Personal armor with performance destruction test coupons
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-9797689-B2
Publication Date
2017-10-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
A personal ballistic protection device incorporates multiple removable test coupons. Each of the test coupons are retained with the ballistic device during its use until each coupon is removed for test purposes. Each test coupon has a construction identical to the protective portions of the ballistic device and is removable and configured to allow for destructive testing. Sufficient coupons are provided with the ballistic protection device to allow for periodic testing over a predetermined useful life of the ballistic protection device. One embodiment of the device is a body armor vest.
Core Innovation
A personal ballistic protection device is described as a body armor vest that includes a ballistic shield having a ballistic construction. The vest is configured with multiple removable test coupons that each comprise the ballistic construction identical in construction to protective portions of the ballistic shields.
The coupons remain attached during a useful life period of the vest, and then one test coupon is periodically removed during a time equal to the useful life period. After removal, destructive testing is performed on the removed test coupon, including destructive ballistic performance testing without degrading the remaining shield.
The document further describes vest structure and coupon retention, including separable vest portions, an outer covering with an opening slit for inserting and removing the coupons, and securing devices such as hook-and-loop. An example multilayer aramid shield and coupon construction is described as a multilayer assembly including strike-face woven aramid and laminate with polyethylene film and multiple unidirectional aramid layers.
An additional stated benefit is that the test coupon thickness can create a standoff spacing gap to provide airflow for cooling and evaporation.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a method of destruction testing for a ballistic resistant garment using a defined useful life period and multiple removable test coupons that each include the ballistic construction, with destructive testing performed periodically over the useful life period by removing one coupon at a time. It therefore includes a time-based cadence tied to the useful life period and a coupon architecture representing the ballistic construction.
Destruction testing with a useful life period
Defining a useful life period.
Removable test coupons with identical ballistic construction
Providing a garment with a ballistic shield having a ballistic construction; removably securing to the garment on multiple test coupons, each test coupon comprising the ballistic construction.
Periodic destructive testing by removing one coupon at a time
Periodically, during a time equal to the useful life period, removing one test coupon and performing destructive testing on the test coupon.
The claim structure combines a defined useful life period, multiple removable test coupons that comprise the ballistic construction of the ballistic shield, and periodic destructive testing performed by removing one coupon at a time during a time equal to the useful life period.
Stated Advantages
Enables destructive ballistic performance testing on removed test coupons without degrading the remaining shield.
Coupon thickness can create a standoff spacing gap for airflow to enhance cooling and evaporation.
Documented Applications
Destruction testing of a ballistic resistant garment by periodically removing test coupons and performing destructive testing on the test coupons during the garment useful life period.
Destructive ballistic performance testing of test coupons during the useful life period.
Interested in licensing this patent?