Ceramic armor plate with enhanced curvature

Abstract

A carrier system that includes a multi-curve front body armor plate that is wearable on a front torso having a protruding chest. The strike face has a lower region with a lower convex portion shaped to follow a cylindrical contour of an abdomen and chest of the torso. An upper portion of the strike face laterally tapers to a top edge and curves backwardly to accommodate the protruding chest. An armor carrier of the carrier system includes (i) a back panel; (ii) a front panel having an opening that is sized to receive the multi-curve front body armor plate; and (iii) a shoulder harness connecting the front and back panels. The shoulder harness providing a support surface that rests upon shoulders of a wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-curve front body armor plate comprises:
 a ballistic ceramic strike face wearable on a front torso and comprising:
 a lower convex portion shaped to follow a cylindrical contour of an abdomen and chest; and 
 an upper portion that laterally tapers to a top edge and curves backwardly to accommodate a protruding chest of the front torso. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multi-curve front body armor plate of  claim 1 , wherein where the upper portion has a backward curve from a midpoint to the top edge of the of the ballistic ceramic strike face in a range between 17° and 33°. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-curve front body armor plate of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of steel brazed to a back surface of the ballistic ceramic strike face. 
     
     
         4 . A carrier system comprising:
 a multi-curve front body armor plate comprises:
 a ballistic ceramic strike face wearable on a front torso and comprising: 
 a lower region 
 a lower convex portion shaped to follow a cylindrical contour of an abdomen and chest; and 
 an upper portion that laterally tapers to a top edge and curves backwardly to accommodate a protruding chest of the front torso; and 
   an armor carrier comprising:
 a back panel; 
 a front panel having an opening that is sized to receive the multi-curve front body armor plate; and 
 a shoulder harness connecting the front and back panels and providing a support surface that rests upon shoulders of a wearer. 
   
     
     
         5 . The carrier system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a lower cummerbund attached between lower portions and on a same lateral side of the front and back panels; and   an upper cummerbund attached above the lower cummerbund between the same lateral side of the front and back panels.   
     
     
         6 . The carrier system of  claim 5 , further comprising a vertical strap attached between the upper and lower cummerbunds. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier system of  claim 5 , wherein the upper cummerbund comprises a direct elastic band. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier system of  claim 5 , wherein the upper cummerbund comprises a fabric covered direct elastic band. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier system of  claim 5 , wherein the upper cummerbund comprises a breathable stretch fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier system of  claim 5 , wherein the upper cummerbund comprises a compression fabric 
     
     
         11 . The carrier system of  claim 5 , wherein where the upper portion of the multi-curve front body armor plate has a backward curve from a midpoint to the top edge of the of the ballistic ceramic strike face in a range between 17° and 33°. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier system of  claim 5 , integrated with a passive exoskeleton, powered exoskeleton, or hip belt, for load distribution purposes.