This pane comprises at least one sheet of plastics material, for example a polycarbonate, which has a high resistance to impacts and is interposed between two sheets of glass or the like. A film of a transparent fluid is interposed between the sheet of plastics material and each adjacent sheet of glass. A sealing element for the fluid extends around the periphery of the pane. Application as a bullet-proof pane to wind screens and windows of automobile vehicles, to glass, windows and doors of buildings, etc . . .

A hypervelocity projectile shield which includes a hollow semi-flexible housing fabricated from a plastic like, or otherwise transparent membrane which is filled with a fluid (gas or liquid). The housing has a inlet valve--similar to that on a tire or basketball, to introduce an ablating fluid into the housing. The housing is attached by a Velcro mount or double-sided adhesive tape to the outside surface of a structure to be protected. The housings are arrayed in a side-by-side relationship and may be in layers and in an over-lapping relationship for complete coverage of the surface to be protected. In use, when a hypervelocity projectile penetrates the outer wall of a housing it is broken up and then the projectile is ablated as it travels through the fluid, much like a meteorite "burns up" as it enters the earth's atmosphere, and the housing is deflated. The deflated housing can be easily spotted for replacement, even from a distance. Replacement is then accomplished by simply pulling a deflated housing off the structure and installing a new housing.

The present invention relates to ballistic protection for use in personal equipment or in vehicles of various types such as cars, helicopters and boats or for use in permanent or temporary protection of various types in buildings or other fixed or mobile installations. The ballistic protection according to the present invention can be employed as protection against various kinds of low or high-velocity projectiles in addition to which it will be capable of offering protection against splinters and various kinds of fragments which could other wise injure people or damage vehicles or installations if they had the opportunity of penetrating right through an external protective layer. The ballistic protection according to the present invention can further be combined with a drinking water reservoir since an essential part of the protection is a liquid container. The drinking water supply, for example, for a soldier is thereby improved both with regard to available volume and position/carrying capacity.

A penetration-resistant modular security passway (20) includes a concrete vestibule (24), a doorframe (70), and a penetration-reactive security door (32). The vestibule (24) has a plurality of reinforcing members (36), a plurality of lifting lugs (26), and an embedded passive antipersonnel device (56). The doorframe (70) has hinge and strike jambs (108,110) attached to the reinforcing members (36). The hinge jamb (108) has a plurality of studs (124) and the strike jamb (110) a plurality of deadbolts (126) for protrusion into the door (32). The door (32) has a substruction (72), to which are affixed grates (86,92) and cladding (84,90). A girdle (100) is affixed to the cladding (84,90). Within a space (76) within the substruction (72), a metallic cable (78) is woven and a plurality of individually sealed tubes (96) containing a foaming agent (98) under pressure are suspended.

An article of protective clothing includes a hardened armor section such as impact shields and an underlying layer incorporating one or more inflate fluid cavities or cushions. The fluid cavities are in communication with a reservoir of fluid under pressure. The reservoir can be used in conjunction with an impact sensor that directs the fluid to the cushions upon projectile impact or can be directed to supply fluid to the cushions upon user demand. In either case, inflation of the cushions is only accomplished when needed, thereby enhancing the comfort of a user.