Protective body armor

Abstract

An apparatus for protective body armor to protect the head, neck, and spine from impaction, lateral extension, hyperflexion, hyperextension, while allowing for normal physiologic movement and range of head and neck motion is disclosed. In at least one embodiment a protective body armor includes: a shell adapted to couple to at least one upper body plate, to cover the head and neck, to allow normal physiologic movement and range of the head and the neck within the shell, and to prevent movement beyond the normal movement and range, wherein the shell does not move relative to the at least one upper body plate once rigidly coupled and the farthest distance the head can move upon an impact to the user is within a boundary of the shell; and a skull pad for wear by the user directly upon the head within the shell and for coverage of the skull area.

1 . A protective body armor for head, neck, and spine protection, the protective body armor comprising:
 a shell adapted to couple rigidly and removably to at least one upper body plate and to cover the head and neck of a user, to allow the user normal physiologic movement and range of the head and the neck within the shell, and to prevent movement beyond the normal movement and range, wherein the shell does not move relative to the at least one upper body plate once rigidly coupled and the farthest distance the head can move upon an impact to the user is within a boundary of the shell; and   at least one skull pad adapted for wear by the user directly upon the head within the shell and for padded coverage of the skull area.   
     
     
         2 . The protective body armor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one retainer disposed upon the shell and configured to couple the shell to the at least one upper body plate.   
     
     
         3 . The protective body armor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protective visor disposed upon the shell and adapted to protect the eyes and facial area of the user and to provide visibility.   
     
     
         4 . The protective body armor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a grill disposed upon the shell and adapted to protect the eyes and facial area of the user and to provide visibility.   
     
     
         5 . The protective body armor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one aperture disposed within the shell and adapted to provide ventilation and visibility.   
     
     
         6 . The protective body armor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a contoured edge disposed upon a base of the shell and adapted to provide a contoured fit to the at least one upper body plate.   
     
     
         7 . The protective body armor of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is comprised of a carbon fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The protective body armor of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is comprised of a lightweight metal. 
     
     
         9 . A protective body armor system for head, neck, and spine protection, the protective body armor system comprising:
 an upper body plate assembly adapted to protect the upper body, shoulders, collar bone area, upper back, and spine of a user;   a shell adapted to couple rigidly and removably to the upper body plate assembly and to cover the head and neck of the user, to allow the user normal physiologic movement and range of the head and the neck within the shell, and to prevent movement beyond the normal movement and range, wherein the shell does not move relative to the upper body plate assembly once rigidly coupled and the farthest distance the head can move upon an impact to the user is within a boundary of the shell;   a plurality of retainers configured to couple the shell to the upper body plate assembly; and   at least one skull pad adapted for wear by the user directly upon the head within the shell and for padded coverage of the skull area.   
     
     
         10 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , wherein the upper body plate assembly further comprises a plurality of protective shoulder plates. 
     
     
         11 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , wherein the upper body plate assembly further comprises a plurality of protective back plates. 
     
     
         12 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , wherein the upper body plate assembly further comprises a protective spine plate. 
     
     
         13 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of retainers further comprises a plurality of latches disposed upon the shell and a plurality of lock fasteners disposed on the upper body plate assembly and configured to couple to and lock the latches to hold the shell securely to the upper body plate assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of retainers further comprises at least one interlocking hinge with a first portion of the interlocking hinge disposed upon the shell and a second portion of the interlocking hinge disposed upon the upper body plate assembly such that the shell remains coupled to the upper body plate assembly and the shell is hingedly pivoted to open. 
     
     
         15 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a protective visor disposed upon the shell and adapted to protect the eyes and facial area of the user, and through which a user sees.   
     
     
         16 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a grill disposed upon the shell and adapted to protect the eyes and facial area of the user, and through which a user sees.   
     
     
         17 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at least one aperture disposed within the shell and adapted to provide ventilation and visibility.   
     
     
         18 . The protective body armor system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a contoured edge disposed upon a base of the shell adapted to provide a contoured fit to the upper body plate assembly.   
     
     
         19 . A method of providing head, neck, and spine protection with protective body armor, the method comprising:
 providing an upper body plate assembly adapted to protect the upper body, shoulders, collar bone area, and upper back of a user;   providing a shell adapted to couple rigidly and removably to the upper body plate assembly and to cover the head and neck of a user, to allow the user normal physiologic movement and range of the head and the neck within the shell, and to prevent movement beyond the normal movement and range, wherein the shell does not move relative to the upper body plate assembly once rigidly coupled and the farthest distance the head can move upon an impact to the user is within a boundary of the shell;   providing a plurality of retainers configured to couple the shell to the upper body plate assembly;   providing at least one skull pad adapted for wear by the user directly upon the head within the shell and for padded coverage of the skull area;   positioning the upper body plate on the shoulders of the user;   positioning the at least one skull pad upon the head of the user;   positioning the shell over the head and neck of the user; and   fastening the shell to the upper body plate assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the upper body plate assembly further comprises a plurality of protective shoulder plates, a plurality of protective back plates, and a protective spine plate, the method further comprising:
 protecting the head, neck, and spine by dissipating energy from and impact to the shell to the upper body plate assembly shoulder plates, back plates, and spine plate.