Carrier Apparatus

Abstract

A body carrier apparatus may include a front carrier and a rear carrier. In some examples, the body carrier apparatus may protect a wearer of the body carrier apparatus from ballistics. In further examples, the body earner apparatus may reduce stress on shoulder muscles while maintaining shoulder mobility.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for improving protection of vital organs from ballistics, the apparatus comprising:
 a spreader comprising a left-side laterally extending arm and a right-side laterally extending arm;   at least a portion of a plate carrier for carrying a plate that protects from ballistics;   wherein:   the spreader is substantially composed of a thermoplastic composite;   the left-side laterally extending arm curves both forward and up in a manner that substantially follows the curve along a human back from the spine to the left shoulder;   the right-side laterally extending arm curves both forward and up in a manner that substantially follows the curve along the human back from the spine to the right shoulder; and   the spreader is integrated with the portion of the plate carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spreader is integrated within a rear plate bag of the plate carrier. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the spreader is integrated within the rear plate bag such that the left-side laterally extending arm and the right-side laterally extending arm both end just below a respective acromioclavicular joint. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the spreader is integrated within the rear plate bag such that a top edge of the plate is aligned about 1 to 1.5 inches below the C7 vertebra. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spreader is integrated within a completed version of the plate carrier. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the spreader is integrated within the completed version of the plate carrier such that a top edge of a front plate, which is disposed within a corresponding front plate bag, is aligned with the suprasternal notch. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spreader connects to a vertical column to form a T shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein a bottom edge of the T shape forms a lip to hold the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an additional layer of the thermoplastic composite is attached to a forward or rear face of the spreader as a stiffener. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spreader is integrated with the portion of the plate carrier such that a width of the spreader causes shoulder straps of the plate carrier to spread and angle outward such that the shoulder straps ride on skeletal structure and avoid stressing the trapezius muscles. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein electronics are integrated inside of the spreader such that the thermoplastic composite protects the electronics. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the electronics comprise an antenna for military communications. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises at least one of:
 TEGRIS; or   a self-reinforced polymer composite.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composite is disposed within anti-creep material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the anti-creep material ensures a level of curvature of the spreader by constraining a thermoformed shape of the spreader. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a small arms protective insert. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a spreader comprising a left-side laterally extending arm and a right-side laterally extending arm;   wherein:   the spreader is substantially composed of a thermoplastic composite;   the left-side laterally extending arm curves both forward and up in a manner that substantially follows the curve along a human back from the spine to the left shoulder; and   the right-side laterally extending arm curves both forward and up in a manner that substantially follows the curve along the human back from the spine to the right shoulder.   
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 identifying a spreader comprising a left-side laterally extending arm and a right-side laterally extending arm;   identifying at least a portion of a plate carrier for carrying a plate that protects from ballistics;   integrating the spreader with the portion of the plate carrier such that a width of the spreader causes shoulder straps of the plate carrier to spread and angle outward in a manner that rides on skeletal structure and avoids stressing the trapezius muscles;   wherein:   the spreader is substantially composed of a thermoplastic composite;   the left-side laterally extending arm curves both forward and up in a manner that substantially follows the curve along a human back from the spine to the left shoulder; and   the right-side laterally extending arm curves both forward and up in a manner that substantially follows the curve along the human back from the spine to the right shoulder.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising integrating the spreader with a completed version of the plate carrier. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising integrating the spreader with a vertical column to form a T shape.