US4535478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Body armor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-05-20
•
Granted: 1985-08-20
•
Expires: 2003-05-20
Abstract
Abstract An article of body armor comprises an undershirt-type carrier garment with front and rear pockets receiving armor panel inserts of layered bullet-resistant sheet material. The inserts and receiving pockets are standardized in dimensions so that the inserts may be interchanged as between pockets and used in different carrier garments.
Inventors
- 👤 Tim T. Zufle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:37
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/05; A41D13/055; A41D13/0556; A41D13/0575; A41D13/015; A41D13/0518; F; F41; F41H; F41H1/00; F41H1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An article of body armor comprising a standard-style undergarment such as a T-shirt having front and rear panels defining a neck opening, a first piece of material seamed along bottom and side edges thereof to an inner surface of the front panel so as to provide a first open-topped pocket in the front of the undergarment covering a substantial area of the front panel, a second piece of material seamed along bottom and side edges thereof to an inner surface of the rear panel so as to provide a second open-topped pocket in the rear of the undergarment covering a substantial area of the rear panel, and first and second armor insert panels of soft armor construction comprising plural layers of flexible sheet material for selective receipt in and removal from the respective pockets through the open tops thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An article of body armor comprising a standard-style undergarment such as a T-shirt having front and rear panels defining a neck opening, a first piece of material seamed along bottom and side edges thereof to an inner surface of the front panel so as to provide a first open-topped pocket in the front of the undergarment covering a substantial area of the front panel, a second piece of material seamed along bottom and side edges thereof to an inner surface of the rear panel so as to provide a second open-topped pocket in the rear of the undergarment covering a substantial area of the rear panel, and first and second armor insert panels of soft armor construction comprising plural layers of flexible sheet material for selective receipt in and removal from the respective pockets through the open tops thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the pockets and the armor insert panels are of like shape and size for interchangeable receipt of the panels in the respective pockets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the first and second pieces of material include panel-retaining internal flaps along respective upper edges thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 1 including a further sheet of material secured internally to the front panel of the undergarment behind the first sheet to define a further open-topped pocket behind the first pocket for receipt of a further armor insert panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein the further pocket and panel are of inverted T-shape to protect a wearer's kidney regions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A range of body armor comprising standard-style undergarments such as T-shirts of different sizes, means defining receiving pockets in the respective garments, and armor insert panels of soft armor construction comprising plural layers of flexible sheet material for receipt in the respective pockets, wherein the receiving pockets are of the same size and shape in each garment, and the armor insert panels are of the same size and shape for interchangeable receipt in the respective pockets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
A range of body armor comprising standard-style undergarments such as T-shirts of different sizes, means defining receiving pockets in the respective garments, and armor insert panels of soft armor construction comprising plural layers of flexible sheet material for receipt in the respective pockets, wherein the receiving pockets are of the same size and shape in each garment, and the armor insert panels are of the same size and shape for interchangeable receipt in the respective pockets.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein each garment has front and rear internal top-opening pockets of like rectangular size and shape for receipt of the respective panels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
An undergarment comprising front and rear panels defining a neck opening, a first sheet of rectangular material seamed internally to the front panel to define a first top-opening rectangular pocket for removable receipt of a first armor insert panel of soft multilayer armor fabric, and a second sheet of rectangular material seamed internally to the rear panel to define a second top-opening rectangular pocket of like dimensions to the first pocket for removable receipt of a second armor insert panel of soft multilayer armor fabric and like dimensions to the first panel whereby the panels may be interchangeably received in the respective pockets to cover substantial areas of a wearer's chest and back.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
An undergarment comprising front and rear panels defining a neck opening, a first sheet of rectangular material seamed internally to the front panel to define a first top-opening rectangular pocket for removable receipt of a first armor insert panel of soft multilayer armor fabric, and a second sheet of rectangular material seamed internally to the rear panel to define a second top-opening rectangular pocket of like dimensions to the first pocket for removable receipt of a second armor insert panel of soft multilayer armor fabric and like dimensions to the first panel whereby the panels may be interchangeably received in the respective pockets to cover substantial areas of a wearer's chest and back.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein the first and second sheets of material define internal flaps along respective upper edges thereof for retaining the respective armor insert panels in the pockets.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-19 | 1989-02-18 | 1989-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-19 | 1993-02-18 | 1993-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-19 | 1997-02-18 | 1997-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |