FR2764480A1 - Bullet-proof waistcoat - Google Patents

Abstract

The waistcoat is made from one or more basically flat sections (2) with pouches (20) to hold removable armoured panels (4, 5, 6). The pouches are equipped with fasteners (22) for the apertures used for inserting or removing the panels. The panels comprise parallel rigid and foam layers, e.g. with a rigid layer sandwiched between two foam layers, in one or more sections to protect the wearer's chest, stomach, abdomen, back and shoulders. Additional protective elements can be incorporated to protect against impact, made from layers of aramid fabric, e.g. 'Kevlar' (RTM) with a warp and weft of between 800 and 1400 Dtex and a weight of 172 - 222 g/m<2>, and layers of cellular rubber foam an PVC.

Description

The invention relates to protective organs for the human body and to vests comprising such organs.

There is known a bulletproof vest comprising a thoracic protection member covering the entire thorax of the user, this member comprising one or more rigid plastic plates and a foam plate.

When the user wishes to be protected against firearm bullets, he must change his vest and put on a bulletproof vest specifically intended for this purpose.

The user must therefore have two vests. In addition, when he wishes to ward off both hits and bullets, the user can wear the two vests on top of each other, but this is uncomfortable.

An object of the invention is to provide a protection member which can be adapted according to the wishes of the user, for example to be either bulletproof or bulletproof at will, or even both at the same time.

With a view to achieving this aim, according to the invention there is provided a protective member for the human body, having a generally flat shape and comprising means for supporting a protective element of generally flat shape so that the protective member and the protection element are substantially parallel, in contact and facing each other, in which the support means are adapted to support the protection element in a removable manner.

Thus, the protection member can at will receive or not receive one or more protection elements depending on the wishes of the user. It will for example be a bulletproof element and / or a bulletproof element.

Advantageously, the support means comprise at least one pocket adapted to receive the protective element at least in part.

Thus, the support means are formed in a particularly simple manner.

Advantageously, the protection member comprises means for preventing the protection element from coming out of the pocket.

Thus, stable attachment of the protective element to the protective member is guaranteed.

Advantageously, the pocket is adapted to receive the protective element in its entirety and comprises means for closing the pocket.

Advantageously, the pocket or pockets extend over a major part of the surface of the protective member.

Advantageously, the protection member comprises at least two pockets at least partly not superimposed.

Thus, each pocket is adapted to the protection of such or such part of the body. There is therefore a protective element in one and / or the other of the pockets depending on the degree of protection and the desired bodily freedom.

Advantageously, the protective member comprises at least one protective part permanently attached to the protective member.

Thus, the protective member provides minimum protection when it is devoid of a protective element.

Advantageously, the protective member comprises at least one rigid plate and at least one foam plate permanently fixed to the protective member, and means for maintaining the two plates parallel to one another and facing each other. 'from each other, the two plates being free to move relative to each other, the foam plate being arranged to extend between the rigid plate and the body.

The body thus alone provides minimal impact protection while being comfortable to wear.

Advantageously, the protection member comprises two foam plates between which the rigid plate extends.

Advantageously, the rigid plate is single and extends over the major part of the protection member.

Advantageously, the protection member is intended to protect at least one of the following parts of the body: the thorax, the abdomen, the lower abdomen, the back, the shoulder.

There is also provided according to the invention an assembly comprising a protective member according to the invention and at least one protective element adapted to be removably supported by the protective member.

Advantageously, the assembly comprises at least two protection elements adapted to be supported simultaneously in a removable manner by the protection member.

Thus, the assembly can be precisely adapted according to the nature and degree of protection desired.

Advantageously, the protective elements are adapted to be supported by being partially overlapped with one another.

Advantageously, the protection elements are adapted to be supported while being received in the same pocket of the protection member.

Advantageously, the or each protection element is adapted to ward off firearm bullets.

Advantageously, the or each protective element is adapted to ward off blows.

A vest comprising at least one assembly according to the invention is also provided according to the invention.

Advantageously, the protective vest comprises at least two assemblies according to the invention (for example respectively for the back and the thorax), and means for removable fixing of the assemblies to one another, the fixing means being adapted to allow the position to be adjusted. relative of sets.

Thus, the arrangement of the different parts of the vest on the body of the user can be adapted according to the absence, the presence, or the number of protective elements attached to the protective members.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example. In the accompanying drawings - Figure 1 is a principle view in cross section of a protective assembly according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a front view of such an assembly intended for the protection of the thorax and the abdomen, showing the pockets and the protective elements - Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the received plates permanently - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing an assembly for the protection of the back - Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the plates received permanently; and - Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing an assembly for protecting the lower abdomen.

The vest according to the invention comprises several protective assemblies which advantageously have the same general structure. We will first describe this structure, then we will present each of the sets with its particularities.

An assembly 1 for protecting the human body according to the invention is shown in cross section in FIG. 1. For clarity of the representation, the thickness of the assembly, perpendicular to the thickness of the plates, has been greatly exaggerated on this figure. This assembly comprises a protection member 2 and several protection elements 4, 5 and 6, here three in number.

The member 2 and the elements 4, 5 and 6 have a generally flat shape and are arranged parallel to each other, facing each other and in contact with each other. Preferably, for the organ 2, this shape is slightly curved or bent in at least one plane in order to comfortably adapt to the part of the body to be protected. The protective elements 4, 5 and 6 naturally have a flat shape outside the vest and bend when they are received in the vest as will be seen below.

The protective member 2 comprises three panels of plastified edged canvas 10, 12 and 14 having substantially the same shape in plan. The three panels are superimposed on each other to form three layers. The outer panel 10 is on the side intended to be towards the outside of the body and the inner panel 14 is intended to be towards the body, the panel 12 being the middle panel.

The outer 10 and middle panels 12 are sewn to each other over all of their edges 16 and define between them a closed pocket 18. The middle 12 and inner 14 panels are sewn to each other and delimit between them a pocket 20. Access is left inside this pocket 20. The opening of the pocket receives for example a zipper 22 in order to open and close this pocket 20 at will.

The protection member 2 comprises three plates of substantially the same dimensions in plan with one another extending in the closed pocket 18, parallel to each other and facing each other. The three plates are free to move relative to each other. Such an assembly of plates is qualified as floating. The three plates are formed, from the outer panel 10 to the middle panel 12, by a synthetic foam plate 24 adjacent to the outer panel 10, a rigid plate 26 mainly made of plastic (for example polypropylene reinforced with glass fibers. ), and a synthetic foam plate 28 adjacent to the middle panel 12 and adapted to extend between the rigid plate 26 and the body. The rigid plate 26 extends between the two foam plates 24, 28.

In certain cases, the rigid plate 26 may be replaced by plates of smaller dimensions in plan and arranged side by side in the same plane as will be seen below. The inner foam plate 28 has a thickness greater than a thickness of the outer foam plate 24. One and / or the other of these two plates may be constituted by a closed-cell foam of a known type. The plate 24 has on its outer face, facing the outer panel 10, an adhesive, so that it is glued to this panel which is stretched for this purpose. This gives the outer face of the vest a regular appearance pleasing to the eye. The combination of these three plates provides minimal protection against blows. The inner foam plate 28 ensures a comfortable wearing of the protective member, in particular when it is devoid of the protective elements 4, 5 and 6. These three plates are received in the closed pocket 18 and thus permanently fixed to the The protective member 2. Their thickness will be made small enough to allow the protective member 2 to be worn discreetly under clothing, for example under a jacket, when the protective elements 4, 5 and 6 are absent. The closed pocket 18 for receiving the three plates 24, 26, 28 constitutes means for maintaining these plates parallel to one another and facing each other, the plates remaining free to move with respect to one another.

As a variant, the protection member may comprise a second pocket or plastron extending in front of the pocket 18. This plastron then permanently receives the plates 24 and 26, the pocket 18 permanently receiving the plate 28 alone. The plate 26 may have an articulation in its middle.

Advantageously, the plates 24, 26, 28 may each have at least one articulation, in addition to or replacing the bending.

The protective elements 4, 5 and 6 each comprise two panels 29, 30, 31, 32, substantially of the same shape, made of plasticized fabric. The two panels of each protective element are sewn edge to edge in order to define between them a closed pocket 33, 35.

The protective element 4 further comprises a flexible or curved plate 34 made of a material suitable for constituting protection against firearm bullets, for example polyethylene or a material marketed under the trademark “kevlar &commat;”. The plate 34 is received in the pocket 33 of the element 4. The protection element 4 thus constitutes a protection element against bullets, or ballistic element.

The protective element 5 comprises, for example, a lining 27 comprising four layers or sheets of “kevlar” material and coated with elastomer. This element constitutes an anti-trauma protection element. It is intended to extend directly behind the ballistic element 4, on the side of the user's body. It prevents the shock caused by the impact of the bullet causing local trauma to the user's body, by attenuating this shock.

The protective element 6 comprises two main plates 36 of synthetic cellular foam having the same general shape close to that of panels 31, 33 and several secondary plates 38 of the same foam arranged one beside the other in the same plane between the panels. two main plates 36. The plates 36 and the plates 38 are received in the closed pocket 35. Seams 40 pass through the thickness of the main plates 36 around the secondary plates 38, and join the panels 31, 32 of the protective element 6 in order to define individual housings for the respective secondary plates 38. The secondary plates 38 advantageously have an irregular shape to better match the human body, circular, and are grouped in pairs each comprising a large plate and a small plate arranged concentrically. The protective element 6 constitutes additional protection against blows.

The pocket 20 of the protective member 2 makes it possible to receive in full the three protective elements 4, 5 and 6 superimposed on one another. The user can also choose to place in this pocket only one or two of the three protective elements 4, 5 and 6, or none of them. The protective assembly 1, the protective member 2, the protective elements 4, 5, and 6, and the plates 24, 26, 28 have a generally flat shape. The pocket 20 allows the protective member 2 to support one, two or three of the protective elements 4, 5 and 6 removably with the protective elements 4, 5 and 6 and the protective member 2, substantially parallel , in contact and facing each other. The zipper 22, by way of example, constitutes means for closing the pocket 20 and makes it possible to prevent the exit of the protective elements 4, 5 and 6 received entirely in the pocket 20. Preferably, the zipper pocket 20 will not be defined directly by the two panels 12, 14 but by other panels arranged between them.

When the protective elements have a natural flat shape, their reception in the vest gives them a curved shape similar to that of the plates 24, 26, 28 received permanently.

The vest according to the invention comprises several assemblies la, lb, lc of the type of assembly 1 which has just been described.

I1 firstly comprises a set of protection for the thorax and the sides, shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 3 shows the general shape of the panels 10, 12 and 14, and the plates 24, 26, 28 received in the closed pocket 18 shown in dotted lines. These plates are suitable for covering most of the thorax. The rigid plate 26 is integral and extends over most of the surface of the thoracic member. FIG. 2 likewise shows the general shape of the protective elements 4, 5 and 6 received in the pocket 20 visible in dotted lines. This shape is different from that of the plates 24, 26, 28 and covers the thorax. The closure of the pocket 20 extends in the vicinity of a lower edge of the protection member 2. The thoracic protection member 2 further comprises a second pocket 20 parallel to the aforementioned main pocket 20, partly superimposed on the main pocket and partly extending lower than the lower edge of the protective member 2, extending beyond this edge. One or more additional canvas panels may be necessary to constitute this second pocket 20. This pocket has a trapezoidal shape. It has an opening with, for example, a zipper 22 at its upper edge.

It is intended to receive one or two protective elements of the type of the aforementioned protective elements 4, 5 and 6 having a shape suitable for being received in this pocket.

Referring to Figure 6, the vest then comprises an assembly lb of the type of that of Figure 1, intended for the protection of the lower abdomen and having for this purpose a generally triangular or trapezoidal shape. This assembly lb is adapted to be fixed in a removable manner by its upper edge to the lower edge of the thoracic protection assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3. To this end, the vest comprises for example a zipper 40 worn in part by a lower edge of the thoracic assembly 1a, and partly by an upper edge of the assembly 1b for the lower abdomen. When in position, the lower abdomen protection assembly 1b covers the part of the secondary pocket of the thoracic assembly 1a which projects from the lower edge of this assembly.

The vest also includes a back assembly îc for back protection, shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring to Figure 5, the rigid plate 26 is here replaced by three curved and / or articulated plates 26 arranged in the same plane one above the other and held in this position by means allowing them to move moderately, for example to constitute a flexural joint giving a certain flexibility to the back assembly. The three plates 26 are identical to each other. They have a generally rectangular shape having two large edges 42, 44 intended to extend horizontally when the vest is worn. The upper edge 42 has a projecting shape and the lower edge 44 has a re-entrant shape adapted to receive the projecting edge 42 of the adjacent plate 26. This association of the edges immobilizes the three plates in relative translation parallel to their large edges 42 and 44. With reference to FIG. 4.

In addition, the back assembly comprises two other pockets 20 intended to extend respectively over the shoulders of the user. These pockets 20 each comprise a ballistic element 4 and an anti-trauma element 5 permanently received in the pocket. The back assembly includes two other pockets intended to extend above the shoulders of the user and to receive one or more removable or permanent protective elements.

The vest comprises means for removable relative attachment of the thoracic assembly la to the back assembly lc, for example in the form of self-gripping ribbons 48, in order to allow the relative position of the assemblies to be adjusted for wearing the vest. . This adjustment possibility is advantageous given the fact that each of the sets la, lb, lc can be worn with a number of protective elements 4, 5 and 6 varying between 0 and 3, and that the thickness of each set is therefore variable.

It can be seen that each pocket 18, 20, 33, 35 extends over a major part of the surface of the associated protection assembly.

The vest may include an assembly suitable for otherwise or additionally protecting the arms or the neck. The vest may include removable sleeves, not shown, which can be attached to the thoracic and dorsal assemblies la, lc by means of pressure fasteners.

The vest may include only one of the aforementioned assemblies, for example thoracic la or dorsal lc, the other parts of the vest being of a conventional type.

In general, the protective member can permanently receive at least one protective part such as a plastic plate (for example polypropylene reinforced with glass fibers), ceramic, hevlars, resin, metal mesh (in foam, foam and fabrics, rubber or any other material suited to the aesthetics and nature of the protection provided. These materials may also be used for the removable protection element (s).

At least one of the permanent protective parts and / or at least one of the removable protective elements may have an articulation and / or a bend.

The protective member may further comprise a permanent protective part and / or a removable protective element adapted to ward off stab wounds.

This part may comprise at least one fabric and / or interlaced metal strips.

Claims (19)

1. Protective member (2) of the human body, having a generally flat shape and comprising means (20) for supporting a protective element (4, 5, 6) of generally flat shape so that the protective member and the protection element are substantially parallel, in contact and facing each other, characterized in that the support means (20) are adapted to support the protection element (4, 5, 6) of removable way. 2. Body according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means comprise at least one pocket (20) adapted to receive the protective element (4, 5, 6) at least in part. 3. Body according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means (22) for preventing the exit of the protective element (4, 5, 6) from the pocket (20). 4. Body according to claim 3, characterized in that the pocket (20) is adapted to receive the protective element (4, 5, 6) in its entirety and comprises means (22) for closing the pocket. 5. Body according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the pocket or pockets (20) extend over a major part of the surface of the protective member (2). 6. Body according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least two pockets (20) at least partly not superimposed. 7. Body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one protective part (24, 26, 28) permanently attached to the protective member (2). 8. Body according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one rigid plate (26) and at least one foam plate (24, 28) permanently attached to the protective member (2), and means (18) for maintaining the two plates parallel to one another and facing each other, the two plates being free to move one relative to the other, the foam plate (28 ) being disposed to extend between the rigid plate (26) and the body. 9. Body according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises two foam plates (24, 28) between which the rigid plate (26) extends. 10. Body according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the rigid plate (26) is single and extends over the major part of the protection member (2). 11. Body according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it is intended to protect at least one of the following body parts: the thorax, the abdomen, the lower abdomen, the back, the 'shoulder. 12. Assembly (1, la, lb, lc) characterized in that it comprises a protection member (2) according to one of claims 1 to 11, and at least one protection element (4, 5, 6) adapted to be removably supported by the protection member (2). 13. Assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises at least two protection elements (4, 5, 6) adapted to be supported simultaneously in a removable manner by the protection member (2). 14. An assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the protective elements (4, 5, 6) are adapted to be supported by being mutually superimposed at least in part. 15. An assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the protective elements (4, 5, 6) are adapted to be supported by being received in the same pocket (20) of the protective member (2). 16. An assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the or each protective element (4) is adapted to ward off firearm bullets. 17. An assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the or each protective element (6) is adapted to ward off blows. 18. Protective vest comprising at least one assembly (la, lb, lc) according to any one of claims 12 to 17. 19. Protective vest according to claim 18, characterized in that it comprises at least two sets (la, lb, lc) according to any one of claims 12 to 17, and means (48) for removably fixing the sets together. , the fixing means being adapted to allow the relative position of the assemblies to be adjusted.