Modular armor assembly and method for using the modular armor assembly

Abstract

A modular armor assembly is provided in parts that can be assembled at a desired location without the need for special tools or for structurally modifying the host structure. A plurality of panels are connected together to assemble a self-supporting (i.e., free standing) armor assembly within the host structure. Once assembled, the self-supporting armor assembly can be easily disassembled and removed from a host structure and reassembled in a different host structure.

1 . A modular armor assembly, comprising: 
 an armored front portion including a protective window portion;    a first additional armored portion;    a second additional armored portion; and    said armored front portion, said first additional armored portion and said second additional armored portion being removably connected to each other, and forming a free-standing armor assembly when said armored front portion, said first additional armored portion and said second additional armored portion are connected to each other.    
     
     
         2 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said free-standing modular armor assembly is additionally sized to fit in a cabin of a vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 1 , further including a third additional armored portion, said third additional armored portion being removably connectable to at least two of said armored front portion, said first additional armored portion and said second additional armored portion to form a free-standing modular armor assembly enclosing a protected area within.  
     
     
         4 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said free-standing modular armor assembly is additionally sized to fit in a cabin of a vehicle.  
     
     
         5 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said armored front portion, said first additional armored portion said second additional armored portion and said third additional armored portion are constructed so as to be singly brought into the cabin and to be assembled together in the cabin to from said free-standing modular armor assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said free-standing modular armor assembly may be further secured to the cabin.  
     
     
         7 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said first additional armored portion is an armored back panel including a second protected window portion therethrough.  
     
     
         8 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said first additional panel is a first side panel, and said second additional panel is a second side panel, at least one of said first side panel and said second side panel including a door portion.  
     
     
         9 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first side panel and said second side panel is formed including at least one side protection piece connected to a door panel piece.  
     
     
         10 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein at least said armored front portion, includes an overlap portion to overlap at least one of said first additional armored portion, said second additional armored portion and said third additional armored portion, said free-standing modular armor assembly additionally including a connector to connect said overlap portion to said at least one of said first additional armored portion, said second additional armored portion and said third additional armored portion.  
     
     
         11 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said free-standing modular armor assembly is sized to be non-permanently assembled in a self-supporting manner within the cabin of a VOLVO® Truck, Model FH12.  
     
     
         12 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said free-standing modular armor assembly is sized to be non-permanently assembled in a self-supporting manner within the cabin of a MERCEDES-BENZ® Truck, Model 3848.  
     
     
         13 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said free-standing modular armor assembly may be further secured to the cabin.  
     
     
         14 . The modular armor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said free-standing modular armor assembly is constructed to be nonpermanently assembled in the cabin and disassembled from the cabin and reassembled in the cabin of another vehicle.  
     
     
         15 . A method of assembling a modular armor assembly, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an armored front portion including a protective window portion;    providing a first additional armored portion;    providing a second additional armored portion; and    removably connecting the armored front portion, the first additional armored portion and the second additional armored portion being to each other, to form a free-standing armor assembly.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , which further comprises performing the removably connecting step inside a cabin of a vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , including the steps of: 
 providing a third additional armored portion; and    further removably connecting the third additional armored portion to at least two of the armored front portion, the first additional armored portion and the second additional armored portion to form a free-standing modular armor assembly enclosing a protected area within.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , which further comprises performing the removably connecting step and the further removably connecting step inside the cabin of a vehicle.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , including the further steps of disassembling the free-standing modular armor assembly after the further removably connecting step, removing the pieces of the modular armor assembly from the cabin and reassembling the pieces in the cabin of another vehicle to form a free-standing modular armor assembly.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , including the further step of securing the free-standing modular armor assembly to the cabin prior to the disassembling step.  
     
     
         21 . A modular armor retrofit kit, comprising: 
 an armored front portion including a protective window portion;    a first additional armored portion;    a second additional armored portion; and    said armored front portion, said first additional armored portion and said second additional armored portion of said retrofit kit being removably connectable to each other to form a free-standing armor assembly when said armored front portion, said first additional armored portion and said second additional armored portion are connected to each other.    
     
     
         22 . The modular armor retrofit kit of  claim 21 , wherein said armored front portion, said first additional armored portion and said second additional armored portion of said retrofit kit may be replaced by a respective one of an armored front portion, a first additional armored portion and a second additional armored portion from another retrofit kit.  
     
     
         23 . The modular armor retrofit kit of  claim 21 , wherein said modular armor retrofit kit is provided in pieces and nonpermanently assembled in a cabin of a vehicle to form said free-standing armor assembly.  
     
     
         24 . The modular armor retrofit kit of  claim 23 , wherein said free-standing armor assembly is manufactured and assembled so as to be disassembled from the cabin and reassembled in a cabin of another vehicle.  
     
     
         25 . The modular armor retrofit kit of  claim 24 , further including a third additional armored portion, said third additional armored portion being removably connectable to at least two of said armored front portion, said first additional armored portion and said second additional armored portion to form a free-standing modular armor assembly enclosing a protected area within.