Concealable body armor system

Abstract

A concealable armor system for protecting a wearer includes a front panel and a back panel. The concealable armor system also includes a pair of side panels that are each removably attached to both the front panel and the back panel. Each side panel includes at least one protection wing that at least partially forms a top edge of the side panel.

1 . A concealable armor system for protecting a wearer, the armor system comprising:
 a front panel;   a back panel; and   a pair of side panels, each side panel being selectively attachable and detachable to both the front panel and the back panel, wherein each side panel includes a non-linear top edge defining at least one protection wing that projects upward between 0.5 inches and 3 inches relative to the adjacent portion of the top edge of the side panel.   
     
     
         2 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protection wing is located proximate the front panel. 
     
     
         3 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protection wing is located proximate the back panel. 
     
     
         4 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protection wing includes a front protection wing located proximate the front panel and a back protection wing located proximate the back panel. 
     
     
         5 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of removable straps, wherein each strap is configured to attach at least one of the front and back panels, the front and a side panel, and the back and a side panel. 
     
     
         6 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of straps includes a pair of side straps that include a node, a back strap extending from the node, and a pair of front straps extending from the node. 
     
     
         7 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front panel, back panel, and side panels is replaceable. 
     
     
         8 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the non-linear top edge defining the at least one protection wing projects upward between 1 inch and 2.5 inches relative to the adjacent portion of the top edge of the side panel. 
     
     
         9 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is configured to conform a front armor insert to a curvature of the body of the wearer. 
     
     
         10 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the front panel includes at least one patterning mechanism adapted to curve a front armor insert around the bust of a female wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the at least one patterning mechanism includes at least one of a dart and a princess seam. 
     
     
         12 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the front panel includes a center portion and a pair of opposing side portions that, in combination, are configured to conform a front armor insert to a curvature of the body of the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The concealable armor system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the center portion is formed from a stretchable material and the side portions are formed from a non-stretchable material. 
     
     
         14 . A carrier for an armor system to be worn by a female wearer, the carrier comprising:
 a front panel including at least one patterning mechanism that facilitates the front panel curving a substantially flat front armor insert during wear, the at least one patterning mechanism being at least one of a dart and a princess seam;   a back panel; and   a pair of side panels, each side panel being selectively attachable and detachable to both the front panel and the back panel.   
     
     
         15 . The carrier in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the at least one patterning mechanism is configured to facilitate the front panel curving the front armor insert around the bust of a female wearer. 
     
     
         16 . The carrier in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the at least one patterning mechanism includes at least one of a dart and a princess seam. 
     
     
         17 . The carrier in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the front panel includes a center portion and a pair of opposing side portions that, in combination, are configured to conform a front armor insert to a curvature of the body of the wearer. 
     
     
         18 . The carrier in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the center portion is formed from a stretchable material and the side portions are formed from a non-stretchable material. 
     
     
         19 . The carrier in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising a plurality of removable straps, wherein each strap is configured to attach at least one of the front and back panels, the front and a side panel, and the back and a side panel. 
     
     
         20 . The carrier in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of straps includes a pair of side straps that include a node, a back strap extending from the node, and a pair of front straps extending from the node to facilitate the curving the front armor insert to the body shape of the wearer. 
     
     
         21 . A concealable armor system for protecting a wearer, the armor system comprising:
 a front panel including a removable front armor insert;   a back panel including a removable back armor insert;   a pair of side panels, each including a removable side armor insert, wherein each side panel includes a non-linear top edge defining at least one protection wing, and wherein the pair of side panels are selectively attachable and detachable to both the front panel and the back panel;   a pair of shoulder straps removably attached to both the front panel and the back panel; and   a pair of side straps, each comprising:
 a node removably attached to one side panel of the pair of side panels; 
 a back strap extending from the node and removably attached to the back panel; and 
 a pair of front straps extending from the node and removably attached to the front panel, each of the front straps being bifurcated into two strap members, each strap member being angled relative to the associated other strap member of the respective pair and removably attached to the front panel to facilitate curving the front armor insert to the wearer's body.