EP3195743B1 - Body protection equipment with retention strap and shells - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to protective equipment for the human body, in particular for law enforcement agencies, intended to protect their wearer against knocks and shocks.

BACKGROUND

Protective equipment for use by law enforcement agencies includes a number of conventional arrangements such as padding or other to protect his wearer against knocks and shocks.

Thus, for example, there is known a protective equipment consisting of a leg to be reported on pants with straps. This leg includes a rigid shell of a plastic material such as polyamide, curved and adapted to cover the region of the corresponding body, namely the tibia region.

In order to protect even more effectively the wearer of this leggings against jets of hard objects or against blows carried with blunt objects (throwing of stones or metallic objects, shots of baseball bats, etc.), one proposed to fix this high-strength hull on a heavy canvas or leather reinforcement.

It is also known from the document FR2763798 in the name of the Applicant protective equipment against blows comprising at least one shell of rounded contours and generally elliptical shape which is hingedly attached to a garment. Generally, such protective equipment includes several partially overlapping shells so that one of the shells partially overlaps the adjacent shell to provide continuity of protection.

Such protective equipment has already proved its worth and has been adopted by a large number of law enforcement agencies around the world.

However, the Applicant has noticed that equipment that complies with the description of FR2763798 and comprising at least two adjacent hulls could accidentally interfere with the movements of its carrier. Indeed, in some configurations, the overlapping of the shells can be reversed so that by unfolding its articulation the wearer can bow-bouter and thus be prevented from performing complete movements.

Of US Patent 4692946 a protective equipment is known comprising a plurality of shells and respective reinforcements, each shell having respective straps for attachment to the knee and each reinforcement being attached to its respective shell, the overall structure of the equipment thus being complicated.

Of US-2004/0083527 a protective equipment is known comprising a plurality of shells, fixed to one another in stacking, and two reinforcements independent of each other each fixed to a hull respectively the lowest and the highest of the stack, each shell having respective straps for its attachment to the knee, the overall structure of the equipment is thus complicated.

Of US Patent 5452475 a protective equipment is known comprising a plurality of shells, fixed to each other in stack, and reinforcements independent of each other each attached to a shell, each shell having respective straps for its attachment to the knee, the overall structure of the equipment is thus complicated.

Of US Patent 5611080 protection equipment is known comprising three shells, fixed to each other in stacking, and associated reinforcements independent of each other, each reinforcement being each fixed to a respective shell, the overall structure of the equipment thus being complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a police protection equipment that is at least as effective against blows as the protective equipment of the prior art while being simple structure, including ergonomic and lightweight for the wearer and which also prevents blocking or hindering the movements of the wearer.

For this, the invention, in a first aspect, proposes an equipment as defined in claim 1, improvements and preferred embodiments being defined in the subclaims.

According to a second aspect of the invention, independent of the first aspect of the invention, but which can also be implemented in combination with the latter, the invention proposes an equipment for protecting a region of the human body adapted to be fixed to the region of the human body, said equipment comprising a reinforcement intended to be positioned against the region of the human body, and a first shell and a second shell, the respective shapes of which are adapted to cover at least part of the reinforcement when it is positioned on the region of the human body, and there is provided at least a third shell, the first, second and third three shells having respective shapes adapted to cover at least partially the reinforcement, the shells each being fixed to the reinforcement so as to overlap each other, the second hull, or intermediate hull, partially covering one of the first and third hulls and being partly covered by the other of the first and third shells, and there is provided means for removably attaching the equipment to the region of the human body, for example one or more straps resulting (s) of the reinforcement and / or shells.

According to a third aspect of the invention, independent of the first and second aspects of the invention, but which can also be implemented in combination with one and / or the other of these, the invention proposes an equipment for protecting a region of the human body adapted to be fixed to the region of the human body, said equipment comprising a one-piece reinforcement intended to be positioned against the region of the human body, and a first shell and a second shell of which the respective shapes are adapted to at least partially cover the reinforcement when positioned on the region of the human body, characterized in that the first and second shells are each attached to the reinforcement independently of one another and so as to overlap at least partially and there is provided means for removably attaching the equipment to the region of the human body, for example one or more straps resulting (s) of the reinforcement and / or hulls.

In addition, the improvements and / or preferred embodiments defined in the claims may also be implemented in combination with the second or third aspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• La figure 1 est une vue du dessus d'un premier exemple de réalisation d'un équipement de protection conforme à l'invention, dans laquelle la première coque a été représentée en pointillés,
• La figure 2a est une vue du dessus d'un deuxième exemple de réalisation d'un équipement de protection conforme à l'invention, dans laquelle la première coque a été représentée en pointillés, et
• La figure 2b est une vue du dessus d'une variante de réalisation de l'exemple de la figure 2a, dans laquelle la première coque a été représentée en pointillés.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

• The figure 1 is a view from above of a first exemplary embodiment of a protective device according to the invention, in which the first shell has been shown in dotted lines,
• The figure 2a is a view from above of a second exemplary embodiment of protective equipment according to the invention, in which the first shell has been shown in dotted lines, and
• The figure 2b is a view from above of an alternative embodiment of the example of the figure 2a wherein the first shell has been shown in dashed lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

An example of protective equipment 1 will now be described in relation to the appended figures.

In the following, the invention will more particularly be described in relation to a protective equipment 1 of a portion of an upper limb (here, the part of the upper limb of the wearer that includes the shoulder and the arm, without elbow or forearm) of a wearer. This is however not limiting, since the protective equipment 1 can be configured to protect another part of the member as well. superior (the forearm and / or the elbow and / or the wrist and the hand) or all or part of a lower limb, typically a leg (including the tibia, knee and possibly the malleolus), without however, to depart from the field of the invention.

Furthermore, in this description, the rest position of the equipment 1 corresponds to the position taken by the equipment 1 when it is worn by a carrier who is standing, at rest, with his legs straight, his torso straight and the arm along the body.

• un renfort 2 destiné à être positionné contre l'épaule et le bras du porteur, et
• une première coque 3 et une deuxième coque 4 dont la forme est adaptée pour couvrir tout ou partie de l'épaule et/ou du bras, la première coque 3 et la deuxième coque 4 étant fixées sur le renfort 2 au niveau de deux zones localisées 5 de manière à se chevaucher au moins partiellement.

In order to protect a wearer's upper limb, the protective equipment 1 comprises:

• a reinforcement 2 intended to be positioned against the shoulder and the arm of the wearer, and
• a first shell 3 and a second shell 4 whose shape is adapted to cover all or part of the shoulder and / or arm, the first shell 3 and the second shell 4 being fixed on the reinforcement 2 at two localized areas 5 so as to overlap at least partially.

Here, the first shell 3 forms a protection of an upper part of the shoulder of a carrier. The second shell 4 as for it forms a protection of a part of the arm. The first and second shells 3, 4 are both curved in shape, that is, their shape is curved so as to effectively cover the area of the body facing each other. As regards here covering the shoulder and a portion of the arm, the two shells 3, 4 are substantially identical and have a shape having contour to generally convex outer face being bent along two orthogonal profiles. In particular, we can refer to the document FR2763798 for more details on the shape and dimensions of this type of shell 3.

Note that, in the case where the protective equipment 1 is configured to protect a forearm (cuff) or a lower limb (leg or thigh protector), the second shell 4 of the equipment of protection 1 can in particular one of the shells of the equipment 1, for example the second 4, may have a curved shape but whose contour has a generally convex outer face being bent only in a profile. Typically, this shell may have the shape of a gutter or a portion of a tube. The invention however applies mutatis mutandis to such protective equipment 1.

The reinforcement 2 may comprise in particular a coated textile material (natural or artificial), leather, polyamide, a foam and / or a foam structure, etc. and its function is to help cushion the shock received by the hulls 3, 4 and to improve the comfort and effectiveness of the wearing of the protective equipment 1.

The shells 3, 4 in turn can be made by molding a plastic material such as polycarbonate or polyamide, for example of a uniform thickness of the order of 2 mm.

In order to prevent the second shell 4 from accidentally interfering with the movements of the carrier, the protective equipment 1 further comprises a retaining member 6 fixed on the one hand to the second shell 4, away from the localized zones 5, and on the other hand on the first shell 3 and / or on the reinforcement 2.

This retaining member 6 is configured to prevent the second shell 4 from passing over the first shell 3.

At least the first shell 3 is articulated at its localized zones 5. In the case where the second shell 4 also has a contour with a generally convex outer surface, the second shell 4 can also be articulated at its localized zones 5. In this way, the shells 3, 4 are likely to move relative to each other, allowing the wearer to move freely while being protected at all times.

Each shell 3, 4 has an upper edge 3a, 4a a lower edge 3, 4b and two lateral edges 3c, 4c so that the zones located 5 of each shell 3 are adjacent to the side edges 3c and the lower edge of the first shell 3 covers the upper edge 4a of the second shell 4.

Optionally, the first shell 3 and the second shell 4 may comprise a median region 3d, 4d which is raised relative to a peripheral region. By peripheral region, here will be understood the shell region 3, 4 which is adjacent to its edges 3a-3c, 4a-4c, the median region 3dn 4d then extending within this peripheral region.

Here, the raised median regions then comprise a longitudinal element that can have a contour of generally rectangular shape with rounded corners. The elevation of this longitudinal element may further be substantially constant over its entire extent.

The longitudinal element may be bordered laterally, on each side, by several raised appendages, which have a transition without a break in slope on the one hand with the longitudinal element and on the other hand with the peripheral region of the shell 3, 4 .

This central region 3d, 4d elevated has the function of deflecting the blows and thus limit the risk of penetration of a piercing or cutting object, as well as reducing the shock to be absorbed by the protective equipment 1. Indeed, when the outer face of the shell 3, 4 is flat, shock absorption is less effective insofar as the protective equipment 1 provides a stable surface shot.

The retaining member 6 is fixed in a portion of the second shell 4 which extends under the first shell 3 when the protective equipment 1 is at rest. When the protective equipment 1 is at rest, this portion of the second shell 4 is not visible to a third party.

The retaining member 6 may in particular be fixed in the portion of the second shell 4 which is located between the localized zones 5 and the upper edge 3a of the second shell 4. In one embodiment, the retaining member 6 may more particularly be fixed near the upper edge 3a of the second shell 4.

When the shells 3, 4 comprise a raised central region 3d, 4d, the retaining member 6 is preferably fixed on the peripheral region of the shells 3, 4 so as not to form irregularities in the said raised zones which may block the contending strokes. In addition, the Applicant has found that the shells 3, 4 may be slightly more fragile in their raised region 3d, 4d: the attachment of the retaining member 6 in the peripheral region of the shells 3, 4 and to avoid unnecessarily weakening the hulls 3, 4.

The retaining member 6 may for example be fixed to the first shell 3. In this case, the retaining member 6 may in particular be fixed in a portion of the first shell 3 which extends between its upper edge 3a and its localized areas 5.

In a variant, the retaining member 6 can be fixed on the reinforcement 2. In this case, the retaining member 6 can in particular be fixed in a zone of the reinforcement 2 that extends opposite the portion of the first shell 3 which extends between its upper edge 3a and its localized zones 5.

According to another variant, the retaining member 6 is attached to both the portion of the first shell 3 and the zone of the reinforcement 2 described above. This double fastening makes it possible to stabilize the shells 3, 4 on the reinforcement 2.

In one embodiment, the retainer 6 comprises a flexible and non-extensible link. By not extensible, it will be understood here that the link does not extend more than 10% when it undergoes traction forces resulting from the usual movements of a carrier. Typically, the non-stretchable link may include a strap, wire rope or string, canvas, a flexible plastic member, etc.

In order not to prevent the movements of the carrier, the retaining member 6 has a length substantially equal to the length, when the protective equipment is at rest, between the portion of the second shell 4 and the zone of the first shell 3 and / or the reinforcement 2 on which it is fixed.

The retaining member 6 may in particular be riveted 7 on the second shell 4 and / or on the first shell 3 and / or on the reinforcement 2. Alternatively, the retaining member 6 may be sewn onto the shells 3, 4 and / or the reinforcement 2.

Note that the retaining member 6 can be fixed on the outer surface of the second shell 4 (that is to say the surface of the second shell 4 which is opposite the reinforcement 2 and which is partially covered by the first shell 3) and on the lower surface of the first shell 3 (that is to say the surface of the first shell 3 which is opposite the reinforcement 2 and is not visible by the carrier).

Thus, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the appended figures, the retaining member 6 comprises a strap riveted on the one hand on the second shell 4 and on the other hand on the reinforcement 2 and on the part opposite the first shell 3. During the movements of the carrier, the strap 6 can thus bend and allow the wearer to lift the arm freely while preventing the second shell 4 to pass over the first shell 3 when the wearer for example drops the arm or pulls it towards its opposite shoulder, the strap being unstretchable.

The strap 6 here has a length substantially equal (within 10%) to the length between the rivet 7 by which it is fixed on the second shell 4 and the rivet 7 by which it is fixed on the reinforcement 2 and on the first hull 3, when the protective equipment 1 is at rest, that is to say when the wearer has the arm along the body.

In the example shown on the figure 1 , the equipment 1 comprises a non-stretchable strap 6 fixed on the one hand to the second shell 4, in a central zone of the upper edge 4a extending equidistantly between the localized zones 5, and on the other hand on the first shell 3, at its upper edge 3a and equidistant from its localized zones 5. Here, the strap is also fixed on the zone of the reinforcement 2 which extends opposite the fixing of the retaining member 6 on the first hull 3, although this is optional.

In the example shown on the Figures 2a and 2b , the equipment comprises two non-extensible straps 6 fixed on the second shell 4 and on the first shell 3 and the reinforcement 2.

The straps are here fixed near the upper edge 4a of the second shell 4 and symmetrically to avoid destabilizing the protective equipment 1, which could hinder the movements of the wearer. For this, one of the straps 6 is for example fixed halfway between the top of the upper edge 4a and one of the localized areas 5 while the other straps 6 is fixed midway between this vertex and the other of the localized areas 5.

The straps 6 are further fixed on the first shell 3 and the area facing the reinforcement 2, also symmetrically. For this, one of the straps 6 is for example fixed halfway between the top of the upper edge 3a and one of the localized areas 5 of the first shell 3 while the other of the straps 6 is fixed at half path between this summit and the other of the localized zones 5.

The straps can be fixed so as to extend substantially parallel ( figure 2a ) or crossing each other ( figure 2b ).

Of course, the protective equipment 1 may comprise a larger number of shells 3, 4 which overlap. In this case, each of the shells 3, 4 may have a portion which is connected to the adjacent shell 3 which covers at least partially through at least one retaining member 6.

• une première coque 3, correspondant à la coque la plus proche de la cuisse lorsque l'équipement est porté par un porteur, qui protège une partie supérieure du genou,
• une deuxième coque 4, centrale, qui protège également le genou et sa rotule, et
• une troisième coque 9, qui protège le tibia.

In the case of protective equipment 1 comprising a leggings, said leggings may comprise three shells 3, 4, 9:

• a first shell 3, corresponding to the shell closest to the thigh when the equipment is worn by a wearer, which protects an upper part of the knee,
• a second shell 4, central, which also protects the knee and its patella, and
• a third shell 9, which protects the shin.

In this case, the three shells are curved, that is to say that their shape is curved so as to effectively cover the area of the body opposite. In this case covering the knee, the first shell 3 and the second shell 4 are substantially identical and have a contoured shape with a generally convex outer face being bent along two orthogonal profiles. In particular, we can refer to the document FR2763798 for more details on the shape and dimensions of this type of hull.

As regards covering the tibia, the third shell 9 has a curved shape and elongated gutter type.

The first and second shells 3, 4 are articulated on the reinforcement 2 at two localized zones 5. Typically, as indicated in FIG. FR2763798 , the first and the second shell 3, 4 can be fixed using a rivet 7, although any other fixing allowing articulation of the equipment is possible. In a similar manner to that described above for the protective equipment 1 of an arm, the leg 1 also comprises a retaining member 6 fixed on the one hand to the second shell 4, away from the zones located 5, and secondly on the first shell 3 and / or on the reinforcement 2, said retaining member 6 being configured to prevent the second shell 4 to pass over the first shell 3.

In the embodiments described in the figures, there is provided a strap 10 for fixing the reinforcement to the area of the body to be protected. One or more additional straps could be provided without departing from the scope of the present invention. The reinforcement is arranged so as to surround the portion of the limb to be protected, in particular over a garment or directly on the skin of the part of the limb to be protected, the reinforcement being fixed in a removable manner, in particular the reinforcement surrounding the limb on a limb. peripheral distance less than 360 °, in particular between 180 ° and 270 °, to ensure a certain mobility and adaptability of the equipment to the movement of the limb to be protected.

On the other hand, one could, instead of or in addition to fixing the reinforcement to the member to protect, fix, for example with one or straps, the shells to the member to protect.

In the present invention, reinforcement in one piece is a reinforcement which is either made from a single element in the form of a flexible plate which is applied against the member to be protected or is made from a plurality elements in the form of flexible plates which are connected or fixed to each other directly, ie in particular independently of one or hulls. In particular, if the shells which are attached to the reinforcement are detached, the plate-shaped elements forming the reinforcement remain connected together to form the reinforcement said in one piece.

Claims (14)

1. An item of equipment (1) for protecting a region of the human body, adapted to be fixed to the region of the human body, said item of equipment comprising:

   - a one-piece backing (2) intended to be positioned against the region of the human body, and

   - a first shell (3) and a second shell (4), the respective shapes of which are adapted to cover at least partially the backing when it is positioned on the region of the human body,

   characterised in that the first and the second shells (3, 4) are each fixed to the backing (2) independently of one another such as to overlap at least partially, and a retaining element (6) is provided, fixed on the one hand to the second shell (4) and on the other hand to the first shell (3), and is configured to prevent one of the two shells (4; 3) from passing over the other shell (3; 4).
2. The item of protection equipment according to Claim 1, characterised in that the retaining element (6) is fixed on the one hand to the inner face of one of the two shells, in particular the second shell (4) or upper shell, and on the other hand to the outer face of the other of the two shells, in particular the first shell (3) or lower shell.
3. The item of protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least a third shell (9) is provided, the three first, second and third shells (3, 4, 9) being of respective shapes adapted to cover at least partially the backing (2), the shells each being fixed to the backing such as to overlap one another, the second shell (4), or intermediate shell, partially covering one of the first and third shells and being partially covered by the other of the first and third shells.
4. The item of protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that means are provided for detachably fixing the equipment to the region of the human body, for example one or more strap(s) passing from the backing and/or the shells, in particular the backing comprising at least one strap (10) for detachably fixing the backing to the region of the body to be protected.
5. The item of protection equipment (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the retaining element (6) is fixed to the second shell (4) in a portion of the second shell (4) which extends beneath the first shell (3) when the protection equipment (1) is at rest.
6. The item of protection equipment according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each shell (3, 4; 3, 4, 9) is fixed to the backing at two respective opposite lateral points, or pinpointed areas (5), in particular by means of rivets (7).
7. The item of protection equipment according to Claim 6, characterised in that each of the first and second shells (3, 4) is fixed to the backing at the two respective opposite lateral points, or pinpointed areas (5), such as to be articulated on the backing.
8. The item of protection equipment (1) according to either of Claims 6 or 7, wherein each shell (3, 4) has an upper edge (3a, 4a), a lower edge (3b, 4b) and two lateral edges (3c, 4c) such that:

   - the pinpointed areas (5) of each shell (3, 4) are adjacent to the lateral edges (3c, 4c), and

   - the lower edge (3b) of the first shell (3) covers the upper edge (4a) of the second shell (4),

   and in which the retaining element (6) is fixed in a portion of the second shell (4) which extends between the pinpointed areas (5) and its upper edge.
9. The item of protection equipment (1) according to Claim 8, wherein the portion of the second shell (4) is adjacent to the upper edge (4a) of the second shell (4).
10. The item of protection equipment (1) according to either of Claims 8 or 9, in which the retaining element (6) is fixed in the vicinity of the upper edge (3a) of the first shell (3).
11. The item of protection equipment (1) according to any of Claims 1 to 10, in which the retaining element (6) is fixed to the backing (2).
12. The item of protection equipment (1) according to any of Claims 1 to 11, in which the retaining element (6) comprises a flexible and non-expandable connection.
13. The item of protection equipment (1) according to Claim 12, in which the connection comprises at least one strap.
14. The item of protection equipment (1) according to any of Claims 1 to 13, in which the retaining element (6) is riveted to the second shell (4) and/or to the first shell (3) and/or to the backing (2).

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