Personal Armor

Abstract

Personal armor for an individual wearing a safety helmet having a chin strap comprising: 1. A substantially rigid, molded, torso-enclosing body portion, with openings for the hips, arms and head, secured to the wearer by leg, pelvic, and shoulder straps, and with cushions secured to the body portion at the hips and back of the wearer, the body portion having a front and rear skirt to protect the lower portion of the wearer's torso. 2. A hood portion extending upward at the back and sides of the body portion and partially covering the wearer's head. 3. A head-restraint strap extending from the hood portion to the back of the wearer's safety helmet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to personal armor, particularly for motorcyclists.

In the past the motorcyclist has been protected by his safety helmet, by heavy clothing, often of leather, by boots, and by goggles.

Additional protection has been needed to protect the body and its organs from contusion and to protect the spine from excessive bending and twisting.

The personal armor of this invention protects the body from contusion by providing a rigid exoskeleton which surrounds as much of the body as possible and extends over the back of the head.

Straps within the exoskeleton secure it to the wearer, transfer loads to the wearer's body at strong points such as the shoulders and hips, and protect the spine by limiting its movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A personal armor for an individual wearing a safety helmet with a chin strap is comprised of a substantially rigid, molded, torso-enclosing body portion, a hood portion, and a head-restraint strap.

The body portion has openings for the hips, head, and arms. It is secured to the wearer by straps at the shoulders, legs, and pelvis. Cushioning is provided between armor and wearer at points of contact. The cushioning may take the form of soft pads, or of woven webbing.

The hood portion extends upward from the body portion at the back and sides of the wearer's neck and over the back half of his safety helmet.

The head-restraint strap extends from the hood portion to the back of the wearer's safety helmet.

A blow delivered to the body portion is spread over a wide area of the wearer's body. A downward load delivered to the body portion or hood portion is delivered to the wearer through the shoulder straps. The hood portion at the sides and back of the wearer's head prevents excessive sideways and rearward motion of the head and bending of the neck. The head-restraint strap prevents excessive forward bending of the neck.

Thus the wearer is protected from crushing, contusion, and abrasion. His spine and neck are protected from excessive bending.

The wearer's movement and vision are not unduly limited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cyclist wearing the personal armor of the invention in its preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the personal armor and cyclist of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show the upper portion of an alternate configuration of the personal armor of the invention wherein the hood portion is comprised of a welded tubular structure.

FIG. 5 shows a section taken along line 1--1 of FIG. 2, showing the arrangement of the padding at the back and showing the pelvic restraint strap.

FIG. 6 shows a section similar to that of FIG. 5 except that the back is supported by webbing rather than the padding of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a personal armor 1 includes a substantially-rigid, molded, torso-enclosing body portion 2 and a hood portion 3. The personal armor 1 is used by a cyclist in conjunction with a safety helmet 10 having a chin strap 11. A flexible head-restraint strap 12 is secured at one end to said hood portion 3 and at its other end to said wearer's helmet 10.

Said body portion 2 has a hip opening 4, two arm openings 5, a neck and head opening 6, and a pair of strap openings 18.

A front apron portion 13 of said body portion 2 extends downward at the front of the wearer. An extended rear apron 11 of said body portion 2 covers the cyclist's posterior.

A pelvic strap 8 is led through said strap openings 18, around the back of said body portion 2, and is secured at its ends by a pelvic strap buckle 16.

A pair of leg straps 9 are secured to said body portion 2 at said front apron 13 by rivets 15. Said leg straps 9 extend between the cyclist's legs and are secured at the sides to said body portion 2 by a pair of snap fasteners 19.

A pair of shoulder straps 7 are secured to the back of said body portion 2 at the shoulder blades of the wearer and at the hips by rivets, or other fasteners, which are not shown.

A hip pad 14 is fixed to said rear apron 14. Similarly a back pad 17 is positioned at the wearer's shoulder blades. Other pads could be provided at the sides or at the chest of the wearer. A U-bolt 23, located at the front of said body portion 2, provides an anchorage for a light strap (not shown) extending from the body portion 2 to the motorcycle itself, thus relieving the cyclist's arms of any wind load and allowing him to lean comfortably back against the personal armor 1.

Said hood portion 3 of said personal armor 1 extends upward at the back and sides of the wearer's neck and over the back portion of his head.

In section, FIG. 5 shows hip pad 14 attached to said body portion 2, and said pelvic strap 8 threaded through said strap openings 18 and secured at its ends by said pelvic strap buckle 16.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the hood portion 3 comprises a welded tubular hood cage means 20, including a crown tube 21 to which a rear support tube 22 is welded. The ends of both tubes are formed to lay against said body portion 2 and are secured to it by bonding or other means.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate to the section shown in FIG. 5 wherein said hip pad 14 is replaced by a hip-support web 30, which is led around the back of said body portion 2 and through said strap openings 18. Similar webbing could be used in place of said back pad 17.

MODE OF OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The personal armor 1 is put on over the wearer's head and supported by shoulder straps 7. The wearer's hips are secured against hip pad 14 by pelvic strap 8 and pelvic strap buckle 16. Leg straps 9 extend between the wearer's legs and are secured by snap fasteners 19 to the sides of body portion 2. Head restraint strap 12 is connected between helmet 10 and hood portion 3.

During normal operation of the vehicle, the wearer's side vision is only slightly impaired. His head is free to turn. His arm movement is unimpaired, as is that of his legs.

If a blow is delivered to the front of the body portion 2, the wearer's chest moves forward and contacts the inside of the body portion 2. The hips are held back against the hip pads 14, thus preventing contact between the front apron 13 and the lower front portion of the wearer's body. Head restraint strap 12 prevents the head from excessive forward excursion.

If a blow is delivered to the back of the wearer, it reaches him through the broad areas of the hip pad 14 and back pad 17. The wearer's head moves back until his helmet 10 contacts the hood portion 3, thus preventing excessive rearward excursion of the head.

If a blow is delivered to the side of the personal armor 1, the wearer's helmet 10 contacts the side of hood portion 3, thus preventing excessive sideways motion of his head. The wearer's body bears against the inside of the body portion 2.

A downward blow to the hood portion 3 is delivered to the wearer's shoulders through shoulder straps 7.

Should the motorcyclist fall from his machine, the personal armor 1 protects him from abrasion.

Claims

I claim:

1. A personal armor for an individual wearing a safety helmet with a chin strap comprising:

a substantially rigid, molded, torso-enclosing body portion, with openings for the arms, hips and neck of the wearer, the body portion having extended front and rear aprons;

a hood portion extending from the back of said body portion partially over the top of said wearer's safety helmet;

a head-restraint strap secured at one of its ends to said hood portion and at its other end to the back of the wearer's safety helmet;

strap means capable of securing the body portion to the wearer;

cushioning means capable of cushioning the body portion where it contacts the wearer.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said strap means comprises a pair of shoulder straps extending over the wearer's shoulders; a pelvic strap extending around the wearer's pelvis; and a pair of leg straps extending between the legs of the wearer.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hood portion comprises a semi-rigid, molded hood integral with said body portion.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said strap means comprises a pair of shoulder straps extending over the wearer's shoulders; a pelvic strap extending around the wearer's pelvis; and a pair of leg straps extending between the legs of the wearer.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hood portion comprises a welded tubular hood-cage means, the ends of said tubular hood-cage means secured to said body portion.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said strap means comprises a pair of shoulder straps extending over the wearer's shoulders; a pelvic strap extending around the wearer's pelvis; and a pair of leg straps extending between the wearer's legs.

7. A personal armor comprising:

a substantially rigid, molded, torso-enclosing body portion with openings for the arms, hips and neck of the wearer, the body portion having extended front and rear aprons;

a hood portion extending from the back of said body portion partially over the top of the wearer's head;

strap means capable of securing the body portion to the wearer;

cushioning means capable of cushioning the body portion where it contacts the wearer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said strap means comprises a pair of shoulder straps extending over the wearer's shoulders; a pelvic strap extending around the wearer's pelvis; and a pair of leg straps extending between the wearer's legs.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said hood portion comprises a semi-rigid, molded hood integral with said body portion.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said strap means comprises a pair of shoulder straps extending over the wearer's shoulders; a pelvic strap extending around the wearer's pelvis; and a pair of leg straps extending between the legs of the wearer.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said hood portion comprises a welded, tubular hood-cage means, the ends of said tubular hood-cage means secured to said body portion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said strap means comprises a pair of shoulder straps extending over the wearer's shoulders; a pelvic strap extending around the wearer's pelvis; and a pair of leg straps extending between the wearer's legs.