U.S. patent application number 14/481824 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-08 for light weight body armor plate carrier system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jo Won Seuk. Invention is credited to Jo Won Seuk.
Application Number | 20150285594 14/481824 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54209487 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150285594 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seuk; Jo Won |
October 8, 2015 |
LIGHT WEIGHT BODY ARMOR PLATE CARRIER SYSTEM
Abstract
A body armor plate carrier constructed from sections of
spunbonded olefin fabric bonded together with adhesives and
interconnected using patches of hook and loop fastener
material.
Inventors: |
Seuk; Jo Won; (Highland
Falls, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Seuk; Jo Won |
Highland Falls |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54209487 |
Appl. No.: |
14/481824 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61875466 |
Sep 9, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20060101
F41H001/02 |
Claims
1. A body armor plate carrier comprising: a plate panel constructed
of spunbonded olefin fabric and having an internal pocket therein
for receiving an armor plate; and a pair of shoulder straps
extending from the plate panel for suspending the plate panel over
the torso of a wearer.
2. The body armor plate carrier of claim 1 wherein the plate panel
is fashioned from at least one sheet of spunbonded olefin fabric
configured and bonded together by an adhesive.
3. The body armor plate carrier of claim 2 wherein the at least one
sheet of spunbonded olefin fabric is configured to have a front
section and a back section adapted to fold over the front section
and enclose the arm or plate therebetween.
4. The body armor plate carrier of claim 3 wherein the front
section is also configured to have a pair of opposed side flaps
configured to fold over the back section and wrap around opposed
sides of the armor plate received between the front section and the
back section.
5. The body armor plate carrier of claim 4 wherein each of the
opposed side flaps integrally extend from the front section and are
bonded to the back section to define the internal pocket for
receiving the armor plate therein.
6. The body armor plate carrier of claim 3 wherein the back section
has an outward facing surface and a patch of hook and loop fastener
material affixed to the outward facing surface.
7. The body armor plate carrier of claim 6 wherein the front
section is also configured to have a pair of opposed corner flaps
configured to wrap around opposed corners of the armor plate
received between the front section and the back section and to fold
over and detachably connect to the outer facing surface of the back
section.
8. The body armor plate carrier of claim 7 wherein each of the pair
of opposed corner flaps has a patch of corresponding hook and loop
fastener material configured to overlap and engage the patch of
hook and loop material affixed to the outward facing surface of the
back section.
9. The body armor plate carrier of claim 6 wherein the front
section is also configured to have a top flap configured to wrap
around the top edge of the armor plate received between the front
section and the back section and to fold over and detachably
connect to the outer facing surface of the back section.
10. The body armor plate carrier of claim 9 wherein the top flap
has a patch of corresponding hook and loop fastener material
configured to overlap and engage the patch of hook and loop
material affixed to the outward facing surface of the back
section.
11. The body armor plate carrier of claim 9 wherein the top flap
folds over the back section between the pair of shoulder
straps.
12. The body armor plate carrier of claim 1 wherein the plate panel
has a plurality of holes there through.
13. A body armor plate carrier comprising: a plate panel
constructed of spunbonded olein fabric and having an internal
pocket therein for receiving an armor plate; and a pair of shoulder
straps extending from the plate panel for suspending the plate
panel over the torso of a wearer, the plate panel is fashioned from
at least one sheet of spunbonded olefin fabric configured to have a
front section and a back section, the back section is adapted to
fold over the front section and enclose the armor plate
therebetween, the back section has an outward facing surface and a
patch of hook and loop fastener material affixed to the outward
facing surface, the front section has a pair of opposed side flaps,
a pair of opposed corner flaps and a top flap, the pair of opposed
side flaps are configured to wrap around opposed sides of the armor
plate received between the front section and the back section and
to fold over the back section and bond to the back section to
define the internal pocket for receiving the armor plate therein,
the pair of opposed corner flaps are configured to wrap around
opposed corners of the armor plate received between the front
section and the back section and to fold over and detachably
connect to outer facing surface of the back section, each of the
pair of opposed corner flaps has a patch of corresponding hook and
loop fastener material configured to overlap and engage the patch
of hook and loop material affixed to the outward facing surface of
the back section, the top flap is configured to wrap around the top
edge of the armor plate received between the front section and the
back section and to fold over and detachably connect to the outer
facing surface of the back section, the top flap has a patch of
corresponding hook and loop fastener material configured to overlap
and engage the patch of hook and loop material affixed to the
outward facing surface of the back section, the top flap is also
configured to fold over the back section between the pair of
shoulder straps.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/875,466 filed Sep. 9, 2013, the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference. This invention relates
armor plate carriers for personal body armor, and in particular a
light weight plate carrier system.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Body armor and particularly "plate carriers" are well known
in the military and law enforcement communities. Plate carriers are
garments that support rigid ballistic armor plates and/or flexible
ballistic armor inserts within internal pockets or pouches of the
carrier. The plate carrier is generally comprised of front and back
plate panels connected by shoulder straps and a waist strap or
cummerbund. Often, numerous accessory pouches for ammunition,
electronic devices and weaons are detachably mounted to the plate
carriers, which provide a load bearing platform for the wearer. Due
to the equipment loads carried, reducing the weight of plate
carriers is always beneficial to military and law enforcement
personal.
[0003] The present invention in various embodiments provides for a
ballistic plate carrier constructed from sheets of spunbonded
olefin fabric, or similar materials, that are cut to shape and
bonded together using adhesives. Spunbonded olefin fabric is a
non-woven fabric of olefin fibers, a high density polyethylene.
Spundbonded olefin fabrics, such as DuPont's Tyvek.RTM., are
strong, light weight, tear resistant synthetic fabrics. The fabric
sections that form the plate panels, as well as various other
carrier components, are joined together using adhesives rather than
being sewn together. The use of spunbonded olefin fabrics and
adhesives greatly reduces the bulk of conventional sewn nylon
fabric carriers and simplifies the manufacturing process. Hook and
loop fasteners are used to secure closure flaps and adjustably
connect the shoulder straps and cummerbunds to the plate carrier
without adding significant weight or bulk. Similarly, other
accessory pouches fashioned of spunbonded olefin fabrics can be
detachably affixed to the plate carrier using hook and loop
fasteners.
[0004] The above described features and advantages, as well as
others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description
and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The present invention may take form in various system and
method components and arrangement of system and method components.
The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary
embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.
The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the light
weight plate carrier system of this invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the front plate panel and
ballistic plate of the light weight plate carrier system of FIG.
1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of
a single plate panel of the light weight plate carrier system of
this invention;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the plate panel of FIG.
3;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the single plate panel of FIG.
3 unfolded and a conventional ballistic plate;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the single plate panel of FIG. 3
unfolded;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the single plate panel of FIG. 3
with the rear section folded over the ballistic plate;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the single plate panel of FIG. 3
with the side, corner and top flaps folded around the ballistic
plate;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the single plate panel
and ballistic plate;
[0015] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment
of a single plate panel of the light weight plate carrier system of
this invention;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the plate panel of
FIG. 10;
[0017] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the single plate panel of FIG. 10
unfolded;
[0018] FIG. 13 is a perspective view on an embodiment of a
ballistic plate, which forms part of the light weight plate carrier
system of this invention; and
[0019] FIG. 14 is a partial side sectional view of the ballistic
plate of FIG. 13.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that
form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration
specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes
may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in
the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain
information known to those skilled in the art. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by
the appended claims.
[0021] The light weight plate carrier system of this invention
generally includes one or more components constructed of a thin,
light-weight, spunbonded olefin fabric. Spundbonded olefin fabric,
such as Tyvek.RTM., is a flashspun high-density polyethylene
synthetic material manufactured and sold by E. I. du Pont de
Nemours and Company. Spunbonded olefin fabrics consist of
nondirectional (nonwoven) fibers (plexifilaments) that are first
spun and then bonded together by heat and pressure, without
binders. Spunbonded olefin fabrics are very strong and tear
resistant, but can be easily cut by scissors or knives. Spubonded
olefin fabrics are water resistant and unaffected by water and many
chemicals. They are highly breathable in that water vapor can pass
through, but not liquid water. Spunbonded olefin fabrics have a
higher strength-to-weight ratio than paper and are more elastic. As
a thermoplastic, they maintain toughness and flexibility down to
-100.degree. F. (-73.degree. C.) and are dimensionally stable up to
270.degree. F. (132.degree. C.) making the fabric shrink
resistant.
[0022] In each embodiment of the plate carrier system of this
invention, sheets of spunbonded olefin fabric are cut to shape and
joined together by adhesives to form the plate panels, shoulder
straps and cummerbunds. Additional system components, such as
accessory pouches, straps, covers and the like may also be
fashioned from spundbonded olefin fabric within the teachings of
this invention. Sections or patches of hook and loop fasteners,
commonly sold under the brand name, VELCRO.RTM. are used to secure
closure flaps on the plate panels and to interconnect shoulder
straps, cummerbunds and other accessory pouches. The patches of
hook and loop fasteners are bonded directly to the spunbonded
olefin fabric by suitable adhesives. The use of spunbonded olefin
fabric joined by adhesives and interconnected using hook and loop
fasteners provides an extremely durable, yet light weight plate
carrier system, which is ideal for low profile applications.
[0023] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the light
weight plate carrier system of this invention, which is designated
generally as reference numeral 100. Plate carrier 100 includes a
front plate panel 110 and back plate panel 120 connected by
shoulder straps 130 and cummerbund straps 140. Each plate panel 110
and 120 has an internal pocket enclosed by a bottom flap (only
front flap 112 shown in FIG. 2) for receiving a ballistic plate
102. Each plate panel 110 and 120 is fashioned from sheets of
spunbonded olefin fabric joined together by adhesives. Patches of
hook and loop fasteners are used to interconnect the panel
sections, shoulder straps and cummerbund straps. The patches of
hook and loop fasteners are bonded directly to the spunbonded
olefin fabric.
[0024] FIGS. 3-9 illustrate a single plate panel 200 of a second
exemplary embodiment of the light weight plate carrier system of
this invention. As with the first embodiment above, plate panel 200
is intended for used with a second plate panel (not shown), and
cummerbund (not shown), which completes the plate carrier system.
For simplicity of illustration and explanation, only the singe
plate panel is shown and discussed. Plate panel 200 is again
constructed from a sheet of spunbonded olefin fabric that is shaped
to tightly fold around and enclose ballistic plate 10. As shown in
FIG. 5, the sheet of spunbonded olefin fabric is cut or otherwise
configured to form a front section 210, rear section 220, side
flaps 230, corner flaps 240 and top flap 250. Each side flap 230
has an adhesive 231 applied to its inner surface (the surface
contacting ballistic plate 10). Corner and top flaps 240 and 250
have patches of hook fasteners 242 and 252 bonded by an adhesive to
their inner surface (the surface contacting ballistic plate 10). As
shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, rear section 220 has a patch of loop
fastener material 222 bonded by an adhesive to the outer surface
(the surface facing away from ballistic plate 10). Separate
shoulder straps 260 are also bonded to the inner surface of rear
section 220 by a suitable adhesive.
[0025] FIGS. 5-8 show how the shaped sheet of spunbonded olefin
fabric is folded around ballistic plate 10 to form plate panel 200
with the ballistic plate supported in an internal pocket from which
it can be later removed. First, ballistic plate 10 is placed and
aligned atop the inner surface of front section 210 (FIG. 5). Next,
rear section 220 is fold to overlie ballistic plate 10 (FIG. 7).
Side flaps 230 are tight folded over and bonded to rear section 220
by adhesive 231 thereby forming the internal pocket of plate panel
200 (FIG. 8). Finally, corner flaps 240 and top flap 250 are folded
over ballistic plate 10 and secured by the engagement of hook
fastener patches 242 and 252 to loop fastener patches 222 on rear
section 220. It should be noted that additional strips and sections
of spunbonded olefin fabric may be bonded over front section 210,
rear section 220 and side flaps 230 forming various places to
provide additional coverage and reinforcement to plate panel 200 as
desired without significantly adding to the weight or bulk of the
plate carrier system.
[0026] FIGS. 10-12 illustrate another single plate panel 300 of a
third exemplary embodiment of the light weight plate carrier system
of this invention. Panel 300 is intended for use with a ballistic
plate 20 (FIGS. 13 and 14) that has an integrated outer covering of
loop fastener material. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the entire
exterior surface of plate 20 is covered with a loop pile 21 that
allows direct interconnection of straps, panels and other items
using hook fasteners. As shown, layers of ballistic material 24,
such as Dupont's Kevlar.RTM. are bound together and integrally
wrapped in an outer covering of loop fastener material 22. Ideally,
the outer covering of loop fastener material 22 is permanently
bounded around ballistic layers 24 by an adhesive. Plate panel 300
is identical in design and construction as plate panel 200
discussed above, except that front and rear sections 310 and 320
have a plurality of holes 301, which allow access to the loop
fastener pile covering 21 of ballistic plate 20. Access to the loop
fastener pile covering 21 through holes 301 allows accessories,
such as magazine panels, holsters and other utility pouches with
hook fastener backings to be directly attached to plate panel
200.
[0027] It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention
having significant advantages has been provided. While the
invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just
limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications
without departing from the spirit thereof. The embodiment of the
present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended
to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form
disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others
skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of
the present invention may be modified within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *