Abstract:
A blanket protection system that is adaptable for use in a military vehicle. The blanket protection system includes a blanket comprising a carrier, a ballistic insert, stitch lines, and a plurality of buckles. The portion of the stitch lines extend between at least a portion of the plurality of buckles. In addition, the carrier comprises an interior. Moreover, the ballistic insert is disposed in the interior.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates to the field of military vehicles and more specifically to the field of blast protection systems for military vehicles. 
         [0005]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0006]    There is an increasing need for added protection for occupants of military vehicles. Improvised explosive devices and other methods for attacking military vehicles have drawn added interest in the safety of occupants of military vehicles. Conventional methods for protecting occupants of the vehicles include reliance on the outer minor of the military vehicles. Drawbacks to such conventional methods include instances in which force from the explosive devices enters the interior of the military vehicle, which may place occupants of the military vehicle at severe risk of injury or death. 
         [0007]    Methods have been developed to overcome such drawbacks. For instance, reactive armor on the outside of the military vehicle and body armor worn by the occupants of the military vehicle have been developed. Drawbacks to such developments also include risk of injury or death when the explosive forces enter the interior of the military vehicle. 
         [0008]    Consequently, there is a need for improved methods for protecting occupants of military vehicles from explosive forces. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by a blanket protection system adaptable for use in a military vehicle. The blanket protection system includes a blanket comprising a carrier, a ballistic insert, stitch lines, and a plurality of buckles. In addition, a portion of the stitch lines extend between at least a portion of the plurality of buckles. The carrier comprises an interior. In addition, the ballistic insert is disposed in the interior. 
         [0010]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a blanket with a carrier and stitch lines; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a second blanket of the blanket protection system having stitch lines; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a third blanket of the blanket protection system having stitch lines; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a storage unit; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates the front interior side of the blanket of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates the front interior side of the blanket of  FIG. 1  showing the stitch lines; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates the ballistic insert for the blanket of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates blanket protection system  1  having blanket  5 .  FIG. 1  illustrates the front side of blanket  5 . Blanket  5  may have any desirable configuration. In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , blanket  5  has a configuration suitable for placement in the interior of a military vehicle between an occupant of the vehicle and the engine compartment of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the occupant is the driver of the military vehicle. It is to be understood that blanket  5  is not limited to the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1  but includes other configurations in alternative embodiments. For instance, in some alternative embodiments (not illustrated), blanket  5  has a configuration suitable for protecting a desired interior portion of a military vehicle. 
         [0020]    Blanket  5  includes carrier  10  and has an interior (not illustrated) in which a ballistic insert  175  (illustrated in  FIG. 7 ) is disposed. Carrier  10  is an outer bag having the interior. Carrier  10  may be composed of any materials suitable for use in a military vehicle. In an embodiment, carrier  10  is composed of flame retardant and/or fluid resistant materials. Without limitation, the flame retardant materials provide further protection against explosive forces. Further, without limitation, the fluid resistant materials protect the interior of carrier  10  and contents therein from fluids. For instance, the fluid resistant materials protect ballistic insert  175  from potential damage from fluids. In some embodiments, carrier  10  is coated with flame retardant and/or fluid resistant materials. The interior of carrier  10  is accessible along top portion  30 . In an embodiment, the interior is accessible along any suitable portion of top portion  30  to allow access to the interior and to allow desired inserts such as ballistic insert  175  to be inserted therein. Carrier closure means  15  is operable to open and close access to the interior. Carrier closure means  15  includes any suitable means for closing the access. Examples of carrier closure means  15  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, and the like. In an embodiment, carrier closure means  15  include a zipper. Without limitation, a zipper facilitates a quick and easy method for opening and closing access to the interior. In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , carrier closure means  15  includes closure means strap  25 . In an alternative embodiment, carrier closure means  15  is a means for sealing access to the interior from fluids. In some embodiments, blanket  5  is not openable and closeable. In such an embodiment, ballistic insert  175  is disposed within the interior of blanket  5 . 
         [0021]    As further shown in  FIG. 1 , blanket  5  includes buckles  20 . Buckles  20  releasably attach blanket  5  to a wall or other structure in the military vehicle. In an embodiment, buckles  20  are quick release buckles. It is to be understood that quick release buckles refer to buckles that are quickly released from attachment to the wall or other structure. Without limitation, quick release buckles allow occupants of the vehicle to quickly attach and quickly release blanket  5  from the vehicle. It is to be understood that in many situations the occupants (soldiers) of the vehicle must release blanket  5  with little effort and time involved. For instance, blanket  5  may provide protection to occupants from the engine compartment of a military vehicle and access to the engine compartment may be needed. Releasing at least a portion of blanket  5  with buckles  20  (quick release buckles) facilitates access to the engine compartment. Buckles  20  may be releasably attached to the military vehicle by any suitable means. In an embodiment, attachment buckles (not illustrated) are secured to the military vehicle, and buckles  20  are releasably attached to the attachment buckles. The attachment buckles may be secured to the military vehicle by any suitable means. In an embodiment, the attachment buckles are secured to the military by adhesive. Without limitation, a commercial example of a suitable adhesive is CB200, which is commercially available from Click Bond, Inc. Buckles  20  include straps  185 , which are attachable to blanket  5 . Straps  185  may be composed of any materials suitable for use in a military vehicle. In an embodiment, straps  185  include flame resistant materials. Without limitation, the flame resistant materials facilitate straps  185  in maintaining attachment of blanket  5  to the military vehicle when exposed to extreme heat, such as in an explosion. An example of a suitable commercial example of a flame resistant material is KEVLAR, which is commercially available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Blanket  5  may include any number of buckles  20  suitable for releasably attaching blanket  5  to the military vehicle. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of blanket  5  in which carrier  10  include stitch lines  70 . In the embodiment as shown, stitch lines  70  extend from a strap  185  to each proximate strap  185  and also extend in the direction of the side of blanket  5  opposing the particular strap  185 . In some embodiments as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a portion of the straps  185  have stitch lines  70  that extend to a strap  185  on an opposing side of blanket  5 . Without limitation, stitch lines  70  provide blanket  5  with added strength when exposed to explosion. For instance, stitch lines  70  extending between straps  185  increase the strength in which straps  185  are attached to blanket  5  and thereby facilitate straps  185  remaining attached to blanket  5  when exposed to forces from an explosion. In an embodiment, stitch lines  70  are sewn into carrier  10  on the interior of carrier  10 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a view of an embodiment of the interior of front side of carrier  10 . As shown, stitch lines  70  provide cross-stitching  165 . Cross-stitching  165  refers to locations where stitch lines  70  cross each other. Without limitation, cross-stitching  165  provides further strength to carrier  10  by providing enhanced areas of stitching. Stitch lines  70  may be composed of any material suitable for use as a stitching material. In an embodiment, stitch lines  70  include flame resistant materials. In some embodiments, carrier  10  includes reinforcement means  160 . Reinforcement means  160  are sewn into carrier  10  by stitch lines  70 . Reinforcement means  160  may be any suitable material for improving protection against a blast. For instance, reinforcement means  160  provide added strength and further protection against blast fragments contacting carrier  10 . In an embodiment, reinforcement means  160  include a fabric. In some embodiments, reinforcement means  160  include nylon fabric. In an embodiment, reinforcement means  160  are in the form of a web. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , blanket  5  includes pockets. Blanket  5  may include any suitable number and type of pockets. In the embodiment as illustrated, blanket  5  includes flashlight pocket  45 , pockets  50 , and molle strip pocket  55 . Flashlight pocket  45  is a pocket suitable for a flashlight. As shown, in some embodiments, flashlight pocket  45  is angled to facilitate retrieval and placement of a flashlight in flashlight pocket  45 . Pockets  50  may be any type of pocket suitable for use in a military vehicle. Molle strip pocket  55  is a pocket with molle strips  60  disposed on an outer portion of molle strip pocket  55 . Molle strip pocket  55  may contain any suitable number of molle strips  60 . 
         [0024]    In some embodiments, blanket  5  also includes protection panels. In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , blanket  5  includes protection panel  35 , protection panel  40 , and protection panel  65 . Protection panels may be composed of any material suitable for protecting blanket  5  against wear. In an embodiment, the protection panels are leather. The protection panels may be placed at any desirable location on blanket  5 . In some embodiments, protection panels are placed at locations in which wear is desired to be protected against. For instance, the protection panels are placed in high contact areas of blanket  5 . 
         [0025]    In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , blanket  5  also includes blanket connection means  85  and connection flap  75 . Blanket connection means  85  include any means for releasably connecting blanket  5  to another blanket such as second blanket  90  (illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). Examples of blanket connection means  85  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, and the like. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , blanket connection means  85  include a zipper. Connection flap  75  includes flap connection means  80 . Flap connection means  80  includes any means for releasably connecting blanket  5  to another blanket such as second blanket  90 . Examples of flap connection means  85  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, VELCRO (commercially available from Velcro Industries B.V.), and the like. Flap connection means  85  provide protection against contact and wear to blanket connection means  85 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates a view of front side  195  of second blanket  90 . Second blanket  90  includes second blanket carrier  110 . Second blanket carrier  110  may be composed of any materials suitable for use in a military vehicle. In an embodiment, second blanket carrier  110  is composed of flame retardant and/or fluid resistant materials. Without limitation, the flame retardant materials provide further protection against explosive forces. Further, without limitation, the fluid resistant materials protect the interior of second blanket carrier  110  and contents therein from fluids. For instance, the fluid resistant materials protect ballistic insert  175  from potential damage from fluids. In some embodiments, second blanket carrier  10  is coated with flame retardant and/or fluid resistant materials. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, blanket protection system  1  includes blanket  5  and second blanket  90 , with blanket  5  and second blanket  90  releasably attached to each other by blanket connection means  85  and first blanket connection means  95  and/or flap connection means  80 . First blanket connection means  95  may include any means suitable for releasably attaching second blanket  90  to another blanket such as blanket  5 . Examples of first blanket connection means  95  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, and the like. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , first blanket connection means  95  is a zipper. In an embodiment, first blanket connection means  95  include connection means strap  100 . Second blanket  90  may have any configuration suitable for a desired location in a military vehicle. In an embodiment, second blanket  90  is disposed over a radio access panel of a military vehicle. In some embodiments, blanket protection system  1  includes first blanket  5  releasably attached to second blanket  90  with first blanket  5  having a configuration suitable for providing protection against an explosion coming from the engine room of the military vehicle, and second blanket  90  having a configuration suitable for providing protection against an explosion coming from a radio access panel of the military vehicle. Second blanket  90  includes buckles  20  with straps  185  for releasably attaching second blanket  90  to the military vehicle. Second blanket  90  may also include protection panels  65  or any other protection panels. In an embodiment, a ballistic insert  175  is disposed in an interior of second blanket  90 . In an embodiment as illustrated, second blanket  90  is not openable and closeable but instead has a closed interior with ballistic insert  175  disposed therein. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), second blanket  90  is openable and closeable. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, blanket protection system  1  includes blanket  5  releasably attached to second blanket  90 , and second blanket  90  releasably attached to another blanket such as third blanket  115  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). In such embodiments, second blanket  90  includes second blanket connection means  105 , which is suitable for attachment of second blanket  90  to third blanket  115 . Examples of second blanket connection means  105  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, and the like. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , second blanket connection means  105  are a zipper. In an embodiment, second blanket connection means  105  include connection means strap  100 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of front side  200  of third blanket  115 . Third blanket  110  also includes a carrier  10  that is openable and closeable. Third blanket  115  includes third blanket connection means  120 . Third blanket connection means  120  include any means suitable for releasably attaching third blanket  115  to another blanket such as second blanket  90 . Examples of third blanket connection means  120  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, and the like. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , third blanket connection means  120  is a zipper. In an embodiment, third blanket connection means  120  includes connection means strap  100 . Third blanket  115  may have any configuration suitable for a desired location in a military vehicle. In an embodiment, third blanket  115  is disposed over the dog house of a military vehicle. It is to be understood that the dog house refers to the personnel carrier portion of the vehicle. In some embodiments, blanket protection system  1  includes first blanket  5  releasably attached to second blanket  90  and with second blanket releasably attached to third blanket  115 . In such embodiments, first blanket  5  may have a configuration suitable for providing protection against an explosion coming from the engine room of the military vehicle, second blanket  90  may have a configuration suitable for providing protection against an explosion coming from a radio access panel of the military vehicle, and third blanket  115  may have a configuration suitable for providing protection against an explosion coming from the dog house of the military vehicle. Third blanket  115  includes buckles  20  with straps  185  for releasably attaching third blanket  115  to the military vehicle. Third blanket  115  may also include protection panels  65  or any other protection panels. In an embodiment, a ballistic insert  175  is disposed in an interior of third blanket  115 . 
         [0030]    In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , third blanket  115  is openable and closeable. The interior of third blanket  115  is accessible along top portion  205 . In an embodiment, the interior is accessible along any suitable portion of top portion  205  to allow access to the interior and to allow desired inserts such as ballistic insert  175  to be inserted therein. Third blanket  115  also includes third blanket carrier closure means  130 . Third blanket carrier closure means  130  is operable to open and close access to the interior. Third blanket carrier closure means  130  include any suitable means for closing the access. Examples of third blanket carrier closure means  130  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, and the like. In an embodiment, third blanket carrier closure means  130  include a zipper. In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , third blanket carrier closure means  130  include closure means strap  135 . In an alternative embodiment, third blanket carrier closure means  130  is a means for sealing access to the interior from fluids. In some embodiments, third blanket  115  is not openable and closeable. In such an embodiment, ballistic insert  175  is disposed within the interior of third blanket  115 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of blanket protection system  1  including storage unit  140 . Storage unit  140  may include any configuration suitable for storing the blankets (i.e., blanket  5 , second blanket  90  and/or third blanket  115 ). In an embodiment as illustrated, storage unit  140  allows blanket protection system  1  to be stored and transported. The blankets may be stored in the interior of storage unit  140 . In an embodiment, storage unit  140  includes carrier straps  145 , which facilitate transportation of storage unit  140 . In some embodiments, carrier straps  145  are suitable for allowing storage unit  140  to be transported on the back of a carrier (i.e., soldier). In some embodiments, storage unit  140  may be openable and closeable. In such embodiments, closure means  150  are operable to open and close access to the interior. Closure means  150  include any suitable means for closing the access. Examples of closure means  150  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, and the like. In an embodiment, closure means  150  include a zipper. In an embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , closure means  150  include closure strap  155 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of the interior of front side of blanket  5 . In such an embodiment, blanket  5  includes ballistic connection means  170 . Ballistic connection means  170  include any means suitable for attaching ballistic insert  175  to carrier  10 . For instance, examples of suitable ballistic connection means  170  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, VELCRO, and the like. It is to be understood that embodiments of second blanket  90  and third blanket  115  also include ballistic connection means  170 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of ballistic insert  175 . Ballistic insert  175  includes any materials suitable for stopping or reducing the velocity of projectiles. In an embodiment, ballistic inset  175  includes aramid fibers. A commercial example of suitable materials includes KEVLAR. In an embodiment, ballistic insert  175  is coated and/or covered in a fluid resistant material. Ballistic insert  175  may have any suitable configuration. In an embodiment, ballistic insert  175  has a configuration that is similar to that of the blanket in which it is disposed. Without limitation, such an embodiment improves the protection capability of the blanket as the similar configuration of ballistic inert  175  maximizes protection within the configuration of the blanket. It is to be understood that the configuration of the embodiment of ballistic insert  175  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is suitable for blanket  5 . In some embodiments, ballistic insert  175  includes ballistic insert connection means  180 . Ballistic insert connection means  180  include any suitable means for attaching ballistic insert  175  to a blanket (i.e., by attachment with ballistic connection means  170 ). For instance, examples of suitable ballistic insert connection means  180  include buttons, clamps, a zipper, VELCRO, and the like. It is to be understood that ballistic insert  175  is not limited to ballistic insert connection means  180  but instead may be attached to a blanket by any suitable means. In embodiments, ballistic insert  175  is attached to a blanket (i.e., such as blanket  5 , second blanket  90 , and/or third blanket  115 ) by being sewn to a blanket. 
         [0034]    The military vehicle may be any type of military vehicle. In some embodiments, the military vehicle is an armored personnel carrier. In an embodiment, the military vehicle is a LAV-25, which is commercially available from General Dynamics. In an embodiment, blanket protection system  1  provides protection to the driver of the military vehicle. 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that blanket protection system  1  is not limited to blanket  5 , second blanket  90 , and/or third blanket  115 . In alternative embodiments, blanket protection system  1  may include at least one additional blanket. 
         [0036]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.