Body armor ballistic plate carrier

Abstract

The present plate carrier includes front and rear panel sections with internal pockets for supporting ballistic plates and inserts, but positions the rear panel section to provide improved thoracic protection. The front and rear panel sections are suspended by shoulder straps, which connect to the rear panel section at a mid point below the top edge of the rear panel section. The mid point connection of the shoulder straps causes the rear panel section to ride higher than the front panel section and higher on the wearer's back thereby positioning the ballistic plate inside high on the wearer's back and providing better ballistic coverage of the wearer's upper thoracic area. One of the internal pockets of each panel section has facing strips of hook and loop material sewn around its inner periphery that adhere together around a ballistic plate to center and hold the plate in place within the pocket. The plate carrier has removable side plate pockets mounted to a detachable cummerbund by hook and loop fasteners allowing the ballistic plates to be properly positioned on the cummerbund.

1 : A user wearable carrier for the ballistic body armor plate or insert comprising:
 a front panel section;   a rear panel section;   a cummerbund for connecting the rear panel section to the front panel section; and   a side plate pocket having an interior for supporting a ballistic plate or insert therein,   the cummerbund having a section of hook and loop fasteners, the side plate pocket having a section of hook and loop fasteners corresponding to the hook and loop fasteners of the cummerbund so that the side plate pockets are selectively mountable to and positioned on the cummerbund.   
     
     
         2 : The carrier of  claim 1  wherein the side plate pocket includes a front, a back, and a pair of opposed elastic sides, the side plate pocket also includes a strap part for enclosing the interior thereof. 
     
     
         3 : The carrier of  claim 1  wherein the hook and loop fastener of the side plate pocket is mounted to the side plate pocket front. 
     
     
         4 : The carrier of  claim 1  and a length of cord for tethering the side plate pocket to the cummerbund. 
     
     
         5 : A user wearable carrier for the ballistic body armor plate or insert comprising:
 a front panel section;   a rear panel section;   a cummerbund for connecting the rear panel section to the front panel section; and   a ballistic plate,   the cummerbund having a section of hook and loop fasteners, the ballistic plate pocket having a section of hook and loop fasteners corresponding to the hook and loop fasteners of the cummerbund so that the ballistic plate can be selectively mounted to and positioned on the cummerbund.