The present invention relates generally to a modular armor supplement system and manner of assembly and adjustment, and more particularly, that includes ballistic throat and neck protectors cooperatively connectable for providing an adjustable neck opening, which can be worn alone, or incorporated with semi-rigid over shoulder straps connecting upper chest and back panels connectable with an accompanying armored vest or plate carrier worn over the torso, which shoulder straps are additionally connectable to optional deltoid protectors, all of which enable rapid donning and doffing the accompanying vest or carrier, over and separately of the supplement apparatus and system if desired. The apparatus and system can additionally incorporate several embodiments of silent fasteners for facilitating rapid donning and doffing, that advantageously provide sufficient holding power yet can be connected, adjusted, and disconnected substantially silently, that is, without the noise associated with connectors such as snaps, hook and loop fasteners, and the like.
The disclosures of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/109,694, filed Feb. 14, 2023, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/404,375, filed May 6, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,578,948, dated Feb. 14, 2023, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/152,573, filed Jan. 10, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,281,240, dated May 7, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/752,066, filed Jan. 14, 2013, are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Modular armor systems for use in tactical and military operations, including garments, namely ballistic vests and armor plate carriers, are well known. Such systems, particularly the vests and carriers, have apparatus for assembling and securely holding the garment on or about the user's body. Older known ballistic vests in particular often have complex systems for placing and assembling the vest about the body, herein also referred to as doffing the vest or garment, typically utilizing a complex system of belts and straps that take significant time and familiarity to assemble and adjust, and for removing or doffing it. More recently, apparatus and systems for rapid removal of garments such as ballistic vests in emergency situations such as combat to enable inspecting and treating injuries to the wearer's body, and to facilitate escape from dangerous situations such as immersion in water, have been developed.
Reference in this regard, the ballistic vest disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,570, which discloses front and rear portions that can separate completely from one another, while a waist belt and cummerbund of the vest have an end that separates from at least one of the front and rear portions. This vest uses a complex system of belting and straps for normal donning and doffing, and a rapid release system which utilizes a flexible retainer including a cable that can be quickly pulled to break the vest into pieces for removal. In emergency situations, it is necessary to remove the vest very rapidly, e.g., when sinking or immersed in water, or in the case of a severe injury or suspected injury to the protected region of the body.
As other known ballistic vests, reference U.S. Pat. No. 7,979,917, which discloses a rear break away feature; U.S. Pat. No. 7,987,523 which discloses a quick release garment which is also a ballistic vest, that utilizes a flexible retainer similar to that of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,047,570; and 8,056,196 which discloses a quick release fitting having utility for use in garments such as ballistic vests and the like.
It can be observed that the known carriers and vests such as those referenced above, do not provide protection for the neck and throat regions of the body. When such protection is desired, e.g., for various military or tactical operations, supplemental throat and neck protectors can be added to the know systems. However, a disadvantage with the presently known supplemental protector apparatus, is they attach to the vest or carrier in a manner which limits or reduces the size of the neck opening or space. This can interfere with microphones and other communications gear that may be worn at the same time. The known supplemental systems also reduce the ability to rapidly remove or doff the vest or carrier, thereby reducing or even negating the benefit of the rapid release system.
Components of tactical vests, plate carriers, belts, chest rigs, and the like, typically used in military and law enforcement activities, are typically connected or joined together using well known fasteners and closures, such as mechanical clasps, snaps, buckles, ladder locks, and hook and loop systems. Such apparatus and garments are often outfitted with pouches, pockets, and other holders, for carrying a variety of objects, particularly, ammunition, communications and other electronic devices, batteries, food, and medical supplies. Such pouches, pockets and other holders typically also include well known, secure fasteners and closures, such as mechanical clasps, snaps, buckles, ladder locks, and hook and loop fasteners. However, a shortcoming of many of the various known fasteners and closures, sometimes herein referred to singularly as “fasteners” is that, at least when opened, a distinct sound is emitted. For mechanical fasteners, it is typically a brief mechanical clicking or sliding sound. For hook and look fasteners, it is typically a protracted tearing sound. As a consequence, a wearer's secret or concealed location may be disclosed by use of the fastener. However, adjusting fit, or accessing items secured by such fasteners may be necessary or desired. Buttons are known silent fasteners, but are difficult to manipulate when wherein gloves, and can be particularly difficult to locate and unfasten under emergency and exigent circumstances. Buttons are also easily broken off and lost, and can concentrate stress on an associated garment or other item when heavily loaded.
Thus, what is sought is a manner for providing armored throat and neck protection, alone or as a supplement to an armored vest or carrier system, and silent fastening and connecting apparatus, which overcome one or more of the disadvantages and shortcomings of known apparatus and systems.
What is disclosed is a modular armor system and apparatus, usable alone or as a supplement to an armored vest or carrier system, which overcomes one or more of the disadvantages and shortcomings of known apparatus and systems, set forth above, including allowing donning and doffing the vest and/or carrier separately of the supplement system and apparatus, and fasteners and connectors that enable silent connection, disconnection, adjustment, opening, and closure, of associated components.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the modular supplement system and apparatus utilizes a throat protector and neck protector, each configured to carry armor, and which is shaped or shapable to have a outer convex side and an opposite inner concave side. The throat and neck protectors are connectable in generally end to end relation with the concave sides bounding and defining a neck opening having a size and shape for receiving a person's neck, with the convex sides facing outward, providing front, rear and side armored protection for the wearer's throat and neck. The armor components of the protectors can comprise a well know commercially available soft armor such as a woven aramid fiber, and/or a plate armor, conventionally carried e.g., in zippered compartments in the protectors, used for military, police, and security, as desired or required for a particular application.
According to another preferred aspect, the supplement system and apparatus includes silent connecting elements configured to connect the ends of the throat and neck protectors together in a manner for holding them in place about the person's neck, to prevent release or disconnection under forces anticipated to be exerted thereagainst during normal use, including the weight of the protector, and forces exerted by body movements, and when the protectors include armor plate or plates. The silent connecting elements are sufficiently large and silently manually movable in a manner to allow adjusting a sectional or diametrical extent of the neck opening, for example, for comfort, different neck sizes, and accommodating gear such as helmets and/or radio headphones, microphones, etc.
As still another preferred aspect of the invention, one or both of the protectors can detachably connect to aspects of a vest or carrier, worn at the same time, and, as a non-limiting example the modular system and apparatus can include armored upper chest and back protectors connected to the throat and neck protectors, for instance, in a depending manner, e.g. connected via suitable straps or the like. The upper chest and back protectors are preferably additionally connected together by adjustable shoulder straps separate of shoulder straps connecting front and rear sections of an accompanying vest and/or carrier, preferably, worn above the straps of the supplement system. These shoulder straps can also carry optional deltoid protectors of the system.
According to a preferred manner of use, the shoulder straps of the modular supplement system and apparatus of the invention are configured to allow separately donning and doffing the vest and/or carrier, the shoulder straps of the supplement system being donned first, and the shoulder straps of the latter donned second.
Aspects of the modular system not anticipated to require adjustment, removal, or disconnection when doffing the system, or when silence is not required can be connected using known fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners and the like.
As another preferred aspect of the invention, connecting elements are used to adjustably connect the throat and neck protectors. The silent connecting elements are of a frictional or magnetic type, and can be configured to provide multiple relative positions to enable variability of the size of neck opening between a maximum value and a minimum value, including optionally infinite positioning between those positions, if desired. The connecting elements can also be quickly and easily connected and disconnected, including silently, for fast donning and doffing, independently of a vest and/or carrier.
As another preferred aspect of the invention, the connecting elements comprise a tuck tab or tabs, which essentially comprise elongate or tongue shaped, generally stiff or rigid members on or connected to at least one of the ends of at least one of the protectors, and a sleeve or sleeves in or adjacent to an end of another of the protectors, each sleeve comprising an external slit or slits in connection with an internal cavity or cavities, configured for cooperatively receiving and holding the tuck tab at a selectable longitudinal position therein. The tuck tab and internal surfaces of the sleeve have a relatively high combined friction coefficient, and for this purpose can comprise, but is not limited to, a course woven nylon or pile fabric, non-slip composition, or the like which will resist longitudinal movement of the tuck tab within the sleeve under normal anticipated applied forces. The sleeve is additionally preferably constructed to exert a compressive force against the tuck tab when received therein, to enhance the frictional engagement, for retaining the tuck tab at the inserted position within the sleeve.
More particularly, at least one surface within the internal cavity of the sleeve is positioned to be located in surface to surface engagement with the tuck tab surface or surfaces, and can comprise, as a non-limiting example, a coarse woven nylon fabric, such as a type typically used for covering ballistic vests and armor carriers, to facilitate the engagement. The extent of the rigidity of the tuck tab is sufficient to allow it to be inserted by exerting a manual force to push through the slit into and through the internal cavity to a desired extent without significantly deforming, e.g. bending, and the receiving cavity is constructed to allow the insertion to a desired extent.
To allow adjustment, the tuck tabs are each relatively long, and the sleeve is preferably configured to be silently deformable in a convenient and easy manner, such as by manually pinching between fingers, to reduce the compressive force, to allow moving the tuck tabs on either side longitudinally sufficiently for positioning the throat protector at a desired location. The deformation can also be used to allow more easily and substantially silently removing the tuck tab. As a non-limiting example, the exterior of the sleeve can comprise a taught fabric covering, that is manually manipulatable or pinchable, to open a slight amount in a “fish mouth” shape so as to be enlarged in width (its narrowest dimension) to facilitate the insertion of the tuck tab and also its movement within the sleeve. Then, when the fabric is released the slit and cavity of the sleeve will automatically flatten to a normal or free state condition to exert the compressive force against the tuck tab, which combined with the frictional contact, will be sufficient to retain the tuck tab in position for holding the protectors together about a user's neck.
As noted above, the throat and neck protectors are configured to carry ballistic armored components which can comprise a lighter fabric ballistic protective material, and/or a heavier, rigid plate material, e.g., plate armor covered by one or more outer or covering layers of a fabric or fabrics, and in either instance this construction having sufficient overall stiffness for at least contributing to the tautness of the sleeve fabric and biasing toward the flattened condition and against the tuck tab when received in the sleeve.
As an additional capability, in an emergency situation the frictional forces holding the tuck tab can be capable of being manually overcome by exertion of a relatively high longitudinal force if rapid removal or a break-away capability is required.
As another preferred aspect of the invention, the principles of construction and operation of the silent connectors can be utilized for other applications, such as for fastening or closing pouches commonly carried on components of tactical kits such as vests, carriers, belts and the like. The silent fastener includes a generally flat, first tuck tab having a connected end flexibly connected to a first element of the pouch, and an opposite free end; a generally rigid, generally flat, second tuck tab having a connected end flexibly connected to the first element in generally parallel relation to the connected end of the first tuck tab, such that the tuck tabs can be relatively moved about the connected ends between positions extending generally in opposite directions, and alternatively at positions at a small acute angle to each other forming a narrow V-shape when viewed toward a side of the tuck tabs. The fastener includes at least one slit in an outer surface of a flexible second element of the pouch, configured to receive the free ends of the tuck tabs, the at least one slit connecting with internal cavities within first and second portions of the second element sufficiently large for receiving the tuck tabs, respectively, the internal cavities being bounded and defined by opposing internal surfaces configured and operable to engage and retain the tuck tabs within the cavity when the first and second portions extend in generally opposite directions. The internal cavities are configured to allow substantially silent insertion and removal of the tuck tabs when the first and second portions are in a generally overlaying relation with the second element flexed in a V-shape or U-shape.
According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the tuck tabs are located on a strap or web of the first element, which strap or web is tensionable with the tuck tabs retained in the internal cavities and second element in the operational configuration so as to be held in generally overlaying relation to one of the first portion or the second portion of the second element.
Referring to
System and apparatus 20 utilizes a throat protector 24 and neck protector 26, each configured to carry armor, and which is shaped or shapeable to have a outer convex side 28 and an opposite inner concave side 30, the throat and neck protectors 24, 26 being connectable in generally end to end relation with the concave sides 30 bounding and defining a neck opening 32 having a size and shape for receiving a person's neck, e.g., represented by mannequin neck 34 (
One or both of the protectors 24, 26 can connect to aspects of a vest or carrier, e.g. vest 22, worn at the same time, and, as a non-limiting example the modular system and apparatus 20 can include armored upper chest and back protectors 40, 42 respectively, connected to the throat and neck protectors 24, 26, respectively, for instance, in a depending manner, e.g. connected via suitable straps or the like. The upper chest and back protectors 40, 42 are preferably additionally connected together by adjustable shoulder straps 44 separate of shoulder straps connecting front and rear sections of an accompanying vest and/or carrier. Still further, the modular system and apparatus 20 can include armored upper arm or deltoid protectors 46, that preferably connect to the system 20 via straps 48 that encircle shoulder straps 44 of that system, to connect to the upper chest, back, throat and neck protectors, and include arm straps 50 for securing about the upper arm.
As an advantage of the modular supplement system 20 of the invention, the shoulder straps 44 of the system are configured to be worn simultaneously with shoulder straps, e.g., shoulder straps 52 of vest 22 (
The components of the modular apparatus and system 20 can be connected using common fastening elements such as, loops, snaps, buttons, and/or hook and loop fasteners 54, as desired or required. Representative examples of connection points include: between the throat and neck protectors 24, 26 and the upper chest and upper back protectors 40, 42; between shoulder straps 44 and the upper chest and upper back protectors 40, 42; and between the deltoid protectors 46 and the shoulder straps 44. Additionally, it is desirable that the deltoid protectors 46 be configured to allow normal arm movements, e.g., fore, aft, up, down, and also rotatably or pivotably relative to the upper chest and back protectors 40, 42 without interference with separate shoulder straps 52 of an accompanying vest and/or carrier, if worn, e.g., vest 22 of
Connecting elements 38 connecting the throat and neck protectors 24, 26 are different and are of a friction type, and can be configured to provide multiple positions to enable variability of the size of neck opening 32 between a maximum value and a minimum value, including optionally infinite positioning between those positions, if desired. The connecting elements 38 can also be quickly and easily connected and disconnected, for fast donning and doffing, independently of a vest and/or carrier, all substantially silently, that is, sufficiently silently to avoid by nearby persons, which may be required under some circumstances, such as when the wearer is concealed or undetected. These capabilities are preferably provided using a tuck tab 56 or tabs 56, which essentially comprise elongate or tongue shaped members on at least one of the ends of at least one of the protectors 24, 26, and a sleeve 58 or sleeves 58 in or adjacent to an end of another of the protectors 24, 26, each sleeve 58 comprising an external slit 60 or slits 60 in connection with an internal cavity 62 or cavities 62, configured for cooperatively receiving and holding the tuck tab 56 at a selectable longitudinal position therein. Each tuck tab 56 is preferably of generally rigid or semi-rigid, collectively referred to herein as “rigid” or “substantially rigid”, robust construction and has at least one outer surface 64 of a material having a relatively high friction coefficient, such as, but not limited to, a course woven nylon or pile fabric, non-slip composition, or the like which will frictionally resist longitudinal movement of the tuck tab 56, and provide good wear characteristics. A common ballistic nylon fabric commonly used as covering of combat vests and armor carriers, a coarse pile, other suitable fabric, non-slip coating, or the like, can be used for this purpose.
Referring in particular to
As noted above, the throat and neck protectors 24, 26 are configured to carry ballistic armored components which can comprise a lighter fabric ballistic protective material, and/or a heavier, rigid plate material, e.g., plate armor 36 (
Additionally, in an emergency situation the frictional forces holding the tuck tab 56 can be capable of being manually overcome by exertion of a relatively high longitudinal force (opposite force F) if rapid removal or a break-away capability is required, again, substantially silently.
Protectors 24, 26 can include several of the slits 60 in connection with a single inner cavity 62 of the sleeve 58, as a non-limiting example, located in a linear array corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the associated tuck tab 56, to provide additional options for fitting a wider variety of neck sizes.
Shoulder straps 44 will have a flat sectional shape so as to be capable of underlying the shoulder straps of an accompanying vest and/or carrier, and are flexible in the up and down directions to accommodate body movements and curvature to fit about the shoulder, but stiff in the side (edgewise) directions for holding the deltoid protectors 46 in a desired position heightwise on the arm. A suitable preferred construction of shoulder strap 44 and tuck tab 56 is a strip comprising a laminate of a flat, thin plastics film, and one or more fabric layers. Shoulder straps 44 will additionally include underlying padded portions having ends including connecting elements for connection to the upper chest and back protectors 40, 42, which here comprise hook and loop fasteners 54 connectable to mating fasteners within pockets on the respective protectors 40, 42, preferably in a manner that allows adjustment and which encloses fasteners 54 to provide protection from dirt and dust accumulation.
In
As a representative example of known prior art usages of fasteners for closing and securing pouches, a prior art pouch 70 is shown in
In
Referring also to
Connected ends 84 of tuck tabs 56A and 56B are each flexibly (also meaning foldably and bendably) connected in generally parallel relation in a manner to allow substantially silently manually flexing generally about an axis A (
First and second portions 92 and 94 of the second element 80 are configured such that internal surfaces 66 will frictionally engage at least one of the outer surfaces 64 of the respective tuck tabs 56A and 56B, and preferably both, and further will preferably exert compressive forces CF thereagainst in essentially a similar manner as described above in regard to connecting elements 38, for retaining the tuck tabs and connecting the first and second elements 78, 80, together.
Again, the rigidity of tuck tabs 56A, 56B is sufficient to allow them to be fully inserted using a manually exerted longitudinal force F, through the slit 60 into the internal cavity 62A or 62B without significant bending so as to make insertion unduly difficult, without generating significant noise. The rigidity should also be sufficient to maintain the tuck tabs in the cavities under anticipated loading conditions, which, for the illustrated non-limiting application as a closure for a pouch, is anticipated to be less than that required for retaining an armored throat protector in place. To achieve the required holding strength, the outer fabric coverings of cavities 62A and 62B are preferably of a robust fabric such as a nylon webbing material, ballistic nylon, or the like, and should be capable of adequate tautness for exerting force CF with the tuck tab 56A or 56B received in the cavity, but not so taut as to prevent insertion of the tab. It may also be configured so as to facilitate insertion and adjustment by opening in a “fish mouth” shape so as to be enlarged in width (its narrowest dimension) by pinching, without making noise. Then, when the fabric is released its tautness will cause the slit 60 and cavity 62A or 62B to automatically flatten to exert the compressive force against the tuck tab 56A or 56B. By similar manipulations the forces holding the tuck tab 56A or 56B can be reduced to allow manually repositioning it in the cavity 62A or 62B for adjusting or removing the tuck tab 56. For rapid or emergency disconnection, a user can grasp webbing 86 and pull directly outwardly from surface 90 of cover 74, with sufficient force to orient tuck tabs 56A and 56B in the same direction to release from the cover, still relatively silently.
As an additional holding and securing feature, it can be observed in
Referring to
As variants, the portion of outer surface 90 including slit 60 can comprise a length of webbing material as shown, sewn or otherwise attached at its opposite ends to a larger section of fabric comprising cover 74. Alternatively, slit 60 can be laser or otherwise cut through a larger section of fabric comprising the cover 74.
Silent fastener 98 additionally includes a tensioner 96 as shown in
As an additional note, each of the silent fasteners 72 and 98 can be connected, disconnected, and adjusted, substantially silently, by feel, and while wearing gloves.
In light of all the foregoing, it should thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel modular armor supplement apparatus and system and silent fastener. However, it should also be apparent that, within the principles and scope of the invention, many changes are possible and contemplated, including in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention. Thus, while the foregoing description and discussion addresses certain preferred embodiments or elements of the invention, it should further be understood that concepts of the invention, as based upon the foregoing description and discussion, may be readily incorporated into or employed in other embodiments and constructions without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown, and all changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.
This application is a division of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/109,694, filed Feb. 14, 2023, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/404,375, filed May 6, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,578,948, dated Feb. 14, 2023, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/152,573, filed Jan. 10, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,281,240, dated May 7, 2019, which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/752,066, filed Jan. 14, 2013.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61752066 | Jan 2013 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 18109694 | Feb 2023 | US |
Child | 18816926 | US | |
Parent | 16404375 | May 2019 | US |
Child | 18109694 | US | |
Parent | 14152573 | Jan 2014 | US |
Child | 16404375 | US |