Ballistic-resistant backpack and associated methods

Abstract

A backpack comprising a ballistic-resistant panel and related methods are provided. The backpack may be employed in two different states. In a collapsed or non-deployed state, the ballistic-resistant panel is stored. In an expanded or deployed state, the ballistic-resistant panel is deployed to protect the arm(s) and torso of the user.

1 . A backpack comprising:
 a main body defining a storage compartment;   two shoulder straps, each having an upper end connected to an upper end of the main body and a lower end connected to a lower end of the main body; and   one or more ballistic-resistant panels connected to the main body and movable by a user from a collapsed state in which the one or more ballistic-resistant panels are retained in or against the main body to a deployed state in which the one or more ballistic-resistant panels are expanded to substantially cover the user's torso and one or both arms, wherein when expanded in the deployed state, at least a portion of each ballistic-resistant panel has a height in the direction between the upper and lower ends of the main body between 12 inches and 60 inches, and at least a portion of each ballistic-resistant panel has a width in a substantially perpendicular direction to the height between 12 inches and 60 inches.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the height is between 12 inches and 24 inches and the width is between 12 inches and 24 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ballistic-resistant panels comprises a plurality of segments. 
     
     
         4 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side, and wherein the one or more ballistic-resistant panels comprise a single ballistic-resistant panel coupled to the first side of the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ballistic-resistant panels comprise a first ballistic-resistant panel and a second ballistic-resistant panel, each coupled to an opposite side of the main body and movable from a collapsed state to a deployed state. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a ballistic-resistant hood coupled to a top of the main body. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a ballistic-resistant plate coupled to a front of the main body. 
     
     
         8 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein a handle is coupled to each of the one or more ballistic-resistant panels. 
     
     
         9 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more covers coupled to the main body, within which each of the one or more ballistic-resistant panels is secured while in a collapsed state. 
     
     
         10 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more ballistic-resistant panels comprises at least one of Kevlar, Lexan, Dyneema, Spectra, Twaron, carbon fiber composite materials, or UHWMPE. 
     
     
         11 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more ballistic-resistant panels is configured to provide protection sufficient to meet the NU Standard-0101.06 Level IIA performance requirements. 
     
     
         12 . A backpack for protecting a user from ballistic materials, the backpack comprising:
 a main body defining a storage compartment;   at least one shoulder strap coupled to the main body; and   a ballistic-resistant panel coupled to the main body, and movable from a collapsed state to a deployed state, the ballistic-resistant panel being sized and configured to substantially cover at least an arm and front torso of the user while in the deployed state.   
     
     
         13 . The backpack of  claim 12 , further comprising a second ballistic-resistant panel coupled to the main body, and movable from a collapsed state to a deployed state, the ballistic-resistant panel being configured to substantially cover another arm and the front torso of the user while in the deployed state. 
     
     
         14 . The backpack of  claim 12 , wherein the ballistic-resistant panel comprises a plurality of segments. 
     
     
         15 . The backpack of  claim 12 , wherein the ballistic-resistant panel is configured to substantially cover the arm and front torso of the user while in the deployed state by wrapping around a side of the user's body. 
     
     
         16 . The backpack of  claim 12 , further comprising a ballistic-resistant hood coupled to the top of the main body. 
     
     
         17 . The backpack of  claim 16 , further comprising a ballistic-resistant plate coupled to the front of the main body. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a backpack for protection from ballistic material, the backpack having a main body defining a storage compartment, at least one shoulder strap coupled to the main body, and a ballistic-resistant panel stored in a collapsed state in or on the main body, the method comprising:
 wearing the backpack by the user placing the at least one shoulder strap over one or both shoulders of the user;   engaging the ballistic-resistant panel by the user using one hand to move the ballistic-resistant panel from the collapsed state toward a deployed state; and   wrapping the ballistic-resistant panel around at least one arm and torso of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising covering the head of the user with a ballistic-resistant hood coupled to the main body of the backpack. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising wrapping the ballistic-resistant panel around at least a portion of a person other than the user to protect the person from ballistic material.