Granted Patent B2

US 12,228,378 · App. 17/713,052 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Inventors: John Lettow (Washington, DC); Keren Espina (Randallstown, MD); Jennifer Pinkos (Hanover, MD); James A Turney (Silver Spring, MD); Can Gun Yaprak (Halethorpe, MD); Sandy Spence (Westminster, MD)

F41H1/02H01Q1/273

Abstract

Claims (109)

1. A wearable communications and ballistics protection system comprising:

a carrier;

a communications hub;

an antenna element;

wherein

the communications hub

is affixed to the carrier;

comprises an antenna port;

the antenna element is affixed to the carrier;

the antenna port

is conductively coupled to the antenna element;

demountably and conductively couples to a portable radio;

the carrier

demountably receives a ballistic plate; and

configured to be worn on the torso of a user and provide ballistic protection thereto.

2. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 1 , wherein

the antenna element comprises a conductive composition;

the conductive composition comprises:

a polymer;

fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene that are present as a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer.

3. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 1 , wherein

the carrier comprises:

a first panel;

a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel at a top end;

the first panel and the second panel are laterally and demountably coupled together via a demountable fastener; and

the demountable fastener positioned proximate to a bottom end.

4. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 3 , wherein

at least one of the first panel and the second panel comprises the ballistic plate demountably positioned therein.

5. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 3 , wherein

the communications hub is affixed to the first panel or the second panel.

6. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 1 , wherein

the antenna element comprises an EM shielding material positioned below the conductive composition and thereby shields the user from EM radiation emanating from the antenna element.

7. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 4 , wherein

at least one of the first panel and the second panel comprises an EM shielding material positioned under the antenna element and thereby shield the user from EM radiation emanating from the antenna element.

8. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 3 , wherein

the carrier comprises a open state and a closed state;

in the open state, the demountable fastener is decoupled and thereby allows the user to don the carrier; and

in the closed state, the demountable fastener is coupled together and thereby holds the carrier proximate the torso of the user.

9. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 1 , wherein

the antenna element comprises a thickness of 3-10 mm.

10. A wearable communications and ballistics protection system comprising:

a carrier;

a communications hub;

an antenna element;

wherein

the communications hub

is affixed to the carrier;

comprises an antenna port;

the antenna element is affixed to the carrier;

the antenna port

is conductively coupled to the antenna element;

demountably and conductively couples to a portable radio;

the carrier

demountably receives a ballistic plate;

configured to be worn on the torso of a user and provide ballistic protection thereto;

the antenna element comprises a conductive composition;

the conductive composition comprises:

fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene;

a polymer; and

the fully exfoliated sheets of graphene form a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer.

11. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 10 , wherein

the carrier comprises:

a first panel;

a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel at an end; and

the first panel and the second panel are laterally and demountably coupled together via a demountable fastener.

12. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 11 , wherein

at least one of the first panel and the second panel demountably receives the ballistic plate.

13. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 11 , wherein

the communications hub is affixed to the first panel or the second panel.

14. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 10 , wherein

the antenna element comprises an EM shielding material positioned below the conductive composition and thereby shield the user from EM radiation emanating from the antenna element.

15. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 12 , wherein

at least one of the first panel or the second panel comprises an EM shielding material positioned under the antenna element and thereby shield the user from EM radiation emanating from the antenna element.

16. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 11 , wherein

the carrier comprises a open state and a closed state;

in the open state, the demountable fastener is decoupled and thereby allows the user to don the carrier; and

in the closed state, the demountable fastener is coupled together and thereby holds the carrier proximate the torso of the user.

17. The wearable communications and ballistics protection systems of claim 10 , wherein

the antenna element comprises a thickness of 3-10 mm.

18. A wearable communications and ballistics protection system comprising:

a carrier;

a communications hub;

antenna elements;

wherein

the carrier

is worn on the torso of a user and provides ballistic protection thereto;

comprises:

a first panel;

a second panel pivotably coupled to the first panel at a top end;

the first panel and the second panel are laterally and demountably coupled together via a demountable fastener;

each of the first panel and the second panel

comprises a ballistic plate demountably positioned therein;

comprise at least one of the antenna elements affixed thereto;

the communications hub

is externally affixed to the first panel or the second panel;

comprises antenna ports;

each antenna port

is conductively coupled to at least one of the antenna elements;

demountably and conductively couples to a portable radio;

the antenna element comprises a conductive composition;

the conductive composition comprises:

a polymer;

fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene that are present as a three-dimensional percolated network within the polymer.

19. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 18 , wherein at least one of

the antenna element, the first panel, and the second panel comprise an EM shielding material positioned between the conductive composition and the user to shield the user from EM radiation emanating therefrom.

20. The wearable communications and ballistics protection system of claim 19 , wherein

the carrier comprises a open state and a closed state;

in the open state, the demountable fastener is decoupled and thereby allows the user to don the carrier; and

in the closed state, the demountable fastener is coupled together and thereby holds the carrier proximate the torso of the user.

Continuity (1)

References Cited (15)