Patent Publication Number: US-7900271-B2

Title: Ballistic elbow and knee guards

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of PPA APPL No. 60/655,231, FILING DATE Feb. 22, 2005 by the present inventor. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to protective elbow and knee guards for military, police and security personnel particularly adapted to prevent injuries and wounds to elbows and knees. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     I conceived of the ballistic elbow and knee guards while serving in Iraq during 2004. Military personnel wore elbow and knee pads that used non-ballistic material such as Nylon, plastic and foam and suffered wounds and injuries to these areas that could have been prevented if ballistic material was incorporated into the pads. 
     Unlike previous art in this field, my invention will provide protection and increased survivability against both low and high velocity projectiles, fragments, blunt force trauma, blood loss and lacerations. These threats include projectiles fired from pistols, shotguns, and submachine guns and fragments from the detonation of high explosive weapons. These weapons include, but are not limited to, road side bombs, hand and rocket propelled grenades, mortar and artillery rounds, land mines and booby traps. This invention will also provide protection to the knees and elbows from sharp cutting objects such as glass and sheet metal. 
     The level of protection is up to the agency and/or wearer and is based on the US National Institute of Justice guidelines and Certification tests for different ballistic material. They range from Threat levels I through IIIA. Level I material will protect the wearer from bullets and fragments with a velocity and weight comparable to a .38 cal pistol round weighing 158 grains and moving at 850 feet per second. Level IIIA material will protect the wearer from bullets and fragments with a velocity and weight comparable to a .44 Magnum pistol round weighing 240 grains and moving at 1,400 feet per second. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,281 to Jerome and Rudiy discloses a strapless kneepad kit for installing releasable fasteners to the kneepad and to corresponding locations on the seams of work pants or jeans in the kneecap area. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,807,682 to Shircliff discloses a knee pad assembly for protecting the knee of a worker working on hard floors and consists of and outer knee pad structure, a knee cap support spring, and a resilient foam inner knee and shin pad structure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,160 to Chen discloses a joint protector that is designed to protect the elbows and knees from an oblique, non-direct, or proximal impact. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,376 to Ritter discloses a knee pad for cushioning the human knee that includes a fluid filled chamber and removable knee cups that that are comprised of different material to suit a particular activity. 
     U.S. Patent Application 20040019949 to Crockett discloses a method and apparatus for attaching knee or elbow pads to clothing with fasteners. 
     The patents and patent application mentioned above are designed to protect joints from non-ballistic injuries and do not provide any significant protection from fragments, bullets or projectiles. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the ballistic elbow and knee guards described in my above patent several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
         (a) to decrease wounding and death of personnel from impacts of both low and high velocity projectiles to the elbows and knees.   (b) to decrease wounding and death of personnel from impacts of both low and high velocity fragments to the elbows and knees.   (c) to decrease wounding and death of personnel from impacts of both low and high velocity bullets to the elbows and knees.   (d) to decrease injuries and death of personnel from lacerations to the elbows and knees such as those sustained in vehicular and aircraft accidents.   (e) to decrease injuries and death of personnel from blood loss from wounds and injuries sustained to the elbows and knees.   (f) to make current non-ballistic elbow and knee pads worn by military, security and law enforcement personnel obsolete as they offer no significant ballistic protection.   (g) to save the US taxpayer money by decreasing the number of personnel who will need to be treated for injuries and wounds sustained to the elbows and knees.       

     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention, elbow and knee pads for military, police, and security personnel that incorporates ballistic material. 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are to provide improved elbow and knee pads, to provide increased protection from fragments, bullets, projectiles, lacerations and blunt force trauma injuries. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the invention proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the ballistic elbow guard according to the principles of the present invention, illustrating one embodiment of the elbow guard in an unworn condition. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the ballistic knee guard according to the principles of the present invention, illustrating one embodiment of the knee guard in an unworn condition. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the ballistic knee guard according to the principles of the present invention in a worn condition. 
         FIG. 4  is cross sectional view of both the ballistic elbow and knee guard in an unworn condition. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the ballistic elbow guard according to the principles of the present invention in a worn condition. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
     
         
           1  elbow guard 
           2  ballistic panel and non-ballistic cushioning pad carrier shell 
           3  ballistic or non-ballistic cap 
           4  ballistic panel 
           5  non-ballistic cushioning pad 
           6  adjustable tightening straps 
           7  knee guard 
           8  VELCRO fasteners 
           9  loop fasteners 
           10  hook fasteners 
           11  adjustable tightening straps 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings and, in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a novel ballistic resistant and energy absorption elbow guard of the present invention identified by the numeral  1 . In general, the ballistic elbow guard is designed to resemble elbow protectors that are worn by military and law enforcement personnel. However, it will be understood that any elbow protector, pad or guard may be adopted to include the ballistic protective properties of the present invention. 
     Referring now to the drawings and, in particular to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a novel ballistic resistant and energy absorption knee guard of the present invention identified by the numeral  7 . In general, the ballistic knee guard is designed to resemble knee protectors that are worn by military and law enforcement personnel. However, it will be understood that any knee protector, pad or guard may be adopted to include the ballistic protective properties of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4  panel carrier shells  2 , receives ballistic panel inserts  4 . To increase the cushioning properties of the elbow  1  and knee guards  7 , non-ballistic cushioning pads  5  can be incorporated behind the ballistic panel inserts. The non-ballistic cushioning pads  5  can be comprised of any energy absorption material such as foam or a chamber or chambers filled with fluids, gases, liquids or gels. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  caps  3  made of rigid or semi rigid ballistic or non-ballistic material is attached to the carrier shells  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  adjustable fastening straps  6  are attached to the sides of the elbow panel carrier shells  2  and are preferably comprised of elastic material. The adjustable fastening straps  6  can be secured to the opposite side of the carrier shell  2  using VELCRO type fasteners  8 . Alternately, the adjustable fastening straps  6  can be attached by the wearer to the opposite side of the elbow guards using hook and loop fasteners. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  adjustable fastening straps  11  are attached to the sides of the knee panel carrier shells  2  and are preferably comprised of elastic material. The adjustable fastening straps  11  can be secured to the opposite side of the carrier shell  2  using hook  10  and loop  9  fasteners. Alternately, the adjustable fastening straps  11  can be attached by the wearer to the opposite side of the knee guards by using VELCRO type fasteners. 
     The subject invention is not limited to the style of the ballistic knee and elbow pads shown in the drawings and may be subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present specification should therefore be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Operation 
     In operation one wears the ballistic elbow and knee guards by strapping or slipping them over the appropriate area of the body or attaching them to the clothing so as to provide protection from both ballistic and non-ballistic threats. If the carrier shell is damaged beyond repair, the ballistic and non-ballistic panels can be removed so as to install into serviceable carriers. 
     CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Thus the reader will see that the ballistic elbow and knee guards offer military and law enforcement personnel significant protection from being struck by bullets, fragments and projectiles that would otherwise cause serious wounds and death. They are lightweight and comfortable and will make current issue non-ballistic knee and elbow pads obsolete.
         they will increase the combat effectiveness of our military forces as they fight the Global War on Terror by providing ballistic protection to their elbows and knees.   they will decrease the costs associated with the long term care of those who are permanently maimed by reducing the number of military and law enforcement personnel who are wounded or injured.   they will provide law enforcement personnel who are in a high risk environment protection from bullet strikes to their elbows and knees.