U.S. patent application number 10/542798 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for protective garment.
Invention is credited to Andrew Robert England Kerr.
Application Number | 20060253950 10/542798 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32683976 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060253950 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kerr; Andrew Robert
England |
November 16, 2006 |
Protective garment
Abstract
A protective body garment comprising an outer layer of
penetration resistant armour, a gas inflatable bladder and
inflation means for inflating the bladder to provide buoyancy to
the wearer of the garment when immersed in water. The garment has
an inner support means (130) to support the inner surface of the
bladder (110) and the inflatable bladder is placed between the
inner support means (130) and the outer layer of armour (138). The
garment may also possess wall portions (115) which when the device
is deflated are held together by releasable interengaging means and
when the device is inflated are separated to increase the size of
the garment to accommodate the volume of the inflated device.
Inventors: |
Kerr; Andrew Robert England;
(Birmingham, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CAESAR, RIVISE, BERNSTEIN,;COHEN & POKOTILOW, LTD.
11TH FLOOR, SEVEN PENN CENTER
1635 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-2212
US
|
Family ID: |
32683976 |
Appl. No.: |
10/542798 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
December 19, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB03/05584 |
371 Date: |
July 10, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/0125 20130101;
B63C 9/1255 20130101; F41H 1/02 20130101; A41D 13/0155
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/002.5 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20060101
F41H001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2002 |
GB |
0229606.9 |
Nov 26, 2003 |
GB |
0327500.5 |
Claims
1-25. (canceled)
26. A protective body garment comprising an outer layer of
penetration resistant armour, a gas inflatable bladder and
inflation means for inflating the bladder to provide buoyancy to
the wearer of the garment when immersed in water, and an inner
support means to support the inner surface of the bladder, wherein
the inflatable bladder is placed between the inner support means
and the outer layer of armour.
27. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, wherein inner
support means is an inner support layer comprising a layer of
plastics material or a layer of body armour.
28. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 27, wherein the
inner support layer is provided by a plurality of sections held
within one or more pockets of the garment to be placed between the
bladder and a user's body thereby to encourage the shock wave from
a bullet to be transmitted directly from the outer layer to the
inner layer to be dissipated by spreading the pressure over the
inner support layer.
29. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, wherein the
inner support means is in contact with an inner surface of the
bladder.
30. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, wherein the
inner support means overlies the bladder so that the peripheral
portion of the inner support means is in contact with the outer
layer.
31. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, wherein the
body armour comprises a plurality of components which are either
flexible or flexibly connected together, whereby the armour expands
on inflation of the gas bladder.
32. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, wherein the
garment comprises portions interconnected by expansion joints
which, when the bladder inflates, permit said portions to move to
provide room for the bladder to expand.
33. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 32, wherein the
expansion joints comprise folded strips of material connected
between said portions.
34. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 32, further
comprising protrusions from the inner and outer walls of the vest
proximate the expansion joints, wherein the protrusions are held
together by releasable interengaging means which are separated to
increase the size of the garment to accommodate the volume of the
bladder when inflated.
35. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, comprising
valve means connected to said bladder for limiting pressure in the
bladder when it is inflated.
36. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, wherein the
body armour includes a metal mesh.
37. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, including
padding to reduce trauma.
38. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, including
automatic immersion sensitive inflation means for said bladder.
39. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 26, comprising an
inner vest connectable to an outer jacket.
40. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 39, wherein the
vest and the jacket each comprise a gas inflatable bag and each bag
has pressure limiting valve means connected thereto.
41. A protective body garment comprising an outer layer of
penetration resistant armour, a gas inflatable bladder and
inflation means for inflating the bladder to provide buoyancy to
the wearer of the garment when immersed in water.
42. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 41 wherein the
body armour comprises a plurality of components which are either
flexible or flexibly connected together, whereby the armour expands
on inflation of the gas bladder.
43. A protective body garment as claimed in claim 42 wherein the
components include one or more straps, whereby the inflatable
bladder is visible when the bladder expands.
44. An inflatable garment in the general form of a vest, the
garment containing an inflatable device, the garment having wall
portions which when the device is deflated are held together by
releasable interengaging means and when the device is inflated are
separated to increase the size of the garment to accommodate the
volume of the inflated device.
45. An inflatable garment as claimed in claim 44, wherein the
interengaging means comprising at least one row of spaced apart
male and female connectors along the wall portions.
46. A garment according to claim 45, wherein the interengaging
means are rows of spaced apart facing press studs protruding from
the wall portions.
47. A garment according to claim 44, wherein the inflation device
comprises a gas cylinder arranged to inflate a bag automatically
and a valve through which the gas can escape from the bladder and
which can be used to add more gas to the bladder.
48. A garment according to claim 47, wherein the valve is connected
to a blow tube accessible by the mouth of the wearer.
49. A garment according to claim 44, including a collar portion
which is set low so that head movement of a wearer of the jacket
also wearing a helmet will not foul the helmet.
50. A garment according to claim 44, including body locating
devices which are released upon full inflation of the bladder.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to an inflatable garment to act as a
rescue device for people who fall into water or in other hazardous
situations and to a garment comprising body armour. Such a garment
might be worn by a member of the armed forces, police and the
like.
[0002] It is known to provide a life jacket, vest or similar
garment with an inflatable bladder or balloon to provide the wearer
with buoyancy when he falls into water. In most garments there are
opposed flaps or similar which are held closed when the bladder is
deflated but which separate on inflation of the bladder to provide
an increase in volume of the garment to house the inflated bladder.
The flap portions are held together by a zip system such as a
burstable zip system. Zips cannot cope with flap portions that are
not straight and burst zips cannot easily be reused. VELCRO can be
used alone or with a zip, but only for a short length. It is one
object of this invention to provide a garment having such an
expandable portion and which will cope with irregularities in the
wall of the garment and have other advantages.
[0003] In those garments comprising body armour, the armour might
comprise flexible penetration resistant material and/or, for extra
protection, a rigid ceramic plate. The provision of buoyancy is
useful in some situations and the prior art includes several
proposals for garments comprising buoyant material such as foam
sheets as well as armour. However, buoyant foam provides only light
protection and may not support the weight of high level protective
armour.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,737 proposes a garment comprising
pockets for receiving anti-ballistic inserts and buoyancy elements
including an inflatable chamber. Another example of protective
garment is illustrated in PCT/GB99/01114, in which there is shown
body armour and a gas inflatable bag with inflation means for
inflating the bag to provide buoyancy to the wearer of the garment
when immersed in water.
[0005] One problem associated with the prior art is that the shock
waves from the impact of a bullet into the body armour can result
in degradation of the buoyancy aid.
[0006] The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to
overcome, or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
[0007] One aspect of the invention provides a protective body
garment comprising an outer layer of penetration resistant armour,
a gas inflatable bladder and inflation means for inflating the
bladder to provide buoyancy to the wearer of the garment when
immersed in water, and an inner support means to support the inner
surface of the bladder. The inflatable bladder is placed between
the inner support means and the outer layer of armour. Optionally,
the inner support means is an inner support layer comprising a
layer of plastics material or a layer of body armour.
[0008] In one class of embodiments, the inner support layer is
provided by a plurality of sections held within one or more pockets
of the garment to be placed between the bladder and a user's body
thereby to encourage the shock wave from a bullet to be transmitted
directly from the outer layer to the inner layer to be dissipated
by spreading the pressure over the inner support layer.
[0009] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the
invention, the inner support means is in contact with an inner
surface of the bladder. Optionally, the inner support means
overlies the bladder so that the peripheral portion of the inner
support means is in contact with the outer layer.
[0010] The body armour may comprise a plurality of components which
are either flexible or flexibly connected together, whereby the
armour expands on inflation of the gas bladder. Optionally, the
garment comprises portions interconnected by expansion joints
which, when the bladder inflates, permit the portions to move to
provide room for the bladder to expand. Preferably, the expansion
joints comprise folded strips of material connected between the
portions. In some embodiments, the expansion strips on the material
may enclose the whole or at least part of the inflation bladder.
Alternatively, the strips may operate merely to retain the
inflation unit between the inner support layer and outer layer of
armour, thereby allowing the bladder to be displayed.
[0011] In some embodiments, there further comprises protrusions of
the inner and outer walls of the vest proximate the expansion
joints. The protrusions are held together by releasable
interengaging means which are separated to increase the size of the
garment to accommodate the volume of the bladder when inflated.
[0012] The garment may further comprise valve means connected to
the bladder for limiting pressure in the bladder when it is
inflated.
[0013] In some embodiments, the body armour may include a metal
mesh. The garment may also include padding to reduce trauma.
[0014] The garment may comprise an inner vest connectable to an
outer jacket. In such use, the vest and the jacket each comprise a
gas inflatable bag and each bag has pressure limiting valve means
connected thereto.
[0015] Preferably, the interengaging means comprises at lease one
row of spaced apart male and female connectors along the wall
portions.
[0016] According to another another aspect of the invention, there
comprises an inflatable garment in the general form of a vest, the
garment containing an inflatable device, the garment having wall
portions which when the device is deflated are held together by
releasable interengaging means and when the device is inflated are
separated to increase the size of the garment to accommodate the
volume of the inflated device. Optionally, the interengaging means
may comprise at least one row of spaced apart male and female
connectors along the wall portions. Preferably, the interengaging
means are rows of spaced apart facing press studs protruding from
the wall portions.
[0017] In some embodiments, the inflation device comprises a gas
cylinder arranged to inflate a bag automatically and a valve
through which the gas can escape from the bladder and which can be
used to add more gas to the bladder.
[0018] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the
invention, the valve is connected to a blow tube accessible by the
mouth of the wearer. The garment may include a collar portion which
is set low so that head movement of a wearer of the jacket also
wearing a helmet will not foul the helmet.
[0019] The garment may include a body locating devices which are
released upon full inflation of the bladder.
[0020] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawing in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a protective sleeveless
jacket or "vest";
[0022] FIG. 2 is a section on the line X-X in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 but showing a bladder used in
the vest in its inflated state;
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates the shape of inner support means and
bladder according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a front elevation of a vest according to a second
embodiment before inflation;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a side elevation through Y-Y of the vest of FIG. 5
after inflation;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a releasable seam portion of
the vest shown in FIG. 5 before inflation of the housed bladder,
and
[0028] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the seam portion shown in FIG.
7 after inflation.
[0029] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 to 3, there
comprises a sleeveless jacket or vest 100 having a body 102 with
armholes 103. The vest is openable down the front by way of a
Velcro or zip fastener (not shown) concealed behind an overlapping
lapel 104 on one side of the vest. At the sides of the vest, below
the arm-holes 103 there could be provided adjustment means (not
shown) for example openable seams joined by Velcro fasteners.
[0030] Of course, in other embodiments, the vest or jacket may
possess sleeves and other changes to the style without departing
from the scope of invention.
[0031] The vest comprises one or more layers of padding and
protective armour. In this embodiment, there is a first layer of
material 105a for example Nylon or p.v.c. which encloses flexible
body armour. Preferably, the outer layer 138 of body armour
comprises padding 106, made up of a plurality of layers of Kevlar,
a layer of relatively flexible plastics material 107, and a layer
of steel mesh 108. The layer of plastics material 107 which could
be backed with semi-rigid plastics foam (not shown) acts as a
so-called trauma pack, i.e. which spreads the pressure due to
weapon contacts and helps reduce bruising. The mesh 108 helps to
resist knife attacks.
[0032] As well as the flexible body armour, the vest may also
comprise one or more respective rigid bullet-proof plates or shells
109 that can be removably fitted in pockets formed in the front and
back of the vest. These plates could by made from a ceramic based
material or steel for example. Further padding or rigid armour
members (117 shown in dashed lines) can be fitted over the
shoulders of a wearer of the vest 100, appropriate fasteners (e.g.
VELCRO strips) being provided on the shoulders of the vest.
[0033] The particular make up of the body armour can be chosen as
desired. For example, the steel mesh 107 may not be appropriate
sometimes or the armour could comprise plastics foam material (not
shown). The rigid plates 109 may not be necessary or the pockets
for them can be fitted so that the wearer can use the plates if he
wants to, or if not, he can just leave the relevant pocket
empty.
[0034] In another class of embodiments, it is envisaged that the
outer layer 138 of body armour comprises hard body armour only, for
example ceramic plate, boron carbide or silicone carbide, so that
the shock waves do not pass through the outer layer, thereby
reducing the risk of damage. Alternatively, sufficient pure soft
armour can be used with the same desired effect.
[0035] The vest further comprises an inflation unit, provided in
the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 by an inflatable
flotation bladder 110 placed within the vest, and shaped so that it
extends from one or both sides of the front of the vest over the
shoulder portions and across the top of the wearer's back. Of
course, in other embodiments, the inflation unit may comprise more
than one bladder that can be inflated by independent inflatable
means, or a single bladder with a multiplicity of interconnected
chambers, shaped to better conform to the shape of the user. When
required, the bladder can be inflated by an immersion-responsive
automatic inflation device 111 (FIG. 1), incorporating a
compressed-gas bottle 112 and a manual override facility, such as a
pull cord 150. Such a device 111 is well known and automatically
inflates the bladder 110 when the device 111 is immersed but not if
only splashed by spray or a wave. If required, the cord pull 150
can be operated to cause the device 111 to inflate the bladder 110
even if it is not immersed. The device 111 may be of the kind known
and commercially available for use in inflatable life jackets.
[0036] The bladder may also be inflated or topped-up when necessary
by a mouth tube 113 with a non-return valve (not shown). Both the
device 111 and tube 113 are mounted on the front of the vest so as
to be easily available for operation by the wearer but, if
preferred, could be concealed, say in or behind suitable pockets or
flaps (not shown) provided in the vest.
[0037] The bladder 110 is located between the body armour 106 and
the internal surface 105b of the vest, i.e. between the armour and
the body of the wearer, so as to reduce the chance of weapon damage
to the bladder. To provide room for the bladder to inflate and
expand inwardly folded strips of material 114 are provided around
the armholes 103 and, as appropriate around other parts, connecting
the front and rear portions of the vest, to form expansion joints
115 as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3. When the bladder 110 inflates,
the strips 114 are unfolded and pushed outwardly by the bladder.
These joints enable the armour 106 to move away from the wearer's
body and permit the bladder 110 to expand outwards and sideways as
shown. Further expansion joints like the joints 115 may be provided
elsewhere, for example, at the back of the vest below the neck line
101.
[0038] In other embodiments, the folded strips are replaced with
one or more straps (not shown) connecting the front and rear parts
of the inner and outer layer 105a, 105b, to provide for expansion
of the bladder 110, but preventing the bladder from becoming
detached from the vest. One benefit of this approach is that the
straps allow the bladder to be visible. It is preferred that the
bladder is brightly coloured, for example yellow, red or orange and
the strap arrangement will enhance visibility of the bladder once
immersed in water.
[0039] The bladder is designed, specifically by extending round the
back of the jacket and down at each side of the jacket front, to
tend to self-right an unconscious person wearing the vest.
[0040] In some embodiments, the inner and outer layers 105a, 105b
are connected together when the bladder is in its flat condition.
Thus, connection is provided by releasable interengaging means
which are separated to increase the size of the garment thereby to
accommodate the volume of the bladder when inflated. The second
embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 illustrates one example of the
interengaging means.
[0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, there further comprises
inner support means, which in this embodiment is provided by a
layer of material 130, placed intermediate the bladder 110 and the
body of the wearer. The inner support layer 130 is provided to
support the innermost wall of the bladder and to reduce the
likelihood of rupture. Preferably, the material is a layer of
plastics material and more preferably, it is a layer of body
armour, for example Kevlar. Alternatively, it is envisaged that the
inner support layer could be made up of another material, for
example stiffened foam, a metal or other material that is
sufficiently hard to support the bladder and prevent the inner
layer of the bladder from being damaged by the shock waves.
[0042] The inner support layer 130 is shaped to follow the shape of
the bladder 110. In FIG. 4, there is show a simplified drawing of
the inner support layer 130, which is provided by a plurality of
sections 132, 134, 136. The sections 132, 134, 136 are placed in
contact with the inner surface of the bladder 110. Preferable, the
sections 132, 134, 136 are placed within pockets of the vest to
retain the sections in the correct positions.
[0043] In use, the bladder 110 is sandwiched between the inner
support layer 130 and outer layer of body armour 138. In the event
that a bullet is fired into the body armour, the shock waves from
the impact of the bullet will be transmitted from the outer layer
138, through the bladder 110 to be absorbed by the inner support
layer 130. In the preferred embodiment, the inner support layer 130
is shaped to be larger than the area of the bladder 110, so that
the peripheral portions of the support layer are in direct contact
with the outer layer of body armour 138. Beneficially this
encourages the shock wave to be transmitted directly from the outer
layer to the inner layer so as to be dissipated by spreading the
pressure over the inner support layer, thereby helping to reduce
bruising.
[0044] In one class of embodiments, the inflation device 111
comprises a sensitive servo-valve that regulates the pressure in
the respective bladder. The inflation device and corresponding
valve can operate together while better regulating the overall
buoyancy effect and avoiding over-pressure.
[0045] The inner bladder is protected from bullet fragmentation,
stab attack or the like by the body armour.
[0046] Upon the inflation units being activated they will expand
with the body armour being moved away from the user to allow
expansion of surrounding body armour. In the event of a wearer
using an item or being subject to other confined conditions, the
armour will not inflate to an extent as to crush the occupant.
[0047] Whether or not both inflation bladders are provided, the
inflation device being operable as a pressure regulating
servo-valve is useful because it prevents over inflation in say the
case of the vest 100 and prevents harm to the wearer of the vest.
In other words, regulation of bladder pressure by the servo-valve
forms an additional or alternative means, over and above the
expansion joints 115, for preventing or ameliorating harm to the
wearer.
[0048] It is envisaged the vest can be used in a wide variety of
applications, for example as a protection garment for flight crews,
police and military personnel.
[0049] In some embodiments, a collar is provided, in which case,
the Kevlar padding 106 (and plastics material if desired) of the
flexible body armour extends up into the collar whilst the steel
mesh 108 stops just below the collar. There could be a separate
padding member or rigid bullet-proof member (not shown) that can be
removably fitted in the collar.
[0050] A second embodiment of the vest V is illustrated in FIGS. 5
to 8 which comprises a body 200 having armholes 202. The vest is
openable down the front by way of a Velcro or zip fastener (not
shown) concealed behind an overlapping lapel 204 on one side of the
vest. At the sides of the vest, below the arm-holes 206 there are
seams 208, as will be explained below. The front of the vest has
pockets to contain various items, in the usual way, such as a radio
location device for a rescue team to find a pilot in the sea.
[0051] The vest comprises layers of waterproof material such as
Nylon or p.v.c. or the like, defining a cavity or hollow interior.
Incorporated into the vest, there is an inflatable flotation
bladder 210 which extends up from the front of the vest at one side
then over the shoulder at this side and across to the other side of
the vest at the top of the wearer's back, then back over the other
shoulder and down at the other side of the front of the vest. The
bladder is designed, specifically by extending round the back of
the jacket just below the collar 212 and down at each side of the
jacket front, to tend to self-right an unconscious person wearing
the vest.
[0052] When required, the bladder can be inflated by an
immersion-responsive automatic inflation device 214, incorporating
a compressed-gas bottle 216 and a manual override facility, such as
a pull cord 218. The device 214 automatically inflates the bladder
210 when the device 214 is immersed but not if only splashed by
spray or a wave. If required, the cord pull can be operated to
cause the device 214 to inflate the bladder 210 even if it is not
immersed.
[0053] The device 214 may be of the kind known and commercially
available for use in inflatable life jackets. The bladder may also
be inflated or topped-up when necessary by a mouth tube 220 with a
non-return valve (not shown). Both the device 214 and tube 220 are
mounted on the front of the vest so as to be easily available for
operation by the wearer but, if preferred, could be concealed, say
in or behind suitable pockets or flaps (not shown) provided in the
vest.
[0054] To provide room for the bladder to inflate and expand
inwardly folded seams or strips of material 208 are provided around
the armholes 202 to form expansion joints (described above in the
first embodiment) as shown best in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. When the
bladder 210 inflates, the strips 208 are unfolded and pushed
outwardly by the bladder. These seams permit the bladder 210 to
expand outwards and sideways as shown. Further expansion seams like
the seams 208 may be provided elsewhere, for example, at the back
of the vest just below the collar 212. The seam comprises two wall
portions 234a, 234b connected to the main outer wall of the vest
V.
[0055] The margins of the wall portions are provided with
releasable interengaging means, preferably in the form of press
studs 230, and 232, arranged in one or more rows 236. The stud 230
is a male connector and the stud 232 is a female connector. The
facing pairs of connectors are arranged for simple press stud
engagement which is done in manufacture of the vest.
[0056] In other embodiments, the interengaging means is provided by
a hook and loop securing strip, for example Velco.TM. or a
stitching arrangement. The stitching connects wall portions 234a,
234b and is adapted to break when the bladder is inflated, in like
manner to that described below.
[0057] The interengagement of the press studs holds the facing wall
portions close together even if the walls are not truly aligned and
parallel. When the bladder 210 is inflated, typically by a sudden
expansion, the connection between the facing pairs of studs 230 and
232 is broken and the seam 208 opens out to provide sufficient
extra volume for the vest to reach the fully inflated condition
without breaking the front zip, which would tend to move the vest
away from the body of the wearer. Because the individual press stud
connections are broken this is better than a zip where only relies
on an axial movement along the length thereof.
[0058] In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 the
collar 212 of the vest 200 shown is cut low, leaving the height of
the neck of the wearer exposed. This is preferred as it provides a
space for the helmet H of say a helicopter pilot which would
otherwise be obstructed as the pilot moves his head sideways.
[0059] The embodiment of the vest is shown in bare detail. The vest
may contain extra layers such as body armour to provide resistance
to bullets and stabs or to reduce trauma, for example as shown in
FIG. 1.
[0060] In addition to giving buoyancy the sudden inflation of the
bladder may be used to expel, in whole or in part, items in the
pockets of the vest such as a light beacon, whistle or the
aforementioned location device.
[0061] It will be recognized that directional references such as
inner, outer, upper or lower do not limit the feature to such
orientation, but merely serve to distinguish one feature from
another.
* * * * *