Patent ID: 7687412

Claim:
A flexible ballistic resistant body armor vest that has improved resistance to pick-up of water and other liquids, said flexible armor being incapable of free-standing without collapsing, said vest comprising (i) a plurality of layers of a flexible composite material, said flexible composite material comprising a plurality of non-woven fibrous layers, said non-woven fibrous layers comprising a network of high tenacity aramid fibers unidirectionally arranged and being in a matrix comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane resin, said matrix being applied to said fibrous layers as a copolymer mix of polyurethane resins in water, said matrix resin and said fibers being consolidated into a single unitary layer, and (ii) a plurality of layers of a second composite material formed from an aramid fabric, wherein said armor exhibits at least one of the following properties: (a) said armor has a V50 of at least about 1920 fps (585.6 mps) when impacted with a 16 grain projectile, after the armor has been submersed in sea water for 24 hours at 70° F. ±5° F. (21° C.±2.8° C.), (b) said armor retains at least about 85% of its V50 performance after immersion in tap water at 70° F.±5° F. (21° C.±2.8° C) for 20 hours, when impacted with a 17 grain fragment simulated projectile, and (c) said armor retains at least about 85% of its V50 performance after immersion in gasoline at 70° F.±5° F. (21° C.±2.8° C.) for 4 hours, when impacted with a 16 grain projectile.