Patent Publication Number: US-2018051961-A1

Title: Lower body protective armor

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/376,267, filed Aug. 17, 2016, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to body armor and, more particularly, to lower body protective armor. 
     A bulletproof vest, ballistic vest or bullet-resistant vest is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso. Soft vests are made from many layers of woven or laminated fibers and can be capable of protecting the wearer from small caliber handgun and shotgun projectiles, and small fragments from explosives such as hand grenades. Metal or ceramic plates can be used with a soft vest, providing additional protection from rifle rounds, and metallic components or tightly woven fiber layers can give soft armor resistance to stab and slash attacks from knives and similar close-quarter weapons. 
     Current vests do not provide protection below the user&#39;s waist. During combat, enemies may aim below the waist due to the exposure. Critical arteries are located in the user&#39;s legs and thighs. If the arteries are hit by bullets or shrapnel, the user may die within minutes. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a lower body protective armor to protect users below the waist. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a lower body protective armor comprises: at least one strap configured to secure to at least one of shoulders and a waist of a user; a fabric material comprising an upper edge secured to the strap so that the fabric material extends downward from the strap, wherein the fabric material is configured to cover a lower body of the user; and at least one plate made of a bullet-resistant material disposed within the fabric material. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a lower body protective armor comprises: a looped belt configured to wrap around a waist of a user; a harness comprising shoulder straps configured to wrap around shoulders of a user; a fabric material comprising an upper edge secured to the looped belt and the harness so that the fabric material hangs from the looped belt and the harness, wherein the fabric material is configured to cover a lower body of the user; and at least one plate made of a bullet-resistant material disposed within the fabric material. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section detail view taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     The present invention includes body armor that protects the lower body and can be used as a rescue device. The body armor of the present invention protects a wearer from ballistics (bullets), explosions and flames. The body armor may include a fabric material made of many layers of woven or laminated fibers. The fabric material may be flame resistant and made of a ballistic material that supports body armor plates within. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the present invention includes a lower body protective armor. The lower body protective armor includes at least one strap  10 ,  12  configured to secure to shoulders, a waist or both of a user. A fabric material  14  includes an upper edge secured to the strap  10 ,  12  so that the fabric material  14  extends downward and hangs from the strap  10 ,  12 . The fabric material  14  is configured to cover a lower body of the user, such as below the waist of the user. The present invention may further include at least one plate  16  made of a bullet-resistance material. The plate  16  is disposed within the fabric material. 
     The fabric material  14  may further include a lower edge opposite the upper edge, and side edges. The fabric material  14  may wrap around the front of the legs of the user so that the side edges are disposed along the back of the legs of the user, similar to an apron. The fabric material  14  may be made of multiple layers. For example, the fabric material  14  may be made of a fire resistant layer  23 , a resin coated ballistic nylon fabric layer  25  and a ballistic nylon fabric layer  26 . The ballistic nylon fabric layers  25 ,  26  may be a 1050 d ballistic nylon heavy duty fabric. The firs resistant fabric canvas layer  23  may be made of a fabric canvas or a silica cloth coated with silicone rubber. 
     The present invention may further include a canvas sheet  22  secured to an outer surface of the fabric material  14 . The canvas sheet  22  may be releasably attached to the outer surface by snap buttons, clips, hook and loop fasteners, magnets and the like. The canvas sheet  22  may further include handles. If an individual needs to be transported out of an area, users may remove the canvas sheet  22 , place the individual on the canvas sheet  22  and carry the individual out of the area. Therefore, the canvas sheet  22  may be used as a stretcher. 
     The fabric material  14  may further include an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface may face towards the user&#39;s legs and the outer surface may face away from the user&#39;s legs. In certain embodiments, a plurality of pockets  21  may be stitched to the outer surface of the fabric material  14 . The pockets  21  may contain medical supplies, cartridges and the like. 
     The bullet resistant material of the present invention may be a metal or ceramic plate. The bullet resistant material is capable of absorbing the impact from a firearm fire projectile and shrapnel from explosions. The fabric material  14  may further include an internal compartment  27 . The internal compartment  27  may be formed by an additional ballistic nylon fabric layer. The plate  16  may be disposed within the internal compartment  27 . The fabric material  14  may include a plurality of internal compartments  27  each securing a different plate  16  within. The plate  16  may be rectangular shaped or square shaped and may include tapered edges. 
     The at least one strap  10 ,  12  of the present invention may include a utility belt  12 . The utility belt  12  is formed of a looped strap having a buckle to secure to itself. The utility belt  12  is secured around the waist of the user, and the fabric material  14  may hang from the utility belt  12 . The at least one strap  10 ,  12  may further include a harness  10 . The harness  10  may include shoulder straps and thigh straps. The harness  10  may further support and secure the fabric material  14  to the user. Either the utility belt  12  or the harness  10  may include metal D-rings  20  in case the user needs to be evacuated from the area. For example, the metal D-ring  20  may be secured to a hook of a line extending from a helicopter and the user may be transported out of the area. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.