BODY ARMOUR
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ALEXANDER GRANT 370 Commercial Road, London, E. M.D., and Surgeon
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "BODY ARMOUR" to be as
follows:
By arming the body with a thin layer of steel supported by another layer or
light frame of wood, both layers projecting in front at an angle of about forty five
degrees. (See diagram section through thorax).
The projection at an angle and the supporting of the steel by a lighter material
are the essential parts of the Invention. In this way instead of a heavy mail
a light one will be secured. This armour is for the purpose of obtaining protection
in a front attack only.
The parts of the front of the body necessarily left exposed are the eyes and the
arms, the latter to secure greater freedom in the use of weapons.
The parts protected are:
The thorax and abdomen by a projecting breastplate made as described,
extending from the lower part of the neck to the lower part of the abdomen.
The armour will be well padded at the sides where it rests against the body and
supported in its place by straps across shoulders and back.
The skull and brow will be protected by a helmet also projecting at an angle in
front and well padded.
The face and neck will be protected by a movable visor also projected in front
and padded.
The thighs to be similarly protected.
The legs also by the same.
How much of the body it would be advisable to cover must be determined by.
experience. But it is hereby claimed that by wearing a covering composed of
thin plates of steel projecting in front at an angle and supported by wood, a light
mail would be secured capable of deflecting bullets in a front attack and so proving
of great benefit.
Diagram Section through chest.
a. Thin plate of steel.
b. Layer of wood.
These layers are in the diagram separated but would of
course be quite close together.
c. Padding.

page_text: I ALEXANDER GRANT 370 Commercial Road London E. Doctor of Medicine and
Surgeon do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for THE PROTECTION of
THE BODY IN A FRONT ATTACK FROM THE BULLETS OF RIFLES AND OTHER SMALL
BORE WEAPONS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The front of the body is to be covered with light armour composed of an outer
layer of steel supported by another layer or light frame of wood, both layers
projecting in front at an angle of about forty five degrees. See Figs. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
The steel and the wood supplement each other, the steel resisting commencing
penetration, and the wood giving support to the steel and preventing its bending
inwards on being struck by a bullet, whilst both layers being projected in front
at an angle have their deflecting properties proportionally increased. On the
inner side of the wood there would be a layer of wool or other padding to
lessen shock.
The application of the principle will be easily understood by referring to the
Figures, where Fig. 1 represents a side and Fig. 2 a front view, and Figs. 3, 4, 5,
6, and 7 sections corresponding with parts indicated on Fig. 2. Thus Fig. 3 is a
section in line A B of Fig. 2 and shows the projection of the helmet in the middle
line in front. Fig. 4 is a section on the line C D of the visor projecting in front
and protecting the face and extending from the eyes to beneath the chin. Instead
of being separate the visor might, if desirable, be made wider and attached to the
helmet by a movable joint, the two being so adapted that the visor might be
thrown up over the helmet when not in use. But in this method the essential
conditions of construction are the same as before-there must be the two layers
and both layers must project in front at an angle. Fig. 5 is a section on the
line E F of the neck armour which, on account of the smaller diameter of the neck,
lies within the visor above and the breastplate below. Fig. 6 is a section on the
line G H of the breastplate. The breastplate, on account of the greater diameter
of the parts it covers, projects in front further than the other armour; while
projecting in front at an angle it is curved from above downwards (see Fig. 1)
and serves as a protection for chest and abdomen. Fig. 7 is a section on the
line I J of the armour for the thighs; this armour diminishes in breadth as it
passes downwards. A similar Figure might have shown a section of the armour
of the legs. This extends downwards to the ankle and above it passes in front
of the knee and outside the thigh armour so as to allow the wearer to kneel
when desired.
The eyes are necessarily left exposed. The arms might perhaps be partially
covered but no attempt has been made to apply the principle to them on
account of the greater extent and variety of movements required at the shoulder
and wrist.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1.) The construction of an armour composed of two layers-steel and wood-
both layers being projected forward at an angle.