Extremity armor

Abstract

Body armor for ballistic protection of a user's extremities preferably comprising right and left arm protection units and/or right and left leg protection units. The units include a ballistic protection material which preferably covers most of the user's upper arm, elbow region, lower arm, shoulder, upper leg, knee region, and lower leg except for ventilation zones preferably located on the inner portion of the upper arm and the inner part of the upper leg. The back of the knee is preferably covered by a protective flap.

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . An armor system for a wearer's arms, each arm assembly of the armor system comprising:
 a first substantially cylindrical sleeve portion constructed of a first ballistic assembly having a plurality of layers of ballistic material operable to cover the wearer's front, outside and back of the upper arm, the first ballistic assembly defining a ventilation void region operable to cover the wearer's inside of the upper arm, the first generally cylindrical portion further having an exterior fabric containing the first ballistic assembly;   a second substantially cylindrical sleeve portion coupled to the first substantially cylindrical sleeve portion and constructed of a second ballistic assembly having a plurality of layers of ballistic material operable to protect the wearer's front, inside and outside of the lower arm, the second ballistic assembly defining a ventilation void region operable to cover at least a portion of the wearer's back lower arm, the second substantially cylindrical sleeve portion generally overlapping a lower edge of the first substantially cylindrical sleeve portion forming an overlapping region operable to protect the wearer's elbow, the second substantially cylindrical sleeve portion further having an exterior fabric containing the second ballistic assembly;   a highly-breathable material assembly coupled to both the first and second substantially cylindrical sleeve portions at an interface therebetween; and   a plurality of fasteners operable to releasably attach the armor system to a garment on the wearer's body.   
     
     
         40 . The armor system of  claim 39 , further comprising a hard ballistic plate having a shape substantially contoured to the wearer's upper arm, wherein the exterior fabric containing the first ballistic assembly is constructed and shaped to further accommodate the hard ballistic plate;
 wherein a closeable opening in the exterior fabric is defined to provide access to the hard ballistic plate; and   a strap and fastener operable to adjust and position the placement of the hard ballistic plate in the first substantially cylindrical sleeve portion.   
     
     
         41 . The armor system of  claim 39 , wherein the first and second substantially cylindrical sleeve portions are releasably attached to one another using a zipper. 
     
     
         42 . The armor system of  claim 39 , further comprising a shoulder portion having a shoulder ballistic assembly operable to protect the wearer's shoulder, the shoulder portion being releasably attachable to the first substantially cylindrical sleeve portion. 
     
     
         43 . The armor system of  claim 42 , wherein the shoulder portion further comprises a hard ballistic plate contoured to the wearer's shoulder. 
     
     
         44 . The armor system of  claim 39 , wherein the first and second ballistic assemblies are stitched to the exterior fabric around perimeters thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The armor system of  claim 39 , wherein the first ballistic assembly is removable from the exterior fabric. 
     
     
         46 . The armor system of  claim 39 , wherein the second ballistic assembly and the exterior fabric of the second generally cylindrical sleeve portion defines a slit to facilitate easy donning of the armor system around the wearer's arm, wherein the slit in the second substantially cylindrical sleeve portion is closeable using a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         47 . The armor system of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of layers of ballistic material are constructed of alternatingly oriented ballistic materials being combined after being formed in a predefined substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         48 . The armor system of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of layers of ballistic material are constructed of alternatingly oriented ballistic materials stitched together at the perimeters thereof after being formed in a predefined substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         49 . An armor system for a wearer's lower body and lower extremities, comprising:
 a ballistic assembly forming a pair of pants having substantially cylindrical leg portions, the ballistic assembly being constructed of a plurality of layers of a ballistic material;   a first void region in the ballistic assembly defined in a groin and inner thigh region of the pants;   a second void region in the ballistic assembly defined behind each knee of the pants, the second void region being substantially covered by a back-of-the-knee flap constructed of a plurality of layers of the ballistic material; and   an exterior fabric covering the ballistic assembly.   
     
     
         50 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising a third and fourth void regions in the ballistic assembly defined in outer thigh regions of the pants. 
     
     
         51 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising a fifth void region in the ballistic material substantially defined over the wearer's shin. 
     
     
         52 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising a highly-breathable material covering at least a portion of the first void region of the pants, and a highly-breathable material covering at least a portion of the third and fourth void regions of the pants. 
     
     
         53 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising a flap constructed of the plurality of layers of ballistic material for covering the first void region. 
     
     
         54 . The armor system of  claim 49 , wherein the pair of pants comprises:
 a first portion operable to protect the wearer's lower body and thigh;   a second portion operable to protect the wearer's lower legs;   a knee region at an overlapping interface of the first and second portions; and   a zipper releasably coupling the first and second portions at the overlapping interface therebetween.   
     
     
         55 . The armor system of  claim 54 , further comprising a sixth void region in the ballistic material defined above each knee and at the overlapping interface of the first and second portions of the pants, the sixth void region being a slender horizontal slit covered by a stretchy material. 
     
     
         56 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising a notch formed in the ballistic material defined in front of the hips of the pants. 
     
     
         57 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 an opening formed in the ballistic material down the entire sides of the pants, and fasteners operable to releasably fasten the sides together and permit quick removal of the armor system; and   a closeable fastener disposed at each of the lower leg bottoms to prevent inadvertent unfastening of the pant leg sides.   
     
     
         58 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising an opening formed in the ballistic material in the pant leg bottoms and fasteners operable to releasably close off the opening. 
     
     
         59 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising:
 a fastener releasably coupling the ballistic assembly to a suspender attached to the exterior fabric of the pants to substantially support the weight of the ballistic assembly; and   at least one hook and loop fastener releasably coupling the ballistic assembly to the exterior fabric of the pants.   
     
     
         60 . The armor system of  claim 49 , further comprising a pocket in each leg positioned over the wearer's knee, and a cushioning material being accommodated in the pockets. 
     
     
         61 . The armor system of  claim 49 , wherein the plurality of layers of ballistic material are constructed of alternating oriented ballistic materials combined after being formed in a predefined substantially cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         62 . An armor system for a wearer's arms, comprising:
 at least three substantially cylindrical and overlapping segments constructed of a plurality of layers of a ballistic material operable to protect the wearer's arms, the plurality of segments providing flexibility for the wearer's arms; and   at least two substantially cylindrical and overlapping segments constructed of a plurality of layers of a ballistic material operable to protect the wearer's legs, the plurality of segments providing flexibility for the wearer's legs.