Carbon Fiber Load Transfer Bar for Ballistic Vest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ballistic armor vests are heavy and distribute their weight primarily on the shoulders, leading to prolonged strain and discomfort, which can reduce effectiveness and cause fatigue, especially during strenuous activities like military or police work, where waist-based load transfer systems might hinder movement.
Innovation Solution
A load-carrying assembly using stiff carbon fiber bars to transfer the weight of the vest from the shoulders to a waist-encircling belt, with flexible connections such as PALS loops, buckles, and snap arrangements, allowing for rapid disconnection when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the armor vest weight is increased to provide higher level protection, then the protective capability is improved, but the burden on the wearer's shoulders and spine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load-bearing function is segmented between two separate components: the ballistic vest and the load-carrying assembly. The vest provides protection while the separate assembly handles weight distribution, allowing the protective capability to be enhanced without proportionally increasing the burden on the wearer's shoulders and spine.
Solution Approach 2:
A load-carrying assembly with a rigid bar and waist belt acts as an intermediary device between the ballistic vest and the wearer's body. This intermediary transfers the weight from the shoulders to the stronger pelvic region, reducing the harmful strain on the shoulders and spine while allowing the vest to maintain its protective function.
2Reliability
If permanent connections are used to transfer loads to the waist, then the load transfer effectiveness is improved, but the wearer's movement is hampered
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the ballistic vest and the load-carrying assembly is made dynamic rather than permanent. The rigid bar can be quickly inserted into and removed from the vest pocket, allowing the system to adapt between load-bearing mode (when the bar is inserted) and movement mode (when the bar is removed), thus maintaining both load transfer effectiveness and movement freedom.
Data Source
AI summary
Support assemblies releasably extending between a ballistic vest and a waist encircling belt transfer the loads from the vest to the belt relieving the stress on the wearer's shoulders and spine. Each support assembly has a stiff carbon fiber bar enclosed within webbing which is attached to a side section of the vest such as by extending within a downwardly opening pocket, and is attached to the belt such as by an upwardly opening pocket.