Scalable And Modular Protective Garment System

Abstract

A protective garment system for a user including a cummerbund having a shoulder harness connected to a wraparound waist portion, and at least one connector device operatively attached to the cummerbund. The protective garment further includes one or more upper body modular protective elements and one or more lower body modular protective elements, with at least one of the lower body modular protective elements to the cummerbund by the connector device.

1 . A protective garment system for a user comprising a cummerbund having a shoulder harness connected to a wraparound waist portion, and at least one connector device operatively attached to said cummerbund; and, one or more upper body modular protective elements and one or more lower body modular protective elements; wherein at least one of said lower body modular protective elements is attached to said cummerbund by said connector device. 
     
     
         2 . A protective garment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said or more upper body modular protective elements comprises a shoulder protector. 
     
     
         3 . A protective garment system according to  claim 2 , wherein said shoulder protector comprises underarm ballistic flaps for securing said shoulder protector to the user. 
     
     
         4 . A protective garment system according to  claim 3 , wherein said underarm ballistic flaps include an adjustable strap and buckle system and a complimentary strap and buckle system, such that said shoulder protector is adjustably positioned to accommodate the user and rest tautly against a vest worn by the user over said cummerbund. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A protective garment system according to  claim 2 , wherein said one or more modular protective elements further comprises arm protectors positioned over at least a portion of one or both of the user's arms, and wherein said arm protectors are connected to said shoulder protector; wherein said arm protectors are connected to said shoulder protector by emergency breakaway zippers positioned proximate each respective shoulder and an upper portion of said arm protectors. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A protective garment system according  claim 5 , further comprising a gusset proximate an underarm region of said arm protector to provide protection to the underarm region of the user. 
     
     
         12 . A protective garment system according  claim 1 , wherein said arm protectors each comprise a sleeve formed from an upper arm protective portion and a lower arm protective portion and further comprising corresponding buckle elements formed on said upper and lower arm protective portions for connecting said upper arm protective portion to said lower arm protective portion. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A protective garment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more lower body modular protective elements further comprises ballistic shorts; wherein said cummerbund includes an adjustable waist strap; said ballistic shorts further comprising belt loop portions; said adjustable waist strap adapted to hook into said belt loops on said ballistic shorts to keep said shorts secure at the waist of the user. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A protective garment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more lower body modular protective elements further comprises a thigh protector; wherein said at least one connector device includes a connector extending at least partially around a waist portion of said cummerbund; said thigh protector further comprise a complimentary connector for attaching to said connector extending at least partially around said waist portion of said cummerbund. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A protective garment system according to  claim 23 , further comprising a knee protector connected to an underside of said thigh protector and a lower leg protector having one or more buckles, said thigh protector having one or more corresponding buckles for attaching said lower leg protector to said thigh protector. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A protective garment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more upper body modular protective elements further includes a ballistic resistant body protective element covering at least a chest portion of the user. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A protective garment system according  claim 35 , wherein said body protective element comprises a chest protector plate having four buckle elements; said shoulder protector including two corresponding buckle elements on said to attach to two of said four buckle elements and said shoulder protector comprising two corresponding pectoral buckle elements, positioned proximate the pectoral region of the user, to attach to the remaining two of said four buckle elements. 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A protective garment system according to  claim 38 , wherein said buckle elements on said ballistic flaps are adjustable; and, said pectoral buckle elements are fixed, such that in use, said chest protector is first buckled to said fixed buckle elements and subsequently to said adjustable buckle elements to ensure that the chest protector is taught against a torso region of the user. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A protective garment for a user comprising, in combination, a cummerbund having a shoulder harness, at least one connector device for attaching one or more lower body modular protective elements, and one or more upper body modular protective elements; wherein said one or more upper body modular protective element comprises:
 i. a shoulder protector;   ii. arm protectors;   
       and said one or more lower body modular protective elements comprises:
 iii. ballistic shorts; and, 
 iv. a thigh protector. 
 
     
     
         43 . A protective garment according to  claim 42 , further comprising lower leg protectors connected to said thigh protector and a blast chest plate connected in part to underarm flaps on said shoulder protector and in part to a pectoral region of said shoulder protector.