Garment with Ballistic Protective Insert

Abstract

A soft armor compound curved compliant ballistic element is received within a pocket formed on a uniform garment having a main body which encircles the body of a wearer, and which is stretchable to conform to the wearer's body shape. The garment has two limb encircling sections, i.e., sleeves or pants legs, which position the garment with respect to the wearer. Pockets are formed on the garment sleeves, legs, or other regions to overlie those portions of the wearer's body which it is desired to protect. The soft armor elements are received in the pockets and are retained by the garment in close proximity to the portions of the wearer's body which it is desired to protect, such as a shoulder, a knee, a thigh, an elbow, an arm, a bicep, a forearm, the lower back, or the groin.

1 . A ballistic protective assembly comprising:
 a garment having a main body which encircles the body of a wearer, and which is stretchable to conform to the wearer's body shape, and having two limb encircling sections;   portions connected to at least one limb encircling section defining a pocket positioned to overlie a portion of the wearer's body it is desired to protect; and   a compliant soft armor ballistic element received within the pocket and thereby retained in close proximity to the portion of the wearer's body it is desired to protect.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the garment comprises a shirt and the limb encircling sections comprise sleeves, and wherein the pocket is formed on an upper portion of a sleeve to retain the ballistic element in close proximity to the shoulder of the wearer. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the wearer's body which is offered protection by the soft armor ballistic element is selected from the group consisting of a shoulder, a knee, a thigh, an elbow, or an arm, a bicep, a forearm, a lower back, and a groin. 
   
   
       4 . A ballistic protective assembly comprising:
 a garment having portions formed of stretchable fabric having a stretch of 60 to 100 percent, and disposed to encircle a wearer;   portions of the garment defining at least one pocket configured to overlie a region of the wearer which it is desired to protect from ballistic assault; and   a ballistic protective element received within the at least one pocket, the ballistic protective element having a plurality of layers of ballistic material formed under heat and pressure to define a compliant compound curved shape, the garment retaining the ballistic protective element in close proximity to the region of the wearer it is desired to protect.   
   
   
       5 . The ballistic protective assembly of  claim 4  further comprising a plastic stiffening element formed with the ballistic protective element. 
   
   
       6 . The ballistic protective assembly of  claim 4  wherein the region of the wearer's body which is offered protection by the ballistic protective element is selected from the group consisting of a shoulder, a knee, a thigh, an elbow, or an arm, a bicep, a forearm, a lower back, and a groin. 
   
   
       7 . A ballistic protective assembly comprising:
 a garment having a main body which encircles the body of a wearer, and wherein a sleeve extends from the main body;   portions connected to the sleeve which define a pocket positioned to overlie a portion of the wearer's body it is desired to protect; and   a compliant soft armor ballistic element received within the pocket and thereby retained in close proximity to the portion of the wearer's body it is desired to protect.   
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the pocket is formed on an upper portion of the sleeve to retain the ballistic element in close proximity to the shoulder of the wearer.