Not applicable.
The present invention relates to body armor systems worn for protection against projectile threats such as rifle and handgun bullets, and shrapnel.
Persons exposed to projectile threats, such as police officers and soldiers, may seek a certain level of protection by wearing armored clothing. Low velocity projectiles such as handgun rounds, fragmentation rounds from a grenade or mortar, and miscellaneous shrapnel may be countered by so-called “soft armor.” Soft armor is worn in the form of jackets, vests, etc. which are composed of assemblies of ballistic fabric such as those formed from DuPont Kevlar® fibers or of Spectra® ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers from Honeywell. The soft armor is often fabricated as flexible panels which are received within pockets or pouches formed in fabric vests or jackets. In more serious threat situations, where higher velocity rifle rounds and fragments must be countered, soft armor has typically been supplemented with hard armor fabricated of rigid plates of ceramic, polymer, or metal.
Most Ballistic helmets in use today are flared at the lower edge. This shape makes the helmets easier to produce by allowing single direction molds and also aids in airflow under the helmet, and may in some circumstances allow greater range of motion. Although this flared shape may be helpful in defending against air-bursting munitions traveling downward toward the wearer from a point above, this shape leaves the serviceman's head exposed to projectiles coming from ground-level or subterranean munitions—a significant threat in certain modern conflict situations. A projectile from such a munition typically travels towards the wearer with an upward angle of incidence. A helmet with a flared lower edge exposes significant portions of the head and upper neck to this upwardly traveling threat.
What is needed is a ballistic helmet assembly which protects the lower skull and upper neck region of a wearer while preserving necessary range of motion, and which can be retrofitted to existing helmet systems.
The ballistic helmet assembly of this invention has a ballistic armored component that attaches to the existing retention straps of common combat helmets and provides protection to the otherwise exposed lower skull and upper neck region. The component may comprise a fabric coverings which contains a soft armor or hard armor insert. The component has straps or other fasteners which allow for removable attachment to existing straps found in conventional helmets. The invention adds additional protection from ground-level or subterranean munitions, by placing a ballistic shape on the lower skull region (occipital region). In doing so, a significant amount of ballistic coverage can be achieved with minimal weight and bulk. Moreover, replacement or new retention assemblies can be provided with the nape protecting component integrated therewith.
In some current combat situations, the primary threats being encountered are high speed fragments from ground-based explosions. While certain fragments cannot be stopped, even by thick steel plate, many fragments that would otherwise kill or severely injure a human can be stopped by an attached ballistic component, for example small fragments traveling at high speeds. Protecting the base of the skull protects large portions of the brain stem, cerebellum, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe. These regions control highly important functions. Breathing, sight, locomotion, and language are all functions that reside in this area.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight protective element which can assist in protecting soldiers from ground based or subterranean munitions.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a protective element for the base of the skull which can be rapidly attached to and removed from an existing helmet.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring more particularly to
The ACH helmet has a stiff ballistic shell 26 provided with a pad suspension system, not shown, and a chinstrap retention system 28 with hardware 30 which fastens the retention system to the shell. The chinstrap retention system 28 has two downwardly extending rear retention straps 32 or rear legs which are connected to the helmet ballistic shell 26 by the hardware 30, and which are provided with various buckles which permit the overall length of the retention straps to be adjusted. The rear retention straps 32 extend forwardly to be connected to two front retention straps 34 and a chin strap 36. The two rear retention straps 32 are connected by a nape strap 38, as shown in
The conventional pad suspension system is comprised of a number of resilient pads which have one part of hook and loop fastener on the surface which faces the interior of the helmet shell. The interior of the shell is provided with an array of patches of the other part of the hook and loop fastener, such that the pads may be inserted and attached at the desired locations.
The nape protecting component 20 is readily connected to the conventional helmet assembly to form a ballistic helmet assembly 46 with added protection to the lower skull and nape of the neck. As best shown in
The fabric covering with interior ballistic element 56 is longer than it is tall, for example about eight inches wide, and from two-and-a-half to three inches tall, however, it may be produced in a number of sizes to suit the range of servicemen who will use the device. Preferably, in order to preserve hearing, the component 20 will extend from behind one ear to just behind the other ear in the side to side direction, and will extend vertically from a position about one inch above the lower rim of the helmet shell to a position about one inch above the wearer's collar. The lower edge 60 of the fabric covering 48 may have a downwardly opening concave contour, to better conform to the wearer's neck. The entire component 20 may be somewhat flexible, depending on the composition of the ballistic element 56, but is generally concave toward's the wearer, so that the sides of the component wrap around the head of the wearer.
As shown in
The nape protecting component 20 readily attaches to the existing helmet straps and is very unobtrusive to the wearer, while providing significant additional ballistic protection. To mount the component 20, the free end 44 of the conventional nape strap 38 is released from its hook-and-loop fastener attachment to itself. Typically, a conventional pad will be mounted on the nape strap 38, if so this pad may be removed and will not be needed when the nape protecting component 20 is in use. In addition, one of the helmet suspension pads, not shown, is temporarily removed from the rear interior surface of the helmet shell 26. The nape strap 38, which is connected at one end to a first rear retention strap 32, is threaded through the two loops 62, around the second rear retention strap 32, and then secured to itself with the hook-and-loop closure adjacent the first rear retention strap. The helmet mounting strap 64 is extended upwardly within the helmet shell 26, and is attached by pressing together the hook-and-loop fastener to a patch, not shown, on the interior of the helmet. The removed helmet suspension pad is then reattached, but at least one inch above the termination of the helmet mounting strap 64, thereby leaving a space for the nape protecting component 20 to slide upwardly into the helmet when the wearer arches back his neck.
The illustrated nape protecting component is sized to allow the wearer to use earphone-based communications equipment. It may extend downwardly a greater distance, although with some interference with neck mobility. An enlarged nape protecting component may be employed where additional protection is required, and the loss in mobility and versatility is acceptable.
An alternative embodiment ballistic helmet assembly 68 is shown in
The cap 78 has a rear nape strap 90 which is comprised of two separate nape strap segments 92 which are sewn to the cap at one end, and which have overlapping hook and loop fastener to permit the length of the nape strap 90 to be adjusted. Adjacent the fixed ends of the nape strap segments 92 are loops 94 of the nape strap segments which open upwardly and downwardly, near each headset 80 speaker 95.
The nape protecting component 70 has an upwardly extending helmet mounting strap 96 with the male part 98 of a two-part snap fastener mounted at the base of the strap where it is fixed to the fabric covering 72 of the nape protecting component. The free end of the helmet mounting strap 92 has the female part 100 of a two-part snap fastener mounted thereto. As shown in
The nape protecting component 70 has two flexible straps 102 that extend from the front of the fabric covering 72 at about a 45 degree angle from the vertical. Each strap 102 is about five and one-half inches long and extends downwardly through one of the nape strap segment 92 loops 94 on the cap 78. Each strap 102 passes through a loop 94, and is then reversed to extend upwardly and overlie the rear surface of the fabric covering. Each strap 102 free end 104 has a patch 106 of one part of a hook and loop fastener, and is secured in place by engaging with a patch 108 of the other part of the hook and loop fastener which is fixed to the rear surface of the fabric covering, extending upwardly at about a 45 degree angle, and about three and one-half inches long. The nape protecting component 70 is thus readily attached to the helmet system 74 in such a way that it can be displaced upwardly on the interior of the helmet shell, but yet is still prevented from descending too low, or moving undesirably to the side.
Another alternative embodiment nape protecting component 110 is shown in
For use with larger size USMC LW helmets, a nape protecting component 122, similar to the component 110 is used, but which is larger and provided with two side attachment straps 124, as shown in
It should be noted that various alternative closures and fastening assemblies may be used in place of the hook and loop fasteners shown, for example where appropriate snaps, ties, buttons, quick-release plastic buckles or clips, metal or plastic buckles, and lacing.
It should be noted that the ballistic element may be formed as a stack of multiple layers of ballistic material, for example material of Kevlar® fibers. Or, for example, layers of Spectra® fiber material may be stitched around the periphery to form a stiffer ballistic element. If additional stiffness is desired, a stiffening formed plastic element may be employed with the ballistic element, or may be adhered or stitched to the ballistic element as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,392, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The stitching may be around the perimeter, or in a quilted or other pattern. The greater stiffness of the nape protecting component can help in stabilizing the entire helmet assembly, simply by providing a greater stable surface area against the head. This can be particularly advantageous when equipment is mounted to the front of the helmet, such as night vision goggles, etc.
It should be further noted that the ballistic element may be enclosed in a sewn lightweight fabric bag, to protect it from abrasion and soiling.
It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.
This applications claims benefit from U.S. provisional app. 60/778,552, filed Mar. 2, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60778552 | Mar 2006 | US |