Ballistic resistant office cubicle panel

Abstract

Provided are free-standing and interlocking partitions that appear to resemble commercially-available cloth-covered cubicle partitions, but the core of each partition is a panel fabricated to render the partition bullet resistant. The panels and partitions are optimized for use as ballistic-resistant office partitions and cubicles for offices, schools and other business environments.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit to U.S. provisional patent application 62 / 401,574, filed Sep. 29, 2016, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to ballistic-resistant panels comprising ballistic-resistant cloth impregnated suitable for use, for example, as partitions for office cubicles.Description of Related Art[0003]Recent episodes of bullet discharge or bomb explosion entering or from within schools and places of business, especially offices or office-like environments, including armed forces recruiting centers and post offices, have focused attention on ways to protect students, teachers, armed forces recruiters, military personnel, postal workers, employees and other occupants of schools, offices and other places of business from ballistic projectiles such as bullets and shrapnel. While more traditional ballistic protection might provide a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a special material that can resist bullets, which makes use of a resin and ballistic-resistant cloth. The material is designed to capture and hold the bullet, reducing the risk of injury or lateral penetration. The material's design also prevents bullet fragmentation, ricochet, and spalling, making it highly effective. Partition designs can include multiple layers, with the bullet-resistant panel being surrounded by sheathing. The layers don't need to overlap, which can save time and money. The material is usually hidden from view by a covering.

Problems solved by technology

While more traditional ballistic protection might provide adequate personnel protection, it can be ill-suited for an office or school environment.

Such traditional protection can include individual body armor, steel armor plating and reinforced masonry, but the discomfort and cost of body armor and the expense associated with purchasing and installing armor plating or special masonry can prohibit installation or continual use.

Such partition construction does not provide sufficient protection from penetration of a ballistic projectile.

The Nygren reference does not disclose the use of a ballistic-resistant panel as a partition or cubicle component for protection of persons in an office or other business or school environment.

While Nygren relevantly discloses the concept of reinforcing fiber cloth bonded in a thermoset polymer matrix that may be in sheet form, the reference does not disclose multiple layers of ballistic-grade fiberglass cloth impregnated with a thermoset polyester resin formed and compressed under heating to yield a rigid sheet having a specific ballistic resistance.

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