Abstract: An armour vest includes front and rear portions that realize or otherwise mount armour plate or soft armour pads over a wearer's vital organs. A floatation bladder is stored and deployed under the protection of the armour. The armour vest is expandable to accommodate and at least partially protect the floatation bladder when it is inflated. In either a single or multi-stage process, the armour vest's volume is increased by automatically releasing buckles that increase separation between the front and rear portions around the waist and, in an embodiment, also at the shoulders of the armour vest. In a deflated state, shoulder connectors provide a load-bearing connection between the front and rear portions of the armour vest. Inflation of the bladder, either manually actuated by pulling a webbing trigger handle or automatically with immersion, causes a different load-bearing shoulder bridge to be brought into operation at the shoulders of the amour vest.

Abstract: A load carriage frame (80) of FIG. 9 includes a shoulder yoke (90) and a belt (120) separated from the yoke by a multi-element connecting brace (96). The brace is telescopic in nature in that a flexible but rigid tongue (130), extending from a first section, is permitted to slide within a guide on a second section (154), thereby allowing the length of the connecting brace to be altered. The multi-element connecting brace is centrally coupled to the yoke and centrally coupled to the belt and configured to act as a force path by transferring weight that, in use, is loaded onto or through the yoke and into the belt thereby effecting selected weight re-distribution onto the pelvic girdle of a wearer about which the belt, in use, is secured. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 20, a quick release mechanism may further alter the length of the connecting brace by allowing the position of a rotational coupling point to be altered relative to a housing of the quick release mechanism.

Abstract: A load carriage frame (80) of FIG. 9 includes a shoulder yoke (90) and a belt (120) separated from the yoke by a multi-element connecting brace (96). The brace is telescopic in nature in that a flexible but rigid tongue (130), extending from a first section, is permitted to slide within a guide on a second section (154), thereby allowing the length of the connecting brace to be altered. The multi-element connecting brace is centrally coupled to the yoke and centrally coupled to the belt and configured to act as a force path by transferring weight that, in use, is loaded onto or through the yoke and into the belt thereby effecting selected weight re-distribution onto the pelvic girdle of a wearer about which the belt, in use, is secured. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 20, a quick release mechanism may further alter the length of the connecting brace by allowing the position of a rotational coupling point to be altered relative to a housing of the quick release mechanism.

Abstract: An armour vest includes front and rear portions that realize or otherwise mount armour plate or soft armour pads over a wearer's vital organs. A floatation bladder is stored and deployed under the protection of the armour. The armour vest is expandable to accommodate and at least partially protect the floatation bladder when it is inflated. In either a single or multi-stage process, the armour vest's volume is increased by automatically releasing buckles that increase separation between the front and rear portions around the waist and, in an embodiment, also at the shoulders of the armour vest. In a deflated state, shoulder connectors provide a load-bearing connection between the front and rear portions of the armour vest. Inflation of the bladder, either manually actuated by pulling a webbing trigger handle or automatically with immersion, causes a different load-bearing shoulder bridge to be brought into operation at the shoulders of the amour vest.

Abstract: A protective undergarment (10), shown in the form of shorts, includes integrally formed protective panels (22, 26, 30) that exhibit slash-proof properties. The protective areas (22, 26, 30) are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit or the like, and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels (22, 26, 30) are externally snitched to a low thermal burden material (18, 20), such as a polyester mesh, that provides elasticity and completes the structure of the shorts (10). The Kevlar® knit is flexible and preferably lies directly against the skin of a user to provide blast wave and ballistic fragment deflection whilst permitting mobility in a lightweight arrangement. Varying thickness of the Kevlar® knit can be used in the protective areas (22, 26, 30) selectively to enhance protection against blast wave and fragment penetration.

Abstract: A modular body armor system (100) includes an upper shoulder harness (102) in which shoulder straps (106, 108) are pivotally rotatable relative to each other and also to front and back connecting bridges (112, 114) that define a closed loop for the harness (102). Armor plates (124, 126) are attachable to the bridges (112, 114) and extend generally downwardly to protect the front and back torso regions of a wearer of the body armor (100). Pivotal articulation of the body armor (100) permits the armor to roll advantageously with the movement of its wearer such that movement, such as crouching or the adoption of a firing position, is not generally restricted. A lower girdle (104) incorporates additional plates and panels (140, 142, 105, 152) to provide enhanced protection to the wearer, which lower girdle (104) may be entirely independent of the upper shoulder harness (102).

Abstract: A protective undergarment (10), shown in the form of shorts, includes integrally formed protective panels (22, 26, 30) that exhibit slash-proof properties. The protective areas (22, 26, 30) are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit or the like, and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels (22, 26, 30) are externally snitched to a low thermal burden material (18, 20), such as a polyester mesh, that provides elasticity and completes the structure of the shorts (10). The Kevlar® knit is flexible and preferably lies directly against the skin of a user to provide blast wave and ballistic fragment deflection while permitting mobility in a lightweight arrangement. Varying thickness of the Kevlar® knit can be used in the protective areas (22, 26, 30) selectively to enhance protection against blast wave and fragment penetration.

Abstract: A protective undergarment (10), shown in the form of shorts, includes integrally formed protective panels (22, 26, 30) that exhibit slash-proof properties. The protective areas (22, 26, 30) are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit or the like, and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels (22, 26, 30) are externally snitched to a low thermal burden material (18, 20), such as a polyester mesh, that provides elasticity and completes the structure of the shorts (10). The Kevlar® knit is flexible and preferably lies directly against the skin of a user to provide blast wave and ballistic fragment deflection whilst permitting mobility in a lightweight arrangement. Varying thickness of the Kevlar® knit can be used in the protective areas (22, 26, 30) selectively to enhance protection against blast wave and fragment penetration.

Abstract: A protective undergarment (10), shown in the form of shorts, includes integrally formed protective panels (22, 26, 30) that exhibit slash-proof properties. The protective areas (22, 26, 30) are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit or the like, and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels (22, 26, 30) are externally snitched to a low thermal burden material (18, 20), such as a polyester mesh, that provides elasticity and completes the structure of the shorts (10). The Kevlar® knit is flexible and preferably lies directly against the skin of a user to provide blast wave and ballistic fragment deflection while permitting mobility in a lightweight arrangement. Varying thickness of the Kevlar® knit can be used in the protective areas (22, 26, 30) selectively to enhance protection against blast wave and fragment penetration.

Abstract: A protective undergarment (10), shown in the form of shorts, includes integrally formed protective panels (22, 26, 30) that exhibit slash-proof properties. The protective areas (22, 26, 30) are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit or the like, and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels (22, 26, 30) are externally snitched to a low thermal burden material (18, 20), such as a polyester mesh, that provides elasticity and completes the structure of the shorts (10). The Kevlar® knit is flexible and preferably lies directly against the skin of a user to provide blast wave and ballistic fragment deflection while permitting mobility in a lightweight arrangement. Varying thickness of the Kevlar® knit can be used in the protective areas (22, 26, 30) selectively to enhance protection against blast wave and fragment penetration.

Abstract: Armoured over-trousers (10) are formed as “chinks” having an open lateral external flank (13). Protective anti-ballistic armour plate (42), integral with fabric material (22) used for the over-trousers or otherwise incorporated within correspondingly sized, shaped and strategically located pockets (40), protects lower abdominal regions, including the buttocks, upper thigh regions and genitals, of the wearer. The open flank (13) provides mobility whilst ensuring a low thermal burden and access to storage pockets in conventional trousers (14). The over-trousers are secured around the legs by strapping (16, 18) to reduce the possibility of a blast wave (36) funneling effect that might otherwise be experienced should the over-trousers (10) only fit loosely around the legs of a soldier.

Abstract: A protective undergarment (10), shown in the form of shorts, includes integrally formed protective panels (22, 26, 30) that exhibit slash-proof properties. The protective areas (22, 26, 30) are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit or the like, and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels (22, 26, 30) are externally snitched to a low thermal burden material (18, 20), such as a polyester mesh, that provides elasticity and completes the structure of the shorts (10). The Kevlar® knit is flexible and preferably lies directly against the skin of a user to provide blast wave and ballistic fragment deflection whilst permitting mobility in a lightweight arrangement. Varying thickness of the Kevlar® knit can be used in the protective areas (22, 26, 30) selectively to enhance protection against blast wave and fragment penetration.

Abstract: A protective undergarment (10), shown in the form of shorts, includes integrally formed protective panels (22, 26, 30) that exhibit slash-proof properties. The protective areas (22, 26, 30) are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit or the like, and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels (22, 26, 30) are externally snitched to a low thermal burden material (18, 20), such as a polyester mesh, that provides elasticity and completes the structure of the shorts (10). The Kevlar® knit is flexible and preferably lies directly against the skin of a user to provide blast wave and ballistic fragment deflection whilst permitting mobility in a lightweight arrangement. Varying thickness of the Kevlar® knit can be used in the protective areas (22, 26, 30) selectively to enhance protection against blast wave and fragment penetration.

Abstract: A modular body armour system (100) includes an upper shoulder harness (102) in which shoulder straps (106, 108) are pivotally rotatable relative to each other and also to front and back connecting bridges (112, 114) that define a closed loop for the harness (102). Armour plates (124, 126) are attachable to the bridges (112, 114) and extend generally downwardly to protect the front and back torso regions of a wearer of the body armour (100). Pivotal articulation of the body armour (100) permits the armour to roll advantageously with the movement of its wearer such that movement, such as crouching or the adoption of a firing position, is not generally restricted. A lower girdle (104) incorporates additional plates and panels (140, 142, 105, 152) to provide enhanced protection to the wearer, which lower girdle (104) may be entirely independent of the upper shoulder harness (102).