Foldable Ballistic Armor Panels Deploying Under Gravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current body armor systems are difficult to store, take too long to put on, and do not provide full protection due to their attempt to conform to the human body shape, resulting in gaps and delayed deployment in the face of sudden threats.
Innovation Solution
A compact folding ballistic body armor system utilizing rectangular panels hinged together, deploying into a rectangular prismatic configuration under gravity for rapid protection, secured by magnets and straps, allowing for quick deployment and greater coverage area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If body armor systems conform to the human body shape, then they can be worn comfortably, but they leave large gaps or windows of space through which bullets can pass
Solution Approach 1:
The body armor is divided into multiple rectangular panels that can be independently positioned to cover different body areas, eliminating gaps while maintaining a modular structure that doesn't require complex body contouring
Solution Approach 2:
The armor transitions from a two-dimensional form-fitting vest to a three-dimensional rectangular prismatic structure that extends beyond the body surface, providing coverage in multiple spatial dimensions and eliminating protection gaps
2Reliability
If body armor systems are designed to fit around the groin of the wearer, then they can provide coverage, but deployment is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The armor panels are pre-positioned and connected in a folded state, allowing rapid deployment by simply unfolding the pre-assembled structure rather than requiring step-by-step assembly or fitting during deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The armor incorporates movable connections between panels that allow the structure to dynamically transition from a compact folded state to a deployed protective state, enabling rapid deployment without compromising coverage
3Ease of operation
If body armor systems use form-fitting shapes, then they can be worn close to the body, but they are more expensive to mass produce and offer less ballistic resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The armor uses uniform rectangular panels with standardized connections, simplifying manufacturing processes and enabling mass production, while the homogeneous panel design allows for optimized ballistic protection without complex shaping
Solution Approach 2:
The rectangular panels can incorporate composite materials and optimized layering structures that provide enhanced ballistic resistance at reduced cost compared to complex form-fitting designs, leveraging material properties rather than geometric complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides rapid, full-body protection in seconds, is cheaper to produce, and offers greater ballistic resistance and strength while minimizing weight, outperforming traditional form-fitting designs.
Implementation Method 1
a series of rectangular panels hinged together so that gravity driven deployment results in a rectangular prismatic configuration
Implementation Method 2
magnets disposed along opposing side edges of the front and rear subsets of body panel so as to magnetically connect the front and rear subsets of body panels in the deployment condition
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable ballistic body armor system having a linear arrangement of body panels. The linear arrangement of body panels includes a central body panel from which a front subset of body panels depends from a front edge of the central body panel while a rear subset of body panels depends from a front edge of the central body panel so that when a user crowns the central body panel, the front and rear body panels protect the front and rear flanks of the user under the urging of gravity in a deployment condition defining a rectangular prism. Each body panel is pivotably connected to its adjacent so that the overall system is foldable between a storage condition and the deployment condition.