CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/014,583, entitled "WEARABLE ARMOR PLATE ASSEMBLY," and filed June 19, 2014, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Aspects described herein generally relate to wearable armor plate assemblies.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Military and law enforcement personnel are often provided with wearable armor for protection against ballistic injuries. Typically, a special carrier garment made of fabric, such as a vest, is outfitted with a number of pockets or pouches, each pocket or pouch being sized and shaped to receive a corresponding armor plate or panel of protective material.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a wearable armor plate assembly includes a first armor plate section comprising a first armor plate. The wearable armor plate assembly further includes a second armor plate section comprising a second armor plate, the second armor plate section being connected to the first armor plate section to form at least a portion of a wearable assembly. The first armor plate section may be coupled to the second armor plate section such that the distance between the first and second armor plate sections is

substantially maintained when either armor plate section is subjected to a force.

According to another embodiment, a carrier assembly for body armor includes a first carrier configured to hold a first armor plate. The carrier assembly also includes a second carrier configured to hold a second armor plate. The first and second carriers are rigidly coupled to one another to form at least a portion of a wearable assembly for a wearer's torso.

According to yet another embodiment, a carrier for an armor plate includes a first rigid support member having a surface configured to extend along an inner side of the armor plate; and a second rigid support member having a surface configured to extend along an outer side of the armor plate. The carrier may also include at least one peripheral support member constructed and arranged to couple the first rigid support member and the second rigid support member to one another, to define a space for retaining the armor plate. According to a further embodiment, a method of assembling a carrier assembly for body armor is provided. The method includes securing a first armor plate within a space defined by a first rigid carrier; and securing a second armor plate within a space defined by a second rigid carrier. The method may further include coupling the first rigid carrier and the second rigid carrier to one another to form at least a portion of a wearable assembly for an upper body portion.

In yet another embodiment, an armor plate assembly for body armor is provided. The armor plate includes a first rigid interconnecting member configured to couple with a first armor plate; and a second rigid interconnecting member configured to couple with a second armor plate. In this embodiment, the first and second rigid interconnecting members are constructed and arranged to be coupled to one another to form at least a portion of a wearable assembly for a wearer's torso.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide certain advantages. Not all embodiments share the same advantages and those that do may not share them under all circumstances. Various embodiments described may be used in combination and may provide additive benefits. Further features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as the structure of various embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an armor plate assembly in use in accordance with one embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the armor plate assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a weight distribution system in accordance with one embodiment;

Fig. 4is a front view of an armor plate assembly in accordance with one embodiment;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the armor plate assembly of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the armor plate assembly of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the armor plate assembly of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a front view of an armor plate assembly in accordance with another embodiment;

Fig. 9 is a rear view of the armor plate assembly of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the armor plate assembly of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the armor plate assembly of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 shows an armor plate and components of a carrier in accordance with one embodiment;

Fig. 13 illustrates carrier components coupled together in accordance with one embodiment;

Fig. 14 shows carrier components coupled together and holding an armor plate in accordance with one embodiment;

Fig. 15 depicts carrier components holding an armor plate in accordance with one embodiment;

Figs. 16-17 show coupling of the support member to other components of the carrier in accordance with one embodiment;

Figs. 18-21 depict movement adjustability of attached armor plate sections in accordance with one embodiment; and

Fig. 22 shows a perspective view of an armor plate assembly in use in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Carrier garments having pockets for armor plates can be awkward during use, in part due to the flexibility of the fabric. Additionally, with a vest arrangement, the weight of the armor plates is supported mainly by the wearer's shoulders, which may result in significant strain.

The inventors have appreciated that it would be advantageous to provide an armor plate assembly which couples separate armor plates together in a more rigid manner, and in some embodiments forms a self-supporting structure. The inventors have also recognized that it would be beneficial to distribute a portion or all of the armor assembly weight away from the wearer's shoulders.

Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure provide for armor plate assemblies that include rigid interconnecting members (e.g., rigid carriers, linkages having rigid components) to couple armor plates together and also to keep the armor plates in place. In some embodiments, the armor plate assembly is worn on the torso and provides a suitable level of maneuverability for the wearer.

In some embodiments, as discussed further below, the rigid interconnecting members may couple armor plates together in an arrangement that forms an assembly that may be worn in a fashion similar to that of a vest. Further, the armor plate assembly may provide a self- supporting structure that preserves its general shape when not being worn. That is, when the armor plate assembly is removed from the body of the wearer, the overall shape and structure of the assembly is maintained. In some embodiments, the assembly maintains its shape when placed in an upright position on the ground. This self-supporting aspect is in contrast to conventional, armor carrying garments which tend to collapse when placed on the ground. In some embodiments, the rigid interconnecting members may be attached to, or part of, or comprise carriers which are each sized and shaped to carry a corresponding armor plate within the carrier. For example, each rigid carrier of the assembly may be configured to form a bounded space for holding a respective armor plate in place. Rigid carriers may, in turn, be coupled to one another so as to form a wearable assembly for a portion of the body (e.g., upper body, lower body, etc.). For purposes herein, a rigid carrier or other rigid member may be rigid in compression and tension, but not necessarily be resistant to twisting or bending. A carrier constructed to hold an armor plate may have an inner rigid support member with a surface that extends along an inner side of the armor plate, and an outer rigid support member with a surface that extends along an outer side of the armor plate. For purposes herein, an inner side of the armor plate refers to a side facing toward the body of the wearer, and an outer side of the armor plate (or support member) refers to a side facing away from the body of the wearer. For purposes herein, an inner support member refers to a support member positioned between an armor plate and the wearer's body, and an outer support member refers to a support member that is toward the outer side of the outer side of the armor plate. One or more peripheral support members may be provided to couple the inner and outer rigid support members together to hold the armor plate in place within a defined bounded volume.

The interconnecting members and/or carriers described herein may be formed of any suitable material. In some embodiments, the interconnecting members or carriers are substantially rigid. For example, the interconnecting members or carriers are able to maintain the distance between two armor plates both when the armor plates are subjected to forces which would otherwise move the armor plates away from each other, and also when the armor plates are subjected to forces which would otherwise move the armor plates toward each other. With conventional fabric garments supporting armor plates, the distances between armor plates can vary depending on the forces applied to the plates. In some embodiments, the armor plates abut against one another such that the distance between the plates is zero, or the plates are separated only by carrier materials. In other embodiments, the armor plates may be separated by a distance greater than zero, but the rigid interconnecting members may be arranged such that the plates cannot be pulled apart or pushed together by a significant amount. Though in some embodiments, the plates can pivot relative to one another.

In some embodiments, the interconnecting members or carriers are formed of a material including one or more of plastic, polymer (e.g., structural polymer, acrylic-polyvinyl chloride, KYDEX ^® , polyethylene, polyester, polyurethane, polyimide, polyamide, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, etc.), ceramic, metal, any other suitable material, or combinations thereof. Such a material may be strong enough to support a substantial amount of force (i.e., from the weight of the armor plates) without mechanical failure.

For purposes herein, a rigid connection between armor plate sections means that the armor plate sections are not pulled substantially farther apart from one another when a force acts to urge one armor plate section away from the other armor plate section, and that the armor plate sections are not pushed substantially closer together when a force acts to urge one armor plate section toward the other armor plate section. A rigid connection can allow for pivoting of one plate section relative to another plate section for purposes herein. In some embodiments, when armor plates are linked together, notwithstanding articulation provided by a joint or other structure there between, the armor plates may move together as a unit. For example, pushing or pulling on one of the armor plates results in the adjacent, coupled armor plate also being pushed or pulled.

The armor plate assembly may include a weight distribution system, which may distribute the cumulative weight of the armor plates for the wearer. For instance, rather than having the entire weight of the armor plates rest on the shoulders of the wearer, the weight distribution system may be configured such that a portion or all of the load from the armor plates is distributed to other parts of the body, resulting in a greater degree of comfort than would otherwise be the case without the weight distribution system.

In some embodiments, the weight distribution system transfers force from the armor plate assembly to a region below the upper torso such as the hips or waist. For example, the weight may be transferred from sections of the assembly to a belt around the wearer's hips.

Figs. 1-2 depict an armor plate assembly 100 on a wearer's torso. The armor plate assembly 100 includes separate armor plates arranged and held together in a manner that forms a vest-shaped structure. The armor plate assembly 100 is fitted tightly to the wearer's body to limit movement of the assembly relative to the wearer' s body. As shown, the armor plate assembly 100 includes a number of interconnected armor plate sections 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200 that form the wearable armored structure.

In some embodiments, the armor plate assembly 100 may include a number of rigid interconnecting members that are associated with each armor plate section to couple the armor plate sections together. As shown in Figs. 1-2, in various embodiments, the rigid interconnecting members include carriers 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172, 182, 192, 202 which, in turn, may be linked together so as to form a self-supporting structure that is able to hold or otherwise retain each of the individual armor plates 119, 129, 139, 149, 159, 169, 179, 189, 199, 209. That is, separate armor plates may be held by corresponding carriers, each suitable for a particular armor plate, keeping each armor plate at a particular position of the wearable structure.

As discussed further below, armor plates may be shaped to cover a certain area of the body (e.g., chest, back, collarbone, lateral area of lower torso, etc.), and strong enough to provide a desired degree of protection for that area of the body. As also discussed below, some embodiments may include rigid interconnecting members which couple armor plates together without using carriers.

As shown in Fig. 1, the front side of armor plate assembly 100 includes armor plate sections which each include an armor plate and a carrier structured to hold the armor plate. In this embodiment, when worn, anterior section 110 covers the chest of the wearer, and includes a carrier 112 holding a chest armor plate 119. Anterior upper right section 130 covers the front of the right collarbone of the wearer, and includes a carrier 132 holding an anterior upper right armor plate 139. Anterior upper left section 150 covers the front of the left collarbone of the wearer, and includes a carrier 152 holding an anterior upper left armor plate 159. Anterior lower right section 170 covers the front right of the lower lateral torso of the wearer, and includes a carrier 172 holding an anterior lower right armor plate 179.

Anterior lower left section 190 covers the front left of the lower lateral torso of the wearer, and includes a carrier 192 holding an anterior lower left armor plate 199.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the rear side of assembly 100 includes a number of armor plate sections which each include a carrier structured to hold an armor plate That is, when worn, posterior section 120 covers the back of the wearer, and includes a carrier 122 holding a back armor plate 129. Posterior upper right section 140 covers the rear of the right collarbone of the wearer, and includes a carrier 142 holding a posterior upper right armor plate 149. Posterior upper left section 160 covers the rear of the left collarbone of the wearer, and includes a carrier 162 holding a posterior upper left armor plate 169. Posterior lower right section 180 covers the rear right of the lower lateral torso of the wearer, and includes a carrier 182 holding a posterior lower right armor plate 189. Posterior lower left section 200 covers the rear left of the lower lateral torso of the wearer, and includes a carrier 202 holding a posterior lower left armor plate 209.

As discussed above, armor plate assemblies disclosed herein may include a weight distribution system that transfers a portion of the overall weight of the armor to various regions of the body, such as to the lower torso, hips, or other areas of the body. Fig. 2 further shows one embodiment of a weight distribution system 300 coupled to one or more armor plate sections of the assembly. Weight distribution system 300 includes a set weight distributing members 310 which is coupled to armor plate 129 via an interface 314. In some embodiments, the weight distribution system 300 (e.g., weight distributing members) may be attached to one or more armor plate sections, for example, the anterior section 110, posterior section 120 and/or other appropriate section(s) of the assembly. Accordingly, the weight distribution system 300 and one or more appropriate armor plate sections may have respective interfaces that are complementary to one another so as to provide for mutual attachment there between. For example, the weight distribution system may be attached to the armor plate section(s) via a fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, adhesive, etc.) and/or other component (e.g., attachment plate, bridge, etc.).

As shown, the weight distribution system 300 includes a number of weight distributing members 310 that may serve to transfer load from one or more of the armor plate sections down from the shoulders of the wearer toward another region of the body. In this embodiment, the weight distributing members 310 are provided in a stacked arrangement similar to that of the stacking of vertebral bodies of a spine. Accordingly, opposing faces of the weight distributing members 310 may be able to articulate with respect to one another, allowing for flexibility of the stacked arrangement.

The weight distribution system 300 further includes a belt 320 to which the weight distributing members 310 are attached or otherwise coupled. Accordingly, the weight distributing members 310 are able to transfer load from the armor plates to the belt 320. The belt 320 is wrapped around the waist of the wearer and transfers load from the weight distributing members 310 to the hips and/or waist.

Fig. 3 shows another view of various components of the weight distribution system 300. Here, the weight distributing members 310 has a belt interface 312, and the belt 320 has a corresponding interface 322. The interfaces 312, 322 may have attachment regions complementary to one another, for establishing a suitable connection between the weight distributing members 310 and the belt 320. For example, the interface 322 may have a receptacle (e.g., slotted, snap fit receiving component) that is complementary to a

corresponding region of the interface 312, or vice versa. Accordingly, the weight distributing members 310 may be suitably secured to the belt 320 for transferring load thereto. It can be appreciated that other arrangements for coupling the weight distributing members 310 and the belt 320 are possible.

The weight distribution system may have any suitable configuration. For example, as discussed above, the weight distribution system may include a spine type arrangement with a number of stacked weight distributing members for flexibly transferring load. Or, the weight distribution system may include another type of torso supporting device, such as a frame or relatively wide belt configuration that extends toward the armor plates and/or covers a larger region of the body, for support thereof and/or to better facilitate load transfer.

The weight distribution system may serve to distribute weight at other locations of the body and, hence, alleviate strain that would otherwise arise. In some embodiments, weight distributing members having a suitable configuration may be provided above the torso, at the neck and/or head regions, so as to transfer weight from the helmet down toward the armor plate assembly and/or to the lower body (e.g., belt). For example, the helmet may have an interface that couples with one or more weight distributing members that are, in turn, coupled an appropriate region of the armor plate assembly. Accordingly, weight from the helmet may be transferred on to the shoulders and/or further down to the waist or hips of the wearer.

Figs. 4-7 show various views of another embodiment of armor plate assembly 100. Similar to the armor plate assembly shown in Figs. 1-2, the armor plate assembly 100 includes armor plate sections 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200 each having carriers 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172, 182, 192, 202 holding respective armor plates 119, 129, 139, 149, 159, 169, 179, 189, 199, 209. The carriers are linked together so as to form a wearable assembly that may be fitted over the torso of a wearer.

The armor plates may be shaped and sized to reduce the overall amount of bulk of the armored structure, and to provide flexibility and maneuverability for the wearer. For example, the armor plates may have surfaces that conform naturally to the contours of the wearer. In some embodiments, one or more of the armor plates may have a polygonal shape (e.g., rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, etc.).

In some embodiments, as shown in the figures, one or more of the armor plates may have certain regions that have a tapered width. For example, various regions of the armor plate may be tapered in opposing directions. In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the outer surface of the chest armor plate 119 has an octagonal shape having an upper region 119u, a lower region 119i and a central region 119c, located between the upper and lower regions. In this embodiment, the upper region 119u is tapered upwardly from the central region 119c and the lower region 119 ₁ is tapered downwardly from the central region 119c. Here, the upper width w _u of the armor plate at an end of the upper region 119u may be less than a central width w _c of the armor plate at the central region 119c. Similarly, the lower width wi of the armor plate at an end of the lower region 119i may also be less than a central width w _c of the armor plate at the central region 119c. In some embodiments, the upper width w _u and the lower width wi of the armor plate are substantially equal. It can be appreciated that other armor plate configurations may be possible. For example, in some cases, an armor plate may only have one region (e.g., upper, lower regions) that is tapered, or it may be possible that the armor plate has no tapered region.

Edges of the armor plate may be configured in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, an angle, such as the angle Θ illustratively shown in the example provided in Fig. 4, formed by an edge of a tapered lower region 119i and an edge of the central region 119c of the armor plate is greater than 5°, greater than 10°, greater than 20°, greater than 30°, greater than 40°, less than 50°, less than 40°, less than 30°, less than 20°, or less than 10°. Angles between edges of an armor plate may fall within ranges bounded by any of these limits, or outside of the above noted ranges.

The armor plate may have a suitable thickness, i.e., the distance between an inner surface facing toward the body of the wearer and an outer surface facing away from the body of the wearer. In some embodiments, the thickness of the armor plate is at least 1.0 cm, at least 2.0 cm, at least 3.0 cm, at least 4.0 cm, at least 5.0 cm, less than 10.0 cm, less than 9.0 cm, less than 8.0 cm, less than 7.0 cm, less than 6.0 cm, less than 5.0 cm, less than 4.0 cm, less than 3.0 cm, or less than 2.0 cm. The thickness of the armor plate may fall within ranges bounded by any of these limits, or outside of the above noted ranges. In some embodiments, the armor plates may meet certain threat level protection standards of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). For example, in some embodiments, armor plates associated with protection against NIJ threat levels I, II, III and/or IV may be used.

As similarly shown in Fig. 5, the back armor plate 129 has an octagonal shape having an upper region 129u, a lower region 129i and a central region 129c. The upper region 129u is tapered upward from the central region 129c and the lower region 129 ₁ is tapered downward from the central region 129c. Similar to the chest armor plate on the anterior side of the wearer, the width of the armor plate at an end of the upper region 129u may be less than the width of the armor plate at the central region 129c. Also, the width of the armor plate at an end of the lower region 129i may also be less than the width of the armor plate at the central region 129c. As discussed above, other armor plate configurations may be possible.

It can be appreciated that an armor plate is not necessarily planar in shape, but rather, may incorporate an appropriate curvature that allows the armor plate to be arranged with other armor plates into a suit structure that provides a preferred fit for the wearer. Though, in some cases, an armor plate may be substantially planar in shape. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, armor plates that are intended to cover the collarbone of the wearer may exhibit a concavity that follows the overall curvature of the shoulder.

As further shown, anterior upper left section 150 and posterior upper left section 160, and their respective armor plates, are shaped (i.e., curved in this embodiment) so as to follow the anatomy of the shoulder. Similarly, anterior lower left section 190 and posterior lower left section 200 are also shaped in a manner that conforms to the curvature of the lateral side of the lower torso. The curvature of the anterior section 110 and posterior section 120 are not as pronounced as the other sections of the armor plate assembly. For example, in some embodiments, the anterior and posterior sections 110, 120 are substantially planar or flat.

Various components may be attached or otherwise coupled to one or more sections of the armor plate assembly. For example, Figs. 4-7 show straps 502 attached to and extending from the armor plate section 120, for holding additional equipment 500. Such equipment 500 may provide any suitable function for the wearer. For instance, the equipment 500 may include computing and/or communications capabilities that provide the wearer with connectivity and/or information pertinent to the current mission. Such connectivity may include a wireless link to an appropriate communications infrastructure for sending and receiving signals there between. Other equipment, such as modular lightweight equipment, discussed further below, may also be integrated or otherwise provided with the armor plate assembly.

Figs. 8-11 show an illustrative embodiment without the armor plates inserted in their respective carriers. Various components of carriers 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172, 182, 192, 202 of the armor plate assembly 100 are linked together to form a portion of a carrier assembly. Here, the carrier portions are linked together in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 4-7 to form a wearable carrier assembly, or a portion thereof, that may be fitted onto the torso of a wearer. In this embodiment, each of the carriers is constructed to hold a corresponding armor plate. Each carrier 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172, 182, 192, 202 has an inner rigid support member 114, 124, 134, 144, 154, 164, 174, 184, 194, 204 having a surface that extends along an inner side of a corresponding armor plate, and an outer rigid support member (not shown in Figs. 8-11) having a surface that extends along an outer side of the armor plate. Such inner and outer rigid support members may, themselves, be support plates or may have any other suitable configuration.

Each carrier also may have a number of peripheral support members 116, 126, 136, 146, 156, 166, 176, 186, 196, 206 that couple inner and outer rigid support members of the carrier to one another. The peripheral support member(s) of the carrier, along with the inner and outer support members, may define a space for holding the armor plate.

Inner and outer rigid support members of the carrier may be coupled in any suitable manner. As an example and as shown in Figs. 8-11, the peripheral support members 116, 126, 136, 146, 156, 166, 176, 186, 196, 206 may be integrally formed with respective inner rigid support members 114, 124, 134, 144, 154, 164, 174, 184, 194, 204. That is, in this example, the peripheral support members are bent so as to form a hook (e.g., C-shaped hook) with the respective inner rigid support member, which provides a substrate from which the hook extends.

The peripheral support members, in turn, have respective plate portions that align with a surface of the outer rigid support member. Also in this embodiment, coupling members 118, 128, 138, 148, 158, 168, 178, 188, 198, 208 (e.g., bumps, protrusions, ridges) extend from the plate portions of the peripheral support members and may be used to couple the inner and outer rigid support members together. The manner in which various components of the carrier may be coupled is discussed in further detail below.

Fig. 8 is a front view of an interconnected assembly where certain portions of carriers

112, 132, 152, 172, 192 are linked together. As shown, carrier 112 may be used to hold a chest armor plate, carrier 132 may be used to hold an anterior upper right armor plate, carrier 152 may be used to hold an anterior upper left armor plate, carrier 172 may be used to hold an anterior lower right armor plate, and carrier 192 may be used to hold an anterior lower left armor plate. Each of carriers 112, 132, 152, 172 and 192 may include, respectively, an inner rigid support member 114, 134, 154, 174, 194, peripheral support members 116, 136, 156, 176, 196, coupling members 118, 138, 158, 178, 198 extending from the peripheral support members, and an outer rigid support member (not shown in Figs. 8-11). As further shown, the corresponding support members are coupled to one another to form the wearable assembly.

Fig. 9 is a rear view of the interconnected assembly, including portions of carriers 122, 142, 162, 182, 202, which are constructed to hold respective armor plates. As depicted, carrier 122 may be used to hold a back armor plate, carrier 142 may be used to hold a posterior upper right armor plate, carrier 162 may be used to hold a posterior upper left armor plate, carrier 182 may be used to hold a posterior lower right armor plate, and carrier 202 may be used to hold a posterior lower left armor plate. Each of carriers 122, 142, 162, 182, 202 may include, respectively, an inner rigid support member 124, 144, 164, 184, 204, peripheral support members 126, 146, 166, 186, 206, coupling members 128, 148, 168, 188, 208 extending from the peripheral support members, and an outer rigid support member (not shown in Figs. 8-11).

As noted above, embodiments of the present disclosure may be suitable to alleviate the undesirable sagging of armor plates that may occur in conventional armor carrying garments for the torso, where armor plates are held within pockets or pouches of soft, flexible fabric. When such conventional garments are held up (e.g., for fitting to the wearer), the hanging armor plates may have a tendency to swing back and forth within their respective pouches and, in some cases, collapse together. In such cases, separating the armor plates in a manner that allows for the garment to be placed in a position to be suitably worn can be cumbersome.

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the armor plate assembly maintains its general shape when removed from the wearer in some embodiments. For example, when being carried by the collarbone armor plates, or when resting on the ground, the front portion of the assembly is kept apart from the rear portion. In some embodiments, such an arrangement may help with lifting and placing the assembly over the wearer. As discussed further below, while the overall shape and structure of the arrangement of armor plates may be maintained, interconnections between sections of the armor plate assembly may be configured to allow armor plates to articulate relative to none another, providing flexibility and maneuverability for the wearer.

Certain embodiments of a section of an armor plate assembly will now be described.

Fig. 12 shows various components of an armor plate section 102, including an inner rigid support member 104, an outer rigid support member 103, peripheral support members 106, and an armor plate 109. As shown in this embodiment, the inner rigid support member 104 is formed integrally with the peripheral support members 106. The inner rigid support member 104 further includes coupling regions, such as a hole 101, for forming connections with neighboring armor plate sections. An additional peripheral support member includes a coupling region, shown as an elongated slot 105, also for connecting neighboring armor plate sections together. The outer rigid support member 103 includes slots 107 where each slot may be configured to couple with various peripheral support members 106 and, hence, an inner rigid support member 104.

In some embodiments, the inner rigid support member and the outer rigid support member define a space within which an armor plate having a corresponding size and shape may be positioned. For example, the inner rigid support member may have a surface that extends along the inner surface of the armor plate. Similarly, the outer rigid support member may have a surface that extends along the outer surface of the armor plate.

The inner and/or outer rigid support members may cover any suitable amount of the corresponding armor plate. In some embodiments, surfaces of the inner and/or outer rigid support members cover more than half, of the respective inner or outer face of the armor plate. Less than half of the inner or outer faces may be covered in some embodiments. In some embodiments, inner and/or outer rigid support members have surfaces that substantially cover the outer edge or border of the face of the respective inner or outer face of the armor plate. As shown in the figures, the inner and/or outer rigid support members may have crosspieces 113 or other beams that form a suitable structure (e.g., star-shape, X-shape, stripes, etc.) that extends across a face of the armor plate. Such crosspieces or other components of the inner and/or outer rigid support members may have any suitable configuration.

It can be appreciated that peripheral support members are not required to be formed integrally with the inner rigid support member. For example, the peripheral support members may be formed integrally with the outer rigid support member and then may be coupled to the inner rigid support member. Or, the peripheral support members may be attachable to (e.g., adhered, fastened, coupled, interlinked, etc.) and detachable or otherwise separable from either or both of the inner and outer rigid support members.

The armor plate may include any suitable material, and may be covered in fabric in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the armor plate includes high performance materials and composites thereof. For example, the armor plate may incorporate any suitable combination of metal, ceramic, plastic, polymer, nylon, aramid, polyethylene (e.g., ultra- high-molecular- weight polyethylene, high-performance polyethylene), polyhydroquinone- diimidazopyridine, poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole), ZYLON ^® , KEVLAR ^® , SPECTRA , carbon fibers, and other materials. Armor plates also may include a suitable backing that absorbs energy upon impact, for example, rubber, foam, silicone, gel, neoprene, etc.

Fig. 13 depicts portions of two individual carriers 102a, 102b positioned and attached in a side-by-side arrangement. As shown, the inner rigid support members 104a, 104b include respective holes 101a, 101b on one side of the carriers, and certain peripheral support members include elongated slots 105a, 105b on another side, each of the holes and slots accommodating entry of a suitable fastener therein. The elongated slots 105a, 105b extend in a direction away from the inner rigid support members 104a, 104b, to accommodate relative movement of coupled armor plate sections with respect to one another. In this embodiment, neighboring carriers 102a, 102b may be coupled to one another by aligning the hole 101b of one of the carriers 102b with the elongated slot 105a of the other carrier 102a, and inserting a suitable fastener (e.g., bolt, screw, etc.) there through.

Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 13, the carriers 102a, 102b are coupled to one another. As a result, the spacing between the armor plates may be substantially maintained. That is, when armor plates are linked together, notwithstanding articulation provided by a joint or other structure there between, the armor plates may move together as a unit. For example, pushing or pulling on one of the armor plates results in the adjacent, coupled armor plate also being pushed or pulled.

Fig. 14 depicts the armor plate 109 held within a space defined by the inner rigid support member 104a and peripheral support members 106a of the carrier 102a. As shown, the peripheral support members 106a have a C-shaped hook configuration and are rigid, resulting in the armor plate 109 being held in place. In this embodiment, peripheral support members are provided on all four sides of the armor plate, providing a boundary that obstructs movement of the armor plate past the boundary. The peripheral support members 106a also may have a coupling member 108a (e.g., protrusion, ridge, bump, bolt, etc.) that allows for the peripheral support members to be suitably coupled to an outer rigid support member (described further below).

In some embodiments, as noted above, one or more of the peripheral support members may be attachable and detachable to the inner rigid support member to allow the armor plate to fit into the space defined by the carrier. Or, in some embodiments, one or more of the peripheral support members may initially be oriented in a manner that accommodates insertion of the armor plate into the holding space of the carrier. When the armor plate is appropriately situated therein, the peripheral support member(s) may be bent around so as to grasp or otherwise cup the armor plate, holding it in place along with the other peripheral support members.

As discussed above and depicted in Fig. 14, the armor plate 109 may be held within a space provided by the inner rigid support member 104 and peripheral support members 106 of the carrier 102. Fig. 15 further depicts an outer rigid support member 103 that may be placed alongside the outer face of the armor plate, and coupled to the peripheral support members 106, for enclosing the armor plate. The outer rigid support member 103 may have slots 107c, 107d that are complementary to corresponding protrusions 108c and ridges 108d of peripheral support members 106c, 106d, for linkage thereto. Alternatively, the outer rigid support member may have protrusions and/or ridges and the peripheral support members may have complementary slots. It can be appreciated that the outer rigid support member and peripheral support members may have any other suitable complementary structures for forming a suitable connection there between.

In various embodiments, slots 107c, 107d may include any one of a number of configurations for suitably coupling with complementary coupling members of the peripheral support members 106c, 106d. For example, as shown, a slot 107c may have two portions— a larger portion for accommodating entry of a protrusion 108i therein, and a smaller portion for retaining the protrusion 108c within the slot 107c. Elongated slots 107d may extend across and along a portion of respective edges of the outer rigid support member 103. These elongated slots may, in turn, accommodate entry of a complementary ridge 108d, and may further be suited to retain the ridge therein.

Figs. 16-17 illustrate an embodiment where the outer rigid support member 103 is coupled to the peripheral support members and the inner rigid support member located on the other side of the armor plate. As shown, the outer rigid support member 103 is positioned so that the respective slots 107c, 107d are substantially aligned with protrusions 108c, 108d of the peripheral support members. For example, as shown in Fig. 16, the protrusion 108c may be suitably aligned with the larger hole 107c corresponding thereto, and the ridge 108d also may be suitably aligned with the elongated slot 107d. The protrusions and ridges then may be inserted into the respective holes or slots.

Subsequently, the outer rigid support member 103 may be slid or otherwise moved relative to the other carrier components such that the outer rigid support member 103 is firmly secured to the peripheral support members. That is, the protrusion 108i may be slotted into the smaller sized hole 107c, and the ridge 108d may be suitably hooked or otherwise engaged with the elongated slot 107d. As a result, shown in Fig. 17, the outer rigid support member 103 is coupled to the inner rigid support member, via the peripheral support members, enclosing the armor plate within the space defined by the carrier 102.

In some embodiments, it may be beneficial to have rigid support members on opposing sides of the armor plate. That is, the outer and inner rigid support members may provide a suitable degree of structural integrity to hold the respective armor plate within the carrier. For example, absent the outer rigid support member 103, such as that shown in Fig. 14, the inner rigid support member 104 and peripheral support members 106 would bear the weight of the armor plate 109. However, in some cases, it may be preferable to include the additional structural integrity provided by the outer rigid support to such a carrier section. Addition of the outer rigid support member may, in some instances, help to distribute weight throughout the structure of the carrier.

Coupled sections of the armor plate assembly, for some embodiments, may allow for a suitable degree of maneuverability for the wearer. Coupled armor plate sections (e.g., neighboring carriers of armor plates attached to one another) may be pivotable relative to one another in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the assembly may permit some or all of the armor plate sections to move toward or away from adjacent armor plate sections while being worn. In still further embodiments, the distance between adjacent armor plate sections may be adjustable, and then secured at a selected distance such that the adjacent armor plate sections cannot move toward or away from each other.

Figs. 18-21 depict an illustrative embodiment where armor plate sections 102a, 102b coupled to one another are able to mutually articulate or are otherwise movably adjustable with respect to one another. For example, Figs. 18-21 show how respective armor plate sections 102a, 102b are able to move back and forth along the space provided by the elongated slots 105a. That is, each of the fasteners extends through and is held within both the hole 101b and the elongated slot 105a, yet the fastener is able to move laterally along the respective space provided by the elongated slot 105a. In some embodiments, once a particular positioning is chosen, the fasteners can be further tightened to lock the relative positions of the armor plate sections.

In some embodiments, a tensioning member such as a cord, string, wrap, ratchet, etc., (not shown in the figures) may be provided with the armor plate sections for tightening and/or loosening the assembly For example, a tensioning member may be tightened so as to cinch the components of the assembly together, such as that shown in Fig. 18. When the tensioning member is loosened, certain sections of the assembly may be released, resulting in a formation similar to that of Fig. 19. Fig. 18 shows two fasteners 111 that are part of the coupling between armor plate sections 102a, 102b. Each of the fasteners 111 is positioned toward the rightmost end of its corresponding elongated slot 105a. In this configuration, the armor plate sections 102a, 102b abut each other as the respective peripheral support members of the armor plate sections 102a, 102b are brought into contact.

Fig. 19 shows each of the fasteners 111 positioned at the other, leftmost end of the corresponding elongated slots 105a. Here, the armor plate sections 102a, 102b are spaced further apart from one another, yet remain coupled. In this position, the respective peripheral support members of the armor plate sections 102a, 102b are no longer in contact.

Figs. 20-21 illustrate how armor plate sections 102a, 102b can be adjusted such that they are angled relative to one another. In some embodiments, once an angle is selected, the fasteners can be tightened or otherwise locked such that the relative positioning of the plate sections 102a, 102b is rigidly secured.

As shown in Fig. 20, the fastener at the top of the photo is positioned at the rightmost end of the corresponding elongated slot, and the fastener at the bottom of the photo is positioned at the leftmost end of the corresponding elongated slot. In this manner, the armor plate sections 102a, 102b are swiveled such that the edges facing one another abut on one side and are spaced apart on another side.

The armor plate sections 102a, 102b may be swiveled in an opposite direction so as to reverse the edge facing configuration. Fig. 21 depicts the fastener at the top of the photo positioned at the leftmost end of the corresponding elongated slot and the fastener at the bottom of the photo is positioned at the rightmost end of the corresponding elongated slot.

Other arrangements of coupled armor plate sections are possible, where the armor plate sections of the overall assembly are able to articulate or move relative to one another. For example, the armor plate sections may be coupled together to form a hinged arrangement where the sections may pivot with respect to one another in a direction similar to book covers pivoting relative to one another. Alternatively, a single component may be used to couple hold adjacent armor plates. Such a component may also allow for articulation between the armor plates to conform to a wearer's body.

As discussed above, for some embodiments, rigid interconnecting members may serve to link the armor plates together to form the overall armor plate assembly. Rigid

interconnecting members may serve as linkages that couple neighboring armor plates to one another, without necessarily providing a bounded space, or shell, within which the armor plate is contained. Rigid interconnecting members may be attached or otherwise coupled to edges or corners of corresponding armor plates and, in turn, be coupled to one another for forming an overall armor plate assembly. In some embodiments, rigid interconnecting members may cup, grasp, adhere, couple or engage with respective armor plates to be secured thereto. The rigid interconnecting members may further interlink to form a joint that allows the armor plates to pivot, move or otherwise articulate with respect to one another.

It may be desirable for a wearer to attach additional external components (e.g., water, supplies, communications equipment, sensors, goggles, firearms, etc.) to the armor plate assembly. Fig. 22 shows an illustrative embodiment of an armor plate assembly 100 with pouches 400 mounted thereto. The pouches 400 are attached to a crosspiece of the outer support member. Each pouch may be attached to a crosspiece with a resilient metal clip (not shown) which is inserted between the crosspiece and the armor plate, or in any suitable manner. Such an arrangement may facilitate the attachment and/or removal of pouches or other carrying features from the armor assembly. Instead of attaching pouches or other carrying equipment to the crosspiece(s), equipment or other items may be directly attached to the crosspiece(s), thereby permitting easy access. In some embodiments, a modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) arrangement is attachable and detachable from one or more crosspieces.

According to one aspect, the various components may be formed using any suitable process. For example, the components may be stamped out of sheet metal, cast, injection molded, extruded, or blow-molded as several examples. Any suitable finishing and/or processes may be applied to any of the components in accordance with the present disclosure.

The above aspects may be employed in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect. Additionally, any or all of the above aspects may be employed in a armor plate assembly; however, the present disclosure is not limited in this respect, as the above aspects may be employed with other armor and/or carrier related applications.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the armor plate assembly described herein may be adapted for use in other applications such as for protection of the appendages (e.g., arms, legs, head). Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.