Variable pressure body armor assembly

Abstract

The present disclose describes ballistic assemblies for both soft and hard body armor. Applying thermal and mechanical loads to these assemblies provides for increased ballistic performance. In various embodiments, a soft armor ballistic package, comprises a cover and a ballistic assembly. The cover may comprise a strike face. The cover may also comprise a wear face disposed away from the strike face.

Description

VARIABLE PRESSURE BOD Y ARMOR ASSEMBL YCross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 638,110 filed on April 24, 2024, and entitled, “Variable Pressure Body Armor Assembly,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.Technical Field

[0002] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a body armor assemblies and more particularly to ballistic fabrics and sheets with subjected to heat and mechanical load for improved ballistic performance.Background

[0003] Ballistic protective equipment, including vests, carriers, belts, cummerbunds, ballistic accessories (e.g., shoulder protection, pouches, abdomen protection, groin protection, leg protection, bicep / deltoid upper arm protection, etc.) and the like are worn by a human or animal to absorb the impact from and resist penetration to the body from ballistic projectiles and shrapnel from explosions. Such ballistic protective equipment often includes soft body armor and hard body armor, which provides ballistic resistance.Summary

[0004] In various embodiments, a soft armor ballistic package, comprises a cover and a ballistic assembly. The cover may comprise a strike face. The cover may also comprise a wear face disposed away from the strike face. The cover may also define an interior volume. The ballisticassembly may be installable in the interior volume. The ballistic assembly may comprise a sheet of aramid fabric. The ballistic assembly may also comprise a first ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) assembly. The ballistic assembly may also comprise a sheet or hybrid woven aramid (“HWA”) fabric. The ballistic assembly may further comprise a second UHMWPE assembly.

[0005] In various embodiments, the first UHMWPE assembly may be a first type of UHMWPE material. The second UHMWPE assembly may be a second type of UHMWPE material that is different than the first type of UHMWPE material. The first UHMWPE assembly may comprise 5 sheets of a first type of UHMWPE material. 5. The second UHMWPE assembly may comprise 8 sheets of a second type of UHMWPE material. The HWA fabric may comprise a plurality of fibers in a z-direction.

[0006] In various embodiments, a mechanical load and a thermal load are applied to the soft armor ballistic package for a loading period. The loading period may be at least 4 minutes. The thermal load may be at least 200 °F. The mechanical load is at least 20,00 pounds.

[0007] In various embodiments, a resin in at least of the first UHMWPE assembly and the second UHMWPE bonds with the sheet of aramid fabric in response to the mechanical load and the thermal load being applied for the loading period.

[0008] In various embodiments, ballistic plate may comprise a ceramic tile, a front tile support, a back tile support, a first pressed UHMWPE assembly and a second pressed UHMWPE assembly. The front tile support may be adhered to the front face of the tile. The back tile support may be adhered to the back face of the tile. The first pressed UHMWPE assembly may be adhered to the back tile support. The second pressed UHMWPE assembly may be adhered to the first pressed UHMWPE assembly.

[0009] In various embodiments, a first mechanical load of at least 2,500 psi may be applied to form the first pressed UHMWPE assembly. A second mechanical load of at least 5,000 psi may be applied to form the second pressed UHMWPE assembly.

[0010] In various embodiments, a first plurality of UHMWPE sheets may be compressed to form the first pressed UHMWPE assembly. A second plurality of UHMWPE sheets may be compressed to form the second pressed UHMWPE assembly.

[0011] Other implementations are also described and recited herein. Further, while multiple implementations are disclosed, still other implementations of the presently disclosed technology will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative implementations of the presently disclosed technology. As will be realized, the presently disclosed technology is capable of modifications in various aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not limiting.Brief Descriptions of the Drawings

[0012] The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0013] Fig. 1 illustrates an example ballistic vest that includes an exemplary ballistic panel, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0014] Fig. 2A illustrates a ballistic panel, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0015] Fig. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a ballistic panel, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0016] Fig. 2C illustrates a detail cross-sectional view of a portion of a ballistic panel, in accordance with various embodiments;

[0017] Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a process to produce a ballistic panel, in accordance with various embodiments; and

[0018] Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a ballistic plate assembly, in accordance with various embodiments.Detailed Descriptions

[0019] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein refers to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the inventions, other embodiments may be realized, and that logical, chemical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and / or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.

[0020] Aspects of the present disclosure involve ballistic fabrics or sheets for a soft body armor assembly insertable or otherwise deployed into ballistic protective equipment. Invarious embodiments and with reference to FIG. 1, a ballistic vest 100 for a wearer incorporating aspects of the presently disclosed technology is shown. Ballistic vest 100 is provided as an example of ballistic protective equipment that may incorporate aspects of the presently disclosed technology and is not intended to be limiting. Other examples of ballistic protective equipment for a wearer (e.g., humans or animals) that may incorporate aspects of the presently disclosed technology, include, without limitation, carriers, belts, cummerbunds, ballistic accessories (e.g., shoulder protection, pouches, abdomen protection, groin protection, leg protection, bicep / deltoid upper arm protection, etc.) and the like. As such, although discussed herein in the context of a ballistic vest, it will be appreciated that the presently disclosed technology applies to other types of ballistic protective equipment as well.

[0021] Ballistic vest 100 includes one or more internal components 102 insertable or otherwise disposed in an interior 104 of ballistic vest 100. Interior 104 may be, for example, a pocket or similar enclosure formed by an outer layer 106 and an inner layer 108 of the ballistic vest 100. Outer layer 106 may be exposed to an outside environment and is distal from the inner layer 108 to the wearer of the ballistic vest 100. Stated differently, inner layer 108 faces the wearer and outer layer 106 faces away from the wearer. Outer layer 106 may be made from a lightweight hybrid material with superior abrasion, tear, and fire resistance characteristics, while providing load carriage support and improved durability, particularly in high-wear areas, such as comers, edges, seams, and exposed areas. The lightweight hybrid material of outer layer 106 may be, for example, a laminate of 500-denier nylon and 200-400-denier para-aramid fibers in an ultra-tight weave.

[0022] In various embodiments, internal components 102 of ballistic vest 100 may include a soft body armor assembly 110, a ballistic plate 112, and a frame 114. Internal components102 may increase ballistic protection, decrease side spall and back face deformation, provide structural support to the ballistic vest 100, and / or provide other benefits. Internal components 102 are housed within or disposed in interior 104 of ballistic vest 100. Interior 104 extends between a proximal end 116 and a distal end 118 and a first side 120 and a second side 122. Sides 120-122 may be shaped to accommodate the anatomy and movement of the wearer’s arms, and proximal end 116 is shaped to accommodate the anatomy and movement of the wearer’s collar and neck area.

[0023] Ballistic plate 112 is a hard plate configured to provide ballistic protection against projectiles or shrapnel impacting a strike face of the ballistic plate 112. The strike face is disposed within interior 104 towards outer layer 106, with a back face disposed towards the inner layer 108. In one implementation, a ballistic component (not shown) wraps around at least a portion of a periphery of the ballistic plate 112 to provide additional protection against side spall created by augmentation of the ballistic plate 112. Such as ballistic component improves the structure of the interior 104 and enhances area coverage and range of motion for increased ergonomics and performance. In one implementation, such a ballistic component provides approximately one inch of additional ballistic coverage beyond a front edge of the ballistic plate 112 and approximately 0.5 inches of additional ballistic coverage beyond side edges of the ballistic plate 112.

[0024] In various embodiments, frame 114 includes a body configured to improving overall load carriage performance of ballistic vest 100 by providing a rigid platform to add weight. Frame 114 body further reduces fatigue by improving the structure of the ballistic vest 100 by retaining soft body armor assembly 110 in a configuration that prevents bunching and provides support to the ballistic plate 112 to improve edge hit protection. Frame 114 is loose from or otherwise unattached to soft body armor assembly 110 within interior 104. Frame114 absorbs and otherwise dissipates energy from an impact of a projectile against ballistic plate 112 and / or soft body armor assembly 110. Frame 114 body may be solid or have one or more openings therethrough, as shown in Figure 1.

[0025] In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 2, soft body armor assembly 110 includes a plurality of layers of ballistic material. It will be appreciated that soft body armor assembly 110 may be insertable into or otherwise provided with ballistic protective equipment, such as the ballistic vest 100, or other types of ballistic protective equipment described herein. In one embodiment, soft body armor assembly 110 may comprise one or more plys of aramid fabric 132 (e.g., Kevlar® fabric). For example, soft body armor assembly may comprise one or more plys of 300 denier aramid fabric 132.

[0026] Soft body armor assembly 110 may also comprise one or more plies of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber based composite laminate 133. First UHMWPE assembly 133 may include one or more layers of unidirectional composite sheets. First UHMWPE assembly 133 may also include at one or more cross ply composite sheets (e.g., Dyneema® HB212). First UHMWPE assembly 133 may be impregnated with resin. First UHMWPE assembly 133 may be the type that is typically used in hard armor plate configurations. In one example, the soft body armor panel 110 may include first UHMWPE assembly 133 a first plurality of layers of UHWMPE material, such as, for example, 3 to 7 sheets or plys of UHMPE material. In some embodiments, soft body armor panel 110 may comprise first UHMWPE assembly 133 that comprises 5 sheets or plys of UHMPE material. First UHMWPE assembly 133 may be stacked under the aramid fabric 132.

[0027] Soft body armor assembly 110 may further comprise one or more plies of hybrid woven aramid (“HWA”) 134. HWA 134 may include fibers disposed in the z-direction ofthe ply (e.g., Dupont® Exo Core Matrix material). HWA 134 may be stacked beneath the aramid fabric 132 and first UHMWPE assembly 133.

[0028] Soft body armor assembly 110 may further comprise a second UHMWPE assembly 135. In some embodiments, second UHMWPE assembly 135 may comprise a plurality of a UHMWPE layers, such as, for example, 6 to 10 sheets or plys of UHWPE material (e.g., Dyneema® HB210). In some embodiments, soft body armor panel 110 may comprise second UHMWPE assembly 135 that comprises 8 sheets or plys of UHMWPE material. Second UHMWPE assembly 135 may be stacked beneath aramid fabric 132, first UHMWPE assembly 133 and HWA 134.

[0029] In various embodiments, first UHMWPE assembly 133 may be made from a first UHMWPE material. Second UHMWPE assembly 135 may be made from a second UHMWPE material. In some embodiments, the first UHMWPE material may be the same material as the second UHMWPE material. In some embodiments, the first UHMWPE material may be a different material than the second UHMWPE material.

[0030] Soft body armor assembly 110 may further comprise a cover 130. Cover 130 may defined a strike face 136 and a wear face 137. Wear face 137 may be disposed away from strike face 136. Cover 130 may define an internal volume that is sized to receive soft body armor assembly 110. Cover 130 may be a synthetic material that is heat sealed and / or shrink wrapped to the other portions of soft body armor assembly 110. Cover 130 may be bonded to soft body armor assembly 110 in response to the thermal and mechanical loading described herein. In this regard, soft body armor assembly 110 may appear to be “vacuum” packaged by cover 130 in response to the thermal and mechanical load described herein.

[0031] In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 3, soft body armor assembly 110 may be built by cutting the loose and raw materials described herein (Step 305). The materials may belaid-up in proper order as described herein (Step 310). Soft body armor assembly 110 may be sown. In this regard, the perimeter of assembly 110 may be stitched at approximately !4> inch around the assembly perimeter (Step 315). Soft body armor assembly 110 may be placed in a package (e.g., a heat seal) and each edge may be sealed (Step 320). Assembly 110 may be inserted into cavity of a flat press tool (Step 325). In response to closing the tool, assembly 110 may be subjected to the force of the tool and / or the mechanical load that corresponds to the weight of the tool (Step 330). The mechanical load may be between 20,000 pounds and 30,000 pounds. In one embodiments, the mechanical load may be 28,000 pounds. The tool and assembly 110 may be heated (Step 335). For example, the tool and assembly 110 may be heated to a temperature between 185 °F and 280 °F. The tool and assembly 110 may be steady state heated for a prescribed period of time (e.g., a loading period) at a prescribed temperature (e.g., a thermal load) (Step 340). For example, the tool and assembly 110 may be heated to 245 °F for a period of 5 minutes. In response to the mechanical load and thermal load being applied to soft body armor assembly 110, the resin in first UHMWPE assembly 112 and / or the resin in second UHMWPE assembly 135 may bond with aramid fabric 111 and / or HWA fabric 114. The tool and assembly 110 may be cooled to ambient temp (Step 345). The tool and assembly 110 may be removed from the cavity (Step 350).

[0032] In response to heating and pressing assembly 110, the resin in the UHMPE may be activated. In this regard, the resin may flow from the UHMPE and may bond with the aramid fibers to create a ballistic assembly with sufficient stiffness and materials separation to achieve superior ballistic performance.

[0033] The soft body armor assemblies described herein provide numerous advantages over monolithic and other designs. For example, soft body armor assemblies are comfortable, durable, flexible, lightweight, and provides increased performance, including resistance toballistic penetration, back face deformation performance, resistance to mechanical fatigue, and resistance to fragmentation threat, and the like.

[0034] In various embodiments and with reference to Fig. 4, ballistic plate 112 may be an assembly of a ceramic tile 142 and one or more compressed UHMWPE assemblies, including for example, first UHMWPE assembly 144, second UHMWPE assembly 146, and N UHMPE assembly. Ballistic plate 112 may comprise a front tile support 147-1 and a rear tile support 147-2. Each tile support may be adhered to tile 142 by an adhesive, such as, for example, adhesive 145-1 and adhesive 145-2. Ballistic plate 112 may include a covering 149-1 on the strike face to the ballistic plate 112, and a cover 149-2 on the wear face of ballistic plate 112.

[0035] In various embodiments, first UHMWPE assembly 144 may comprise a plurality of sheets a first type of UHMWPE material. For example, first UHMWPE assembly 144 may comprise 18 to 30 sheets of a first type of UHMWPE material. In one embodiment, first UHMWPE assembly 144 may comprise 20 sheets of a first type of UHMWPE material. First UHMWPE assembly 144 may be process into a ballistic assembly by being subjected to a mechanical load of between 2,500 psi and 20,000 psi by a mechanical press. In one embodiment, first UHMWPE assembly 144 may comprise 20 sheets of a first type of UHMWPE material that are pressed at 5,000 psi.

[0036] In various embodiments, second UHMWPE assembly 146 may comprise a plurality of sheets a second type of UHMWPE material. For example, second UHMWPE assembly 146 may comprise 18 to 30 sheets of a second type of UHMWPE material. In one embodiment, second UHMWPE assembly 146 may comprise 28 sheets of a second type of UHMWPE material. Second UHMWPE assembly 146 may be process into a ballistic assembly by being subjected to a mechanical load of between 2,500 psi and 20,000 psi by amechanical press. In one embodiment, second UHMWPE assembly 146 may comprise 28 sheets of a second type of UHMWPE material that are pressed at 10,000 psi.

[0037] The flexible ballistic ply structures may be, for example, a resin impregnated woven fabrics, unidirectional laminates, multi-axial fabrics, and / or the like. In one implementation, the flexible ballistic ply structures can be generated using high strength yarns including, without limitation, aromatic polyamides such as poly(p-phenylene teraphthalamide), poly(metaphenylene isophthalam ide), p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole, polybenzoxazole, polybenzothiazole, aromatic unsaturated polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, aromatic polyimides, aromatic polyamideimides, aromatic polyesteramideimides, aromatic polyetheramideimides and aromatic polyesterimides or copolymers of any of the above mentioned classes of materials, and UHMWPE, or any combination of these yarns. In another implementation, the flexible ballistic ply structures are woven fabrics generated from high strength fiber are woven structures produced using yarns containing aromatic polyamides including poly(p-phenylene teraphthalamide), poly(metaphenylene isophthalamide), p- phenylenebenzobisoxazole, polybenzoxazole, polybenzothiazole, aromatic unsaturated polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, aromatic polyimides, aromatic polyamideimides, aromatic polyesteramideimides, aromatic polyetheramideimides and aromatic polyesterimides or copolymers of any of the above mentioned classes of materials or any combinations of these yarns.

[0038] Any one of the stitch consolidated assemblies of plies for soft body armor assembly described herein is achieved using any stitching thread and any type of stitching method to achieve through-thickness connectivity of the plies, including chain stitching or lock stitching to secure all plies in the assembly together. In one implementation, a stitching pattern that is uniform across the surface of the entire assembly is used. Such a uniformstitching pattern may be, for example, a grid pattern (e.g., quilt pattern), co-linear rows of stitching, concentric circles, a spiral, and / or the like. Tn another implementation, the stitching pattern of any one of the stitch- consolidated assembly of plies is not uniform across the surface of the entire assembly.

[0039] To achieve a desired level of protection, soft body armor assemblies described herein are configured to inhibit the complete penetration of a particular ballistic threat by overcoming the energy associated with the ballistic event. Two examples of commercially available high strength fibers routinely used to generate anti-ballistic ply structures used in soft body armor assembly include para-aramid fiber, such as Kevlar® fiber from Dupont and Twaron® fiber from Teijin, and UHMWPE, including Spectra® fiber from Honeywell and Dyneema® fiber from DSM.

[0040] The performance of ballistic protective equipment utilizing ply structures generated from high strength fiber is generally measured based on penetration resistance, as well as the resistance to back face deformation that can lead to blunt trauma injuries. Penetration resistance is routinely reported as the VS0, which is defined as the velocity at which a specific ballistic threat will penetrate an armor construction 50% of the time. A methodology routinely used for determining the VS0 of a particular armor system against a specific threat is outlined in Mil - STD 662F VS0 Ballistic test for Armor and Purchase Description FQ / PD 07-0SG, Body Armor, Multiple Threat / Interceptor Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) Generation Ill. The methodology for determining back face deformation is outlined in NIJ Standard 0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor. As will be understood from the comparative and experimental examples provided herein, the soft body armor assembly for soft body armor assembly 110 meets these standards and provides numerous advantages over monolithic and other hybrid designs. For example, softbody armor assembly 110 is comfortable, durable, flexible, lightweight, and provides increased performance, including resistance to ballistic penetration, back face deformation performance, resistance to mechanical fatigue, and resistance to fragmentation threat, and the like.

[0041] Woven fabrics generated using para-aramid fiber have long demonstrated robust ballistic performance as anti-ballistic ply structures used in flexible armor systems. Woven anti-ballistic fabrics rely on mechanical interlacing of yams using commercial weaving equipment and are a desired when designing systems that provide flexibility, comfort, conformability, and improved breathability. Additionally, the mechanically interlocked woven fabrics are very durable, requiring no adhesives or matrix resins to create the ballistic ply structure. Woven anti -ballistic fabrics and can undergo significant flexural fatigue without losing ballistic performance. Several investigations of flexible body armor fabricated using woven para-aramid fabrics reclaimed after more than a decade of continuous use in the field have demonstrated no ballistic performance loss when compared to the performance of the same designs when first issued.

[0042] While mechanical properties of UHMWPE fibers can significantly exceed those of para-aramid fibers such as Kevlar®, woven fabrics generated from UHMWPE fiber have routinely been observed to underperform para-aramid fabrics. One proposition for this observation is that the low friction coefficient of UHMWPE fibers greatly facilitates slip and translation of the warp and fill yams at the point of impact in woven constructions made therefrom during the ballistic event. This significantly reduces yarn engagement of the ballistic threat, allowing it to pass through the woven structures with limited loading of the UHMWPE yams.

[0043] Unidirectional laminates represent a second type of anti-ballistic ply structure used inthe manufacture of flexible body armor systems. Unidirectional laminates are constructed from two or more layers of unidirectionally oriented high strength yams adhesively bound together using matrix resins and optionally polymer films. The unidirectional fiber layers in the unidirectional laminate are cross-plied; having fiber direction of individual layers rotated 90 degrees relative to the neighboring layers they are laminated to. Unidirectional laminates have demonstrated improved ballistic VSO performance and improved back face deformation performance against high energy deformable projectiles such as bullet threats when compared to woven fabric systems for the same areal density. Disadvantages associated with the unidirectional laminate structure include reduced fragmentation threat resistance, increased stiffness and potentially reduced mechanical fatigue resistance when compared to woven structures generated with the same fiber.

[0044] Due to the aforementioned issue associated with its use in woven constructions, the unidirectional laminate was conventionally the preferred anti-ballistic structure for UHMWPE fiber. UHMWPE has found significant commercial success in soft armor systems when used in unidirectional laminate structures. These materials are commercially available under the trade names Spectra Shield® from Honeywell, or Dyneema® Unidirectional from DSM. These unidirectional laminate materials are generated using tacky adhesive matrix resins capable of overcoming the low surface friction and low surface energy of the UHMWPE fiber, resulting in mechanically stable anti-ballistic structures.

[0045] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various implementations, it will be understood that these implementations are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, implementations in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular examples. Functionalitymay be separated or combined in blocks differently in various implementations of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.

[0046] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and / or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.

[0047] Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.

[0048] Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A soft armor ballistic package, comprising: a cover comprising a strike face, a wear face disposed away from the strike face and an interior volume; and a ballistic assembly, installable in the interior volume, the ballistic assembly comprising, a sheet of aramid fabric, a first ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) assembly, a sheet or hybrid woven aramid (“HWA”) fabric, and a second UHMWPE assembly.

2. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 1, wherein the first UHMWPE assembly is a first type of UHMWPE material.

3. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 3, wherein the second UHMWPE assembly is a second type of UHMWPE material that is different than the first type of UHMWPE material.

4. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 1, wherein the first UHMWPE assembly comprises 5 sheets of a first type of UHMWPE material.

5. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 1, wherein the second UHMWPE assembly comprises 8 sheets of a second type of UHMWPE material.

6. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 1, wherein the HWA fabric comprises a plurality of fibers in a z-direction.

7. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 1, wherein a mechanical load and a thermal load are applied to the soft armor ballistic package for a loading period.

8. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 7, wherein the loading period is at least 4 minutes.

9. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 7, wherein the thermal load is at least 200 °F.

10. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 7, wherein the mechanical load is at least 20,00 pounds.

11. The soft armor ballistic package of claim 7, wherein a resin in at least of the first UHMWPE assembly and the second UHMWPE bonds with the sheet of aramid fabric in response to the mechanical load and the thermal load being applied for the loading period.

12. A ballistic plate, comprising; a ceramic tile; a front tile support adhered to the front face of the tile; a back tile support adhered to the back face of the tile; a first pressed UHMWPE assembly adhered to the back tile support; a second pressed UHMWPE assembly adhered to the first pressed UHMWPE assembly.

13. The ballistic plate of claim 12, wherein a first mechanical load of at least 2,500 psi is applied to form the first pressed UHMWPE assembly.

13. The ballistic plate of claim 12, wherein a second mechanical load of at least 5,000 psi is applied to form the second pressed UHMWPE assembly.

14. The ballistic plate of claim 12, wherein a first plurality of UHMWPE sheets are compressed to form the first pressed UHMWPE assembly.

15. The ballistic plate of claim 12, wherein a second plurality of UHMWPE sheets are compressed to form the second pressed UHMWPE assembly.

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