ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 17 -- United States Patent no. 12,416,475, issued on Sept. 16, was assigned to Safariland LLC (Jacksonville, Fla.).
"Ballistic vest" was invented by David Lynn Pittman (Pomona, Calif.), Scott Timothy O'Brien (Chino Hills, Calif.), Todd Lavik Wilson Mackler (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), James A. Duncan (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and Tim O'Brien (Chino Hills, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A ballistic vest includes ballistic panels supported in a carrier, including a front panel and a back panel. The carrier includes an outer layer and an inner layer joined to each other at the top and bottom of the vest and open at the sides. The carrier layers define between them a p...