Articulated body armor

Claim 2

An improved body armor arrangement adapted to allow the user ease of bending, and comprising, in combination: an upper body outer shell having openable overlapping front peripheral edges; closure means mounted on said upper body shell peripheral edges; a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material torso panel having openable overlapping front peripheral edges, shoulder peripheral edges and peripheral edges defining arm openings, said torso panel attached inside said upper body shell with said shoulder peripheral edges being essentially parallelly adjacent; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material upper arm panels having an upper peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said arm opening peripheral edges and said shoulder peripheral edges, abutting upper arm peripheral edges and an elbow peripheral edge, said upper arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material lower arm panels having an upper forearm peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said elbow peripheral edge, a wrist peripheral edge and abutting forearm peripheral edges extending from said upper forearm peripheral edge to said wrist peripheral edge, said lower arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a lower body outer shell having a waist band adapted to fit over the hips of the user; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material thigh panel having upper and lower peripheral edges and abutting thigh peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell; a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material abdomen and buttocks panel having two abutting peripheral edges, and upper and lower peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said abdomen and buttocks panel lower peripheral edge adjacent each said thigh panel upper peripheral edge; and, a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shin and calf panels having two abutting peripheral edges, and upper shin peripheral edge and a lower ankle peripheral edge attached inside said lower body shell with said upper shin peripheral edge abutting said thigh panel lower peripheral edge.

Claim 3

The arrangement defined in claim 1 further comprising: pockets formed between the upper body shell and attached panels whereby the user may insert a preselected number of additional layers of protective material to provide increased level of protection.

Claim 4

The arrangement defined in claim 1 further comprising: pockets formed between the lower body shell and attached panels whereby the user may insert a preselected number of additional layers of protective material to provide increased level of protection.

Claim 5

The arrangement defined in claim 1 further comprising: a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shoulder shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said torso panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material elbow shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said forearm panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material knee shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said thigh panel and said shin and calf panel; and, a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material groin shield attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said abdomen and buttocks shield and said pair of thigh shields.

Claim 6

The arrangement defined in claim 1 further comprising: a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shoulder shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said torso panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material elbow shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said forearm panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material knee shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said thigh panel and said shin and calf panel; an external pocket attached to the outside of said lower body shell over the seam formed between said abdomen and buttocks shield and said pair of thigh shields; and, a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material groin shield formed to be insertably removal from said external pocket.

Claim 7

The arrangement defined in claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of adjustable straps mounted at preselected points on the outside of said upper body shell to provide the user with a means to streamline the fit of said arrangement to conform to the body proportions of said user; a nap sack pocket attached to the back portion of the upper body shell; and a pull strap attached to the back portion of the upper body shell.

Claim 8

An improved body armor arrangement adapted to allow the user ease of bending, and comprising, in combination: an upper body outer shell having openable overlapping front peripheral edges; closure means mounted on said upper body shell peripheral edges; a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material torso panel having openable overlapping front peripheral edges, shoulder peripheral edges and peripheral edges defining arm openings, said torso panel attached inside said upper body shell with said shoulder peripheral edges being essentially parallelly adjacent; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material upper arm panels having an upper peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said arm opening peripheral edges and said shoulder peripheral edges, overlapping upper arm peripheral edges and an elbow peripheral edge, said upper arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material lower arm panels having an upper forearm peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said elbow peripheral edge, a wrist peripheral edge and overlapping forearm peripheral edges extending from said upper forearm peripheral edge to said wrist peripheral edge, said lower arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a lower body outer shell having a waist band adapted to fit over the hips of the user; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material thigh panel having upper and lower peripheral edges and overlapping thigh peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell; a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material abdomen and buttocks panel having two overlapping peripheral edges, and upper and lower peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said abdomen and buttocks panel lower peripheral edge adjacent each said thigh panel upper peripheral edge; and, a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shin and calf panel having two overlapping peripheral edges, and upper shin peripheral edge and a lower ankle peripheral edge attached inside said lower body shell with said upper shin peripheral edge abutting said thigh panel lower peripheral edge.

Claim 9

An improved body armor arrangement adapted to allow the user ease of bending, and comprising, in combination: an upper body outer shell having openable overlapping front peripheral edges; closure means mounted on said upper body shell peripheral edges; a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material torso panel having openable overlapping front peripheral edges, shoulder peripheral edges and peripheral edges defining arm openings, said torso panel attached inside said upper body shell with said shoulder peripheral edges being essentially parallelly adjacent; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material upper arm panels having an upper peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said arm opening peripheral edges and said shoulder peripheral edges, overlapping upper arm peripheral edges and an elbow peripheral edge, said upper arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material lower arm panels having an upper forearm peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said elbow peripheral edge, a wrist peripheral edge and overlapping forearm peripheral edges extending from said upper forearm peripheral edge to said wrist peripheral edge, said lower arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a lower body outer shell having a waist band adapted to fit over the hips of the user; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material thigh panel having upper and lower peripheral edges and overlapping thigh peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell; a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material abdomen and buttocks panel having two overlapping peripheral edges, and upper and lower peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said abdomen and buttocks panel lower peripheral edge adjacent each said thigh panel upper peripheral edge; and, a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shin and calf panel having two overlapping peripheral edges, and upper shin peripheral edge and a lower ankle peripheral edge attached inside said lower body shell with said upper shin peripheral edge abutting said thigh panel lower peripheral edge.

Claim 10

The arrangement defined in claim 7 further comprising: pockets formed between the upper body shell and attached panels whereby the user may insert a preselected number of additional layers of protective material to provide increased level of protection.

Claim 11

The arrangement defined in claim 7 further comprising: pockets formed between the lower body shell and attached panels whereby the user may insert a preselected number of additional layers of protective material to provide increased level of protection.

Claim 12

The arrangement defined in claim 7 further comprising: a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shoulder shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said torso panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material elbow shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said forearm panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material knee shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said thigh panel and said shin and calf panel; and, a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material groin shield attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said abdomen and buttocks shield and said pair of thigh shields.

Claim 13

The arrangement defined in claim 7 further comprising: a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shoulder shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said torso panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material elbow shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said forearm panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material knee shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said thigh panel and said shin and calf panel; an external pocket attached to the outside of said lower body shell over the seam formed between said abdomen and buttocks shield and said pair of thigh shields; and, a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material groin shield formed to be insertably removal from said external pocket.

Claim 14

The arrangement defined in claim 7 further comprising: a plurality of adjustable straps mounted at preselected points on the outside of said upper body shell to provide the user with a means to streamline the fit of said arrangement to conform to the body proportions of said user; a nap sack pocket attached to the back portion of the upper body shell; and a pull strap attached to the back portion of the upper body shell.

Claim 15

An improved body armor arrangement adapted to allow the user ease of bending, and comprising, in combination: an upper body outer shell having openable overlapping front peripheral edges; closure means mounted on said upper body shell peripheral edges; a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material torso panel having openable overlapping front peripheral edges, shoulder peripheral edges and peripheral edges defining arm openings, said torso panel attached inside said upper body shell with said shoulder peripheral edges being essentially parallelly adjacent; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material upper arm panels having an upper peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said arm opening peripheral edges and said shoulder peripheral edges, abutting upper arm peripheral edges and an elbow peripheral edge, said upper arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material lower arm panels having an upper forearm peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said elbow peripheral edge, a wrist peripheral edge and abutting forearm peripheral edges extending from said upper forearm peripheral edge to said wrist peripheral edge, said lower arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a lower body outer shell having a waist band adapted to fit over the hips of the user; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material front thigh panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material back thigh panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said right and left peripheral edges respectively abutting said front thigh right and left peripheral edges; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material buttocks panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said lower peripheral edges respectively abutting said back thigh panel upper peripheral edges; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material abdomen panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said lower peripheral edges respectively abutting said front thigh panels, said right and left peripheral edges respectively abutting said right and left peripheral edges of said buttocks panels; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shin panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said upper peripheral edges respectively abutting said front thigh panel lower peripheral edges; and, a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material calf panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges mounted inside said lower body shell with said upper peripheral edges respectively abutting said back thigh panel lower peripheral edges and said right and left peripheral edges respectively abutting said right and left shin right and left peripheral edges.

Claim 16

An improved body armor arrangement adapted to allow the user ease of bending, and comprising, in combination: an upper body outer shell having openable overlapping front peripheral edges; closure means mounted on said upper body shell peripheral edges; a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material torso panel having openable overlapping front peripheral edges, shoulder peripheral edges and peripheral edges defining arm openings, said torso panel attached inside said upper body shell with said shoulder peripheral edges being essentially parallelly adjacent; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material upper arm panels having an upper peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said arm opening peripheral edges and said shoulder peripheral edges, abutting upper arm peripheral edges and an elbow peripheral edge, said upper arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material lower arm panels having an upper forearm peripheral edge compatible with and mountable adjacent said elbow peripheral edge, a wrist peripheral edge and abutting forearm peripheral edges extending from said upper forearm peripheral edge to said wrist peripheral edge, said lower arm panels attached inside said upper body shell; a lower body outer shell having a waist band adapted to fit over the hips of the user; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material front thigh panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material back thigh panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said right and left peripheral edges respectively abutting said front thigh right and left peripheral edges; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material buttocks panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said lower peripheral edges respectively abutting said back thigh panel upper peripheral edges; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material abdomen panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said lower peripheral edges respectively abutting said front thigh panels, said right and left peripheral edges respectively abutting said right and left peripheral edges of said buttocks panels; a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shin panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges attached inside said lower body shell with said upper peripheral edges respectively abutting said front thigh panel lower peripheral edges; and, a right and left unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material calf panels having upper, lower, right and left peripheral edges mounted inside said lower body shell with said upper peripheral edges respectively abutting said back thigh panel lower peripheral edges and said right and left peripheral edges respectively abutting said right and left shin right and left peripheral edges.

Claim 17

The arrangement defined in claim 13 further comprising: pockets formed between the upper body shell and attached panels whereby the user may insert a preselected number of additional layers of protective material to provide increased level of protection.

Claim 18

The arrangement defined in claim 13 further comprising: pockets formed between the lower body shell and attached panels whereby the user may insert a preselected number of additional layers of protective material to provide increased level of protection.

Claim 19

The arrangement defined in claim 13 further comprising: a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shoulder shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said torso panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material elbow shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said forearm panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material knee shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said thigh panel and said shin and calf panel; and, a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material groin shield attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said abdomen and buttocks shield and said pair of thigh shields.

Claim 20

The arrangement defined in claim 13 further comprising: a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shoulder shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said torso panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material elbow shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said forearm panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material knee shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said thigh panel and said shin and calf panel; an external pocket attached to the outside of said lower body shell over the seam formed between said abdomen and buttocks shield and said pair of thigh shields; and, a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material groin shield formed to be insertably removal from said external pocket.

Claim 21

The arrangement defined in claim 13 further comprising: a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material shoulder shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said torso panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material elbow shields attached to the outside of said upper body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said upper arm panel and said forearm panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material knee shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said thigh panel and said shin and calf panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material thigh shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the outer seam formed between said front thigh panel and said back thigh panel; a pair of unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material lower leg shields attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the outer seam formed between said shin panel and said calf panel; and, a unitarily fabricated, flexible, layered protective material groin shield attached to the outside of said lower body shell to provide protection of the seam formed between said abdomen and buttocks shield and said pair of thigh shields.

Claim 22

The arrangement defined in claim 13 further comprising: a plurality of adjustable straps mounted at preselected points on the outside of said upper body shell to provide the user with a means to streamline the fit of said arrangement to conform to the body proportions of said user; a nap sack pocket attached to the back portion of the upper body shell; and a pull strap attached to the back portion of the upper body shell.