Patent ID: 7958811
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: F41H

Abstract:
1. A process for the manufacture of an armor panel comprising a front layer and a backing layer, the manufacturing process comprising: a) providing a mold of dimensions corresponding to those of the armor panel; b) disposing the mold horizontally; c) arranging said front layer in the interior of mold and along the side walls to form a cavity having sides and a bottom; d) placing a semi-fabricated armor layer within said cavity, said semi-fabricated armor layer comprising a carrier and a plurality of armor elements each having front and rear end surfaces and a side surface extending therebetween along a height axis of the element, wherein said carrier is flexible and each of a majority of said armor elements is bonded to said carrier at one of its end surfaces and is free of bonding to adjacent armor elements at its side surface so that, when said carrier has a planar orientation, at least a majority of the armor elements have their height axes essentially parallel to each other and, when the carrier is at least slightly bent, the height axis of at least one of said elements is inclined relative to the height axis of another of the armor elements adjacent thereto, with said carrier and front end surfaces of the armor elements thereof facing said front layer; e) introducing in the mold a bonding substance so as to fill all gaps between the armor elements and the bottom and sides of the cavity and to cover the rear end surfaces of the armor elements; f) covering the rear end surfaces of the armor elements with said backing layer; and g) applying heat and pressure to the mold.