Patent ID: 7685922

Claim:
A plural-layer composite armor system for protection against projectiles, the plural-layer composite armor system comprising a ceramic-inclusive-material-embedded elastomeric matrix material layer and a rigid backing layer, said ceramic-inclusive-material-embedded elastomeric matrix material layer including an elastomeric matrix material and plural ceramic-inclusive elements separated from each other and from said rigid backing layer, said ceramic-inclusive-material embedded elastomeric matrix material layer having a front embedded matrix layer surface and a back embedded matrix layer surface, said rigid backing layer having a front backing layer surface and a back backing layer surface, said back embedded matrix layer surface adjoining said front backing layer surface, said front embedded matrix layer surface being at least approximately situated in a first geometric plane, said back embedded matrix layer surface and said front backing layer surface each being at least approximately situated in a second geometric plane, said back backing layer being at least approximately situated in a third geometric plane, said ceramic-inclusive elements being embedded in said elastomeric matrix material, each said ceramic-inclusive element including ceramic material and being surrounded by some of said elastomeric matrix material, each said ceramic-inclusive element having a flat front elemental face and a two-dimensionally textured back elemental face, said two-dimensionally textured back elemental face being characterized by an at least substantially regular pattern of plural pyramidal-frustum-shaped protuberances and a recessed surface, each said protuberance having at least three flat side protuberant faces and a flat top protuberant face, each said flat side protuberant face being oblique with respect to said flat front elemental face and with respect to said flat top protuberant face, said flat top protuberant face being parallel to said flat front elemental face, said ceramic-inclusive elements being arrayed in said elastomeric matrix material so that said flat front elemental faces are at least approximately situated in a fourth geometric plane, said recessed surface is at least approximately situated in a fifth geometric plane, and said flat top protuberant faces are at least approximately situated in a sixth geometric plane, the six said geometric planes being at least approximately parallel to each other, wherein the plural-layer composite armor system attenuates destructive energy associated with being impacted by a projectile that travels generally in a direction from said front embedded matrix layer surface to said back backing layer surface and that penetrates said front embedded matrix layer surface so as to forcefully strike said flat front elemental face.