Flotation Body Armor System

Abstract

A body armor system for protective use against harmful projectiles, more specifically a ballistic garment which is integrated with a layer of flotation foam, allowing the wearer to float to the surface upon being immersed in water. Military and law enforcement personnel are primary users of interest.

1 . A buoyant body armor system comprising: a garment providing protection for one or more of the following body areas: torso, neck, shoulders and extremities, said garment comprising one or more soft armor panels, said panels comprising a plurality of layered sheets made from material consisting of laminated fibers, said panels meeting or exceeding NIJ Level I armor standard and providing front and back coverage, and wherein the soft armor panels have an integrated layer of flotation foam. 
     
     
         2 . The buoyant body armor system of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the flotation foam is selected from the group consisting essentially of polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam, and polystyrene foam. 
     
     
         3 . The buoyant body armor system of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the flotation foam provides flotation capacity for personnel weighing up to 240 pounds. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An armor panel formed from the soft armor of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the fibers used are laminated UHMWPE fibers. 
     
     
         6 . An armor panel formed from the soft armor of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the plurality of layered sheets of or UHMWPE fibers comprise at least 40 layers of sheets. 
     
     
         7 . An armor panel formed from the soft armor of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the plurality of layered sheets of or UHMWPE fibers meet or exceed the NIJ Stab Resistance Standard—0115.00. 
     
     
         8 . An armor panel formed from the soft armor of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein the plurality of layered sheets of UHMWPE fibers meet or exceed the NIJ Level III A Ballistics Resistance Standard—0101.06. 
     
     
         9 . The armor panel of  claim 8 , further comprising wherein the plurality of layered sheets of UHMWPE fibers is about 2 cm in thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The body armor system of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said garment is adjustable for height and girth. 
     
     
         11 . The body armor system of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said garment further comprises front, rear and/or side integrated pockets to contain one or more hard armor plates. 
     
     
         12 . The body armor system of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said garment contains one or more hard armor plates in addition to the layers of soft armor and flotation foam. 
     
     
         13 . The body armor system of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner support elastic waist band integrated into the garment. 
     
     
         14 . The body armor system of  claim 1 , further comprising wherein said garment comprises a modular composition configured with pouches, pockets and/or holsters. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A buoyant body armor system comprising: a garment providing protection for one or more of the following body areas: torso, neck, shoulders and extremities, such garment comprising one or more soft armor panels, said panels comprising a plurality of layered sheets made from material consisting of laminated UHMWPE fibers, said panels meeting or exceeding NIJ Level I armor standard and providing front and back coverage, wherein the soft armor panels have an integrated layer of flotation foam consisting of one or more of polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam sufficient to provide flotation capacity for personnel weighing up to 240 pounds, wherein said garment further comprises front, rear and/or side integrated pockets to contain one or more hard armor plates or wherein said garment contains one or more hard armor plates in addition to the layers of soft armor and flotation foam, further comprising an inner support elastic waist band integrated into the garment, and wherein said garment comprises a modular composition configured with pouches, pockets and/or holsters. 
     
     
         19 . A hard armor plate, comprising in combination a plurality of layers of UHMWPE, said layers being chemically and/or heat fused in combination with ceramic and/or steel plate. 
     
     
         20 . The hard armor plate of  claim 19 , further comprising wherein the plurality of layers of UHMWPE are from about 200 to about 500 layers. 
     
     
         21 . The hard armor plate of  claim 20 , further comprising wherein the plate is no thicker in cross-section than about 1.5 cm and weighs no more than about 2 kilograms.