Abstract:
A camouflage cover that is simple to deploy and store and is robust to all weather conditions and storage cycles provides a close visual match and close visible and IR spectral signature matches to surrounding vegetation. The cover incorporates a mixture of SAP and cellulose pulp containing approximately 90% water laminated between opaque, non-woven Tencel™ layers to emulate the spectral signature of leaves. Outer polymer film layers prevent water evaporation of the SAP. Organic dye-printed patterns can be applied to one or more of the Tencel™ and film layers. The SAP mixture can be limited to leaf regions of the cover, whereby branch regions include cellulose but not SAP. The cover can be petalized by cuts made, for example, along leaf and branch region boundaries. A gloss-controlling aerogel coating can be applied to outer surfaces of the camouflage cover to match a gloss of the vegetation.
Abstract:
A camouflage system adaptively matches the visible and IR spectrum of surrounding vegetation. A bio-chromophore dye solution circulated through an upper channel and distributed by a pulp or fabric matches the visible and biological IR spectrum, while water evaporated from the upper channel or from a separate lower channel matches the water IR spectrum. Dye can be retained in the pulp or continuously circulated. Permanently printed colors and/or patterns can also be included. Petalation cooperative with a channel flow pattern can release evaporated water and inhibit LiDAR detection. An upper waxy layer and surface embossing can avoid specular reflections. The camouflage signature can be compared with the environment and automatically adjusted as needed. Embodiments include thermal management, electromagnetic shielding, and/or radar scattering/absorbing subsystems. An airbag ground plane can match a terrain contour and avoid LiDAR detection. Multiple zones can provide adaptive display of visible and IR patterns.
Abstract:
A method for forming interconnections between electronic devices embedded in a textile includes weaving a textile panel including at least one smart fiber having an electronic device embedded in a central portion thereof and at least one electrically conducting filament proximal to an outer boundary thereof. While the panel is in the weaving machine, fiducials not visible to the eye are created in the panel that are correlated in location with the smart fiber(s). After removing the textile panel from the weaving machine, machine detection is used to locate the fiducials, thereby mapping distortions of the fiber pattern. An interconnect pattern is transformed to match the distorted fiber pattern of the conducting fibers, and is applied to the textile panel to form an electrical connection with the electronic device(s). The fiducials can include infra-red phosphors. Vias can be formed to provide electrical access to the conducting filament(s).
Abstract:
A textile assembly suitable for integration into a wearable article includes an outer layer having a distributed pattern of penetrations configured to facilitate load carriage, and a protective layer having filament and staple yarns, at least 25% of which have an average tenacity of greater than 15 gpd. The penetrations can be approximately 1 inch long and 0.25 inches wide, and can have a tear resistance when loaded with a 1-inch wide webbing strap of greater than 50 lbf. The textile assembly can have less than 2% consumption per ASTM D6413. In embodiments, at least one layer of polymeric or elastomeric coating substantially encapsulates the yarns of the protective layer. Embodiments provide greater than 600 fps 2 gr RCC protection as measured using Mil Std 662F. The textile assembly can be sewn into a garment, which can be a pant, a shirt, or a jacket.
Abstract:
A slash-protecting panel is affordable, comfortable, flexible, light, and concealable, while providing at least 80N HOSDB slash protection. A plurality of solid elements are aligned on upper and lower backing sheets in rows and columns separated by continuous gaps between 25% and 95% as wide as the solid elements, the upper elements being centered above the gap intersections of the lower elements, leaving isolated gap “islands” uncovered but no continuous gaps. Embodiments further include a third layer with smaller “button” solid elements arranged behind the gap islands, leaving no gaps. The solid elements can be ceramic or metal, and the backing sheets can be ballistic fabric, or any convenient woven, non-woven, or warp knit. Solid elements can be attached to the sheets by rivets or adhesives, or held in pockets. Embodiments include an inner and/or an outer covering layer of a knit or similar fabric for added comfort.
Abstract:
A protective garment system fabricated from ballistic textiles having a V50 on 2 grain RCC of at least 300 fps as measured by Mil-Spec 662F provides good ballistic and fragmentary protection, and can be worn in lieu of conventional clothing without discomfort to the wearer. Embodiments overcome prior art ballistic fabric limitations by incorporating novel construction, such as plaiting and/or twill or satin weaving, as well as novel yarn selection, to enable comfortable skin contact, and by applying coatings to improve abrasion resistance, UV resistance, and color acceptance. Embodiments incorporate layers of ballistic fabric in critical areas, either by overlapping protective clothing articles, and/or by incorporating multiple layers of protective fabric into an individual protective garment. Embodiments provide good moisture transport for long term comfort. In certain embodiments, substantially all of the garment's mass is protective, including pockets, lapels, load carriage, and any other “folded” features.
Abstract:
A tire having reduced mass and low rolling resistance and a method of manufacture thereof achieves reduced weight by using thin layers of thermoplastic polyurethanes (“TPU's”) to heat seal the carcass, breaker, and tread layers of the tire to each other, rather than embedding the layers in conventional, relatively thicker and heavier layers of sulfur cured vulcanized carbon filled elastomers. Creep and “spring-back” of the thermoplastic polyurethanes during cure is avoided by maintaining the adhered layers under pressure until the assembly cools below its glass transition temperature. In embodiments, the heat sealing can be performed on the forming drum, and in some embodiments cool rollers are applied to the heat-sealed carcass so as to accelerate the cooling to below the glass transition temperature.
Abstract:
A new class of protective fabrics having good ballistic and fragmentary protection also provide wearable drape, softness, and moisture transport, as well as good UV and abrasion resistance and color acceptance, making them comfortable to wear as garment fabrics. The protective fabrics are constructed from yarns having at least 20% ballistic fibers with greater than 12 gpd tenacity. A combined cover factor of between 55% and 80% avoids added stiffness due to yarn distortion at the crossing points. In embodiments, a long-float weave such as twill or satin with reduced crossing point density improves the hand of the fabric, and in some embodiments provides a different character on each face so that a predominantly staple fabric face is in contact with skin of a user, thereby providing better wearing comfort than a plain weave.