Ballistic material with structural stays

Abstract

The disclosure relates to ballistic material with structural stays, in particular, the disclosure relates to ballistic material having resilient structural stays woven directly into the ballistic material. Ballistic material having structural stays resists bunching or pulling, providing improved force distribution and better user protection in the event of multiple ballistic strikes.

1 . A ballistic material comprising:
 a plurality of ballistic filaments woven into a fabric, and,   a plurality of structural stays interwoven with the ballistic filaments.   
     
     
         2 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the structural stays are constructed as an elongate flat strip having a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the cross-section of the structural stays are one of, round, oval and square. 
     
     
         4 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the structural stays are comprised of one of, low density polyethylene, nylon, vinyl and impact resistant plastic. 
     
     
         5 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the structural stays are comprised of a ballistic composite material such as Kevlar, Dyneema and Spectra in a flexible epoxy matrix. 
     
     
         6 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of structural stays is equidistantly spaced. 
     
     
         7 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of structural stays is irregularly spaced. 
     
     
         8 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of structural stays form a unidirectional pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of structural stays form a crossing pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The ballistic material of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the plurality of structural stays intersect with at least another of the plurality of structural stays at 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The ballistic material of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the plurality of structural stays intersect with at least another of the plurality of structural stays at an angle less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of structural stays have an irregular surface profile. 
     
     
         13 . The ballistic material of  claim 12  wherein at least one the plurality of ballistic filaments mechanically interlock with at least one of the plurality of structural stays. 
     
     
         14 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the structural stays are woven into the warp of the fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The ballistic material of  claim 1  wherein the structural stays are woven into the weft of the fabric. 
     
     
         16 . A ballistic material panel comprising:
 a plurality of ballistic material layers having,
 a plurality of ballistic filaments woven into a fabric, 
 a plurality of structural stays interwoven with the ballistic filaments, and,
 the plurality of structural stays forming a unidirectional pattern. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The ballistic material panel of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of material layers having the structural stays aligned in the same direction. 
     
     
         18 . The ballistic material panel of  claim 16  wherein a least one of plurality of material layers having the structural stays aligned in a non-uniform direction. 
     
     
         19 . A ballistic protection device comprising:
 a carrier garment having,
 a ballistic panel envelope, 
 a carrier suspension, 
   a ballistic material panel inside of the panel envelope having,
 a plurality of ballistic material layers comprising,
 a plurality of ballistic material filaments woven into a fabric, and, 
 a plurality of structural stays interwoven with the ballistic filaments. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The ballistic protection device of  claim 19  wherein the ballistic material panel includes at least one layer of ballistic material without structural stays. 
     
     
         21 . The ballistic protection device of  claim 19  wherein the carrier suspension mechanically connects to at least one of the plurality of structural stays.