Armoured over-trousers

Abstract

Armoured over-trousers (10) are formed as “chinks” having an open lateral external flank (13). Protective anti-ballistic armour plate (42), integral with fabric material (22) used for the over-trousers or otherwise incorporated within correspondingly sized, shaped and strategically located pockets (40), protects lower abdominal regions, including the buttocks, upper thigh regions and genitals, of the wearer. The open flank (13) provides mobility whilst ensuring a low thermal burden and access to storage pockets in conventional trousers (14). The over-trousers are secured around the legs by strapping (16, 18) to reduce the possibility of a blast wave (36) funneling effect that might otherwise be experienced should the over-trousers (10) only fit loosely around the legs of a soldier.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application Serial No. 1114098.5, which was filed on Aug. 16, 2011, and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates, in general, to armoured over-garments and is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to flexible reinforced abdominal body armour which includes protective areas for the groin, buttocks, crotch and upper thighs.SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART[0003]With great regret, a rise in worldwide terrorism has seen an increased use of improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”); these are also known as roadside bombs due to their deployment. Such IEDs essentially contain an explosive attached to a detonating mechanism, and cause severe external and internal body traumas from several effects, principally: the blast pressure wave and the fragmentation effect. The fragmentation effect leads to penetrating ballistic or blunt...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]Advantageously, the various embodiments of the present invention (alone or in complementary combination) provide increased protection of the legs and lower abdomen (both front and back) of the wearer. The releasable, but open-flanked nature of the over-trouser ensures that the over-trouser can be quickly positioned, whilst the overall thermal burden is lowered (and ventilation improved) by air is allowed to impinge along an outer region. Indeed, by providing a releasable over-trouser in the form of an attachable apron or chap, movement of the wearer is maintained because there is no constraining outer seam (that would otherwise produce a semi-inflexible pipe). The use of clasps, buckles or Velcro® in the formation and securing of the protective-armour-based chap further means that a pair of such over-trousers can often fit many different leg shapes and sizes and does not need to be a custom fit (unless specifically desired).

[0022]The configuration of the over-trouser and particularly the overlay of protective armour panels means that movement of the wearer is not significantly compromised and that blast waves are directed around the armour plate and do not directly impinge on body tissue. Further, the overlap of panels means that a blast wave is not generally channeled within the over-trouser, but rather dispersed in all directions externally about the over-trouser.

[0023]Indeed, configuration of the over-trouser as a “chink” means that it can be both removed and applied quickly to take into account prevailing operational circumstances in which the wearer is participating.

Problems solved by technology

Such IEDs essentially contain an explosive attached to a detonating mechanism, and cause severe external and internal body traumas from several effects, principally: the blast pressure wave and the fragmentation effect.

The fragmentation effect leads to penetrating ballistic or blunt force injuries that arise from impacts with projectiles included in the container, projectiles produced from the destruction of the container and from objects surrounding the detonator and target.

IEDs are therefore of considerable concern and present a real threat to both civilians and, more particularly, military or police personnel.

Also, IEDs can cause traumatic amputation (of a leg or genitalia) and potential bleed-out when a body-part is severed following an explosion.

Indeed, with respect to leg injuries, the location of the femoral artery in the upper leg and the overall circumference of the thigh often inhibit the application of a tourniquet used conventionally and initially to stem the flow of traumatic bleeding in advance of surgery.

Protection of the groin, crotch region, buttocks and upper thigh are therefore equally important, but conventional plate-armour, besides being heavy, is generally considered restrictive of movement to the extent that a soldier's effectiveness may be compromised in that they are unable to run or crouch easily (when wearing such plate-based armour).

However, cycling shorts provide no protection against trauma and merely prevent chaffing and localized soreness arising from friction rubbing and related friction burns.

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