Front opening body armor

Abstract

Front opening body armor protects a user from edged weapons, sharp objects, and ballistic threats and provides for easy placement and removal of the body armor by the user and can be opened from at least one side to allow for individual adjustment of the body armor for fit and comfort.

We claim:  
     
         1 . Body armor for protecting a user from penetration comprising: 
 a vest containing ballistic material, the vest having a left front panel, a right front panel, and a back panel, the front panels having a front edge, a side edge, and a shoulder area, the back panel having a shoulder section and at least one back edge, wherein the shoulder area of the front panels are attached to the shoulder section of the corresponding back panel;    a front opening defined by a space between the front edge of the left front panel and the front edge of the right front panel, the front opening having an open position and a closed position;    a front closure mechanism, wherein the right front panel and the left front panel are closed together by the front closure mechanism;    at least one side opening, having a closed and opened position, defined by a space between the side edge of one of the front panels and the back edge of the back panel; and    a side closing mechanism, wherein the side opening is closed by securing a corresponding front panels to the back panel using the side closure mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . The body armor as recited in  claim 1  wherein when the front opening is in the closed position, a protective flap is disposed between the front opening and the user.  
     
     
         3 . The body armor as recited in  claim 1  wherein a second side opening is defined by the space between the edge of the opposite front panels and the edge of the back panel.  
     
     
         4 . The body armor as recited in  claim 2  wherein the protective flap contains a ballistic material.  
     
     
         5 . The body armor as recited in  claim 1  wherein the front closure mechanism is a zipper.  
     
     
         6 . The body armor as recited in  claim 5  wherein a flap covers the front closure mechanism when the front opening is in the closed position.  
     
     
         7 . The body armor as recited in  claim 6  wherein the flap is secured by a hook and loop system.  
     
     
         8 . The body armor as recited in  claim 1  wherein the side closing mechanism is a hook and loop system.  
     
     
         9 . A body armor system for providing protecting to a user from penetration, the system comprising: 
 body armor with a front opening having an opened and closed position wherein the front opening is defined as a front space between a left front panel and a right front panel both containing ballistic material wherein the front opening provides for the placement of the body armor on the user and removal of the body armor from the user without requiring the body armor to be pulled over the head of the user; and    at least one side opening having an opened and closed position wherein the side opening is defined as the space between one of the front panels and a back panel containing ballistic material wherein the side opening provides a continuous range of adjustments to the body armor to provide fit and comfort for the user.    
     
     
         10 . The body armor as recited in  claim 9  wherein when the front opening is in the closed position, a protective flap is disposed between the front opening and the user.  
     
     
         11 . The body armor as recited in  claim 10  wherein the protective flap contains a ballistic material.  
     
     
         12 . The body armor as recited in  claim 9  wherein the front opening is held in the closed position by a front closure mechanism.  
     
     
         13 . The body armor as recited in  claim 12  wherein the front closure mechanism is a zipper.  
     
     
         14 . The body armor as recited in  claim 12  wherein a flap covers the front closure mechanism when the front opening is in the closed position.  
     
     
         15 . The body armor as recited in  claim 14  wherein the flap is secured by a hook and loop system.  
     
     
         16 . The body armor as recited in  claim 9  wherein a second side opening is defined by the space between the opposite front panels and the back panel.  
     
     
         17 . The body armor as recited in  claim 9  wherein at least one side opening is secured in the closed position by a side closing mechanism.  
     
     
         18 . The side closing mechanism as recited in  claim 17  wherein the side closing mechanism is a hook and loop system.