Modular ballistic body armor system with cover sleeve

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bullet proof vest or more specifically to a modular ballistic body armor system having a self supporting plate holder harness with an attachable ballistic material insert and a replaceable material cover sleeve.

1 . A modular ballistic body armor system comprising;
 a internal plate holder harness having,
 a front panel, 
 a back panel,
 the back panel including one portion of an attachment system, 
 
 an adjustable shoulder strap assembly, 
 an adjustable body strap assembly, 
   a ballistic material carrier, having,
 a front panel,
 the front panel including a second portion of the attachment system, 
 
 a back panel, 
 the ballistic material carrier configured to removeably 
 attach to the back panel of the internal plate holder harness using the attachment system, 
   a cover sleeve having,
 a front panel, 
 a back panel, and, 
 the front panel and the back panel configured to form an envelope wherein the internal plate holder harness and the ballistic material carrier are inserted. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable shoulder strap system of the internal plate holder harness is secured using hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         3 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable shoulder strap system of the internal plate holder harness is secured using one of buckles and snaps. 
     
     
         4 . The modular ballistic armor system of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable body strap assembly is secured using hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The modular ballistic armor system of  claim 1  where the adjustable body strap assembly is secured using one of buckles and snaps. 
     
     
         6 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 1  wherein the internal plate holder harness includes a plurality of plate holder pockets. 
     
     
         7 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of plate holder pockets is uniform in size. 
     
     
         8 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of plate holder pockets is different sizes. 
     
     
         9 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 6  including a plurality of ballistic armor plates inserted into the plurality of plate holder pockets. 
     
     
         10 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 9  wherein the plurality of ballistic armor plates is comprised of one of, steel, high-density plastic and ceramic. 
     
     
         11 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 1  wherein the ballistic material carrier includes a least one pouch for a ballistic material panel. 
     
     
         12 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 11  wherein the ballistic material panel is comprised of one or more layers of ballistic cloth. 
     
     
         13 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 12  wherein the ballistic cloth is comprised of a woven fiber matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 1  wherein the attachment system configured to removeably secure the ballistic material carrier to the back panel of internal plate holder harness is comprised of at least one of, hook and loop fasteners, zippers, snaps, and buckles. 
     
     
         15 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 1  wherein the cover sleeve includes an envelope opening. 
     
     
         16 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 15  wherein the envelope opening is oriented horizontally along the bottom edge of the back panel. 
     
     
         17 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 15  wherein the envelope opening is oriented vertically in the back panel. 
     
     
         18 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 15  wherein the envelope opening includes a closure comprised of one of, hook and loop fastener, zipper, snaps and buckles. 
     
     
         19 . The modular ballistic body armor system of  claim 1  wherein the cover sleeve including a plurality of openings allowing protrusion of the shoulder strap assembly and the body strap assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using ballistic body armor comprising:
 providing an internal plate holder harness having,
 an adjustable shoulder strap assembly, 
 an adjustable body strap assembly, 
   providing a ballistic material carrier,   providing a plurality of cover sleeves,   attaching the ballistic material carrier to the internal plate holder harness to form a ballistic package,   inserting the ballistic package into a first one of the plurality the cover sleeves,   wearing the ballistic package with the first one the plurality of cover sleeves,   removing the first one of the plurality of cover sleeves from the ballistic package, and,   inserting the ballistic package into a second one of the plurality of cover sleeves or laundering the first one of the plurality of cover sleeves and re-inserting the ballistic package into the first one of the plurality of cover sleeves.