Abstract:
The present invention provides a system of personal body armor in which a chest protector is removably attached to the shoulder straps of a backpack. The chest protector and the backpack may be equipped with sleeves into which a variety of armor plates can be inserted.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    There are no related applications. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to the field of personal armor, more specifically to a combination of personal body armor and a backpack. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Bulletproof vests, body armor, flak jackets, and other protective garments (collectively, “personal armor”) have become standard equipment in law enforcement and in most of the advanced militaries of the world. In an armed conflict, a person equipped with personal armor has a tactical advantage over opponents who are not so equipped, because the wearer&#39;s body is shielded from the effects of shrapnel, ballistic debris, and common small-caliber projectiles. 
         [0004]    Ballistic vests are typically made of a woven fabric shell and have layers of anti-ballistic materials such as Kevlar® brand polyamide fabrics (Du Pont, Inc.), ceramic and metal armor panels, and stab-resistant materials. Nylon webbing and straps make up much of the remainder. 
         [0005]    Chest protectors cover the vital organs (heart and lungs) and, depending on length, usually cover some portion of the upper abdomen. More complete coverage is provided by garments that envelop the torso, so as to protect the sides of the wearer. Typically, in order to provide maximum mobility to the wearer, or at least minimally impede his or her ability to move about and operate weapons and machinery, these types of armor do not cover the arms or the lower abdomen, hence the common term “bullet proof vest.” The term “personal armor” as used herein refers to all ballistic-resistant garments that shield at least a portion of a wearer&#39;s torso, whether or not they are equipped with sleeves, side shields, neck or groin protectors, or other extensions of body coverage. 
         [0006]    Highly protective personal armor can weigh  30  pounds or more, exclusive of any devices, weapons, tools or supplies that might be clipped on or stored in pockets. In hot weather, and under the stresses of hiking in rough terrain and engaging in combat, the physical demands placed on the wearer can be extreme. Almost the entire weight of the armor is carried across the tops of the shoulders, compressing muscles and nerves, and there is little that can be done to redistribute the load. The resulting pain, numbness, and exhaustion impair the ability of the wearer to function, in situations where survival of the wearer and his or her comrades often depends on peak performance. 
         [0007]    Another problem encountered with personal armor is interference with the wearing of backpacks. Military and other packs are most often designed without taking into account the fact that the wearer will sometimes be encumbered by personal armor. The shoulder straps of a backpack frequently overlap, or nearly so, the edge of an armored vest where it approaches the shoulder joint. In the course of routine upper body motions, the straps will slide off the vest and ride in toward the arm pits, putting pressure on the muscles and tendons around the joint instead of on the pectoral muscles. Sternum straps are the most common solution to this problem, and a sternum strap specifically designed to be attached to a chest protector is described in US 2010/0224660. 
         [0008]    There is a need for a body armor system that provides a mechanism for redistributing weight away from the shoulders. There is also a need for a body armor system that prevents backpack straps from sliding to the sides and onto the shoulder joints and associated structures. There is also a need for light body armor that has the above advantages, and is easily donned and doffed, for use by civilian contractors, journalists, technical workers and medical personnel who work in dangerous areas. These persons, who often lack the physical strength and conditioning of combat troops, do not require—and frequently cannot function with—heavy, extended-coverage armor of the sort that is suitable for combat. 
         [0009]    The matters discussed above are not admitted to be prior art, and should not be regarded as such merely as a result of being noted in the “background” section; likewise the problems mentioned above are not admitted to have been previously recognized in the prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a system which meets the aforementioned needs. The system comprises a chest protector equipped with, or having receiving pockets for, ballistic armor. The chest protector is equipped at its periphery with a plurality of quick-release buckle components, which are a first component of a two-component quick-release buckle system as further described below. The system of the invention also comprises a backpack having shoulder straps, the shoulder straps being equipped with a plurality of quick-release buckle components which are the second component of said two-component quick-release buckle system. The first and second components are so arranged that the chest protector can be attached to the shoulder straps, by means of the quick-release buckles, when the chest protector and the backpack are being worn in a normal manner. 
         [0011]    The system allows the weight of the armor to be carried by the shoulder straps of the backpack, and if the backpack is a frame pack, the weight can then be transferred to the hips. The system also fixes the position of the shoulder straps relative to the chest protector, thereby preventing the straps from sliding to the sides and impinging on the muscles and tendons around the shoulder joint. Finally, the system permits quick and convenient attachment and detachment of the chest protector, without the need to remove the backpack. 
         [0012]    The chest protector optionally features side panels equipped with, or having receiving pockets for, ballistic armor. The side panels have a flexible or rotatable connection to the chest protector, so that they can be swung back along the sides of the wearer. In certain embodiments, the side panels and the backpack can be reversibly coupled to one another, so as to keep the side panels in place, thereby providing protection for the wearer&#39;s flanks The reversible coupling can be effected by a hook-and-loop fabric fastener system. Mutually adherent hook-and-loop systems are well known in the art, for example the systems sold under the trade name VELCRO™ by Velcro USA Inc., Manchester N.H. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,235 (1961 to G. de Mestral), and the numerous patents and applications that cite it. As an alternative to hooks, so-called “mushroom” fasteners may be employed. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a reversible coupling is effected with quick-release buckles attached to the chest protector, and the side panels are held in place by virtue of being trapped between the wearer&#39;s flanks and the buckles. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, the backpack features side panels equipped with, or having receiving pockets for, ballistic armor. The side panels have a flexible or rotatable connection to the backpack, so that they can be swung forward along the sides of the wearer. The side panels and the chest protector can be reversibly attached to one another, so as to keep the side panels in place, thereby providing protection for the wearer&#39;s flanks 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a chest protector, in an embodiment where the buckle components are the female components of side-release squeeze buckles. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows two shoulder straps, in an embodiment of the invention where the buckle components are the male components of side-release squeeze buckles. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows the chest protector of  FIG. 1  and the shoulder straps of  FIG. 2 , with the quick-release buckle components engaged. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4 . Shows a view of the backside of a backpack, in an embodiment where the buckle components are the male components of side-release squeeze buckles. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a human figure, wearing the personal armor and backpack system of the invention with all quick-release buckles engaged. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The invention provides a personal armor system for a human wearer, the system including a chest protector, a backpack having shoulder straps, and means for releaseably attaching the chest protector to the shoulder straps. The means for releaseably attaching the chest protector to the shoulder straps include, but are not limited to, hook-and-loop fasteners, straps, snaps, buttons, zippers, clips, and quick-release buckles. The preferred embodiments employ two or more quick-release buckles, more preferably four buckles (two per shoulder strap.) Preferred quick-release buckles are of the side-release type. 
         [0020]    In preferred embodiments, the quick-release buckles are attached to the shoulder straps in a manner that permits them to be adjustable in a vertical direction along the straps. 
         [0021]    Optionally, the system includes protective side panels so disposed as to protect the wearer&#39;s flanks The panels may be attached to the chest protector, or attached to the backpack. In these embodiments, means for releaseably attaching the side panels to the backpack, or to the chest protector, are provided; alternatively means for attaching the backpack to the chest protector, at the user&#39;s flanks, are provided. 
         [0022]    In all of the above embodiments, the backpack may be a frame pack. 
         [0023]    Quick-release buckles may be of any design that can be engaged and disengaged without the need to thread and unthread the straps from the buckle. Preferred buckles are of the stab-lock type, including but not limited to consumer-grade plastic side-release “squeeze” buckles, and their military-specification (MILSPEC), professional and mountaineering equivalents, such as the load-bearing quick-release buckles marketed under the COBRA™ brand (AustriAlpin, Blairmore, AB, Canada). The MILSPEC and professional grade components may be preferred for their higher strength, and/or their more reliable operation when exposed to sand, salt, and moisture. 
         [0024]    The chest protector will commonly feature a fabric outer surface, to which the other components of the system may be sewn. The particular fabric is not critical; preferred materials are nylon and aramids such as KEVLAR™ brand polyamide. In general, the materials and construction of the chest protector may be any of those employed in commercial personal armor vests. The chest protector may feature pockets, clips, and webbing, as is known in the art, so long as these features do not interfere with the functioning of the buckles and straps of the system of this invention. 
         [0025]    Straps are preferably made of nylon, but may be of any material commonly employed in the manufacture of consumer and military packs and body armor. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a chest protector  1  of conventional design, containing removable or sewn-in armor plates (not shown), has disposed on its front face, and securely fastened thereto, four female components  2   a  of side-release “squeeze” type quick-release buckles. The buckle components  2   a  are located near the periphery of the chest protector, and are so oriented as to point outward with an upward angle. The angle is not critical, and may range from vertical to 90 degrees from vertical, although between 30 and 60 degrees is preferred. It is most preferred that the angle is such that the load on the buckles, when the system is worn, is along the axis of the buckles, so that no torque (in the plane of the Figure) is applied to the surface of the chest protector. In the particular embodiment shown, chest protector  1  has, attached to its lower sides, two optional side panels  4 . The side panels  4  may optionally contain removable or sewn-in armor plate (not shown) for the protection of the flanks In the embodiment shown two female components  3   a  of side-release “squeeze” type quick-release buckles are securely fastened to side panels  4 . It will readily be appreciated that, in the absence of side panels  4 , buckle components  3   a  will be affixed to chest protector  1  in the same manner as buckle components  2   a.  Buckle components  3   a  are oriented outward in a substantially horizontal direction. 
         [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , each of the shoulder straps  5  of a backpack (not shown) have affixed to their outer surfaces two male components  2   b  of side-release “squeeze” type buckles. In the particular embodiment shown, the buckle components  2   b  are attached via “tri-glide” ( 3 -bar) ring-equipped sliders  6  riding along slider straps  7   a  and  7   b.  The sliders  6  facilitate vertical adjustments to the positions of the buckle components  2   b.  Adjustable tensioning straps  9  are affixed to the ends of the shoulder straps, and connect to the lower portion of the backpack, in the usual manner. Male buckle components  2   b  are smapped into female buckle components  2   a  ( FIG. 1 ) so as to form assembled buckles  2  ( FIG. 3 ) 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the chest protector  1  is shown attached to the shoulder straps  5  via assembled buckles  2 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , the back side of backpack  10  is shown in abstracted form. Affixed to at the lower edges of the backpack are male components  3   b  of side-release “squeeze” type buckles. The buckle components are attached via adjustable-length straps  11 . Components  3   b  are the mates of components  3   a  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0030]    With reference now to  FIG. 5 , the system is shown in use, with all of the quick-release buckles engaged. In the embodiment shown, the shoulder straps are shown running along side of the chest protector. In alternative embodiments, the chest protector may be made wider than shown, and the straps may be run over the chest protector. 
         [0031]    In order to use the system of the invention the user will don the backpack in the usual manner, lift the chest protector into place, and commence to engage the quick-release buckles  2 . This is most easily done if the chest protector is lifted by grasping one of the buckle components  2   a.  Alternatively, the chest protector can be connected to one of the two shoulder straps prior to donning the pack. Side buckles  3  are engaged, and all straps are pulled tight. The vertical position of the chest protector can be adjusted by means of the sliders  6  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0032]    With a simple backpack, the weight of the chest protector, and of any accessories attached thereto, will be borne by the wearer&#39;s shoulders. However, if the backpack is a frame pack with a hip belt, a large portion of the weight of the entire system (pack and chest protector) will be transferred to the wearer&#39;s hips, as frame packs are designed to do. In this manner, the system of the invention makes it possible to wear personal armor with greater comfort. 
         [0033]    Because the chest protector serves to hold the shoulder straps in tension towards the center of the chest, and prevents them from separating, the shoulder straps cannot slip into the armpit area. Pressure is carried by the pectoral muscles of the chest, and as noted above it may be applied to the chest protector and thereby distributed across the entire surface of the chest. 
         [0034]    The chest protector may be removed by the quick release of the buckles  2  and  3 , without removing the backpack. In an organization where numerous people may require armor at various times, the system makes it possible to purchase and keep available only as many chest protectors are going to be needed at one time. Each person may have his or her own backpack, but chest protectors can be fewer in number and “checked out” at the door. Because the system provides for adjustments in the relative vertical and horizontal positions of the chest protector and the pack, chest protectors of various sizes and weights (offering varying degrees of protection) can be made available, and so long as the buckle components are distributed with similar geometry, any chest protector can be attached to any pack. 
         [0035]    In preferred embodiments, the backpack is equipped with a pocket large enough to contain the chest protector, so that the entire system can be easily carried around and deployed only as needed. The backpack itself is optionally equipped with, or has a receiving pocket for, ballistic armor to protect the back of the wearer.