BODY ARMOR
A body armor accessory adds protection to unguarded areas of conventional body armor. The removable accessory comprises an axillary panel having a coverage area and is made of material that impedes the penetration of a foreign object. The accessory can be worn on either the left or right side of the wearer. The coverage area to the deltoid and flank areas of the wearer provided by the axillary panel is greater than that provided by the vest without the panel. A deltoid panel provides added protection to the deltoid area of the wearer.
The U.S. Government may have a paid-up license in this invention.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to body armor, and more specifically to improvements to protection for the axillary and other vulnerable regions of the body.
BACKGROUNDBody armor has been used for centuries to protect areas of the body vulnerable to combative blows and projectiles. While the armor is intended to minimize injuries and fatalities that would otherwise result from such harmful events, the armor must also not interfere with the wearer's ability to carry out his duties with sufficient mobility and dexterity as may be required.
Traditionally body armor has been designed to assist in surviving attacks of known direction and source. For example, the Interceptor Multi-Threat Body Armor System went into production in 1999 and is made by Point Blank Body Armor of Oakland Park, Fla. The Interceptor, among other things, seeks to protect the major body organs from projectiles originating from sources in front or behind the wearer.
Threats to individual soldiers are developing from non-traditional sources. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) often are called “homemade” devices that are designed to cause death or injury primarily by use of explosives. IEDs can be produced in varying sizes, functioning methods, containers, and delivery methods. IEDs can utilize homemade explosives, or military ordnance and ordnance components. In the current conflict in Iraq, IEDs are accounting for a significant percentage of trauma cases and resulting causalities to coalition forces. The methods to counteract IEDs include eliminating the insurgents or terrorists that create the IEDs, improving the means for detecting and eliminating IEDs prior to detonation, altering the environment where IEDS may be located by, for example, increasing the armor protection of vehicles that may encounter IEDs, and improving the body armor that exposed individuals may wear.
Improvements to the body armor would minimize the effects of IEDs that may detonate, in spite of efforts to eliminate their creation. Injuries from IEDs can occur to the axillary, flank and deltoid body regions. Current body armor designs do not protect these exposed areas sufficiently to minimize the harm caused by IEDs and other threats. There is a need therefore for improved body armor that will protect exposed and vulnerable areas of the body from IEDs and other injury-causing projectiles, while retaining the requisite degree of mobility and dexterity that may be required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, a removable body armor accessory adds protection to areas that conventional body armor leaves substantially unprotected. The accessory comprises an axillary panel having a coverage area and is made of material that impedes the penetration of a foreign object. The coverage area to the deltoid and flank areas of the wearer provided by the axillary panel is greater than that provided by the vest without the panel. A deltoid panel provides added protection to the deltoid area of the wearer. Both panels can be worn on either the left or right side of the wearer.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The body armor of this invention is shown and described in preferred embodiments in the description below.
As shown in
In embodiments of this invention, deltoid and axillary protector (DAP™) devices are provided that augment the traditional body armor by providing protection to previously under-protected areas of the body. The embodiment can consist of two modular panels or components; namely, a deltoid panel 100 and an axillary panel 200. These panels provide protection but still allow the wearer free use of their arms and torso. Both panels preferably are made of soft, pliable materials capable of conforming to the natural shape of a wearer's shoulder and axillary regions. The panels also can be adaptable for wearing on the left or right side of the wearer.
As shown in
Alternatively, strap 110 can be positioned under and around the vest shoulder 17 as shown in
The securing strap 130 can also be positioned upon the deltoid panel to allow for placement around the arm nearer the bicep and elbow, and hence fitted to the desired arm girth. The deltoid panel should be large enough to cover a substantial portion of the deltoid, but also should be capable of securing around the arm snugly to avoid snagging on environmental objects while the wearer is in close quarters.
Although other fastening means can be used, a preferred embodiment shows again the use of hook and loop fasteners, e.g., Velcro®, to provide hooks 136 and pile 132 to accomplish fastening and sizing. Preferably, the deltoid panel weighs approximately 5 pounds or less. Alternatively, securing snaps (not shown) can be used to attach strap 110 to mating snaps on the shoulder portion of the vest. The deltoid panel 100 can be made of level II Kevlar, or any other suitable body armor material.
As shown in
During use, the axillary panel fits under the vest 10, and helps protect the underarm 202 and flank 208 regions of the wearer. In a preferred embodiment, the axillary protector 200 underlaps the vest 10 to ensure a good fit and avoid snagging the exposed panel on objects. Nevertheless, the benefits of this invention also will result if the panel overlaps the vest 10. In use, the axillary panel protects the wearer's axillary regions when his or her arms are approximately horizontal as shown in
In another preferred embodiment, the axillary panel and/or the deltoid panel can be integral to the vest, but expandable in such a way that the coverage area for the axillary or deltoid areas are covered by use, for example, of an accordion or pleated panel that is part of the vest itself.
This invention offers mobility, and universal fit. The invention also is simple to demonstrate, and easily is removed and attached by soldiers in the field to either their right or left sides. If preferred, multiple sets can be used on both arms and shoulders. The invention does not encumber the user from engaging in a firing position, and other combat ready positions and maneuvers required in the field. It is lightweight, weighing approximately 5 pounds per panel in a preferred embodiment. The panels could be made in any suitable colors required by the usage, such as desert or woodland camouflage patterns.
Many personnel can benefit from the added protection provided by this invention. Drivers and passengers (included mounted troops) of armored and unarmored vehicles can benefit from these improvements to body armor. Turret gunners in armored and unarmored vehicles will appreciate the added protection. Occupants of boats, helicopters, tanks, light armor vehicles, and even dismounted troops will benefit from this invention. Non-military personnel, including contract personnel, law enforcement, corrections officers, tactical and private security forces also will benefit from the protection offered by this invention. Further usages include explosive ordinance disposal, athletic activities, and animal training and detaining.
During the development and testing of this invention in Iraq, the axillary panel successfully stopped a fragment from entering a wearer's chest cavity. This wearer was in the gunner position on a Light-Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV). Upon detonation of an IED placed by hostile forces, the vehicle cab sustained major damage. The gunner was wearing the standard issue Interceptor Body Armor vest, augmented by the axillary panel. Approximately a 1 inch metal shrapnel was stopped by the axillary panel, after the shrapnel penetrated an existing layer of the Interceptor vest. A fragment of this size is sufficient to sever major arteries in and around the heart and lungs, causing permanent injury and possibly death. The gunner was able to avoid serious injury and possible death, and returned to active duty following the incident.
The panels described herein can have be comprised of an outer shell layer that enclose an insert containing one or more sheets of ballistic resistant materials, as are well known in the art. The materials comprising the outer layer and ballistic sheets can be of any suitable materials given the desired usage conditions and environments. Additional hooks, loops and reflectors can be added as desired.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that any and all equivalent realizations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. Thus, the embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described and shown, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art that the present invention is not limited thereto since many modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the literal or equivalent scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A body armor accessory, for use with a body armor vest, comprising
- a. an axillary panel having an underarm coverage area, the panel being operable to be connected to the vest;
- b. the panel being made of ballistic material that impedes the penetration of at least one foreign object;
- c. the axillary panel is proximate to a wearer's chest when at least one of the wearer's arms is raised;
- wherein the coverage area provides greater protection to an axillary area of the wearer than that provided by the vest without the panel.
2. The body armor accessory of claim 1 further comprising a connector that attaches the panel to the vest.
3. The body armor accessory of claim 2 whereby the connector is configured to allow for attachment to either a right or left side of the vest.
4. The body armor accessory of claim 1 whereby the panel is designed to be worn under the vest.
5. (canceled)
6. The body armor accessory of claim 1 further comprising
- a. a deltoid panel having a coverage area;
- b. the deltoid panel being made of material that impedes the penetration of at least one foreign object
- whereby the deltoid coverage area provides greater protection to an deltoid area of a wearer than that provided by the vest without the deltoid panel.
7. The body armor accessory of claim 6 whereby the deltoid panel is capable of attachment to the vest.
8. The body armor accessory of claim 6 whereby the deltoid panel further is configured to allow the deltoid panel to secure to the wearer's arm.
9. The body armor accessory of claim 6 whereby the deltoid panel is capable of being worn on either the left or right side of the vest.
10. A body armor comprising
- a. a vest having a neck opening and two arm openings;
- b. an axillary panel having an underarm coverage area, the panel being made of ballistic material that impedes the penetration of at least one foreign object;
- c. the axillary panel is proximate to a wearer's chest when at least one of the wearer's arms is raised;
- wherein the axillary panel coverage area provides greater protection to an axillary area of the wearer than that provided by the vest without the panel.
11. The body armor of claim 10 whereby the coverage area of the vest for the wearer's axillary region is a first coverage area, and the coverage area of the panel is a second coverage area, and the first coverage area and the second coverage area overlap.
12. The body armor of claim 10 further comprising
- a. a deltoid panel having a coverage area;
- b. the deltoid panel being made of material that impedes the penetration of at least one foreign object
- whereby the deltoid coverage area provides greater protection to an deltoid area of a wearer than that provided by the vest without the deltoid panel.
13. The body armor accessory of claim 12 whereby the deltoid panel is attached to the vest.
14. The body armor accessory of claim 12 whereby the deltoid panel further is configured to allow the deltoid panel to secure to the wearer's arm.
15-19. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 30, 2004
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2006
Inventors: Christopher Winkle (Fayetteville, NC), David Cox (Raeford, NC)
Application Number: 11/027,281
International Classification: A41D 13/00 (20060101);