Patent Publication Number: US-2018045489-A1

Title: Plate carrier apparatus and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/506,182, filed Apr. 2, 2012, entitled “Plate Carrier Apparatus and Method,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,777,997, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/395,765, filed Mar. 27, 2012, now U.S. Design Pat. No. D677433, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/626,784, filed Oct. 3, 2011, entitled “Plate Carrier Apparatus and Method,” the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments generally relate to the mounting of wearable ballistic body armor plates and accessories to military and law enforcement personnel and other individual people. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     People in current military and law enforcement units are required to wear hard ballistic armor plates and flexible soft armor plates. In addition, the people in these units must also be able to carry extra equipment to allow them to accomplish their mission. Most of these extra pieces of equipment are typically carried by pouches worn by the individual person. These pouches plus the hard and soft armor pieces are attached to the upper torso of an individual via a soft material sewn in such a fashion that it carries these pieces. The resulting vest is typically referred to as a load bearing vest or tactical vest. 
     In an attempt to meet the demands of carrying a variety of tactical equipment, manufacturers must make tactical vest designs that have a modular attachment system, which adds unnecessary material and bulk to the tactical vest. These tactical vests are all sewn pieces of nylon material, which must wrap the armor plates and have a closure flap to prevent the plate from falling out. 
     The materials sewn are also not resistant to the absorption of liquids and chemicals. Once these materials become impregnated with a liquid that is harmful, they are considered useless and disposed of promptly. If the same tactical nylon material is immersed in water, it absorbs a substantial amount of water and takes on that unnecessary weight until it can be dried out. 
     As the demand increases to decrease the overall weight of this equipment and provide resistance to liquids and chemicals, the need exists to provide military and law enforcement units and other individuals an integrated light weight streamlined armor carrier. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Some embodiments generally provide an integrated light weight streamlined armor carrier. 
     Some embodiments generally provide an armor carrier which is resistant to liquid and chemicals. 
     Embodiments generally include a plate frame assembly wearable by a user to provide ballistic protection to the user, comprising a rigid plate frame; and one or more ballistic body armor plates, the one or more body armor plates at least partially housed in the rigid plate frame and held in a fixed position with respect to the rigid plate frame by the plate frame, the rigid plate frame having one or more built-in features for securing tactical equipment thereto. 
     Other embodiments generally include a method of forming a plate frame assembly, comprising providing an integrated rigid plate frame assembly having one or more holes therethrough for securing tactical equipment thereto; providing a ballistic body armor plate, the ballistic body armor plate for providing ballistic protection to a user; holding the body armor plate in a fixed position with respect to the integrated rigid plate frame using the plate frame; and providing one or more shoulder supporting members through the plate frame to support the plate frame assembly from the user&#39;s shoulders. 
     Other embodiments generally include a plate frame assembly wearable by a user to provide ballistic protection to the user, comprising a rigid plate frame; and one or more ballistic body armor plates, the one or more body armor plates attached to the rigid plate frame and held in a fixed position with respect to the rigid plate frame by the plate frame, the rigid plate frame having one or more built-in features for securing tactical equipment, one or more pockets, or one or more pouches thereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above-recited features of embodiments of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plate frame of embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a plate frame of embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a body armor plate of embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a body armor plate in a plate frame of embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of attachment straps of embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of attachment straps on a plate frame assembly of embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  shows multiple views of examples of how a plate frame assembly may be worn on a user&#39;s torso in embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  shows multiple views of accessories attached to a plate frame assembly worn on a user&#39;s torso in embodiments. 
         FIG. 9A  is a section view of a bladder of embodiments. 
         FIG. 9B  is a front view of a first embodiment of a bladder which may be used with the plate frame assembly of embodiments. 
         FIG. 9C  is a front view of a first embodiment of a bladder which may be used with the plate frame assembly of embodiments. 
         FIG. 9D  shows to view of a second embodiment of a bladder which may be used with the plate frame assembly of embodiments. 
         FIG. 10A  is a front view of an embodiment of an inflatable bladder attached to a plate frame with a body armor plate. 
         FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the bladder attached to the plate frame with a body armor plate of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 10C  is a side perspective view of the bladder attached to the plate frame with a body armor plate of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 11  is front view of a second embodiment of a plate frame assembly with a cummerbund strap detached. 
         FIG. 12  is a left side perspective view of the plate frame assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a right side perspective view of the plate frame assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is a left side exploded, cross-sectional view of a front tab assembly of the plate frame assembly of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  is a left side perspective, exploded view of a front tab assembly of  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a left side cross-sectional view of the front tab assembly of  FIG. 14  with a front tab inserted into a front slot. 
         FIG. 17  is a left side view of the front tab assembly of  FIG. 16  with the front tab inserted into the front slot. 
         FIG. 18  is a front side perspective view of a third embodiment of a plate frame assembly with a cummerbund strap detached. 
         FIG. 19  is a top plan view of the plate frame assembly of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  is a section view of a shoulder strap assembly of the plate frame assembly of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments may include an integrated, generally rigid plate frame or plate carrier designed to hold ballistic armor plates in a fixed position with a decreased amount of surface material, weight and bulk compared to current vest designs. 
     Embodiments may include a non-sewn, soft material formed and fused to provide one or more pouches, straps and/or cummerbund. 
     In embodiments, one or more inflatable and/or non-inflatable bladders may be attached to an armor frame and cummerbund to increase buoyancy and comfort in the plate carrier. The bladder serves as a thin padding between the armor carrier and upper torso of the user. 
     In some embodiments, the integrated hard frame, cummerbund (which may be made of a soft material), pouch material, and inflatable/non-inflatable bladder(s) are resistant to absorption of liquids and chemicals. 
     This frame  10  has features that allow the ballistic armor plate  20  to be attached to a user&#39;s body by one or more attachment straps such as attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The plate frame  10  also has built in features (e.g., holes therethrough) that allow tactical equipment to be attached to the plate frame  10 . 
     Plate Frame  10  or Plate Carrier (See  FIGS. 1-3 and 4 ) 
     The plate frame  10  or plate carrier, in some embodiments, is a rigid piece of material that securely grabs and retains a ballistic body armor plate  20 . The plate frame  10  acts as a carrier of the body armor plate  20  and may frame the body armor plate  20 . The plate frame  10  has unnecessary material removed to decrease the weight that is loaded on the user. The plate frame  10  could for example be made out of plastic, metal, and/or any other non-porous rigid material. By making the plate frame  10  out of these types of material, the plate frame is liquid, chemical, and biohazard resistant. These types of material can be easily decontaminated. Forming the plate frame from these types of material also eliminates any extra weight being added to the material when the plate frame is submerged in water. 
     The body armor plate  20 , which is also a rigid piece of material in some embodiments, provides ballistic protection to the wearer. The body armor plate  20  may include any type or material of body armor plate which provides ballistic protection to the wearer known to those skilled in the art. The level of protection of the body armor plate is typically specified by the armor manufacturer and could range from protection from low velocity projectiles to protection from high velocity bullets. One example of materials which the body armor plate may be constructed from includes a formed, rigid ceramic plate with a soft woven Kevlar backing, the ceramic plate and backing sandwiched together into one singular plate. 
     The plate frame  10  may include a first plate frame portion  10 A and a second plate frame portion  10 B, the first and second plate frame portions  10 A and  10 B releasably connectible to one another via one or more attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B. The body armor plate  20  may include a first body armor portion  20 A and a second body armor portion  20 B. The first body armor plate portion  20 A may be secured to the first plate frame portion  10 A by one or more plate frame extensions  12  which extend from the first plate frame portion  10 A and wrap around the first body armor portion  20 A to hold it in place with respect to the first plate frame portion  10 A. Likewise, the second body armor plate portion  20 B may be secured to the second plate frame portion  10 B by one or more plate frame extensions  14  which extend from the second plate frame portion  10 B and wrap around the second body armor plate portion  20 B to hold it in place with respect to the second plate frame portion  10 B. 
     The first body armor plate portion  20 A and the second body armor plate portion  20 B may be of generally the same size, shape, and configuration. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each body armor plate portion  20 A,  20 B may be generally curved around in shape to conform generally to the curves of a front and back of a person&#39;s torso. The curvature of the body armor plate portions  20 A,  20 B and the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B may generally the same as or similar to standard curvatures of body armor plates in the industry, known to those skilled in the art. The body armor plate portions  20 A,  20 B may be mirror images of one another in their curvature and in their dimensions when placed with the inside of the curve of the body armor portions  20 A,  20 B facing one another. Approximately the lower half of a length of the body armor portions  20 A,  20 B may be generally equal in width, and approximately the upper half of the length of the body armor portions  20 A,  20 B may decrease in width gradually until the top of the body armor portions  20 A,  20 B is reached. This decrease in width of the upper half and uniform width of the lower half may be the same on each side of each respective body armor portion  20 A,  20 B, so that each body armor portion is symmetric over its length. The decrease in width at the upper half of the body plate portion  20 B may be accomplished by an inward slope in the width of the upper half of the body plate portion  20 B, forming an angle A 1  of the body armor portion and an angle on the other side of the body armor portion which may be the same as angle A 1  (a similar width decrease may be present in the body armor plate portion  20 A). Of course, it is within the scope of embodiments that the body armor portions  20 A,  20 B are not mirror images of one another and do not have the same dimensions, curvature, etc. as one another. It is also within the scope of embodiments that the body armor portions  20 A,  20 B are of different lengths, widths, curvatures, angles, etc. 
     The plate frame  10  generally corresponds to the size, shape, and curvature of the body armor plate  20 . In this regard, the first plate frame portion  10 A generally corresponds to the size, shape, and curvature of the first body armor plate portion  20 A, and the second plate frame portion  10 B generally corresponds to the size, shape, and curvature of the second body armor plate portion  20 B. The first plate frame portion  10 A and the second plate frame portion  10 B may be mirror images of one another in their curvature and dimensions (as defined by the outer edges of the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B). Approximately the lower half of a length of the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B may be generally equal in width, and approximately the upper half of the length of the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B may decrease in width gradually until the top of the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B is reached. This decrease in width of the upper half and uniform width of the lower half may be the same on each side of each respective plate frame portion  10 A,  10 B, so that each plate frame portion is symmetric over its length. An angle of the plate frame portion which corresponds with the angle A 1  when the plate frame portion and body armor plate frame  20  are assembled together may be approximately the same as the angle A 1  of the body armor plate frame  20 . Of course, it is within the scope of embodiments that the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B are not mirror images of one another and do not have the same dimensions, curvature, etc. as one another. It is also within the scope of embodiments that the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B are of different lengths, widths, etc. 
     The plate frame  10  may include a number of holes therein of different sizes and shapes for performing various purposes, including for inserting the attachment straps therethrough and for attaching various equipment (e.g., tactical equipment such as pockets, pouches, backpacks, etc.) to the plate frame  10 . The plate frame  10  may be designed as shown in the figures so that the holes therein are shaped to allow attaching of specific tactical equipment, pockets, pouches, backpacks, etc. to the holes. In one example which is not limiting of embodiments, the one or more pouches may have tabs that extend through the holes in the plate frame  10  and then wrap around the plate frame  10  back onto themselves, and the portions of the tabs which overlap themselves may be attached to one another using, for example one or more hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) or what is referred to as a “tuck-tab.” The first plate frame portion  10 A may include first and second shoulder strap attachment holes  6 A,  6 B through a top portion of the first plate frame portion  10 A, and the second plate frame portion  10 B may include third and fourth strap attachment holes  7 A,  7 B through a top portion of the second plate frame portion  10 B. In some embodiments, when the inside of the first plate frame portion  10 A and the inside of the second plate frame portion  10 B are facing one another, the first strap attachment hole  6 A and the third strap attachment hole  7 A correspond to one another and are generally in line with one another, and the second strap attachment hole  6 B and the fourth strap attachment hole  7 B correspond to one another and are generally in line with one another. To this end, the hole  6 A may be disposed at a first position on the first plate frame portion  10 A to generally correspond with a position of the right shoulder of the user when the plate frame  10  is placed on the user, and the hole  7 A may likewise be disposed at a first position on the second plate frame portion  10 B to generally correspond with a position of the right shoulder of the user when the plate frame  10  is placed on the user. The hole  6 B may be disposed at a second position on the plate frame portion  10 A to generally correspond with the left shoulder of the user when the plate frame  10  is placed on the user, and the hole  7 B may be disposed at a second position on the second plate frame portion  10 B to generally correspond with a position of the left shoulder of the user when the plate frame  10  is placed on the user. 
     These holes  6 A,  6 B,  7 A,  7 B may be used for threading attachment straps  35 A,  35 B therethrough to support the plate frame  10  and any other connections to the plate frame  10  (body armor plate  20 , other attachment straps, and/or any equipment attached to the plate frame) on the shoulders of a user&#39;s body (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). These holes  6 A,  6 B,  7 A,  7 B in some embodiments are sufficient in length and width to allow the attachment straps  35 A,  35 B to thread therethrough as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . The holes  6 A,  6 B,  7 A,  7 B in some embodiments may either be generally rectangular or oblong or oval shaped, for example as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . The width or smaller diameter of the holes  6 A,  6 B,  7 A,  7 B as measured at their central axes should be larger than the thickness of the attachment straps  35 A,  35 B, and the length or larger diameter of the holes  6 A,  6 B,  7 A,  7 B as measured at their central axes should be larger than the width of the attachment straps  35 A,  35 B to ensure that the attachment straps  35 A,  35 B may be inserted therethrough. In one example, the attachment straps  35 A,  35 B may each be approximately 1.5 inches wide, and the holes  6 A,  6 B,  7 A,  7 B may correspond to those dimensions to provide a loose fit in order to allow the attachment straps  35 A,  35 B to slip through the holes easily. In some embodiments, the holes are slanted on the plate frame  10 , to generally correspond with the sloping of a user&#39;s shoulders so that the shoulder attachment straps  35 A,  35 B ultimately may slant downward. 
     The first plate frame portion  10 A may also include one or more cummerbund strap attachment holes, including in some embodiments first cummerbund strap attachment hole  8 A and second cummerbund strap attachment hole  8 B spaced apart from one another on a first side of the first plate frame portion  10 A and third cummerbund strap attachment hole  8 C and fourth cummerbund strap attachment hole  8 D spaced apart from one another on a second side of the first plate frame portion  10 A. The second plate frame portion  10 B may also include one or more cummerbund strap attachment holes, including in some embodiments fifth cummerbund strap attachment hole  9 A on one side and sixth cummerbund strap attachment hole  9 B on the other side of the second plate frame portion. Embodiments are not limited to the number of holes on each side of the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B, but any number of holes through the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B which allow threading of cummerbund attachments straps  30 A and  30 B or other similar attachment straps therethrough are within the scope of embodiments (likewise, any number of holes through the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B which allow threading of the shoulder attachment straps  35 A,  35 B therethrough is also within the scope of embodiments). In some embodiments, the first and second holes  8 A and  8 B may be instead just one continuous hole, and the third and fourth holes  8 C and  8 D may instead be just one continuous hole similar to the holes  9 A,  9 B. In some embodiments, the holes  9 A and  9 B may be split up into two holes on each side, similar to the holes  8 A,  8 B and  8 C,  8 D. 
     The holes  8 A,  8 B,  8 C,  8 D,  9 A, and  9 B may be positioned at or near a waist area of a user when the user has the plate frame  10  disposed on his or her body properly to support and position the plate frame  10  and any other connections to the plate frame  10  (body armor plate  20 , other attachment straps, and/or any equipment attached to the plate frame) with respect to a waist area of a user&#39;s body (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     In some embodiments, when the inside of the first plate frame portion  10 A and the inside of the second plate frame portion  10 B are facing one another, the first and second cummerbund strap attachment holes  8 A and  8 B and the first cummerbund strap attachment hole  9 A correspond to one another and are generally in line with one another, and the third and fourth cummerbund strap attachment holes  8 C and  8 D and the second cummerbund strap attachment hole  9 B correspond to one another and are generally in line with one another. These holes  8 A,  8 B,  8 C,  8 D,  9 A, and  9 B in some embodiments are sufficient in length and width to allow the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B to thread therethrough as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . The holes  8 A,  8 B,  8 C,  8 D,  9 A, and  9 B in some embodiments may either be generally rectangular or oblong or oval shaped, for example as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . The width or smaller diameter of the holes  8 A,  8 B,  8 C,  8 D,  9 A, and  9 B as measured at their central axes should be larger than the thickness of the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B being threaded through the particular hole, and the length or larger diameter of the holes  8 A,  8 B,  8 C,  8 D,  9 A, and  9 B as measured at their central axes should be larger than the width of the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B portion being threaded through the particular hole to ensure that the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B may be inserted therethrough. Example dimensions (which are not limiting of embodiments) include the following: the width W 3  may be approximately 1.250 inches, and the width W 1  may be approximately 2.750 inches. 
     Attachment Straps and Accessories (see  FIGS. 5-8 ) 
       FIG. 5  shows the attachment straps  35 A and  35 B as well as the attachment straps  30 A and  30 B, and  FIGS. 6-8  illustrate an embodiment of the plate frame  10  with the attachment straps disposed through their respective holes in the plate frame  10 . The attachment straps  35 A and  35 B may each be a generally flexible band or strap having a length, width, and thickness. In some examples which are not limiting of embodiments, each of the straps  35 A,  35 B may be approximately 1.5 inches wide and approximately 24 inches long. 
     In an embodiment, the attachment straps  30 A and  30 B may each include a first end  31  and a second end  32 . A first attachment strap portion  33 A extending from the first end  31  to a first location on the attachment strap  30 A,  30 B may be of a first width W 1  and may be single attachment strap as shown in  FIG. 5 . A second attachment strap portion  33 B may be of a second width W 2  and also a single attachment strap as shown in  FIG. 5 . A third attachment strap portion  33 C may include two straps  34 A,  34 B spaced apart from one another, each strap having a width W 3 . The two straps  34 A,  34 B may extend to the second end  32 . 
     In some embodiments, between the second attachment strap portion  33 B and the first attachment strap portion  33 A, the width may taper gradually, in one example at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. In one example embodiment which is shown in  FIG. 5 , the first width W 1  is smaller than the second width W 2 , and the third width W 3  may be smaller than the first width W 1 . In some embodiments, the combined width of the third width W 3  of both straps  34 A,  34 B as well as the space between the two straps  34 A,  34 B may be approximately the same as the width W 2 . In an example which is not limiting of embodiments, the width W 1  may be approximately 2.75 inches, the width W 2  may be approximately 5 inches, the width W 3  may be approximately 1.25 inches, the space between straps  34 A and  34 B may be approximately 2 inches, the length of first attachment strap portion  33 A may be approximately 11.5 inches, the length of second attachment strap portion  33 B may be approximately 11 inches, and the length of third attachment strap portion  33 C may be approximately 5 inches. 
     The first portion  31  may be sized to fit through the holes  9 A,  9 B through the second plate frame portion  10 B, and the third portion  33 C straps  32  may be sized so that each of the two straps  32  may fit through the holes  8 A,  8 B,  8 C, and  8 D through the first plate frame portion  10 A. Additionally, the space S between the two straps  32  is sized so that the straps  32  may fit through the holes  8 A and  8 B or  8 C and  8 D (in other words, the space S—or the distance between the straps  32 —generally corresponds with the distance of the holes  8 A and  8 B from one another or the distance of the holes  8 C and  8 D from one another. The different widths W 1  and W 2  of the attachment straps  30 A and  30 B may act as a stop at the width W 2  for the attachment straps  30 A and  30 B through their respective holes in the plate frame  10 . The portion of the width W 2  between the space S may also act as a stop for the other end of the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B through their respective holes in the plate frame  10 . 
     The second portion  33 B of each attachment strap  30 A,  30 B may include one or more holes therethrough which allow attaching of tactical equipment or other accessories to one or more of the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the one or more holes include four holes  36 A,  36 B,  36 C, and  36 D, with two in the first row (holes  36 A and  36 B) and two in the second row (holes  36 C and  36 D). Of course, any number of holes in any configuration may be included on the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B and may be included on any portion of the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B to permit attachment of tactical equipment or other accessories to the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B. 
     The first, second, and third portions  33 A,  33 B,  33 C may be made of one unitary piece or may be attached or fused to one another, e.g., via welding when made of a weldable material. Other attachment methods known to those skilled in the art for attaching strap portions or other similar materials to one another are also within the scope of embodiments. 
     The material used to make the one or more shoulder attachment straps  35 A,  35 B, the one or more cummerbund attachment straps  30 A,  30 B, and any other accessories or attachments (see  FIG. 8  and description below) for the plate frame  10  could, for example, be a non porous, liquid and chemical resistant fabric. The one or more attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B and any accessories or attachments could, for example, be formed and fused out of weldable material to alleviate any machine or hand sewing. By making the one or more attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B and accessories or attachments out of these types of materials, embodiments are liquid, chemical, and biohazard resistant. By welding the materials together instead of sewing, you eliminate the sewn seems where bio-contaminants and chemicals can easily get trapped, thus making embodiments more easily decontaminated. Forming the one or more attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B and any accessories or attachments out of these types of materials also eliminates any extra weight being added to the material when the plate frame  10  and associated components are submerged in water. 
     To attach the plate frame  10  to the body plate  20 , each body armor plate portion  20 A,  20 B is placed in its respective plate frame portion  10 A,  10 B, and the one or more tabs  12 ,  14  of the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B clamp around the outer edges of the body armor plate portions  20 A,  20 B to retain each body armor plate portion  20 A,  20 B with (and in some embodiments, within) its corresponding plate frame portion  10 A,  10 B. Each body armor plate section  20 A,  20 B may be at least partially housed within its respective plate frame portion  10 A,  10 B. The tabs  12 ,  14  may bend back to allow each body plate portion  20 A,  20 B to be inserted in the tabs  12 ,  14  of its respective plate frame portion  10 A,  10 B and housed between the tabs  12 ,  14  and the inside of the plate frame portion  10 A,  10 B so that the tabs  12 ,  14 , which may also be termed “hooks,” may hook each body plate portion  20 A,  20 B to its respective plate frame portion  10 A,  10 B or may wrap around each body plate portion  20 A,  20 B to connect the body plate portions  20 A,  20 B to their respective plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B.  FIG. 4  shows the body plate  20  attached (e.g., hooked or clamped) to the plate frame  10  via extensions or tabs  12 ,  14 . The tabs  12 ,  14  may be spaced apart along the outer perimeter of the plate frame  10  to distribute the attachment points along the plate frame  10  and body plate  20 , thus more securely attaching the components to one another and distributing the force exerted on the plate frame  10  and body plate  20  along the components. 
     When the body plate  20  and plate frame  10  are attached to one another, for example as shown in  FIG. 4 , the body plate  20  provides the ballistic protection, while the plate frame  10  holds the body plate  20  in general position on the user&#39;s body and allows the attachment of accessories and tactical equipment to the plate frame  10  and body plate  20 . The holes in the plate frame  10  allow attachment of one or more accessories and/or tactical equipment to the assembly of the body plate  20  and plate frame  10 , while the body plate  20  provides ballistic protection at the locations of the plate frame  10  holes. 
     The plate frame assembly  50  includes the shoulder attachment straps  35 A,  35 B, the plate frame  10 , and the body armor plate  20 . When the shoulder attachment straps  35 A and  35 B are threaded through their respective holes  6 A,  7 A and  6 B,  7 B in the plate frame  10  and the cummerbund attachment straps  30 A and  30 B are threaded through their respective holes  8 A,  8 B,  9 A and  8 C,  8 D, and  9 B, the plate frame assembly  50  may be used as protection for the user as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Inflatable and/or Non-Inflatable Bladders (See  FIGS. 9A-10 ) 
     The plate frame assembly  50 , which could be a rigid plate frame assembly, may optionally include one or more inflatable or non-inflatable bladders or other similar padding devices or padding members known to those skilled in the art.  FIGS. 9B and 9C  show an exemplary bladder  40  which may be used as padding for the plate frame assembly  50 ,  FIG. 9A  shows a strap or a first section  41  which may be included with the bladder  40  of  FIG. 9B , and  FIG. 9D  shows a second embodiment of a bladder  45  which may be used as padding for the plate frame assembly  50 . 
     In some embodiments, the bladder  40  may include a first section  41  and a second section  42 . The first section  41  may be used to secure the bladder  40  to the plate frame  10  and body plate  20  and may be a strap for strapping the bladder  40  to the body plate  20 . One bladder  40  may be used in conjunction with the first plate frame portion  10 A and first body armor plate portion  20 A assembly  50 A, and another bladder  40  may be used in conjunction with the second plate frame portion  10 B and second body armor plate portion  20 B assembly  50 B.  FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C  show the bladder  40  connected to the second plate frame portion  10 B and second body plate portion  20 B, with the second plate frame portion  10 B and second body armor plate portion  20 B attached to one another. To assemble the bladder  40  into the second plate frame portion assembly  50 B, the second body plate portion  20 B and the bladder  40  may be manipulated so that the second body armor plate portion  20 B is disposed between the first section  41  and second section  42  of the bladder  40 . 
     The first section  41  and second section  42  of the bladder  40  may be attached to one another at connection points  43 A,  43 B, and  43 C, the connection points acting as stops for the bladder  40  with respect to the second plate frame assembly  50 B. When the second body plate frame  20 B is disposed in the bladder  40  between the first and second sections  41 ,  42 , the connection point  43 C keeps the bladder  40  in vertical position to prevent its riding up on second plate frame assembly  50 B, and the connection points  43 A and  43 B keep it in horizontal position to prevent its moving horizontally with respect to the second plate frame assembly  50 B. Additionally, the connection points  43 A and  43 B may rest on a tab portion  44  (e.g., one of the tabs  14 ) of the second plate frame portion to keep the bladder  40  in a vertical position to prevent its downward movement with respect to the second plate frame assembly  50 B. Of course, the connection points  43 A,  43 B,  43 C may result from the first section  41  and second section  42  being attached to one another, or instead the entire bladder may be made from one unitary piece of material so that connection points  43 A,  43 B,  43 C are actually stops for the bladder  40  with respect to the second plate frame assembly  50 B but not connection points between two pieces of material. 
     The first section  41  of the bladder  40 , which may be a strap, may be generally triangular-shaped to allow for triangulating stops for the bladder  40  with respect to the body plate  20 . In some embodiments, the first section  41  may also include a triangular-shaped cutout therein. The second section  42  of the bladder  40  may be shaped generally the same as the body armor plate portions  20 A,  20 B (with respect to the perimeter of the body plate portions  20 A,  20 B) to provide padding for the entire portion of the body plate  20  facing the user&#39;s body, which body plate  20  portion would be in contact with the user&#39;s body without presence of the bladder  40 . In some embodiments, the contour and curvature of the bladder  40  also generally conform to the contour and curvature of the body plate  20 . 
     These bladder(s)  40  may be padded internally with foam and/or air (and/or other similar internal padding substance known to those skilled in the art), e.g., with the second section  42  acting as the housing for the foam or other padding or as an air chamber. When the bladder is padded internally with air or other fluid, the bladder  40  may include one or more valves  46  which allow air or other fluid to enter and/or exit the inside of the bladder  40  to increase or decrease padding for the user. The padding may be adjustable (e.g., by adding or removing air from the inside of the bladder through valve(s)) to increase or decrease padding to the user as needed or desired. 
     A separate bladder  40  may be placed on each plate frame assembly portion  50 A and  50 B to protect the front and back of the user, respectively. The bladder  40  configuration and operation may be the same when used in conjunction with the plate frame assembly portion  50 A as described herein with respect to the plate frame assembly portion  50 B. 
       FIG. 9D  illustrates a second embodiment of a bladder  45  for use with the plate frame assembly  50  of embodiments. This bladder  45  may be used to provide padding for both the front and back of the user between the body plate portions  20 A,  20 B and the user&#39;s body. The bladder  45  may include a first section  41 A at one end and a first section  41 B at the other end of the bladder  45 , the sections  41 A and  41 B the same in configuration and operation as the first section  41  described with respect to the bladder  40 . The bladder  45  may also include a second section  47  connected to each first section  41 A,  41 B at the three triangular attachment points  43 A,  43 B,  43 C as described with respect to the second section  42  of the bladder  40 . Just as described with respect to the bladder  40 , the first sections  41 A,  41 B and second section  47  may instead of being two separated, connected pieces be made of one unitary piece of material, and the connection points  43 A,  43 B,  43 C may instead just function as stops. 
     The second section  47  of the bladder  45  may include one piece that extends over the shoulders of the user and over the front and back of the user&#39;s torso. In this way, the bladder  45  may also pad the shoulders of the user, in addition to padding the front and back of the user&#39;s torso between the body armor plate  20  and the user&#39;s body. The second section  47  of the bladder  45  may include a first portion  47 C and second portion  47 D, the first and second portions each similar in shape and configuration to the second section  42  of the bladder  40 . Extending between the first and second portions  47 C and  47 D is a third portion which includes shoulder padding portions  47 A and  47 B. The shoulder padding portions  47 A and  47 B are formed by a cutout  48  through the bladder  47 . The cutout  48  allows a person&#39;s head to be inserted therethrough so that the shoulder padding portions  47 A and  47 B rest on the person&#39;s shoulders between the shoulder attachment straps  35 A,  35 B and the user&#39;s shoulders. In an alternate embodiment, the shoulder padding portions  47 A and  47 B may act as the shoulder attachment straps, possibly eliminating the need for the shoulder attachment straps  35 A,  35 B. 
     The bladder  45  may include one or more valves  46  for adding and removing air or other fluid from the bladder  45  to increase or decrease padding of the bladder  45 , as described with respect to the bladder  40 . The bladder  45  may be added to the plate frame assembly  50  in much the same way as the bladder  40  may be added to the plate frame assembly, except that one of the portions  47 C or  47 D is used to pad the body plate portion  20 A and the other of the portions  47 C or  47 D is used to pad the body plate portion  20 B, with the shoulder padding portions  47 A and  47 B over the right and left shoulders of the user. The bladder portion  47 C may be secured to the first plate frame assembly  50 A by the first section  41 A being sandwiched between the plate frame portion  10 A and the body plate portion  20 A and the bladder portion  47 C disposed between the body plate portion  20 A and the user&#39;s body. The bladder portion  47 D may be secured to the plate frame assembly portion  50 B by the first section  41 B being sandwiched between the plate frame portion  10 B and the body plate portion  20 B and the bladder portion  47 D disposed between the body plate portion  20 A and the user&#39;s body. Of course, it is within the scope of embodiments that the either of the first sections  47 C,  47 D may be used in either the plate frame assembly portion  50 A or the plate frame assembly portion  50 B. The bladder  47 , including bladder portions  47 A,  47 B,  47 C, and  47 D, in one embodiment may act as one single housing for the foam or other padding or act as a single air chamber. 
     The valve(s)  46  for the bladder(s)  40 ,  45  are optional. To inflate or increase padding of the bladder  40 ,  45 , an air or fluid source such as an air pump may be hooked up to the valve, and air may be pumped into the inside of the bladder  40 ,  45  through the valve  46  to the desired inflate level. To deflate or decrease padding of the bladder  40 ,  45 , the valve may be opened to let air/fluid out of the inside of the bladder  40 ,  45 . 
     The bladder(s)  40 ,  45  may be sealed and made of a non-porous material. This bladder  40 ,  45  provides a pad between the rigid armor frame and the user&#39;s body to provide comfort. The air trapped in the bladder  40 ,  45  also helps float the armor should it become submerged in water. The bladder  40 ,  45  may be made of a non-porous material that is liquid, chemical and biohazard resistant. The bladder material may, for example, be made of any material meeting these requirements which is used for inflatable or non-inflatable bladders by those skilled in the art. These types of material can be easily decontaminated. Making the bladder(s)  40 ,  45  of this type of material also eliminates any extra weight being added to the material and thus to the plate frame assembly  50  when the plate frame assembly  50  is submerged in water. 
     In embodiments described herein, the one or more attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B, the one or more bladders  40 ,  45 , and the one or more accessory pouches or other accessories may, for example, be made of a polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) coated nylon, a vinyl-coated polyester or cordura or ripstop fabric, a two-way or four-way stretch nylon and Spandex blend, and/or a polyester mesh. These materials are merely example materials and not limiting of the materials from which these components may be made. The material used to make the one or more attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B, the one or more bladders  40 ,  45 , and the one or more accessory pouches or other accessories could, for example, be a non porous, liquid and chemical resistant fabric. These components could, for example, be formed and fused out of weldable material to alleviate any machine or hand sewing. By making these components out of these types of materials, embodiments are liquid, chemical, and biohazard resistant. By welding the materials together instead of sewing, you eliminate the sewn seams where bio-contaminants and chemicals can easily get trapped, thus making embodiments more easily decontaminated. Forming these components out of these types of materials also eliminates any extra weight being added to the material when the plate frame  10  and associated components are submerged in water. 
       FIG. 8  shows various accessories or attachments attached to the plate frame assembly  50  or plate carrier assembly. The attachment may include pouches or pockets  64 A,  64 B,  64 C. Any number of pouches or pockets may be attached to the plate frame assembly  50 , including one or more than one pouch or pocket. The attachment may, for example, be an ammunition of magazine pouch  60  having three pockets or pouches  64 A,  64 B,  64 C for holding one or more accessories such as magazine  63 , magazine  62 , and/or magazine  61  (carry bullets/ammunition). The attachment may be attached to the front plate frame assembly portion  50 A, as shown in  FIG. 8 . One or more accessories or attachments may also be attached to the back plate frame assembly portion  50 B, such as a backpack  67  or pouch for carrying water or other fluid. The one or more attachments or accessories may be connected to the plate carrier  10  by attachment of the one or more attachments or accessories or straps extending therefrom to one or more attachment straps  35 A,  35 B which are thread through holes in the plate frame  10 , through threading straps extending from the one or more attachments or accessories through one or more holes in the plate frame, and/or through snapping a portion of the attachments or accessories (e.g., an extension from the attachment or accessories) into one or more of the holes through the plate frame  10 . The one or more attachments or accessories, while securely fastened to the plate frame  10 , may also be easily removed from the plate frame  10 . 
     A method of forming the plate frame assembly  50  or plate carrier assembly includes attaching the plate frame  10  and body plate  20  to one another. To attach the plate frame  10  and body plate  20  to one another, the first plate frame portion  10 A and the first body plate portion  20 A are connected to one another, and the second plate frame portion  10 B and the second body plate portion  20 B are connected to one another. To attach the first plate frame portion  10 A to the first body plate portion  20 A, the first body plate portion  20 A is placed in the inward curve of the first plate frame portion  10 A via movement of the extensions  12  or tabs extending from the first plate frame portion  10 , the extensions  12  or tabs moving in a direction away from the first plate frame portion  10 A via applied force to allow the first body plate portion  20 A to be housed at least partially within the inward curve of the inside of the first plate frame portion  10 A. The extensions  12  or tabs move in a direction toward the first plate frame portion  10 A upon the absence of the application of force (e.g., they are biased closed) to retain the first body armor plate portion  20 A in place with respect to the first plate frame portion  10 A when the first body plate portion  20 A is in place, housed in the first plate frame portion  10 A. The extensions  12  or tabs may also clamp the first body plate portion  20 A in place with respect to the first plate frame portion. The second body plate portion  20 B is connected to the second plate frame portion  10 B in the same manner as described herein with respect to the first body plate portion  20 A and the first plate frame portion  10 A, with extensions  14  or tabs being used instead of extensions  12  or tabs.  FIG. 4  shows the first body plate portion  20 A connected to the first plate frame portion  10 A as well as the second body plate portion  20 B connected to the second plate frame portion  10 B. 
     The shoulder attachment strap  35 A is disposed through the hole  6 A in the first plate frame portion  10 A and through the hole  7 A in the second plate frame portion  10 B so that a first end of the shoulder attachment strap  35 A extends through the first hole  6 A and a second end of the shoulder attachment strap  35 A extends through the second hole  7 A. The shoulder strap  35 A portions which extend from the holes  6 A,  7 A may then be attached to the shoulder strap portion which they overlap (the strap may be attached to itself) (see  FIG. 6 ), e.g., via welding, fusing, or attaching hook and loop fasteners secured to the shoulder attachment strap  35 A by welding or fusing, to secure the shoulder attachment strap  35 A to the first plate frame portion  10 A and second plate frame portion  10 B, thereby attaching the first and second plate frame portions  10 A and  10 B to one another and providing a shoulder strap for the user which secures the plate frame assembly  50  to the user&#39;s body (e.g., via hanging from the user&#39;s shoulder). The shoulder attachment strap  35 A may in one embodiment have one or more hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) welded or fused to the shoulder attachment strap  35 A to allow attaching the shoulder attachment strap  35 A at or near its ends to the overlapping portions of the shoulder attachment strap  35 A via placing cooperating hook and loop fasteners in contact with one another as known to those skilled in the art (attach the attachment strap  35 A back onto itself). In another embodiment, the shoulder attachment strap  35 A may be welded or fused at or near its ends to the overlapping portions of the shoulder attachment strap  35 A (welded or fused onto itself). 
     The shoulder attachment strap  35 B is disposed through the hole  6 B in the first plate frame portion  10 A and through the hole  7 B in the second plate frame portion  10 B so that a first end of the shoulder attachment strap  35 B extends through the first hole  6 B and a second end of the shoulder attachment strap  35 B extends through the second hole  7 B. The shoulder strap  35 B portions which extend from the holes  6 B,  7 B may then be attached to the shoulder strap portion which they overlap (the strap may be attached to itself) (see  FIG. 6 ), e.g., via welding, fusing, or attaching hook and loop fasteners secured to the shoulder attachment strap  35 B by welding or fusing, to secure the shoulder attachment strap  35 B to the first plate frame portion  10 A and second plate frame portion  10 B, thereby attaching the first and second plate frame portions  10 A and  10 B to one another and providing a second shoulder strap for the user which secures the plate frame assembly  50  to the user&#39;s body (e.g., via hanging from the user&#39;s shoulder). The shoulder attachment strap  35 B may in one embodiment be welded or fused at or near its ends to the overlapping portions of the shoulder attachment strap  35 B (welded or fused onto itself). In another embodiment, the shoulder attachment strap  35 B may have one or more hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) welded or fused to the shoulder attachment strap  35 B to allow attaching the shoulder attachment strap  35 B at or near its ends to the overlapping portions of the shoulder attachment strap  35 B via placing cooperating hook and loop fasteners in contact with one another as known to those skilled in the art (attach the attachment strap  35 B back onto itself). 
     The cummerbund attachment strap  30 A is disposed through the holes  8 A and  8 B in the first plate frame portion  10 A and through the hole  9 A in the second plate frame portion  10 B so that first ends  32  of the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A extend through the first holes  8 A and  8 B and the second end  31  of the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A extends through the second hole  9 A. The cummerbund attachment strap  30 A portions which extend from the holes  8 A and  8 B may then be attached to the cummerbund strap portion which they overlap (the strap may be attached to itself) (see  FIG. 6 ), e.g., via welding, fusing, or attaching hook and loop fasteners secured to the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A by welding or fusing, to secure the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A to the first plate frame portion  10 A and second plate frame portion  10 B, thereby attaching the first and second plate frame portions  10 A and  10 B to one another and providing a cummerbund for the user which secures the plate frame assembly  50  to the user&#39;s body (e.g., via extending around the user&#39;s waist area). The cummerbund attachment strap  30 A may in one embodiment be welded or fused at or near its ends  31 ,  32  to the overlapping portions of the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A (welded or fused onto itself). In another embodiment, the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A may have one or more hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) welded or fused to the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A to allow attaching the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A at or near its ends to the overlapping portions of the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A via placing cooperating hook and loop fasteners in contact with one another as known to those skilled in the art (attach the attachment strap  30 A back onto itself). 
     The cummerbund attachment strap  30 B is disposed through the holes  8 C and  8 D in the first plate frame portion  10 A and through the hole  9 B in the second plate frame portion  10 B so that first ends  32  of the cummerbund attachment strap  30 B extend through the first holes  8 C and  8 D and the second end  31  of the cummerbund attachment strap  30 A extends through the second hole  913 . The cummerbund attachment strap  30 B portions which extend from the holes  8 C and  8 D may then be attached to the cummerbund strap portion which they overlap (the strap may be attached to itself) (see  FIG. 6 ), e.g., via welding, fusing, or attaching hook and loop fasteners secured to the cummerbund attachment strap  30 B by welding, to secure the cummerbund attachment strap  30 B to the first plate frame portion  10 A and second plate frame portion  10 B, thereby attaching the first and second plate frame portions  10 A and  10 B to one another and providing a cummerbund for the user which secures the plate frame assembly  50  to the user&#39;s body (e.g., via extending around the user&#39;s waist area). The cummerbund attachment strap  30 B may in one embodiment be welded or fused at or near its ends  31 ,  32  to the overlapping portions of the cummerbund attachment strap  30 B (welded onto itself). In another embodiment, the cummerbund attachment strap  30 B may have one or more hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) welded or fused to the cummerbund attachment strap  30 B to allow attaching the cummerbund attachment strap  30 B at or near its ends to the overlapping portions of the cummerbund attachment strap  30 B via placing cooperating hook and loop fasteners in contact with one another as known to those skilled in the art (attach the attachment strap  30 B back onto itself). 
     It is within the scope of embodiments that the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B may be threaded through any holes in the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B and that the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B may be connected to the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B using any attachment method known to those skilled in the art. Embodiments also are not limited to attaching the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B to their overlapping portions at the ends of the straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B, but the attachment (e.g., by welding, by fusing, or by connecting cooperating hook and loop fasteners secured to the attachment strap  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B by welding or fusing) may be accomplished at any overlapping portions of the straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B when the straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B are inserted through their respective holes in the plate frame  10 . 
     When the one or more bladders  40  are used with the plate frame assembly  50 , a bladder  40  may be disposed on the first body plate portion  20 A so that the first body plate portion  20 A is located between the first section  41  and second section  42  of the bladder  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C . Thus, the first body plate portion  20 A is sandwiched between the first section  41  and second section  42  of the bladder  40 , and the attachment point  43 C of the bladder  40  acts as a stop for the bladder  40 . The first plate frame portion  10 A may then be “snapped” on the first body plate portion  20 A as described herein, and the first section  41  of the bladder  40 , which acts as a strap to secure the bladder  40  to the first body plate portion  20 A, is housed between the first body plate portion  20 A and the first plate frame portion  10 A as shown in  FIGS. 10A-C . The second section  42  of the bladder  40  is located on the inside surface of the first body armor plate  20 A, as shown in  FIGS. 10A-C , to provide padding between the user&#39;s body and the first body armor plate  20 A. Also as shown in  FIGS. 10A-C , the first and second attachment points  43 A and  43 B may rest on one of the extensions/tabs  12  of the first plate frame portion  10 A to stabilize the position of the bladder  40  with respect to the first plate frame assembly. 
     Another bladder  40  may be disposed on the second body plate portion  20 B so that the second body plate portion  20 B is located between the first section  41  and second section  42  of the bladder  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 10A-C . Thus, the second body plate portion  20 B is sandwiched between the first section  41  and second section  42  of the bladder  40 , and the attachment point  43 C of the bladder  40  acts as a stop for the bladder  40 . The second plate frame portion  10 B may then be “snapped” on the second body plate portion  20 B as described herein, and the first section  41  of the bladder  40 , which acts as a strap to secure the bladder  40  to the second body plate portion  20 B, is housed between the second body plate portion  20 B and the second plate frame portion  10 B as shown in  FIGS. 10A-C . The second section  42  of the bladder  40  is located on the inside surface of the second body armor plate portion  20 B, as shown in  FIGS. 10A-C , to provide padding between the user&#39;s body and the second body armor plate portion  20 B. Also as shown in  FIG. 10A-C , the first and second attachment points  43 A and  43 B may rest on one of the extensions/tabs  14  of the second plate frame portion  10 B to stabilize the position of the bladder  40  with respect to the second plate frame assembly. 
     When the bladder  45  is used with the plate frame assembly  50  or plate carrier assembly, the first body plate portion  20 A is inserted in between the sections of one end of the bladder  45 , and the second body plate portion  20 B is inserted in between the sections of the other end of the bladder  45 . For example, the first body plate portion  20 A is inserted between the section  41 A and the section  47 D, while the second body plate portion  20 B is inserted between the section  41 B and the section  47 C. The body plate portions  20 A and  20 B are ultimately housed between the bladder portion  47  and the bladder portions  41 A and  41 B, respectively. The body plate portion  20 A is sandwiched between the bladder sections  41 A and  47 D, while the body plate portion  20 B is sandwiched between the bladder sections  42 A and  47 C. The attachment points  43 A,  43 B, and  43 C act as stops for the bladder  45  ends. The plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B which correspond with the body armor plate portions  20 A,  20 B may then be “snapped” onto the body armor plate portions  20 A,  20 B as described herein. The shoulder straps  35 A,  35 B and the cummerbund straps  30 A,  30 B may then be attached to the plate frame  10  as described herein. 
     It is also within the scope of embodiments that the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B,  35 A,  35 B may be attached to the plate frame  10  at any point in the method, including prior to the attachment of the body plate  20  to the plate frame  10  and/or bladder(s)  40 ,  45  to the plate frame assembly  50 . 
     The plate frame assembly  50  may be worn on the user as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  shows the plate frame assembly  50  worn without the bladders  40 ,  45 , but the plate frame assembly  50  with the bladders  40 ,  45  would be worn in much the same way. The plate frame assembly  50  may be placed over the head of the user after it is assembled, or a portion of the plate frame assembly  50  (e.g., the two plate frame assembly portions  50 A,  50 B) may be placed on the user during the assembly of the plate frame assembly  50  (e.g., prior to the adding of the shoulder straps  35 A,  35 B and/or cummerbund straps  30 A,  30 B to the plate frame assembly portions  50 A,  50 B). 
     If the bladders  40 ,  45  are inflatable, they may be inflated at any time during the method, or air or other inflating substance may be added or removed at any point in the method, and they may also be inflated or the inflating substance added or removed when the user is wearing the plate frame assembly  50 . The bladders  40 ,  45  may optionally be attached to the cummerbund attachment straps  30 A,  30 B. 
     The cummerbund attachment straps  30 A,  30 B are not limited to being worn around the waist area or typical cummerbund coverage area of the user, but may be worn around the user at any location. 
     The shoulder support straps  35 A,  35 B are merely examples of a shoulder supporting member for the plate frame assembly. Instead of the shoulder support straps  35 A,  35 B, any type of shoulder supporting member which allows the plate frame assembly  50  to be supported by the shoulders of a user may be utilized with the plate frame assembly  50 , and the shoulder supporting member is not limited to straps. 
     A second embodiment of a plate frame assembly  150  is shown in  FIGS. 11-17 . The plate frame assembly  150  may include first and second plate frame portions  110 A and  110 B and first and second body armor portions  120 A and  120 B, the first plate frame portion  110 A for retaining the first body armor portion  120 A and the second plate frame portion  110 A for retaining the second body armor portion  120 B. The first plate frame portion  110 A may at least partially house the first body armor portion  120 A therein, and the second plate frame portion  110 B may at least partially house the second body armor portion  120 B therein. The plate frame assembly  150  is very similar in function and operation to the plate frame assembly  50  shown and described in relation to  FIGS. 1-10 , with the primary difference in function and operation being in the tabs (or hooks or clamps) which retain the body armor portions  120 A,  120 B in position with respect to their respective plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B. The tabs of the embodiment of  FIGS. 11-17  may be adjustable and/or interchangeable tabs  112 A-G and  114 A-G. 
     The adjustable tabs  112 A-G and  114 A-G may be adjustable to fit body armor plates of various widths, lengths, and thicknesses. The tabs  112 A-G and  114 A-G may be insertable in corresponding holes in the plate frame portions  110 A and  110 B, respectively. Holes in the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B through which the tabs  112 A-G,  114 A-G are insertable may be raised portions (e.g., raised portion  191  shown in  FIG. 15 ) of the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B with holes (e.g., hole  180  shown in  FIG. 15 ) therethrough corresponding to the shape of the tabs  112 A-G and  114 A-G to be inserted therein (in alternate embodiments, the raised portions  191  may instead be separate pieces attached to the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B). The tabs  112 A-G and  114 A-G may be swapped out for tabs of different sizes to fit different sizes of body armor plates  120 A,  120 B and connect the body armor plates  120 A,  120 B of various sizes to the plate frames  110 A,  110 B. Additionally or instead, the tabs  112 A-G and  114 A-G may be adjusted within the holes  180  outward from and inward towards the plate frame portions  110 A and  110 B in which they are disposed (and locked into place once they are in the desired position) to allow different widths and lengths of body armor plates  120 A,  120 B to be attached to the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B via the adjustable tabs  112 A-G,  114 A-G. 
     The different tabs  112 A-G and  114 A-G may be attached to the holes in the plate frame portions  10 A,  10 B, respectively, by any attachment mechanism known to those skilled in the art for attaching removable or adjustable tabs to a frame. The tabs  112 A-G and  114 A-G may be insertable into their corresponding holes in the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B and locked therein by the attachment mechanism, but remain detachable and removable from the holes as desired or needed by the user. 
     An example attachment mechanism may be a flexible tooth over an opposing tooth (much like a ziptie). One example is shown in  FIGS. 14-17 , including an example adjustable tab  112  with its corresponding hole  180  in the plate frame portion  110 A (only a section of the plate frame portion  110 A is shown in  FIGS. 14-17 ), e.g., a hole  180  in the raised portion  191  of the plate frame portion  110 A. The adjustable tab  112  may have teeth  181 , and the hole  180  may have corresponding teeth  182  so that when the teeth  181  and  182  are positioned in line with one another so that corresponding teeth  181 ,  182  are in contact with one another, the teeth  182  are housed in divots  183  between the teeth  181  while the teeth  181  are housed in divots  184  between teeth  182 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . The teeth  181 ,  182 , when in engagement with one another, prevent the tab  112  from becoming dislodged from the hole  180  and ultimately allow the tab  112  to securely hold the body plate portion  120 A with the plate frame portion  110 A. The hole  180  in the raised portion  191  may, for example, be generally rectangular or box-shaped, but it may instead be any shape which allows the tab  112  to connect to the plate frame portion  110 A using the hole  180 . The “top” of the raised portion  191 , e.g., the top of the box, may include a partially cut-out portion at least partially surrounding the teeth  182  forming a tongue  190 , the partially cut-out portion being three sides of a rectangle or box in one embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 . The tongue  190  remains biased closed until acted upon by an opposing force to permit disengagement of the tab  112  from the plate frame portion  110 A. 
     To lock the tab  112  in place with respect to the plate frame portion  110 A, an end of the tab  112  is inserted into the hole  180  in the plate frame portion  110 A, and the tab  112  is moved with respect to the hole  180  until the teeth  181 ,  182  engage one another appropriately, for example as shown in  FIG. 16  when the teeth  181  are disposed within the hole  180 . To move the tab  112  with respect to the hole  180 , the tongue  190  may be levered or raised (e.g., by the user pulling on the tongue  190  with an opposing force), and to lock the tab  112  into place within the hole  180 , the tongue  190  opposing force may be released. The locked, engaged teeth  181 ,  182  (disposed within divots  184 ,  183  respectively) prevent the tab  112  from moving within the hole  180  with respect to the plate frame portion  110 A. The tab  112  may be adjusted within the hole  180  by also levering or raising the tongue  190  and moving the tab  112  with respect to the hole  180  to a different position, and then releasing the opposing force on the tongue  190  to again lock the adjusted tab  112  into place. To unlock the tab  112  and remove it from the plate frame portion  110 A, the tongue is levered, e.g., an opposing force is exerted on the tongue  190  to counteract the bias force of the tongue  190  (e.g., by the user pulling on the tongue), the teeth  182  are raised with respect to the teeth  181  thereby disengaging the teeth  181 ,  182  from one another, and the tab  112  may be moved or pulled out of the hole  180 . Another tab which may be of a different size than tab  112  (to allow for attachment of a different body armor plate to the plate frame portion) may then be inserted into the hole  180  and locked into place as described above. 
     The other tabs  112 ,  114  and holes in the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B may be configured and operate in the same way as shown and described with respect to the tab  112  and hole  180  of  FIGS. 14-17 . 
     The attachment mechanism shown in  FIGS. 14-17  may be a low profile design without any snag hazards (corners of the raised portion  191  are smooth to prevent their catching on anything) or any chance to accidentally release the tab. Any other attachment mechanism used in lieu of the example attachment mechanism shown in  FIGS. 14-17  may also include a low profile design without any snag hazards or any chance to accidentally release the tab. 
     Although different tabs may be swapped out, it is also within the scope of embodiments that the same tabs  112 ,  114  may be adjusted without swapping them out by manipulating the appropriate tongue  190 , moving the tab  112  and/or  114  to the appropriate location with respect to the hole  180 , and locking the tab  112  and/or  114  into place at some location where at least some of the teeth  181 ,  182  are engaged with one another by allowing the biasing force to force the tongue  190  into the direction of the tab  112  or  114 . In this way, the width and length of the body plates  120 A,  120 B may be adjusted for without the need for complete removal and replacement of the tabs  112 ,  114 . 
     The plate frame assembly  150  also may include one or more attachment straps  135 A,  135 B similar in structure and function to the shoulder straps  35 A,  35 B described herein with respect to the plate frame assembly  50 . The shoulder straps  135 A,  135 B may be threaded through holes  106 A,  106 B (which are similar in structure and function to holes  6 A,  6 B described with respect to the plate frame assembly  50 ) in the plate frame portion  110 A as well as corresponding holes (not shown, but similar in structure and function to holes  7 A,  7 B described with respect to the plate frame assembly  50 ) in the plate frame portion  110 B. More specifically, an end of the shoulder attachment strap  135 A is disposed through the hole  106 A and an other end of the shoulder attachment strap  135 A is disposed through the corresponding hole  107 A in the plate frame portion  110 B, and an end of the shoulder attachment strap  135 B is disposed through the hole  106 B and an other end of the shoulder attachment strap  135 B is disposed through the corresponding hole  107 B in the plate frame portion  110 B. The ends of each attachment strap  135 A,  135 B may be looped through their respective holes as shown in  FIGS. 11-13  and attached to an overlapping portion of the attachment strap  135 A,  135 B, e.g., via welding the straps  135 A,  135 B to themselves, welding or fusing one or more hook and loop fasteners to the attachment straps  135 A,  135 B and attaching the hook and loop fasteners to one another as known to those skilled in the art, or fusing the straps  135 A,  135 B to themselves (as described with respect to the attachment straps  35 A,  35 B). 
     The plate frame assembly  150  may also include one or more cummerbund attachment straps  130 A,  130 B similar in structure and function to the cummerbund attachment straps  30 A,  30 B described herein with respect to the plate frame assembly  50 . The tabs  112 C and  112 F on the bottom sides of the first plate frame portion  110 A, as well as the tabs  114 C and  114 F on the bottom sides of the second plate frame portion  110 B may each include one or more holes therein for looping the end of the cummerbund straps  130 A,  130 B therethrough, similar to the way that the cummerbund straps  30 A,  30 B are looped through the holes  8 A,  8 B,  9 A,  9 B in the plate frame portions  50 A,  50 B of the plate frame assembly  50 . More specifically, an end of the cummerbund attachment strap  130 A is disposed through the hole(s) associated with the tab  112 F and an other end of the cummerbund attachment strap  130 A is disposed through the corresponding hole(s) associated with the tab  114 F, and an end of the cummerbund attachment strap  130 B is disposed through the hole(s) associated with the tab  112 C and an other end of the cummerbund attachment strap  130 B is disposed through the corresponding hole(s) associated with tab  114 C. The ends of each attachment strap  130 A,  130 B may be looped through their respective holes and attached to an overlapping portion of themselves, e.g., via welding the straps  130 A,  130 B to themselves, welding one or more hook and loop fasteners to the attachment straps  130 A,  130 B and attaching the hook and loop fasteners to one another as known to those skilled in the art, or fusing the straps  130 A,  130 B to themselves (as described with respect to the attachment straps  30 A,  30 B). 
     In operation, each body plate portion  120 A,  120 B may be attached to its respective plate frame portion  110 A,  110 B using the appropriately sized tab  112 A-G,  114 A-G for securely holding the body plate portion  120 A,  120 B in place with respect to the appropriate plate frame portion  110 A,  110 B. The appropriate body plate  120 A,  120 B may be selected and placed in position with respect to its respective plate frame portion  110 A,  110 B for attachment thereto. The appropriately-sized tabs  112 ,  114  which allow secure, fixed engagement of the body plate portions  120 A,  120 B with respect to the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B may then be inserted into the appropriate holes in the plate frame portion  110 A,  110 B until the teeth  181 ,  182  engage one another to lock the tabs  112 ,  114  into position with respect to the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B and thereby lock the body plate portions  120 A,  120 B in place with respect to their respective plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B. In some embodiments, some of the tabs  112 ,  114  may be placed into locking engagement with the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B prior to placing the body plate portions  120 A,  120 B into position with respect to the body plate portions  120 A,  120 B, and some of the tabs  112 ,  114  may be placed into locking engagement with the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B after the body plate portions  120 A,  120 B are placed in position with respect to the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B (e.g., only the tabs  112 D-E,  114 D-E on the bottom of the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B may be placed in locking engagement with the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B, the body plate portions  120 A,  120 B may then be positioned with respect to their respective plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B, and then the remaining tabs  112 A-C,  112 F-G,  114 A-C, and  114 F-G may be placed in locking engagement with the appropriate holes in the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B). 
     After the desired tabs  112 ,  114  are inserted to the desired extent through the holes  180  in the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B, the cummerbund attachment straps  130 A,  130 B may be threaded through the appropriate holes in the tabs  112 F,  114 F,  112 C,  114 C as described above, and the shoulder attachment straps  135 A,  135 B may be threaded through the appropriate holes in the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B as also described above. (In an alternate embodiment, any or all of the straps  130 A,  130 B,  135 A,  135 B may be threaded through its/their intended hole(s) and secured prior to the addition of the tabs  112 ,  114  to the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B and/or prior to the attachment of the body plate portions  120 A,  120 B to the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B.) Once the ends of the straps  130 A,  130 B,  135 A,  135 B are looped through their intended holes, the straps  130 A,  130 B,  135 A,  135 B may each be secured to themselves at their overlapping portions via welding, welding or fusing hook and loop fasteners to the straps  130 A,  130 B,  135 A,  135 B and attaching the hook and loop fasteners to one another as known to those skilled in the art, or fusing as described in relation to the strap attachment of the plate frame assembly  50  of  FIGS. 4-8 . 
     The plate frame assembly  150  may be worn on the user as shown and described in relation to  FIG. 7  with respect to the plate frame assembly  50 . Equipment such as tactical equipment, pouches, pockets, etc. (any of the equipment shown and described in relation to attachment to the plate frame assembly  50 ) may be attached to the plate frame assembly  150  at one or more of its plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B (e.g., via the holes in the plate frame portions  110 A,  110 B) in much the same manner as shown and described in  FIG. 8  in relation to the plate frame assembly  50 . 
     The plate frame assembly  150  and its associated components may be made from the same types of material as described herein in relation to the plate frame assembly  50  and its associated components, and the components of the plate frame assembly  150  may be attached to one another in much the same way as components described in relation to the plate frame assembly  50 . Optionally, the one or more bladders  40 ,  45  may be incorporated in and used with the plate frame assembly  150  in the same way as described in relation to the plate frame assembly  50 . 
     The ability to switch out and adjust the tabs/extensions/hooks of the plate frame  110  gives modularity to different body armor plates. The tabs/extensions/hooks are generally not flexible and may in one example be made of rigid plastic. Although the tabs/extensions/hooks are described herein using one example connection member and method (teeth), it is within the scope of embodiments that any connection or fastening method or members known to those skilled in the art which allow the plate frame and extensions/tabs/hooks to connect to one another in a stable, fixed manner and snap or lock into place and also permit the extensions/tabs/hooks to slide back and forth with respect to the plate frame and adjust may be utilized in embodiments in lieu of or in addition to the teeth connection method/members described herein. 
     The cummerbund attachment straps  130 A,  130 B are not limited to being worn around the waist area or typical cummerbund coverage area of the user, but may be worn around the user at any location. The shoulder support straps  135 A,  135 B are merely examples of a shoulder supporting member for the plate frame assembly. Instead of the shoulder support straps  135 A,  135 B, any type of shoulder supporting member which allows the plate frame assembly  150  to be supported by the shoulders of a user may be utilized with the plate frame assembly  150 , and the shoulder supporting member is not limited to straps. 
       FIGS. 18, 19, and 20  show a third embodiment of the plate frame assembly. This third embodiment includes one or more optional shoulder strap supplementing members- 210 A and  210 B. Each shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A,  210 B includes an elongated body having a longitudinal hole running therethrough for inserting its respective shoulder attachment strap  35 A or  35 B therethrough, as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . The shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A acts as a sleeve for the shoulder attachment strap  35 A, and the shoulder strap supplementing member  210 B acts as a sleeve for the shoulder attachment strap  35 B. The shoulder strap supplementing members  210 A,  210 B may each have a hole width which is larger than the width of the shoulder supporting member  210 A,  210 B which will run therethrough, but small enough to prevent the shoulder supporting member  210 A or  210 B from slipping relative to the shoulder attachment strap  35 A or  35 B. The shoulder strap supplementing members  210 A,  210 B may each be padding members for padding the shoulders of the user and in some examples which are not limiting of embodiments may include a coated foam pad (and may include material surrounding the foam pad which is similar or the same as the material forming the shoulder attachment straps and/or cummerbund attachment straps described herein). 
     In some embodiments, the shoulder strap supplementing members  210 A,  210 B may include one or more holes  220 A,  220 B, respectively, through the top portions thereof, as shown in  FIGS. 18, 19, and 20 . These holes  220 A,  220 B may rest on the top of the shoulder supporting straps as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19  (but it is also within the scope of embodiments that they may be formed in other locations on the shoulder strap supporting members  210 A,  210 B). The one or more holes  220 A,  220 B through the top portions of the shoulder strap supplementing members  210 A,  210 B may serve as stabilizing forces and/or as routing members for certain attachments to the plate frame assembly  50 . For example, one or more tubes, wires, or cables from a hydration system (e.g., the backpack  67  shown in  FIG. 8 ) such as a camelback or a radio (or from any other accessories or attachments to the plate frame assembly  50  or its associated components) may be run through the one or more holes  220 A,  220 B (and holes  225 A,  225 B as shown and described in relation to  FIG. 20 ) through the top of the shoulder strap supplementing members  210 A,  210 B. In one example, a tube for delivering water from a hydration system or backpack  67  to the user may be threaded through the hole  220 A or  220 B (or both or a plurality of the holes) (and through  225 A,  225 B as shown and described in relation to  FIG. 20 ) for easy and directable delivery of the water-delivering portion of the tube to the user. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates a portion of the shoulder attachment strap  35 A with the shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A partially wrapped around it. The shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A is shown in the open position to depict a method of placement of the shoulder attachment strap  35 A in the shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A. The shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A may be attached to itself at its overlapping portions when it is wrapped around the shoulder attachment strap  35 A, e.g. by one or more hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro® attached to the mating surfaces of the shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A. As shown in  FIG. 20 , the shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A may include one or more holes  220 A in one end and one or more holes  225 A in its other end which overlap and line up with one another when the shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A is wrapped around the shoulder attachment strap  35 A and the overlapping portions of the shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A are appropriately positioned and connected to one another (this aligned and connected position is shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , where side flaps  215 A,  215 B are placed in contact with the other sides of the respective shoulder strap supplementing members  210 A,  210 B). Although  FIG. 20  shows only one shoulder attachment strap  35 A and only one shoulder strap supplementing member  210 A, the other shoulder attachment strap  35 B and shoulder strap supplementing member  210 B are configured and act in the same manner as described in relation to  FIG. 20 ). 
       FIG. 18  shows the optional hook and loop fasteners which may be located on at least a portion of at least one side of the shoulder attachment strap(s)  35 A,  35 B, indicated by the dots, to attach the straps  35 A,  35 B at their overlapping portions. 
     The shoulder strap supplementing members  210 A,  210 B and other features depicted in  FIGS. 18-20 , although shown in relation to the first embodiment of the plate frame assembly  50  of  FIGS. 1-8 , may also be integrated with and used in the same manner with the plate frame assembly  150  shown and described herein in relation to  FIGS. 11-17 . 
     Embodiments disclosed herein provide a plate frame which holds body armor, is lighter, and is more streamlined than prior art vests. The plate frame is capable of holding accessory pouches and providing access to accessory pouches and other attachments to the plate frame. 
     The sizes, shapes, and dimensions of components which are described herein are merely exemplary, and any sizes, shapes, and dimensions of components which accomplish the intended purposes of the components are within the scope of embodiments. 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.