U.S. patent application number 12/284754 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-18 for armoured garment.
Invention is credited to Nicolas Sean Joseph.
Application Number | 20090151036 12/284754 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38701817 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090151036 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Joseph; Nicolas Sean |
June 18, 2009 |
Armoured garment
Abstract
The armoured garment has an outer shell usually with sleeves and
a lining. A front fastening, conveniently a sliding clasp
fastening, is provided between the two front edges of the shell.
The lining has three openings to pouches extending between itself
and the shell. Openings are provided close to the front fastening
and parallel to it. Each lining opening gives access to a
respective large pocket or pouch. The pouches are of lining
material and are stitched to the lining at the fastenings and as
detailed below. Inserted in the pouches are respective sheets of
armour. A belt, having an elasticated rear, central portion and
front portions ending in a buckle, passes out through lining slots
and around the pouches and the armour for drawing the latter tight
around the body of the user, without constricting the outer
shell.
Inventors: |
Joseph; Nicolas Sean;
(Chobham, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAMBERT & ASSOCIATES, P.L.L.C.
92 STATE STREET
BOSTON
MA
02109-2004
US
|
Family ID: |
38701817 |
Appl. No.: |
12/284754 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 ; 2/243.1;
2/338 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/2.5 ; 2/338;
2/243.1 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20060101
F41H001/02; A41F 9/00 20060101 A41F009/00; A41D 27/00 20060101
A41D027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 28, 2007 |
GB |
0718938,4 |
Claims
1. An armoured garment comprising: an outer textile shell; a lining
incorporating armour; and a belt for drawing in the armour within
the outer textile shell.
2. An armoured garment according to claim 1, wherein the armour is
provided as a single piece.
3. An armoured garment according to claim 2, wherein the single
piece of armour is provided arranged to overlap at front edges on
tightening of the belt.
4. An armoured garment according to claim 1, wherein in the armour
is provided as a plurality of pieces.
5. An armoured garment according to claim 2, wherein the plurality
of pieces of armour are provided as a back piece and two front
pieces mutually overlapping when the belt is tightened.
6. An armoured garment according to claim 1, wherein the lining is
provided with one or more pockets or pouches for receiving the
armour.
7. An armoured garment according to claim 6, wherein the or each
pocket or pouch is formed with one side being comprised of lining
material and the other side being stitched to the lining around the
extent of the pocket or pouch.
8. An armoured garment according to claim 6, wherein the or each
pocket or pouch is a complete enclosure and connected to the lining
only at a discrete number of places, including opening(s) in the
lining for insertion of the armour.
9. An armoured garment according to claim 6, wherein the or
openings are closable with sliding clasp fastener(s).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an armoured garment.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Armoured garments exist, typically as bullet-proof vests.
Often these are worn as over garments and are not in the least
discrete in appearance. As such they are not suitable for covert
use.
[0005] Provision of "armour"--used herein to include materials
which are resistant to knife, bullet and other weapons and are of
plastics and other materials--in garments as ordinary linings is
little more satisfactory, being both uncomfortable in restricting
freedom of movement and readily apparent as present in a garment to
onlookers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an
improved armoured garment.
[0007] According to the invention there is provided an armoured
garment comprising:
[0008] an outer textile shell;
[0009] a lining incorporating armour; and
[0010] a belt for drawing in the armour within the outer textile
shell.
[0011] Whilst the armour could be provided as a single piece,
conveniently arranged to overlap at front edges on tightening of
the belt; it will normally be provided as several pieces, typically
a back piece and two front pieces mutually overlapping when the
belt is tightened.
[0012] Preferably the lining is provided with pockets or pouches
for receiving the armour. These can be formed with one side being
comprised of lining material and the other side being stitched to
the lining around the extent of the pouch. Alternatively, as is
preferred, the pouches are complete enclosures and connected to the
lining only at a discrete number of places, in particular openings
in the lining for insertion of the armour. The openings can be
closable with sliding clasp fasteners.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] To help understanding of the invention, a specific
embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view of an armoured garment of the
invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the garment of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the garment, showing its
shell, lining and armour within pouches arranged in use between the
lining and the shell;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a front view of the armour pouches and their
tightening belt, with the lining and outer shell omitted, but lines
of connection thereof shown in bold;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a rear view similar to FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 6 is an exploded view from the rear of the armour
pouches;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a similar front exploded of the armour pouches;
and
[0021] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view of the garment, the
section being taken just above the belt and showing shell, lining,
and armour in its pouches.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Referring to the drawings, the armoured garment 1 has an
outer shell 2 usually with sleeves and a lining 3. A front
fastening 4, conveniently a sliding clasp fastening, is provided
between the two front edges 5,6 of the shell. The lining has three
openings 7,8,9 to pouches extending between itself and the shell.
Openings 7,8 are provided close to the front fastening and parallel
to it. The third opening 9 is provided across the back of the
garment close to the bottom edge of the lining. The openings are
provided with sliding clasp fastenings 10,11,12.
[0023] Each lining opening gives access to a respective large
pocket or pouch 14,15,16. The pouches are of lining material and
are stitched to the lining at the fastenings and as detailed below.
Inserted in the pouches are respective sheets of armour 17,18,19. A
belt 20, having an elasticated rear, central portion 21 and front
portions 22,23 ending in a buckle 24, passes out through lining
slots 25,26 and around the pouches and the armour for drawing the
latter tight around the body of the user, without constricting the
outer shell.
[0024] The pouches are semi-independent of each other in that they
are joined at the shoulder, that is the back pouch 16 has two
extensions 27 up to shoulder level and the front pouches 14,15 have
respective shoulder extensions 28,29; these latter are stitched to
the extensions 27. The width of the pouches in the direction of the
belt is such that they overlap at the front and sides when the belt
is tightened with armour in the pouches. To avoid the rear edges of
the front armour sheets fouling on the front edges of the rear
armour sheet or indeed the rear pouch fastening 12, the front
pouches 14,15 are constrained to remain outside the rear pouch 16
by extensions 14',15' of the front pouches, stitched to the rear
pouch at 16'. The front armour sheets 17,18 are not able to pass
into the extensions, with the rear edges of the pouches being
delimited by lines of stitching 14'', 15''. The lining is drawn
into folds 3' on tightening of the belt as are the extensions
14',15'.
[0025] The sheets of armour, typically of aromatic polyamide or
aramid material A with ballistic foam inner layers F, are sized to
fill the pouches or at least to extend from their fastened openings
to the furthest extent of the pouches. Thus the sheets keep the
pouches extended and overlapping as the belt it drawn tight.
[0026] The pouches are stitched to the lining:
[0027] around their fastened openings 7,8,9;
[0028] across the top of the rear pouch at 31;
[0029] across the top of the front pouches at 32;
[0030] down the front edges at 33; and
[0031] over the top of the arm hole at 34.
[0032] Further the lining material is extended around overlap
portions 35 of the front of the pouches to lining attachment strips
36 extending parallel to the front fastening 4. The shell has front
inner margins 37 extending in from the fastening 4 to lining
attachment strips 36, which provide front attachments between the
shell and the lining. These strips 36 have the lining slots 25,26
to allow the buckle parts to be drawn out and connected. Once the
front fastening is closed over the buckle the presence of the
armour remains covert.
[0033] The shell is also attached to the lining and pouches:
[0034] across the top of the rear pouch at 31;
[0035] across the top of the front pouches at 32 as far as the top
of the attachment strips 36;
[0036] over the top of the arm hole at 34; and
[0037] at conventional places such as the lower edge of the shell
and the cuffs.
[0038] The shell will be provided with normal features of an outer
garment such as pockets. In so far as these are conventional they
are not shown.
[0039] When the garment is put on, with the armour in the pouches,
and the front fastening is made, the armour will tend to expand the
entire garment, causing the presence of the armour to be very
evident. Drawing of the belt tight around the armour in the pouches
draws it in and rendering its presence far from immediately
apparent. Also in causing the edges of the armour to overlap,
drawing it in removes areas of vulnerability.
[0040] The invention is not intended to be restricted to the
details of the above described embodiment. For instance it is
applicable to a sleeveless garment. Alternatively, the sleeve can
have a slash resistant lining.
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