Ballistic shield support undergarments

Abstract

The ballistic shield support undergarments are undergarments for use by soldiers, tactical personnel and the like, providing comfortable support for ballistic shielding, without limiting the wearer's dexterity or freedom of movement. The ballistic shield support undergarments include both underpants and an undershirt, preferably worn as a set. The pair of undershorts include a waist portion and a pair of leg portions, as is conventionally known. A pair of pockets are provided, with each pocket being secured to a respective one of the leg portions by stitching or the like. A pair of ballistic shields, such as small arms protective inserts (SAPIs) or the like, are further provided, with each ballistic shield being removably received within a respective one of the pockets. Each pocket is positioned on the respective leg portion so that the respective ballistic shield received therein covers the wearer's femoral artery.

1 . A ballistic shield support undergarment, comprising:
 a pair of undershorts having a waist portion and a pair of leg portions;   a pair of pockets, each of the pockets being attached to a respective one of the leg portions; and   a pair of ballistic shields, each of the ballistic shields being removably received within a respective one of the pockets, each of the pockets being positioned on the respective leg portion so that the respective ballistic shield received therein covers a wearer's femoral artery when the undergarment is worn.   
     
     
         2 . The ballistic shield support undergarment as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each said pocket has a closed lower end and an open upper end. 
     
     
         3 . The ballistic shield support undergarment as recited in  claim 2 , wherein each said ballistic shield is a small arms protective insert. 
     
     
         4 . The ballistic shield support undergarment as recited in  claim 2 , wherein each said ballistic shield is a level IIIa ballistic cover. 
     
     
         5 . A ballistic shield support undergarment, comprising:
 an undershirt having a main body portion, a pair of sleeves and a neck portion;   a pair of sleeve pockets, each of the sleeve pockets being attached to a respective one of the sleeves;   a front pocket attached to a front panel of the main body portion;   a pair of sleeve ballistic shields, each of the sleeve ballistic shields being removably received within a respective one of the sleeve pockets; and   a front ballistic shield removably received within the front pocket.   
     
     
         6 . The ballistic shield support undergarment as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the main body portion has a rear panel, the undergarment further comprising:
 a rear pocket attached to the rear panel of the main body portion; and   a rear ballistic shield removably received within the rear pocket.   
     
     
         7 . The ballistic shield support undergarment as recited in  claim 6 , wherein each of said sleeve, front and rear pockets has a closed lower end and an open upper end. 
     
     
         8 . The ballistic shield support undergarment as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each of said sleeve ballistic shields, said front ballistic shield and said rear ballistic shield comprises a small arms protective insert. 
     
     
         9 . The ballistic shield support undergarment as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each of said sleeve ballistic shields, said front ballistic shield and said rear ballistic shield comprises a level IIIa ballistic cover. 
     
     
         10 . A set of ballistic shield support undergarments, comprising:
 a pair of undershorts having a waist portion and a pair of leg portions;   a pair of leg pockets, each of the leg pockets being attached to a respective one of the leg portions;   a pair of leg ballistic shields, each of the leg ballistic shields being removably received within a respective one of the leg pockets, each of the leg pockets being positioned on the respective leg portion so that the respective leg ballistic shield received therein covers a wearer's femoral artery when the undershorts are worn;   an undershirt having a main body portion, a pair of sleeves and a neck portion, the main body portion having a front panel;   a pair of sleeve pockets, each of the sleeve pockets being attached to a respective one of the sleeves;   a front pocket attached to the front panel of the main body portion;   a pair of sleeve ballistic shields, each of the sleeve ballistic shields being removably received within a respective one of the sleeve pockets; and   a front ballistic shield removably received within the front pocket.   
     
     
         11 . The set of ballistic shield support undergarments as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the main body portion of said undershirt has a rear panel, said undershirt further comprising:
 a rear pocket attached to the rear panel of the main body portion; and   a rear ballistic shield removably received within the rear pocket.   
     
     
         12 . The set of ballistic shield support undergarments as recited in  claim 11 , wherein each of said leg, sleeve, front and rear pockets has a closed lower end and an open upper end. 
     
     
         13 . The set of ballistic shield support undergarments as recited in  claim 12 , wherein each of said leg ballistic shields, said sleeve ballistic shields, said front ballistic shield and said rear ballistic shield comprises a small arms protective insert. 
     
     
         14 . The set of ballistic shield support undergarments as recited in  claim 12 , wherein each of said wherein each of said leg ballistic shields, said sleeve ballistic shields, said front ballistic shield and said rear ballistic shield comprises a level IIIa ballistic cover.