Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
  • F41H1/00—Personal protection gear
  • F41H1/02—Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to a ballistic plate or panel carrier, system, and method, that , more particularly, comprises at least one panel of lightweight polymer foam or similar material formed by a pres sing proces s to include an integral stif fened perimeter rim or frame bounding and defining an armor plate or panel cavity so that the carrier is overall inexpensive to manufacture and lightweight , yet adequately securely holds and supports the armor plate or panel and is safe and comfortable .
• the carrier can further include one or more cover panels for the plate cavity and outer face of the carrier that can optionally be made us ing the same proces s , in the case of covering the cavity, to incorporate one or more lightweight energy absorbing and dispersing standof f spacers for reducing traumatic ef fect on a wearer from ballistic impact on the as sociated plate or panel , and in the case of the outer face, to include features for mounting accessories such as pouches and the like, and advantageously can be readily and easily adaptable to provide customized fit and comfort .
• the outer surface of the plate carrying panel can be configured to have a smooth curved shape, to mimic natural body contours to facilitate concealment of the carrier, and can further optionally incorporate a pattern of MOLLE webbing, slits, and/or other openings or mounting elements for attaching pouches and other articles thereto, as a nonlimiting example, in the pattern of a MOLLE PALS system, and which can optionally incorporate a component of a hook and loop or other fastening system, such as, but not limited to a loop pile fabric, for fastening articles, indicia, and the like to the outer surface.
• Body armor is recognized as providing valuable protection against ballistic threats, e.g., bullets, shrapnel, blast debris such as flying glass and the like, as well as sharp objects such as knives, ice picks, and homemade weapons commonly used by inmate populations of correctional institutions.
• Various configurations of body armor are known, including hard plates of different thicknesses and compositions, such as metal alloys, ceramics, laminates of multiple materials, and soft panels of layers of aramid fiber, e.g., available under the tradename Kevlar and other polymers, e.g., polyethylene, and the like.
• a hard plate is rigid and inflexible, but many soft panels have at least some flexibility.
• a hard plate may be used alone, or in combination with one or more under or over laying soft panels, and in reduced or non-ballistic threat environments, a soft panel may be used alone.
• the armor configuration used is often selected based on the expected threat environment, e.g., sharp hand weapon only, rifle, pistol only, blast, and other conditions, such as environment, e.g., temperature, humidity, marine conditions, other loads to be carried, e.g., ammunition, food, shelter, etc., duration of wear, distance to be traveled on foot, time standing verses seated or riding in a vehicle, jumping from a fixed or rotary winged aircraft, etc.
• modularity and/or scalability that is, the ability to assemble an armored garment such as a carrier, vest, or the like, of various combinations of body armor elements, customized for conditions, is often sought.
• Armor plates are typically sized to a particular wearer, with length or height, width, and sometimes shape or gender, being common variables. Plates to be worn over the front torso or chest will typically be curved so as to be slightly concave when viewed from above or below, and may have additional concavity when viewed from the side, to create a concavity that will conform at least generally to a wearer's anatomical shape. A military or law enforcement agency will typically order a specific plate sized and shaped for a particular wearer. In regard to fit , female torso shapes present a challenge, as the female chest and stomach are not generally level compared to male torso shapes .
• the plate When a hard armored plate having a generally f lat or only slightly concave shape is f itted to a female, i f the upper end of the plate rest s on the breasts , and the lower end rest s on the stomach, the plate can have a tilted orientation wherein the upper end is spaced from the upper chest and the lower end follows a line toward the pelvis . As a result , the lower edge of the plate can pres s into the wearers abdomen to cause discomfort . Tailoring of armor carrying garments such as vest s has been attempted with advantages and disadvantages .
• reference Beck U . S . Patent No . 9 , 970 , 736 B2 , directed to a female protective vest that utili zes a ballistic hard plate and an underlying soft ballistic armor supported on a carrier of the vest .
• the Beck carrier is contoured with lateral darts that displace the ballistic hard plate in a direction away from the inner surface and an underlying soft ballistic armor and the wearer in the breast region to eliminate excess compres s ion of the breast tis sue and maintain the hard plate in an orientation generally parallel to the body of the wearer .
• the darts can form cup portions for the same purpose, and the soft ballistic armor can have a female shape that mirrors the carrier shape . While presumably reducing breast compres sion, the hard armor plate will be tilted in the abovedescribed manner, namely, with the lower plate edge directed toward and potentially into the abdomen of the wearer to cause discomfort .
• Fritch U.S. Patent No. 4, 660,223 which discloses protective body armor utilizing a spacer element to prevent undue pressure being exerted on the breasts of woman wearer.
• the spacer rests on the wearer's rib cage, and an armor plate or panel will rest on the spacer.
• the Fritch spacer can comprise a number of stepped plies, foam construction being mentioned, or it can be a molded insert. The number of steps utilized will be a function of the breast size of the wearer, and the spacer is enclosed in a woven nylon shell.
• the Fritch spacer would appear to provide an adequate solution to the tilting of an amor plate to reduce the occurrence of the lower edge of the plate applying excessive or irritating pressure against the abdomen of a wearer under normal conditions, and could eliminate the need for darts in the lateral region of a carrier for accommodating and taking pressure off of breasts.
• a single size spacer may not provide the desired pres sure relief and/or comfort throughout the range of weight s and breast sizes .
• a spacer of foam plies or similar construction attached by as strip of Velcro to the back s ide of a nylon shell holding a f ront armor plate or panel , may be inadequate back up or support for a side armor plate or panel when struck with a ballistic pro jectile, even when the side plate or panel stops the pro jectile, so as to potentially result in injury to the wearer or additional damage to the side plate .
• This can be due to a condition known as back face deformation .
• An armor plate or panel will have an outwardly facing surface known as a strike face , which will be struck by incoming pro jectiles , and a back face that faces the wearer .
• What is sought is a carrier for an armor plate or panel, that overcomes one or more of the shortcomings and limitations discussed above, and that is economical, and simple to use to provide customized fit and comfort.
• a ballistic plate or panel carrier that overcomes one or more of the shortcomings and limitations set forth above. Also disclosed is an energy absorbing and dispersing standoff spacer, system, and method for use or incorporation with an armor plate or panel, that can reduce traumatic effect on a wearer from ballistic impact on the associated plate or panel, is economical and readily and easily adaptable to provide customized fit and comfort.
• heat and/or pressure shaped foam construction is utilized to construct a ballistic plate or panel carrier or an armor carrying panel thereof, of a garment such as a vest.
• the panel will utilize a suitable foam such as a polymer foam, such as but not limited to, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) , but will be suitably stiffened at certain locations for carrying a relatively heavy armor plate or panel, e.g., 3-10 pounds in weight, without significantly deforming under normal conditions, e.g., running, jumping, swimming, and in this latter regard, the foam construction can provide some added buoyancy to aid a swimmer.
• a suitable foam such as a polymer foam, such as but not limited to, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
• EVA ethylene vinyl acetate
• the armor carrying panel will utilize a semi-rigid or rigid compressed portion of the foam that also def ines and bounds , and forms a rim or frame about , a shallow cavity that will receive and hold the armor plate or panel .
• This plate cavity will snuggly fit to the armor plate or panel , and the rigidity and stif fnes s of the rim or f rame will be adequate to hold the plate or panel in the cavity under anticipated lateral loading conditions , and a central region of the panel will also comprise the foam, in a generally uniformly compressed and thus more rigid and stif fened state, to securely hold the armor plate or panel and will be integral with the rim or frame to form a unitary armor plate or panel holding structure, that will be very lightweight , low prof ile, simple and inexpensive to manufacture .
• the outer panel comprising the central region of the plate receiving cavity can be bowable or curvable to conform to the curve of an armor plate or panel .
• a cover panel al so preferably of the foam construction can include features for securely attaching to the rim or frame for covering the plate receiving cavity, and can additionally include stif fening features , to enhance the stif fnes s of the armor carrying panel .
• the cover panel will be joined to the armor carrying panel around at least a portion of the periphery thereof , e . g . , along the sides , top, and bottom, but will preferably be openable or removable to allow acces s to the armor plate or panel .
• the peripheral frame or rim about the plate cavity and the perimeter of the inside cover panel can include suitable fasteners .
• the outer panel of the armor plate or panel carrier forming the plate carrying cavity can comprise a loop pile fabric layer or layers, and can be slitted or slotted or otherwise Include suitable openings to enable attachment of MOLLE and other accessories, indicia, etc.
• the armor plate carrying panel will be of unitary construction fabricated from a single sheet or bun of suitable foam such as EVA, of a suitable thickness, heat and/or pressure formed to create the plate cavity and stiffened rim or frame structure thereabout and stiffened plate carrying cavity.
• An additional panel or panels, e.g., side panel, straps, and the like can be connected to the plate carrying panel using hook fasteners attachable to the loop pile fabric outer layer.
• the outside panel region can be likewise be compressed and formed into a desired semi- rigidly or rigidly compressed state to provide a suitable load carrying capability for the armor plate or panel and accessories that may be carried using the optional slitting/slotting/openings . Additionally, by covering the outside panel with loop pile fabric, pouches and accessories, unit and agency indicia, cell tags, etc., bearing appropriated hook surface can be securely affixed.
• the plate carrier as illustrated and constructed as explained can have a smooth outer surface and a low profile, or form fitting profile, so as to reduce observability and even be suitable for concealed use, under a shirt, blouse, tunic, coat, etc.
• FIG . 1 is a plan view of aspects of an energy absorbing and dispersing standoff spacer system of the invention, including two representative spacer panels , and a cover panel for attachment to the backside of a carrier for an armor plate or panel , directly to the armor plate or panel , or other garment , such as a vest , shirt or the like, each of the panels shown having interlocking features comprising raised protuberances arranged in a predetermined pattern ;
• FIG . 2 is a plan view of the spacer panels of FIG . 1 , showing an opposite side including a perimeter defining and bounding a predetermined pattern of concavities for receiving the protuberances of another spacer panel or other panel such as the cover panel ;
• FIG . 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the spacer panels of FIGS . 1 and 2 , shown bent or flexed into a curved shape for conforming to the curve of the back side of an armor plate or panel ;
• FIG . 4 is a plan view of the spacer panels of FIG . 1 , showing the pattern of concavities for receiving the protuberances ;
• FIG . 5 is a side perspective view showing the cover panel of FIG . 1 attached to a representative panel for a carrier or vest containing an armor plate within a plate cavity between the cover panel and other aspect s of the carrier, and showing a plurality of the spacer panels interlockingly joined together and to the cover panel, forming a stack , to illustrate a representative standof f spacing distance achievable using the spacer panels ;
• FIG . 6 is another perspective side view of the arrangement of FIG . 5 , showing additional aspects ;
• FIG . 7 is a sectional side view of a representative spacer panel showing various aspect s thereof , including the periphery, protuberances and concavities and transition regions ;
• FIG . 8 is an enlarged sectional side view of a representative spacer panel showing more particularly an of f set relationship between the perimeter and a representative protuberance and concavity, transition region therebetween, and adjacent compres sed fused regions of the perimeter and protuberance;
• FIG . 9 is another perspective side view, showing two of the spacer panels interlocked together, one of the spacer panels being in section to show the transition region and adjacent compres sed fused regions of the perimeter and protuberance ;
• FIG . 10 is still another perspective view of two of the spacer panels interlocked together, one of the spacer panels being shown in section to show the transition region and adjacent compres sed fused regions of the perimeter and protuberance in greater detail ;
• FIG . 11 is a perspective side view showing a stack of the spacer panels interlocked together and with the cover panel on a panel of a representative carrier or other garment ;
• FIG . 12 is another plan view of two of the spacer panels of FIG . 1 , showing double-sided hook of a hook and loop fastening system tabs attached at locations about the perimeter, fastenable to the loop fabric layer 52 on the other of the spacer panels;
• FIG. 13 is an end view of the two spacer panels of FIG. 12, attached together using the tabs 60 to hold one of the panels in a bowed or curved shape;
• FIG. 14 is a plan view of a ballistic carrier of the invention, showing an outer surface of a front armor carrying panel thereof with features comprising a pattern of slits for mounting accessories such as pouches and the like thereto;
• FIG. 15 is a plan view of the carrier of FIG. 14, showing cover panel 46 on a back surface of the front armor carrying panel and interlocking features thereof;
• FIG. 16 is an enlarged perspective view of the front panel of the carrier of FIG. 14, with a corner of the cover panel detached from the front panel to reveal a cavity for receiving and carrying an armor plate or panel ;
• FIG. 17 is a plan view of the front panel of the carrier of FIG. 14, without the cover to reveal the full extent of the cavity for receiving and carrying an armor plate or panel;
• FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of the front panel of the carrier in section, to show compressed regions thereof that impart rigidity and stiffening for securely holding an armor plate or panel within the cavity.
• FIGS. 1-18 embodiments of a ballistic plate carrier 24 incorporating features and advantages of the invention, are shown. Also shown is an energy absorbing and dispersing standoff spacer system 20, and method for use or incorporation with carrier 24, that can reduce traumatic effect on a wearer from ballistic impact on the associated plate or panel, is economical and readily and easily adaptable to provide customized fit and comfort .
• FIGS. 1-13 aspects of several embodiments of an energy absorbing and dispersing standoff spacer system 20 for use with carrier 24 carrying an armor plate or panel 22 (see FIGS. 5, 6, and 11) , and with a garment such as a vest, shirt, or the like, and a method assembling the same according to the invention, is shown.
• System 20 supplements and integrates with the carrier 24 to reduce traumatic effect on a wearer from ballistic impacts on the associated plate or panel 22, is economical and readily and easily adaptable to provide customizable fit and comfort, particularly for female body shapes.
• spacer system 20 including, but not limited to, one or more spacer panels, represented by spacer panels 26, 28, 30, adapted and configured for integration with carrier 24 for placement between an armor plate or panel 22 and a wearer's body.
• any or each of spacer panels 26, 28, 30, is configured to be interlockingly attachable to any of the other spacer panels 26, 28, 30, or with a cover panel 46 of carrier 24, or directly to an armor plate or panel 22, to form a stack 44, and can include one or more features for securely yet manually removably, interlocking with another panel, 26, 28, 30, 46 in a predetermined manner, to provide underlying coverage to one or more associated armor plate or plates or panels, to provide desired standoff distancing from a wearer, energy absorption and dissipation characteristics, comfort and fit.
• At least one of spacer panel 26, 28, 30 preferably possess a limited resilient compressibility sufficient for providing the desired energy absorption and dissipation as well as comfort.
• Each spacer panel 26, 28, 30, and cover panel 46 has a first surface 32, comprising at least one protuberance 34 extending outwardly in a first direction DI, defined and bounded by a perimeter 36.
• Direction DI can be oriented to face toward armor plate 22 and carrier 24, or toward a wearer, as desired or required for a particular application.
• Each spacer panel 26, 28, 30 additionally has an opposite second surface 40, comprising at least one concavity 42 having a predetermined shape and size, respectively, to be configured and adapted for cooperatively receiving and interlocking with a protuberance 34 of another panel in forming a desired stack 44.
• each of the panels 26, 28, 30 has protuberances 34 arranged in a predetermined pattern, as a nonlimiting example, a Chevron pattern, and opposite concavities 42 arranged in that same pattern, such that the protuberances 34 of one of the cover panel s , 26 , 28 , 30 , 46 are simultaneously cooperatively receivable in the concavities 42 of another of the panel s 26 , 28 , 30 , to interlocked the panels together to prevent or limit relative lateral movement and also so as to not unintentionally separate in the first and second directions .
• a predetermined pattern as a nonlimiting example, a Chevron pattern
• This interlocking configuration can be observed to additionally intimately position adjacent panels with the first surface 32 of one panel directly abutting the second surface 40 of the next panel , which is des ired for energy from impact forces transmitted from an as sociated armor plate or panel to be seguentially absorbed andprogressively s ively di s sipated within the stack 44 compri sing any number of panel s 26 , 28 , 30 , and 46 .
• concavities 42 directly align with an associated protuberance 34 , and that es sentially the protuberance 34 bounds or forms the inner periphery of the concavity 42 .
• Protuberances 34 are shaped and sized to be matingly cooperatively receivable within the respective concavities 42 , and in that regard it is neces sary that these features be retainable together to resist lateral relative movement as could otherwi se be anticipated to occur as a result of diagonal or oblique contact or impact forces and compres s ion of protuberances 34 resulting from ballistic strikes and resulting back face deformation of the armor plate or panel 22 , stabbing forces from sharp objects , potentially also blast forces , and other forces anticipated to be encountered in typical environment s where armored garments are utilized .
• transition region 48 between each protuberance 34 and perimeter 36 is preferably configured to enable limited movement of an individual protuberance 34 and the surrounding perimeter 36 in direction DI and the oppos ite direction, that is , toward or away from a wearer' s body and the carried armor plate 22 , generally suf ficiently les s than an amount of the thickness in the first and second direction of the perimeter or protuberance, such that in the event of such movement, the panels will remain sufficiently interlocked together to maintain the integrity of the overall spacer system 20.
• a small region of the perimeter 36 and/or the protuberance immediately adjacent and contiguous to the transition region 48 preferably comprises a highly compressed and thus more dense section of material, e.g., EVA foam, which is thereby much more semi-rigid or rigid and stiffened, compared to adjacent regions of the individual protuberance 34 and perimeter 36 which are subjected to less compression (and heat in some instances, depending on formulation, additives, catalysts utilized with the EVA foam) .
• EVA foam e.g., EVA foam
• the thus increased semi-rigid or rigid, stiffened compressed regions 50 are sufficient in lateral extent to define and retain the size and shape of the concavity 42 for cooperatively receiving a protuberance 34, and also for restraining or containing protuberance 36 against significant relative lateral movement, thus interlocking them together.
• the closed cell wall structure of all or portions of compressed regions 50 can essentially be fused together forming a rigid or semi-rigid and thus stiffened structure, while the transition region 48 is molded to be sufficiently thin to have flexibility.
• a surface and/or absorptive coating or coatings can be applied to further stif fen regions 50 , as des ired or required for a particular application .
• compres sion and heating a starting EVA foam sheet or bun in a mold having an internal cavity with the shape of the spacer panel can be used to create the required compres sed regions 50 limited to the closely adj acent regions of the perimeter 36 and individual protuberances 34 , and at the same time, the more flexible transition region 48 disposed directly between the compres sed regions 50 , to provide the desired shape retention laterally and relative movement capability in the first and second directions (toward/away from wearer' s body) .
• the mold used will preferably have a very thin pas sage between the larger cavities for forming the protuberances 34 and perimeter 36 from a sheet or bun of EVA or other suitable foam .
• compres sed region 50 es sentially comprises the edge of the perimeter 36 and protuberance 34 and tapers convergingly toward transition region 48 therebetween, and thus transition region 48 while highly compres sed, will comprise only a small amount of remaining foam material, to have the desired f lexibility in the first and second directions .
• the retention of the compres sion of the compres sed regions 50 and result ing rigidity and sti ffness can be further facilitated by using a foam compos ition that has a greater hardening when sub jected to heat and pressure, e . g . , thermosetting characteri stic , including to an extent such that walls of the foam cells are fused together and stif fened in the limited area of the compres sed region .
• a cover panel 4 6 or platform of carrier 24 or garment covering or compri sing an armor plate or panel 22 des irably also utilized the above-described compres sed regions 50 about the protuberances 34 for providing a suitable interlocking capability, but the opposite surface of the cover panel 46 will be flat or curved, for intimately contacting an armor plate or panel 22 in surface to surface relation .
• an appropriate surface of a garment such as a shirt can include mating interlocking features such as protuberances 34 or concavities 42 , as desired for a particular application .
• protrusions 34 are located across the entire surface of cover panel 46 such that spacer panels of desired sizes and shapes can be interlockingly attached thereto at di f ferent locations .
• dotted lines on panel 46 e . g . , encompas sing 1 , 2 , 3, or 4 of the Chevrons , illustrate dif ferent size spacer panels that can be utilized alone, or in stacks of varying heights to achieve a desired standof f capability and f it .
• the at least one spacer panel 26 , 28 , and/or 30 can be disposed in surface-to-surface elation to the back face of all or a portion of an armor plate or panel 22 covering a front torso, rear torso, and/or side or sides of a wearer.
• a spacer panel stack 44 will be located behind and support a lower portion of an armor plate or panel 22, for instance a front or chest armor plate or panel 22 to accommodate breasts of a wearer above the spacer panel 26, 28 and/or 30, to provide a custom fit capability for females and others with protruding chest features, see FIG. 5.
• a stack 44 will comprise at least one of the spacer panels 26, 28, 30 having a combined thickness of protuberances between the first surface and second surface of the spacer panel, or if two or more spacer panels are used, between an outer one of the spacer panels and the second surface of an opposite outer one of the panels, about equal to the thickness of a breast of wearer as measured from the skin covering the rib cage of the wearer to the outermost portion of the breast, e.g., the forward extension of the breasts.
• This can be with the breasts not otherwise restrained, or restrained by wearing of a bra or other restraint, such as a sports bra that will comfortably compress and flatten the breasts.
• Individual spacer panels 26, 28, 30, and a cover panel 46 can have matching thickness, different thicknesses, and matching or different widths and lengths, and the same or different shapes, e.g., rectangular, oval, round, triangular, polygonal, trapezoid, etc., when viewed from the front or rear, and rectangular, straight, curved, tapered, barrel, hourglass, etc., shaped when viewed from the side.
• one or more rectangular, kidney, oval, etc., shaped spacer panels may be used directly below the breasts, with a triangular spacer panel partially between the breasts, above in the cleavage area, below, or both, and can be tapered to provide a closer fit, that is, generally conform to the slope of the breasts, stomach, chest, pelvis, and better interaction with other worn items and gear such as a cummerbund or duty belt to be worn around the waist.
• the interlocking features can be sized and shaped as desired so that any number and combination of the spacer panels can be used, e.g., mixed and matched, to achieve a desired overall shape and armor plate or panel standoff, again see FIG. 1.
• the interlocking features e.g., concavities 42, mating protuberances 36, of the spacer panels, can have chevron or parallelogram shapes, oriented obliquely to the sagittal plane of a wearer's body, triangular, round, or other shape, to also provide capabilities such as convection venting, central or lateral sweat containment and drainage, etc.
• the protuberances 36 of a spacer panel 26, 28, 30 comprising a unitary member of a polymer foam such as EVA which is known to still be flexible and shapable using heat and/or pressure after molding.
• a representative armor plate or panel 22 shape is shown and it can be envisioned that an originally flat EVA or other foam panel can be hand positioned or permanently heat or pressure shaped to virtually exactly conform to the shape of the back face of the armor panel 22 or a covering panel 46 or layer.
• the at least one protuberance 36 on the first surface 32 of the spacer panel 26, 28, 30 and the surrounding perimeter 36 are integrally joined by a semi-rigid or rigid and stiffened compressed regions 50 thereof and flexible transition region 48 therebetween (preferably integrally constructed of the foam material) , see FIGS. 7-10.
• the concavity of a first spacer panel 26, 28, or 30 and the protuberance of a mating spacer panel 26, 28, or 30, or cover panel 46 will have overlapping perimeters 36 of the foam for energy absorption anticipation, and also for comfort, and the stiffened compressed regions 50 will also overlap, to enhance and support restraint against lateral movement of the interlocked protuberances 34 and concavities 42, so as to be capable of retaining the original shape of those features under various anticipated loading conditions, e.g., wearer is running, jumping— such as from a hovering rotary winged aircraft, swimming, parachute landing, climbing, etc . , even when the spacer panels 26, 28, 30 are flexed for fitting, see FIG. 3.
• the semi-rigid or rigid stiffened compressed regions 50 can be seen to rim or frame the protuberances 36, with transition region 48 disposed therebetween.
• the protuberances 36 of a spacer panel 26, 28, 30 can have a thickness T1 of about 1/2 inch, respectively, so that the spacer panel 26, 28, 30 will have an overall thickness of about 1 inch, and two of the spacers panels 26, 28, 30 when interlockingly engaged will have an overall thickness T2 of about 1 1/2 inch, see FIG. 6.
• the overall thickness of the stack 44 does not have to have an integer multiple of the thickness T of the individual spacer panels 26, 28, 30.
• the thickness T1 of the protuberances 36 and thus the depth of the concavities 42 can be varied for a particular application.
• thickness T could have a value of 1/4 inch; 1/8 inch; 3/4 inch; 1 inch, etc., depending on the application, anticipated force and energy dissipation requirements, fit, etc.
• each of the spacer panels 26, 28, 30, and cover panel 46 comprises an outer fabric layer 52 of loop pile fabric, to serve as a component of a hook and loop fastening system.
• the spacer panels 26, 28, 30, and cover panel 46 can comprise a foam construction such as an EVA foam, as described above, that is heat formable, and thus the individual spacer panels 26, 28, 30, and the cover panel 46, can be curved using a heat gun or the like to the curvature of a garment, or an under lying body region, or other backing member to which the panel is desirably conformingly shaped and will be joined to, see FIGS. 3 and 13.
• the loop pile fabric can have one or more 2 sided strips or tabs 60 of the hook component of a hook and loop fastening system, see FIG. 12, so as to strengthen the attaching force joining 2 panels or joining a panel to a garment or other backing member also having a loop pile surface feature, e.g., tab or strip.
• This has advantages, including providing the ability to bow one spacer panel 26, 28, 30 joined to another panel 26, 28, 30 (FIG.
• the pressure and heat shaped foam construction of the spacer stack 44 can also be utilized to construct ballistic carrier 24, including cover panel 46, and a panel or panels thereof for carrying one or more armor plates or panels 22, as represented by front panel 58.
• carrier 24 is shown including front panel 58, and opposite rear panel (behind front panel 58) , connected together in the well-known manner with straps 66 extending therebetween at the shoulder regions and waist regions of a wearer. This is a very common arrangement for ballistic plate carriers and vests, and front panel 58 will cover the wearer' s front torso, and the rear panel will cover the back .
• Front panel 58 as well as cover panel 46 will each preferably comprise a unitary construction of a suitable foam such as EVA, pressure and heat formed from a sheet or bun, suitably stiffened at strategic locations for carrying a relatively heavy armor plate or panel 22, e.g., 3-10 pounds in weight, without significantly deforming and moving or jostling of the plate or panel 22 under normal conditions, e.g., running, jumping, swimming, etc.
• a suitable foam such as EVA, pressure and heat formed from a sheet or bun, suitably stiffened at strategic locations for carrying a relatively heavy armor plate or panel 22, e.g., 3-10 pounds in weight, without significantly deforming and moving or jostling of the plate or panel 22 under normal conditions, e.g., running, jumping, swimming, etc.
• the foam construction can advantageously provide some added buoyancy to aid the swimmer .
• the armor carrying panel 58 will utilize semi-rigid or rigid, stiffened compressed regions 50 about the inner periphery of a rim or frame 54 that comprises an outer perimeter 36 of front panel 58 to define and abound a shallow cavity 56 for receiving and carrying an armor plate or panel 22, but importantly without an associated transition region, as flexibility to the extent described above is not desired in association with carrying the armor panel.
• rim or frame 54 of panel 58 of carrier 24 is compression and heat molded to the shape and size (or a marginally larger size) of the outer periphery of an armor plate or panel 22 so as to bound and define shallow cavity 56 that will snugly and securely receive and hold the armor plate or panel 22.
• This snug fit, and the rigidity and stiffness of the surrounding compressed region 50 of the rim or frame 54, with the cover panel 46 securely attached thereto has been found to be adequate to hold the plate or panel 22 in the cavity under anticipated conditions and activities.
• the cover panel 46 will preferably be tightly and securely joined to the rim or frame 54 around substantially all of the periphery of the cavity 56 , to plate or panel 22 in position .
• cover panel 46 is desirably detachable from the rim or frame 54 of panel 58 (or entirely removable ) to allow access to the armor plate or panel 22 .
• the peripheral rim or frame 54 about the cavity 56 and the perimeter of the inside cover panel can include suitable fasteners .
• cover panel 46 will be covered with a loop pile fabric layer 52 as des cribed above, and thus the rim or frame 54 about the plate receiving cavity 56 can include strips or tabs 60 of hook fastener component as shown, as a non-limiting example .
• front panel 58 ( as well as the companion rear panel ) will be of unitary foam construction such that a center region 68 will be integral with rim or f rame 54 and formed f rom the same foam panel or bun .
• Center region 68 i s preferably compres sed and heated during the molding proces s of panel 58 also to be semi-rigid or rigid, and thus stif fened, which is advantageous for shape retention of that panel and particularly cohesion with the immediately adjacent rim or frame 54 . Referring more particularly to FIG .
• center region 68 is significantly les s thick than the surrounding rim or frame 54 , which is a result of this additional compres sion , forms and bounds the plate carrying cavity 56 , which will des irably have a thicknes s or extent in direction DI that will be about equal to the thicknes s of the armor plate or panel 22 .
• cover panel 46 secured to frame 54, particularly when stiffened by protuberances 34 on the opposite side, the resulting assembly will have adequate strength and integrity for securely supporting and holding the armor plate or panel 22, even during running, jumping, falling, fighting, and other strenuous movements .
• panel 58 can have an integrated outer perimeter 64 thereabout having a tapered shape that extends convergingly toward the lateral side. This outer perimeter 64 can be formed in a unitary manner with the other aspects of panel 58, the tapered profile being achieved with compressed regions
• a region of the outer perimeter 64 between compressed regions 50 can have an uncompressed state, or a compressed state less than that of compressed regions 50. Additionally, with unitary molding, compression of the outer perimeter
• rim 64 can contribute to the stiffening of rim or frame 54, compared to if perimeter 64 were not significantly compressively formed.
• the closed cell wall structure of all or portions of compressed regions 50 of panel 58 can essentially be fused together forming a rigid or semi rigid and thus stiffened structure.
• a surface and/or absorptive coating or coatings can be applied to further stiffen rim or frame 54.
• the outer surface of front panel 58 can likewise comprise a loop pile fabric layer 52, and can be slitted or slotted as illustrated by the pattern of slits 62, to enable attachment of accessories, such as MOLLE accessories and pouches.
• the armor plate carrying panel will be of unitary construction made from a single sheet or bun of suitable foam such as EVA, of a suitable thickness, heat and/or pressure formed to create the plate cavity and stiffened rim region.
• the outer surface will likewise be semi- rigidly or rigidly compressed to provide a suitable load carrying capability. By optionally covering the outer surface with loop pile fabric, pouches and accessories, unit and agency indicia, cell tags, etc., bearing appropriated hook surface can be securely affixed.
• the outer surface can comprise, e.g., attached, adhered, or fused thereto, a layer of another stiffening material such as a panel of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material, which can be optionally slitted in the illustrated manner for attachment of articles such as pouches and the like, if desired or required for a particular application.
• a layer of another stiffening material such as a panel of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene material, which can be optionally slitted in the illustrated manner for attachment of articles such as pouches and the like, if desired or required for a particular application.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Arrangements Of Lighting Devices For Vehicle Interiors, Mounting And Supporting Thereof, Circuits Therefore (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (5)

• 2023
  • 2023-04-05 US US18/853,799 patent/US20250224214A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-04-05 EP EP23797006.6A patent/EP4505131A2/de active Pending
• 2024
  • 2024-10-04 CL CL2024003010A patent/CL2024003010A1/es unknown
  • 2024-10-04 MX MX2024012401A patent/MX2024012401A/es unknown

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