Ballistic vest

A ballistic vest does not include or require a carrier. The vest includes a front ballistic panel permanently enclosed in a front waterproof cover, the front waterproof cover having, on its outer surface, portions of an adjustable body-attachment system; a front body side liner that is detachably secured to a body side portion of the front waterproof cover and that is machine washable; a back ballistic panel permanently enclosed in a back waterproof cover, the back waterproof cover having, on its outer surface, portions of an adjustable body-attachment system; and a back body side liner that is detachably secured to a body side portion of the back waterproof cover and that is machine washable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a ballistic vest, for example of the type worn by a police officer. Such vests are typically worn for an extended period of time, which can be an entire shift of eight hours or more. It is desirable that a vest be as light weight as possible, for comfort. It is also desirable that a vest be as “cool” as possible for the wearer.

Ballistic vests of this type typically include a carrier. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,318, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. The carrier serves to support and enclose the ballistic panels, and to provide locations to which the body securing straps can be attached.

A ballistic vest needs to be “waterproof” at least to some extent. That is, the vest needs to retain its ballistic capabilities if it gets wet or is soaked as when the vest is submerged in water while being worn. One recent standard on water resistance has been promulgated by the National Institutes of Justice in its NIJ Standard-0101.06, for ballistic vests. The relevant portion of the standard reads as follows.

4.2.4 Armor Submersion EquipmentThe armor submersion equipment shall consist of a water bath sufficiently sized to allow at least one armor panel of the largest template size defined in appendix C to hang vertically, without any folds or bends, with the top edge of the armor at least 100 mm (3.9 in) below the surface of the water, and with at least 50 mm (2.0 in) clearance around the panel.The water in the bath shall be clean and shall be either potable tap or demineralized water. The water shall be replaced anytime there are visible impurities in the water. The water temperature shall be 21° C.+2.9° C./−5.8° C. (70° F.+5° F./−10° F.).

7.8.2 Armor SubmersionNew Flexible Vests and Jackets: All new flexible vests and jackets shall be submersed and tested wet. Each armor panel shall be hung vertically in a water bath meeting the requirements of section 4.2.4 for 30 min (+5 min/−0 min) with the top edge of the armor positioned 100 mm±25 mm (3.9 in ±1.0 in) below the water surface. For armors that are buoyant, weights shall be attached to the bottom edge of the armor with clothes pins or similar clips to allow the armor to hang vertically. After removing the panel from the water, it shall be hung vertically and allowed to dry for 10 min (+5 min/−0 min) before mounting on the test fixture. All testing of the panel shall be completed within 40 min of when the panel is removed from the water.Conditioned Flexible Vests and Jackets: All flexible vests and jackets that have been subjected to the conditioning protocol described in section 5 shall not be submersed but shall be tested dry.Hard Armors and Plate Inserts: All hard armors and plate inserts shall be submersed and tested wet. When plate inserts are tested in conjunction with a flexible vest or jacket, the flexible component shall have previously demonstrated its full compliance with this standard at its appropriate level. Both the plate and flexible vest or jacket shall be tested wet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a vest, and in particular to a protective vest including one or more ballistic panels. The invention is applicable to vests of different and varying configurations. As representative of the invention,FIG. 1illustrates a vest10that is a first embodiment of the invention.

The vest10includes generally a front ballistic panel12and a back ballistic panel14. The front ballistic panel12is enclosed in a front panel cover16, forming a front panel assembly18. The back ballistic panel14is enclosed in a back panel cover20, forming a back panel assembly22.

A left shoulder strap assembly30extends between the front panel cover16and the back panel cover20, in a position to extend over the left shoulder of the wearer (the element42inFIG. 3indicates schematically the wearer of the vest10). A right shoulder strap assembly32extends between the front panel cover16and the back panel cover20, in a position to extend over the right shoulder of the wearer42.

A left waist strap assembly34extends between the front panel cover16and the back panel cover20, in a position to extend around the left waist area of the wearer42. A right waist strap assembly36extends between the front panel cover16and the back panel cover20, in a position to extend around the right waist area of the wearer42.

A front liner40is detachably secured to the front panel cover16, in a position to extend between the front panel12and the torso of the wearer42. A back liner44is detachably secured to the back panel cover20, in a position to extend between the back panel and the torso of the wearer42.

The front ballistic panel12and the back ballistic panel14are each made from a ballistic material (or materials) suitable for offering protection to the wearer against projectiles such as bullets. As the construction of the ballistic panels12and14does not, itself, form part of this invention, the panels will not be described in further detail. For purposes of this invention, however, it is important to note that there are certain operational requirements and standards that are applicable to the panels12and14. One of these relates to water resistance and waterproofing. This requirement is found in the NIJ standard set forth above. In this application, the term ‘waterproof’ is used to mean that that panel or garment meets this NIJ standard.

The front panel cover16, as constructed, permanently encloses the front ballistic panel12. The back panel cover20(FIG. 3) is similar if not identical in construction to the front panel cover16; therefore, only the front panel cover is described in detail herein. Of course, even the most permanent of coverings can be opened upon the total destruction of the cover itself. But the cover16is not user openable without destroying its waterproofing capabilities; the front panel is thus, effectively, unremovable.

As examples, the cover16may be factory sealed via ultrasonic or RF sealing, and/or by a heat press; any of which are known fabric closure methods, and indicated at the edges of the cover by the reference numeral46. Or, the cover16can be sewn shut. A hook-and-loop connection to close the cover would not be permanent. The cover16can be reopened and refurbished at the factory if necessary, but the user (wearer) cannot do this.

The material from which the cover16is formed is, itself, waterproof. In addition, the edges of the cover16are factory sealed in a waterproof manner, as described above. Desired material characteristics for the cover16include durability, abrasion resistance, protection of the enclosed ballistic panel, and waterproofing. Specific materials that can be used as the cover16include nylon, polyester, urethane, thermoplastic fabrics and films and combinations of any or all of these. Other materials that can be suitable are Gore-Tex brand fabrics and other permeable fabrics.

The detachable body side or front liner40is located between the front panel assembly18and the torso of the wearer42. The back liner44(FIG. 3) is similar if not identical in construction to the front liner42; therefore, only the front liner is described in detail herein.

The detachable body side or front liner40is located between the front panel assembly18and the torso of the wearer42. In the illustrated embodiment, the liner40is held on to the front panel cover16by hook and loop fasteners. A plurality of patches50of hook/loop material are affixed to the body side portion52of the outer side surface54of the front panel cover16. Corresponding patches56of hook/loop material are affixed to the non-body major side surface58of the front liner40. The patches56on the liner40engage the patches50on the cover16to removably secure the liner to the cover.

The liner40is breathable and is machine washable for sanitary purposes. To this end, the liner40is not merely a single thin layer of fabric material, as is the case with the inside layer of a standard carrier. Rather, the liner40has a significant loft, or thickness. In one embodiment, the liner40is about one-eight inch to one-quarter inch thick, and comprises primarily a foam or cushion type material60(FIG. 3) with passages62that facilitate air flow through and around the liner. Because of its thickness, the liner40spaces the covered panel12away from the wearer42, to promote air flow as desired. The air flow can be either by convection or mechanically induced. In addition, the liner material itself is designed to both absorb perspiration and wick it to atmosphere via its structure, and to be antibacterial and antimicrobial.

The liner40may, as in the illustrated embodiment, include on its body side a mesh piece64to cover and protect the foam type material. One exemplary material as the foam may be TemperDri UB lining available from Emtex Inc. of Danvers, Mass., with a mesh material being Milco Industries Style 1877 fabric, available from Milco Industries of Bloomsburg, Pa. Alternative materials are usable. In addition, the liner may be configured as an inexpensive disposable item, that the user can wear for a period of time (one week, one month), then discard and replace with a clean new liner.

The front liner40is located only on the body side66of the front ballistic panel12. It does not extend over the opposite strike side68of the panel12. Similarly, the back liner44is located only on the body side70of the back panel14. It does not extend over the strike side73of the back panel14.

Because the liner40is the portion of the vest10that is closest to the wearer42, the liner is the piece that normally absorbs perspiration from the wearer and thus needs to be washed periodically. Because the liner40is removable, and washable, that function is easily carried out. The liner40is simply detached from the panel cover16, washed and dried. The liner40is machine or hand washable by the wearer, in a home washing machine or by hand, without degradation. It can then be replaced on the vest10.

The cover16(and its enclosed panel12) thus need not be washed so frequently. Thus, the portions of the vest10that provide the ballistic protection are both (a) protected from perspiration in the first place and (b) not washed and therefore not subject to degradation. If necessary, the panel cover16can be cleaned by hand with a damp cloth and soap, for example.

The dimensions of the liner40are selected so that the liner overlies substantially all of the body side66of the panel12. About one inch of the panel12may be left uncovered by the liner40, around the edges of the panel. As a result, the liner40is effective to space the covered panel12away from the wearer42over all or substantially all of the surface area of the covered panel, and to absorb perspiration from the area where the panel overlies the wearer. As a result, the liner40minimizes the transmission of perspiration to the panel cover16and thus, minimizes the need to clean the panel cover.

The four body securing strap assemblies30-36are attached directly to the panel cover16. As a result, a carrier is not needed for this purpose. The left shoulder strap assembly30(FIGS. 1-3) is representative of all four strap assemblies, and so is the only strap assembly described in detail herein.

The left shoulder strap assembly30includes, in the illustrated embodiment, five separate elements: the left shoulder strap70itself; hook/loop patches72and74on either end of the strap; and hook/loop patches76and78on the front and back panel covers16and20, respectively.

To meet the water permeability specifications noted above, it would be difficult or impossible to sew the patches76directly to the panel cover16, without the sewing violating the watertight integrity of the panel cover. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, an adhesive is used to attach the patches76to the outer side surface80of the panel cover16.

The straps30-36are adjustable in length, and for this purpose can be detached from the covers16and20by opening one or both of the hook and loop connections at the ends, and then resetting in a different position. Other methods of adjustably securing the ends of the straps30-36to the covers16and20can be used, of course.

If a panel is removable from a carrier so that the carrier can be washed, then replacing the panel must be done correctly or much of the panel's protection capability will be sacrificed. This is because a ballistic panel such as the panels12and14has a designated strike side and a designated body side, and the panel protects much better if it is put on correctly, with the strike side facing out. A significant benefit of the present vest construction is that it eliminates the step of removing a ballistic panel from a carrier. With the present invention, because the panel12is not removable from the cover16, and the cover strike side is readily seen to be different from the cover body side52, there is next to no chance that the user will assemble and don the garment10incorrectly. This is a significant safety feature.

Another benefit of the present vest construction is that the carrier is eliminated altogether. The panel covers16and20are, in effect, the carrier; there is no separate removable carrier. The covers16and20serve the function of supporting the strap assemblies30-36. This makes a simpler product. Thus, the present invention effectively takes what was a three layer product (carrier, panel, carrier) and makes it into a two layer product (panel, liner). All the functionality is preserved, plus the product is thinner to wear, lighter to wear, and error proof as far as assembly is concerned. Using fewer layers of material also provides more comfort to the wearer, and a cooler design.