Abstract:
According to one embodiment, there is provided soft armor. The soft armor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from soft armor material, and the armor structure is substantially imperforable by rifle fire.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/520,263, filed Nov. 14, 2003, titled SOFT ARMOR. The entire contents of the above-noted provisional patent application are hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     Certain disclosed embodiments relate generally to armor for protection of personnel and/or vehicles, buildings, etc.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Currently known armor includes “hard” and “soft” armor. Hard armor can be made very strong, but may be too rigid for some applications. Soft armor has some advantages, but is generally weaker than hard armor.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     According to one embodiment, there is provided soft armor. The soft armor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from soft armor material, and the armor structure is substantially imperforable by rifle fire.  
         [0007]     According to another embodiment, there is provided soft armor. The soft armor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from soft armor material, and the armor structure is sufficiently strong to defeat rifle fire.  
         [0008]     According to another embodiment, there is provided soft armor. The soft armor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from soft armor material, and the armor structure provides at least NIJ type III ballistic protection.  
         [0009]     According to another embodiment, there is provided a soft armor garment. The soft armor garment comprises a torso portion formed from soft armor material and configured to wrap around a torso of a wearer. The torso portion provides at least NIJ type III ballistic protection to at least a portion of the torso against threats from any side of the torso.  
         [0010]     According to another embodiment, there is provided a soft armor garment. The soft armor garment comprises a torso portion formed from soft armor material and configured to wrap around a torso of a wearer. The torso portion provides at least NIJ type III ballistic protection to the torso against threats within a 360-degree threat envelope.  
         [0011]     Certain objects and advantages of the invention are described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.  
         [0012]     All of the embodiments summarized above are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. However, despite the foregoing discussion of certain embodiments, only the appended claims (and not the present summary) are intended to define the invention. The summarized embodiments, and other embodiments of the present invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of one embodiment of an armor structure.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armor structure.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armor structure.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armor structure.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armor structure.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armor structure.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a schematic top view of an armored vest and a threat envelope defeated by the armored vest.  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a front view of another embodiment of an armored vest.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the armored vest of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a front view of another embodiment of an armored vest.  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a schematic exploded sectional view of a technique usable for constructing various armor structures disclosed herein.  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is an elevation view of a stitch pattern usable for constructing various armor structures disclosed herein.  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is an elevation view of another stitch pattern usable for constructing various armor structures disclosed herein. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]      FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment of a soft armor structure  100  which generally comprises a layered construction of a first section  110 , second section  120  and third section  130 . The armor structure  100  is configured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed such that the first section  110  is located closest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) and the third section  130  is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc. to be protected by the armor structure  100 . Accordingly, the armor structure  100  includes a threat side  140  and an inner side  150 .  
         [0027]     In some embodiments, each of the first, second and third sections  110 ,  120 ,  130  is formed from soft armor material. In certain such embodiments, the first section  110  comprises ZYLON, the second section  120  comprises KEVLAR, and the third section  130  comprises KEVLAR. In still other such embodiments, any one or more of the first, second and third sections  110 ,  120 ,  130  may comprise woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR, or multiple layers of woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR.  
         [0028]     In one such embodiment, the first section  110  comprises 10 layers of ZYLON-530 (i.e., ZYLON similar to style no. 530 available from Hexcel Schwebel of Anderson, S.C.), the second section  120  comprises 6 layers of KEVLAR-704 (i.e., KEVLAR similar to style no. 704 available from Hexcel Schwebel), and the third section  130  comprises 8 layers of KEVLAR-726 (i.e., KEVLAR similar to style no. 726 available from Hexcel Schwebel). (In addition, if desired, the layers of the third section  130  may be laminated to improve resistance to backface deformation.) This embodiment of the armor structure  100  achieves type IIIa protection as established in the National Institute of Justice (“NIJ”) standard no. 0101.04 (June 2001). In addition, this embodiment of the armor structure  100  protects against the following “supplemental” threats under test circumstances similar to those set forth in NIJ standard no. 0101.04: (1) a 60 grain, 9 mm RBCD armor-piercing bullet at 2105 feet per second (FPS); (2) a 52 grain, 9 mm MagSafe Agent Load bullet at 2120 FPS; (3) a 77 grain, .40 caliber MagSafe bullet at 1920 FPS; and (4) a 92 grain, 0.45 caliber MagSafe Agent Load bullet at 2020 FPS.  
         [0029]     In further type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  100 , the first section  110  comprises 10 or more (e.g., 11, 12, 15, 20, 25 or more) layers of ZYLON-530, the second section  120  comprises 6 or more (e.g., 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 or more) layers of KEVLAR-704, and the third section  130  comprises 8 or more (e.g., 9, 10, 12, 15, 20 or more) layers of KEVLAR-726. (In certain of these embodiments, one or more layers of soft armor material other than ZYLON-530, KEVLAR-704 and KEVLAR-726 may be employed in the first, second or third layers  110 ,  120 ,  130 , respectively, in addition to the layers specified above.) All of these embodiments also protect against the “supplemental” threats enumerated above.  
         [0030]     In still further type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  100 , an “overbuilt” section (i.e., more than 10 (e.g., 11, 12, 15, 20, 25 or more) layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section  110 , more than 6 (e.g., 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 or more) layers of KEVLAR-704 employed in the second section  120 , or more than 8 (e.g., 9, 10, 12, 15, 20 or more) layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the third section  130 ) is employed in one or two of the sections  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and an “underbuilt” section (i.e., fewer than 10 layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section  110 , fewer than 6 layers of KEVLAR-704 employed in the second section  120 , or fewer than 8 layers or KEVLAR-726) is employed in the balance of the sections  110 ,  120 ,  130 . In other type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  100 , such an “overbuilt” section is employed as one or two of the sections  110 ,  120 ,  130 , and the balance of the sections  110 ,  120 ,  130  are omitted.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure  200  which generally comprises a layered construction of a first section  210  and a second section  220 . The armor structure  200  is configured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed such that the first section  210  is located closest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) and the second section  220  is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc. to be protected by the armor structure  200 . Accordingly, the armor structure  200  includes a threat side  240  and an inner side  250 .  
         [0032]     In some embodiments, both of the first and second sections  210 ,  220 , are formed from soft armor material. In certain such embodiments, the first section  210  comprises ZYLON and the second section  220  comprises KEVLAR. In still other such embodiments, one or both of the first and second sections  210 ,  220  may comprise woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR, or multiple layers of woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR.  
         [0033]     In one such embodiment, the first section  210  comprises 22 layers of ZYLON-530 and the second section  220  comprises 3 layers of KEVLAR-726. (In addition, if desired, the layers of the second section  220  may be laminated to improve resistance to backface deformation.) This embodiment of the armor structure  200  achieves NIJ type IIIa 1  protection. In addition, this embodiment of the armor structure  200  protects against the following “supplemental” threats under test circumstances similar to those set forth in NIJ standard no. 0101.04: (1) a 60 grain, 9 mm RBCD armor-piercing bullet at 2600 feet per second (FPS); (2) a 52 grain, 9 mm MagSafe Agent Load bullet at 2600 FPS; (3) a 77 grain, .40 caliber MagSafe bullet at 2400 FPS; and (4) a 92 grain, .45 caliber MagSafe Agent Load bullet at 2500 FPS.  
         [0034]     In further type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  200 , the first section  210  comprises 22 or more (e.g., 23, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 or more) layers of ZYLON-530, and the second section  220  comprises 3 or more (e.g., 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15 or more) layers of KEVLAR-726. (In these embodiments, one or more layers of soft armor material other than ZYLON-530 or KEVLAR-726 may be employed in the first or second layers  210 ,  220 , respectively, in addition to the layers specified above.) All of these embodiments also protect against the “supplemental” threats enumerated above.  
         [0035]     In still further type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  200 , an “overbuilt” section (i.e., more than 22 (e.g., 23, 24, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 or more) layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section  210 , or more than 3 (e.g., 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15 or more) layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the second section  220 ) is employed in one of the sections  210 ,  220 , and an “underbuilt” section (i.e., fewer than 22 layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section  210 , or fewer than 3 layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the second section  220 ) is employed in the other of the sections  210 ,  220 . In other type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  200 , such an “overbuilt” section is employed as one of the sections  210 ,  220 , and the other of the sections  210 ,  220  is omitted.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure  300  which generally comprises a first armor substructure comprising any of the embodiments disclosed herein of the armor structure  100 , positioned adjacent a second armor substructure comprising any of the embodiments disclosed herein of the armor structure  200 . The armor structure  300  is configured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed such that the first section  110  of the armor structure  100  is located closest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) and the second section  220  of the armor structure  200  is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc. to be protected by the armor structure  300 . Accordingly, the armor structure  300  includes a threat side  340  and an inner side  350 . The various embodiments of the armor structure  300  defeat handgun fire and various “supplemental” threats as discussed above, and achieve NIJ type IIIa protection.  
         [0037]      FIG. 4  depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure  400  which generally comprises a layered construction of a first section  410  and a second section  420 . The armor structure  400  is configured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed such that the first section  410  is located closest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) and the second section  420  is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc. to be protected by the armor structure  400 . Accordingly, the armor structure  400  includes a threat side  440  and an inner side  450 .  
         [0038]     In some embodiments, both of the first and second sections  410 ,  420 , are formed from soft armor material. In certain such embodiments, the first section  410  comprises ZYLON and the second section  420  comprises KEVLAR. In still other such embodiments, one or both of the first and second sections  410 ,  420  may comprise woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR, or multiple layers of woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR.  
         [0039]     In one such embodiment, the first section  410  comprises 90 layers of ZYLON-530 and the second section  420  comprises 26 layers of KEVLAR-726. (In addition, if desired, the layers of the second section  420  may be laminated to improve resistance to backface deformation.) This embodiment of the armor structure  400  defeats both handgun and rifle fire, and achieves NIJ type III protection.  
         [0040]     In further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  400 , the first section  410  comprises 90 or more (e.g., 91, 92, 95, 100, 110, 125, 150 or more) layers of ZYLON-530, and the second section  220  comprises 26 or more (e.g., 27, 28, 30, 35, 40, 50 or more) layers of KEVLAR-726. (In these embodiments, one or more layers of soft armor material other than ZYLON-530 or KEVLAR-726 may be employed in the first or second layers  410 ,  420 , respectively, in addition to the layers specified above.)  
         [0041]     In still further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  400 , an “overbuilt” section (i.e., more than 90 (e.g., 91, 92, 95, 100, 110, 125, 150 or more) layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section  410 , or more than 26 (e.g., 27, 28, 30, 35, 40, 50 or more) layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the second section  420 ) is employed in one of the sections  410 ,  420 , and an “underbuilt” section (i.e., fewer than 90 layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section  410 , or fewer than 26 layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the second section  420 ) is employed in the other of the sections  410 ,  420 . In other type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  400 , such an “overbuilt” section is employed as one of the sections  410 ,  420 , and the other of the sections  410 ,  420  is omitted.  
         [0042]      FIG. 5  depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure  500  which generally comprises a single section  510  formed from soft armor material and having a threat side  540  and an inner side  550 . The armor structure  500  is configured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed to protect a human wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc.  
         [0043]     In some embodiments, the armor structure  500  is formed from ZYLON; in certain such embodiments, the armor structure  500  may be formed from woven ZYLON, or multiple layers of woven ZYLON. In still another such embodiment, armor structure  500  comprises 258 layers of ZYLON-530. This embodiment of the armor structure  500  defeats both handgun and rifle fire, and achieves NIJ type III protection.  
         [0044]     In further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  500 , the structure  500  comprises 258 or more (e.g., 259, 260, 265, 275, 300, 350, 400 or more) layers of ZYLON-530. (In these embodiments, one or more layers of soft armor material other than ZYLON-530 may be employed in addition to the layers specified above.)  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure  600  which generally comprises a layered construction of a first section  610  and a second section  620 . The armor structure  600  is configured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed such that the first section  610  is located closest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) and the second section  620  is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc. to be protected by the armor structure  600 . Accordingly, the armor structure  600  includes a threat side  640  and an inner side  650 .  
         [0046]     In some embodiments, both of the first and second sections  610 ,  620 , are formed from soft armor material. In certain such embodiments, the first section  610  comprises ZYLON and the second section  620  comprises SPECTRASHIELD PLUS. In still other such embodiments, one or both of the first and second sections  610 ,  620  may comprise woven ZYLON or woven SPECTRASHIELD PLUS, or multiple layers of woven ZYLON or woven SPECTRASHIELD PLUS.  
         [0047]     In one such embodiment, the first section  610  comprises 100 layers of ZYLON-530 and the second section  620  comprises 135 layers of SPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902 (i.e., SPECTRASHIELD PLUS similar to style no. 902 available from Hexcel Schwebel of Anderson, S.C., or from Honeywell Corp. of Morristown, N.J.). This embodiment of the armor structure  600  defeats both handgun and rifle fire, and achieves NIJ type III protection.  
         [0048]     In further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  600 , the first section  610  comprises 100 or more (e.g., 101, 102, 105, 110, 125, 150, 200 or more) layers of ZYLON-530, and the second section  220  comprises 135 or more (e.g., 136, 137, 140, 150, 175, 200 or more) layers of SPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902. (In these embodiments, one or more layers of soft armor material other than ZYLON-530 or SPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902 may be employed in the first or second layers  610 ,  620 , respectively, in addition to the layers specified above.)  
         [0049]     In still further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  600 , an “overbuilt” section (i.e., more than 100 (e.g., 101, 102, 105, 110, 125, 150, 200 or more) layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section  610 , or more than 135 (e.g., 136, 137, 140, 150, 175, 200 or more) layers of SPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902 employed in the second section  620 ) is employed in one of the sections  610 ,  620 , and an “underbuilt” section (i.e., fewer than 100 layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section  610 , or fewer than 135 layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the second section  620 ) is employed in the other of the sections  610 ,  620 . In other type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure  600 , such an “overbuilt” section is employed as one of the sections  610 ,  620 , and the other of the sections  610 ,  620  is omitted.  
         [0050]     Any of the embodiments of the soft armor structures  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600  disclosed herein may be employed to construct any of a variety of armored equipment. For example, and of the disclosed armor structures may be employed to construct soft body armor, such as a bulletproof vest. In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , such a vest  705  is entirely constructed from one or a combination of the armor structures disclosed herein, providing ballistic protection of a given type (e.g., type IIIa, type III, type 2.7A, rifle-fire-defeating) that “wraps” completely around a torso T of a wearer W. In other words, such a vest provides 360-degree protection for the torso T (at the ballistic protection level provided by the armor structure  100 / 200 / 300 / 400 / 500 / 600  chosen to construct the vest  705 ), by defeating threats  715  approaching the standing/kneeling/sitting wearer W from any angle as depicted in  FIG. 7 . (For example, “360-degree” level III protection may be facilitated by constructing the vest  705  from any suitable embodiment of the armor structures  300 / 400 / 500 / 600  disclosed above.) The vest  705  may also be configured to cover the tops of the wearer&#39;s shoulders, to protect the torso T from threats from above.  
         [0051]      FIGS. 8-9  depict front and rear views, respectively, of another embodiment of a vest  805  that may be constructed with any one or combination of the armor structures  100 / 200 / 300 / 400 / 500 / 600  disclosed herein. (The dimensions and specifications listed on  FIGS. 8-9  are merely exemplary, and may be varied or omitted in other embodiments of the vest  805 .) The vest  805  generally comprises a torso cover  807  and one or more trauma plates  809 . The torso cover may be constructed from any of the armor structures disclosed herein, or any other suitable material, and the trauma plate(s)  809  may likewise be constructed from any of the herein-disclosed armor structures. The torso cover  807  extends behind or in front of the trauma plate(s)  809  so that enhanced protection is provided at the trauma plate(s). As seen in  FIG. 9 , the rear of the vest  805  may feature a spinal trauma plate to provide added protection at the wearer&#39;s spinal region. The spinal trauma plate may be formed from any of the armor structures disclosed herein, or may be formed from an outer section of 5 or more layers of ZYLON-530, a middle section of 6 or more layers of KEVLAR-726, and an inner section of 4 or more layers of KEVLAR-724 (i.e., KEVLAR similar to style no. 704 available from Hexcel Schwebel).  
         [0052]      FIG. 10  depicts a front view of another embodiment of the vest  805 , which may be generally similar to the embodiment of the vest  805  shown in  FIGS. 8-9 , except as indicated in  FIG. 10 . (As with  FIGS. 8-9 , the dimensions and specifications listed on  FIG. 10  are merely exemplary, and may be varied or omitted in other embodiments of the vest  805 .)  
         [0053]     Alternatively, any of the disclosed armor structures may be employed to construct soft body armor panels which may be sewn into, and/or enclosed in pockets formed in, a vest constructed from other suitable materials or fabrics.  
         [0054]     Any of the disclosed armor structures  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600  may also be employed to form armor panels for use in vehicles, either on or against the vehicle “skin” or in critical locations like seats, cockpits, fuel tanks, hydraulic lines, ammunition stores, etc. Similarly, any of the disclosed armor structures  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600  may be employed to construct helmets or armor panels for buildings.  
         [0055]     In constructing the armor structures and/or armored articles disclosed herein, each of the layers of soft armor material may be laser-cut into the desired perimeter shape. The layers may be cut individually or in groups of 2 or more. Laser cutting has proven advantageous in that it prevents fraying of woven soft armor materials as the laser heat tends to “heat-seal” the edges of the cut material. In some embodiments, an infrared laser or a carbon-dioxide laser may be employed.  
         [0056]      FIG. 11  depicts a construction technique that may be employed in joining together a number (e.g., 5, 10 or more) of layers  902  of soft armor material, to form a section or partial section of any of the armor structures  100 / 200 / 300 / 400 / 500 / 600  disclosed herein, or to form a complete armor structure. The technique involves applying an adhesive tape  904 , such as a polymer tape, over some or all of the perimeter edges of the “sandwich” of layers  902 . (In one embodiment, a polyethylene tape is employed.) After the tape  904  is applied, stitching  906  is passed through the tape  904  and layers  902 , using any suitable stitching process. The technique illustrated in  FIG. 11  may be employed in addition to the laser-cutting technique disclosed above.  
         [0057]      FIG. 12  depicts a stitch pattern that may be employed in stitching together a number of sections, layers, etc. to form any of the armor structures disclosed herein, or to form an armor panel or other armored article. The pattern includes a number (8 are depicted; alternatively, a smaller or larger number may be employed) of radial stitch lines  1002  that pass through the approximate center C of a panel/article  1000 . In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the radial stitch lines  1002  are approximately equally angularly spaced about the center C. A number of optional perimeter stitch lines  1004  may also be employed near the edges of the panel/article  1000 . (Although a square panel/article  1000  is depicted in  FIG. 12 , the depicted stitch pattern may be used in constructing panels/articles having any of a variety of perimeter shapes.)  
         [0058]      FIG. 13  depicts another stitch pattern that may be employed in stitching together a number of sections, layers, etc. to form any of the armor structures disclosed herein, or to form an armor panel or other armored article. Like the pattern shown in  FIG. 12 , the “spider-web” pattern of  FIG. 13  includes a number of radial stitch lines  1002  that pass through the approximate center C of the panel/article  1000 . A number of generally concentric circular stitch lines  1006  are also made to create the spider-web form shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0059]     Either of the stitch patterns shown in  FIG. 12  or  13 , or any other suitable stitch pattern, may be employed with the laser cutting procedure disclosed above, and/or the construction technique shown in  FIG. 11 , in constructing any of the armor structures or armored articles disclosed herein. In addition, any of the armor structures, panels, sections etc. may be encased in an appropriate structural or waterproofing casing during or after fabrication.  
         [0060]     Specifications for various materials discussed above are as set forth in the following tables.  
                                                                                 ZYLON-530: SPECIFICATIONS                                    Yarn Type   Warp Yarn   Zylon AS, 500 denier               Fill Yarn   Zylon AS, 500 denier           Fabric Weight   4.00   oz/yd 2                 136   g/m 2                  Weave Style   Plain                Nominal Construction   Warp Count   30           (yarns/inch)   Fill Count   30           Fabric Thickness   8.0   mils               0.20   mm           Breaking Strength   1080   lbf/in               1020   lbf/in                      
 
         [0061]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 KEVLAR-704: SPECIFICATIONS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Yarn Type 
                 Warp Yarn 
                 Kevlar 129, 840 denier 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fill Yarn 
                 Kevlar 129, 840 denier 
               
               
                   
                 Fabric Weight 
                 7.0 
                 oz/yd 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 237 
                 g/m 2   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Weave Style 
                 Plain 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Nominal Construction 
                 Warp Count 
                 31 
               
               
                   
                 (yarns/inch) 
                 Fill Count 
                 31 
               
               
                   
                 Fabric Thickness 
                 12.0 
                 mils 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0.3 
                 mm 
               
               
                   
                 Breaking Strength 
                 900 
                 lbf/in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 950 
                 lbf/in 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0062]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 KEVLAR-724: SPECIFICATIONS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Yarn Type 
                 Warp Yarn 
                 Kevlar 129, 1000 denier 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fill Yarn 
                 Kevlar 129, 1000 denier 
               
               
                   
                 Fabric Weight 
                 6.5 
                 oz/yd 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 220 
                 g/m 2   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Weave Style 
                 Plain 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Nominal Construction 
                 Warp Count 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 (yarns/inch) 
                 Fill Count 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 Fabric Thickness 
                 11.0 
                 mils 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0.28 
                 mm 
               
               
                   
                 Breaking Strength 
                 763 
                 lbf/in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 776 
                 lbf/in 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0063]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 KEVLAR-726: SPECIFICATIONS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Yarn Type 
                 Warp Yarn 
                 Kevlar 129, 840 denier 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fill Yarn 
                 Kevlar 129, 840 denier 
               
               
                   
                 Fabric Weight 
                 6.0 
                 oz/yd 
               
               
                   
                   
                 203 
                 g/m 2   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Weave Style 
                 Plain 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Nominal Construction 
                 Warp Count 
                 26 
               
               
                   
                 (yarns/inch) 
                 Fill Count 
                 26 
               
               
                   
                 Fabric Thickness 
                 10.0 
                 mils 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0.25 
                 mm 
               
               
                   
                 Breaking Strength 
                 760 
                 lbf/in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 770 
                 lbf/in 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0064]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902: SPECIFICATIONS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Yarn Type 
                 Warp Yarn 
                 Spectra 900, 1200 denier 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Fill Yarn 
                 Spectra 900, 1200 denier 
               
               
                   
                 Fabric Weight 
                 5.5 
                 oz/yd 2   
               
               
                   
                   
                 187 
                 g/m 2   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Weave Style 
                 Plain 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Nominal Construction 
                 Warp Count 
                 17 
               
               
                   
                 (yarns/inch) 
                 Fill Count 
                 17 
               
               
                   
                 Fabric Thickness 
                 18.0 
                 mils 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0.46 
                 mm 
               
               
                   
                 Breaking Strength 
                 900 
                 lbf/in 
               
               
                   
                   
                 850 
                 lbf/in 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0065]     Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.