GB2445607A

GB2445607A - Body armour

Info

Publication number: GB2445607A
Application number: GB0624615A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Robert England Kerr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-09
Filing date: 2006-12-09
Publication date: 2008-07-16
Also published as: GB2457640B; GB0624615D0; GB2457640A; GB0911813D0; WO2008072011A1

Abstract

A protective garment (40) is provided for shielding the upper torso of a wearer of the garment against projectiles or other harmful penetrating threats. The garment (40) comprises a front part (42) for protecting the front of the wearer, a back part (44) for protecting the back of the wearer, shoulder straps (62) connecting the front part to the back part, and adjustable side straps (66) for connecting the front and back parts at the sides. The front and back parts (42, 44) incorporate lightweight soft armour materials that arrest or deflect projectiles impacting on the front and back parts, and at least said front part (42) has pocket means (48) for receiving detachable armour plates (58).

Description

Body Armour This mvention relates to garments and in particular,

garments that incorporate armour such as antiballistic armour for protecting the wearer against projectiles such as bullets and armour-piercing light ammunition fired at the wearer, or armour for protection against other penetration threats such as stabbing with knives or sharp implements.

There is a requirement for lightweight protective garments that are not only effective against a proposed threat but are comfortable to wear, easy to conceal, and do not restrict movement of the wearer. There is a further need to make such garments in a range of sizes such as large, medium, or small sizes but which are adjustable to fit different sizes of persons within the range of sizes without an unacceptable loss of protection against a perceived threat.

There is also a need for body armour that is readily adaptable to different levels of threats so that the protection afforded by the garment can be readily changed to suit different levels of threat. In other words there is a need to be able to change the armour protection to increase protection where the threats is, for example, from high velocity rifle bullets or armour-piercing missiles, and to lessen the degree of protection where the threat is from lower velocity missiles, stabbing, or other forms of attack on the wearer.

There is also a requirement in some circumstances to be able to adapt the garment to be able to carry different pieces of equipment, such as for example radio communication equipment, whilst retaining the freedom to be able to rearrange different armour protection of the garment.

There is also the need in some circumstances for detection of a wearer of the garment to be masked, for example from night vision, thermal detectors, or infrared seeking detectors. There is also a need in some circumstances to avoid detection by directing visible light at the wearer of the garment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a protective garment that is lightweight and has armour protection that is readily adiustable to suit various levels of threat, is aLso easily adjustable to suit different sizes of wearer, and is capable of being adapted to carry various items of equipment.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a protective garment for shielding the upper torso of a wearer of the garment against projectiles or other harmful penetrating threats, comprising a front part for protecting the front of the wearer, a back part for protecting the back of the wearer, shoulder straps connecting the front part to the back part, and adjustable side straps for connecting the front and back parts at the sides, the front and back parts incorporating lightweight soft armour materials that arrest or deflect projectiles impacting on the front and back parts, and at least said front part having pocket means for receiving detachable armour plates.

Preferably at least the front part comprises an outer fabric layer and the pocket means comprises pockets formed in, or on, the outer fabric layer. Alternatively the garment may have a plurality of spaced webbing straps that are attached to the outer fabric layer of the garment at spaced intervals to define the pocket means between the attachments. In the latter instance the armour plates may have lugs for insertion into the pocket means.

Preferably the front and back parts comprise an outer fabric layer and a layer of soft armour material on the side of the outer fabric layer that in use faces the wearer.

Preferably a perforated ventilation layer is provided on that side of the soft armour layer that, in use, faces the wearer.

Preferably the shoulder straps are adjustable.

The outer layer of the front or back parts may be constructed from multiple layers of The armour plates comprise non-rigid plates, semi-rigid plates, rigid plates, soft armour plates. Preferably the armour plates are selected from a metal plate, a plastics plate, a ceramic plate, a fibre reinforced plastics composite, or a combination of such materials.

For some applications where it is desired to screen the wearer from detection by infrared sensitive detectors, the front and back parts may have an infrared absorbing layer and br an infrared reflecting layer.

One or both of the front and back parts may have a non reflective light absorbing layer on the surface of the garment.

Preferably, the shoulder straps are adjustable, for example, the shoulder straps may be fitted with quick release fastenings. Similarly, the side straps may be fitted with quick release fastenings In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the front part has a first part of a hook and loop fastener, and the side straps each have a cooperating second part of a hook and loop fastener straps that engages the first part of the fastener. At least one of the side straps may incorporate a pouch for carrying equipment or other items.

A grab handle may be fitted to the rear of the garment as an aid to recovering an incapacitated wearer in an emergency.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-FIGURE 1 is a front view of a garment constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a back view of the garment of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a schematic cross section through a part of the garment of figures and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a front view of a second garment constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 5 is a back view of the garment of Figure 3; FIGURE 6 is a view of one of the shoulder straps of the garment of Figures 4 and 5. )

FIGURE 7 is a schematic cross section through a part of the garment of figures 1 and 2 showing an additional ventilation layer.

Referring to figures 1 to 3, there is shown a protective garment 10 in the form of an armoured jacket for protecting the upper torso of a wearer of the garment against projectiles or other harmful penetrating threats. The garment 10 comprises a front part 12 for protecting the front of the wearer and a back part 14 for protecting the back of the wearer. The front and back parts 12, 14 are connected together at the top by means of shoulder straps 15. Although these shoulder straps are shown as being made of non adjustable thin strips of fabric, they could be elasticised so as to stretch or flex or could be adjustable by means of a quick-release buckle or clasp (not shown) to make the garment adjustable to suit different sizes of wearer.

The front and back parts 12, 14 are made of lightweight materials and comprise an outer fabric layer 16 (see Figure 3) made of a woven fabric manufactured and sold by DuPont Inc under their trade mark Cordura. The outer fabric of the panels 12, 14 could be made of other materials. The outer fabric layer has pockets 18 for receiving armour plates 20 as explained below. Beneath the outer layer 16, on the side facing the wearer there is provided a soft armour layer 22 (see Figure 3). The term "soft armour" is taken to refer to a soft armour layer made of antiballistic, or bullet proof or stab resistant materials such as, for example, single or multiple layers of fabrics made from woven or non woven filaments or fibres. Examples of suitable filaments or fibres are polyarimid fibres e.g. KEVLAR (Registered Trade Mark of DuPont mc), or polyester fibres, or Nylon filaments (Registered Trade Mark of DuPont mc), or a mixture of these fibres that are fabricated or constructed so as to contribute towards arresting or deflecting projectiles impacting on, or passing through the armour layer 22.

A perforated fabric ventilation layer 15 is provided on the side of the soft armour layer 22 that in use, faces the wearer to provide ventilation against the skin of the wearer. The perforated layer 15 is preferably made of a polyester sheet or fabric.

The front part 12 is preferably constructed with up of four open pockets 18 for receiving discrete detachable armour panels 20. That is to say, armour panels 20, which may be rigid, semi rigid, flexible, or even soft armour panels, are inserted into the pockets 18 of the garment 10. Examples of suitable armour plates 20 are those made of ceramic plates such as silicon nitride, carbon fibre or synthetic fibre reinforced composite plastics materials, and glass fibre reinforced materials.

It will be seen that the garment of Figures 1 to 3 can be readily adapted to suit different levels of threat by inserting different types, shapes, or sizes of armour plates in the pockets 18. One can "mix and match" different types of plates 20.

Furthermore, although only four pockets 18 are described, the front part 12 may have more or less than four pockets 18. Furthermore, similar pockets (not shown) may be provided on the back part 14, and again, various types of armour plates 20 may be provided in the pockets. The pockets may be used to accommodate various items of equipment that are inserted in the pockets on the front or back parts 12, 14.

Fixed to an outer surface of the outer fabric of the lower region of the front part 12 is a first part 26 of a hook and ioop fastener of the type known under the Trade Mark VELCRO. The back part 14 has two side straps 28, 30 attached at a lower part of the sides of the panel 14. The free ends 32, 34 of the straps 28, 30 have a second part 36 of the hook and loop fastener so that they engage with the first part 26 of the fastener to secure the front and back parts 12, 14 on to the torso of the wearer. At least one of the side straps 28, 30 has a pouch 31 suitable for carrying equipment shown dotted.

An apron 39 made of a perforated lightweight material, such as a woven polyester fabric, is provided at the lower edge of the front part 12. This apron 39 may be used to stop the garment 10 riding up by tucking the apron 40 into trousers or a skirt of a wearer (not shown) Alternatively, the apron 39 could be used as a pocket to carry body armour plates 20, equipment such as, for example, radio transmitter or receiver, or other items. In this case, the apron 39 would not be tucked into trousers or a skirt of the wearer.

If desired the garment 10 could be worn over a heat exchange garment (not shown) of the type described in my co-pending British Patent Application No: 0518556.6. The heat exchange core comprises one or more internal channels for carrying heat exchange fluid and control means for controlling the flow of the heat exchange fluid through the internal channels, for controlling the temperature of the garment. On the surface of the heat exchange core facing the wearer is a perforated ventilation layer.

This is described in my earlier filed patent application.

It will be seen that the front and back parts 12, 14 of the garment 10 are shaped to define openings for the arms of the wearer, is designed to fit comfortably on the wearer, and could be made of a flesh coloured outer fabric that is easily concealed to provide covert protection. Other garments that are not armour protected could be In some applications, an additional ventilation layer in the form of a fabric 24 (see figure 7) is provided between the perforated layer 15 and the soft armour layer 22.

This fabric 24 comprises a ribbed construction that comprises rows of tufted fibres 26 that have pads 28 at the otherwise free ends of the fibres to define effectively two orthogonal flow paths along which air can circulate. The first set of flow paths allow air to flow along the parallel channels 29 between the rows of tufted fibres, whereas the second set of flow paths allows air to permeate though the rows of tufted fibres from one channel 29 to another. The fabric 23 is bonded or fixed to the ventilation layer 15 by way of the pads 28.

In some applications where it is desirable to screen the wearer from detection by infrared seeking detectors or heat seeking ammunitions, the outer surface of the garment 10 may be coated, or provided, with an infrared shielding material.

If desired, the garment 10 may be coated with, or provided with, a non-reflective coating or layer (not shown) that does not reflect visible light.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6 there is shown a second garment 40 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The garment 40 comprises a front part 42 and a back part 44 comprising an outer woven fabric layer 46 with a parallel array of webbing straps 48 made of KEVLAR fibres (registered Trade Mark of DuPont mc) extending across the front and back parts 42, 44. The webbing straps 48 are sewn through the outer fabric layer 46 at spaced intervaLs 50 to leave pockets 52 that are open at the top and bottom of each pocket. I)n the underside of the fabric layer 46 that in use faces towards the wearer, is a soft armour layer 54 and a perforated ventilation layer 56 that is similar to that described above in connection with Figures 1 to 3.

The pockets 52 enable discrete armour plates 58 shown dotted in Figure 3 to be inserted in pockets 52 from a selected upper one of the webbing straps 48 by inserting a pair of spaced lugs 60 at a top edge of the plates 58 upwards into a spaced pair of pockets 52. The plates 58 have a second pair of spaced lugs 62 at a bottom edge that are inserted downwards into a pair of spaced pockets 52 in a lower selected webbing strap 48 so that each plate is positioned between the selected webbing straps (as shown dotted in Figure 3. One could hang the plates 58 from the upper webbing strap 48 by using hooks (not shown) instead of using the tugs 60 but this might not be as secure as using the lugs.

By using different types, sizes, or shapes of plates 58 made of different anti-ballistic or anti-stabbing armour materials such as metals, ceramics, plastics or soft armour, one can vary the degree of protection afforded to the wearer to suit different levels of perceived or anticipated threat.

Some of the pockets 58 could be used to carry various items of equipment instead of or alongside the armour plates. Furthermore small loops 59 could be provided to carry radio communication equipment or other equipment.

The webbing straps 48 give support arid strength to the front and back parts 42, 44 of the garment 40. The front and rear parts 42, 44 are shaped to provide openings 60 through which the wearer can put their arms and the front and back parts 42, 44 are connected at a top edge by means of adjustable shoulder straps 62, made of KEVLAR. The loose ends of the shoulder straps 62 have one part 63 of a Velcro fastener that engages a second part 65 of the Velcro fastener that is sewn to the front part 112 of the garment. The shoulder straps 62 have a quick release buckle or clasp 64, shown in more detail in Figure 6.

At the side edges of the front and rear parts 42, 44 there is provided adjustable side straps 66 made of KEVLAR that have a quick release coupling 68, 70, 72. At the top of the rear part 44 there is provided a grab handle 74 that enables one to rescue an injured wearer by grabbing the handle 74 and lifting or dragging the wearer out of danger.

Claims

1. A protective garment for shielding the upper torso of a wearer of the garment against projectiles or other harmful penetrating threats, comprising a front part for protecting the front of the wearer, a back part for protecting the back of the wearer, shoulder straps connecting the front part to the back part, and adjustable side straps for connecting the front and back parts at the sides, the front and back parts incorporating lightweight soft armour materials that arrest or deflect projectiles impacting on the front and back parts, and at least said front part having pocket means for receiving detachable armour plates.

2. A garment according to claim 1 wherein at least the front part comprises an outer fabric layer and the pocket means comprises pockets formed in the outer fabric layer.

3. A garment according to claim 1 wherein the garment has a plurality of spaced webbing straps that are attached to the outer fabric layer of the garment at spaced intervals to define the pocket means between the attachments for receiving the armour plates.

4. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least the front part comprise an outer fabric layer and a layer of soft armour material on the side of the outer fabric layer that in use faces the wearer.

5. A garment according to claim 4 wherein there is provided a perforated ventilation layer on that side of the soft armour layer that, in use, faces the wearer.

6. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shoulder straps are adjustable.

7. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outer layer of the front or back parts is constructed from multiple layers of

8. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the armour plates comprise non-rigid plates.

9. A garment according to any one of claims I to 7 wherein the annour plates comprise semi-rigid plates.

10. A garment according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the armour plates comprise rigid plates.

11. A garment according to any one of claims I to 7 wherein the armour plates comprise soft armour plates.

12. A garment according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the armour plates are selected from a plastics plate, a ceramic plate, a fibre reinforced plastics composite, or a combination of such materials

13. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or both of the front and rear parts has an infrared absorbing layer.

14. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the panels has an infrared reflecting layer.

15. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one or both of the front and rear parts has a non reflective light absorbing layer.

16. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shoulder straps are fitted with quick release fastenings.

17. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the side straps are fitted with quick release fastenings.

18. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the front part has a first part of a hook and ioop fastener, and the side straps each have a cooperating second part of a hook and loop fastener straps that engages the first part of the fastener.

19. A garment according to claim 18 wherein at least one of the side straps incorporates a pouch.

20. A garment according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a grab handle is fitted to the rear of the garment as an aid to recovering an incapacitated wearer in an emergency.