U.S. patent application number 14/719426 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-23 for body armor plate.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jo Won Seuk. Invention is credited to Jo Won Seuk.
Application Number | 20200025526 14/719426 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69161727 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-23 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200025526 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seuk; Jo Won |
January 23, 2020 |
BODY ARMOR PLATE
Abstract
A body armor plate having an integral Molle compatible front
covering that allows pouches and other Molle compatible accessories
to be directly affixed to the plate. The armor plate includes a
ballistic core, an integral front covering of durable fabric having
a plurality of horizontal slits arranged in a Molle compatible
array and a rear covering of hook or loop pile fabric material. The
array of slits in the integral front cover of the armor plate
allows Molle compatible pouches to be directly attached to the
plate, thereby eliminating the need for a separate plate carrier or
vest and greatly reduces the overall weight and bulk of the
personal armor system. The hook and/or loop pile material of the
integral back covering of the armor plate itself allows support
straps to be connected directly to the plate without additional
support or carrier apparatus needed to hold the plates to a
wearer.
Inventors: |
Seuk; Jo Won; (Fayetteville,
NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Seuk; Jo Won |
Fayetteville |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
69161727 |
Appl. No.: |
14/719426 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14481836 |
Sep 9, 2014 |
9441916 |
|
|
14719426 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 5/02 20130101; F41H
1/00 20130101; F41H 5/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41H 5/02 20060101
F41H005/02; F41H 1/02 20060101 F41H001/02 |
Claims
1: A body armor plate comprising: a ballistic plate core having a
peripheral edge, a front face and a rear face, the front face of
the plate core has a recessed area formed therein; an integral
front covering bonded to the plate core and overlying the front
face of the plate core and wrapping around the peripheral edge of
the plate core, the front covering having a plurality of horizontal
slits formed therein and arranged in an array of vertical columns
and horizontal rows such that the array of slits is configured for
interconnection with Molle compatible pouches and accessories, the
front cover is spaced over the recessed area of the front face of
the plate core to receive the interconnection with the Molle
compatible pouches and accessories between the front cover and the
front face of the plate core; and an integral back covering bonded
to the plate core and overlying the rear face of the plate core,
the back covering being of hook and loop fastener material
integrally bonded to the rear face of the plate core.
2-3. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/481,836 filed on Sep. 9, 2014, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0002] This invention relates armor plate carriers for personal
body armor, and in particular a body armor plate and carrier system
using hook and loop fasteners to secure the plates to the
carriers.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Rigid ballistic armor plates, also known as rifle plates,
are cloth covered plates of ballistic material, such as hardened
steel, ceramic composites, or thermally formed and bonded layered
ballistic fabric. Armor plates are used as inserts in specialized
garments, called plate carriers, that suspend and position the
plate on the wearer's body. Plate carriers are well known in the
military and law enforcement communities. Heretofore, plate
carriers have used internal pockets or pouches to support the
ballistic plates. The use of pockets and pouches simply to support
the weight and bulk of the ballistic plates within the carrier adds
significant bulk and weight to the wearer. Due to the equipment
loads carried, reducing the weight of the plates and the plate
carriers is always beneficial to military and law enforcement
personnel.
[0004] The present invention provides for body armor plates having
an integral Molle compatible front covering that allows pouches and
other Molle compatible accessories to be directly affixed to the
plate. The armor plate includes a ballistic core, an integral front
covering of durable fabric having a plurality of horizontal slits
arranged in a Molle compatible array and a rear covering of hook or
loop pile fabric material. The array of slits in the integral front
cover of the armor plate allows Molle compatible pouches to be
directly attached to the plate, thereby eliminating the need for a
separate plate carrier or vest and greatly reduces overall weight
and bulk of the personal armor system. In addition, the hook and/or
loop pile material of the integral back covering of the armor plate
itself allows support straps to be connected directly to the plate
without additional support or carrier apparatus needed to hold the
plates to a wearer.
[0005] 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
[0006] 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:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary
embodiment of an armor plate of this invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the armor plate of FIG.
1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the inner ballistic
core of the armor plate of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the inner ballistic core of
FIG. 3 taken along line 5-5;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the armor plate of
FIG. 1 having a portion cut away to show the inner ballistic core,
and partially shown with shoulder and side straps and Molle
pouches;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a partial side sectional view of the armor plate
of FIG. 1 shown with Molle pouches being fitted to the plate;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a partial side sectional view of the armor plate
of FIG. 1 shown with Molle pouches fitted to the plate;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of
an armor plate of this invention; and
[0015] FIG. 9 is a top sectional view of the armor plate of FIG.
8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] 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.
[0017] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7 illustrate an
exemplary embodiment of the armor plates of this invention, which
is designated as reference numeral 100. Armor plate 100 includes a
ballistic plate core 110 and has an integral front covering 120 of
durable fabric having a plurality of horizontal slits 121 arranged
in a Molle compatible array and a rear covering 130 of hook or loop
pile fabric material. The ballistic plate core 110 is of
conventional design and may be composed of multiple layers of
ballistic material, such as Dupont's Kevlar.RTM. bonded together.
Alternatively, the ballistic core may be composed of a solid metal
or ceramic plate. The composition and construction of ballistic
plate core 110 is well known in the art and therefore, not
discussed in great detail here. Generally, ballistic plate core 110
is shaped and configured to overlie a human torso. As shown,
ballistic plate core 110 is shaped in a pentagon and has a slight
convex front face and a concave rear face. The ballistic plate core
may take other shapes and forms in alternative embodiments. As
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front face of ballistic core 110 has a
recessed area 111 defined by a peripheral edge 112. Recess 111 is
approximately 1/8-1/4 inches deep, which allows Molle fasteners to
extend through slits 121 under or behind the front cover 120
without deforming or overly stretching the material of front cover
120. Recess 111 allows armor plate 100 to maintain a smooth flat
forward face when multiple pouches and accessories are affixed to
the plate.
[0018] The front cover 120 is a constructed of a durable material,
such as Codura nylon or Heplon. Front cover 120 wraps over the
front and around the sides of ballistic core 110 and is permanently
bonded to the ballistic core by a suitable adhesive. As shown,
front cover 120 has a plurality of horizontal slits 121 arranged in
an array of aligned vertical columns and horizontal rows. The array
of horizontal slits 121 are arranged to create a Molle compatible
array, which allows other Molle compatible pouches and accessories
to be affixed directly to armor plate 100. Slits 121 are
approximately 1'' in length and allow Molle fasteners, such as
Alice Clips to be inserted and woven vertically through adjacent
slits 121. Ideally, slits 121 are laser cut in the cover material
to prevent fraying.
[0019] Back cover 130 is either loop fastener pile material or hook
fastener pile material, which is similarly bonded to the back of
ballistic core 110 over the edges of front cover 120 by a suitable
adhesive. The integral hook and/or loop pile material of the back
covering of the armor plate itself allows support straps to be
connected directly to the plate without additional support or
carrier apparatus needed to hold the plates to a wearer. Hook and
loop fastener materials, such as that commonly available from
Velcro Industries B.V. LLC. under the trademarked brand
VELCRO.RTM., are well known to those skilled in the art. The use of
hook and loop fastener materials to directly affix and support the
armor plates to the carrier apparatus eliminates the needed for
enclosed internal pouches or pockets, thereby greatly reducing
overall weight and bulk of the armor plate carrier system.
Integrating hook and loop fastener materials into the covering of
armor plates also allows the armor plates to be suspended for a
wearer with only shoulder straps, harnesses and cummerbunds having
corresponding hook and loop fastener materials.
[0020] Armor plate 100 may be adapted for use in a variety of
straps and harnesses, as well as adapted to support a variety of
Molle Compatible pouches and accessories. FIG. 5 shows shoulder
straps 10 and waist straps 12 secured to the back of armor plate
100 using the engagement of mating hook and loop fasteners (not
shown). FIGS. 5-7 show how exemplary Molle compatible pouches 20
are attached to the front of armor plate 100 using conventional
Molle fasteners 30. As shown, Molle fasteners 30 extend through and
are woven between adjacent slits 121 to hold the pouches at
selective positions on the front of armor plate 100.
[0021] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate an alternative embodiment of an
armor plate of this invention designated generally as reference
numeral 200. Armor plate 200 is similar to armor plate 100 above,
but the plate core 210 does not have a front recess. Instead, front
covering 220 is adheared to plate core 210 with sufficient slack to
provide a gap 223 between the cover and core. Again, front cover
220 has a plurality of horizontal slits 221 arranged in an array of
aligned vertical columns and horizontal rows, which allows other
Molle compatible pouches and accessories to be affixed directly to
armor plate 100. Gap 223 is sufficient to allow Molle fasteners and
straps to be interwoven between adjacent slit of a vertical column
when affixing a Molle compatible pouch or accessory to armor plate
200.
[0022] 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.
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