Weight distribution and support device and system for armor vests
A load bearing weight distribution device is provided. The device comprises a flexible, yet rigid, back brace, a waist belt, wherein the waist belt is connected through a housing to back brace, and a vertical and circumferential tensioning mechanism. The back brace comprises flexible body with arms. The vertical and circumferential tensioning mechanism comprises a first securement strap and a second securement strap. The load bearing weight distribution device is designed for use with armor vests and other similar devices. First and second securement straps connect upper front portion of the armor vest through first and second channels and first and second rings, respectively, of the back portion and through first and second passages of the armor vest, respectively, for attachment to a securement device positioned on a lower front portion of the armor vest.
1. A load distribution device for an armor vest comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the load distribution device comprising:
a back brace designed to be secured to the rear portion of the armor vest, the back brace comprising a lower portion;
a belt comprising a central rear portion, a pocket disposed in the central rear portion, and a rigid support, at least a first portion of which is disposed in the pocket; and
a coupling designed to couple the lower portion of the back brace to the rigid support, the coupling comprising an interface housing comprising a pocket,
wherein at least a second portion of the rigid support is disposed within the pocket of the interface housing, and
wherein the interface housing is designed to couple the lower portion of the back brace to the rigid insert.
2. The load distribution device of claim 1 , wherein the back brace further comprises a flat body, and wherein the rigid support comprises a flat body.
3. The load distribution device of claim 2 , wherein the back brace further comprises two arms, the back brace having a Y-shape.
4. The load distribution device of claim 1 , wherein the armor vest further comprises at least two straps connecting the front portion of the armor vest to the rear portion of the armor vest through respective ring-like devices.
5. The load distribution device of claim 4 , wherein each strap comprises a clasp for removably attaching the each strap to the front portion of the armor vest.
6. The load distribution device of claim 4 , wherein each strap creates a cinch fit between the front portion and the rear portion of the armor vest.
7. A weight distribution system comprising:
a waist belt comprising a central rear portion, a pocket disposed in the central rear portion, and a rigid support, at least a first portion of which is disposed in the pocket;
an armor vest comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a load bearing device for supporting a load contained within the armor vest, the load bearing device comprising a lower portion; and
a coupling designed to couple the load bearing device to the rigid support, the coupling comprising an interface housing comprising a pocket,
wherein at least a second portion of the rigid support is disposed within the pocket of the interface housing, and
wherein the interface housing is designed to couple the lower portion of the load bearing device to the rigid insert.
8. The weight distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the load bearing device is a back brace positioned within the rear portion of the armor vest.
9. The weight distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the load bearing device comprises a flexible yet partially rigid body for supporting the load within the armor vest.
10. A load bearing weight distribution system comprising:
a waist belt comprising a central rear portion, a pocket disposed in the central rear portion, and a rigid support, at least a first portion of which is disposed in the pocket;
an armor vest comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a back brace for supporting a load contained within the armor vest, the back brace comprising a lower portion;
a coupling designed to couple the back brace to the rigid support, the coupling comprising an interface housing comprising a pocket; and
a tensioning mechanism for lifting a portion of the load contained within the armor vest off the shoulders of a wearer and redistributing the portion of the load to the waist belt via the coupling,
wherein at least a second portion of the rigid support is disposed within the pocket of the interface housing, and
wherein the interface housing is designed to couple the lower portion of the back brace to the rigid insert.
11. The load bearing weight distribution system of claim 10 , wherein the back brace comprises a flexible body and a pair of arms designed to bear the portion of the load contained within the armor vest and to redistribute the portion of the load to the waist belt.
12. The load bearing weight distribution system of claim 10 , wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises a first securement strap and a second securement strap.
13. The load bearing weight distribution system of claim 12 , wherein the first and second securement straps are designed to be cinched for lifting the portion of the load contained within the armor vest off the shoulders of the wearer and redistributing the portion of the load to the waist belt.
14. The load bearing weight distribution system of claim 13 , wherein the first securement strap and the second securement strap connect the front portion of the armor vest to the rear portion of the armor vest, and wherein the first securement strap communicates through a first channel and a first ring in the rear portion of the armor vest and the second securement strap communicates through a second channel and a second ring in the rear portion of the armor vest, the first and second securement straps designed to connect to a securement device positioned in the front portion of the armor vest.
15. The load distribution device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling further comprises:
a belt attachment interface attached to the rear portion of the armor vest,
wherein the interface housing is designed to attach to the belt attachment interface to couple the lower portion of the back brace to the rigid support.
16. The load distribution device of claim 15 , wherein:
the belt attachment interface comprises a first plurality horizontal straps, and
the interface housing further comprises a second plurality of horizontal straps and at least one attachment strap designed to be woven through selected ones of the first and second pluralities of horizontal straps to couple the lower portion of the back brace to the rigid support.
17. The weight distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the armor vest further comprises at least two straps connecting the front portion of the armor vest to the rear portion of the armor vest through respective ring-like devices, wherein the armor vest further comprises a first side portion and a second side portion, and wherein each strap is slidably positioned within a corresponding passage in a respective one of the first and second side portions.
18. The weight distribution system of claim 17 , wherein the at least two straps are designed for lifting at least a portion of the load contained within the armor vest off the shoulders of a wearer and redistributing the portion of the load to the waist belt through the coupling.