Patent Application - THERMALLY VENTED BODY ARMOR > Summary

Patent Application No. US 20120159680

Published on Jun 28, 2012

Application No. 13/256475

Filed on Mar 19, 2010

Priority Date -

Howland, Charles A. - Temple, NH US (8)

A modular and field adaptable body armor system includes a plurality of flexible, air-permeable, thermally vented plates arranged in fixed relationships that pro-vide flexible, modular, field-adaptable protection for the torso and extremities without excessive weight or heat bur-den. The TVA plates include protective cards suspended in a parallel, louvered relationship between inner and outer mesh layers, thereby permitting air to flow therebetween while providing a flexible, compressible, modular barrier that protects the torso and extremities against projectiles. In embodiments, the outer mesh layer resists penetration and compresses cards together to intercept a projectile that would otherwise pass therebetween. Protective cards can include thermally pressed and flexed laminated UHMWPE. TVA panels can be removed and exchanged in the field according to the requirements of each mission. In embodiments, the TVA plates are laced together and/or attached to an underlying fabric carrier garment.