Patent ID: 8459167

Claim:
An armor structure for a vehicle underbody, the armor structure comprising: an inner plate that is mounted proximate to the vehicle underbody, the inner plate having a plurality of first openings formed through opposing planar surfaces of the inner plate; and an outer plate that is mounted distal to the vehicle underbody, the outer plate having a plurality of second openings formed through opposing planar surfaces of the outer plate, wherein the inner plate and the outer plate are substantially parallel and separated by a spacing; the inner plate and the outer plate each have substantially equal V bends at an obtuse angle, and the V bends in the inner plate and the outer plate are aligned; the first openings and the second openings are (i) substantially equal in area, and (ii) implemented at an angle other than perpendicular to the planar surfaces of the inner plate and the outer plate; wherein, the first openings and the second openings are aligned and provide fluid communication through the armor structure; and when an underbody blast event is encountered by the vehicle underbody, the outer plate is forced towards, and substantially against the inner plate such that the first and second openings are no longer aligned, and such that fluid communication via each of the first openings is reduced or prevented.