Ballistic panel assemblies for use in body armor and method of forming ballistic panel assemblies

Abstract

A ballistic panel assembly for use in body armor includes at least one subassembly including at least one layer including fibers that extend from at least one side thereof and at least one edge guard encompassing at least a portion of the extending fibers. The ballistic panel assembly further includes a waterproof cover encasing the at least one subassembly. The cover includes a front section and a rear section. A waterproof seal is formed between the front section and the rear section around at least a portion of perimeters thereof adjacent to the at least one edge guard after the subassembly is placed between the front section and the rear section. The edge guard can, for example, include an adhesive tape.

1 . A ballistic panel assembly for use in body armor, comprising:
 at least one subassembly comprising at least one layer comprising fibers that extend from at least one side thereof and at least one edge guard encompassing at least a portion of the extending fibers; and   a waterproof cover encasing the at least one subassembly, the cover comprising a front section and a rear section, a waterproof seal being formed between the front section and the rear section around at least a portion of perimeters thereof adjacent to the at least one edge guard after the subassembly is placed between the front section and the rear section.   
     
     
         2 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one layer comprises a woven aramid fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one layer comprises a woven para-aramid fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 1  further comprising at least a first stitching around the entire perimeter of the subassembly through all layers of the subassembly. 
     
     
         5 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 4  further comprising at least a second stitching around the entire perimeter of the subassembly through all layers of the subassembly, the second stitching being spaced from the first stitching. 
     
     
         6 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the edge guard comprises an adhesive tape. 
     
     
         7 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the waterproof seal is formed between the front section and the rear section via a polymeric welding technique. 
     
     
         8 . A method of forming a ballistic panel assembly for use in body armor, comprising:
 forming at least one subassembly comprising at least one layer comprising fibers that extend from at least one side thereof and at least one edge guard encompassing at least a portion of the extending fibers; and   encasing the subassembly and the at least one edge guard within a waterproof cover, the cover comprising a front section and a rear section, a waterproof seal being formed between the front section and the rear section around at least a portion of perimeters thereof adjacent to the at least one edge guard after the subassembly is placed between the front section and the rear section.   
     
     
         9 . A ballistic panel assembly for use in body armor, comprising:
 at least one subassembly comprising at least one composite layer comprising a plurality of plies of a polymeric film and a plurality of plies formed form ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers, wherein at least one ply of the polymeric film is alternated with a plurality of plies formed form ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers.   
     
     
         10 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 8  wherein a single ply of the polymeric film is alternated with a plurality plies formed form ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 9  wherein the polymeric film is a polycarbonate film. 
     
     
         12 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a waterproof cover encasing the at least one subassembly. 
     
     
         13 . A ballistic panel assembly for use in body armor, comprising:
 at least one subassembly comprising a plurality of layers of material to form a strike face and a wear face and at least a first stitching around the entire perimeter of the subassembly through all layers of the subassembly; and   a waterproof cover encasing the at least one subassembly.   
     
     
         14 . The ballistic panel assembly of  claim 12  further comprising at least a second stitching around the entire perimeter of the subassembly through all layers of the subassembly, the second stitching being spaced from the first stitching.