Jeremy L. Harrell - Hendersonville TN, US Charles M. Letterman - Hendersonville TN, US Scott F. Leftwich - Brentwood TN, US
International Classification:
F41H 1/02 F16F 9/04 A41D 27/00
US Classification:
2 25, 22431, 26714011
Abstract:
A panel apparatus for positioning between a human body and a region of body armor absorbs impact energy associated with a projectile or other object impacting the body armor. The panel is also operable to absorb overpressure energy associated with a blast wave from an explosive device such as an improvised explosive device or a bomb. The panel may be secured to an interior of conventional tactical body armor, body armor carriers, or the like. The panel includes a multilayer construction and includes an inflatable primary gas chamber and a separate non-inflatable secondary gas chamber in some embodiments. The primary and secondary gas chambers are stacked in substantially parallel planes and are oriented substantially parallel to the body armor.