Nov 3, 2026

US12782091 - System and methods for assembling flexible body armor panels

A break-in machine for use in conditioning a flexible armor panel is described herein. The break-in machine includes a housing, an upper conditioning belt assembly, a lower conditioning belt assembly, and a drive assembly. The upper conditioning belt assembly includes a plurality of sprocketed conveyor rollers spaced along a longitudinal axis, and a first conditioning belt orientated around the plurality of sprocketed conveyor rollers. The lower conditioning belt assembly is positioned vertically below the upper conditioning belt assembly and includes a plurality of adjustable conveyor rollers spaced between the sprocketed conveyor rollers along the longitudinal axis, and a second conditioning belt orientated around the plurality of adjustable conveyor rollers. The drive assembly includes a motor and a drive chain coupled to each of the sprocketed conveyor rollers.

Assignee: Safe Lite Defense, LLC
Inventors: Nick Groat, Cody Shafer
Filing date: 2024-05-24

The patent describes a break-in machine designed to condition flexible armor panels, featuring an upper and lower conditioning belt assembly with conveyor rollers and a drive assembly. This machine aims to enhance the performance and durability of body armor by utilizing a structured conditioning process.

Claim 1

1 . A break-in machine for use in conditioning a flexible armor panel, comprising: a housing including: a support frame extending between a front end and an opposite back end along a longitudinal axis; and a pair of opposing side panels mounted to the support frame extending between the front end and the back end and spaced apart to define an interior cavity therebetween; an upper conditioning belt assembly positioned within the interior cavity and including: a plurality of sprocketed conveyor rollers rotatably coupled between the opposing side panels and spaced along the longitudinal axis; and a first conditioning belt wrapped around the plurality of sprocketed conveyor rollers; and a lower conditioning belt assembly positioned within the interior cavity vertically below the upper conditioning belt assembly and including: a plurality of adjustable conveyor rollers rotatably coupled between the opposing side panels and spaced between the sprocketed conveyor rollers along the longitudinal axis; and a second conditioning belt wrapped around the plurality of adjustable conveyor rollers; and a drive assembly including a motor and a drive chain coupled to each of the sprocketed conveyor rollers. a housing including: a support frame extending between a front end and an opposite back end along a longitudinal axis; and a pair of opposing side panels mounted to the support frame extending between the front end and the back end and spaced apart to define an interior cavity therebetween; an upper conditioning belt assembly positioned within the interior cavity and including: a plurality of sprocketed conveyor rollers rotatably coupled between the opposing side panels and spaced along the longitudinal axis; and a first conditioning belt wrapped around the plurality of sprocketed conveyor rollers; and a lower conditioning belt assembly positioned within the interior cavity vertically below the upper conditioning belt assembly and including: a plurality of adjustable conveyor rollers rotatably coupled between the opposing side panels and spaced between the sprocketed conveyor rollers along the longitudinal axis; and a second conditioning belt wrapped around the plurality of adjustable conveyor rollers; and a drive assembly including a motor and a drive chain coupled to each of the sprocketed conveyor rollers.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12782091

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12782091