Ballistic Collar with Movable Arms for Neck Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tactical vests provide minimal protection for the neck area of individuals against ballistic threats, and conventional accessories often restrict movement or create gaps in protection.
Innovation Solution
A ballistic collar with movable arms and a base that attaches to tactical vests using hook and loop straps, providing overlapping coverage without impairing adjustability or creating gaps in threat protection, and can integrate with throat attachments and helmets for comprehensive protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional tactical accessories are worn around the neck to compensate for protection gaps, then neck protection is improved, but movement restriction and functionality impairment occur
Solution Approach 1:
The ballistic collar employs movable arms with multiple degrees of freedom that can dynamically adjust to neck movement. The arms are connected through joints allowing rotation and articulation, enabling the collar to move with the wearer rather than restricting movement. This dynamic structure maintains continuous protection while accommodating natural head and neck motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is divided into multiple independent segments including a base, first arm with upper and lower segments, and second arm with upper and lower segments. Each segment can move independently relative to others, allowing the structure to conform to neck contours and movement patterns while maintaining protective coverage. The segmented design prevents rigid constraint while ensuring comprehensive protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional tactical accessories are worn around the neck, then neck protection is improved, but gaps between the accessory and tactical vest are created
Solution Approach 1:
The collar extends protection into the previously uncovered neck dimension by positioning arms that wrap around and connect to the tactical vest. The first and second arms create overlapping coverage zones that eliminate gaps between the vest and traditional neck accessories. This dimensional extension ensures continuous protection from the vest upward through the neck area.
Solution Approach 2:
The ballistic collar merges with the tactical vest through connections between the arms and vest structure, creating an integrated protective system. The overlapping coverage areas of the collar arms and vest body eliminate gaps and ensure continuous protection. This merged design maintains reliability by ensuring no unprotected zones exist between components.
3Reliability
If a rigid collar structure is used to ensure protection coverage, then protection reliability is improved, but freedom of movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The collar employs movable arms with multiple degrees of freedom that can dynamically adjust to neck movement. The arms are connected through joints allowing rotation and articulation, enabling the collar to move with the wearer rather than restricting movement. This dynamic structure maintains continuous protection while accommodating natural head and neck motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar structure changes its geometric parameters dynamically through movable joints and articulated connections. The arms can rotate, extend, and retract to maintain optimal protective positioning while adapting to different neck positions and movements. This parameter variability allows the rigid protective elements to conform to dynamic wear conditions without sacrificing coverage reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for protecting a neck of an individual from a threat. In one implementation, a ballistic collar includes a base having a body with a first side portion and a second side portion. A first arm extends along a first longitudinal contour towards the first side portion, and the first arm extends distally along a first contour defined by a first proximal segment and a first distal segment. A second arm extends along a second longitudinal contour towards the second side portion. The second arm extends distally along a second contour defined by a second proximal segment and a second distal segment. Each of the first arm, the second arm, and the base is independently movable relative to each other.