Plate carrier absorption of shock from movement of wearer

A plate retention system, comprising:

• a carrier configured to be worn on a body of a wearer;
• a pocket for removably receiving a plate, the pocket coupled with the carrier and configured to be located along the body of the wearer when the carrier is worn by the wearer, the pocket having a vertical direction configured to be aligned with a direction of gravity when the carrier is worn by the wearer when the wearer is in an upright position, and an interior of the pocket being formed at least in part by a first wall and a second wall facing one another;
• and
• a cradle configured for supporting the plate within the pocket from underneath the plate in the vertical direction, the cradle comprising:
• a limit strap connected at a first upper location and a second upper location to the interior of the pocket and hanging to form a first loop, the limit strap having a limit strap length extending downward and upward along the first loop, the limit strap length measured along the first loop and between a first limit strap terminus and a second limit strap terminus, the first and second limit strap terminuses defining opposite points at which the limit strap terminates;
• and
• a shock-absorption strap stretchable from an unstretched state, the shock-absorption strap in the unstretched state hanging to form a second loop having a second lower-most extremity spaced above a first lower-most extremity of the first loop in the vertical direction, the shock-absorption strap having a shock-absorption strap length extending downward and upward along the second loop, the shock-absorption strap length measured along the second loop and between a first shock-absorption strap terminus and a second shock-absorption strap terminus, the first and second shock-absorption strap terminuses defining opposite points at which the shock-absorption strap terminates, wherein the shock-absorption strap is attached to the limit strap so that the first shock-absorption strap terminus is located at the first limit strap terminus, the second limit strap terminus, or along the limit strap length between the first and second limit strap terminuses.

A plate retention system, comprising:

• a carrier configured to be worn on a body of a wearer;
• a pocket configured for removably receiving a plate, the pocket coupled with the carrier and configured to be located along the body of the wearer when the carrier is worn by the wearer, the pocket having a vertical direction configured to be aligned with a direction of gravity when the carrier is worn by the wearer when the wearer is in an upright position;
• and an interior of the pocket being formed at least in part by a first wall and a second wall facing one another;
• a cradle configured for supporting the plate within the pocket from underneath the plate in the vertical direction, the cradle comprising at least one strap configured to be folded over a bottom edge of the plate when the plate is received in the pocket, the cradle further comprising a first anchor configured for coupling the at least one strap with the first wall, the cradle further comprising a second anchor configured for coupling the at least one strap with the first wall or the second wall;
• a base material incorporated into the first wall;
• and
• a stretchable material incorporated into the cradle, the base material and stretchable material having respective levels of force-responsive extension that differ by an amount that facilitates temporary dislocation of the plate downwardly along the first wall within the pocket in response to movement of the wearer when the carrier is worn and thereby provide shock absorption of the plate responsive to the movement of the wearer;
• wherein the stretchable material is incorporated into the cradle in the first anchor, in the second anchor, or in both the first anchor and the second anchor;
• and
• wherein the at least one strap comprises a material that is less stretchable than the stretchable material incorporated into the cradle in the first anchor, in the second anchor, or in both the first anchor and the second anchor.