletproof protection structure, in particular in the shape of the bulletproof vest above described.

(62) For instance, it is possible to provide for elementary components having a different shape from those illustrated, such as a circular or oval shape. The bulletproof vest could also have different shapes than the vest one illustrated and could comprise more ballistic panels, each divided into a plurality di elementary components in the case separated by portions of ballistic fabric.

(63) From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

(64) The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.