Abstract:
An improved armored plating system having a series of elongate tubes arranged in parallel fashion to form a protective array. Each tube has a rectilinear cross section with slanted sidewalls so that each tube partially overlaps the following tube and is partially overlapped by the previous tube. As such, the protective array may be placed on a curved surface while having no gaps in protection. The protective array is formed as alternating tubes slide past one another from opposing directions. A series of laminated members and an embossed member are slideably inserted into each tube and layered upon one another.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to an armored plating system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved armored plating system having laminated pieces and an embossed piece layered upon one another and where these pieces are contained in a series of array-forming tubes. 
   2. Background Information 
   The importance of armored plating seems obvious, yet cannot be overstated. One could reasonably argue that the importance of having reliable armored plating is more important than it ever has been. Such an argument could be made in view of several recent changes around the world. Currently, United States troops are placed under enemy fire on a daily basis on foreign soil. It is common to see daily casualty reports streaming in from the likes of Iraq and Afghanistan. In some instances, these casualties are made worse by troops not wearing protective armor; or, because the armor the troops were wearing could not stop the incoming bullet or shrapnel. 
   Although it may seem nonintuitive, an individual may choose not to wear known armored protection for several reasons. That is, the fiberglass composite used in known armor is friable. As such, particles associated with the composite often become embedded in one&#39;s skin or may be inhaled. Further, the long-range health implications associated with human interaction with these particles are not completely understood. 
   Known armored plating is inadequate for other reasons as well. It is well known to those skilled in the art that current armor cannot stop every kind of bullet that hits it, hence there are bullets known as “armor piercing bullets.” Typically, such bullets have a carbide head that efficiently deflects energy-absorbing armor components. Currently known armor cannot safely stop these types of bullets. On an ever-changing battlefield, the enemy is constantly upgrading the weapons it uses to defeat available protection. A back-and-forth struggle exists between updating the armor worn for protection and the weapons used to penetrate that protection. 
   In view of these problems, the United States Military is constantly assessing ways to improve soldier and vehicle protection. Armor requirements issued by the Military are updated often as the United States Military requires that armor worn by troops be better suited to stop faster and heavier bullets. Armor considered acceptable for use with military and law enforcement personnel, in light of recent changes in minimum acceptable standards, will soon be considered insufficient. In November 2004, changes were made to the desired standards of armored plating used by the Military. These changes were brought about, at least in part, by newly developed ammunition and explosives used by enemies of the United States of America. For example, the most desirable armor is that which can safely stop both individual bullets and shrapnel fragments. Armor should be able to protect against multiple impacts from 0.30 caliber and 0.50 caliber Fragment Simulating Projectiles (“FSP&#39;s”) and 7.62 mm cartridge. 
   Currently known armor worn by military and law enforcement personnel cannot stop an “armor piercing” bullet. Moreover, such known products have proven unsatisfactory in safely stopping the very type of object produced by explosive devices currently used by insurgents in Iraq. 
   It is important to note that the strength of known armored plating relies on a general fiberglass composite for adequate protection. In a sense, such a composite acts like a sponge. As the bullet traverses the fiberglass composite, it is wedged within the composite until friction sufficiently robs the bullet of mechanical energy. However, those wishing to penetrate such armor may exploit this safely mechanism. For example, it is well known to those skilled in the art that attempts have been made, with varying degrees of success, to coat bullets with TEFLON. The coating on these bullets is particularly effective in sufficiently reducing friction between the bullet and fiberglass composite so that each bullet passes through with minimal energy loss. As such, the very mechanism relied upon to provide safety might be exploited very easily. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved armored plate system which has many of the advantages of such systems known in the art and many novel features that result in armored plate system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the known systems, either along or in any combination thereof. 
   In satisfaction of the above, the present invention provides an improved armored plate system that offers high performance, low weight, and low cost. The present invention, by way of a novel use of components, and a novel combination of those components, provides for armor that can safely stop incoming bullets that known systems cannot. Also, the present invention avoids the hazards associated with known armor in so much as it is not friable. Nevertheless, the present system remains as flexible and as lightweight as known armored plate systems. 
   The present system is characterized by a series of tubes arranged with one another to form a protective array. Each tube slides past adjacent tubes to fit into place. These tubes have slanted sidewalls so that one overlaps the next to provide continuous protection even when the array is placed on a curved surface. Within each tube, a series of laminated and embossed components are layered upon one another. These laminated pieces act in concert to absorb and dissipate kinetic energy of a bullet striking the apparatus. Energy associated with an incident bullet is distributed along and between each laminated piece. The embossed pieces serve to hold laminated members in alignment and allow each tube to bend while preserving the integrity of each laminated member. 
   Particular forms of the system are thought to have laminated components of one or more particular finishes. For instance, useful forms are envisioned where laminated components have a powder coat finish or carbide finish. Other forms of the present invention are thought to be particularly useful where the component pieces of the armor system are strengthened with basalt. Such a form is thought to be particularly advantageous as basalt provides for extraordinary high strength yet is lightweight. 
   In view of the above, the present system solves problems associated with known protective armor. The present apparatus does not rely on friable material that often irritates the skin, eyes and lungs. Reducing the friction associated with an incoming bullet, such as with a TEFLON coating, will not thwart the effectiveness of the present invention. The combination of system components lends itself to flexibility in fitting around curved surfaces while offering seamless protection. Finally, the present system may have protective finishes that further strengthen the system. 
   In its most preferred form, the present system is capable of stopping:
         7.62 mm×39 (PS—steel core penetrator),   7.62 mm×54R LPS Ball (sniper and crew served),   7.62 mm×54R API,   0.30 calibers Fragment Simulating Projective (“FSP”),   0.50 caliber FSP,       

   thereby fully satisfying, and surpassing, current military requirements. Other known systems, alone or in combination, are simply not capable of providing this degree of protection in such a lightweight and flexible format. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Applicant&#39;s invention may be further understood from a description of the accompanying drawings, wherein unless otherwise specified, like referenced numerals are intended to depict like components in the various views. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . The most useful embodiments of apparatus  10  are envisioned as being used to fit both military and law enforcement personnel and the vehicles that transport those personnel. As will be discussed in greater detail, apparatus  10  lends itself to efficient storage and transport, making it ideal for being shipped to troops all over the world. 
   Apparatus  10  is characterized by a series of housing tubes  12 . In the preferred embodiment, housing tubes  12  are elongate tube members having a rectilinear cross section. Each housing tube  12  is arranged with one another in parallel fashion along its length. The assembly of each housing tube  12  forms a protective array  14 . As best seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , each housing tube  12  has slanted sidewalls so that, when arranged, an intermediate tube sufficiently overlaps the next tube and is sufficiently overlapped by the previous tube. Such an arrangement is thought to be particularly useful in maintaining continuity in protection when the apparatus is placed on a curved surface, such as a person&#39;s torso or vehicle side panel. During use, each housing tube  12  will have a surface resting against a person or vehicle on which the apparatus is placed, a surface facing that person&#39;s or vehicle&#39;s environment, and a pair of sidewalls juxtaposed with the sidewalls of adjoining housing tubes. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a protective array  14  of housing tubes  12  is formed as opposing housing tube strings  16  engage one another from opposite directions. Each housing tube string  16  is comprised of a series of spaced housing tubes  12  held in position by a series of straps  18  that extend substantially perpendicular to the length of each housing tube  12 . Each housing tube  12  is spaced from the other along string  16  so as to allow a housing tube  12 , from an opposing tubbing string  16 , to fit within that space. Tubing array  14  is formed as tubes  12  contained in opposing strings  16  slide along one another until a continuous, single array  14  is formed. The particular arrangement involving tubing strings  16  is particularly advantageous in so much as it allows for a straightforward assembly process that can be accomplished in a very short period of time. Moreover, tubing arrays  14  and tubing strings  16  can be stacked upon one another during storage or transport in a compact manner. As such, distribution of apparatus  10 , to areas where it is most needed but difficult to reach, can be accomplished in an efficient manner. Further, such an arrangement offers flexibility as each tube  12  may move in relation to the other so that array  14  may align with, and provide continuous protection for, objects having curved surfaces. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , contained within each housing member  12  is a series of laminated members  20  and one or more embossed members  22 . Preferably, within each tube  12 , laminated members  20  are layered upon one another, with the embossed member  22  contained in or near the middle of the layers. In the preferred embodiment, laminated members  20  and embossed member  22  are ANSI A225.1 or ASTM D3953-91 certified milled steel. Such material is preferred as it is held out for its good metallurgy properties. This type of steel particularly is strong, is somewhat malleable, and is able to bend or give without presenting the threat of producing shards or exploding. Other useful embodiments are envisioned where these members may be comprised of other materials. For example, particularly useful embodiments are envisioned where one or more of the laminated members is Carbide plate. Carbide, or Carbide plating, is more expensive; however, its superior performance with regard to stopping “armor piercing” bullets may well be worth the extra cost. Other useful embodiments are envisioned where laminated members  20  are powder coated. Powder coating is thought to be particularly beneficial in so much s the coating acts as an agent not only for holding laminated members  20  together, but as a means of bonding ceramics or other anti ballistic materials to any of the various surfaces of apparatus  10 . A powder coating finish further offers blast protection, anti fragmentation properties, and contains has no friable materials. Powder coating can be fire proofed and can be exposed to salt and UV radiation without substantial degradation. Finally, useful embodiments are envisioned where members  20  and  22  (and perhaps other components) are coated with or contain a basalt fiber material. For instance, basalt fibers may be contained within an epoxy coating on these components or may be mixed within the milled steel to act as a reinforcement mechanism. The use of basalt is particularly advantageous as it has particularly high tensile strength and is corrosion resistant. Sudaglass Fiber Technology, Inc., of Houston, Tex. USA, manufacturers such a material. 
   Both the laminated members  20  and the embossed member  22  lend several novel attributes to apparatus  10 . Providing for several laminated members  20  requires that an incoming bullet traverse several strike faces. As such, each layer acts in concert with other layers to absorb the kinetic energy of the bullet. Having several laminated layers, as opposed to a single stock piece, lend more flexibility to the apparatus. A single piece of stock is more likely to chip or shatter when struck by a bullet, or simply deflect the bullet. However, the arrangement of the present apparatus allows each layer to bend, or give, to some degree upon bullet impact. Such a bending or giving characteristic provides for an inelastic collision between a bullet and laminated members  20 . As such, the kinetic energy of an incoming bullet is converted to heat energy, which is better dissipated along and between the faces of adjacent laminated members. It is well known to those skilled in the art that a single piece of metal cannot readily dissipate heat energy in the same manner. As the bullet undergoes repeated inelastic collisions with individual layers, its kinetic energy dissipates faster than with other known systems. 
   The use of embossed member  22 , of sinusoidal nature along its length, further lends novel attributes to the present apparatus. Specifically, embossed member  22  provides sufficient tension between laminated members  20  and housing tube  12  so that laminated members  20  remains aligned therein. Embossed member  22  further serves to press each laminated member  20  against the interior of housing tube  12  and allows tube  12  to bend along its length while laminated members  20  remain straight. More specifically, upon bending, embossed member  22  takes on a lower amplitude so that the combination of laminated members  20  and embossed members  22  take on a lower profile. This flexibility accommodates bends in housing tube  12  while allowing laminated members  20  to remain straight. While the preferred embodiment is described as having a single embossed layer  22  as intermediate layer between laminated members  20 , particularly useful embodiments are envisioned as having three embossed members  22 . In such an embodiment, additional embossed members would be placed between an outer laminated member and an interior surface of housing tube  12 . Such an embodiment would provide for an even greater degree in bending flexibility, while preserving structural integrity of laminated members  20 . 
   The use of metal components, rather than some fiberglass composite, is presents other advantages as well. More specifically, the components of the present invention are not friable; as such, adverse effects on the body such as itching, irritation, and inhalation of particles and dust are eliminated. Further, apparatus  10  does not depend on friction to extent fiberglass containing armor does. As such, TEFLON coating, or some equivalent will not mitigate the effectiveness of apparatus  10 . 
   Apparatus  10  may be fit onto the torso of an individual or the side panel of a vehicle by any one of several attachment means. For instance, a series of “tie on” straps may be looped through the ends of each tube  12  and tied together. Or, metal straps or hooks may be tack welded along the edges and configured to engage one another or components of a vehicle. Certainly, several means to easily attach apparatus  10  to the object of protection will certainly be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.