Structurally reinforced and water resistant soft armor perimeter
A structurally reinforced and water resistant, soft armor ballistic panel for use in body armor garments includes: a plurality of ballistic fabric layers, a liquid-resistant binding tape, and a binding thread. The plurality of ballistic fabric layers includes either a plurality of woven fabric layers, a plurality of unwoven fabric layers, or a combination thereof. The liquid-resistant binding tape perimetrically encompasses the plurality of ballistic fabric layers, wherein the liquid-resistant binding tape is retained in position by the binding thread; the binding thread being stitched through the liquid-resistant binding tape and the plurality of ballistic fabric layers. Together, the liquid-resistant binding tape and the binding thread retain the plurality of ballistic fabric layers in a structurally flat formation and prevent liquid or moisture from seeping into a raw cut edge of each of the plurality of ballistic fabric layers.
1. A structurally reinforced panel comprising:
a plurality of ballistic fabric layers;
a binding tape;
a binding thread;
an adhesive;
the plurality of ballistic fabric layers comprising two outermost ballistic fabric layers and at least one intermediate ballistic fabric layer;
each of the two outermost ballistic fabric layers and the at least one intermediate ballistic fabric layer comprising a cut edge;
the binding tape being perimetrically disposed about the plurality of cut edges so as to prevent moisture from seeping into the plurality of cut edges;
the adhesive being applied in between the binding tape and an exterior surface of each of the two outermost ballistic fabric layers without being applied to the at least one intermediate ballistic fabric layer;
the binding thread being stitched through the plurality of cut edges, the adhesive and the binding tape; and
the plurality of cut edges being bound together by the binding tape, the adhesive and the binding thread in order to retain the plurality of ballistic fabric layers in a structurally flat formation.
2. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
the adhesive being used to chemically bind the binding tape to the two outermost ballistic fabric layers.
3. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 1 comprising:
a hook and loop fastening strip; and
the hook and loop fastening strip being connected in between the binding tape and an exterior surface of one of the plurality of ballistic fabric layers.
4. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 3 comprising:
the hook and loop fastening strip being positioned in between the binding thread and the cut edge of one of the plurality of ballistic fabric layers.
5. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 3 comprising:
the binding thread being positioned in between the hook and loop fastening strip and the cut edge of one of the plurality of ballistic fabric layers.
6. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ballistic fabric layers comprising a plurality of woven fabric layers.
7. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ballistic fabric layers comprising a plurality of unwoven fabric layers.
8. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binding tape is constructed at least in part from aramid.
9. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binding tape is constructed at least in part from nylon.
10. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binding tape is constructed at least in part from polyester.
11. The structurally reinforced panel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the binding tape is constructed at least in part from polyethylene.