Plate carrier apparatus and method

Abstract

Embodiments include a method and apparatus for mounting wearable ballistic body armor plates and accessories to a user. Embodiments may include a plate frame assembly comprising one or more plate frames and one or more ballistic body armor plates. The one or more plate frames may at least partially house the one or more ballistic body armor plates and hold them in position with respect to the one or more plate frames. A method of embodiments may include providing one or more plate frames and one or more ballistic body armor plates and using the one or more plate frames to hold the one or more ballistic armor plates in a fixed position with respect to the body armor plates. In some embodiments, the plate frame assembly is resistant to the absorption and/or accumulation of liquids and chemicals.

1 . A plate carrier wearable by a user, comprising:
 a chest plate frame including an inner surface that faces the user's chest when the plate carrier is worn by the user, and an outer surface that faces away from the user when the plate carrier is worn by the user, the chest plate frame configured to hold a ballistic body armor chest plate in a fixed position with respect to the chest plate frame with the ballistic body armor chest plate between the inner surface of the chest plate frame and the user;   a back plate frame including an inner surface that faces the user's back when the plate carrier is worn by the user, and an outer surface that faces away from the user when the plate carrier is worn by the user, the back plate frame configured to hold a ballistic body armor back plate in a fixed position with respect to the back plate frame with the ballistic body armor back plate between the inner surface of the back plate frame and the user; and   one or more shoulder straps connecting the chest plate frame and the back plate frame and configured to allow the plate carrier to be at least partially supported by the user's shoulders,   wherein, each of the chest plate frame and the back plate frame include an adjustable attachment mechanism connected to an outer perimeter of the respective plate frame and configured to hold the respective body armor plate in the fixed position with respect to the respective plate frame, and   wherein, each of the chest plate frame and the back plate frame includes one or more built-in features for securing tactical equipment thereto, the one or more built-in features including voids formed in the chest plate frame and the back plate frame.   
     
     
         2 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the chest plate frame and the back plate frame are made of a non-porous rigid material. 
     
     
         3 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the chest plate frame and the back plate frame are made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more cummerbund straps extending through the chest plate frame and the back plate frame to connect the chest plate frame and the back plate frame to one another and to provide straps around a torso of the user to stabilize the plate carrier around the user. 
     
     
         5 . The plate carrier of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the one or more cummerbund straps is attached to an overlapping portion of itself to secure that cummerbund strap to the chest plate frame and back plate frame. 
     
     
         6 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein, at least one of the one or more shoulder straps is attached to an overlapping portion of itself to secure that shoulder strap to the chest plate frame and the back plate frame. 
     
     
         7 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shoulder attachment straps are made of a non-porous, liquid and chemical resistant material. 
     
     
         8 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more features for securing tactical equipment thereto include a modular attachment system integrated in the plate carrier, the modular attachment system comprising one or more holes in the chest plate frame and the back plate frame for securing one or more attachments thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the body armor chest plate is at least partially housed in the chest plate frame and the body armor back plate is at least partially housed in the back plate frame. 
     
     
         10 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable attachment mechanism includes one or more adjustable tabs which are adjustable to accommodate different dimensions of the body armor plates. 
     
     
         11 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the chest plate frame comprises one or more first extensions extending from an outer perimeter of the chest plate frame to hold the body armor chest plate in the fixed position, and   the back plate frame comprises one or more second extensions extending from an outer perimeter of the back plate frame to hold the body armor back plate in the fixed position.   
     
     
         12 . The plate carrier of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second extensions include tabs which are removable from the respective plate frame, and are interchangeable with one or more tabs of a different size to accommodate body armor plates with different dimensions. 
     
     
         13 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable attachment mechanism includes a plurality of extensions configured to hold at least two differently sized ballistic body armor plates to the respective plate frame by selectively adjusting the extensions outward of the outer perimeter of the respective plate frame. 
     
     
         14 . The plate carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising the ballistic body armor chest and back plates. 
     
     
         15 . A plate carrier wearable by a user, comprising:
 a rigid plate frame configured to hold a ballistic body armor plate in a fixed position with respect to the rigid plate frame, the rigid plate frame having
 at least a pair of built-in shoulder strap attachment points, 
 at least a pair of built-in belt attachment points, 
 an adjustable attachment mechanism connected to an outer perimeter of the rigid plate frame, and configured to hold the ballistic body armor plate in the fixed position with respect to the rigid plate frame, and 
 one or more built-in features for securing tactical equipment thereto, the one or more built-in features including voids formed in the rigid plate frame, 
   wherein, the rigid plate frame includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the fixed position being disposed on the inner surface such that the ballistic body armor plate is between the rigid plate frame and the user when the plate carrier is worn, and the one or more built-in features are configured for securing the tactical equipment to the outer surface of the rigid plate frame.   
     
     
         16 . The plate carrier of  claim 15 , wherein the rigid plate frame is made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         17 . The plate carrier of  claim 15 , wherein the rigid plate frame includes a chest plate frame configured to hold a body armor chest plate, and a back plate frame configured to hold a body armor back plate, the chest plate frame and the back plate frame being connected via shoulder straps extending through the shoulder strap attachment points and cummerbund straps extending through the belt attachment points. 
     
     
         18 . The plate carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more features for securing tactical equipment thereto include a modular attachment system integrated in the plate carrier, the modular attachment system comprising one or more holes in the chest plate frame and the back plate frame for securing one or more attachments thereto. 
     
     
         19 . A plate carrier wearable by a user, comprising:
 a rigid chest plate frame including an inner surface and an outer surface, the rigid chest plate frame configured to substantially surround an outer perimeter of a ballistic body armor chest plate, and to hold the ballistic body armor chest plate in a fixed position with respect to the rigid chest plate frame such that the ballistic body armor chest plate is between the rigid chest plate frame and the user when the plate carrier is worn; and   a rigid back plate frame including an inner surface and an outer surface, the rigid back plate frame configured to substantially surround an outer perimeter of a ballistic body armor back plate, and to hold the ballistic body armor back plate in a fixed position with respect to the rigid back plate frame such that the ballistic body armor back plate is between the rigid back plate frame and the user when the plate carrier is worn,   wherein, each of the rigid chest plate frame and the rigid back plate frame includes an adjustable attachment mechanism connected to an outer perimeter of the respective rigid plate frame and configured to hold the respective ballistic body armor plate in the fixed position with respect to the respective rigid plate frame, the adjustable attachment mechanisms being configured to accommodate ballistic body armor plates of different dimensions.   
     
     
         20 . The plate carrier of  claim 19 , wherein each of the rigid plate frames are made of a plastic material.