CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/238,961, filed October 8, 2015, entitled "Ventilated Body Armor and Load Carrying Apparatus" and U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 15/132,356, filed April 19, 2016, entitled "Ventilated Body Armor and Load Carrying Apparatus." The entire contents of both applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to armor products generally and more specifically to body armor and load carrying apparatuses.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Providing troops with armored protection goes back as far as the dawn of armed conflict. The decision around how much protection to offer a soldier has generally been driven by the nature of the threat and the difficulty of managing the weight associated with providing protection for said threat. With the advent of firearms, the opportunity for effective wearable protection diminished to nearly zero for hundreds of years. Short of very heavy steel alloy armor, there was no solution for projectiles emitted from firearms. Due to the weight of such armor, it was generally only able to be used in the most stationary of circumstances.

[0004] In 1965 KEVLAR fabric was invented. KEVLAR and the like are easily able to be spun into soft armor that can be made into vests that are capable of stopping pistol rounds. In 1967, ceramic plates were invented. In addition to pistol rounds, ceramic plates are capable of stopping rifle rounds. Both soft armor and plates offer these capabilities at product weights that are far less than anything previously available. Their advent aggressively rekindled the debate about how to most optimally equip soldiers in the field. While such armor solutions were game changers for special operations units in high-threat, short-duration situations, for conventional troops armor was not typically utilized

[0005] Post 9/11 many changes occurred. Armor weight and cost had come down along with mission duration. Additionally, concern about casualty rates in an all-volunteer force had gone up. The combination of these influences led to the widespread adoption of armor across the US Military. At this time, the armor system is most commonly referred to as a plate carrier.

[0006] While body armor units can be quite effective for the primary purpose for which they were designed (e.g., stopping bullets), they may be poorly designed to be the base layer for a soldier's overall load carriage system. The most problematic issues may include the uncomfortable (at minimum) and the highly injurious (at maximum) way that body armor interfaces with the body. Put simply, body armor with rigid plates tends to dig into the body in ways that are very unpleasant to soldiers. The structure of a traditional plate carrier and the structure of a traditional plate may combine to form points of irritation on the back. This problem may arise because almost no one's spine is the exact shape of a back plate. As such, the back plate will often, if not always, find a point of irritation on the spine in conventional systems. This problem may cause pain in the near term and back trouble over the longer term.

[0007] Further contributing to plate carrier driven issues is that in all but the shortest duration missions, a soldier needs to carry a great deal more weight than the plate carrier alone. Such weight is generally draped over the plate carrier in a very inefficient fashion that exacerbates the problems discussed above, such as further causing the plates to dig into the wearer's body.

[0008] Furthermore, the nature of the body armor being in close contact with the soldier eliminates the ability for ventilation to assist in body heat and moisture transport. Inability to ventilate body heat and to effect proper moisture transport are factors that are major contributors to heat illness. Even mild heat illness and dehydration can significantly degrade performance.

[0009] Additionally, while appearing rugged, armor plates are often quite susceptible to damage. When a conventional plate carrier is combined with a pack, the suspension system of the pack often rests either partially or wholly upon the body armor plate. The loads carried in the pack may fatigue the armor plates over time through the wear caused by normal use, such as walking, thereby degrading the effectiveness of the body armor.

[0010] Also, having the body armor in direct contact with the user's body allows for the opportunity for injury to occur via projectile strike and sometimes resultant blunt force trauma caused by back face deformation of the armor media. This type of injury is possible even if the projectile causing said damage is not able to fully penetrate the armor media. SUMMARY

[0011] Various embodiments add a structure to a body armor unit that has a frame and a breathable (e.g. porous) material suspended between elements of the frame, that may allow the suspended breathable material to become the primary, or the sole material, in contact with the wearer's body. Various embodiment frame structures may allow the body armor plates to be effectively offset from the wearer's body. In this manner, the various embodiments may improve ventilation of the wearer's body, both in terms of moisture and heat transport.

Additionally, the gap created by the various embodiment frame structures may reduce or eliminate hard contact points on the wearer's body. In various embodiments, the ventilated suspension structure may be flexible on the side that touches the wearer. The ventilated frame structures of the various embodiments may be included in a plurality of locations. For example, two major locations or areas that the ventilated frame structures may be included are the wearer's back and the wearer's chest.

[0012] Various embodiments may provide a body armor unit including a frame, a material suspended between elements of the frame, and body armor attached to the frame. The material may be suspended between elements of the frame such that a space is created between a user and the body armor when the body armor unit is worn by the user. The body armor unit may include a hip belt attached to the frame and configured to transfer a weight of the body armor to hips of the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. The body armor may be an armor plate, an armor vest, a combination of armor plates and armor vest, or any other type of armor. The body armor unit may include one or more containers attached to various locations of the unit, such as one or more containers on the frame, the body armor, and/or the hip belt and/or combinations of one or more of the frame, the body armor, and/or the hip belt. The containers may be releasably attached the various locations. The body armor may be disposed between the frame and the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. The body armor may be attached to a side of the frame facing away from the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. The frame may be configured to be positioned over the back, the chest, the back and the chest, and/or one or more other body parts of the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. The body armor unit may include a second frame, a second material suspended between elements of the second frame, and a second body armor attached to the second frame. The second material may be suspended between elements of the second frame such that a second space is created between the user and the second body armor when the body armor unit is worn by the user. The first frame may be configured to be positioned over the back of the user and the second frame may be configured to be positioned over the chest of the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. The body armor unit may further include one or more flotation devices configured to provide buoyancy to the user

[0013] Various embodiments may provide a suspension apparatus including a frame, a material suspended between elements of the frame, and one or more releasable attachment mechanism configured to hold the frame between a user and a body armor vest. The material may be suspended between elements of the frame such that a space is created between a user and the body armor vest when the frame and the body armor vest is worn by the user. The frame may be configured to be positioned over the back, the chest, the back and the chest, and/or one or more other body parts of the user when worn by the user.

[0014] Various embodiments may provide a method for carrying a body armor vest including attaching a frame having a material suspended between elements of the frame between the body armor vest and a user wearing the vest. The material may be a breathable material. The frame may further include a hip belt. The method may further include detaching the frame from the body armor vest and attaching the frame to another body armor vest. The frame may be configured to be worn with a backpack. The breathable material may touch the back, the chest, the back and the chest, and/or one or more other body parts of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate examples of the disclosed devices and methods, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention.

[0016] The specification makes reference to the following appended figures, in which use of like reference numerals in different figures is intended to illustrate like or analogous components.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a partial-cutaway side view of an embodiment ventilated body armor apparatus.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment ventilated body armor apparatus of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a partial-cutaway side view of an embodiment apparatus that further includes a backpack unit.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a partial-cutaway side view of another embodiment apparatus that includes a backpack unit.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a partial-cutaway side view of an embodiment apparatus that includes both a back frame insert, as well as a chest frame insert.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a top view depicting the back of a wearer and an embodiment ventilated body armor apparatus.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a partial-cutaway side view of an embodiment apparatus that includes flotation devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to a load carrying system including body armor and a load carrying apparatus. The various embodiment body armor apparatuses described herein may allow a wearer various benefits, including but not limited to; improved ventilation, improved comfort, improved load carrying efficiency, improved armor integrity, mitigation of blunt force trauma injury caused by projectile strike and sometimes resultant back face deformation, and increased armor coverage when compared with conventional body armor units.

[0025] In conventional body armor units, the presence of body armor plates in a plate carrier improves safety from fired projectiles when compared to conventional body armor units without armor plates, but the conventional plate carrier based units can significantly reduce the comfort of the body armor, such as a body armor vest, by creating hard rubbing points as well as preventing ventilation of the wearer's skin. In various embodiments, adding a structure to the body armor unit that has a frame and a breathable (e.g. porous) material suspended between elements of the frame, may allow the suspended breathable material to become the primary, or the sole material, in contact with the wearer's body.

[0026] The embodiment frame structure may allow the body armor plates to be effectively offset from the wearer's body. This may improve ventilation of the wearer's body, both in terms of moisture transport and heat transport. Additionally, this gap may reduce or eliminate hard contact points on the wearer's body. Furthermore, an offset may allow for the reduction of blunt force trauma caused by projectile strike and sometimes resultant back face deformation of the armor media. [0027] Furthermore, in various embodiments, since the ventilated suspension structure may flex on the side that touches the wearer, the size of the armor plates may be increased when compared with conventional body armor units, thus protecting a larger area of the wearer's body, while not restricting the user's motion as would occur if increasing the size of rigid armor plates that are in direct contact with the wearer's body.

[0028] The ventilated frame structures of the various embodiments may be included in a plurality of locations. For example, two major locations or areas that the ventilated frame structures may be included in are the wearer's back and the wearer's chest. Including this ventilated suspension frame to a wearer's back may provide many benefits in addition to increased ventilation. Other locations may include legs, arms, underarm areas, etc.

[0029] In various embodiments, the ventilated structure located at the wearer's back may utilize a hip belt. This hip belt when combined with the ventilated structure's frame may effectively transfer much of the weight of the body armor unit and its contents to the wearer's hips. This transfer to the hips may create a much more efficient load carriage location than the wearer's shoulders. This transfer of weight from the wearer's shoulders to the wearer's hips may reduce fatigue while carrying heavy loads, as well as allow the wearer to carry heavier loads.

[0030] The mesh suspension system in the frame insert of the various embodiments may greatly expand the surface area (e.g., contact area) of the body that is supporting the weight of the body armor, thus increasing comfort in comparison with conventional body armor units.

[0031] Additionally, the frame and the suspension may be configured in various

embodiments such that the suspension very closely matches the geometry of a wearer's back, while still allowing for variations in body type. The geometry of the suspension frame may match the wearer's back closely enough to help carry loads through both frictional and normal forces dispersed throughout the wearer's back. The hip belt's integration with the mesh suspension may also allow the transfer of weight to be spread out over a larger surface area of the body, again increasing comfort.

[0032] The ventilation apparatuses of the various embodiments may further be configured to allow for the attachment of a backpack or other carried load. In this manner, the wearer's plate carrier may become a more effective and simple load carriage system than the conventional set-up which is to wear a backpack on top of a plate carrier. The conventional set-up of wearing a backpack on top of a plate carrier can exacerbate the discomfort of the armor plates by pressing them into the wearer's body.

[0033] Attachment of a backpack to the plate carrier system may allow for the weight of the backpack to be more evenly distributed across the front of the body. Weight may be distributed across the entire region where the carrier system is in contact with the body. Not just where the shoulder straps make contact with the body as in more conventional systems.

[0034] Certain aspects of the various embodiments may remedy the issue of armor insert degradation due to the wearing of backpacks with a plate carrier. With the integration of the frame insert with the pack system, the plate may be suspended from the body. Thus, the stress from the loads in the pack system may not be transferred to the plate in any meaningful way (e.g., not enough stress imparted during normal use to cause premature failure or a non- trivial reduction in effectiveness of the plate due to wear from a pack). Thus, the plate may not be subject to degradation. Also, in various embodiments, the weight of the pack may in no way be transferred to the body through the plate, a departure from how weight is so painfully transferred to the body in conventional plate carrier and pack systems.

[0035] In various embodiments, separating the armor plate from the wearer's body may also reduce the blunt force trauma caused by projectile strike and sometimes resultant back face deformation of the armor media. The suspension frame and the gap created by the suspension frame may serve to better decelerate projectiles and may better spread the loads associated with the impact of projectiles across a larger surface area of the wearers body. , thereby reducing bruising and other trauma experienced when a wearer is shot while wearing body armor.

[0036] In various embodiments, flotation devices may be included in the body armor apparatus and may serve to reduce the risk of death by drowning of a user wearing the body armor apparatus in aquatic environments. The flotation devices may fit into air gaps created by the frame such that the flotation devices sit between the user and the body armor.

[0037] The base of the various embodiment load carriage systems may be referred to as a frame insert. In various embodiments, a pack system and a body armor unit may be integrated with the frame insert. An example frame insert may be similar to, and include, the backpack frame insert described in U.S. Patent Application No. 14/825,059, filed August 12,

2015 and entitled "Backpack Frame Insert," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In various embodiments, a frame insert, such as the frame insert described in U.S. Patent Application No. 14/825,059, may support body armor. As used herein, the term "body armor" can refer to body armor vests having plates (e.g., ceramic plates), body armor vests utilizing soft armor (e.g., Kevlar), and/or other types of body armor. A body armor unit having plates may be referred to as a "plate carrier."

[0038] FIG. 1 is a partial-cutaway side view of an embodiment ventilated body armor apparatus 200 with the body armor 500 cutaway. The body armor apparatus 200 may be worn by a user or wearer 100. The body armor apparatus 200 may utilize one or more various frame inserts 400. Additionally, the body armor apparatus 200 may utilize body armor 500.

[0039] The body armor apparatus 200 may have side straps 220 as well as shoulder straps 230 to hold the apparatus 200 on a wearer's body. These straps 220 and 230 may be configured such that the straps 220 and 230 allow the body armor apparatus 200 to be releasably/removably attached to the wearer 100. This removable attachment may be facilitated by one or more attachment mechanisms, such as one or more hook and loop fasteners, buckles, quick release devices, and the like or combinations thereof. Additionally, the straps 220 and 230 may include a flexible material, such as elastic, Spandex®, etc., such that the body armor apparatus 200 may be pulled over the wearer's head.

[0040] In some embodiments, the user 100 may wear the body armor apparatus 200 having a frame insert 400 located near the wearer's back. The frame insert 400 may utilize various rigid or semi-rigid frame members 411. These frame members 411 may be comprised of tubular structures such as metal, polymers, reinforced polymers and the like. The frame members 411 may additionally utilize extruded or plate- like construction from metals, polymers, reinforced ceramics, reinforced polymers and the like.

[0041] These frame members 411 may have a porous material 412 such as mesh, light fabric and the like attached to the frame members 411. The rigid members 411 and the suspended material 412 may be formed into various geometries to allow the suspended material 412 to be the sole, or primary, material that contacts the body of a user 100. These geometries may be configured such that the suspended material evenly distributes loads throughout (or across) the wearer's back. The frame insert 400 may also utilize padding 415 such as foam and the like to increase comfort of any potential areas where the rigid frame members 411 may contact the user 100.

[0042] The addition of a ventilated suspension frame insert 400 to this body armor apparatus

200 may create an air gap 600 between the user and the body armor and other elements of the apparatus 200. Having the porous material 412 as the sole or primary material in contact with the user and the presence of the air gap 600 on the other side of the porous material 412 increases the rate at which sweat and heat generated by the user 100 may be transported away from the user's body, thereby keeping the user 100 cooler and less sweaty.

[0043] The frame insert 400 may include attachment fixtures 413 to allow the frame insert 400 to be releasably/removably detached from the body armor apparatus 200. These attachment fixtures 413 may attach to the body armor apparatus's shoulder straps 230, and to any other part of the body armor apparatus 200. These attachment fixtures 413 may be comprised of quick release mechanisms, straps, buckles, hooks and the like.

[0044] These attachment mechanisms 413 may be configured in such a way as to allow the frame insert 400 to be removed from the body armor apparatus 200 and affixed to a standalone backpack unit. If the attachment mechanisms 413 attach to the body armor apparatus's shoulder straps 230, then the frame insert 400 could similarly attach to any backpack unit's shoulder straps. The frame insert 400 can be worn to help facilitate ventilation between a user 100 and a backpack unit similar to how it facilitates ventilation between a user and a body armor apparatus 200.

[0045] The ventilated frame unit may employ a hip belt 414 which circumscribes the hip region of the user 100. This hip belt 414 may serve to transfer the weight of the body armor apparatus 200 and any gear attached to said apparatus to the hips of the user 100. The transfer of weight from a wearer's shoulders to their hips may significantly reduce the fatigue associated with carrying loads by reducing spinal compression, as well as reducing the role of the wearer's core muscles in the load carrying process. The hip belt 414 may employ a plurality of mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners, buckles, and the like to

removably/releasably attach the hip belt 414 to the frame insert 400. The hip straps of the hip belt 414, and/or other portions of the hip belt 414, may utilize a soft padded material such as foam and the like which may be located on the side of the hip straps and/or other portions of the hip belt 414, in contact with the user's body, and may also utilize a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a polymer sheet and the like which is located on the side not in contact with the wearer's body. The semi-rigid sheet may improve the ability of the hip belt 414 to securely transfer loads from the frame insert 400 to the wearer's hips.

[0046] Similarly, a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a polymer sheet may be included in the body armor apparatus's side straps 220. This semi-rigid material may help keep the body armor apparatus 200 from sliding out of place when not wearing the hip belt 414.

Additionally, the body armor apparatus's side straps 220 may employ a strap 221 connecting the side straps 220 to the hip belt 414. This strap 221 may additionally aid in keeping the body armor vest in place. This strap 221 may employ a mechanism such as hook and loop fastener, buckle and the like to removably/releasably attach the body armor apparatus's side straps 220 to the hip belt 414.

[0047] The body armor apparatus 200 may utilize one or more body armor inserts 500.

These body armor inserts 500 may be comprised of ceramic materials, reinforced ceramic materials, metal plates, flexible armor such as KEVLAR and the like, and any other material suitable to protect a wearer's body from projectiles such as bullets and other threats to the wearer's body. A body armor insert 510 designed to protect the wearer's back is shown here in cutaway section A of FIG. 1. A body armor insert 520 designed to protect the wearer's chest may be carried in a chest sleeve 210 of the body armor apparatus 200. The armor inserts 500 may be carried in sleeves attached to the body armor apparatus 200, and may also be attached by any other suitable mechanism, such as Velcro attachments to a chest strap portion of the body armor apparatus 200. Additionally, there may be flexible armor 530 such as KEVLAR and the like which may be distributed throughout the body armor apparatus 200.

[0048] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 may only utilize a ventilated suspension structure 400 on the wearer's back. The wearer's chest may be ventilated by a plurality of pieces of padding such as closed cell foam and the like that create various air gaps between the wearer and the chest plate 520. As an example, one piece of foam may be located at the top of the front plate 520 and another may be at the bottom. The foam (e.g., both pieces of foam) may be affixed via fastening mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners, and may be removable if it is required (e.g., to get into the prone position for an extended period of time).

[0049] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment ventilated body armor apparatus 200 of FIG. 1. The body armor insert 510 is no longer shown in cutaway format. By utilizing the suspended frame insert 400 on the user's back, a larger armor insert 510 may be utilized than are normally utilized in conventional body armor applications since the suspension (e.g., via material 412) of the back frame insert 400 allows the user 100 to move even with a rigid armor plate that covers large portions (e.g., the entirety) of the user's back.

[0050] In some embodiments of the apparatus described herein, the body armor inserts 500 and the frame members 411 may be one in the same. As an example, a metal body armor insert may serve as both the protective armor element 510, as well as the rigid structure 411 to which the suspended material 412 is attached.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a partial-cutaway side view of an embodiment apparatus that further includes a backpack unit 300. This backpack unit 300 may include a container 310 capable of holding various items, and may further include attachment fixtures 320 for coupling the backpack unit 300 to the body armor apparatus 200. The apparatus 200 may also feature a plurality of gear attachment fixtures 240. Some of these gear attachment fixtures 240 may be specifically designed to facilitate the attachment of a backpack unit 300 to the apparatus 200. These attachment fixtures 240 and 320 may be comprised of quick release mechanisms, straps, hooks, buckles and the like.

[0052] In some embodiments, the body armor insert 510 may be located on the side of the frame insert's frame members 411 which faces the backpack unit. The body armor insert 510 may alternatively be placed on the side of the frame members 411 closer to the user 100, as this may protect the integrity of the body armor insert 510 from damage due to loads placed in the backpack unit 300 while still maintaining the ventilated air gap between the user 100 and the body armor insert 510.

[0053] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment that uses a backpack 300 with shoulder straps 330 configured to attach the backpack to the body armor apparatus 200. The shoulder straps 330 may be configured with mechanisms 321, and the body armor apparatus 200 may have mechanisms 241 allowing the pack 300 and the body armor unit 200 to be

removably/releasably attached. These mechanisms 321 and 241 may include hook and loop fasteners, side release buckles, quick release mechanisms and the like. These mechanisms 241 may be located on the body armor unit 200, and may also be located on the frame 400.

[0054] The pack 300 may also have a mechanism 322 which can be attached to a mechanism 242. This mechanism 242 may be attached to the frame insert 400 and may also be attached to the body armor unit 200. These mechanisms 322 and 242 may include hook and loop fasteners, side release buckles, quick release mechanisms, and the like. The mechanisms 321 and 322 may be configured such that when not attached to mechanisms 241 and 242, mechanisms 321 and 322 may be attached to one another, thereby allowing the pack 300 to be worn independent of the body armor apparatus 200 and the frame insert 400.

[0055] The body armor unit may further include a sleeve 243 to help keep the backpack's shoulder straps 330 in place. This sleeve 243 may be a simple loop, and may also include mechanisms such as hook and loop fasteners and the like which would allow the loop to be releasably opened.

[0056] In some embodiments, the backpack 300 may be attached permanently to the frame insert 400 and may be permanently attached to the body armor unit 200.

[0057] In some embodiments, the backpack 300 may have traditional shoulder straps 330 that are simply worn over the top of the body armor vest 200 and the frame insert 400.

Configuring the geometry of the protrusions in the frame 411 to stick up around the wearer's shoulders may aid in keeping the shoulder straps 330 from slipping off the wearer's shoulders, as is a common problem when wearing backpacks over body armor.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a partial-cutaway side view of another configuration of the embodiment body armor apparatus 200 that includes both a back frame insert 400 as well as a chest frame insert 420. In this view, Cutaway Section A cuts away the back armor plate 510, cutaway section B cuts away the arm of user 100 to better view the chest frame insert 420, and cutaway section C cuts away the chest armor plate 520.

[0059] Similar to the back frame insert previously described, the chest frame insert 420 may employ a frame 421, and a porous material 422 coupled to said frame 421 where the geometry is such that the porous material 422 is the sole or primary material in contact with the user 100. The chest frame insert 420 may further include mechanisms 423 for attaching and detaching the frame insert 420 from the body armor apparatus 200. These mechanisms may be comprised of quick release mechanisms, buckles, straps, hooks and the like. The chest frame insert 420 may further include padding 424 attached to the frame 421 and/or the material under suspension (e.g., material 422). This apparatus allows ventilation of the sweat and heat produced by the user 100 to ventilate through the air gap 610 located at the wearer's back, as well as the air gap 620 at the wearer's chest.

[0060] In some cases, a ventilation unit 400 can include foam risers that contact the user at only selective areas, such as instead of the use of a porous material under suspension, to increase ventilation of the body armor vest 200.

[0061] FIG. 6 is a top view depicting the back of a user 100 and a ventilated body armor apparatus 200 according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Due to the structure of the frame members 411 and the curvature of the back of a user 100, the material under suspension (e.g., material 412) may be the only or the primary item in contact with the user 100. This keeps the armor insert 510 off the user 100 and allows the ventilation of heat and sweat produced by the user 100 in the air gap 610. In a similar manner, the frame 421 of the chest insert 420 may keep the chest armor plate 520 away from the user's chest creating the air gap 620 at the wearer' s chest.

[0062] FIG. 7 is a partial-cutaway side view of another configuration of the embodiment body armor apparatus 200 that includes flotation devices 700. The flotation device 710 may be located at the back of the user 100 such that the flotation device 710 may fit into the air gap 600 created by the frame 400. In embodiments employing these flotation devices 700, the flotation devices 700 may be removable. By utilizing removable floatation devices 700, the air gap 600 created between the back of the user 100 and the body armor 510 may serve to ventilate the wearer in dry environments, and may serve to provide buoyancy to the wearer in wet environments. The flotation devices 700 may be comprised of closed cell foam, inflatable pouches, and any other material which will provide buoyancy when submerged in water or other fluids. Other components of the apparatus 200 may also be configured for buoyancy. For example, the frame 400 may utilize hollow tubing which may be sealed. Sealing the tubing of the frame 400 may prevent the air filled tubing from filling with water when submerged, thereby reducing the apparent weight of the frame 400 when in water. These voids may be sealed with air, and may be sealed with other gases, such as helium and the like. These voids may be sealed at standard atmospheric pressure, and may also be sealed at altered pressures. These voids may also be filled with materials other than gaseous media, such as foam and the like. Components, such as the armor 500, may be configured to include sealed off interstitial pockets to increase buoyancy as well.

[0063] If the flotation devices 700 include inflatable pouches, one or more valves 731 may be included to facilitate inflation. These valves 731 may be accessible by the mouth of the user 100 such that the flotation devices 700 may be inflated by the user's breath when in an aquatic environment. The flotation devices may also include automatic inflation devices 732 which are configured to release compressed gas into the devices 700 to inflate them upon contact with water. These inflation devices 732 may be triggered by a plurality of methods, such as user input, water presence, water pressure, time in water and any other actuation technology suitable for triggering inflation.

[0064] The flotation devices 710 may have surface topography 711 which may facilitate ventilation if the surface of the flotation device 710 comes in contact with the wearer's body. While illustrated in the air gap 600, the flotation devices 700 may be placed on other portions of the apparatus. For example, the flotation devices 700 may be located at the chest of the user 100 as shown. Additionally, the flotation devices 700 may also not be placed into an air gap 600 created by a ventilated frame 400. Flotation device 720 may have surface topography 721 which may facilitate ventilation when the surface of the floatation device 720 is in contact with the wearer's body. The flotation device 720 may serve to pad the user 100 from the body armor 520, increase ventilation of the body armor unit 200, and/or provide buoyancy to the body armor unit 200.

[0065] It should be understood that the apparatus disclosed herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments; however additions, modifications, and substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. Additionally, any feature described in a particular embodiment may be applied to other embodiments. The embodiments disclosed herein shall be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description.