Ballistic-resistant garment

Inventor: Ryan M. Miller (Wellington, CO)

Assignee: Angel Armor, LLC

F41H5/013 A41D1/04 A41D13/0518 A41D13/0568 A41D13/0575 A41D31/24 A41D2300/332 A41D2400/48

View Patent ↗

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…

Monitor This Case

Get email alerts when status or documents change.

Order Certified Copies

Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.

Order via The Patent Place →

Pre-filled with this patent's details

Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12,085,369
App. No.: 17/877,178
Granted: Sep 10, 2024
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A ballistic-resistant garment having a tensioning fastening system, and methods of making and using such a ballistic-resistant garment, whereby the ballistic-resistant garment includes (i) a front panel having a front panel pocket configured to receive a first ballistic-resistant insert; (ii) a back panel having a back panel pocket configured to receive a second ballistic-resistant insert; (iii) a front panel elastic elongate member coupled to the front panel; (iv) a front panel first fastener coupled to a front panel elastic elongate member first end; (v) a front panel second fastener coupled to a front panel elastic elongate member second end; (vi) a back panel elastic elongate member coupled to the back panel; (vii) a back panel first fastener coupled to a back panel elastic elongate member first end; and (viii) a back panel second fastener coupled to a back panel elastic elongate member second end.

Claims (57)

1. A ballistic-resistant garment having a tensioning fastening system, comprising:

a front panel having a front panel pocket configured to receive a first ballistic-resistant insert;

a back panel having a back panel pocket configured to receive a second ballistic-resistant insert;

a front panel elongate member coupled to said front panel, said front panel elongate member having an elastic length disposed between opposing first and second ends;

a front panel first fastener coupled to said front panel elongate member first end;

a front panel second fastener coupled to said front panel elongate member second end;

a back panel elongate member coupled to said back panel, said back panel elongate member having an elastic length disposed between opposing first and second ends;

a back panel first fastener coupled to said back panel elongate member first end;

a back panel second fastener coupled to said back panel elongate member second end;

said front panel first fastener configured to matably engage with said back panel first fastener to provide a first pair of releasably engaged fasteners, and said front panel second fastener configured to matably engage with said back panel second fastener to provide a second pair of releasably engaged fasteners;

said front panel first fastener configured as a clip having a channel, said back panel first fastener configured as a pin receivable in said channel;

said clip and said pin configured as a rapid-release or quick-release system;

wherein said first and second pair of releasably engaged fasteners couple said front and back panels to tensionably fasten said ballistic-resistant garment about a torso of a wearer.

2. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 1 , wherein said tensioning fastening system provides 360° of tension for a customized fit about said torso of said wearer.

3. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 1 , wherein said front panel comprises first and second materials disposed in overlaying engagement to form said front panel pocket, said first and second materials defining a pocket interior space therebetween; and

wherein said front panel pocket comprises a pocket opening, said first ballistic-resistant insert is configured to be passable through said pocket opening for receipt within said pocket interior space.

4. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 3 , said pocket opening disposed proximate a front panel side of said front panel.

5. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 4 , said pocket opening accessible from an outer surface of said front panel to permit external loading of said first ballistic-resistant insert.

6. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 3 , further comprising a securement system proximate said pocket opening, said securement system configured to releasably close said front panel pocket.

7. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 1 , said front panel elongate member is configured to be removably coupled to said front panel.

8. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 7 , said front panel elongate member removably coupled to said front panel via one passageway which extends between a passageway first opening proximate a front panel side and a passageway second opening proximate the opposing front panel side, said front panel elongate member passable through said openings for (i) receipt within a passageway interior space and (ii) laterally outward extension from said passageway first opening and said passageway second opening.

9. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 1 , said front panel elongate member is configured to be seamlessly continuous between said front panel elongate member first and second ends.

10. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 1 , said back panel elongate member coupled to said back panel via a connector which removably couples to said back panel.

11. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 10 , said connector configured for slidable engagement with a slit coupled to said back panel.

12. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 11 , said back panel comprising a webbing having a plurality of said slits.

13. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 12 , said back panel elongate member incrementally adjustably couplable to said webbing along a width of said webbing.

14. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 1 , said back panel elongate member further comprising an auxiliary pocket coupled thereto.

15. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 14 , said auxiliary pocket configured to receive an auxiliary ballistic-resistant insert.

16. The ballistic-resistant garment of claim 15 , wherein when said ballistic-resistant garment is worn about said torso of said wearer, said auxiliary ballistic-resistant insert disposes proximate a side portion of said torso of said wearer.

17. A ballistic-resistant garment having a tensioning fastening system, comprising: