U.S. patent application number 11/474728 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-27 for combination carry bag and personal body armor.
Invention is credited to John W. Woodmansee.
Application Number | 20070295772 11/474728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38872640 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070295772 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Woodmansee; John W. |
December 27, 2007 |
Combination carry bag and personal body armor
Abstract
A combination carry bag and personal armor for concealing and
carrying a weapon. The carry bag includes a bag, a weapon support,
a ballistic protection member and a first flap. The bag defines a
modular accessory compartment sized to receive the weapon. The
weapon support is disposed within the modular accessory compartment
and is connected to the bag. The weapon support is dimensioned to
secure the weapon to the bag. The first flap extends from the bag
and carries at least a portion of the ballistic protection
member.
Inventors: |
Woodmansee; John W.; (Plano,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DUNLAP CODDING & ROGERS, P.C.
PO BOX 16370
OKLAHOMA CITY
OK
73113
US
|
Family ID: |
38872640 |
Appl. No.: |
11/474728 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/576 ;
224/153 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/02 20130101; A45F
3/00 20130101; F41H 1/02 20130101; A45F 3/047 20130101; A45F
2003/142 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/576 ;
224/153 |
International
Class: |
A45F 4/02 20060101
A45F004/02; A45C 15/00 20060101 A45C015/00 |
Claims
1. A combination carry bag and personal armor for concealing and
carrying a weapon, comprising: a bag defining a modular accessory
compartment sized to receive the weapon; a weapon support disposed
within the modular accessory compartment and connected to the bag,
the weapon support dimensioned to secure the weapon to the bag; a
ballistic protection member; and a first flap extending from the
bag and carrying at least a portion of the ballistic protection
member.
2. The combination carry bag and personal armor of claim 1, wherein
the ballistic protection member is substantially coextensive with a
portion of the flap.
3. The combination carry bag and personal armor of claim 1, wherein
the bag has a side defining an opening providing access to the
modular accessory compartment.
4. The combination carry bag and personal armor of claim 3, further
comprising means for releasably sealing the opening providing
access to the modular accessory compartment.
5. The combination carry bag and personal armor of claim 1, wherein
the first flap is connected to an upper edge of the bag, and
wherein the combination carry bag and personal armor further
comprises a neck strap connected to a lower edge of the first
flap.
6. The combination carry bag and personal armor of claim 5, wherein
the neck strap is constructed of an elastic material.
7. The combination carry bag and personal armor of claim 5, wherein
the neck strap is adjustable.
8. The combination carry bag and personal armor of claim 5, further
comprising a waist strap connected to the bag.
9. A method for protecting an individual, comprising the steps of:
storing a weapon in a weapon support of a modular accessory
compartment of a bag to conceal the weapon and to secure the weapon
to the bag; converting the bag into a personal body armor; and
securing the personal body armor to the individual.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of converting the bag
into a personal body armor comprises the steps of: releasing a
first flap from the bag, the first flap having at least a portion
of a ballistic protection member; and placing a neck strap secured
to the first flap around the individual's neck to support the first
flap 32 and the bag 17 vertically along the upper torso of the
individual 14 such that the ballistic protection member is
proximate to the individual's chest.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of securing
a waist belt of the bag around the individual's waist.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a structure that can be
employed as a carry bag and which can be readily converted to a
personal body armor. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a carry bag which is capable of concealing an operator's
weapon of choice, identification, extra magazines, OC/CS sprays,
hand cuffs and the like, and which can be readily converted into a
personal body armor capable of absorbing and dissipating the impact
energy from projectiles, fragments and missiles.
[0005] 2. Background
[0006] Personal body armor has been utilized by military and law
enforcement personnel as a means for providing personal protection
from bullets, fragments and other missiles. Personal body armor
designs desirably provide a light weight, flexible configuration
that prevents penetration of the projectile into the human body and
minimizes both backside armor deformation and the transfer of
energy into the human body.
[0007] Numerous types of personal body armor have here before been
proposed, including jackets and hand held shields. However, a need
exists for improved personal body armor, which can readily be
employed when encountering an operative, and which can be employed
for purposes other than body armor. It is to such a personal body
armor that the present invention is directed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of a law enforcement
officer having a carry bag, constructed in accordance with the
present invention, supported by an over-the-shoulder strap, the
carry bag concealing the contents stored therein which include a
weapon of choice, identification, extra magazines, OC/CS sprays,
hand cuffs and the like.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of the carry bag of
FIG. 1 employed as a brief case or computer carrying case.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a pictorial representation of a law enforcement
officer withdrawing a weapon from a concealed compartment of the
carry bag while the carry bag is being shifted to a frontal
position.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a frontal perspective view of the carry bag which
can be converted into personal body armor in accordance with the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a rearward perspective view of the carrying bag of
FIG. 4.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a personal body armor formed
by conversion of the carry bag in accordance with the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the personal body
armor of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a fragmental perspective view of the personal body
armor of the present invention showing a modular accessory
compartment thereof.
[0016] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a ballistic protection
member of the personal body armor of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGS.
1-5, shown therein is a carry bag 10 which can be readily converted
into personal body armor 12 (FIGS. 6-8). The carry bag 10 is
provided with an interior portion capable of concealing a weapon,
identification, extra magazines, OC/CS sprays, hand cuffs and the
like of an individual 14, such as law enforcement personnel. The
unique construction of the carry bag 10 which can readily be
converted into the personal body armor 12 (i.e. a waist up frontal
protection shield) enables the law enforcement personnel to
withdraw a weapon 16 (FIG. 3) from the carry bag 10 while shifting
the carry bag 10 to the front of the individual 14 for conversion
of the carry bag 10 into personal body armor 12 (FIG. 6). The carry
bag 10 can be made to look like a brief case, back pack or a
computer bag. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, and as will be discussed
in more detail herein after, the carry bag 10 is provided with a
bag 17 defining a center pocket 18 which can be used to store items
20, such as a lap top computer, magazines, papers and the like. The
bag 17 is provided with a zipper 19 for selectively opening and
closing the center pocket 18.
[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the carry bag 10 includes a
handle 22, an adjustable shoulder strap 24, a waist belt 26, a
plurality of side pockets 28 and an elasticized or adjustable neck
strap 30. The bag further includes a first flap 32 and quick
release mechanism 34 for releasing the first flap 32 to provide
access to the zippered center pocket 18 (FIG. 2). As will be
described in more detail herein after, the quick release mechanism
34 is also employed when converting the carry bag 10 into the
personal body armor 12 (FIG. 6) and the elasticized or adjustable
neck strap 30 is connected to a lower edge 35 of the first flap 32.
The handle 22 is connected to the first flap 32. The adjustable
shoulder strap 24 is connected to the bag 17. The waist belt 26 is
connected to the bag 17.
[0019] The side pockets 28 can be employed to carry water bottles,
a dictaphone and other items. The size of the pockets 28 will vary
depending upon the size of the items stored therein. However, it
should be noted that the side pockets 28 must be sized and
positioned so as to not interfere with easy access to a modular
accessory compartment 36 (FIG. 8) and rapid and easy access to the
weapon 16 supported within the modular accessory compartment 36 via
an opening 38 in a side portion 40 of the bag 17 (FIG. 3).
[0020] The first flap 32, also functions as an upper portion 42 of
the personal body armor 12, and the bag 17 functions as a lower
portion 43 of the personal body armor 12 substantially as shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7. If desired, a source identifier 44, such as POLICE,
FBI, SWAT, CIA, ATF and the like, can be provided on the first flap
32 such that the source identifier 44 is readily veiwable when the
personal body armor 12 is secured on the individual 14 as shown in
FIG. 6. The first flap 32 is provided with a detachable piece of
material 46 (FIG. 7) so that the source identifier 44 is hidden
from view when the first flap 32 is in a raised position for
permitting access to the zippered center pocket 18 as shown in FIG.
2. However, when the carry bag 10 is converted into the personal
body armor 12, the piece of material 46 can be easily removed so
that the source identifier 44 is readily visible.
[0021] The carry bag 10 further includes a second flap 48 and a
molle 50 (FIG. 8) which cooperate to define the modular accessory
compartment 36 of the carry bag 10. Quick release components 52,
such as velcro.RTM., are disposed about at least a portion of the
perimeter of the molle 50 and aligned portions of the second flap
48. Thus, the second flap 48 can be secured over the molle 50 in a
stable position to conceal the contents of the modular accessory
compartment 36 as shown in FIG. 6; or the second flap 48 can be
disconnected from the quick release components 52 and allowed to
hang in a downward position whereby the contents of the modular
accessory compartment 36 are visible and readily accessible to the
individual 14 while the personal body armor 12 provides waist-up
protection to the individual 14. The quick release connection of
the second flap 48 to the molle 50 along their respective side
portions permits the individual 14 to readily grasp items stowed in
the modular accessory compartment 36, such as the weapon 16 (FIG.
6). To support the weapon 16, the bag 17 is provided with a weapon
support 53 connected to the molle 50 in the modular accessory
compartment 36. The weapon support 53 can be a holster, for
example.
[0022] When the carry bag 10 is supported on the individual's
shoulder via the adjustable strap 24 and a situation arises wherein
it is necessary to provide the individual 14 with waist up frontal
protection, the individual 14 shifts the carry bag 10 to a frontal
position and, if necessary, withdraws the weapon 16 from the
modular accessory compartment 36 of the carry bag 10 substantially
as shown in FIG. 3. Once the carry bag 10 has been positioned in
front of the individual 14, the quick release mechanisms 34 are
released and the elasticized or adjustable neck strap 30, which is
connected to and extends from the lower edge 35 end of the first
flap 32, is grasped by the individual 14 and positioned about the
individual's neck (FIG. 6). Once the elasticized or adjustable neck
strap 30 has been properly positioned around the individual's neck,
the piece of material 46 can be removed to expose the source
identifier 44. It should be noted that the piece of material 46
covering the source identifier 44 can either be sewn along one edge
so that it can be quickly removed to reveal the source identifier
44, or it can be temporarily attached in a covering position over
the source identifier 44 by velcro.RTM., snaps and the like which
permit the individually to grasp and quickly remove the piece of
material 46 so the source identifier 44 is readily visible.
[0023] Once the personal body armor 12 has been properly positioned
on the individual 14 the personal body armor 12 provides a waist up
frontal shield for the individual 14. To stabilize the personal
body armor 12 on the individual, the waist belt 26 can be secured
about the individual's waist. When the personal body armor 12 is
properly positioned on the individual 14 as shown in FIG. 6, the
modular accessory compartment 36 is readily accessible to the
individual 14.
[0024] Referring more specifically to FIG. 7, access to an inner
bag compartment 54 of the personal body armor 12 is provided via an
opening 56 which is selectively opened and closed via a zipper 58.
The inner bag compartment extends the length of the first flap and
the length of the back side of the lower panel The inner bag
compartment 54 is configured and sized to receive a ballistic
protection member 60 (FIG. 9) for providing ballistic protection
from the combined height of the bag 17 and the first flap, i.e.,
from the waist or groin of the individual 14, to the individual's
chest, depending on the height of the individual 14.
[0025] Ballistic protection members, as well as the material from
which they are made, are well known in the art. Thus, no further
comments concerning the ballistic protection member 60 or its
construction is believed necessary. The material forming the bag 17
and/or the first flap can be constructed of one or more layers of
ballistic protection material, such as kevlar. In addition, the
personal body armor 12 can be provided with a pocket (not shown)
positioned so as to cover the heart area of the individual 14. A
ballistic plate, such as a ceramic, steel or titanium ballistic
plate can then be positioned in the pocket to provide additional
protection to the heart area of the individual 14.
[0026] The unique construction of the present invention permits the
individual 14 to have access to the items 20 stored within the
modular accessory compartment 36 when same is used as either the
carry bag 10 (FIG. 3) or as personal body armor 14 (FIG. 6).
Further, the modular accessory compartment 36 can be tailored to
store and conceal various types of items, such as the weapon 16,
ammunition, flashlight(s), hand cuffs or the like. The weapon 16
can be a pistol or a small rifle. For example, the weapon 16 can be
an automatic or semi-automatic rifle, a semi-automatic pistol, a
machine pistol, or a shotgun. In addition, the first flap 32, which
constitutes the upper portion 42 of the personal body armor 12 when
the carry bag 10 is converted into the personal body armor 12 as
herein before described, can be provided with one or more pockets
62 carrying zip or key cuffs and the like (FIG. 7). Further, when
the neck strap 30 is an adjustable neck strap the position of the
personal body armor 12 on the individual 14 can be altered to
customize the personal body armor 12 for the individual 14.
[0027] From the above description, it becomes clear that the
combination carry bag and personal body armor of the present
invention offers rapid response and protection during covert or in
off-duty situations, doubles as a carry bag and personal body armor
for waist up frontal protection that hold the individuals weapon of
choice, plus identification, extra magazines, OC/CS spray,
handcuffs, etc. Further, the combination carry bag and personal
body armor is designed to deceive even when open and the weapon 16
and equipment remain concealed due to the second flap 48 covering
the weapon 16 and equipment. In addition, the weapon 16 can be
withdrawn from the modular accessory compartment 36 of the carry
bag 10 while sliding the carry bag 10 around to the front of the
body. Thus, the present invention is the only truly convert
ballistic protection system, which is able to be worn in anything
from a bathing suit to a tuxedo, is designed for any weapon, is
totally flexible and will not impede operational tactics while
providing the individual with level II A to IV A protection.
[0028] The exact dimensions and proportions of the elements
described herein are not essential to the practice of the present
invention, but are intended to illustrate the general nature of the
embodiments of the present invention. Changes may be made in the
embodiments of the invention described herein, or in the parts or
the elements of the embodiments described herein, or in the steps
or sequence of steps of the methods described herein, without
departing from the spirit and/or the scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.
* * * * *