Improved personal carrier

Bullet resistant vests are an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact created by projectiles shot from firearms and shrapnel created by explosive materials. Bulletproof vests are worn on a torso of an individual, thus assisting in the prevention of injuries to essential body parts, and have become essential gear for the everyday operation of security personnel such as combat soldiers, police tactical units, hostage rescue teams and the like.

The vests are typically made of many layers of woven or laminated fibers, and may be combined with the metal or ceramic plates for additional protection. Due to the layered structure of the vests, they are heavier and thicker than ordinary clothing items worn about the torso.

It is common for security personnel wearing a bullet-resistant vest to also have to carry gear on their backs. The gear may be stored in a backpack and harnessed on the person’s back using straps, belts, or the like.

While there is a steady technological progression towards lighter and more compact personal equipment such as described above, there are also increasing demands upon the loads the personnel carry - heavier and more varied ammunition, protective gear, first aid, survival gear, mob dispersal means etc. Such loads may well exceed 18 kgs per person. The increased loads exacerbate problems typical in carrying the loads, such as stability, selfdonning and doffing of the load carriers, the armor carriers etc., and requires technological advances in the carrying gear.

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Furthermore, new concepts in warfare now include providing improved access to equipment, e.g. having more of the equipment in front, and allowing a person to more easily and quickly don and doff carrying gear without assistance.

Some solutions have only partially met such goals, yet are cumbersome, complex and/or heavy and require replacement or improvement, and will become less suitable the more the carrying requirements are upgraded.

Some examples of such solutions can be found in US Patent no. 5704530 that teaches a frame provided to a backpack. US application no. 2012/0124713 depicts a ballistic vast carrier that goes over the user's shoulders, from the front waste to the rear waste. US 2012/0185988 depicts a load bearing weight distribution means having a back and an armor vest that are affixed to each other. Another example is disclosed in US patent no. 4697285. The patent teaches a ballistic vest a front panel and a rear panel that are fastened with strap-like elastic means.

The need remains therefore for improved simple and lightweight, carrying gear.

Embodiments described herein below address this need.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

According to one aspect, a load carrier is provided comprising:

a first panel having at least one first panel flap; the first panel flaps each having a self-releasingly engagable patch;

a second panel;

at least one rod, each having two ends fixed to the second panel, the rod and the second panel defining a gap therebetween sized to allow one of the first panel flaps to be threaded therethrough;

226492/2 the rods and flaps allowing a user to stably and tightly don the load carrier over user’s hips by pulling the first panel flaps through the gaps and wrapping each pulled first panel flap over one of the rods to self-engage the patch of the first panel flap.

The second panel may further comprise second panel flaps foldable over one of the first panel flaps and comprising patches releasingly engageable with the patch of the first panel flap.

According to another aspect, a carrying system is provided comprising: a belt and a spine perpendicularly attached thereto;

a load carrier;

the spine and the load carrier each comprising releasable engagement means, whereby: a user can assemble the carrying system by engaging the engagement means of the spine with the engagement means of the load carrier at a first position, and can adjust distance of the load carrier from the belt by by engaging the engagement means of the spine with the engagement means of the load carrier at a second position, and the spine transfers a substantial portion of a load on the load carrier to hips of a user wearing the carrying system, and allows the user to perform unhindered duties thereof.

In some embodiments the load carrier further comprises a sleeve;

the spine fits into the sleeve, and the sleeve comprises the engagement means of the load carrier.

The sleeve may comprise two lapels sturdily stitched to the carrier, and spaced apart to allow access to the spine.

In some embodiments, lapels are held together with bands.

The lapels may comprise releasable engagement means capable of engaging the spine.

In some embodiments the spine comprises a sheet having the stiffness of a polypropylene sheet 2-3 mm thick. For example, the sheet is 2-3 mm thick and is made of polypropylene.

According to another aspect, a carrying system is provided comprising:

226492/2 a vest comprising a vest-belt, and a pack comprising a pack-belt;

wherein the vest-belt is at least 2 cm wider than the pack-belt, and the carrying system is configured to allow the pack-belt to be essentially over the vest-belt when the carrying system is donned.

The vest-belt and the pack-belt may have essentially same shapes.

In some embodiments the shape is a flattened “W”.

In some embodiments the vest is any of the load carriers depicted above.

In some embodiments the pack is any of the load carriers depicted above.

According to another aspect, a carrying system is provided comprising: a vest having vest straps;

a pack donned over the vest, the pack comprising shoulderstraps;

a chest-strap having:

two ends, each end engaged with one of the shoulder straps;, and vest strap engagement means the ends configured to allow moving the chest strap up and down the shoulder straps when the vest strap is not engaged with the vest straps and to not allow said movement of the chest strap when the vest strap is engaged with the shoulder straps.

The vest may be any of the load carriers described above.

The vest may comprises a PALS grid, wherein the chest strap is engageable with the grid.

The chest strap may comprise a first strip and a second strip affixed and perpendicular to the first strip, wherein the first strip is engaged with the shoulder straps and the second strip is engageable with at least one strap of the PALS grid.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawing in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawing making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1A is a view of a prior art vest;

Figure 2 shows flaps on a prior art vest;

Figure 3 illustrates the prior art vest poorly fitting;

Figure 4 depicts a vest with a bar for tightening thereof;

Figure 5 is an expanded view of the vest part with the bar shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6a shows a carrying system with a vest and a t-belt;

Figure 6b shows the same carrying system where the belt’s position relative to the vest is adjusted;

Figure 7 depicts a t-belt;

Figure 8 shows a belt of a pack over a vest belt;

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Figure 9 shows a carrier system wherein there is a chest strap embodiment;

Figure 10 illustrates how the strap shown in Figure 9 cooperates with a vest and a pack in a carrier system;

Figure 11 shows another carrier system having a chest strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of don/doff articles useful for improved comfort in carrying heavy loads and combat gear are disclosed hereinbelow.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

In the claims, the word “comprise”, and variations thereof such as “comprises”, “comprising” and the like indicate that the components listed are included, but not generally to the exclusion of other components.

Figures 1 and 2 show a prior art vest 10 having a (back) first panel 12 and a (front) second panel 14. The vest further has a first panel flap 16, essentially orthogonal to the shoulder straps 17, on each of two opposite ends of the first panel 14. The flaps 16 each have on the inner side a Velcro patch which can each engage with a similar-sized Velcro patch (not shown) on the second panel 12. This engagement is shown in expanded view in Figure 3.

Note that the flap 16 does not properly fit onto the Velcro patch 18; the flap is too high and too forward. Therefore, the vest might get loose and the flap might even open, and it may interfere with operations of the user due to hindrance of movement. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible for a userto correctly wear the vest by himself and when the vest is not properly fitted, the ballistic cover 19 might get damaged and the vest doesn’t properly fit properly

226492/2 on the body i.e., the weight distribution is uneven and the vest 10 will not stay fixed in place on the user’s body, thus causing bruises and imbalance.

The misfit will reduce the range of motion and movement of the user. This problem is exacerbated when a lot of equipment is coupled to the vest, thus limiting freedom of movement.

One cause of the problems is that it is impossible to properly wear the vest by self donning because of limited range of motion. The standing instructions to combat personnel are thus to enlist a comrade to help put on the vest. However, a comrade free to help is not always available. Moreover, aligning the patches when acting under pressure, being tired, or inadequately trained is even more difficult, thereby the vest might not be well fitted. Therefore, is important that the engagement be reinforced, and guided by the hardware in the vest.

In other prior art vests the user wearing the vest tightens the vest by pulling strings etc. at the back side of the vest, however this operation is difficult to perform, especially with the interference of the pouches in the vestand when he needs to do the adjustments thereof while wearing the pack

Accordingly, an improved vest is provided.

According to one aspect, a load carrier is provided, comprising:

a first panel having at least one first panel flap; the first panel flaps each having a self-releasingly engagable patch;

at least one rod, each having two ends fixed to the second panel, the rod and the second panel defining a gap therebetween sized to allow one of the first panel flaps to be threaded therethrough;

the rods and first panel flaps allowing a user to stably and tightly donning the carrier system over the user’s hips by pulling the first panel flaps through the gaps and wrapping each pulled first panel flap over one of the rods to self-engage the patch of the first panel flap.

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The vest may have one or more protective layer therein and/or thereon, such as ceramic plates. An improved vest 100 is shown in Figure 4. The vest 100, as the prior art vest 10, has a first (back) panel 112 and a second (front) panel 114. The exterior sides (facing away from a user when donned) of the parts are shown. Each flap 116 is inserted into a space between a sturdy rod 120 and the exterior side of the second panel, that allows the user to pull the flap 116 through (on front of the user) and then, keeping the flap 116 tense, to pull in the opposite direction, so that the vest 100 is made tight and snug with the user’s torso. When the vest 100 is sufficiently tight the velcro patch 117 is self attached as shown in the figure, to keep the desired tension.

Figure 5 shows an expanded view of the region of the vest 100 comprising one of the rods 120. The rod 120 helps provide a fulcrum for effective tension and also guide the first panel 112 and the second panel 114 to be properly aligned with each other. The velcro patch may be made of a self-adhering material or hook and loop fasteners for example. The rod is held by two patch sleeves 122, which are in turn sturdily fixed to the first panel 112, as shown in the figure. Note that the patch sleeves 122 are each extensively and strongly affixedto the exterior cover material of the front part 112.

Each rod 120 is connected to the second panel in such a way that the tension is well spread over the second panel 114 rather than on only two points, that might have created pressure points and failure.Referring back to Figure 4, securing vertical flaps 130 are provided to the front part 112, each one configured to fold over a first panel flap 116, . The vertical flaps secure the horizontal flaps. The vertical flap reinforces the stable engagement of the front part 112 to the back part 114. In some embodiments pouches or pouch attchments are provided, for example the PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder System) grid, on an exterior side of the vertical flap .

Other engagement means may be used in addition to or instead of some of the velcro patches or flaps, such as ribbons having mating snap

226492/2 buckles to further stabilize the connection between the front part 112 and the back part 114. In some embodiments the front part has the horizontal flaps and the back part has the rods, etc., although this arrangement is considered to be less useful than the embodiments described above.

In some embodiments the front part and back part are connected by other means than the patches and the rod, and the user dons both parts together and then closes one side by tightening a patch with a rod as described above.

Another reason for poor fits of vests is improper position of the vest on the user. T- belt embodiments are provided that allow proper positioning.

Thus according to another aspect, a carrying system is provided, comprising:

a belt and a spine perpendicularly attached thereto;

a load carrier;

the spine and the load carrier each comprising releasable engagement means, wherein: a user can assemble the carrying system by engaging the engagement means of the spine with the engagement means of the load carrier at a first position, and can adjust distance of the load carrier from the belt by reengaging the engagement means of the spine with the engagement means of the load carrier at a second position.

Further shown in Figure 4 is part of an adjustable T-belt 200 embodiment. The T-belt 200 allows to adjust the position (higher or lower) of the vest 100 on a user as will be shown in the following figures. The T-belt comprises two major components: a belt 240 and a spine 250.

Figure 6a shows a carrying system 1000, including a vest 100 and a Tbelt 200. The spine 250 is adjusted and secured by the flapl 60 on the side of the vest meant to face the user. The spine 250 is moved so that the vest 100 is at a selected position relative to the belt 240, and the spine 250 is then

226492/2 engaged with the sleeve 160. The spine 250 may be released from the engagement to define a differentposition on the vest 100. The sleeve 160 is made of the following parts: 1) Two lapels 162a and 162b, which are sturdily stitched to the left side 119a and the right side 119b, respectively, of the backing of the vest 100 (backing being the side of the vest 100 facing the user’s back): The lapels 162a and 162b comprise one side of the sleeve 160;

2) A velcro strip 166 that is configured to engage the spine 250 (that has a matching velcro strip on the side facing the vest, not shown); 3) bands 168 for holding lapels 162a and 162b together, thereby helping to firmly hold the spine 250 in place inside the sleeve 160. The lapels 162a and 162b preferably extend almost from the bottom of the vest 100 to almost the top, thereby allowing maximum engagement of the spine 250 within the sleeve 160 and maximum adjustment of height of the vest 100 relative to the T-belt 200 on the user.

However, the lapels 162a and 162b are spaced apart (bridged by bands 168) such that a user may both see the level the spine 250 is at, and can easily pry the lapels 162a, 162b off the spine 250 in order to readjust the height of the vest 100 realtive to the belt 240, to better fit the vest thereto.

The lapels 162a and 162b may comprise velcro strips (not shown) on the side facing the spine 250, and the spine 250 may comprise velcro strips 254a and 254b that are configured to engage with the respective velcro strips of the lapels 162a and 162b. The additional engagements further strengthen and stabilize the coupling of the spine 250 to the vest 100.

In other embodiments the spine and the sleeve each have engagement means on only one side; in other embodiments the lapels are not spaced apart. In some embodiments the band 168 are themselves made of strips with velcro or other engagement means, that can be opened to allow better access to the spine when it is desired to move it up or down in the sleeve.

The spine may have on the side facing the user and/or the side facing away from the user gradations that help the user select the appropriate

226492/2 position of the spine 250 in the sleeve 160, for example the gradations may be marked “XXL”, XL”, “L”, “M” etc., or with persons’ heights.

The belt 240 has, on the side facing the user’s back, a central part 242 that comprises a pad, on the side of the belt facing the user, for extra padding to reduce abrasion in the area of a user’s spinal column. In some embodiments the spine 250 is coupled to the central part 242, for example by strudy stitching of the spine 250 to the central part 242. In other embodiments the spine 250 is removably coupled thereto, for example by attaching the bottom part of velcro strips 254a and 254b to matching velcro strips on the side facing away from the user on central part 242. In preferred embodiments the portion of the spine 250 that is coupled to the belt 240 is 5-15 cm along the length of the spine, most preferably 10 ± 2 cm (this also means that the belt itself is at least 5-15 cm wide). In preferred embodiments the length of the spine is 25-35 cm, in preferred embodiments 30 ± 2cm. However, other embodiments include shorter or longer spines to accommodate users of unusual sizes. Further provided are replacement spines 250 sized for users of unusual sizes: the user may receive a complete T-belt, or just the belt, and may select a spine according to his size. The spines may be marked such as “XL”, “L” etc. Likewise, the belts may be separately provided in various waist sizes and/or widths and may be appropriately marked by the local waist size system.

The belt 240 has at its ends 244a and 244b velcro patches, on the side facing away from the user (not shown). The ends are configured to engage each other to position the T-belt over the user’s hips and allow the user to bear on the hips a substantial portion of the weight of the heavy vest.

Some or all of the velcro patches may be substituted or suplemented with other engagement means, such as snap buckles.

The outer layer of the sides of the vest 100 and the T-belt 200 facing the user may have a mesh structure to help wick away sweat. The vest 100 and the T-belt 200 may further comprise at least one more layer that absorbs

226492/2 and/or wicks away sweat. However, other embodiments do not have such layers, as some users may prefer different or less layers.

Figure 7 shows that the belt has a preferable shape, in particular the belt 240 has a particular shape, a somewhat flattened W shape, which is considered to have an ergonomic benefit to the user. In preferred embodiments the spines comprise a stiff layer. Following experimentation with various materials at various thicknesses, it has been concluded that the stiff layer is preferably a board of polylpropylene, having a thickness of 2-3 mm, most preferably 2.5 ± 0.2 mm. Such a layer has the right flexibility between allowing it to be comfortably worn at the user’s back and freely perform all required activities, while stably supporting the weight of the vest. The board may be made of different material (not necessarily the same thickness range) having similar properties. Users have reported that they feel the T-belt supports their back and helps them maintain an upright posture, rather than unhealthily bend their backs under the load. The spine 250 may be ergonomically contoured to fit a user’s back, however in preferred embodiments the layer is completely straight, as it is deemed sufficiently flexible to align with the user’s back.

Note that the vests 100 and other vests, likewise improved to couple with the T-belt, do not have to be used with the T-belt; one of the advantages of the T-belt is that it is fully detachable, whereby the user can use the vest like any other vest, with the load being fully borne by straps laid on the shoulders - some users may find it more comfortable to wear the vest as they are accustomed to.

The T-belt may be also be used for carrying packs, in addition to or instead of the vests. In general the T-belt is used with load-carriers.

The spine transfers a substantial portion of a load on the load carrier to hips of a user wearing the carrying system - The T-belt has been found to transfer about 60-70% of the load from the shoulders to the hips. More importantly, though, is the stabilization of the vest on the user: Without the Tbelt the vest dances around on the user and causes imbalance, impediment to

226492/2 movement , friction and bruises in the torso circumfrence. In commercially available vests the stabilization has been improved by either excessively tightening the vest on the user, or using a pack belt that is tightened around the midrif, both which are very uncomfortable (including hindrance to breathing, pain and no transfer of the load to the hips). The T-belt retains the vest in its proper place and essentially allows unhidered operational activity.

Many current vests have all or most of their pouches at the front to allow better access to the equipment therein, as well as to free up the back side of the vest for loads such as packs. However, the weight of the equipment in the pouches tends to make the front part of the vest slide forward and the vest becomes lopsided. Thus another advantage of the Tbelt is in helping to keep the vest from becoming lopsided.

Another study was conducted of various supports for both vests and packs worn above the vests. Many combat personnel have to wear packs over a vest during their missions. Ideally the vests and the packs each have their own support, such as a belt, to help distribute the load and remove some of the stress on the shoulders and spinal column. However, various options are theoretically feasible. One problem to overcome is the possible confusion and tangling between the various supports. One option that was tested was placing a belt coupled to a vest at the abdomen height, placing a belt coupled to a pack over the hips. However, again,placing the vest's belt over the midriff creates an uneasy breathing and does not properly distrubute the weight over the hips, and the pack belt cannot be properly secured. However, users in the experiment found the arrangement uncomfortable and the position was also not considered good in respect to the distribution of the loadplacing the vest support in one position when wearing only a vest, and in another position when wearing a pack over the vest. However, this arrangement was found to lead to confusion and tangling.

According to yet another aspect,

226492/2 a carrying system is provided comprising:

a vest comprising a vest-belt, and a pack comprsing a pack-belt;

the vest-belt is at least 2 cm wider than the pack-belt, and the carrying system is configured to allow the pack-belt to be essentially over the vest-belt when the carrying system is donned, wherein the belt of the pack is placed essentially over the belt of the vest.

Although some available carrying systems may have multiple belts above hips to support various loads, without careful matching of the belts they tend to stray away from their alloted location and to pinch the user. Again, it was realized that the belts thus must sit over hips and not on the midriff, since any belt located on the midriff will cause incorrect weight distribution and stress to breathing.

According to preferred embodiments, the belt of the vest is at least 2 cm wider than the belt of the pack. Preferably, the system is configured so that the heights of the belts is the same, such that there is at least a margin of 1 cm on any side of the pack belt. This can be arranged by for example adjusting the height of the vest belt in the T-belt described above. Preferably, the two belts also have the same shape, however it is stressed that some embodiments they do not have the same and relative sizes.

Preferably, vest belt is at least 5 cm wide, more preferably at least 10 cm wide.

Figure 8 illustrates a pack belt 300 placed on top of a vest belt 240’. Preferably, the middle of the width of the belts corresponds to the middle of the hip bone.

The pack belt 300 may also comprise velcro patches (not shown) or other engagement means that are configured to allow sungly and securely closing the belt 300 over the vest belt 240’. Means of engagement such as snaps, clasps, buckles etc may be used. However, to avoid confusion, in

226492/2 preferred embodiments the engagement means of the pack belt 300 are different from the engagement means of the vest belt 240’, for example the pack belt engagement means are snap-buckles 302’ and the vest engagement means are velcro patches 242a’, 242b’. The belt 300 is somewhat longer than the vest belt 240’, since the belt 300 is not directly secured to the user’s waist but rather to the wider circumfrence of the vest belt 240’. The belts 300 may also be available in various sizes, and may be interchangable by quick release from the packs, similar to the connection between the T-belts 200 and the vests 100 in some embodiments.

According to another aspect, a chest-strap is provided. Such cheststrap may be used to stabilize a pack donned over a vest, by connecting the straps of the pack to the vest and place the shoulder straps of a pack at a healthier location on a user’s shoulder, as the shoulder straps otherwise might impinge upon major veins in the shoulder and armpit area. Such a strap 470 is shown in Figures 9 and 10.

The position of the chest-strap is important. Too high interferes with breathing of the user, and might expose the user to harm at the clavicle area if he is bothered by the strap and pulls down the vest to remove the irritation. Too low interferes with access to compartments and pouches on the vest, particularly in vests used in communication applications that require many such compartments and pouches in the front.

The optimal location for the chest-strap is thus at the user’s sternum area.

Figure 10 depicts one embodiment. The vest 100 has a PALS grid 170 as shown in Figure 4. The grid 170 includes grid straps 172 that are attached to the backing of the vest 100 at regular intervals. The chest strap 470 includes a first strip 472 that connects to two shoulder straps 520 of pack 500, and a second strip 474 perpendicular to first strip 472, is engaged with straps 172.

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To accommodate users of various phsiques, the chest-strap 470 is congfigured to allow its movement up and down along the shoulder straps 520 and to be locked at the optimal location. This may simply be done by disengaging the second strip 474 from the grid strips 172 situated at one height, moving the strap 470 up or down, and reengaing the second strip with the grid strips 172 at another height.

Although chest straps that connect shoulder straps of packs to vests are commercially available, these straps do not connect the pack shoulder straps to each other except via a vest, whereas the strap 470 may be used to connect the shoulder straps even without a vest and is thus more verastile and useful, Moreover, adjustment and engagement are easier, and the strap 470 makes use of and is more compatible with, the PALS grid.

Figure 11 shows another chest strap embodiment, wherein there is no second strip, and the first strip is engaging the grid strips 172. The chest strap 470’ itself comprises a PALS grid 476.Some preferred embodiments combine two or more features: the first panel flaps, the T-belt, the two overlapping belts and the chest strap.

Such systems have been found to be intuitive and users have thus easily donned and doffed the vests and the packs thereon in the correct way.