U.S. patent application number 14/922558 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-28 for cover for ballistic carrier.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Fechheimer Brothers Company. Invention is credited to Mark A. Billotte.
Application Number | 20160116255 14/922558 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54478977 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160116255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Billotte; Mark A. |
April 28, 2016 |
COVER FOR BALLISTIC CARRIER
Abstract
A cover for a ballistic panel carrier includes cover mounted
stays defining loops for engagement by carrier straps, which pull
the cover into the body of a wearer when cover and carrier are
worn. A lining on the rear shell of the cover extends downwardly
but is spaced from a lower edge of the cover. Stiffeners on the
cover are coextensive with the stays. Shoulder openings between
front and rear components provide access to carrier shoulder straps
for adjustment.
Inventors: |
Billotte; Mark A.;
(Macclenny, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Fechheimer Brothers Company |
Cincinnati |
OH |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54478977 |
Appl. No.: |
14/922558 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62068308 |
Oct 24, 2014 |
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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 cover for use with a ballistic panel carrier having front and
rear cover components, wherein said cover includes; side members
extending from a rear cover component; stays secured to said side
members and defining a space between said stays and said side
members for accepting a strap extending between front and rear
carrier components; said side members releasably connectable to
said front cover components; said stays biasing said side members
toward a wearer when said cover is worn with a carrier.
2. A cover as in claim 1 further including stiffeners disposed on
said side members opposite said stays for stiffening said members
when said stays are biased inwardly toward a wearer.
3. A cover for use with a ballistic panel carrier having at least a
front cover component and a ballistic panel pocket, said cover
component comprising a front shell, a liner fixed within said front
shell and defining said pocket, and a neck opening at an upper end
of said cover component said neck opening disposed between said
liner and said front shell and defining an end of a passageway
therebetween and operatively communicating with said pocket for
insertion of a ballistic panel.
4. A cover as in claim 3 wherein said pocket is accessible through
said neck opening when said cover is worn by user.
5. A cover for a ballistic panel carrier having front and rear
components supported by shoulder straps extended therebetween said
cover comprising: a front shell; a rear shell; a front liner layer
proximate said front shell; a rear liner layer proximate said rear
shell; said front and rear liner layers having respective upper
portions extending toward one another; said respective portions
upper each having edges defining respective passages between said
front shell and front liner and between said rear shell and said
rear liner respectively; said edges spaced one from the other and
defining a spaced opening between said respective passages with
unobstructed access to said carrier shoulder straps extending
through each of said passages.
6. A cover for use with a ballistic panel carrier and including: a
rear shell having a lower waist area; said rear shell having edges
defining arm openings; a rear lining; said rear lining extending
downwardly in said cover toward a lower edge of the lining
proximate said arm openings; said rear cover shell having side
members extending forwardly for releasable connection to a front
shell of said cover and having side member edges; and said rear
lining extending across said rear shell to said side member edges
proximate said arm openings; said lower edge of said rear lining
spaced from said lower waist area.
7. A cover as in claim 6 including stays secured to said side
members, said stays having upper ends secured to said lining
proximate said arm openings and a portion of said lower edge of
said rear lining being a free edge defining a mouth for carrier
access between said rear shell and said rear lining.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to covers used with carriers for
ballistic panels and in particular to covers used with vest-like
carriers supporting ballistic panels for protection of a wearer or
user such as a law enforcement officer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known to use a vest-like support for supporting
ballistic panels of various hard and soft materials, such as those
typically utilized against ballistic threats toward military, law
enforcement, security or other personnel. Such supports have a
"tactical" or operational look. Various entities have attempted to
provide covers for these supports, such as those shown in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 8.528,112 and 8,776,262. Such prior covers have more of an
ordinary uniform look than the more tactical appearing ballistic
panel supports.
[0003] Such prior covers have certain structural and functional
deficiencies.
[0004] For example, such covers block easy access when worn to the
front pocket of such ballistic supports or carriers. Also, the
structures of such prior covers are frequently difficult for a
wearer to put on and, once worn, have flaps or components which can
loosen or shift with respect to the carrier, resulting in
discomfort, ill-fitting appearance, and obstruction of access by
the wearer to critical equipment. Coordination and adjustment of
the carrier with the cover is problematical.
[0005] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved cover
providing easy access to a front ballistic panel carrier pocket of
a carrier when the cover is in place on a wearer.
[0006] It is also desirable to provide, a cover having improved
fit, improved wear quality and improved ease of mounting, together
with a carrier, on a user.
[0007] A yet further objective of the invention is to provide a
cover which coordinates with a ballistic panel carrier in a unique
way to enhance bit of both to a wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To these ends, a preferred embodiment of the invention
contemplates a cover having an outer front shell and a front lining
attached at an upper edge thereto, forming a pocket for a front
component of a ballistic panel carrier. An upper edge portion of
the front lining is connected to the outer shell but a portion of
the upper edge of the lining is separated from the shell defining a
pass-through opening or pocket providing access by a wearer to an
otherwise covered front ballistic carrier pocket for easy insertion
or withdrawal of a trauma panel or plate into the carrier, while
the carrier and cover are worn by a user.
[0009] In addition, the cover is provided with a rear outer shell
and two attachment side members for attachment to the front shell.
However, the two side members are each provided with a carrier belt
or carrier strap restraint in the form of elongated vertical straps
or stays attached to the side members. The side members are also
provided with elongated stiffeners in association with the vertical
straps for added stiffness to the side members.
[0010] In use, forwardly extending carrier belts or straps are
oriented between the vertical stays and side members, of the
carrier, respectively. These carrier belts or straps are easily
grasped by a wearer, when donning the assembled carrier and cover,
and pulled forwardly to fit the carrier rear components to the
wearer and to the front carrier elements. As well, this extension
and tension pulls the cover side members into the body of the
wearer by virtue of stays and secures them in place, for connection
to the front shell of the cover. This not only facilitates putting
on the combined carrier/cover unit, but retains the cover side
members in conforming fit to the wearer while in use despite body
movements which would otherwise cause the side members to flex,
bulge, twist or bunch up on the wearer.
[0011] It will be appreciated that the rear outer shell of the
cover is provided with an internal rear liner forming a pocket for
a rear carrier component.
[0012] However, this liner extends from an upper portion of the
cover, proximate a shoulder area, downwardly only about half-way to
the lower waist edge, and terminates in a lower liner edge
extending across the cover's rear shell from just under the arm
hole areas.
[0013] This lower liner edge is substantially free of any
connection to the back shell and defines a lower opening of the
pocket for insertion of the rear component of the ballistic panel
carrier. The lower portion of the rear carrier extends below the
lower edge of the liner for forward extension of the carrier belt
or straps through the vertical stays of the cover.
[0014] Preferably the lower area of the rear liner proximate its
lower edge is extended just under the arm hole areas of the rear
cover all the way to the end edges of the respective side members
and the upper portion of each vertical stay is sewn over the lower
area of the rear liner to the side members of the rear cover shell.
This provides substantial reinforcement to the lower free edge of
the liner, inhibiting any tendency to bunch or roll up, when
worn.
[0015] It will appreciated that the vertical stays, in conjunction
with the elongated and vertical stiffeners, provide rigidity to the
side members and conforming fit of the cover during donning and
wear.
[0016] Finally it will be noted that the cover, at both front and
rear shells has upper liner extensions extending toward, but not
connected to each other. Carrier shoulder straps from both front
and back components of the carrier extend through these areas to a
spaced opening formed by edges of the extension. This provides a
split shoulder opening facilitating easy carrier should strap
adjustment, without interference from an enclosed passage from
front-to-back.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] These and other objectives and advantages will become
readily apparent from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments and from the drawings in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the front of a cover
according to the invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of the interior of a rear
shell of the cover of FIG. 1 and illustrates a lower strap portion
of a ballistic panel carrier fitted into the rear shell;
[0020] FIGS. 3-5 are illustrative views in progression of a
stiffener and vertical stay applied to side members extending
forwardly from a rear shell of the cover of FIGS. 1 and 2, the
FIGS. depicting the internal portions of the rear panel and side
members with the panel bottom at the top of the FIGS.;
[0021] FIGS. 6-9 are illustrative views of a pass-through pocket at
the front shell of the cover of FIG. 1, illustrating access through
the front pocket of the cover and accommodating insertion of a
trauma panel or ballistic member into a front pocket component of a
ballistic panel carrier when the cover is worn by a user, with the
depiction of a user's hands in FIGS. 7-9 for clarity to illustrate
the panel receiving opening (the hands do no comprise any portion
of the invention); and
[0022] FIG. 10 is an illustration of the interior split shoulder of
the cover of FIG. 1 facilitating installation and adjustment of
ballistic carrier shoulder support straps.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Turning now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 in
frontal view a cover 10. Cover 10 includes an outer front shell 12
and a rear shell 14, the interior of which is best seen in FIG.
2.
[0024] An internal rear liner 16, preferably of a mesh liner
material, is secured at edges to rear shell 14. Rear liner 16 has a
lower edge 18, a central portion of which is not secured to shell
14.
[0025] Rear shell 14 includes a side member 20, 22 on each side
thereof and having respective side member edges 24, 26.
[0026] Rear shell 14 is also provided on its inner side at members
20, 22 with vertical stays 28, 30, secured to shell 14 at ends of
the stays. Lower ends of stay 28, 30 are secured, as by stitching
to rear shell 14. Upper ends of stays 28, 30 are secured over lower
areas 16a, 16b of liner 16 and to rear shell 14, also by stitching
or other suitable expedients.
[0027] Lower edge 18 of rear liner 16 is free of attachment to
shell 14 between the upper ends of stays 28, 30, providing an
opening so a rear carrier component can be inserted upwardly into a
pocket forward between liner 16 and rear shell 14. Lower edge 18 is
parallel to a waist area 31 of the cover rear shell 14, but extends
down only about 1/2 the distance from the neck area to the waist,
and is spaced from the lower edge of waist area 31.
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear carrier 36 with an upper portion
(not visible in FIG. 2) between the liner 16 and shell 14, and a
lower portion 36a extending out of the pocket to a position
proximate near waist edge 31 of shell 14.
[0029] With reference to rear liner 16, it has a lower portion 19
extending across the interior of rear shell 14 to respective edges
24, 26 of side members 20, 22 and below arm hole edges 38, 40 of
rear shell 14. The stitching of upper ends of stays 28, 30 through
portions 16a, 16b of lower liner portion 19, secure the liner 16
and free edge 18 against roll-up at the mouth of the pocket between
liner 16 and rear shell 14.
[0030] Continuing with FIG. 2, noted carrier 36 has two belts or
straps 42, 44 extending outwardly of side members 20, 22 from each
side of carrier 36. These straps 42, 44 are provided with
releasable fasteners at their ends for connection to a front
component of carrier 36.
[0031] Significantly, straps 42, 44 extend between respective stays
28, 30 and shell 14, thus are captured by the stays.
[0032] Also, an elongated stiffener, (FIGS. 3-5), is attached to
shell 14 on the outer side thereof and along the stays 28, 30,
providing stiffness to side members 20, 22 when the belts or straps
42, 44 are pulled forwardly by the wearer to attach to front
components of the carrier. The combination of the stays 28, 30 and
stiffeners serve to facilitate donning of the combined
carrier/cover, and hold side members 20, 22 securely around the
body of a wearer, without bulging, wrinkling, displacement,
discomfort or interference with access to their gear.
[0033] Preferably the stiffeners are elongated in similar
configuration to stays 28, 30 and are held in place against
surfaces of shell 14 by hook and loop components 50 provided to
secure side the stiffeners 48 to the outer surfaces of side members
20, 22 of the rear shell 14 of cover 10 (FIGS. 3-5).
[0034] In this regard, attention is directed to FIGS. 3-5
respecting the stiffener 48 and vertical stay 28 (for example). In
FIG. 3, an elongated stiffener 48 is secured to rear shell 14 at
side member 20. FIG. 4 illustrates a hook and loop member 50 folded
over stiffener 48 on the surface of side member 20 and secured in
place. FIG. 5 illustrates a strap or stay 28 in a place on the
interior surface of rear shell 14 at side member 20, and before
stitching therethrough at upper end 28a and liner portion 16a
(removed for clarity in FIG. 5). Stay 28 is substantially
co-extensive with stiffener 48 on the opposite side of side member
20. The opposite side member stiffener and stay are identical.
Stiffener 48 can be of "buckram" material or any suitable
stiffening material.
[0035] Turning now to FIGS. 6-8, there is illustrated a
pass-through pocket in cover 10 at the upper neck opening 12a of
front cover shell 12, and just interior of cover 12.
[0036] In FIG. 6 a flap 60 is shown interior of front shell 12,
lying over front shell liner 62. Liner 62 has an open edge portion
63 covered by flap 60. Remainder of liner 62 is attached to a liner
supporting layer 64 defining neck area 12a. Flap 60 is raised, edge
63 manually pulled away from the interior of front shell 12 and an
internal trauma plate (FIG. 9) can be inserted into the pocket
between the front shell 12 and liner 62 containing a front
component of a ballistic carrier and a pocket therein for easy
access even though the cover is in place, on a wearer, over a
ballistic panel carrier, as illustrated in FIGS. 6-9.
[0037] FIG. 10 illustrates the split shoulder opening referred to
above. Front liner 62 is attached at its upper end to a liner
supporting layer 64 across the front of front shell 12 interior.
Layer 64 terminates at edge 65 defining an open end of a passage to
the space between liner 62 and front shell 12. The rear liner 16 is
also supported at its upper end by a layer 66 (FIG. 2) having a
free edge 66a defining an open end of a passage to the space
between rear shell 14 and rear liner 16. Edges 65 and 66a are
spaced apart significantly to provide a split shoulder opening 68
therebetween so there is no continuity or connection between any
passage to the front carrier component and to the rear carrier
component.
[0038] This allows extension of carrier straps between edges 65,
66a, with opening 68 providing easy and unobstructed access to any
carrier supporting straps and adjustment buckles or hardware.
* * * * *