Patent Application
20150282536
The present invention relates to a protective equipment item, such as a protective body armour vest designed to cover at least a portion of the torso and the back of a user, the said protective equipment item includes at least one dorsal portion, provided with at least one pad made of a resiliently compressible material, designed for covering at least a portion of the back of the user, and at least two lateral portions, which extend forward to the front from either side of the dorsal portion and each of which define an arm hole together with the dorsal portion.
Such a protective equipment item is intended for use by law enforcement officers or security personnel for example.
Such a protective equipment item must be able to protect the user against violent impact force or shocks, possibly delivered by heavy objects, for example, during the course of protests and demonstrations or clashes.
The equipment item is worn around the upper part of the body generally accompanied by a helmet for protecting the head of the user.
Known body armour vests of this type are generally made out of several parts that are permanently attached to each other and are to be put on by pulling over the head downwards like a chasuble, which is impractical. This method of putting on the vest is not compatible with the wearing of a helmet and requires the user to remove their helmet so as to be able to put on the vest, which involves considerable risks and could result in the significant loss of time in emergency situations, particularly out in public on the streets and roads.
In addition, the known vests do not offer the possibility of simply reinforcing the protection provided by the vests because the parts are permanently attached to each other.
One of the objectives of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing a type of protective equipment item such as a protective body armour vest that can be put in use easily and rapidly and does not require being pulled on over the head, the said vest also having a adaptable modular configuration in order to enable easy reinforcement of the protection offered.
To this end the invention relates to a protective equipment item of the aforementioned type comprising of at least two front portions, each provided with at least one pad made of a resiliently compressible material, with each front portion being fastened respectively to one of the lateral portions, each front portion being provided with releasable fastening means for being fastened in a releasable manner to the other front portion in a manner such that the said front portions cover at least a portion of the torso of the user when the said front portions are fastened to one another.
The ability to adjust all of the front portions of the vest by means of a releasable fastener such as a zip fastener, provides the ability to put on the vest in the same manner as a coat when the front panels are detached from each other and then to close the vest by fastening the front panels to one another. Thus, the vest is not pulled on over the head and therefore does not require that the user take off their helmet in the event of an emergency. The vest according to the invention therefore provides greater security and may be effectively put on more rapidly.
According to other characteristic features of the protective equipment item based on the invention:
Furthermore, the invention relates to a type of protective equipment item such as a protective body armour vest designed for covering at least a part of the torso and the back of the user, the said equipment item comprising at least a dorsal portion, provided with at least one pad made of a resiliently compressible material, designed for covering at least a portion of the back of the user, at least two lateral portions, which extend forward to the front from either side of the dorsal portion and at least one front portion connected to the dorsal portion by the lateral portions, with the dorsal, lateral, and front portions together defining two arm holes therebetween, the protective equipment item comprising at least one protective panel fastened in a releasable manner on to at least one of the portions of the vest, the said protective panel being interchangeable with another type of protective panel offering different mechanical characteristics.
According to other characteristic features of the protective equipment item according to the invention:
Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the description that follows, given purely by way of example and with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the description, the term “external” is used to refer to that which is turned towards the exterior of the protective equipment item, that is to say, in the direction away from the part of the body wearing the equipment item, and the term “internal” is used to refer to that which is turned towards the interior of the equipment item, that is to say towards the part of the body wearing the equipment item.
With reference to
The vest 1 is designed to cover at least the back and the abdomen and/or torso of the user, as shown in the
The vest 1 comprises essentially two front portions 2 and 4, one dorsal portion 6 (
Each of the parts mentioned here above comprises one or more protective panels, each panel being provided with at least one pad made of a resiliently compressible material, for instance a foam or an elastomer material, for example obtained by means of injection or moulding. A plate made out of a rigid material is arranged in front of the pad, towards the exterior of the vest 1. The plate may be substantially planar or may be shaped so as to conform to the shape of the part of the body which it covers, in order to be ergonomic and to thereby enhance the comfort of the panel while also facilitating the freedom of movement of the user. Such a plate provides for good distribution of energy when an impact force is applied thereto, as well as absorption of a part of this energy, the absorption then being brought about by means of the pad. The pad and plate are for example covered with an appropriate fabric that is suitable for the field of protective equipment applications. The production of such panels is known per se and will not be described in further detail herein.
Each protective panel, due to its structure, is able to absorb at least a portion of the energy released due to impact forces, in particular shocks caused by blows delivered by a third party using bare hands or with an object, or by projectiles thrown by a third party, in order to protect the user wearing the equipment item, while also allowing the user to move about freely.
The interior of each panel or of some of them, may possibly be lined with one or more suitable textile materials that are capable of facilitating absorption and/or evacuation of the sweat of the user, as represented by reference numeral 10 as in
With the exception of the front portions 2 and 4, which may be fastened to each other in a releasable manner, as will be described later, the portions are fastened to each other for example by stitching.
The dorsal portion 6 is intended to cover at least partially, the back of the user, as shown in
One of the front portions 2 is fastened to one of lateral portions 8 intended for covering the shoulders and the other front portion 4 is attached to the other lateral portion 8 intended for covering the shoulders. Two other lateral portions 9 are provided at the level of the ribs of the user and are each fastened to one of the front portions 2 and 4 respectively as a consequence thereof.
The lateral portions 9 fastened to the front portions 2 and 4 at the level of the ribs are provided on their external surface with attachment means 12, for example of the hook and loop (Velcro style) tape type, whereas the lateral portions 9 that are fastened to the dorsal portion 6 at the level of the ribs are provided on their internal surfaces with complementary attachment means, for example of the hook and loop (Velcro style) tape type. Thus the lateral portions 9 that are integrally secured to the front portions 2 and 4 and the lateral portions 9 that are integrally secured to the dorsal portion 6 at the level of the ribs, may be fastened in a releasable manner to each other while providing the ability to adjust the fit of the vest 1 around the body of the user, as represented in the
The front portions 2 and 4, the dorsal portion 6, and the lateral portions 8 and 9 together define therebetween through openings as arm holes 14 for the user's arms. That is to say that the vest comprises an opening formed on each side between the two lateral portions 8 and 9, one covering a shoulder and the other the ribs, the dorsal portion 6 and one of the front portions 2 and 4, as shown in
Additionally, the vest 1 also comprises protective panels for protecting a part of the arms 16 that are fastened, for example, in a releasable manner, to the lateral portions 8 covering the shoulders. Each arm protection panel for protecting the arms 16 thus extends over one arm hole opening 14 in such a manner as to cover a part of the arm of the user. The arm protection panels 16 are for example provided with straps 18, or such like, to be used for the fastening and fit adjusting thereof to the arm of the user.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the lateral portions 8 for shoulders and the panels for protection of the arms 16 are reinforced by the shells 20 made out of a rigid material, such as polycarbonate for example, that extend over the exterior of the portion 8 and the panel 16 so as to enhance the protection of the user wearing the vest 1. Such shells 20 are known and have a general form shaped like the part of the body that they protect. The external surface of the shells 20 is shaped in a known manner so as to facilitate the absorption of shock impact during clashes. The shape formation is adapted to be complementary to the part of the body that is to be protected and includes, for example protrusions extending from both sides of the hollow, that are designed to improve the behavioural performance of the shells 20 in the event of impact forces. Each portion 8 and panel 16 may be reinforced by a shell 20, with the adjacent shells being joined to each other in an articulated manner for example.
The shells 20 may be fastened in place permanently or in a releasable manner to the panels that they cover, for example by means of riveting or the like.
The front portions 2 and 4 are provided with releasable fastening means 22 to be used for fastening the front portions 2 and 4 to each other, when the vest 1 has been put on. The term ‘releasable fastening means’, is used to indicate that the front portions can be fastened to one another or detached from one another by bringing about the engaging or disengaging of the fastening means for fastening the portions to each other.
According to the embodiment represented in
The releasable fastening means 22 to be used for fastening or unfastening the front portions 2 and 4 to or from each other may be different in nature from that of the zip fastener 24 described here above. Thus, the releasable fastening means 22 may be, for example snap on buttons or strips of hook and loop (Velcro) tape, or a combination of these different means.
The vest 1 described here above can therefore be put on in the same way as a coat. With the front portions in the open position, the user passes one arm and then the other through the arm hole openings 14 in order to put on the vest 1 and then engages the releasable fastening means 20 in order to close the vest 1 and maintain in positin the front portions 2 and 4 against their abdomen. The fit of the vest 1 around the body may be adjusted by means of the lateral portions 9 that are disposed at the level of the ribs. Thus, the vest 1 is particularly quick and easy to put on and does not require, where applicable, the removing of the helmet covering the head of the user, which is unlike conventional body armour vests meant to be put on in the same way as a chasuble.
When the vest 1 is closed and arm protection panels are attached, the user is protected in the region of the back, abdomen, shoulders, the ribs and part of their arms.
However, it is to be noted that the part of torso that extends so as to be facing the releasable fastening means 22 is not protected on account of it not being possible to place a shock absorbing pad in the end portions 30 of the front portions 2 and 4 that accommodate the releasable fastening means 22.
In order to overcome this drawback, the vest 1 according to the invention moreover also provides the ability to fasten a pectoral protective panel 32 on the interior of the vest 1 on the reverse side of the front portions 2 and 4 in order for the pectoral panel 32 to serve as lining for the junction between the front portions 2 and 4 and the releasable fastening means 22. The pectoral panel 32 thus extends between the front portions 2 and 4 and the torso of the user when the vest 1 is closed. This pectoral panel 32 has been more precisely illustrated in
The vest 1 in addition includes a pelvic panel 42 designed for protecting the pelvis of the user of the vest 1. This pelvic panel 42 is formed to conform to shape of the zone that it protects, as represented in
According to one embodiment, one or both of the two front portions 2 and 4 and/or the dorsal portion 6 may be provided with releasable fastening means on the external surface of these portions for at least one inserted element of additional protection (not shown). The releasable fastening means are for example formed by one or more strips of hook and loop Velcro style tape or by other means. The additional protective elements may be additional protective panels, such as those forming the different parts of the vest 1 and/or additional ballistic protection, or the like.
Similarly, the internal surface of the front portions and/or dorsal portions may be provided may be provided with releasable fastening means for releasably fastening at least one inserted element of additional protection, such as a collar piece 54 for protecting the neck and the nape of the neck of the user.
Thus, the dorsal portion and/or the lateral portions and/or front portions may for example be equipped with one or more receiving pockets for accommodating a supplementary protective panel. This additional protective panel may have characteristic features that are different from those of the protective panels previously described above in order to allow for effectively adapting or modulating the level of protection offered by the vest 1, depending upon whether or not these supplementary panels are arranged in pockets.
The vest 1 thus offers the user graduated protection scaled in accordance with the threat type and level, with the user having the ability to easily add or remove the additional protective panels on the interior and/or on the exterior of the vest.
Thus, the vest 1 offers a highly adjustable modular configuration and provides the ability to adapt the protection level offered by the vest 1 to the situation encountered. Thus, all of the releasable elements attached on to the vest, such as the pectoral panel 32 and the pelvic panel 42, are interchangeable and may be replaced with various different elements having different shock absorbing characteristics. By way of an example, these elements may be replaced by protective elements for protection against piercing type of shocks or against ballistic impacts, by adapting the materials used for fabricating the insert elements, which makes it possible to easily reinforce the protection offered by the vest 1.
Similarly, the vest 1 is capable of receiving additional protective elements to be used for further enhancing this protection, as has previously been described above.
Each portion may include more than one protective panel separated from the other panels by zones of stitching in order to enable the creating of less rigid zones that contribute to improving the user's ability to move freely while wearing the vest, as represented by reference numeral 56 as in
Thus, the vest 1 is easy to put on while also providing an optimal level of protection and comfort to its user.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 60522 | Nov 2012 | FR | national |
| 12 60523 | Nov 2012 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2013/072808 | 10/31/2013 | WO | 00 |
