Patent ID: 7954418

Claim:
A composite armor panel configured to absorb energy to protect a body from the impact of a high energy event, the panel comprising: an inner sheet defining opposite inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface directed toward the body; and a plurality of energy absorption elements disposed on the outer surface of the inner sheet, each energy absorption element connected at a terminating end to the inner sheet, formed of a laminate composite material, and configured with: (a) a base extending from the terminating end generally outward from the inner sheet and (b) a cap extending in a generally transverse direction from the base, wherein each energy absorption element is configured to be deformed inwardly by the impact and thereby at least partially delaminate the laminate composite material of the energy absorbing element, wherein the cap is connected to a distal end of the base opposite the terminating end of the energy absorption element and defining an angle therebetween, and wherein the cap extends between a first end and a second end and the distal end of the base is connected to the cap between the first and second ends of the cap.