BODY ARMOUR

Abstract

Described is a body armour for women. The body armour has a plate with preformed breast and sternum portions which conform to the breasts and sternum of a female body. At least part of the plate is made from a pliable material that moulds to the shape of a user's body and absorbs impact energy from an object.

Claims

1. Body armour for women, the body armour comprises a plate with preformed breast and sternum portions which conform to the breasts and sternum of a female body, wherein at least part of the plate is made from a pliable material that moulds to the shape of a user's body and absorbs impact energy from an object.

2. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the plate has a substantially continuous surface.

3. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the plate is made from a single piece of material.

4. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the material increases its rigidity upon impact with an object.

5. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the material is viscoelastic.

6. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the material is an open-cell structure.

7. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the material is a polyurethane memory foam.

8. The body armour of claim 7, wherein the polyurethane memory foam has a density of between 150 g/l and 500 g/l.

9. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the plate has a uniform thickness throughout.

10. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the plate is at least in thickness.

11. The body armour of claim 1, wherein the plate has an abdomen portion which is shaped to conform to the abdomen of a female body.

12. The body armour of claim 11, wherein the plate has an opening to allow air flow therethrough.

13. The body armour of claim 12, wherein the opening is located on at least one of the breast and abdomen portions.

14. Body armour for women, the body armour comprises a plate made from memory foam with preformed breast, sternum and abdomen portions which conform to the breasts, sternum and abdomen of a female body, respectively, wherein the abdomen portion has a plurality of openings to allow the passage of air flow therethrough.

15. A garment comprising the body armour of claim 1, where the garment has a retainer that is configured to removably retain the body armour therein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0064] FIG. 1 is a rendered front view of body armour according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0065] FIG. 2A is a line-drawn sectional view of the body armour along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

[0066] FIG. 2B is a line-drawn sectional view of the body armour along the line B-B in FIG. 1;

[0067] FIG. 3 is a rendered top view of the body armour shown in FIG. 1;

[0068] FIG. 4 is a rendered bottom view of the body armour shown in FIG. 1;

[0069] FIG. 5 is a rendered rear view of the body armour shown in FIG. 1;

[0070] FIG. 6 is a line-drawn front view of the body armour according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0071] FIG. 7 is a line-drawn sectional view of the body armour along the line A-A in FIG. 6;

[0072] FIG. 8 is a line-drawn top view of the body armour according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

[0073] FIG. 9 is a front view of a garment for use with the body armour according to embodiments of the invention;

[0074] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a test rig used to test the impact resistance of the body armour according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0075] FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a kerbstone impactor used in the test rig as shown in FIG. 10; and

[0076] FIG. 11B is a perspective view of a conical impactor used in the test rig as shown in FIG. 10;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0077] FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a body armour 10 for women. The body armour 10 is intended to protect the wearer from impact injuries that occur as a result of a collision with an object.

[0078] The body armour 10 comprises a plate 12 having a front surface and a rear surface that is configured to conform to the breasts and sternum area of a female body. The plate 12 comprises a pair of breast portions 12a, a sternum portion 12b disposed between the pair of breast portions 12a and an abdomen portion 12c that extends from the sternum portion 12b. Each of the portions are shaped and dimensioned to conform to the respective area of the female body.

[0079] Each breast portion 12a is curved in three dimensions so as to define a concavity 15 in the rear surface (see FIG. 5) that is configured to receive a breast. The concavity 15 may be dimensioned for a particular cup size or range of cup sizes, for example cup sizes A-C for small to medium-sized breasts or C-E for medium to large-sized breasts.

[0080] The sternum and abdomen portions 12b, 12c are curved in three dimensions to conform to the sternum and abdomen of a female body.

[0081] The plate 12 is made from a pliable material that changes at least one mechanical property to absorb impact energy from an object.

[0082] The material is viscoelastic polyurethane (PU) memory foam. The material properties of the polyurethane memory foam are as follows: [0083] Young's modulus 10-200 MPa* [0084] Yield strength 0.9-10 MPa* [0085] Density 150-500 g/l

[0086] *The Young's modulus and yield strength are dependent on the density of the polyurethane memory foamthe higher the density the higher the Young's modulus and yield strength.

[0087] The plate 12 has a plurality of holes 16 in the breast and abdomen portions 12a, 12c. The holes 16 allow passage of air therethrough for evaporative cooling the wearer. The positioning of the holes 16 on the breast and abdomen portions 12a, 12c is advantageous in certain situations because the Applicant found that more heat is generated in these areas than in the sternum area. As such, it is beneficial to provide increased cooling in these areas.

[0088] The plate 12 has a uniform thickness of 13 mm throughout, i.e. each of the breast, abdomen and sternum portions 12a, 12b, 12c are 13 mm thick.

[0089] FIGS. 6-8 show a variation of the body armour 10a for women. The body armour 10a differs from the body armour 10 in that the plurality of holes 16 are positioned around an outside perimeter of each of the breast portions 12a.

[0090] FIG. 9 shows a garment, in the form of a jersey 100, that is intended for use with the body armour 10, 10a as previously described.

[0091] The jersey 100 includes a retainer, in the form of a pocket 110, that removably retains the body armour 10, 10a therein.

[0092] The pocket 110 comprises a flap that folds over the body armour 10, 10a to restrict movement out from the pocket. In other words, the pocket 110 is an envelope configuration.

[0093] An advantage of the jersey 100 is that the body armour 10, 10a can be removed to allow the jersey 100 to be washed in a washing machine. This is in contrast to garments with permanently attached (stitched or glued) armour which can only be cleaned by hand-washing.

[0094] Experimental Testing

[0095] Overview

[0096] Experimental testing was performed on body armour, according an embodiment of the invention, in order to assess the effectiveness of the body armour against the technical standard EN 1621-3:2018 (relating to motorcycle protective armour). The testing involved impact testing of the body armour to determine the force transmitted through the body armour to the wearerwhich simulates a collision with an object.

[0097] The testing was assessed against two benchmarks (CE Level 1 and CE Level 2) provided in EN 1621-3:2018. These benchmarks will be discussed in further detail later in the specification.

[0098] The testing was performed on different models of body armour according to the invention having the specifications shown in Table 1 below.

[0099] Body armour with a designation 1 in the model number are CE level 1 rated and body armour with a designation 2 in the model number are CE level 2 rated. The rating of the body armour is a function of the number of molecules of polyurethane in the foam structure for a particular volume, i.e., the density of the foam. In other words, the denser the foam the greater the impact absorption capability. However, density is proportional to the weight of the body armour. As such, the density of the body armour is selected based on a minimum weight that meets the relevant benchmark.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 specifications of different models of body armour according to the invention used in the experimental testing. Model Max Max Max of body Length Width Thickness Weight Volume Density armour (mm) (mm) (mm) (g) (cm.sup.3) (g/l) SD1-L 283 304 13 350 1200 291 SD2-L 283 304 13 540 1200 450 SD1-M 238 301 13 260 925 281 SD2-M 238 301 13 400 925 433

[0100] Test Rig

[0101] FIG. 10 shows a test rig 200 for testing body armour. The test rig 200 comprises an upright frame A, an impactor B and an anvil C. The impactor B and the frame A are moveably connected so as to guide the impactor B along the frame A towards the anvil C. The anvil C comprises a force transducer D for measuring the force applied to the anvil C when impacted by the impactor B.

[0102] When the impactor B is dropped from a height above the anvil C, the impactor B accelerates under gravity towards the anvil C and decelerates upon impact with the anvil C.

[0103] The amount of force that is transmitted to the anvil C (and measured by the transducer D) is proportionate to the change in momentum (mass multiplied by velocity) of the impactor B. As can be appreciated, the quicker the impactor B decelerates the more force is transmitted to the anvil C.

[0104] Without being bound by theory, a purpose of the body armour is to decelerate an object which impacts the body armour over a longer period of timewhich results in less force being transmitted to the wearer. The body armour may achieve this by elastically deforming such that some of the kinetic energy of the object is transferred to heat in the particles of the body armour.

[0105] To test the body armour using the above-described test rig, the body armour, indicated as E in FIG. 10, is positioned on the anvil C. The impactor B is then dropped from a height above the anvil C. When the impactor B hits the body armour E, the body armour E decelerates the impactor B such that less force is transmitted to the anvil C (and measured by the transducer D), than would otherwise be transmitted in the absence of the body armour E.

[0106] The impactor B has a mass of about 5 kg and is dropped from a height of about 1 m above the anvil C. Prior to being dropped, the impactor B has a gravitational potential energy of around 50 Joules which is then converted to a kinetic energy upon being released.

[0107] Testing Parameters

[0108] As mentioned above, the testing was assessed against two benchmarks (CE Level 1 and Level 2) provided in EN 1621-3:2018.

[0109] For CE Level 1 protection: the average transmitted force must be below 18 kN, and no single value shall exceed 24 kN.

[0110] For CE Level 2 protection: the average transmitted force must be below 9 kN, and no single value shall exceed 12 kN.

[0111] The body armour was impact tested with both standard condition, i.e. dry and ambient temperature, and a wet condition, i.e. after hydrolytic treatment.

[0112] The standard condition involves subjecting to an environment with an atmospheric temperature of 23 C. and a humidity of 50% r.h.

[0113] 25 The wet condition involves subjecting the body armour to hydrolytic treatment for 72 hours in an environment with an atmospheric temperature of 70 C. and a humidity greater than 96% r.h. and then 24 hours in an environment with an atmospheric temperature of 23 C.

[0114] Two differed impactors were used in the testing: a kerbstone impactor and a conical impactor.

[0115] FIG. 11a shows a kerbstone impactor which has a flat striking face. The kerbstone impactor is used to simulate the armour being struck by a blunt object.

[0116] FIG. 11b shows a conical impactor which has a pointed striking face. The conical impactor is used to simulate the armour being struck by a sharp object.

[0117] For tests involving the conical impactor, the body armour was impacted at an X locationon the breast portion; and at a Y locationon the sternum portion.

[0118] The conical impactor was used in the CE Level 2 benchmark only.

[0119] Results

[0120] The tables below show the results of the experimental testing.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 eight separate tests on the SD1-M and SD2-M model body armour in a standard condition using a kerbstone impactor to satisfy CE Level 1 requirements. SD1-M SD2-M Requirement Pass/ Test type No. (kN) (kN) (kN) Fail 50J kerbstone 1 10.5 8.7 24 Pass impactor - 2 13.5 7.3 24 Pass standard 3 13.6 9.7 24 Pass condition 4 10.4 8.8 24 Pass (23 C./50% r.h.) 5 12.9 9.8 24 Pass 6 8.0 7.0 24 Pass 7 8.1 10.6 24 Pass 8 14.3 10.1 24 Pass Mean 11.4 9.0 18 Pass

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 four separate tests on the SD1-M and SD2-M model body armour in a wet condition using a kerbstone impactor to satisfy CE Level 1 requirements. SD1-M SD2-M Requirement Pass/ Test type No. (kN) (kN) (kN) Fail 50J kerbstone 1 10.9 9.7 24 Pass impactor - 2 11.3 9.3 24 Pass Wet condition, i.e. 3 11.9 9.0 24 Pass after hydrolytic treatment 4 7.9 6.9 24 Pass 72 h/+70 C./>96% Mean 10.5 8.7 18 Pass r.h. + 24 h/23 C.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 four separate tests on the SD1-M and SD2-M model body armour in a standard condition using a conical impactor to satisfy CE Level 2 requirements. Require- SD1-M SD2-M ment Pass/ Test type No. location (kN) (kN) (kN) Fail 50J conical 1 Point X N/a 7.8 12 Pass impactor - 2 Point X N/a 7.6 12 Pass Standard 3 Point Y N/a 9.4 12 Pass condition (23 4 Point Y N/a 9.4 12 Pass C./50% r.h.) Mean 8.6 9 Pass

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 eight separate tests on the SD1-L and SD2-L model body armour in a standard condition using a kerbstone impactor to satisfy CE Level 1 requirements. SD1-L SD2-L Requirement Pass/ Test type No. (kN) (kN) (kN) Fail 50J kerbstone 1 9.1 10.9 24 Pass impactor - 2 10.4 10.5 24 Pass standard 3 8.9 10.4 24 Pass condition 4 10.2 8.9 24 Pass (23 C./50% r.h.) 5 11.0 10.0 24 Pass 6 10.1 11.1 24 Pass 7 9.4 9.8 24 Pass 8 10.0 10.1 24 Pass Mean 9.9 10.2 18 Pass

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 four separate tests on the SD1-L and SD2-L model body armour in a wet condition using a kerbstone impactor to satisfy CE Level 1 requirements. SD1-L SD2-L Requirement Pass/ Test type No. (kN) (kN) (kN) Fail 50J kerbstone 1 10.0 10.7 24 Pass impactor - 2 10.2 11.3 24 Pass Wet condition, i.e. 3 9.3 9.3 24 Pass after hydrolytic treatment 4 10.0 9.8 24 Pass 72 h/+70 C./>96% Mean 9.9 10.3 18 Pass r.h. + 24 h/23 C.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 four separate tests on the SD1-L and SD2-L model body armour in a standard condition using a conical impactor to satisfy CE Level 2 requirements. Require- SD1-L SD2-L ment Pass/ Test type No. location (kN) (kN) (kN) Fail 50J conical 1 Point X N/a 5.2 12 Pass impactor - 2 Point X N/a 5.4 12 Pass Standard 3 Point Y N/a 2.3 12 Pass condition (23 4 Point Y N/a 2.7 12 Pass C./50% r.h.) Mean 3.9 9 Pass

[0121] Analysis of Results

[0122] As can be seen from the tables, the body armour complies with Level 1 and Level 2 protection because the average force transmitted and the maximum single value of each and any every test is below the respective requirements for each benchmark.

[0123] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.