Ballistic Vest

Abstract

A ballistic vest includes a carrier and at least two ballistic panels supported in the carrier, including a front ballistic panel and a back ballistic panel. The carrier is made from at least two layers of material including an outer layer and an inner layer that are joined to each other at the top and bottom of the vest and that are substantially open at the sides. The carrier has portions defining a left armhole and a right armhole. The two carrier layers define between them a panel space in the carrier. An upper part of the panel space is located above the bottom of the left and right armholes and a lower part of the panel space is located below the bottom of the left and right armholes. The front panel has an upper section that is positioned in the upper part of the panel space, the carrier substantially constraining lateral movement of the front panel upper section within the panel space. The front panel has a lower section that is positioned in the lower part of the panel space, the front panel lower section being substantially free to move laterally in the panel space. The back panel has an upper section that is positioned in the upper part of the panel space, the carrier substantially constraining lateral movement of the back panel upper section within the panel space. The back panel has a lower section that is positioned in the lower part of the panel space, the back panel lower section being substantially free to move laterally in the panel space.

1 . A ballistic vest, comprising:
 a carrier having a left side edge and a right side edge;   a fastener for, when the vest is being worn by a user, fastening the left side edge of the carrier to the right side edge of the carrier to close the vest on the user;   at least two ballistic panels supported in the carrier, including a front ballistic panel and a back ballistic panel;   the carrier being made from at least two layers of material including an outer layer and an inner layer that are joined to each other at the top and bottom of the vest and that are substantially open at the left side edge and the right side edge;   the carrier having portions defining a left armhole and a right armhole;   the two carrier layers defining between them a panel space in the carrier;   an upper part of the panel space being located above the bottom of the left and right armholes and a lower part of the panel space being located below the bottom of the left and right armholes, the lower part of the panel space extending from the left side edge of the carrier to the right side edge of the carrier and being free of seams interconnecting the two carrier layers;   the front panel having an upper section that is positioned in the upper part of the panel space, the carrier constraining lateral movement of the front panel upper section within the panel space;   the front panel having a lower section that is positioned in the lower part of the panel space, the front panel lower section being free to move laterally in the panel space;   the back panel having an upper section that is positioned in the upper part of the panel space, the carrier constraining lateral movement of the back panel upper section within the panel space;   the back panel having a lower section that is positioned in the lower part of the panel space, the back panel lower section being free to move laterally in the lower part of the panel space.   the front panel lower section and the back panel lower section being movable independently of each other in the lower part of the panel space.   
     
     
         2 . A vest as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the back panel lower section and the front panel lower section at least partially overlap each other on the sides of the vest and are movable laterally relative to each other. 
     
     
         3 . A vest as set forth in  claim 2  further including left and right side ballistic panels supported on the carrier at a location below the bottom of the left and right armholes and at least partially overlapping the front and back ballistic panels, the front panel lower section and the back panel lower section being movable laterally relative to the left and right side panels. 
     
     
         4 . A vest as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the back panel lower section and the front panel lower section do not at least partially overlap each other; and
 further including left and right side ballistic panels supported on the carrier at a location below the bottom of the left and right armholes and at least partially overlapping the front and back ballistic panels, the front panel lower section and the back panel lower section being movable laterally relative to the left and right side panels. 
 
     
     
         5 . A vest as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the carrier inner and outer layers are made from an elastic material and provide a snug fit on a user's torso thereby to transfer load of the ballistic panels to the user's torso while allowing the lower sections of the front and back ballistic panels to move laterally in the panel space upon movement and bending of the user. 
     
     
         6 . A vest as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the lower part of the panel space is open at both sides thereby forming a laterally extending tunnel in the carrier. 
     
     
         7 . A vest as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the two carrier layers together define a bottom opening that is configured to accept insertion of the back panel upward into the panel space, the two carrier layers having closed edge portions on either side of the bottom opening that help to support the front and back ballistic panels in the panel space. 
     
     
         8 . A ballistic vest as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 the carrier has first and second lateral front sides when the vest is donned, and the carrier also having a front zipper for joining said first and second lateral front sides at the front of the vest when the vest is donned; 
 the carrier includes a flap pocket extending from the outer layer adjacent one of the side openings; 
 a first lateral section of the front panel is located in the panel space in the carrier on one lateral front side of the carrier, adjacent to the flap pocket; 
 a second lateral section of the front panel is located within the flap pocket; and 
 when the ballistic vest is donned, the flap pocket, having the second lateral section of the front panel therein, is inserted between the inner and outer carrier layers and thereby located in the panel space in the carrier on the second lateral front side of the carrier. 
 
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A ballistic vest, comprising:
 a carrier made from at least two layers of material including an outer layer and an inner layer that are joined to each other at least partially at the top of the vest;   the carrier having portions defining a left armhole and a right armhole;   the two carrier layers defining between them a panel space in the carrier;   at least two ballistic panels suspended in the panel space near the top of the vest, including a front ballistic panel and a back ballistic panel;   the carrier having portions that substantially constrain lateral movement of the front and back panels between the armholes, and the carrier substantially enabling lateral movement of the front and back panels below the armholes independently of each other.   
     
     
         13 . A ballistic vest as set forth in  claim 12  wherein:
 the carrier has first and second lateral front sides when the vest is donned, and the carrier also having a front fastener for joining said first and second lateral front sides at the front of the vest when the vest is donned; 
 the carrier includes a flap pocket extending from the outer layer; 
 a first lateral section of the front panel is located in the panel space in the carrier on one lateral front side of the carrier, adjacent to the flap pocket; 
 a second lateral section of the front panel is located within the flap pocket; and 
 when the ballistic vest is donned, the flap pocket, having the second lateral section of the front panel therein, is inserted between the inner and outer carrier layers and thereby located in the panel space in the carrier on the second lateral front side of the carrier.