Flexible composites having rigid isolated panels and articles fabricated from same

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to flexible composites and to articles of manufacture fabricated therefrom.
The composite of this invention comprises one or more composite layers, at least one of said layers comprising a plurality of first planar bodies fixed on a surface of a first flexible layer or fixed between said first flexible layer and a second flexible layer such that each of said first bodies is isolated from and out of contact with each other of said first bodies forming a base layer having a pattern of filled regions formed from said first flexible layer and said first bodies or formed from said first and second flexible layers and said first bodies, and unfilled regions formed from said first flexible layer or said first and second flexible layers, and a plurality of second planar bodies on a surface of said base layer, or on a surface of a third flexible layer, or fixed between said third flexible layer and a fourth flexible layer such that each of said second planar bodies is isolated from and out of contact with each other of said second planar bodies and each of said first planar bodies, said second planar bodies positioned in correspondence and alignment with said unfilled regions of said base layer such that at least about 85 area %, preferably at least about 90 area %, more preferably at least about 95 area % and most preferably about 100 area % of said unfilled regions are aligned with said second planar bodies.
Another aspect of the invention relates to articles of manufacture fabricated totally or in part from the composite of this invention.
Several advantages flow from this invention.
In general, the composite of this invention provides for a high degree of flexibility even though it includes substantial rigid portions.
Furthermore, because the planar bodies or rigid areas are isolated, noise is minimized.
In those embodiments of the invention where the planar bodies are made of penetration resistant materials, and the composite or article is intended to provide penetration resistance, a high degree of coverage by the penetration resistant bodies is provided