Deployable Groin Protector for Ballistic Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal body armor, such as armored vests, often leaves the groin and pelvic regions exposed to injury, particularly from ballistic threats, with lap panels providing minimal protection and mainly covering forward impacts.
Innovation Solution
A ballistic resistant groin protector comprising a groin panel and a deployable groin wrap made of pliable ballistic material, which can be suspended from clothing or equipment, extending between the legs and against the posterior pelvic region to protect the femoral arteries, with optional fasteners and a stowable design for added flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If lap panels are used to protect the groin region, then forward impact protection is improved, but protection against rearward impacts and femoral arteries is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The groin protector is divided into two functional segments: a forward-facing groin panel for anterior protection and a rearward-facing groin wrap for posterior and femoral protection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific protective function while together providing comprehensive 360-degree coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The protection system transitions from two-dimensional frontal coverage to three-dimensional omnidirectional coverage by adding the deployable groin wrap that extends rearwardly between the legs. This dimensional expansion enables protection against threats from multiple directions including rearward impacts.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a deployable groin wrap is added for posterior protection, then ballistic protection coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The groin wrap is nested within or adjacent to the groin panel in its stowed position, allowing it to be stored compactly when not needed. The wrap can be deployed from this nested configuration to provide rearward protection, and then returned to the stowed position when no longer required, reducing complexity by eliminating the need for separate storage mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The groin wrap transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic, deployable structure that can be moved between stowed and deployed positions. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to varying threat conditions while maintaining simplicity through the use of flexible ballistic material rather than complex mechanical components.
3Ease of operation
If the groin wrap is made from pliable ballistic material, then comfort and freedom of movement are improved, but structural rigidity for ballistic resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The groin wrap is constructed from flexible ballistic material that maintains protective capabilities while conforming to the body's contours and allowing natural movement. This flexible material provides ballistic resistance without the rigidity of hard plates, enabling comfort and freedom of movement while maintaining protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the groin wrap are optimized to balance flexibility and ballistic resistance by selecting pliable ballistic material with appropriate tensile strength and energy-absorption characteristics. This parameter optimization allows the material to deform with body movement while still providing adequate protection against ballistic threats.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the groin wrap can be quickly stowed, then adaptability and ease of use are improved, but time for deployment and stowing is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The groin wrap is pre-positioned in a stowed configuration within or adjacent to the groin panel, ready for rapid deployment when needed. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for complex assembly or retrieval operations, allowing the user to quickly deploy protection by simply moving the pre-positioned wrap into place.
Solution Approach 2:
The groin wrap is designed to be self-contained with integrated fasteners that attach to the groin panel or wearer's clothing, eliminating the need for separate attachment mechanisms or tools. This self-service design allows rapid deployment and stowing through simple manual operations without requiring additional equipment or complex procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A ballistic resistant groin protector is provided. The groin protector includes a groin panel and a deployable groin wrap. The groin panel can be suspended from clothing or equipment to protect a wearer's anterior pelvic region from ballistic impact. The groin wrap is moveable from a stowed position adjacent the anterior pelvic region to a deployed position between the wearer's legs and adjacent a posterior pelvic region. One or more fasteners secure the groin wrap to the wearer's clothing or equipment to maintain the groin wrap in the deployed position. Optional left and right femoral protective portions extend downwardly from the groin wrap to protect the wearer's medial thigh regions against ballistic injury in the deployed position.