Protective Under-Clothing Apparatus, System and Method
A customizable, scalable, armor-enhanced under-clothing system is provided that conforms more substantially to the user's body, providing better ballistic protection over every critical body area in different stages as selected by the user. In one embodiment, the present invention employs compression fabric as a base material in the top (e.g., shirt) and bottom (e.g., shorts) system elements, and further can include a static fabric material harness in the top system element. Anti-ballistic panels of suitable material and thickness can be inserted into the static fabric material harness element designed to carry the panels while preventing any undesirable bouncing effect.
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The present invention pertains to armor-enhanced under-clothing, and more particularly to armor-enhanced under-clothing that is comfortable, easy to customize and ergonomically superior over prior devices.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONMilitary and law enforcement personnel have employed armor-enhanced under-clothing in order to protect their bodies from gunfire, shrapnel, explosive devices and other harmful ballistic objects. Even when such under-clothing is sized according to individual specifications (for example, small, medium and large), the armor-enhanced under-clothing does not generally fit well, gets bunched up, prohibits smooth movement, results in undesirable gaps between body and under-clothing, has limited contact points with the body, and even hinders the withdrawal of firearms. Such disadvantages often result in poor performance and can encourage mis-use or even non-use of these protective devices.
The present invention overcomes the current shortcomings and more. The present invention provides a customizable, scalable, armor-enhanced under-clothing system that conforms more substantially to the user's body, providing better protection over every critical body area in different stages as selected by the user. In this way, the user can employ as much or as little of the system of the present invention as desired or needed for a given anticipated threat level, incorporating suitable armor to protect the wearer against anything from light ballistics (e.g., sand) all the way up to the heaviest ballistic weaponry and fragments that might be encountered. The present invention employs compression fabric as a base material in the top (e.g., shirt) and bottom (e.g., shorts) system elements, and further can include a static fabric material harness in the top system element. The material can be provided in different forms depending upon desired characteristics (e.g., wicking, fire resistance, temperature management, anti-microbial, etc.). Anti-ballistic panels of suitable material and thickness can be inserted into the static fabric material harness designed to carry the panels while preventing any undesirable bouncing effect. In one embodiment of the present invention, the top and bottom elements are adapted to be secured to one another using hook-and-loop fasteners or similar fasteners to facilitate comfort, intended purpose and overall fit. The present invention also provides full body contact as opposed to selected point contact associated with prior devices. The present invention can be provided in sleeveless, short sleeve and long sleeve shirts, shorts and pants, for example.
The arm elements 20 also include respective suitably-sized interior pockets 22 for receiving respective suitably-sized forearm ballistic panels 24. The pockets 16, 22 generally include an opening through with panels can be inserted and removed. This facilitates customization of the anti-ballistic properties of the present invention, as heavier and thicker panels may be needed for some engagements, while lighter and thinner panels may be needed for other engagements. In another embodiment of the present invention, the pockets 16, 22 are constructed with panels retained therein, and then sealed so that the panels remain permanently part of the top element. The pockets can comprise a variety of materials, including compression fabric, or alternatively a static fabric material retaining greater strength and resisting movement more than compression fabric.
As shown in the embodiment of
As shown in the embodiment of the present invention in
In operation, a wearer of the present invention may select a previously installed version, where ballistic panels are already selected and sewn in, or where ballistic panels are already inserted into the top and bottom elements of the present invention. The selection can be made according to the wearer's size (e.g., small, medium and large). Alternatively, the wearer may select the top and bottom elements without any ballistic panels installed, put on the top and bottom elements, and then install appropriate ballistic elements in the available pockets as desired for an anticipated engagement. It will be appreciated that the pockets can be openable and sealable using hook and loop type fasteners, or other appropriate fasteners to enable quick assembly and dis-assembly. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a protective clothing system with a standardized set of pockets which may or may not be fully employed for a given engagement, but which do not reduce the ergonomic design and comfortable fit, regardless of whether the pockets are filled with suitable ballistic material.
The ballistic material can comprise, for example, layers of fibers that may comprise a high molecular weight polyethylene material, an aramid fiber, a combination of high performance fibers, or a non-woven thermoplastic composite. Commercially available embodiments of the ballistic material are known as Dyneema™ and Spectrashield™, for example.
The present invention allows for ballistic or other fabric inserts (e.g., as assessed by potential threat) to be sewn into or placed in a pocket or sleeve, for example. The present invention also protects the end user from sand, ballistic fragments, etc., as a secondary layer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tops or bottoms in any configuration will cover areas that traditional body armor does not. As such, an end user can wear the top of bottoms of the present invention under their traditional body armor and the tops and bottoms would have extra protection in the areas that the body armor does not cover. Optionally, there may be additional protection for the lower abdominal area, arms, under arms, upper legs, etc.
As such, the present invention can conceal the armor, keep the armor or protection in the correct place, allow it to fit a great range of people, allow for multiple overlap points for extreme comfort, provide interchangeable armor components in order to adjust for size, and allow the tops and bottoms in one size to adjust within the pocket or sleeve so that the same component can permit different thickness inserts to be employed.
In the embodiment of the invention as shown in
The first strap element 122 has a first strap length and is secured to the right shoulder interior surface along substantially the entire first strap length. Similarly, the second strap element 124 has a second strap length and is secured to the right shoulder interior surface along substantially the entire second strap length.
The harness element 112 further includes a chest portion 126 secured at least in part to the first 122 and second 124 strap elements and further secured to the front interior surface 108 of the top element 102. As illustrated in
The first pocket bag 130 includes a back ply portion 131 and a front ply portion 132, and can accommodate the insertion or removal of ballistic inserts. In one embodiment of the present invention, the back ply portion 131 of the first pocket bag 130 is integrally formed with the back ply 128 of the chest portion, but is generally not secured to the top element 102 (except optionally at attachment points 145) and hangs freely from the chest portion. The front ply portion 132 similarly hangs freely but is not integrally formed with the front ply portion 129 of the chest portion 126 of the harness element. Rather, the front ply portion 132 of the first pocket bag 130 includes a rim 139 (illustrated by dashed arrow in
As further shown in
One or more ballistic inserts can be inserted into and removed from the second pocket bag 142 and the opening created by the two plies of the back portion 138, similar to the process described and shown in connection with the first pocket bag 130 and chest portion 126 in
As further shown in
It will be appreciated that the protective clothing system of the present invention thus provides a customizable, scalable, armor-enhanced clothing system that conforms more substantially to the user's body, with a thinner armor profile, and with better protection over every critical body area in different stages as selected by the user. The present invention further provides such an article whereby the top element comprises an outer compression fabric layer with an inner non-compression fabric harness element.
The present disclosure describes numerous embodiments of the present invention, and these embodiments are presented for illustrative purposes only. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it will be appreciated that other embodiments may be employed and that structural, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced with various modifications and alterations. Although particular features of the present invention can be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments or figures that form a part of the present disclosure, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or figures with reference to which they are described. The present disclosure is thus neither a literal description of all embodiments of the invention nor a listing of features of the invention that must be present in all embodiments.
Claims
1. An article of under-clothing, comprising:
- a top element comprising compression fabric material, with the top element having front and back exterior surfaces, and front and back interior surfaces; and
- a harness element comprising a static material secured to and extending from the front interior surface to the back interior surface of the top element.
2. The article of claim 1 wherein the top element includes a neck portion forming an opening, left shoulder interior and exterior surfaces, and right shoulder interior and exterior surfaces, and wherein the harness element includes a first strap element secured to the right shoulder interior surface, and a second strap element secured to the left shoulder interior surface.
3. The article of claim 2 wherein the first strap element has a first strap length and is secured to the right shoulder interior surface along substantially the entire first strap length, and further wherein the second strap element has a second strap length and is secured to the right shoulder interior surface along substantially the entire second strap length.
4. The article of claim 1 wherein the harness element includes a chest portion secured to the first and second strap elements and further secured to the front interior surface of the top element.
5. The article of claim 4 wherein the harness element further includes a first pocket bag extending from the chest portion, wherein the first pocket bag has side edges and a bottom edge, and wherein at least the bottom edge of the first pocket bag is not secured to the top element.
6. The article of claim 1 wherein the harness element includes an upper back portion secured to the first and second strap elements and further secured to the back interior surface of the top element.
7. The article of claim 6 wherein the harness element further includes a second pocket bag secured to the upper back portion, wherein the second pocket bag has side edges and a bottom edge, and wherein at least the bottom edge of the second pocket bag is not secured to the top element.
8. The article of claim 5, further including a ballistic insert maintained within the first pocket bag.
9. The article of claim 8, wherein the chest portion comprises a two-ply material secured to the front interior surface so as to form an opening between the two plies, and wherein the ballistic insert is further maintained within the opening between the two plies of the chest portion.
10. The article of claim 1 wherein the top element further includes a left side portion comprising left side interior and exterior surfaces, and a right side portion comprising right side interior and exterior surfaces, and further including a front portion comprising the front interior and exterior surfaces.
11. The article of claim 10 wherein the front portion of the top element is releasably secured to the left side portion using a left side securing element and is further releasably secured to the right side portion using a right side securing element.
12. The article of claim 11 wherein the left side and right side securing elements comprise slide fastener elements.
13. A method, comprising:
- providing a top element of an article of under-clothing comprising a compression fabric, with the top element having front and back exterior surfaces, and front and back interior surfaces; and
- securing a harness element comprising a static material to the top element such that the harness element extends from the front interior surface to the back interior surface of the top element.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the top element includes a neck portion forming an opening, left shoulder interior and exterior surfaces, and right shoulder interior and exterior surfaces, and wherein the harness element includes a first strap element secured to the right shoulder interior surface, and a second strap element secured to the left shoulder interior surface.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the harness element includes a chest portion secured to the first and second strap elements and further secured to the front interior surface of the top element.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the harness element further includes a first pocket bag extending from the chest portion, wherein the first pocket bag has side edges and a bottom edge, and wherein at least the bottom edge of the first pocket bag is not secured to the top element.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the harness element includes an upper back portion secured to the first and second strap elements and further secured to the back interior surface of the top element.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second pocket bag has side edges and a bottom edge, and wherein at least the bottom edge of the second pocket bag is not secured to the top element.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein the top element further includes a left side portion comprising left side interior and exterior surfaces, and a right side portion comprising right side interior and exterior surfaces, and further including a front portion comprising the front interior and exterior surfaces.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the front portion of the top element is releasably secured to the left side portion using a left side securing element and is further releasably secured to the right side portion using a right side securing element.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Applicant: Velocity Systems, LLC (Dulles, VA)
Inventor: Velocity Systems, LLC
Application Number: 13/835,270
International Classification: F41H 1/02 (20060101);