U.S. patent application number 10/994355 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-31 for applique body armor system (a-bas).
Invention is credited to Kevin Addison House, Robert William Kocher.
Application Number | 20090320171 10/994355 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41445712 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090320171 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kocher; Robert William ; et
al. |
December 31, 2009 |
Applique body armor system (A-BAS)
Abstract
The object of our invention is to provide the military wearer
the option for placing hard plate body armor externally over his
existing fragmentation vest. Our invention allows the wearer to
select plate size and location, and then rapidly attach plates to
connectors on the fragmentation vest carrier. Our invention's
advantage is allowing the user to rapidly increase area of coverage
and increased protection levels based on threats or special mission
with no modifications to the solder's outer tactical ballistic
vest. Our invention comprises at least one ballistic plate, a
carrier pocket for the ballistic plate that surrounds the ballistic
plate, attachment loops on the pocket, and a readily attachable and
detachable mechanical attachment mechanism. The invention attaches
to existing attaching points on the soldier's fragmentation
vest.
Inventors: |
Kocher; Robert William;
(Arlington, VA) ; House; Kevin Addison;
(Alexandria, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT W. KOCHER
4828 N. 3RD STREET
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Family ID: |
41445712 |
Appl. No.: |
10/994355 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60524051 |
Nov 24, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/2.5 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20060101
F41H001/02 |
Claims
1. An applique armor system for the body of a person comprising: a
ballistic material vest that is worn by said person; at least one
ballistic plate capable of stopping high velocity ballistic
projectiles; a carrier pocket made of durable fabric and sized to
fit said ballistic plate; a readily attachable and detachable
mechanical attachment mechanism for connecting said carrier pocket
to said ballistic material vest.
2. The applique armor system of claim 1 where said mechanical
attachment mechanism includes material loops sewn onto said carrier
pocket.
3. The applique armor system of claim 1 where the attachment
mechanism includes straps sewn onto said carrier pocket.
4. The applique armor system of claim 1 where the attachment
mechanism includes hook and loop materials.
5. The applique armor system of claim 1 where the attachment
mechanism includes metal mechanical fasteners.
6. An applique armor system for the body of a person comprising: a
ballistic material vest that is worn by said person; at least one
ballistic plate capable of stopping high velocity ballistic
projectiles; and, a readily attachable and detachable mechanical
attachment mechanism for connecting directly to said ballistic
plate and to said ballistic material vest.
7. A method for placing applique armor on a ballistic material
vest: providing a ballistic material vest; providing at least one
ballistic plate; inserting each of said ballistic plates into a
carrier pocket; selecting locations on said ballistic material vest
for additional protection; and, connecting said carrier pocket to
said ballistic material vest with a readily attachable and
detachable attachment mechanism.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of PPA Ser. Nr. 60524051
filed 2003 Nov. 24 by the present inventors.
STATEMENT REGUARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to the general art of wearing
apparel, and to the particular field of protective body armor.
[0006] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0007] Military body armor typically contains two protective
systems: (1) a soft armor material that provides protection from
small fragments, and (2) a hard armor plate that provides
protection from bullets and high velocity projectiles. These
ballistic plates are normally inside the vest carrier or sewn in
pockets outside the ballistic carrier. Other attachments systems,
such as Widder, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,453 utilize a suspender like
cage unit to hold plates on the torso but the suspender system
provides no fragmentation protection.
[0008] One problem with standard military body is that the armor
plate's locations are permanent and the only option the wearer has
is to put in plates or not. The plate sizes are fixed therefore a
soldier wishing more coverage can not put in a larger plate than
the internal pocket size. If the soldier wishes to lighten his
armor, placing a smaller plate in a large pocket may not provide
necessary protection towards the upper part of the pocket
areas.
[0009] Widder's invention attempts to solve the need for additional
hard armor but does not address the need for flexible ballistic
armor critically needed for military fragmentation protection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] 1. Objects and Advantages
[0011] The object of our invention is to provide the military
wearer the option for placing hard plate body armor externally over
his existing fragmentation vest. Our invention allows the wearer to
select plate size and location, and then rapidly attach plates to
connectors on the fragmentation vest carrier. Our invention's
advantage is allowing the user to rapidly increase area of coverage
and increased protection levels based on threats or special mission
with no modifications to the solder's outer tactical ballistic
vest.
[0012] 2. Summary
[0013] Our invention comprises at least one ballistic plate, a
carrier pocket for the ballistic plate that surrounds the ballistic
plate, attachment loops on the pocket, and a readily attachable and
detachable mechanical attachment mechanism. The invention attaches
to existing attaching points on the soldier's fragmentation
vest.
DRAWING FIGURES
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a ballistic plate
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts the carrier pocket
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts the back of the carrier pocket depicting
attaching loops
[0017] FIG. 4 depicts the attaching loop
[0018] FIG. 5 depicts the side view of carrier pocket, attaching
loops and ballistic vest
[0019] FIG. 6 depicts a "C-Ring" attachment device
[0020] FIG. 7 depicts a hook and loop attachment device
[0021] FIG. 8 depicts a spring loaded lever "D Ring" attachment
device
[0022] FIG. 9 depicts a spring loaded slide lock "D Ring"
attachment device
[0023] FIG. 10 depicts circular snap ring
[0024] FIG. 11 depicts the carrier pocket attached to the ballistic
vest using straps
[0025] FIG. 12 depicts the carrier pocket attached to the ballistic
vest using "C-Rings"
[0026] FIG. 13 depicts two pocket carriers attached to the front of
the ballistic vest
[0027] FIG. 14 depicts the carrier with plates orientate in an
assault configuration
[0028] FIG. 15 depicts a soft ballistic material as a substitution
for the hard ballistic plate
[0029] FIG. 16 depicts the attachment loop directly on the
ballistic plate
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0030] Item 1 is a ballistic plate [0031] Item 2 is the carrier
pocket [0032] Item 3 is the carrier pocket flap [0033] Item 4 is
the closing mechanism on the carrier pocket flap [0034] Item 5 is
the closing mechanism on the carrier pocket that connects to the
flap [0035] Item 6 is the attaching loop on the carrier pocket
[0036] Item 7 is the sewn section of the attaching loop to the
carrier pocket [0037] Item 8 is a cutaway side view of the
ballistic vest [0038] Item 9 is the loop sewn on the ballistic vest
[0039] Item 10 is the loop on the ballistic vest [0040] Item 11 is
an attaching "C-Ring" with safety lock [0041] Item 12 is the safety
lock on the "C-Ring" [0042] Item 13 is the "hook and loop" on an
attaching strap [0043] Item 14 is an attaching strip [0044] Item 15
is the corresponding "hoop and loop" on an attaching strap [0045]
Item 16 is an attaching "D-Ring" with spring loaded leaver [0046]
Item 17 is an attaching "D-Ring" with spring loaded slide [0047]
Item 18 is an attaching circular or oval ring [0048] Item 19 is the
fragmentation vest [0049] Item 20 is the soft ballistic materiel
[0050] Item 21 is the attaching loop on the ballistic plate [0051]
Item 22 is the sewn section of the attaching loop on the ballistic
plate
DESCRIPTION--MAIN EMBODYMENT
[0052] Our invention comprises at least one ballistic plate 1, a
carrier pocket 2 for the ballistic plate 1 that surrounds the
ballistic plate, attachment loops 6 on the carrier pocket 2, and
fastening devices 11, 14, 16, 17 or 18 to readily attach or detach
the carrier pocket 2. The invention attaches to existing attaching
points 10 on the soldier's fragmentation vest 19.
[0053] The ballistic plate 1 can be identical to the body armor's
standard issued ballistic plate or several sizes smaller or larger.
The ballistic plate 1 can be shaped or curved to fit comfortably as
a side plate under the soldier's arm.
[0054] The carrier pocket 2 consists of durable materials such as
nylon, Kevlar.TM., or canvass like materials. The carrier pocket
has a flap 3 or opening that allows the ballistic plate 1 to be
inserted and the flap 3 closes to keep the ballistic plate 1
securely inside. The flap 3 can be held closed with a hook and loop
type closure system 4 or a mechanical snap, zipper, or strap
arrangement. The flap 3 is normally on the side of the carrier
pocket 2 to avoid the ballistic plate's 1 weight stressing the flap
closing mechanism 4, 5.
[0055] The carrier pocket 2 has several attachment points 6. Each
attachment point consists of a fabric strap sewn on to the carrier
pocket 2 forming a loop 6 to allow the attachment mechanism 11, 14,
16, 17, or 18 to fasten to the carrier pocket 2.
[0056] The attachment mechanisms 11, 14, 16, 17, or 18 can consist
of simple devices that allow quick attachment and detachment.
Examples include hook. and loop straps 14, metal fasteners such as
"D-Rings" 11, spring leaf-clamps, "C-Rings" 16 or ovals with
locking screws, and mechanical locking hooks 18.
OPERATION--MAIN EMBODYMENT
[0057] The ballistic plate 1 is inserted into the carrier pocket 2,
the carrier pocket flap 3 is closed, and the carrier pocket 2, with
ballistic plate inside the carrier pocket 2, is attached to the
fragmentation vest 19 through the selected attachment mechanism 11,
14, 16, 17, or 18. To remove, the attachment mechanisms 11, 14, 16,
17, or 18 are opened and the carrier pocket 2, with ballistic plate
1 inside, is removed from the fragmentation vest 19. The user can
place the carrier pocket 2 in places where he feels the greatest
threats. For example, FIG. 14 depicts two carrier pockets 2
attached to the left side of the operator's fragmentation vest 19
which faces the enemy during an advance holding a rifle oriented to
the operator's left. This configuration would represent an assault
configuration.
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION--ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0058] 1. An alternate embodiment includes replacing the ballistic
plate 1 with a soft armor 20. This would allow adding armor to
sections of the vest 19 where no soft armor exist or to increase
protection to areas of underling armor. The system operation would
be identical to the hard plate attachment and detachment
process.
[0059] 2. An alternate embodiment includes manufacturing loops 6
directly onto the ballistic plate 1 or soft armor 20 such that the
carrier pocket 2 is not needed. The system operation would be
identical to the hard plate attachment and detachment process.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0060] The Applique Body Armor System provides users with simple
options for increasing their protection levels. This invention will
greatly increase protection over current body armor approaches and
save lives.
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