Energy absorbing and dispensing spacer system and method for use with body armor plate or panel

Abstract

A wearable energy absorbing and dispersing standoff spacer, system, and method for use or incorporation with an armor plate or panel, and/or a carrier for the same, uses one or more spacer panels having features that interlock to form a stack having a desired standoff thickness and resilient compressibility for absorbing and dispersing forces exerted thereagainst from ballistic impacts to reduce traumatic effect on a wearer while limiting lateral displacement of the spacer particularly under lateral forces, and that is readily and easily adaptable to provide customizable support, positioning, and orientation for the armor plate or panel, and fit and comfort for the wearer, particularly female wearers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spacer for positioning a region of an armor plate or panel at a predetermined standoff distance from a body of a person wearing the armor plate, comprising:
 a spacer panel attached in covering relation to the armor plate or panel or a carrier or garment containing the armor plate or panel, having at least one perimeter bounding and defining at least one protuberance extending outwardly in a first direction from a surface of the perimeter to bound and define a concavity facing in a second direction opposite the first direction, the perimeter and the at least one protuberance having a thickness in the first and second directions about equal to a depth of the concavity bounded and defined thereby, and a transition region between the perimeter and the at least one protuberance, the transition region having a thickness less than the thickness of the perimeter and the at least one protuberance.   
     
     
         2 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer panel comprises a polymer foam. 
     
     
         3 . The spacer of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer foam comprises a closed cell polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter has a compressed fused together boundary region connecting to and stiffer than the transition region. 
     
     
         5 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protuberance has a compressed fused together boundary region connecting to and stiffer than the transition region. 
     
     
         6 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a plurality of the protuberances arranged in a predetermined pattern on the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the transition region allows the at least one protuberance to be resiliently displaceable in the second direction relative to the perimeter to absorb energy exerted against the protuberance in the second direction. 
     
     
         8 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protuberance is resiliently compressible in the first and second directions but is restrained by the perimeter from displacing laterally relative to the first and second directions. 
     
     
         9 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter is resiliently compressible in the first and second directions. 
     
     
         10 . The spacer of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a stack of at least two of the spacer panels interlockingly joined together by the at least one protuberance of one of the spacer panels being matingly received in the concavity of the other of the spacer panels with the perimeters of the spacer panels in abutting relation.   
     
     
         11 . The spacer of  claim 10 , further comprising a cover panel disposed in covering relation to the armor plate or panel, and one of the at least two of the spacer panels is interlockingly joined to the cover panel. 
     
     
         12 . The spacer of  claim 11 , wherein the cover panel comprises at least one of the protuberances matingly received in at least one of the concavities of the one of at least two of the spacer panels to be interlockingly joined. 
     
     
         13 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the transition region is flexible to allow relative movement of the perimeter and the at least one protuberance in the first and second directions but restrains movement thereof laterally relative thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the spacer panel comprises at least one layer of a para aramid fabric. 
     
     
         15 . A spacer supporting a region of an armor plate or panel, comprising a stack of spacer panels, at least one of the spacer panels comprising at least one protuberance matingly received in a concavity of another of the spacer panels interlockingly joining the spacer panels, the at least one of the spacer panels comprising a perimeter disposed laterally about and integral with the at least one protuberance thereof and connected thereto by a transition region integral thereto, the at least one of the spacer panels being comprising a resiliently compressible foam material, the at least one protuberance having a thickness about equal to a thickness of the perimeter and offset therefrom in a direction toward or away from the armor plate or panel, the transition region having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the perimeter and the thickness of the at least one protuberance, respectively, and a region of at least one of the perimeter and the at least one protuberance adjacent to the transition region comprising a stiffened compressed fusion of the foam material. 
     
     
         16 . The spacer of  claim 15 , wherein both the perimeter and the at least one protuberance adjacent to the transition region comprise the stiffened compressed fusion of the foam material. 
     
     
         17 . The spacer of  claim 15 , wherein the spacer panels comprise a plurality of the protuberances matingly received in a plurality of the concavities, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The spacer of  claim 15 , wherein the transition region is flexible to allow a first predetermined amount of relative movement of the perimeter and the at least one protuberance in the first and second directions, and a second predetermined amount of movement in a lateral direction less than the first predetermined amount of movement. 
     
     
         19 . The spacer of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the spacer panels comprises at least one layer of a para aramid fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The spacer of  claim 15 , further comprising a cover panel disposed in covering relation to the armor plate or panel, and one of the spacer panels is interlockingly joined to the cover panel.