Protective garment system with weight transfer elements

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a ballistic vest, comprising: a front portion configured to protect a front of a torso of a wearer; a rear portion configured to protect a rear of the torso of the wearer; and a cummerbund; wherein the cummerbund is a separate element from the front portion and the rear portion and the cummerbund is configured to form a loop around the wearer; and wherein at least one of the front portion and the rear portion interface with the cummerbund to transfer weight to the cummerbund. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a ballistic vest, comprising: a front portion configured to protect a front of a torso of a wearer; a rear portion configured to protect a rear of the torso of the wearer; and a shoulder pad; wherein at least one of the front portion and the rear portion interface with the shoulder pad to disperse weight applied by at least one of the front portion and the rear portion over a larger area than would be applied in the absence of the shoulder pad.

1 . A ballistic vest, comprising:
 a front portion configured to protect a front of a torso of a wearer;   a rear portion configured to protect a rear of the torso of the wearer; and   a cummerbund;   wherein the cummerbund is a separate element from the front portion and the rear portion and the cummerbund is configured to form a loop around the wearer; and   wherein at least one of the front portion and the rear portion interface with the cummerbund to transfer weight to the cummerbund.   
     
     
         2 . The vest of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion releasably interfaces with the cummerbund. 
     
     
         3 . The vest of  claim 2 , wherein the front portion has at least one loop element on an interior surface of the front portion and the front portion interfaces with the cummerbund via the cummerbund passing through the at least one loop element. 
     
     
         4 . The vest of  claim 2 , wherein the front portion interfaces with the cummerbund via a first part of a hook and loop fastener combination attached to an interior surface of the front portion and a second part of the hook and loop fastener combination attached to the cummerbund. 
     
     
         5 . The vest of  claim 2 , wherein the front portion interfaces with the cummerbund via a plurality of snaps attached to an interior surface of the front portion and to the cummerbund. 
     
     
         6 . The vest of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion releasably interfaces with the cummerbund. 
     
     
         7 . The vest of  claim 6 , wherein the rear portion has at least one loop element on an interior surface of the rear portion and the rear portion interfaces with the cummerbund via the cummerbund passing through the at least one loop element. 
     
     
         8 . The vest of  claim 6 , wherein the rear portion interfaces with the cummerbund via a first part of a hook and loop fastener combination attached to an interior surface of the rear portion and a second part of the hook and loop fastener combination attached to the cummerbund. 
     
     
         9 . The vest of  claim 6 , wherein the rear portion interfaces with the cummerbund via a plurality of snaps attached to an interior surface of the rear portion and to the cummerbund. 
     
     
         10 . The vest of  claim 1 , wherein the cummerbund is worn at a lower torso area of a wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The vest of  claim 1 , wherein the cummerbund comprises at least one pocket for holding therein a heat management device. 
     
     
         12 . The vest of  claim 11 , wherein the heat management device comprises a cooling pack. 
     
     
         13 . The vest of  claim 1 , wherein the vest is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a soft body armor ballistic vest; and (b) a hard body armor ballistic vest. 
     
     
         14 . A ballistic vest, comprising:
 a front portion configured to protect a front of a torso of a wearer;   a rear portion configured to protect a rear of the torso of the wearer; and   a shoulder pad;   wherein at least one of the front portion and the rear portion interface with the shoulder pad to disperse weight applied by at least one of the front portion and the rear portion over a larger area than would be applied in the absence of the shoulder pad.   
     
     
         15 . The vest of  claim 14 , wherein the front portion releasably interfaces with the shoulder pad. 
     
     
         16 . The vest of  claim 15 , wherein the front portion interfaces with the shoulder pad via a first part of a hook and loop fastener combination attached to an interior surface of the front portion and a second part of the hook and loop fastener combination attached to the shoulder pad. 
     
     
         17 . The vest of  claim 15 , wherein the front portion interfaces with the shoulder pad via a plurality of snaps attached to an interior surface of the front portion and to the shoulder pad. 
     
     
         18 . The vest of  claim 14 , wherein the rear portion releasably interfaces with the shoulder pad. 
     
     
         19 . The vest of  claim 18 , wherein the rear portion interfaces with the shoulder pad via a first part of a hook and loop fastener combination attached to an interior surface of the rear portion and a second part of the hook and loop fastener combination attached to the shoulder pad. 
     
     
         20 . The vest of  claim 18 , wherein the rear portion interfaces with the shoulder pad via a plurality of snaps attached to an interior surface of the rear portion and to the shoulder pad. 
     
     
         21 . The vest of  claim 14 , wherein the shoulder pad is held in place on a wearer by a belt configured to: (a) pass around a chest of the wearer; and (b) pass under the arms of the wearer. 
     
     
         22 . The vest of  claim 14 , wherein the shoulder pad comprises at least one pocket for holding therein a heat management device. 
     
     
         23 . The vest of  claim 22 , wherein the heat management device comprises a cooling pack. 
     
     
         24 . The vest of  claim 14 , wherein the vest is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a soft body armor ballistic vest; and (b) a hard body armor ballistic vest.