Flexible body protector for wearing on a body of a person

Field of Invention

The field of the invention relates to a flexible body protector for wearing on a body of a person. The field of the invention further relates to a method for releasing a flexible body protector according to the present invention from a body of a person.

Background

A body protector is generally known for protecting a body of a person, i.e. a chest, belly and back of a person against an impact of a projected bullet, while wearing the body protector on the body of the person. The body protector typically comprises a front protecting member arranged for protecting a chest and belly of the person and a back protecting member arranged for protecting a back of the body. The front and back protecting member are both arranged for holding an armor assembly. The front protecting member is connected to the back protecting member over each shoulder of the person.

The armor assembly comprises a deforming member arranged for deforming an impacting bullet, which has been shot or projected onto the protecting member. The armor assembly may comprise a number of layers, such as a layer comprising the deforming member for deforming an impacting bullet and a backing layer of a woven structure to retard or obstruct a deformed impacting bullet. The deforming member may, for example, comprise a ceramic element or an array of ceramic elements arranged in a layer. The backing layer is arranged for catching the deformed bullet and to prevent penetration of the body by the impacting deformed bullet.

To protect the sides of the body of the person against an impacting bullet, the front and / or back protecting member, including the associated armor assembly, are shaped to partially extend along the sides of the body of the person below each arm of the person. A side fastening means is arranged to connect the front protecting member to the back protecting member at each side of the person, respectively, for urging the front protecting member and the back protecting member, respectively, against the body.

However, the sides of the body may not be covered sufficiently for protecting the body against impacting projectiles, such as bullets, when not fully spanning a side of the body between the front and the back protecting member. Moreover, as the deforming member of the armor assembly is a rigid member or a semi-rigid member, such as in the case of an array of ceramic elements arranged in a layer, the movability of the person is dramatically restricted when increasing a coverage area of the front and / or the back protecting member over the side of the body due to the rigidity of the armor assembly.

Moreover, a desire exists to provide a body protector, which is easily wearable and wherein a protection of the body against an impacting projectile by the body protector is easily adaptable, such as easily adaptable to a shape and size of the body of the person.

Furthermore, a desire exists to provide a body protector, which can easily be released from the body of the person in a quick and simple manner.

Summary

Embodiments of the invention aim to improve the body protector for wearing on a body of a person, wherein the body protector provides an increased protection of the sides of the body of the person while maintaining or increasing a movability of the person. Particular embodiments aim to improve a body protector for wearing on a body of a person, wherein the body protector can easily be released from the body of the person in a quick and simple manner.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a flexible body protector for wearing on a body of a person, said flexible body protector comprising:

(i) a flexible front protecting member arranged for protecting a chest and belly of the person and being arranged for holding an armor assembly;

(ii) a flexible back protecting member arranged for protecting a back of the body and being arranged for holding an armor assembly;

(iii) a pair of shoulder fastening means arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member over each shoulder of the person;

(iv) a first flexible side protecting member arranged for protecting a first side of the person and a second flexible side protecting member arranged for protecting a second side of the person; each of the flexible side protecting members being arranged for holding an armor assembly and being attached to the flexible front protecting member and the flexible back protecting member, respectively; and (v) a pair of side fastening means arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member at each side of the person, respectively, for urging the first side protecting member and the second side protecting member, respectively, against the body.

The flexible body protector comprises four parts instead of two parts to protect the body of the person.

The front protecting member and the back protecting member, including the armor assembly, are arranged for protecting a chest and belly and the back of the body, respectively, of the person. The pair of shoulder fastening means is arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member over each shoulder of the person, thereby supporting wearability of the front protecting member and the back protecting member.

The two side protecting members, including the armor assembly, are arranged for protecting each side of the person, respectively. Each side protecting member is attached to the flexible front protecting member and the flexible back protecting member, respectively.

The pair of side fastening means is arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member at each side of the person, respectively, while at the same time urging the first side protecting member and the second side protecting member, respectively, against the body.

The separate side protecting members provide additional design freedom to the body protector for covering both sides of the body while suitably urging the side protecting members to the body by the pair of side fastening means.

By separating the side protecting members from the front and the back protecting members, the front and the back protecting members, including its armor assembly, are not bended around the sides of the body of the person. In this way the stiffness of the front and the back protecting members is not increased by a bending of the armor assembly around the sides of the body, thereby keeping the front and the back protecting members easily bendable along the front and back of the person, respectively.

Furthermore, the side protecting members do not move along with a movement of the front protecting member or the back protecting member. As such , the person may easily move its body while the separate protecting members may follow the movement of the body independently one another.

Additionally, as the side protecting members do not move along with a movement of the front protecting member or the back protecting member, the side protecting members may be located all over the sides of the body, for example up to the armpit of the body.

In this way, the separate side protecting members enhance the protection of the sides of the body, while maintaining or increasing the wearability of the body protector.

For example, the side fastening means may be controlled to adjust the urging force of the side protecting members to the body, independently of the location and coverage of the side protecting members over the sides of the body.

In another example, the side fastening means may be controlled to adjust the location of the front and back protecting members over the body of the person independently of the location and coverage of the side protecting members over the sides of the body.

In particular, the coverage area of the side protecting members over the sides of the body may be increased, such as covering an area from a hip up to an armpit at the side of the body, while substantially not restricting a movability of the front and back protecting member relative to the side protecting members.

In particular, the front and back protecting members may be suitably shaped independently of the side protecting members to provide improved movability of the body of the person.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each flexible side protecting member is shaped to extend substantially from a hip of the person to an armpit of the person.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each of the flexible side protecting members holds an armor assembly, preferably being removably accommodated in the side protecting member; preferably the armor assembly comprising a deforming member for deforming an impacting bullet and a backing layer for catching the deformed bullet; more preferable the deforming member comprising an array of ceramic elements arranged in a layer.

The ceramic elements are relatively light in weight while providing sufficient deforming capacity for an impacting bullet. The array of ceramic elements provides enhanced flexibility for bending the armor assembly. In this way, a wearability of the armor assembly by the body is enhanced. Additionally or alternatively, the deforming member may comprise at least one of a metal element, an array of metal elements arranged in a layer, a composite material, such as a composite material comprising a fibre reinforced composite material. A deforming member comprising one or more metal elements is relatively cheap in manufacturing. A deforming member comprising a composite material is very light in weight.

The backing layer of the armor assembly is arranged between the deforming member and the body. The backing layer is arranged for catching the deformed bullet and to prevent penetration of the body by the impacting deformed bullet. The backing layer may be a woven structure to retard and obstruct a deformed impacting bullet.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each flexible side protecting member is arranged in a curved shape between the front protecting member and the back protecting member to be at least partially conformal to the side of the person.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each flexible side protecting member is shaped and arranged relative to the front protecting member and the back protecting member to partially overlap the front protecting member and the back protecting member, respectively.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each flexible side protecting member has an armor space for accommodating the armor assembly and an opening for inserting the armor assembly into the armor space, wherein preferably a releasable fastening mechanism is arranged for releasable closing the opening.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the armor assembly of the flexible front protecting member and / or the flexible back protecting member comprises a deforming member for deforming an impacting bullet and a backing layer for catching the impacting deformed bullet. The backing layer of the armor assembly is arranged between the deforming member and the body. The backing layer is arranged for catching the deformed bullet and to prevent penetration of the body by the impacting deformed bullet. The backing layer may be a woven structure to retard and obstruct a deformed impacting bullet.

More preferable the deforming member may comprise an array of ceramic elements arranged in a layer. The array of ceramic elements provides enhanced flexibility for bending the armor assembly. In this way, a wearability of the armor assembly by the body is enhanced.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the flexible front protecting member and / or the flexible back protecting member has an armor space for accommodating the armor assembly, which armor space is shaped having a width perpendicular to a height of the protecting member, which width at a lower end portion of the protecting member is smaller than a width above the lower end portion of the protecting member.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the armor space of the flexible front protecting member and / or the flexible back protecting member has a tapered shape.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the armor panel space has an opening at the top end of the protecting member for inserting the armor assembly into the armor space, wherein preferably a releasable fastening mechanism is arranged for releasable closing the opening.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the pair of shoulder fastening means comprises a strap mechanism extending between the front protecting member to the back protecting member, having a first end fastening portion arranged for a releasable mechanical fastening to an inner surface of the one of the front and back protecting member and having a second end fastening portion, arranged opposite to the first end portion, arranged for a releasable mechanical fastening to an outer surface of said one of the front and back protecting member; wherein preferably the first end fastening portion and I or the second end fastening portion bear a plurality of male fastening elements capable of engaging with fibrous materials having a plurality of complementary female fastening elements.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the strap mechanism is arranged for adjustably fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member over each shoulder of the person.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the strap mechanism is connected to another one of the front and back protecting member by at least one ring element, which is connected to said other one of the front and back protecting member, wherein the strap mechanism is moveably arranged through the ring element for adjusting a span length of the strap mechanism over the shoulder of the person; and wherein the strap mechanism is folded at the at least one ring element and is arranged for having an upper portion at least partly covering a lower portion of the strap mechanism between the at least one ring element and the second end fastening portion and first end fastening portion, respectively.

This arrangement provides that the strap mechanism forms a lever over the at least one the ring element. As such, the strap mechanism may be easily pulled over said at least one the ring element. Furthermore, a span length of the strap mechanism over the shoulder of the person is easily controlled as a movement of the upper portion of the strap mechanism over a certain distance, for example of 4 cm, results in a change of the span length of the strap mechanism over the shoulder which is half of said movement, thus 2 cm in this example. Additionally, the pulling force is lower due to the lever function and the pulling force is divided evenly over the front protecting member and the back protecting member. In this way, both the front protecting member and the back protecting member are substantially equally moved along the body and the side protecting members when changing the span length of the strap mechanism.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the strap mechanism comprises a pair of straps arranged parallel to one another, each strap being arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member by inserting the strap through a corresponding ring element.

This arrangement provides that the carrying load may be suitably balanced over the shoulder by the two straps of the strap mechanism.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the strap mechanism comprises a bridging portion for connecting a first strap to a second strap of the strap mechanism, more preferably the bridging portion being located at the second end fastening portion of the strap mechanism.

The bridging portion of the strap mechanism prevents the straps to be released from the corresponding ring elements. In this way, the front protecting member may easily be released from the back protecting member by opening the strap mechanism of the shoulder fastening means, while the strap mechanism remains attached to the front protecting member or the back protecting member by the corresponding ring elements.

As a result, the strap mechanism remains connected to the front protecting member or the back protecting member, the strap mechanism is not lost in action and cannot be connected or reconnected to the ring elements of the front protecting member or the back protecting member in a wrong manner.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each side fastening means comprises a strap mechanism extending between the front protecting member and the back protecting member and a ring element for guiding and folding the strap mechanism, which ring element is connected to one of the front and back protecting member, preferably each side fastening means additionally comprising another strap mechanism, which extends between the front protecting member and the back protecting member parallel to the first strap mechanism, and another ring element, each strap mechanism being adjustably arranged independent one another by a releasable mechanical fastening element.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for releasing a flexible body protector according to the present invention from a body of a person, the method comprises the following subsequent steps:

(i) Wearing the flexible body protector on the body of the person, wherein both shoulder fastening means are arranged for connecting the front protecting member to the back protecting member such that the front protecting member and the back protecting member protect the front and the back of the body, respectively;

(ii) Releasing the second end fastening portion from the outer surface of said one of the front and back protecting member;

(iii) Releasing the first end fastening portion from the inner surface of said one of the front and back protecting member;

(iv) Lowering the flexible body protector along the body of the person towards the feet of the person for stepping out of the flexible body protector.

In particular, in this method, the at least one of the pair of shoulder fastening means comprises a strap mechanism extending between the front protecting member to the back protecting member, having a first end fastening portion arranged for a releasable mechanical fastening to an inner surface of the one of the front and back protecting member and having a second end fastening portion, arranged opposite to the first end portion, arranged for a releasable mechanical fastening to an outer surface of said one of the front and back protecting member.

The strap mechanism provides a suitable wearing of the body protector, when being in use by the person to protect the body, while the strap mechanism is easily and quickly releasable from the one of the front and back protecting member by firstly releasing the second end fastening portion from the outer surface and secondly releasing the first end fastening portion from the inner surface of said one of the front and back protecting member. Finally, the flexible body protector may be lowered along the body of the person towards the feet of the person for stepping out of the flexible body protector. In this way, the flexible body protector can be removed quickly and easily from the body of the person.

Preferably, the first end fastening portion and / or the second end fastening portion bear a plurality of male fastening elements capable of engaging with fibrous materials having a plurality of complementary female fastening elements.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises between step ii) and step iii) the step of moving the strap mechanism through the ring element, such that the span length of the strap mechanism over the shoulder increases, preferably comprising unfolding the strap mechanism, more preferably not releasing the strap mechanism from the ring elementin particular, in this embodiment, the strap mechanism is connected to another one of the front and back protecting member by at least one ring element, which is connected to said other one of the front and back protecting member, wherein the strap mechanism is moveably arranged through the ring element for adjusting a span length of the strap mechanism over the shoulder of the person.

Brief description of the figures

The accompanying drawings are used to illustrate presently preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiments of devices of the present invention. The above and other advantages of the features and objects of the invention will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A illustrates schematically the parts of a flexible body protector of an exemplary embodiment;

Figure IB illustrates schematically the flexible body protector of Figure 1 A, when being assembled;

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate schematic front and back views, respectively, of a flexible body protector of an exemplary embodiment, showing overlap between;

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate schematic perspective views of a flexible body protector of an exemplary embodiment;

Figures 4A -4D illustrate schematic perspective views of a flexible body protector at several stages of a method for releasing the flexible body protector;

Description of embodiments

Figure 1A illustrates schematically a general exemplary embodiment of parts of a flexible body protector 100 for wearing on a body of a person. The flexible body protector 100 comprises four parts 110, 120, 130, 140 to protect the body of the person.

The front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120, including the armor assembly 112, 122, are arranged for protecting a chest and belly and the back of the body, respectively, of the person.

A first side protecting member 130, which holds an armor assembly 132, is arranged for protecting a first side of the person. A second side protecting member 140, which holds an armor assembly 142, is arranged for protecting a second side of the person.

Figure IB illustrates schematically the flexible body protector of Figure 1A, when being assembled. Each side protecting member 130, 140 is attached to the flexible front protecting member 110 and the flexible back protecting member 120, respectively. The connection of the second side protecting member 140 to the back protecting member 120 is schematically indicated by the arrow C. In practical use, the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120 and the side protecting members 130, 140 enclose the body of the person.

A pair of shoulder fastening means (not shown) is arranged for fastening the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120 over each shoulder of the person, thereby supporting wearability of the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120.

As can be seen in Figure IB, each of the armor assembly 132, 142 of the side protecting members 130, 140 has an overlap with both the armor assembly 112 of the front protecting member 110 and the armor assembly 122 of the back protecting member 120.

The overlap between the armor assembly 132, 142 and the armor assembly 112 of the front protecting member 110 and the armor assembly 122 of the back protecting member 120, respectively, can be adjusted by suitably selecting a shape of the side protecting members 130, 140 and / or selecting a position of the side protecting members 130, 140 with respect to the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120, respectively.

A pair of side fastening means (not shown) is arranged for fastening the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120 at each side of the person, respectively, while at the same time urging the first side protecting member 130 and the second side protecting member 140 , respectively, against the body.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate schematic front and back views, respectively, of a flexible body protector of an exemplary embodiment. Figure 2A shows the flexible body protector 100 in a front view, showing the front protecting member 110 and a part of the first side protecting member 130 and the second side protecting member 140, respectively.

The first side protecting member 130 and the second side protecting member 140 are arranged in a curved shape between the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120 to be at least partially conformal to the side of the person.

The front protecting member 110 holds an armor assembly 112, which has substantially the same shape as the front protecting member 110. In particular the front protecting member 110 comprises an armor space for accommodating the armor assembly 112, which armor space is shaped having a width perpendicular to a height of the protecting member, which width at a lower end portion of the protecting member 114 is smaller than a width above the lower end portion of the protecting member. In particular, the front protecting member 110 including the armor assembly 112 has a tapered shape. This tapered shape provides an increased movability to the body of the person. Each of the armor assembly 132, 142 of the side protecting members 130, 140 has an overlap area with the armor assembly 112 of the front protecting member 110. This overlap provides suitable protection for both the front and sides of the body of the person.

Figure 2B shows the flexible body protector 100 in a back view, showing the back protecting member 120 and a part of the first side protecting member 130 and the second side protecting member 140, respectively.

The back protecting member 120 holds an armor assembly 122, which has substantially the same shape as the back protecting member 120. In particular the back protecting member 120 comprises an armor space for accommodating the armor assembly 122, which armor space 122 is shaped having a width perpendicular to a height of the protecting member, which width at a lower end portion of the protecting member 124 is smaller than a width above the lower end portion of the protecting member. In particular, the back protecting member 120 including the armor assembly 122 has a tapered shape. This tapered shape provides tin increased movability to the body of the person.

Each of the armor assembly 132, 142 of the side protecting members 130, 140 has an overlap area with the armor assembly 122 of the back protecting member 120. This overlap provides suitable protection for both the back and sides of the body of the person.

As shown in Figures 2A, the flexible body protector 100 further comprises a pair of shoulder fastening means 150, 152 arranged for fastening the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120 over each shoulder of the person.

Figures 3A and 3B illustrate schematic perspective views of a flexible body protector of an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 3A shows the flexible body protector 100 in a perspective view showing a front protecting member 110, a first side protecting member 130, a pair of shoulder fastening means 150, 152 arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member over each shoulder of the person, and a couple of side fastening means 160, 162 arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member al a first side of the person extending over the first side protecting member 130.

Each of the pair of shoulder fastening means 150, 152 comprises a strap mechanism extending between the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120, having a first end fastening portion 151 arranged for a releasable mechanical fastening to an inner surface of the front protecting member 110 and having a second end fastening portion 153, arranged opposite to the first end portion, arranged for a releasable mechanical fastening to an outer surface of said front protecting member 110. The first end fastening portion 151 and / or the second end fastening portion 153 bear a plurality of male fastening elements capable of engaging with fibrous materials having a plurality of complementary female fastening elements.

The strap mechanism 150, 152 is arranged for adjustably fastening the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120 over each shoulder of the person.

The strap mechanism 150, 152 is connected to the back protecting member 120 by at least one ring element 155, which is connected to said back protecting member 120. The strap mechanism 150, 152 is moveably arranged through the ring element 155 for adjusting a span length of the strap mechanism 150, 152 over the shoulder of the person. The strap mechanism 150, 152 is folded at the at least one ring element 155 and is arranged for having an upper portion at least partly covering a lower portion of the strap mechanism between the at least one ring element 155 and the second end fastening portion 153 and first end fastening portion 151, respectively.

This arrangement provides that the strap mechanism 150, 152 forms a lever over the at least one the ring element 155. As such, the strap mechanism 150, 152 may be easily pulled over said at least one the ring element 155.

Furthermore, a span length of the strap mechanism 150, 152 over the shoulder of the person is easily controlled as a movement of the upper portion of the strap mechanism over a certain distance, for example of 4 cm, results in a change of the span length of the strap mechanism over the shoulder which is half of said movement, thus 2 cm in this example. Additionally, the pulling force is lower due to the lever function and the pulling force is divided evenly over the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120. In this way, both the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120 are substantially equally moved along the body and the side protecting members 130, 140 when changing the span length of the strap mechanism 150, 152.

In the embodiment shown, the strap mechanism 150, 152 comprises a pair of straps arranged parallel to one another, each strap being arranged for fastening the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120 by inserting the strap through a corresponding ring element.

Figure 3B shows the flexible body protector 100 in a perspective view at the first side of the person showing a front protecting member 110, a first side protecting member 130, a back protecting member 120 and a side fastening means 160, 162. The side fastening means 160, 162 are arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member at the first side of the person extending over the first side protecting member 130.

Each of the couple of side fastening means 160, 162 comprises a strap mechanism extending between the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120 and a ring element 165 for guiding and folding the strap mechanism, which ring element is connected to the back protecting member 120. In the embodiment shown , each side fastening means 160, 162 comprises two straps, which extend between the front protecting member and the back protecting member parallel to one another, and two ring elements 165, 165’, each strap being adjustably arranged independent one another by a releasable mechanical fastening element. Each strap bears a plurality of male fastening elements capable of engaging with fibrous materials having a plurality of complementary female fastening elements.

Alternatively, the side fastening means 160, 162 may, instead of two strap mechanisms, use one strap mechanism only to adjustably connect the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120.

Figures 4A -4D illustrate schematic perspective views of a flexible body protector at several stages of a method for releasing the flexible body protector.

Figure 4A shows the flexible body protector 100 in a perspective front and side view at a first stage of the method, showing the front protecting member 110 and a part of the first side protecting member 130. The flexible body protector 100 may in an example have the features of the flexible body protectors 100 shown in Figs. 3A - 3B.

The flexible body protector 100 comprises a pair of shoulder fastening means 150, 152 arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member over each shoulder of the person, and a couple of side fastening means 160, 162 arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member at a first side of the person extending over the first side protecting member 130. Additionally the flexible body protector 100 comprises another couple of side fastening means (not shown) arranged for fastening the front protecting member to the back protecting member at a second side of the person extending over the second side protecting member 120, see figures 4B - 4D.

Each of the pair of shoulder fastening means 150, 152 comprises a strap mechanism extending between the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120, having a first end fastening portion 151 arranged for a releasable mechanical fastening to an inner surface of the front protecting member 110 and having a second end fastening portion 153, arranged opposite to the first end portion 151, arranged for a releasable mechanical fastening to an outer surface of said front protecting member 110. The first end fastening portion 151 and / or the second end fastening portion 153 bear a plurality of male fastening elements capable of engaging with fibrous materials having a plurality of complementary female fastening elements.

The strap mechanism 150, 152 is connected to the back protecting member 120 by at least one ring element 155, see Figures 4B - 4D, which is connected to said back protecting member 120. The strap mechanism 150, 152 is moveably arranged through the ring element 155 for adjusting a span length of the strap mechanism 150, 152 over the shoulder of the person. The strap mechanism 150, 152 is folded at the at least one ring element 155 and is arranged for having an upper portion at least partly covering a lower portion of the strap mechanism between the at least one ring element 155 and the second end fastening portion 153 and first end fastening portion 151, respectively.

Figure 4A shows the flexible body protector 100 in a perspective front and side view al a first stage of the method, wherein the flexible body protector 100 is worn on the body 200 of the person, wherein both shoulder fastening means 150, 152 are arranged for connecting the front protecting member 110 to the back protecting member 120 such that the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120 protect the front and the back of the body 200, respectively.

Figure 4B shows the flexible body protector 100 in a perspective front and side view at a second stage of the method, showing the front protecting member 110 and a part of the second side protecting member 140.

In the second stage of the method, after the first stage of the method, the second end fastening portion 153 is released from the outer surface of the front protecting member 110. Furthermore, the strap mechanism 152 is unfolded wherein the upper portion of the strap mechanism 157 is removed from a lower portion of the strap mechanism 159 between the at least one ring element 155 and the second end fastening portion 153. As a result, the straps of the mechanism 152, in particular the upper portion of the strap mechanism 157, are now freely moveably arranged for moving through the at least one ring element 155.

Figure 4C shows the flexible body protector 100 in a perspective front and side view at a third stage of the method, showing the front protecting member 110 and a part of the second side protecting member 140.

In the third stage of the method, after the second stage of the method, the straps of the strap mechanism 152 are moved through the at least one ring element 155, such that the span length of the strap mechanism 152 over the shoulder increases.

In the embodiment shown, each of the fastening means 150, 152 comprises two straps, which extend between the front protecting member 110 and the back protecting member 120 parallel to one another, and two ring elements 155, 155’, each strap being adjustably arranged independent one another by a releasable mechanical fastening element.

Furthermore, each of the fastening means 150, 152 comprises a bridging portion for connecting a first strap to a second strap of the strap mechanism 152. The bridging portion is located at the second end fastening portion 153 of the strap mechanism.

In this way, a movement of the strap mechanism 152, i.e. of both straps, through the two ring elements 155, 155’ is restricted at the second end fastening portion 153 of the strap mechanism 152. As a result, the span length of the strap mechanism 152 over the shoulder may be increased quickly and easily without removing the strap mechanism 152 from the two ring elements 155, 155’ at the back protecting member 120. Thus, a connection of the strap mechanism 152 to the back protecting member 120 is maintained during the third stage of the method.

Figure 4D shows the flexible body protector 100 in a perspective front and side view at a fourth stage of the method, showing the front protecting member 110 and a part of the second side protecting member 140.

In the fourth stage of the method, after the third stage of the method, the first end fastening portion

151 is released from the inner surface of the front protecting member 110. The strap mechanism

152 is easily removed from the shoulder of the body 200 of the person by backwards folding the strap mechanism 152 towards the back protecting member 120 at the back of the person.

When performing the stages of the method shown in Figures 4B - 4D on both shoulder fastening means 150, 152 at both shoulders of the body 200, the flexible body protector 100 may be removed, i.e. lowered, along the body of the person 200 towards the feet of the person for stepping out of the flexible body protector 100.

This method provides a quick and simply removal process of the flexible body protector 100 from the body of the person 200.

In exemplary embodiments of the method shown in Figures 4A - 4D, each of the side fastening means 160, 162 at each side of the body 200 may be released at any stage of the method to further facilitate the removal of the flexible body protector 100 from the body of the person 200.

Each of the armor assemblies 112, 122, 132, 142 shown in the embodiments of the present invention may comprise a deforming member for deforming an impacting bullet and a backing layer for catching the impacting deformed bullet. The backing layer of the armor assembly is arranged between the deforming member and the body. The backing layer is arranged for catching the deformed bullet and to prevent penetration of the body by the impacting deformed bullet. The backing layer may be a woven structure to retard and obstruct a deformed impacting bullet.

In exemplary embodiments, the deforming member of each of the armor assemblies 112, 122, 132, 142 may comprise an array of ceramic elements arranged in a layer. The array of ceramic elements provides enhanced flexibility for bending the armor assembly. In this way, a wearability of the armor assembly by the body is enhanced.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative units or modules embodying the principles of the invention.

Whilst the principles of the invention have been set out above in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that this description is merely made by way of example and not as a limitation of the scope of protection which is determined by the appended claims.