Hydration Bladder Ballistic Energy Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing body armor systems fail to effectively absorb and disperse ballistic energy, leading to potential serious injury or death, and they are often heavy and unevenly distributed, causing fatigue and discomfort for military and law enforcement personnel.

Innovation Solution

A modular body armor system that includes a pouch with an armor plate and a hydration bladder, where the hydration bladder is designed to match the shape of the armor plate and is positioned behind it, absorbing ballistic energy and improving weight distribution without adding bulk or weight, and is compatible with existing armor systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If armor plates and trauma pads are used to prevent bullet penetration, then ballistic protection is improved, but ballistic energy is still transferred to the body causing injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballistic protectionVSAvoidballistic energy transfer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by placing energy-absorbing materials (foam layers, gel layers, or fluid-filled bladders) between the armor plate and the wearer's body. These cushioning layers are pre-positioned to absorb and disperse ballistic energy before it reaches the body, preventing injury from energy transfer even when the bullet is stopped by the armor plate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining rigid armor plates (for bullet stopping) with flexible energy-absorbing materials (foam, gel, or fluid layers). This composite structure allows the rigid component to prevent penetration while the flexible component absorbs the impact energy, solving both protection and energy dispersion requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If additional equipment is added to improve ballistic energy dispersion, then energy absorption is improved, but device complexity and silhouette increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballistic energy dispersionVSAvoidequipment quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the energy-absorbing function with the existing armor plate structure by integrating foam layers, gel layers, or fluid-filled bladders directly into the armor assembly. This consolidation allows multiple functions (protection and energy dispersion) to be achieved within a single integrated component rather than adding separate equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies nesting by placing energy-absorbing materials inside or within the structure of the armor plate carrier. The foam layers, gel layers, or fluid bladders are nested within the armor assembly, allowing them to occupy space that would otherwise be empty or structural, thus adding functionality without increasing external dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If armor plates are placed on the front of the body for protection, then ballistic protection is improved, but weight distribution becomes uneven causing fatigue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrontal ballistic protectionVSAvoidweight distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced protection (both ballistic and energy-absorbing) specifically at the front of the body where the armor plate is positioned, while maintaining lighter construction elsewhere. This localized approach to protection allows concentrated defense where needed without uniformly increasing weight across the entire body armor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively disperses ballistic energy, reduces the risk of injury, and improves weight distribution, allowing for more comfortable and effective protection without altering existing equipment or adding significant weight or bulk.

Implementation Method 1

a hydration bladder disposed within the pouch behind the armor plate... absorbing ballistic energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy absorption through deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

a hydration bladder disposed within the pouch behind the armor plate... disperses ballistic energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure distribution: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS11428504B2Body armor system

Publication Date: 2022.08.30 THE JAAW GRP LLC

AI summary

A body armor system includes a pouch and an armor plate and hydration bladder disposed within the pouch. The shape of the hydration bladder corresponds to the shape of the armor plate and is dimensioned such that the hydration bladder is hidden behind the armor plate during use. The pouch includes a front pouch in which the armor plate is disposed and a rear pouch in which the hydration bladder is disposed. The hydration bladder can be filled with fluid, which is configured to absorb and disperse ballistic energy transferred from the armor plate when struck.