Combination carry bag and personal body armor

Abstract

A combination carry bag and personal armor for concealing and carrying a weapon. The carry bag includes a bag, a weapon support, a ballistic protection member and a first flap. The bag defines a modular accessory compartment sized to receive the weapon. The weapon support is disposed within the modular accessory compartment and is connected to the bag. The weapon support is dimensioned to secure the weapon to the bag. The first flap extends from the bag and carries at least a portion of the ballistic protection member.

1 . A combination carry bag and personal armor for concealing and carrying a weapon, comprising:
 a bag defining a modular accessory compartment sized to receive the weapon;   a weapon support disposed within the modular accessory compartment and connected to the bag, the weapon support dimensioned to secure the weapon to the bag;   a ballistic protection member; and   a first flap extending from the bag and carrying at least a portion of the ballistic protection member.   
     
     
         2 . The combination carry bag and personal armor of  claim 1 , wherein the ballistic protection member is substantially coextensive with a portion of the flap. 
     
     
         3 . The combination carry bag and personal armor of  claim 1 , wherein the bag has a side defining an opening providing access to the modular accessory compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The combination carry bag and personal armor of  claim 3 , further comprising means for releasably sealing the opening providing access to the modular accessory compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The combination carry bag and personal armor of  claim 1 , wherein the first flap is connected to an upper edge of the bag, and wherein the combination carry bag and personal armor further comprises a neck strap connected to a lower edge of the first flap. 
     
     
         6 . The combination carry bag and personal armor of  claim 5 , wherein the neck strap is constructed of an elastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The combination carry bag and personal armor of  claim 5 , wherein the neck strap is adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The combination carry bag and personal armor of  claim 5 , further comprising a waist strap connected to the bag. 
     
     
         9 . A method for protecting an individual, comprising the steps of:
 storing a weapon in a weapon support of a modular accessory compartment of a bag to conceal the weapon and to secure the weapon to the bag;   converting the bag into a personal body armor; and   securing the personal body armor to the individual.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of converting the bag into a personal body armor comprises the steps of:
 releasing a first flap from the bag, the first flap having at least a portion of a ballistic protection member; and   placing a neck strap secured to the first flap around the individual's neck to support the first flap  32  and the bag  17  vertically along the upper torso of the individual  14  such that the ballistic protection member is proximate to the individual's chest.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of securing a waist belt of the bag around the individual's waist.