US Patent 6911247 Wearable protective system having protective elements

A protective covering system having high-flexibility and low areal density characteristics. In one aspect of the invention, the protective system includes a plurality of metallic staples or wire elements secured to multi-layer matrix including woven fibers, the layers being oriented at cross angles to provide a grid-like pattern of protective elements. In one aspect of the invention, protective elements provide a coverage area of less than 90% and as little as 40% of total surface area. In one aspect of the invention, protective elements may be mechanically secured to a matrix by a puncture and crimp process. In another, wire elements may be attached or woven into one or more matrix layers.