1. A structural ballistic panel member comprising:
a) a front plate having an outward surface and an inward surface, the front plate further having first and second lateral areas,
b) a ballistic portion comprised of a ballistic fabric layer adhesively attached to the rearward surface of the front plate,
c) first and second lateral wall members attached to the first and second lateral areas of the front plate,
d) a tension plate attached to the first and second lateral wall members,
e) a chamber region defined in part by the first and second lateral wall members, the tension plate and the ballistic portion,
f) a closed cell rigid structural foam positioned within the chamber region having a foam density between 1-10 pounds per cubic foot.
2. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 1 where the chamber region is substantially enclosed and the foam material is foamed in place providing a pressure in the chamber region that is greater than atmospheric pressure.
3. The structural ballistic panel member as claim 2 where the foam material adheres to an inner surface of the ballistic portion providing a backing to increase the ballistic properties of the ballistic portion.
4. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 1 where the front plate is a metallic plate.
5. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 4 where the front plate is an aluminum plate less than \xbc of an inch in thickness.
6. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 4 where the front plate is an aluminum plate less than \u215c of an inch in thickness.
7. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 1 where the ballistic portion is comprised of at least 5 layers of ballistic fabric connected by an adhesive.
8. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 1 with the foam material is in direct contact with an inner surface of the first and second lateral wall members.
9. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 1 where the ballistic portion is comprised of at least 15 layers of ballistic fabric connected by an adhesive.
10. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 8 where the foam material is in direct contact with the tension plate.
11. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 1 where the first and second lateral regions of the front plate define overlapping interface regions that are operatively configured to connect to an adjacent overlapping interface region of an adjacent structural ballistic panel member.
12. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 1 where the structural ballistic panel member is positioned within the hull portion of a boat and the front plate is an outer portion of a boat hull.
13. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 1 where the foam region is at least a 90% closed-cell rigid polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam.
14. The protective panel as recited in claim 13 where the ballistic material is adhered to the inner surface of the front panel by way of an adhesive which is mixed with a fiber.
15. The protective panel as recited in claim 15 where the fiber in the adhesive has the thermal property of reducing heat transfer to the ballistic material more so than if the fiber was not used.
16. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 13 where the foam layer is operatively configured to receive a projectile that passes through the ballistic portion.
17. The structural ballistic panel member as recited in claim 16 where the foam layer is operatively configured to reduce the velocity of the projectile and divert the projectile’s initial course before impacting the structural ballistic panel.
18. A projectile stopping system configured to stop the level 3 ballistic threat from a projectile, the projectile stopping system comprising:
a) an encasement having a front wall and a rear wall and a first and second lateral walls,
b) a ballistic resistant material positioned adjacent to the front wall and adhered thereto,
c) a closed cell rigid structural foam positioned within the chamber region which is foamed in place, creating a slight positive pressure in the chamber region above atmospheric pressure,
d) whereas the ballistic resistant material is properly configured to allow a level 3 ballistic threat to pass therethrough and the closed cell rigid structural foam is configured to de-accelerate the projectile sufficiently prior to the projectile exiting the rear wall of the encasement.
19. The projectile stopping system as recited in claim 18 where the rear wall is a sheet of ballistic material.
20. The projectile stopping system as recited in claim 19 where the ballistic material is either Kevlar, Spectra or Dyneema.
21. The projectile stopping system as recited in claim 18 where the closed cell rigid structural foam is at least 92% closed cell.
22. A protective panel operatively configured to stop at least a level III ballistic threat from a projectile, the protective panel comprising:
a) a substantially enclosed encasement and a front wall and a rear wall and a perimeter wall,
b) a ballistic resistant material positioned adjacent to the front wall and a closed cell foam foamed in place and adhered to a rearward surface of the ballistic resistant material,
c) whereas the closed cell foam is configured to de-accelerate a projectile sufficiently prior to the projectile passing through the rear wall of the substantially enclosed encasement and the ballistic resistant material is configured to allow a ballistic threat which is greater than level III to pass therethrough to enter the closed cell foam.
23. The protective panel as recited in claim 22 where the closed cell foam is at least 1 inch in thickness behind the ballistic resistant material.
24. The protective panel as recited in claim 22 where the protective panel is comprised of aluminum.
25. The protective panel as recited in claim 22 where a second layer of ballistic resistant material is positioned in the foam.
26. The protective panel as recited in claim 23 where the closed cell foam is no more than 6 inches in thickness behind the ballistic resistant material.
27. The protective panel as recited in claim 26 where the protective panel is a portion of a hull of a boat.
28. The protective panel as recited in claim 22 where the ballistic material is adhered to the inner surface of the front panel by way of an adhesive which is mixed with a fiber.
29. The protective panel as recited in claim 28 where the fiber in the adhesive has the thermal property of reducing heat transfer to the ballistic material more so than if the fiber was not used.
30. The protective panel as recited in claim 29 where the fiber in the adhesive is Kevlar.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A hitting device comprising a ball-less mode, a resting mode wherein a ball is resting on a cup, and a secure mode wherein the ball is releasably held to the cup comprising:
a) a pedestal having a cup; and
b) a resilient strap attached to the hitting device, the resilient strap releasably holds the ball to the cup under the force of the resilient strap’s resiliency;
wherein the hitting device is in the ball-less mode when no ball is resting on the cup, the hitting device is in the resting mode when the ball is held on the cup substantially by the force of gravity only, and the hitting device is in the secure mode when the resilient strap is holding the ball releasably on the cup.
2. The device in claim 1, further comprising a stem disposed below the pedestal.
3. The device in claim 2, wherein the stem is telescopic.
4. The device as in claim 2, further comprising a base disposed below the stem.
5. The device in claim 4, wherein the base is weight-fillable for stabilizing the base.
6. The device in claim 5, further comprising at least one location member for positioning the pedestal at various locations associated with the base.
7. The device in claim 2, further comprising a flex member disposed below the stem for allowing the stem to flex.
8. The device in claim 7, further comprising a base disposed below the flex member.
9. The device in claim 8, wherein the base is weight-fillable for stabilizing the base.
10. The device in claim 8, wherein the stem is telescopic.
11. The device in claim 10, wherein the base is weight-fillable for stabilizing the base.
12. The device in claim 1, wherein the resilient strap is an elastic band.
13. A hitting device comprising a ball-less mode, a resting mode wherein a ball is resting on a cup, and a secure mode wherein the ball is releasably held to the cup comprising:
a) a pedestal having a cup; and
b) a resilient strap attached to the pedestal, the resilient strap releasably holds the ball to the cup under the force of the resilient strap’s resiliency; and
c) a stem disposed below the pedestal;
wherein the hitting device is in the ball-less mode when no ball is resting on the cup, the hitting device is in the resting mode when the ball is held on the cup substantially by the force of gravity only, and the hitting device is in the secure mode when the resilient strap is holding the ball releasably on the cup.
14. The device in claim 13, wherein the stem is telescopic.
15. The device as in claim 14, further comprising a base disposed below the stem.
16. The device in claim 15, wherein the base is weight-fillable for stabilizing the base.
17. The device in claim 16, further comprising at least one location member for positioning the pedestal at various locations associated with the base.
18. The device in claim 13, further comprising a flex member disposed below the stem for allowing the stem to flex.
19. The device in claim 18, further comprising a base disposed below the flex member.
20. The device in claim 19, wherein the base is weight-fillable for stabilizing the base.
21. The device in claim 19, wherein the stem is telescopic.
22. The device in claim 21, wherein the base is weight-fillable for stabilizing the base.
23. The device in claim 13, wherein the resilient strap is an elastic band.
24. A hitting device comprising a ball-less mode, a resting mode wherein a ball is resting on a cup, and a secure mode wherein the ball is releasably held to the cup comprising:
a) a pedestal having a cup;
b) a resilient strap attached to the hitting device, the resilient strap releasably holds the ball to the cup under the force of the resilient strap’s resiliency;
c) a telescopic stem disposed below the pedestal;
d) a flex member disposed below the stem for allowing the stem to flex; and
e) a base disposed below the flex member;
wherein the hitting device is in the ball-less mode when no ball is resting on the cup, the hitting device is in the resting mode when the ball is held on the cup substantially by the force of gravity only, and the hitting device is in the secure mode when the resilient strap is holding the ball releasably on the cup.
25. The device in claim 24, wherein the base is weight-fillable for stabilizing the base.
26. The device in claim 24, further comprising at least one location member for positioning the pedestal at various locations associated with the base.
27. The device in claim 24, wherein the resilient strap is an elastic band.