Patent ID: 7571493

Claim:
An armored protective garment for protecting an arm or leg, comprising: a ballistic sleeve sized to completely cover the entire length of the arm or leg; the sleeve comprising a flexible tube made of 6 layers of a ballistic fabric; and a pair of “C”-shaped rigid armor inserts disposed inside of the sleeve, comprising an upper rigid insert that covers the outside-facing surface of the upper arm or leg, and a lower rigid insert that covers the outside-facing surface of the lower arm or leg; wherein the ballistic sleeve comprises a sewn-in upper pocket that holds the upper rigid insert, and a sewn-in lower pocket that holds the lower rigid insert; and wherein 2 of the 6 layers of ballistic fabric are disposed outside of the rigid inserts, and 4 of the 6 layers of ballistic fabric are disposed inside of the rigid inserts; and wherein the ballistic fabric comprises aramid fibers; and the rigid armor inserts comprise a carbon/epoxy composite laminate material.