Wearable armor plate assembly

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods relate to wearable armor plate assemblies having armor plate sections which are rigidly connected to one another. The resulting assembly may prevent undesired movement of one or more armor plates relative to the overall assembly. In some embodiments, carriers hold armor plates, and the carriers are rigidly connected to each other. The armor plate assembly may maintain a human torso shape, or other shape, when not being worn by virtue of the rigid connection of the armor plate sections. In some embodiments, the rigid connections allow for pivoting of the armor plate sections relative to each other. The armor plate assembly is supported by a belt in some embodiments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable armor plate assembly, comprising:
 a first armor plate section comprising a first armor plate; and   a second armor plate section comprising a second armor plate, the second armor plate section being connected to the first armor plate section to form at least a portion of a wearable assembly; wherein   the first armor plate section is coupled to the second armor plate section such that the distance between the first and second armor plate sections is substantially maintained when either armor plate section is subjected to a force.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising third and fourth armor plate sections, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth armor plate sections is rigidly coupled to at least one of the others of the first, second, third, and fourth armor plate sections to form at least a portion of the wearable assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth armor plate sections comprise hard armor plates. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of rigid connecting members, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth armor plate sections is rigidly coupled to at least one of the others of the first, second, third, and fourth armor plate sections via at least one of the plurality of rigid connecting members. 
     
     
         5 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second armor plate sections abut one another. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first armor plate section is pivotable relative to the second armor plate section. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first armor plate section is pivotable relative to the second armor plate section about a pivot axis that is substantially parallel to an edge of the first armor plate section which is closest to the second armor plate section. 
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising a first collarbone armor plate section and a second collarbone armor plate section, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth armor plate sections and the first and second collarbone armor plate sections form an armor assembly which maintains an approximate human torso shape when not being worn by a wearer and placed upright on a supporting surface. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the rigid connecting members each comprise a first rigid carrier configured to hold the first armor plate and a second rigid carrier configured to hold the second armor plate. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first rigid carrier and the second rigid carrier include an inner support member having a surface configured to extend along an inner side of the respective armor plate, an outer support member having a surface configured to extend along an outer side of the respective armor plate, and at least one peripheral support member constructed and arranged to couple the inner support member and the outer support member to one another. 
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first armor plate section and the second armor plate section is constructed and arranged to cover a collarbone region of a wearer. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first armor plate section and the second armor plate section is constructed and arranged to have an upper region, a lower region and a central region, wherein the lower region is tapered such that a width at an end of the lower region of the armor plate is less than a width of the central region of the armor plate. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24 , wherein an angle formed by an edge of the tapered lower region and an edge of the central region is greater than 20°. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A carrier assembly for body armor, comprising:
 a first carrier configured to hold a first armor plate; and   a second carrier configured to hold a second armor plate, wherein the first and second carriers are rigidly coupled to one another to form at least a portion of a wearable assembly for a wearer's torso.   
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second armor plates comprise hard armor. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second rigid carriers abut one another. 
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second rigid carriers are directly connected to each other. 
     
     
         32 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A carrier for an armor plate, comprising:
 a first rigid support member having a surface configured to extend along an inner side of the armor plate;   a second rigid support member having a surface configured to extend along an outer side of the armor plate; and   at least one peripheral support member constructed and arranged to couple the first rigid support member and the second rigid support member to one another, to define a space for retaining the armor plate.   
     
     
         41 . The carrier of  claim 40 , wherein the carrier is configured to be rigidly connected to another carrier for an armor plate. 
     
     
         42 . The carrier of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one peripheral support member is integrally formed with at least one of the first rigid support member and the second rigid support member. 
     
     
         43 . The carrier of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one peripheral support member is attachable to and detachable from at least one of the first rigid support member and the second rigid support member. 
     
     
         44 - 71 . (canceled)