Ventilated body armor and load carrying apparatus

Abstract

Various embodiments add a structure to a body armor unit that has a frame and a breathable (e.g. porous) material suspended between elements of the frame, that may allow the suspended breathable material to become the primary, or the sole material, in contact with the wearer's body. Various embodiment frame structures may allow the body armor plates to be effectively offset from the wearer's body. In this manner, the various embodiments may improve ventilation of the wearer's body, both in terms of moisture and heat transport, and/or may reduce the blunt force trauma caused by a projectile strike and potentially resultant back face deformation of the body armor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A body armor unit, comprising:
 a frame;   a material suspended between elements of the frame; and   body armor attached to the frame,   wherein the material is suspended between elements of the frame such that a space is created between a user and the body armor when the body armor unit is worn by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The body armor unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a hip belt attached to the frame and configured to transfer a weight of the body armor to hips of the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The body armor unit of  claim 2 , wherein the body armor is at least one of an armor plate and an armor vest. 
     
     
         4 . The body armor unit of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more container attached to the body armor unit. 
     
     
         5 . The body armor unit of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more container is attached to at least one of the frame, the body armor, and the hip belt. 
     
     
         6 . The body armor unit of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more container is releasably attached. 
     
     
         7 . The body armor unit of  claim 3 , wherein the body armor is disposed between the frame and the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The body armor unit of  claim 3 , wherein the body armor is attached to a side of the frame facing away from the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. 
     
     
         9 . The body armor unit of  claim 3 , wherein the frame is configured to be positioned over at least one of the back and the chest of the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The body armor unit of  claim 3 , wherein the frame is a first frame, the material is a first material, the body armor is a first body armor, and the space is a first space, the body armor unit further comprising:
 a second frame;   a second material suspended between elements of the second frame; and   a second body armor attached to the second frame,   wherein the second material is suspended between elements of the second frame such that a second space is created between the user and the second body armor when the body armor unit is worn by the user.   
     
     
         11 . The body armor unit of  claim 10 , wherein the first frame is configured to be positioned over the back of the user and the second frame is configured to be positioned over the chest of the user when the body armor unit is worn by the user. 
     
     
         12 . The body armor unit of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more flotation devices configured to provide buoyancy to the user. 
     
     
         13 . A suspension apparatus, comprising:
 a frame;   a material suspended between elements of the frame; and   one or more releasable attachment configured to hold the frame between a user and a body armor vest,   wherein the material is suspended between elements of the frame such that a space is created between a user and the body armor vest when the frame and the body armor vest are worn by the user.   
     
     
         14 . The suspension apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the frame is configured to be positioned over at least one of the back and the chest of the user when worn by the user. 
     
     
         15 . A method for carrying a body armor vest, comprising:
 attaching a frame having a material suspended between elements of the frame between the body armor vest and a user wearing the vest.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the material is a breathable material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the frame further comprises a hip belt. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 detaching the frame from the body armor vest; and   attaching the frame to another body armor vest.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the frame is configured to be worn with a backpack. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the breathable material touches at least one of the back and the chest of the user.