Anti-Ballistic Protective Undergarment

Abstract

A protective undergarment ( 10 ), shown in the form of shorts, includes integrally formed protective panels ( 22, 26, 30 ) that exhibit slash-proof properties. The protective areas ( 22, 26, 30 ) are made from a flexible Kevlar® knit or the like, and extend to cover the groin, crotch, substantial areas of the buttocks and the inner thigh regions of both legs. The protective panels ( 22, 26, 30 ) are externally snitched to a low thermal burden material ( 18, 20 ), such as a polyester mesh, that provides elasticity and completes the structure of the shorts ( 10 ). The Kevlar® knit is flexible and preferably lies directly against the skin of a user to provide blast wave and ballistic fragment deflection whilst permitting mobility in a lightweight arrangement. Varying thickness of the Kevlar® knit can be used in the protective areas ( 22, 26, 30 ) selectively to enhance protection against blast wave and fragment penetration. The shorts ( 10 ) find particular application in battlefield theatres where military personnel are exposed to bomb threats.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective undergarment in the form of a T-shirt, the T-shirt comprising elasticized wicking cloth integrated with one or more anti-ballistic regions, the one or more anti-ballistic regions covering at least a wearer's upper arm and shoulder so as to provide targeted blast protection to at least one of the wearer's axillary, anterior humeral circumflex, profunda brachii or brachial arteries. 
     
     
         2 . The protective undergarment according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more anti-ballistic regions are formed from one of:
 a Kevlar-knit; and   multi-layered silk.   
     
     
         3 . An anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment having a body portion and sleeved arm portions attached to the body portion, the anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment comprising elasticized wicking cloth integrated with a continuous blast resistant region, wherein the blast resistant region in each arm (portion of the protective undergarment extends over at least an upper arm and shoulder to provide targeted and continuous blast protection to arteries in the upper arms and shoulders of its wearer. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment of  claim 3 , wherein the blast resistant region provides continuous protective coverage over at least some of the wearer's:
 axillary arteries;   anterior humeral circumflex arteries;   profunda brachii arteries; and   brachial arteries.   
     
     
         5 . The anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment of  claim 3 , wherein the continuous blast-resistant region extends continuously at least around and under an armpit region in each of said sleeved arm portions. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment  claim 5 , the anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment in the form of a T-shirt. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment of  claim 6 , wherein the wicking cloth is a low thermal burden material is stitched or securely connected to said anti-ballistic protective region and wherein:
 said low thermal burden material is a fabric providing flexibility to the protective undergarment, and   said anti-ballistic region and said tow thermal burden material, in assembled combination, define structure of the T-shirt with said low thermal burden material securing said anti-ballistic protective region in place in the protective undergarment.   
     
     
         8 . The anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment of  claim 4 , wherein the continuous blast-resistant region is comprised from one of a Kevlar knit and multi-layered silk. 
     
     
         9 . An anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment having:
 a body portion;   sleeved arm portions attached to the body portion;   the anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment comprising elasticized wicking cloth and an antiballistic material forming a blast resistant region in each sleeved arm portions that extends over at least the wearer's upper arm and shoulder to provide targeted and continuous blast protection to arteries in the upper arm and shoulder.   
     
     
         10 . The anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment of  claim 9 , wherein the antiballistic materials forms the blast resistant region in at least a portion of the body portion. 
     
     
         11 . The anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment of  claim 9 , wherein said antiballistic material comprises a slash-proof material. 
     
     
         12 . The anti-ballistic paneled protective undergarment of  claim 9 , wherein the arteries include at least one of the axillary artery, the anterior humeral circumflex artery, or brachial arteries.