Releasably Engagable System Of Ballistic-Resistant Panels

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a releasably engagable system of ballistic-resistant panels including a first ballistic-resistant panel comprising a ceramic plate system, the first ballistic-resistant panel having opposing first ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces; and a second ballistic-resistant panel having opposing second ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces. Additionally, the embodiments of the releasably engagable systems of ballistic-resistant panels include at least one of fasteners, an adhesive coating, or a securement element, all of which function to releasably engage the second ballistic-resistant panel front surface with the first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in fixed adjacent relation to provide releasably engaged ballistic-resistant panels.

1 - 68 . (canceled) 
     
     
         69 . A method of making a releasably engagable system of ballistic-resistant panels, comprising:
 providing a first ballistic-resistant panel comprising a ceramic plate, said first ballistic-resistant panel having opposing first ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   providing a second ballistic-resistant panel formed from a plurality of ballistic-resistant fabric sheets, said second ballistic-resistant panel having opposing second ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   wherein said second ballistic-resistant panel is classified as Type II or Type IIIA or Type III or Type IV armor in compliance with NIJ Standard-0101.06;   coupling a plurality of first fasteners to said first ballistic-resistant panel proximate a first ballistic-resistant panel perimeter;   coupling a plurality of second fasteners to said second ballistic-resistant panel proximate a second ballistic-resistant panel perimeter, said second fasteners configured to releasably engage with said first fasteners to fasten said second ballistic-resistant panel front surface to said first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in fixed adjacent relation to provide releasably engaged ballistic-resistant panels; and   configuring a first ballistic-resistant panel inner portion and a second ballistic-resistant panel inner portion to be void of corresponding said first and second fasteners;   wherein in said fixed adjacent relation, said first and second ballistic-resistant panels are precluded from (i) axial movement away from one another, (ii) lateral movement in relation to one another, and (iii) vertical movement in relation to one another upon subjection to one or more ballistic threats.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising:
 encasing said ceramic plate in a containment layer to provide an encased ceramic plate; and   configuring said encased ceramic plate for releasable engagement with said second ballistic-resistant panel.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70 , further comprising coupling said first fasteners to said containment layer. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising:
 coupling said first fasteners to said first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in spaced apart relation proximate said first ballistic-resistant panel perimeter; and   coupling said second fasteners to said second ballistic-resistant panel front surface in spaced apart relation proximate said second ballistic-resistant panel perimeter.   
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein each said ballistic-resistant fabric sheet comprises a plurality of fibers bonded by a resin. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said ballistic-resistant fabric sheets are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: fiberglass, aramid fibers, para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, polyolefins, and thermoplastic polyethylenes. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said ballistic-resistant fabric sheets comprise ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylenes. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising configuring said first and second ballistic-resistant panels for disposition within a garment to provide a ballistic-resistant garment. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 76 , further comprising configuring said first and second ballistic-resistant panels for disposition within a pocket of said garment. 
     
     
         78 . A method of making a releasably engagable system of ballistic-resistant panels, comprising:
 providing a first ballistic-resistant panel comprising a ceramic plate, said first ballistic-resistant panel having opposing first ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   providing a second ballistic-resistant panel formed from a plurality of ballistic-resistant fabric sheets, said second ballistic-resistant panel having opposing second ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   wherein said second ballistic-resistant panel is classified as Type II or Type IIIA or Type III or Type IV armor in compliance with NIJ Standard- 0101 . 06 ;   configuring said first and second ballistic-resistant panels for disposition within a pocket of a garment to provide a ballistic-resistant garment;   coupling a plurality of first fasteners to said first ballistic-resistant panel proximate a first ballistic-resistant panel perimeter;   coupling a plurality of second fasteners to said second ballistic-resistant panel proximate a second ballistic-resistant panel perimeter, said second fasteners configured to releasably engage with said first fasteners to fasten said second ballistic-resistant panel front surface to said first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in fixed adjacent relation to provide releasably engaged ballistic-resistant panels; and   configuring a first ballistic-resistant panel inner portion and a second ballistic-resistant panel inner portion to be void of corresponding said first and second fasteners.   
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , further comprising configuring said first and second ballistic-resistant panels for coupling to a garment to provide a ballistic-resistant garment for protecting a front torso of a wearer from ballistic threats;
 wherein when worn, a ballistic-resistant garment inner portion which protects a majority of said front torso is void of corresponding said first and second fasteners.   
     
     
         80 . A method of making a releasably engagable system of ballistic-resistant panels, comprising:
 providing a first ballistic-resistant panel comprising a ceramic plate, said first ballistic-resistant panel having opposing first ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   providing a second ballistic-resistant panel formed from a plurality of anti-ballistic sheets, said second ballistic-resistant panel having opposing second ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   configuring said first and second ballistic-resistant panels for disposition within a pocket of a garment to provide a ballistic-resistant garment;   directly coupling a plurality of first fasteners to said first ballistic-resistant panel proximate a first ballistic-resistant panel perimeter; and   directly coupling a plurality of second fasteners to said second ballistic-resistant panel proximate a second ballistic-resistant panel perimeter, said second fasteners configured to releasably engage with said first fasteners to fasten said second ballistic-resistant panel front surface to said first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in fixed adjacent relation to provide releasably engaged ballistic-resistant panels;   wherein said first and second fasteners are selected from the group consisting of:   magnets, a hook and loop fastening system, and a releasable post-and-socket fastening system.   
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein said first and second fasteners are selected from the group consisting of: magnets and a hook and loop fastening system. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein said first and second fasteners comprise a hook and loop fastening system. 
     
     
         83 . A method of making a releasably engagable system of ballistic-resistant panels, comprising:
 providing a first ballistic-resistant panel comprising a ceramic plate, said first ballistic-resistant panel having opposing first ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   providing a second ballistic-resistant panel consisting of a plurality of anti-ballistic sheets and resin, said second ballistic-resistant panel having opposing second ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   configuring said first and second ballistic-resistant panels for disposition within a pocket of a garment to provide a ballistic-resistant garment;   coupling a plurality of first fasteners to said first ballistic-resistant panel proximate a first ballistic-resistant panel perimeter;   coupling a plurality of second fasteners to said second ballistic-resistant panel proximate a second ballistic-resistant panel perimeter, said second fasteners configured to releasably engage with said first fasteners to fasten said second ballistic-resistant panel front surface to said first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in fixed adjacent relation to provide releasably engaged ballistic-resistant panels; and   configuring a first ballistic-resistant panel inner portion and a second ballistic-resistant panel inner portion to be void of corresponding said first and second fasteners.   
     
     
         84 . A method of making a releasably engagable system of ballistic-resistant panels, comprising:
 providing a first ballistic-resistant panel comprising a ceramic plate, said first ballistic-resistant panel having opposing first ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   providing a second ballistic-resistant panel having opposing second ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces;   coupling a plurality of first fasteners to said ceramic plate; and   insetting a plurality of second fasteners within said second ballistic-resistant panel to inwardly extend into said second ballistic-resistant panel front surface, said second fasteners configured to releasably engage with said first fasteners to fasten said second ballistic-resistant panel front surface to said first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in fixed adjacent relation to provide releasably engaged ballistic-resistant panels; and   wherein said first and second fasteners comprise corresponding first and second magnets.   
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein said releasably engaged ballistic-resistant panels afford greater protection against ballistic threats than said first ballistic-resistant panel or said second ballistic-resistant panel provides individually. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 84 , further comprising:
 coupling said first fasteners to said first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in spaced apart relation proximate a first ballistic-resistant panel perimeter; and   coupling said second fasteners to said second ballistic-resistant panel front surface in spaced apart relation proximate a second ballistic-resistant panel perimeter.   
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein said first and second magnets generate an audible indicium upon releasable magnetic engagement to audibly alert a user that said first and second ballistic-resistant panels are releasably magnetically engaged to provide releasably magnetically engaged ballistic-resistant panels. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein said first and second ballistic-resistant panels comply with NIJ Standard-0101.06.