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Collapsible freestanding body armor support stand

Collapsible freestanding body armor support stand description/claims

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/924,876 entitled “Collapsible Freestanding Body Armor Support Stand” filed Jun. 4, 2007.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to the art of article support stands and, more particularly, to a collapsible, freestanding article support stand adapted to support heavy body armor.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

Collapsible, i.e., telescoping or folding, support stands are well known in the art. Small, easily transported, collapsible stands are used for supporting a wide array of articles such as intravenous bags, cameras, clothes and the like. As the above-mentioned articles are typically not heavy, most collapsible stands are not particularly robust and are made from light gauge steel or aluminum. However, collapsible supports for clothes, coats and the like require additional support structure and are formed from stronger, heavier materials in order to support these larger, heavier objects. The addition of any necessary bracing and other structure, as well as the need for stronger materials, adds to the overall size, complexity and cost of the support stand. Therefore, most existing collapsible supports, particularly those designed to be light and easily transportable, are designed to support articles that typically weigh nor more than a couple of pounds. Hanging larger or heavier objects on these existing supports would result in failure of one or more components of the support.

One object that is heavy and in need of support is body armor. The use of body armor in law enforcement and military applications is on the rise. In general, light body armor weighs between 5-20 lbs. However, when the body armor is augmented with additional ballistic protection in the form of ceramic plates or the like, the weight can increase to over 50 lbs. Typical body armor includes an outer shell that surrounds numerous layers of Kevlar® or other similar material. The addition of strategically located ceramic plates provides added protection for the wearer. While the layers of Kevlar® are resistant to ballistic forces, the outer shell will degrade, particularly if routinely exposed to the acid and moisture of soil. In addition, the ceramic plates, while capable of withstanding impact forces from a 0.50 caliber round, are surprisingly fragile. If cracked or broken, the ceramic plates loose the ability to resist the ballistic forces. Therefore, body armor must be treated with care in order to ensure a continued high level of performance.

When not worn by a soldier or law enforcement officer, it is best to hang the body armor, in a manner similar to a coat, shirt or the like, in an area that will minimize exposure to circumstances that may cause damage to the ceramic plates. Hanging also minimizes exposure of the outer shell to substances that may cause damage to the material. While this is readily accomplished when on a military base or law enforcement station, proper care of body armor in the field is often times difficult. Locating a hook or other element that can support the weight of body armor, is not always possible. Over time, simply hanging the body armor on a nail or other hook may result in damage to the outer shell and, if the nail or hook fails, damage to the ceramic plates may also result. As noted above, existing collapsible supports are not designed to support heavy objects such as body armor, nor are they designed for combat or field conditions. Therefore, small light-weight supports are not capable of supporting the weight of body armor while heavier, more robust supports cannot be readily transported by a soldier. However, weight is always a concern to a foot soldier such that items which are too bulky or heavy are impractical.

Based on the above, there exists a need for a collapsible stand for supporting body armor. More specifically, there exists a need for a stand which can be readily collapsed into a compact, lightweight unit and easily transported by a foot soldier, yet remain readily deployable to a length sufficient to prevent the body armor from contacting ground surfaces. Moreover, there exists a need for a collapsible stand that can support body armor having an overall weight of 50 lbs. or more.

The present invention is directed to a collapsible, freestanding body armor support stand. The support stand includes a main support member having a plurality of telescoping support sections that are shiftably interconnected and positionable between a first or retracted configuration and a second or extended configuration. The plurality of telescoping support sections preferably include a first support section, a second support section and a support third section. In accordance with the invention, the support stand includes a plurality of support bars or base members that are pivotally mounted to the first section of the main support member. The plurality of base members are shiftable between a first or stowed configuration, wherein the plurality of support members are substantially parallel to and flush with the main support member, and a second or deployed configuration, wherein the plurality of base members extend outward into a locked position to provide a stable platform for the main support member.

In further accordance with the invention, the support stand includes a plurality of hanging bars, or article support members, that are pivotally mounted to one of the second and third support sections. The article support members are selectively shiftable between a first or stowed configuration, wherein the pair of article support members are substantially parallel to and flush with the main support member, and a second or deployed configuration, wherein the pair of article support members extend substantially perpendicularly outward from the main support member. The article support members are designed to support body armor weighing 50 lbs. or greater.

In still further accordance with the invention, the support stand is provided with supplemental hanging bars or article support members that are pivotally mounted to another of the second and third support sections. In a manner similar to that described above, the supplemental article support members are selectively shiftable between a first or stowed configuration and a second or deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the supplemental article support members can be used to support tactical gear such as ammunition belts, canteens, web gear and the like. If required, the supplemental article support members could be utilized to provide additional support for the body armor or other items. In any case, each of the base members, article support members and supplemental article support members is provided with a latching mechanism that prevents inadvertent shifting between the deployed and stowed configurations.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the plurality of telescoping support sections includes a fourth section having provided thereon an extraction handle. The extraction handle enables a user to readily shift the support stand from the first configuration to the second configuration. Preferably, when in the collapsed configuration, the support stand has an overall length of approximately 13 inches and, when in the deployed configuration, the support stand has an overall length of approximately 46 inches. In this manner, any body armor supported therefrom will remain above the ground and free from dirt and other hazards. In the stowed position, the support stand readily fits within a storage bag for transport by, for example, military personnel.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is an upper left perspective view of a collapsible, freestanding body armor support stand constructed in accordance with the present invention shown supporting body armor and a tactical helmet;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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