EP1899672B1

EP1899672B1 - Body armor and closure mechanism for use in body armor

Info

Publication number: EP1899672B1
Application number: EP06844094A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kathryn Ann Leathers
Original assignee: Mine Safety Appliances Co
Current assignee: MSA Safety Inc
Priority date: 2005-06-09
Filing date: 2006-05-04
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-04
Also published as: EP1899672A2; CA2611420A1; WO2007046863A3; WO2007046863A2; CA2611420C

Abstract

Body armor (10) to be worn on the torso of a person includes a front section (22) having ballistic paneling therein and a back section (32) having ballistic paneling therein. The body armor (10) further includes at least one side closure mechanism (50a, 50b) including a rearward section (60a, 60b) adapted to be grasped and pulled in a forward direction around the side of the torso to close the closure mechanism (50a, 50b) . The rearward section (60a, 60b) is in operative connection with a forward section (70a, 70b) of the side closure mechanism so that a portion (24,26) of the ballistic paneling of the front section moves in a rearward direction around the side of the torso of the person when the rearward (60a, 60b) section is pulled in a forward direction and overlaps a portion (34,36) of the ballistic paneling in the back section when the closure mechanism (50a, 50b) is in a closed position.

Description

The present invention relates generally to body armor and to a closure mechanism for use in body armor, and, particularly, to body armor for the torso including a self-adjusting side closure mechanism.
Concealable body armor for protection from, for example, edged weapons, sharp object and ballistic threats, has been available for several decades. Since the introduction of concealable body armor, ballistic materials have been improved greatly, resulting in relatively soft or pliant body armor and increased comfort for the user. Modem concealable body armor often includes ballistic panels or packages formed from DuPont's KEVLAR® ballistic grade fibers/fabrics.
EP 0544561 discloses ballistic armor for protecting the body against hand weapons, which comprises a number of stacked layers of polyolefin (especially polyethylene) and, within this stack, a layer of a material made of fracturable walls, especially in the form of a honeycomb made of polyamide fibres impregnated with phenolic resin. US 4 697 285 discloses a body armor forming a basis for claim 1.
Various closure systems have been developed for body armor including, for example, zippers and hook-and-loop type fastening systems (for example, VELCRO® available from Velcro Industries B.V.). In the case of closure systems for use in body armor it is desirable to have ballistic paneling cover or underlie the closure mechanism to prevent injury in the area of the body over which the closure mechanism is located. A side closure can be desirable to provide increased safety. In that regard, a person wearing body armor will typically be facing an assailant during an attack. Thus, impact of a dangerous object such as a bullet with the side of the wearer is less likely than impact of the object with the front of the wearer. As compared to a front closure mechanism, a side closure mechanism can thus reduce the likelihood of an object such as a bullet passing through the protection of the body armor in the area of the closure mechanism.
In the case of a side closure mechanism including overlapping ballistic paneling, it is desirable that a portion of a front ballistic panel overlap a portion of a back ballistic panel in the region of the side closure. In that regard, there have been cases with a back-to-front overlap in which a bullet has passed into the interior of the body armor by entering the body armor at the end point of the overlap. Once again, a person wearing body armor is most likely to be facing an assailant and any potential entry point for a projectile approaching the person from the front of the person is preferably eliminated. Although a front-to-back overlap may be desirable, a front-to-back overlap is difficult to achieve in practice. In that regard, it is very difficult for a wearer of body armor (for example, a vest) to achieve an effective front-to-back overlap while wearing the body armor. It is much easier for a wearer of body armor to achieve a back-to-front overlap.
It is desirable to develop improved body armor and closure mechanisms for use in body armor that reduce or eliminate the above-identified and other problems associated with currently available body armor and closure mechanisms therefor.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, the present invention provides body armor to be worn on the torso of a person. The body armor includes a front section having ballistic paneling therein and a back section having ballistic paneling therein. The body armor further includes at least one side closure mechanism including a rearward section adapted to be grasped and pulled in a forward direction around the side of the torso to close the closure mechanism. The rearward section is in operative connection with a forward section of the side closure mechanism so that the forward section moves in a rearward direction around the side of the torso of the person when the rearward section is pulled in a forward direction. The forward section is in operative connection with a portion of the ballistic paneling of the front section so that a portion of the ballistic paneling in the front section overlaps a portion of the ballistic paneling in the back section that extends around a portion of the side of the torso when the closure mechanism is in a closed position. The rearward section and the forward section further include cooperating fastening mechanisms to reversibly retain the closure mechanism in a closed state.
The body armor can, for example, include a length of material attached at a first end to the rearward section and attached at a second end to the forward section. The length of material passes through a loop attached to the article of body armor. In one embodiment, the cooperating fastening mechanisms of the rearward section and the forward section are hook-and-loop type fastening mechanisms.
In another aspect, the present invention provides body armor to be worn on the torso of a person comprising a vest including a front section having ballistic paneling and a back section having ballistic paneling. The vest further includes at least one side closure mechanism including a rearward section adapted to be grasped and pulled in a forward direction around the side of the torso to close the closure mechanism. The rearward section is in operative connection with a forward section of the side closure mechanism so that the forward section moves in a rearward direction around the side of the torso of the person when the rearward section is pulled in a forward direction. The forward section is in operative connection with a portion of the ballistic paneling of the front section so that a portion of the ballistic paneling in the front section is adapted to overlap a portion of the ballistic paneling in the back section that extends around a portion of the side of the torso when the closure mechanism is in a closed position. The rearward section and the forward section include cooperating fastening mechanisms to reversibly retain the closure mechanism in a closed state. The cooperating fastening mechanisms of the rearward section and the forward section can, for example, be hook-and-loop type fastening mechanisms.
In one embodiment, the body armor further includes a length of material attached at a first end to the rearward section and attached at a second end to the forward section. The length of material passes through a loop attached to the article of body armor.
In a further embodiment, the vest is attached to a shirt. In that embodiment, the portion of the back section of ballistic paneling that extends around a portion of the side of the torso can be operatively attached to the shirt and at least a part of the portion of front section ballistic paneling that is adapted to overlap the portion of the back section of ballistic paneling can be free to move relative to the shirt.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other aspects of the invention and advantages thereof will be discerned from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1A is an embodiment of an article of body armor of the present invention laid flat on a surface.
Figure 1B is a front view of the body armor of Figure 1A wherein the body armor is in the form of a pull over shirt having attached thereto a ballistic vest.
Figure 2 illustrates a back view of the article of body armor of Figure 1A wherein the body armor is laid flat on a surface and the rear closure sections of the opposing closure mechanism are folded back.
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view or an embodiment of a side closure mechanism of the article of body armor of Figure 1A and the body armor is not worn on a user.
Figure 4 illustrates another perspective view of the side closure of Figure 3 wherein force is being applied to the rearward section thereof and the body armor is not worn on a user.
Figure 5 illustrates another perspective view of the side closure of Figure 3 wherein force is being applied to the rearward section thereof and the body armor is not worn on a user.
Figure 6A illustrates a perspective view of the closure mechanism of Figure 3 in an open state when worn by a user.
Figure 6B illustrates a perspective view of the closure mechanism of Figure 3 in the process of being closed when worn by a user.
Figure 6C illustrates a perspective view of the closure mechanism of Figure 3 in a closed state when worn by a user.
Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a second side closure of the body armor of Figure 1A positioned on the opposite side of the side closure illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 8 illustrates another perspective view of the side closure of Figure 6A as worn by a user while in an open state.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In general, the present invention provides a side closure mechanism or system for body armor in which the wearer effects a back-to-front closing or fastening of the side closure mechanism, but such closing results in a front-to-back overlap of ballistic paneling in the area of the closure mechanism.
Figures 1 through 8 illustrate an embodiment of an article of body armor 10 of the present invention in which a body armor vest 20 is in operative connection with a shirt 200. For example, an exterior shell fabric of the body armor can be sewn to the shirt. A user of body armor 10 first dons shirt 200 by pulling shirt 200 over the user's head in a typical fashion. The user can then adjust the fit of body armor vest 20 using one or more side closure mechanisms as described below. One skilled in the art appreciates that the side closure mechanisms of the present invention are suitable for use in many different configurations of body armor other than the configuration illustrated in Figures 1 through 8.
As is common with a number of body armors, body armor 10 includes ballistic panels (fabricated, for example, from ballistic grade KEVLAR® available from DuPont) that provide resistance to, for example, edged weapons, sharp objects, and ballistic threats. As illustrated with dashed lines in, for example, Figure 1A, vest 20 includes a generally contiguous (in coverage) front ballistic panel 22. One skilled in the art appreciates that ballistic panel 22 can be formed from one section or a plurality of separate sections of ballistic fabric. However, the coverage provided by ballistic panel 22 is preferably contiguous. Front ballistic panel 22 includes sides sections 24 and 26 adapted to extend around the side of a user. Ballistic panel 22, including side sections 24 and 26, is enclosed within an outer shell of fabric forming the front of vest 20. As illustrated with dashed lines in, for example, Figure 2, vest 20 also includes a generally contiguous (in coverage) rear ballistic panel 32. Like front ballistic panel 22, rear ballistic panel 32 can be formed from one section or a plurality of separate sections of ballistic fabric. Rear ballistic panel 32 includes sides sections 34 and 36 adapted to extend around the side of a user. Like ballistic panel 22, ballistic panel 32, including side sections 34 and 36, is enclosed within an outer shell of fabric forming the rear of vest 20.
Figures 3 through 8 illustrate the operation of side closure mechanisms 50a and 50b of vest 20. The structure and operation of side closure mechanisms 50a and 50b are essentially identical. Such structure and operation will be described primarily with reference to side closure mechanism 50a. Like components of side closure mechanism 50a and 50b are correspondingly numbered.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 through 8, the vest fabric encompassing side section 34 of rear ballistic panel 32 is attached (for example, sewn) to shirt 200 such that side section 34 extends at least partially around the side of shirt 200 when donned by the user (see for example, Figures 3 through 5 and 6A for closure mechanism 50a and Figure 8 for closure mechanism 50b). A rear closure section 60a is in connection (for example, by sewing) with the rear of body armor 10. Rear closure section 60a is also in operative connection with a front closure section 70a (which encompasses side section 24 of front ballistic panel 22) via an intermediate member 80a. In the embodiment of Figures 1 through 8, intermediate member 80a is sewn to an underside of rear closure sections 60a a few inches from the end thereof, passes under a loop of material 90a which is attached to vest 20 and is sewn to the end of front closure section 70a on an upper side thereof.
After shirt 200 is donned by the user, the user can grasp rear closure section 60a using a single hand and pull rear closure section 60a forward and around the side of the user. Intermediate section 80a, in cooperation with loop 90a, causes front closure section 70a (and side section 24 of front ballistic panel 22 therein) to move rearward and overlap side section 34 of rear ballistic panel 32 when rear closure section 60a is pulled forward and around the user (see, for exampel, arrows in Figures 3-5, 6B and 7), thereby effecting a front-to-back overlap of the ballistic panels over the side of the user, while adjusting the fit of vest 20 via a back-to-front overlap of closure sections 60a and 70a. The fit of vest 20 can be adjusted to fit various size bodies by adjusting the position or amount of overlap of rear closure sections 60a and 60b on front closure sections 70a and 70b, respectively. Preferably, in all positions of fit, front side ballistic sections 24 and 26 overlap rear side ballistic sections 34 and 36, respectively.
In general, the passing of intermediate section 80a under loop 90a causes the portion of intermediate section 80a between loop 90a and front closure section 70a to move rearward while the portion of intermediate section 80a between loop 90a and rear closure section 60a moves forward.
An underside of rear closure section 60a includes a connection mechanism 62a (for example, a cooperating portion of a hook-and-loop type connecting or fastening system) that cooperates with a cooperating connection mechanism 72a on front closure section 70a to secure rear closure section 60a to front closure section 70a in a desired position to effect a desired fit of armor 10. After or simultaneously with the closure of side closure mechanism 50a, the user performs a similar procedure with side closure mechanism 50b to effect a front to back overlap of the ballistic panel sections 26 and 36 over the opposite side of the user, while further adjusting the fit of vest 20 via a back-to-front overlap of closure sections 60b and 70b.

Claims

A body armor (10) to be worn on the torso of a person, comprising:
a front section (22) having ballistic paneling therein;

a back section (32) having ballistic paneling therein ; and

at least one side closure mechanism (50a) on a first side of the body armor (10) comprising a rearward section (60a) adapted to be grasped and pulled in a forward direction around the side of the torso to close the mechanism (50a), the rearward section (60a) being in operative connection with a forward section (70a) of the side closure mechanism (50a) so that the forward section (70a) moves in a rearward direction around the side of the torso of the person when the rearward section (60a) is pulled in a forward direction, the forward section (70a) being in operative connection with a portion of the ballistic paneling of the front section (22) so that a portion of the ballistic paneling in the front section (22) overlaps a portion of the ballistic paneling in the back section (32) that extends around a portion of the side of the torso when the closure mechanism (50a) is in a closed position, the rearward section (60a) and the forward section (70a) further comprising cooperating fastening mechanisms (62a, 72a) to reversibly retain the closure mechanism (50a) in a closed state.
A body armor (10) according to claim 1 further comprising:
a second side closure mechanism (50b) on a second side of the body armor (10) comprising a rearward section (60b) adapted to be grasped and pulled in a forward direction around the side of the torso to close the mechanism (50b), the rearward section (60b) being in operative connection with a forward section (70b) of the side closure mechanism so that the forward section (70b) moves in a rearward direction around the side of the torso of the person when the rearward section (60b) is pulled in a forward direction, the forward section (70b) being in operative connection with a portion of the ballistic paneling of the front section (22) so that a portion of the ballistic paneling in the front section (22) overlaps a portion of the ballistic paneling in the back section (32) that extends around a portion of the side of the torso when the closure mechanism (50b) is in a closed position, the rearward section (60b) and the forward section (70b) further comprising cooperating fastening mechanisms (62b, 72b) to reversibly retain the closure mechanism (50b) in a closed state.
A body armor (10) according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a length of material (80a, 80b) attached at a first end to the rearward section (60a, 60b) and attached at a second end to the forward section (70a, 70b), the length of material (80a, 80b) passing through a loop (90a, 90b) attached to the article of body armor (10).
A body armor (10) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the cooperating fastening mechanisms (62a, 62b, 72a, 72b) of the rearward section (60a, 60b) and the forward section (70a, 70b) are hook-and-loop type fastening mechanisms.
A body armor (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the front section (22) and the back section (32) form at least a portion of a vest (20).
A body armor (10) according to claim 5, wherein the vest (20) is attached to a shirt (200).
A body armor (10) according to claim 6, wherein the portion of the back section (32) of ballistic paneling that extends around a portion of the side of the torso is operatively attached to the shirt and at least a part of the portion of front section (22) ballistic paneling that is adapted to overlap the portion of the back section (32) of ballistic paneling is free to move relative to the shirt.