Individual protective blanket for emergencies

Abstract

An individual protective body blanket for use during emergencies for protection against flying shrapnel, debris, and projectiles. The blanket may comprise an energy absorbing layer and a ballistic resistant layer sandwiched between inner and out layers of ripstock nylon. The blanket may comprise a generally rectangular or elongate panel with inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface is provided with shoulder straps and a belt for donning the blanket in a backpack-like fashion. The outer surface may be made of a visually conspicuous color, such as orange or yellow, to assist first responders in locating the individual.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An individual protective blanket for use by a person in an emergency, wherein the person has a width and a height, the blanket comprising:
 a flexible armored panel formed of a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including an energy absorbing layer, a ballistic resistant layer, an outer layer, and an inner layer, the energy absorbing layer and the ballistic resistant layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers, wherein the panel is sized to have a width wider than the person's width and further sized to have a length that is less than the person's height; and   a harness configured to be worn by the person to secure the panel lengthwise on the person's back.   
     
     
         2 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the harness comprises a pair of shoulder straps. 
     
     
         3 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 2  wherein the harness further comprises a waist strap. 
     
     
         4 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the harness further comprises a waist strap. 
     
     
         5 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the length of the panel is selected to extend from above the person's shoulders to about the person's knees when the panel is secured to the person's back. 
     
     
         6 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the panel has a top end and wherein the protective blanket further comprising a handle at the top end of the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the inner and outer layers are both ripstop fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 7  wherein the energy absorbing layer comprises an energy absorbing gel. 
     
     
         9 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 8  wherein the ballistic resistant layer is between the outer layer and the energy absorbing layer. 
     
     
         10 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 9  wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises aramid fiber material. 
     
     
         11 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the energy absorbing layer comprises an energy absorbing gel. 
     
     
         12 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the ballistic resistant layer is between the outer layer and the energy absorbing layer. 
     
     
         13 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the ballistic resistant layer comprises aramid fiber material. 
     
     
         14 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 13  wherein the ballistic resistant layer is between the outer layer and the energy absorbing layer. 
     
     
         15 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is orange or yellow. 
     
     
         16 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  further comprising an RFID tag. 
     
     
         17 . The individual protective blanket of  claim 1  wherein the panel is compliant with NIJ Standard 0101.06 for Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor for Level MA type armor. 
     
     
         18 . A method for protecting oneself in an emergency comprising:
 donning an individual protective blanket, the protective blanket comprising:
 a flexible armored panel formed of a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including an energy absorbing layer, a ballistic resistant layer, an outer layer, and an inner layer, the energy absorbing layer and the ballistic resistant layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers, wherein the panel is sized to have a width wider than one's width and further sized to have a length that is less than one's height; and 
 a harness configured to secure the panel lengthwise on one's back; 
   wherein the step of donning the blanket includes positioning the panel over one's back lengthwise; and   assuming an emergency preparedness position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the harness of the protective blanket comprises a pair of shoulder straps and the step of donning the blanket includes slipping each of one's arms through one of the shoulder straps. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the harness of the protective blanket comprises a waist strap and the step of donning the blanket includes securing the waist strap around one's waist. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the harness of the protective blanket comprises a waist strap and the step of donning the blanket includes securing the waist strap around one's waist.