Armoured over-trousers

Abstract

Armoured over-trousers ( 10 ) are formed as “chinks” having an open lateral external flank ( 13 ). Protective anti-ballistic armour plate ( 42 ), integral with fabric material ( 22 ) used for the over-trousers or otherwise incorporated within correspondingly sized, shaped and strategically located pockets ( 40 ), protects lower abdominal regions, including the buttocks, upper thigh regions and genitals, of the wearer. The open flank ( 13 ) provides mobility whilst ensuring a low thermal burden and access to storage pockets in conventional trousers ( 14 ). The over-trousers are secured around the legs by strapping ( 16, 18 ) to reduce the possibility of a blast wave ( 36 ) funneling effect that might otherwise be experienced should the over-trousers ( 10 ) only fit loosely around the legs of a soldier.

1 . Armoured over-trousers comprising:
 a fabric material forming a pair of chinks having an open lateral external flank along outer regions of the over-trousers, covered inner thigh regions opposite the outer regions and an upper pant cooperating with the inner thigh regions to define the over-trousers; and   at least one piece of armour plate included in the over-trousers, the at least one piece of armour plate sized, shaped and located in the over-trousers to protect, in use, at least one lower abdominal region of a person against which the armour plate is held by the fabric material.   
     
     
         2 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of armour plate covering, in use, at least some of the body regions selected from the group consisting of:
 the lower abdomen;   the crotch;   the upper groin;   the genitalia;   the lower belly;   inside regions of the upper thighs; and   the buttocks.   
     
     
         3 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 2 , wherein an interface between proximately located armour plates is covered by an armour pad and wherein the armour pad is permitted to move independently of the armour plates. 
     
     
         4 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 1 , wherein the armour plate is located within a pocket formed in the fabric material. 
     
     
         5 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 2 , wherein the armour plate is a panel integrated with the fabric material, the panel forming an integral part of the armoured over-trousers in combination with the fabric material. 
     
     
         6 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 5 , wherein the open lateral external flank provides hand-access to the interior of the over-trousers. 
     
     
         7 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 1 , further including end strapping at each remote lower end of the covered inner thigh regions, the end strapping securing, in use, each remote lower end about a leg of the wearer. 
     
     
         8 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 7 , wherein each remote lower end includes a molded knee-protector. 
     
     
         9 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 7 , further including a thigh strap ( 16 ) extending across each open lateral external flank. 
     
     
         10 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 1 , further including a tether affixed to and extending along at least a portion of an inner seam of both covered inner thigh regions, the tether having its ends firmly anchored in the over-trouser such that, upon rupture of the inner seam, splaying of the inner thigh regions is constrained. 
     
     
         11 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 1 , further comprising a protective collar extending upwardly and fanning outwardly from a waistband of the over-trousers. 
     
     
         12 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 11 , wherein the collar is reinforced to as to deflect an incident blast wave outwardly from the waist of the over-trousers. 
     
     
         13 . The armoured over-trousers according to  claim 3 , further comprising a protective collar extending upwardly and fanning outwardly from a waistband of the over-trousers. 
     
     
         14 . A protective armour system comprising:
 a) the over-trouser of any preceding claim in combination with   b) a multi-paneled protective undergarment comprising:
 a ballistic resistant protective panel forming one panel of the undergarment; and 
 a low thermal burden material coupled to the ballistic resistant panel, the low thermal burden material forming complementary fabric panels in the undergarment; 
 wherein the ballistic resistant panel and the low thermal burden material in combination structurally assemble into the undergarment. 
   
     
     
         15 . The protective armour system of  claim 14 , wherein the ballistic resistant protective panel is located in a complementary position relative to the armour plate.