U.S. patent application number 10/838558 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for ballistic resistant member carrier.
Invention is credited to Vickie L. Dawson, Wyatt D. Dawson.
Application Number | 20060143763 10/838558 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36638646 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060143763 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dawson; Vickie L. ; et
al. |
July 6, 2006 |
Ballistic resistant member carrier
Abstract
A garment includes a ballistic resistant member carrier and a
garment, such as a shirt. The carrier is attached to the shirt. The
carrier may include at least one portion adapted to cover a front
and/or back side of a torso of a wearer. The front and back
portions of the carrier may also overlap to further cover a side of
the torso of the wearer.
Inventors: |
Dawson; Vickie L.; (Central
Lake, MI) ; Dawson; Wyatt D.; (Central Lake,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILDMAN HARROLD ALLEN & DIXON
225 WEST WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2800
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
36638646 |
Appl. No.: |
10/838558 |
Filed: |
May 4, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/002.5 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20060101
F41H001/02 |
Claims
1. A garment, comprising: a shirt; and a ballistic resistant member
carrier attached to the shirt.
2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the ballistic resistant member
carrier comprises a front portion to be positioned over a front
portion of a torso of a user and a rear portion to be positioned
over a rear portion of the torso of the user.
3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the front portion and the rear
portion are adapted to cooperatively engage to cover at least one
side of the torso of the user.
4. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a ballistic resistant
member positioned within the ballistic resistant member
carrier.
5. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a ballistic resistant
member positioned on a surface of the ballistic resistant member
carrier.
6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the member carrier is attached
to at least one of a collar and a shoulder portion of the
shirt.
7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the member carrier comprises a
folded sheet.
8. The garment of claim 7, wherein the folded sheet includes two
end portions that are secured together.
9. The garment of claim 8, wherein the two end portions are secured
to at least one of a collar and a shoulder portion of the
shirt.
10. The garment of claim 8 wherein adjacent opposing sides of the
folded sheet are attached together.
11. The garment of claim 10 wherein the folded sheet forms a
pocket.
12. The garment of claim 7, wherein one side of the folded sheet
includes an opening to allow insertion of a ballistic resistant
member.
13. The garment of claim 1, wherein the shirt is adapted to overly
the member carrier.
14. A garment, comprising: a shirt; and a ballistic resistant
member carrier attached to the shirt, wherein the carrier comprises
an enclosure for receiving and carrying a ballistic resistant
member.
15. The garment of claim 14, wherein atop portion of the carrier is
attached to the shirt to at least one of a collar and a shoulder
portion of the shirt.
16. The garment of claim 14, wherein the enclosure comprises a
folded sheet.
17. The garment of claim 16, wherein the folded sheet includes two
end portions that are secured to together.
18. The garment of claim 17, wherein the two end portions are
connected to the shirt.
19. The garment of claim 17 wherein adjacent opposing sides of the
folded sheet are attached together.
20. The garment of claim 19 wherein the folded sheet forms a
pocket.
21. The garment of claim 16, wherein one side of the folded sheet
includes an opening to allow insertion of a ballistic resistant
member.
22. The garment of claim 14, wherein the shirt is adapted to
overlie the carrier.
23. The garment of claim 14, wherein the carrier comprises a front
portion positioned over a front portion of a torso of a wearer; and
a rear portion positioned over a back portion of the torso of the
wearer.
24. The garment of claim 23, wherein the front portion and the rear
portion cooperate to cover at least one side of a torso.
25. The garment of claim 24, wherein the front portion and the rear
portion overlap.
26. The garment of claim 24, wherein the front portion and the rear
portion include mating side portions.
27. The garment of claim 23, wherein the front portion and the rear
portion are attached to at least one of a collar and a shoulder
portion of the shirt.
28. A method for making a garment comprising the steps of:
providing a ballistic resistant member carrier; and attaching the
ballistic resistant member carrier to an interior portion of a
garment adapted to be worn on a torso of a wearer.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the garment comprises a
shirt.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the carrier is attached to at
least one of a collar and a shoulder portion of the shirt.
31. The method of claim 28, wherein the carrier comprises covers at
least one side of a torso of a wearer.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the carrier comprises: a front
portion to be positioned over a front portion of a torso of a
wearer; and a rear portion to be positioned over a back portion of
the torso of a wearer.
33. The method of claim 28, wherein the carrier comprises a folded
sheet having two ends attached together.
34. The method of claim 33, wherein the two ends are attached to at
least one of a collar and a shoulder portion of the garment.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein adjacent opposing sides of the
folded sheet are attached together.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein the folded sheet forms a
pocket.
37. The method of claim 33, wherein the folded sheet includes an
opening that is adapted to allow insertion of a ballistic resistant
member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present application relates generally to ballistic
resistant garments and more specifically to ballistic resistant
member carrier for use to be worn under clothing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a garment which includes a
shirt and a ballistic resistant member carrier attached to the
shirt.
[0003] The present invention relates to a garment which includes a
shirt and ballistic resistant member carrier attached to the shirt,
wherein the carrier comprises an enclosure for receiving and
carrying a ballistic resistant member.
[0004] The present invention also relates to a method for making a
garment comprising the steps of providing a ballistic resistant
member carrier and attaching the ballistic resistant member carrier
to an interior portion of a garment adapted to be worn on a torso
of a wearer.
[0005] These and other features will become apparent from the
following detailed description, the accompanied drawings and the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the garment of the
present invention shown on a user's torso with the shirt of the
garment shown in phantom;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2--2 of
FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a top fold out view of the ballistic resistant
member carrier of FIG. 1 (fastening straps not shown);
[0009] FIG. 4 is a partial fold out view of the ballistic resistant
member carrier of FIG. 1 with fastening straps shown exploded;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a top view of the ballistic resistant member
carrier of FIG. 1 after assembly (fastening straps not shown);
[0011] FIG. 6 is a front view of the garment of FIG. 1 shown with
the shirt separated from the ballistic resistant member
carrier;
[0012] FIG. 7 is an enlarged top partial perspective view of the
ballistic resistant member carrier of FIG. 1 showing one shoulder
region with the member carrier shown and the shirt shown inside
out;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8--8 of
FIG. 7;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a front view of the garment of FIG. 1 with the
shirt shown in phantom;
[0015] FIG. 10 is side view of the garment of FIG. 1 with the shirt
shown in phantom;
[0016] FIG. 11 is rear view of the garment of FIG. 1 with the shirt
shown in phantom; and
[0017] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the ballistic resistant
member carrier of FIG. 1 shown with a ballistic resistant member
partially inserted therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, garment 100, in one example, comprises
ballistic resistant member carrier 102, which is attached to shirt
103. In FIG. 1, shirt 103 is shown in phantom. However, shirt 103
provides the ability to conceal ballistic resistant member carrier
102 from the eyes of an observer. Shirt 103, since it is utilized
to help conceal, can be of any number of conventional garments. In
the present embodiment shown, shirt 103 is constructed as a
T-shirt.
[0019] In general, ballistic resistant member carrier 102 is
adapted to receive and carry a ballistic resistant member.
Ballistic resistant member carrier 102, in one example, is made of
a water resistant vapor permeable material such as GORE-TEX.RTM..
Alternatively, ballistic resistant member carrier 102 could
comprise any material with sufficient strength to carry ballistic
resistant members.
[0020] In one embodiment, ballistic resistant member carrier 102
comprises a front portion 104, a rear portion 106 and fastening
devices 108, which are located at each side of carrier 102. Front
portion 104 and rear portion 106, in one example, are adapted to
cover at least a portion of the user's torso. In one embodiment,
front portion 104 and rear portion 106 cover both a front and rear
side of a user's torso. In another example, either front portion
104 or rear portion 106 individually covers at least one of the
front or rear sides of the user's torso. In a further example, a
ballistic resistant member carrier 102 may comprise only front
portion 104 or only rear portion 106. Therefore, whichever portion
is included would at least partially cover at least one of a front
or rear side of the user's torso.
[0021] FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view taken along line 2--2
of FIG. 1. Front portion 104 and rear portion 106 are shown with
ballistic resistant members 202, 204 contained therein,
respectively. Ballistic resistant members 202, 204 may be
constructed in a number of ways which contemplate resisting
penetration of a ballistic impact. Often, members 202, 204 are
constructed of overlying sheets of woven high strength fibers. In
some instances, members 202, 204 are constructed of overlying
sheets of non-woven ballistic resistant materials or even a
combination of overlying sheets of woven and non-woven ballistic
resistant materials. Alternatively, ballistic resistant members 202
and 204 may include plates constructed of metal and/or ceramic
materials.
[0022] In other embodiments, front portion 104 and rear portion 106
are configured to cooperatively cover a side 107 of wearer's torso.
In FIG. 2, front portion 104 and rear portion 106 cooperatively
engage by overlapping to cover the user's side 107 and include
ballistic resistant members 202 and 204, which likewise, overlap to
cover the user's side. Alternatively, front portion 104 and rear
portion 106 may be adapted to have complementary mating side
portions that engage to cover the wearer's side.
[0023] Fastening device 108, in one example, comprises fastening
strips 206 and 208 and fastening strap 210. Fastening strips 206,
208 are connected to front portion 104 and rear portion 106,
respectively. Fastening strips 206, 208 are connected to front
portion 104 and rear portion 106 through any known means, such as
stitching, adhesives, etc. Fastening strap 210 engages with
fastening strips 206, 208 to secure fastening strips 206 and 208
and, by extension, front portion 104 and rear portion 106 together.
In one example, fastening strips 206,208 and fastening strap 210
comprise mating hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro.RTM.. It
should be noted that the side of carrier 102 opposite line 2--2 has
a similar cooperative engagement between front portion 104 and rear
portion 106 and also includes a fastening device 108. As previously
mentioned, ballistic resistant members 202 and 204 may also overlap
to provide ballistic protective coverage to the user's side.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a fold out plan view of an embodiment of ballistic
resistant member carrier 102. Ballistic resistant member carrier
102 can be constructed of a single sheet of material or any number
of sheets secured together by conventional means such as stitching,
adhesives etc. Front portion 104, in one example, is constructed of
sheet 302. Rear portion 106, in one example, is constructed of
sheet 304. In this example, sheets 302 and 304 are secured together
with stitches 318, which secure sheets 302 and 304 at the shoulder
and/or collar region of the ballistic resistant garment. In the
shoulder region, opening 320 defines a space that a wearer's head
fits through and is positioned around the neck of the wearer when
ballistic resistant garment is worn. End portion 308 of sheet 302
and end portion 312 of sheet 304, in one example, are also secured
together by stitching 318. It should be noted, however, that other
ways of attaching sheets 302, 304, such as adhesives or velcro, are
also envisioned.
[0025] An example of constructing front and rear portions 104 and
106 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Sheet 302 is folded along fold line
309 and likewise sheet 304 is folded along fold line 313. In this
example, end portions 306 and 308, as well as, end portions 310 and
312 are all brought together at the shoulder region of the garment
and secured together either by stitching 318 or other conventional
means for joining the material together. Portions 104 and 106 are
constructed, in this example, as enclosures or loops for holding
ballistic resistant members 202 and 204 respectively. In a more
preferable construction, portions 104 and 106 are further enclosed
by securing adjacent opposing sides 315 of portion 104 and adjacent
opposing sides 317 of portion 104 together thereby forming a pocket
for holding ballistic resistant member 202. Similarly, portion 106
adjacent opposing sides 319 and 321 are secured together creating a
pocket for holding ballistic resistant member 204. Under this
construction, sheet 302 includes opening 314, and sheet 304
includes opening 316, which allow for the insertion of a ballistic
resistant member into the pockets formed of portions 104 and 106
respectively.
[0026] In the example set forth herein, portions 104 and 106 form
pocket enclosures for holding a ballistic resistant member in
position. However, portions 104 and 106 do not have to be
enclosures, but can each be constructed in a number of ways to hold
the ballistic resistant members in position under the shirt. A
further example would include each of portions 104 and 106 being a
sheet or a portion of a sheet that is secured to the shoulder
and/or collar region of the garment 103 shown in FIG. 1. Each
portion 104 and 106 is then, in turn, secured to a ballistic
resistant member 202, 204 respectively by way of stitching,
adhesive etc.
[0027] The present invention also relates to methods for making
ballistic resistant garments. In one embodiment, the method
comprises providing a shirt and attaching a ballistic resistant
member carrier to the shirt. Referring now to FIG. 4, a method for
forming one embodiment of ballistic resistant member carrier is
shown. Front portion 104 is formed by folding sheet 302 along fold
line 309 and positioning end portion 306 proximate to end portion
308. Likewise, rear portion 106 is formed by folding sheet 304
along fold line 313 and positioning end portion 310 proximate to
312. The arrows shown in FIG. 4 provide the direction in which
front and back portions 104 and 106 are folded together for
assembly. The respective end portions 306, 308, 310 and 312 may
then be connected by stitching, adhesives, etc. As disclosed above,
the opposing sides of sheets 302 and 304 can be secured together to
form a pocket for portions 104 and 106. Alternatively, end portions
306, 308, 310 and 312 could be releasably secured together by a
fastening device such as VELCRO.RTM.. The end result is shown in
FIG. 5, with ballistic resistant member carrier 102 assembled and
portions 104 and 106 forming pockets with all of their sides
secured closed and the only access to the interior of the formed
pockets is through openings 314 and 316.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 6, generally after assembly, ballistic
resistant member carrier 102 is attached to shirt 103. In one
example, top portions 602 of ballistic resistant member carrier,
which are formed at the connection of top portions 306, 308, 310,
312 of FIG. 3, are inserted into the body of shirt 103 and attached
in a preferred construction to shoulder portions 604. In other
embodiments, shirt 103 can be secured to collar portion 605 or to
both shoulder and collar portions 604 and 605. In this embodiment,
shirt 103 overlies carrier 102, and thereby functions as a
concealment garment, which may prevent an observer from seeing
ballistic member carrier 102 and any accompanying ballistic
resistant members when garment 100 is positioned on a wearer.
Further, because top portions 602 are connected to shirt 103 at
collar portions 604, shirt 103 provides vertical support for
carrier 102. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide carrier
102 with support straps at the shoulders.
[0029] FIG. 7 provides an inside out view of ballistic resistant
garment 100 with carrier 102. Normally, carrier 102 is positioned
on the inside of shirt 103. In this view, however, carrier 102 is
positioned outside of and over shirt 103. Top portions 602 of
carrier 102 are shown attached to shoulder and collar portions 604,
605 of shirt 103 by stitching 702. It should be noted, however,
that carrier 102 and shirt 103 could be attached together
differently. For instance, front portion 704 of carrier 102 could
be attached to a corresponding front portion of shirt 103, or back
portion of carrier 102 could be attached to a back portion of shirt
103. Moreover, carrier 102 and shirt 103 could be attached together
through means other than stitching, such as by adhesive, rivets,
etc. It should be also noted that carrier 102 could be releasably
attached to shirt 103 through the employment of snaps, buttons,
VELCRO etc.
[0030] FIG. 8 provides a cross sectional view taken along line 8--8
of FIG. 7. End portions 306, 308 of sheet 302, which is used to
form front portion 104, are shown connected to the shoulder portion
604 of shirt 103. End portions 310, 312 of sheet 304, which is used
to form rear portion 106, likewise are shown connected to shoulder
portion 604 of shirt 103.
[0031] FIGS. 9-11 demonstrate the coverage provided by garment 100
when installed on a user. In FIG. 9, ballistic resistant member
901, shown in phantom, is positioned inserted in front portion 104,
protects a front side 902 of a wearer. In FIG. 10, both the front
and back sides of the wearer are shown protected wherein, ballistic
resistant member 901 is shown positioned inside of portion 104
protecting the front side of the wearer, wherein portion 104 is
shown in phantom. Likewise, ballistic resistant member 903 is shown
inside of rear portion 106 protecting the back side of the wearer,
wherein portion 106 is shown in phantom. Both ballistic resistant
members 901 and 903 cooperate in overlapping with one another to
protect side 107 of a user. (Similarly, member 901 and member 903
overlap to likewise provide protection to the opposite side of the
user). In FIG. 11, ballistic resistant member 903, shown in
phantom, is shown protecting back 906 of a user. Shirt 103, shown
in phantom in FIGS. 9-11, helps conceal members 901, 903 from being
seen by an observer. It should be noted that either front portion
104 or rear portion 106 could be omitted from garment 100 depending
on the needs of the user.
[0032] FIG. 12 demonstrates the insertion of ballistic resistant
member 903 into rear portion 106. Member 903 is inserted, in the
direction of the arrow, into rear portion 106 through opening 316.
Member 903 is inserted into portion 106 until it is positioned
within portion 106. Similarly, member 901 (not shown) is inserted
into front portion 104 through opening 314 (not shown). Because
front portion 104 and rear portion 106 are closed at top portion
602, ballistic resistant members 901, 903 are prevented from riding
up and out of the top of carrier 102.
[0033] Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been
depicted and described in detail herein, it would be apparent to
those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications,
additions, substitutions and the like can be made without departing
from the spirit of the invention. These are therefore considered to
be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following
claims.
* * * * *