Pleated ballistic package for soft body armor

Abstract

A ballistic vest having a ballistic panel including a plurality of layers of ballistic material, wherein a portion of the layers of ballistic material include a series of folded pleats arranged at selected angles and intervals along the layer and sewn along their length.

1 . A ballistic panel for use in ballistic apparel comprising a plurality of layers of ballistic material wherein at least one of the layers includes a series of folded pleats arranged at intervals along the layer. 
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein there are multiple layers of ballistic material including a series of folded pleats. 
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the pleats are sewn along their length. 
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the pleats are arranged horizontally along the layer. 
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the pleats are arranged vertically along the layer. 
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the pleats are arranged at an angle along the layer. 
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the layers are woven ballistic material. 
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the layers are non-woven ballistic material. 
     
     
         9 . The panel of  claim 1  wherein the pleats are Z-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . A ballistic vest comprising:
 a front panel;   a rear panel;   at least one of the front and rear panels having a ballistic package comprising a plurality of layers of ballistic material wherein at least one of the layers includes a series of folded pleats arranged along the layer; and   connectors for attaching the front and rear panels together.   
     
     
         11 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein multiple layers of ballistic material include a series of folded pleats. 
     
     
         12 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein the pleats are sewn along their length. 
     
     
         13 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein the pleats are arranged horizontally along the layer. 
     
     
         14 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein the pleats are arranged vertically along the layer. 
     
     
         15 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein the pleats are arranged at an angle along the layer. 
     
     
         16 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein a portion of the layers are woven ballistic material. 
     
     
         17 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein a portion of the layers are non-woven ballistic material. 
     
     
         18 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein the pleats are Z-shaped. 
     
     
         19 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein there are a plurality of layers having vertically oriented pleats interposed between layers having horizontally oriented pleats. 
     
     
         20 . The vest of  claim 10  wherein there are layers of ballistic material having no pleats positioned between layers of ballistic material having pleats.