BALLISTIC RESISTANT PANEL WITH EDGE SHOT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD

1 . A ballistic resistant panel assembly, comprising:

a plurality of ballistic resistant plies positioned in a stack assembly, wherein:

at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies comprises a larger dimension than other ballistic resistant plies positioned within the stack; and

the at least one ply comprises a bend; and

at least a portion of the bend is spaced apart from a peripheral edge of the at least one ply.

2 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein a strike face side of the ballistic resistant panel assembly includes the at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies.

3 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 2 , wherein the at least one ply includes a plurality of plies positioned in overlying relationship to one another on the strike side of the ballistic resistant panel assembly.

4 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of plies within the at least one ply have the same dimensions.

5 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies are constructed of woven ballistic resistant fibers.

6 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 5 , wherein the woven ballistic resistant fibers are composed of one of an aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, PBO (poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole) or high strength nylon.

7 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the other ballistic resistant plies of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies is constructed of one of woven ballistic resistant fibers or a laminate encasement of ballistic resistant fibers.

8 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 7 , wherein the laminate encasement of ballistic resistant fibers comprises one of unidirectional fibers or non-unidirectional fibers.

9 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies comprises a tab member associated with the bend wherein the tab member extends in a direction away from the at least one ply and extends over and beyond at least one peripheral edge of the other ballistic resistant plies positioned within the stack.

10 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 9 wherein the tab member extends over all peripheral edges of the other ballistic resistant plies positioned within the stack.

11 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 10 wherein the tab member extends beyond the other ballistic resistant plies positioned within the stack such that a portion of the tab member is positioned to overlie a ballistic resistant ply, of the other ballistic resistant plies, wherein the portion of the tab is positioned on a back face of the ballistic resistant panel.

12 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one row of stitches are positioned along the ballistic resistant panel securing together the at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies, the other ballistic resistant plies and the portion of the tab member positioned overlying the ballistic resistant ply of the other ballistic resistant plies and positioned on the back face side of the ballistic resistant panel.

13 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 9 wherein a portion of the tab member is positioned between two plies of the other ballistic resistant plies.

14 . The ballistic resistant panel assembly of claim 13 wherein at least one row of stitches are positioned along the ballistic resistant panel securing together the at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies, the other ballistic resistant plies and the portion of the tab member positioned between the two plies of the other ballistic resistant plies.

15 . A method for assembling a ballistic resistant panel assembly, comprising the steps of:

positioning a plurality of ballistic resistant plies in a stack wherein at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies comprises a larger dimension than other ballistic resistant plies positioned within the stack; and

bending the at least one ply placing at least one bend in the at least one ply wherein at least a portion of the at least one bend is spaced apart from a peripheral edge of the at least one ply.

16 . The ballistic resistant assembly of claim 15 , wherein the positioning includes placing the peripheral edges of the other ballistic resistant plies in alignment within the stack.

17 . The ballistic resistant assembly of claim 15 , wherein:

bending of the at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies includes positioning a portion of the at least one ply to extend over and beyond at least one peripheral edge of the other ballistic resistant plies within the stack; and

bending includes inserting an end portion, of the portion of the at least one ply, between two plies of the other ballistic resistant plies.

18 . The ballistic resistant assembly of claim 17 , further including stitching at least one row of stitches positioned along the ballistic resistant panel securing together the at least one ply, the other ballistic resistant plies and the end portion.

19 . The ballistic resistant assembly of claim 15 , wherein:

bending of the at least one ply of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies includes positioning a portion of the at least one ply to extend over and beyond each peripheral edge of the other ballistic resistant plies within the stack; and

bending includes positioning an end portion of the portion of the at least one ply to overlie a ballistic resistant ply, of the other ballistic resistant plies, positioned on a back face side of the ballistic resistant panel.

20 . The ballistic resistant assembly of claim 19 , further including stitching at least one row of stitches positioned along the ballistic resistant panel securing together the at least one ply, the other ballistic resistant plies and the end portion of the at least one of the plurality of ballistic resistant plies positioned overlying the ballistic resistant ply, of the other ballistic resistant plies, positioned on the back face side of the ballistic resistant panel.