Cutaway Vest

Abstract

A protective vest adapted for engagement with ballistic shielding is provided which allows a user to quickly and easily remove the vest by actuation of a release. The vest is designed to quickly separate from the body of a wearer when required by pulling a release handle by a minimal distance which opens one side of the vest for exit, but maintains the components of the vest connected to avoid loss and allow for easy re-engagement.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/101,904, filed on Jan. 9, 2015, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed device relates to clothing worn for body protection. More particularly, the device relates to body armor in the form of a vest worn by a user which includes compartmentalized armor or ballistic resistant shielding for the wearer. The disclosed device is configured to be easily removable through hand-activated releases and communicating cables operatively positioned within the device, in case of injury, falling into the water, or another need requiring an urgent and quick release of the vest from the torso of a wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ballistic resistant clothing in the form of vests is widely employed by members of the military and law enforcement as a critical piece of protective equipment against the perils of bullets, shrapnel, and other high velocity projectiles. Such projectiles are perilous elements encountered by members of the military and law enforcement on a regular basis. For this reason, bullet and projectile-resistant vests are particularly employed during military operations and law enforcement operations where it is anticipated participants are highly likely to encounter ballistic projectiles such as bullets or shrapnel.

Such vests, conventionally house strategically positioned ballistic resistant shielding material around the torso of the wearer when worn. Such vests also provide pockets and attachment points for weapons, food, ammunition, and other devices which are commonly carried into the field.

Although conventional vests, due to easy attachment components, will allow the wearer to carry a great deal of equipment, and help shield the wearer, such a vests, fully loaded with the ballistic shielding also will act as a weight on the body of the wearer. By engaging attached heavy ammunition and/or other supplies, such a vest can become a significantly heavier component which is operatively engaged to the person of a wearer during use in the field. This significant increase in weight when engaged to the wearer, becomes a major reason for concern about the potential of drowning when a vest-wearer enters a water environment of sufficient depth where they may have to swim.

Because such ballistic resistant and utility vests must securely attach to the user's body during use to prevent rattling, and chafing, and to provide maximum shielding from ballistic projectiles, it is often difficult for the user to quickly and easily release the vest from their person. With some vests, due to the zippers buttons or other fasteners which must be disengaged, release from the body can be over a time duration from seconds to minutes. With the weight of the vest and equipment pulling upon the wearer, during periods where the threat of drowning is a concern, such as a water landing of a helicopter or having to cross a deep river, a means for quick release of such a vest becomes a lifesaver for the wearer. However such a release should not render the vest unusable subsequent to the drowning threat.

An additional concern arises should the wearer become wounded or injured while wearing the vest. On such occasions, it is imperative that arriving medical personnel have immediate access to the wearer's torso. Such is required for first responders to ascertain injuries and attend to the patient. However, many such vests, subsequent to activation of a quick release, disengage into a plurality of components which are not easily reassembled. The inability to re-engage the vest subsequent to quick release, leaves the wearer subject to potential injury in a combat zone when being transported should the vest not be repositionable on their person. Absent a quick release, which maintains the structural integrity of the vest itself in a manner allowing for immediate re-engagement to the wearer, such is not possible.

Because body armor style vests are built for durability, they are by design, resistant to cutting and piercing. As such, conventionally, such vests are hard to remove by cutting. Further, such vests, in addition to being expensive, are also a component of equipment that the wearer must not do without. Thus as noted, they should be easily engageable to the body and easily removed subsequent to activating the release.

As a consequence, to save such vests from destruction, and to allow the vest to be re-engaged to the wearer, yet still allow for quick release when required, it is important that such a protective vest be configured with a release mechanism which allows for easy, intuitive, and immediate vest removal, and an equally easy subsequent re-engagement. To that end, such a release should be readily accessible and be intuitive as to activation to eliminate the need for fumbling around during release attempts when it might be dark or wet or submerged.

Military and law enforcement conventionally employ a “cutaway” vest, which allows the user or responding personnel, to remove the device through a single action, such as pulling a ripcord. Upon such a ripcord pulling, the vest instantly disjoins into a plurality of individual sections of various components of the vest.

The existing designs for easily removable vests, however, have many drawbacks. An example of the current cutaway style vest conventionally employed to be removable by the soldier without the requirement to unfasten belts and other typical retainers can be found in published U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,093 (D'Annunzio) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,570 (Johnson).

These vests have conventional connectors to engage and disengage the vest from the body during normal mounting and dismounting. They also provide cutaway releases employing a release component to disengage vest components to remove the vest without having to unfasten a series of buckles, clips, hook and loop fasteners, and such. These vests, as with most conventional cutaway vests, employ front and rear torso portions, whereas an internal cummerbund feature in the rear torso portion and a waist belt through both torso portions grip the user's waist.

Shoulder straps in such devices engage through connecting strap portions on the front torso portion to the strap portions on the rear torso portion. Additionally, cables are routed in a serpentine path whose distal end retains the shoulder straps, the cummerbund and the belt as a unit and which terminates at the ejection handle. A pulling of this hidden handle translates connected cables which causes a number of interconnected portions of the vest device to separate. This allows the vest to be removed from the wearer quickly, but in pieces.

As taught in the Johnson reference, the shoulder straps, cummerbund, and waist belt are all joined at a singular common point such that pulling the single cable in a generally straight line except for the accommodation of the curvature of the body, disjoins its individual components to form a plurality of disengaged components.

Although these devices allow for removal for medical personnel seeking access to the torso, and allow the wearer to quickly jettison their vest and connected heavy equipment, the multiple dislocating cummerbund, belt and fastening components cause a subsequent problem. During release they are rendered difficult and time-consuming to reassemble, and components are easily lost or damaged, especially in the fog of battle, survival or rescue.

Thus, the vest cannot be easily remounted to the wearer, if at all. Further, the handles for effecting the release are not easily accessed nor intuitive as to the action needed to release the vest should the situation arise where it must be pulled without the ability to view the handle or cable.

As the vests and their engaged equipment are often expensive, and as recovery of the jacket and its components for repositioning on the wearer may be vital to wearer survival, it is imperative that reassembly of disengaged vests be easy and simple. This is because in the quick dismount action of prior art in dismountable vests, the act initiating a quick dismount often causes a breaking of the vest into multiple small components and renders the vest useless to shield the wearer from attack during mid-operation, medical treatment or transport.

Accordingly, there is an unmet need for a ballistic resistant cutaway style vest which requires a minimum number of engagement and release points, to allow for a quick and simple dismount in an emergency situation. Further, such a vest should be rendered removable by activation of an easy to find rip cord or flexible member or cable system, with minimal user arm extension and no requirement for uncovering the gripped release prior to use. Still further, such a vest should subsequent to a release, remain sufficiently intact to allow for easy recovery, reassembly, and immediate reuse.

The forgoing examples of related art and limitation related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the specification below and the accompanying drawings.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective vest which can be quickly dismounted allowing the user to disengage.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide such a vest which allows the user to activate removal using minimal user arm or hand extension.

It is a further object of this invention for the vest to be adjustable to tightly fit the user's torso when in an as-used position worn on the wearer.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the device remain sufficiently intact after user-activation of the release, to allow for easy recovery, reassembly, and reuse.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide such a vest with an easily found release which may be located tactually when situations might render the release non-visible such as in darkness or when submerged.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements described in this specification and hereinafter described in the following detailed description which fully discloses the invention, but should not be considered as placing limitations thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the objects and purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a ballistic-shielding vest which is initially easily engaged to the torso of the user in an as-used position. So positioned, it can be easily and quickly removed when required in an emergency situation, while maintaining the vest components sufficiently connected to be retrievable and quickly reusable.

The device, is formed in a vest assembly having a first shoulder strap and an a second shoulder strap such as the front left shoulder strap for engagement to the vest on a side opposite that of the first shoulder strap. The main vest assembly is comprised of a vest front, which has two shoulder strap engagement points extending from opposing corners.

Likewise, the front right shoulder strap is made of two or more layers of fabric or otherwise has a formed pathway or channel which guides a translating release cable as it translates during a pulling of a release handle to activate the release mechanisms within the main vest assembly. Of course those skilled in the art will realize a right hand positioning of the release can be reversed and routed to have the release on the opposite shoulder if such is required or desirable. Consequently, such is considered within the scope of this application, which uses and describes the right-sided positioning for convenience of description of the operation of the vest.

The vest front also contains a first or left access flap and a second or right access flap which allows the user to access the release mechanisms within which are activated by cable translation. Additionally, the vest includes a back or rear right shoulder strap and a rear left shoulder strap. Further, as shown, a left harness extends from the right side of the vest rear, and terminates with one or more band loops.

The vest front and back surfaces preferably should include an array of attached loops, or engagement points, to allow the user to fasten any necessary tools, gear, weapons, and other components to the vest device. The components forming the main vest assembly, may be optionally dislocatable to easily replace and repair the various components but should remain sufficiently engaged during distress or activation of the release mechanism of the device.

The front left or first shoulder strap, which contains a first or left securement band, and one or more shoulder strap loops, may be a separate and removable component from the main vest assembly.

The device is configurable for user wear in one mode by wrapping the right securement band around the back right shoulder strap to affix it to the front right shoulder strap. In another mode the components which are separable using velcro can be separated from the front portion of the vest, to allow it to flip up should access to the chest of the wearer be necessary.

Similarly, the left securement band wraps around the back left shoulder strap to affix it to the front left shoulder strap.

Finally, the front left shoulder strap is inserted through an opening between the upper and lower sheets on the front portion of the vest, and the shoulder strap loop is inserted through a release link, which is affixed in a position for pulling upon the vest front.

Attaching the shoulder strap before or after threading the first distal end of the release cable into the guide channel through the shoulder strap loop, and over the release link, engages the left shoulder strap to the vest front.

To eject from the vest using the release mechanism as described, a user pulls the release handle to translate a flexible member or cable to actuate a first release. Translating the flexible member or cable a distance slightly greater than a length of an engaged first release link actuates the connection to release. This translation acts to slide a distal end out of contact with the opposing shoulder strap loop. So disengaged, the right shoulder of the assembled vest is free from the constraints and the over the shoulder support strap is thereby disengaged.

Although the shoulder strap loop disengages from the vest front during user initiated ejection, the left securement band of the front left shoulder strap remains fastened to the back left shoulder strap unless physically detached by breaking a hook and loop engagement. Maintaining this removable engagement after an emergency release, insures the device remains whole and sufficiently intact for post-situational recovery and re-engagement.

After inserting the left harness through a second opening between the upper and lower sheets, the user may align and insert a cable-engaged release pin through one of the band loops and one set of the vest loops positioned in the rear vest panel. A slit in the front surface of the rear vest panel can be opened to allow the user access for assembly and reassembly of the release pin with the vest and the individual encircling harness components. The opening can also be sealed to protect the contents within.

A second release pin engaged to a second distal end engaged with the flexible member or cable, will also translates during a pulling of the release handle a distance equal to the length of the second release pin. This action will translate the second release pin out an engagement to the vest loops and the band loops and allow disengagement of the left harness and/or the right harness from the rear portion of the vest.

The device can adjust to tightly fit against a user's torso by allowing the user to set the shoulder strap length via the left and right securement bands formed of hook and loop fabric. Additionally, the user can tighten the device about their hips through selection of vest loops and band loops, and positioning of an engagement of hook and loop fabric, or alternatively through additional tightening straps in the left or right harness.

The right and left securement bands can employ one or a combination of means for engagement with the rear right shoulder strap and the rear left shoulder strap respectively, including but not limited to: hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, elastics, drawstrings, or loops.

Additionally, means for securing the left access flap and a right access flap to the vest front can include but is not limited to: hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, elastics, drawstrings or loops. Opening and sealing of the slit in the vest rear panel can be performed by one or a combination of the following known mechanisms including but not limited to: zippers, hook and loop fasteners, slides, ties, buttons, drawstrings, snaps, or elastics. The release link and release pin can be composed of metal or any durable plastic including but not limited to: delrin, polycarbonate, polypropylene, or acrylic.

Additionally, the release cable should be made of any one or a combination of durable materials which are sufficiently flexibly rigid and which contain sufficient friction to ensure continuous engagement between the shoulder strap loop 40 and the release link when the device is worn through common use, including but not limited to: plastic wire, steel wire, copper wire or other wires with or without a coating.

Additional fasteners can be employed to loop and splice the release cable including one or a combination of crimps, ferrules, ties or adhesives.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The device herein described and disclosed in the various modes and combinations is also capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Any such alternative configuration as would occur to those skilled in the art is considered within the scope of this patent. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other ejecting utility vests for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only nor exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the disclosed device. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting in any fashion. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts an overhead view of the device in a semi unassembled state.

FIG. 1b shows the device of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state.

FIG. 2 displays a view of a rear panel of the vest assembly of the device as worn by a user showing both shoulder straps extended and adapted for a frontal connection to mating straps extending from a front panel.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the first release mechanism operatively positioned in the front panel and adapted for pulling by a wearer or responder to disengage only the opposing shoulder and showing in dotted lines a second flexible member or cable communicating with the release mechanism in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 depicts a detailed view of the second release mechanism employed to disengage one, side waist panels from the rear panel if needed while leaving the other engaged.

FIG. 5 depicts the vest device herein, assembled and employable in an as-used configuration, with the release handle positioned on or extending adjacent one of the shoulder straps.

FIG. 6 shows the device of FIG. 5, after activation of the release handle, depicting one shoulder strap released and the harness on the same side as the released shoulder strap, also being released, thereby forming an exit path from the formed vest, and back into the vest, through one side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-6, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1, an overhead view of the vest or device 10, in an unfolded and semi-disassembled configuration. As shown, a main vest assembly 11 comprised of a rear vest 12 panel and a front vest 22 panel connected by a first harness 20. Also shown is a rear portion 16 of a first shoulder strap extending from the top of the rear vest 12 panel. A distal end of the rear portion 16 of the first should strap, includes a securement band 18 to engage it to a front portion 24 of a first shoulder strap. The first harness 20 extends from a distal end engagement with the rear vest 12 and is joined to the front vest 22.

The rear vest 12 panel is comprised of two or more layers of fabric, whereas the backmost layer is adjacent the back of the wearer. A slit 44 provides access to an interior cavity which can be sealed to secure and protect the release mechanisms within the cavity when not being accessed.

Likewise, the rear portion 16 of the first shoulder strap is made of two or more layers of fabric, or employs other means for forming a channel or pathway for translation of the release cable 44 therein, when pulled by the release handle 32. Translation of the cable 44 causes two release mechanisms within the main vest assembly 11 to disconnect a distal end of one rear portion of one shoulder strap 36 from the rear vest 12, and to disconnect one harness, on the same side of the vest device 10 as the released shoulder strap, to disengage from the rear vest 12, and form the opening or exit 15, as in FIG. 6.

The rear vest 12 panel also contains a first access flap 46 and a second access flap 48 which allows the user to access the release mechanisms for the distal end of the first shoulder strap and distal end of the harness, within. These flaps are engaged with hook and loop attachments or other means for secure but removable engagement.

The vest front 22 panel contains a front portion of a first or right shoulder strap 24, and a front portion of a second or left shoulder strap 26. A waist-positionable first harness 28, extends from the one side of the vest front 22 panel and terminates with one or more band loops 30 which are engageable with a cable or cable released connector in a cavity on the rear vest 12 panel. The vest front and rear panels 22 and 12, both preferably include an array of gear loops 34 to allow the user to fasten any necessary tools to the device 10.

The vest assembly 11 components can be optionally dislocatable for easy replacement and repair. However, the vest device 10 is also designed to maintain attachment of the components during distress or activation of the device's 10 release mechanism. This novel configuration is shown in FIG. 6, wherein only one shoulder strap and one, or both harnesses 20 and 28 are disengaged at their respective distal ends from connection to the rear vest 22 panel. The distal ends of both the first harness and second harness 20 and 28, are configured to disengage from the rear vest 22 panel upon translation of the cable by pulling the handle 32. The device 10 can be configured to have only one such harness release, and if so, it will be the harness 20 or 28, on the same side as the shoulder strap which is released by pulling the handle 32. Otherwise both distal ends of both the first and second harness 20 and 28 can release.

The rear portion of the left shoulder strap 36 which engages to the front portion of the strap 26, forms one shoulder strap which engages the distal end of the rear portion of the left shoulder strap 36 with the rear vest 12 panel. The shoulder strap so formed, includes a left securement band 38, and one or more shoulder strap loops 40 at the distal end which engage with either the cable or a release connected to the cable 42. This rear portion of the strap 36 is thus a separable and removable component from the main vest assembly 11 if desired, such as in FIG. 1, but will maintain a connection once the distal end is disengaged by the cable 42, if the securement band 38 is left secured. Of course it could just be a once piece shoulder strap with the loops 40 or other component adapted to release from the rear upon cable 42 translation.

In FIG. 1b is shown the front vest 22 panel depicting engagements of components of the device 10 thereto which can remain engaged during an emergency and allow partial disengagement such as in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, or can be totally disengaged for replacement or other reasons.

As shown a cover panel 15 has hook or loop fabric 17 positioned on one frontal edge and the rear surface. The edge hook or loop fabric 17 engages with a strip positioned above an attachment of the two harnesses 20 and 28 to the front vest 22 panel. The rear surface of the cover panel 15 engages with the mating hook and loop fabric 17 positioned on the distal ends of the two harnesses 20 and 28, and on the front vest 22 panel itself. The hook or loop fabric 17 on the distal ends of the two harnesses 20 and 28 engages to mating hook or loop fabric 17 on the vest front 22 panel to which the cover panel 15 also engages.

This configuration of the secure but disengageable cover panel 15, provides an extremely secure sandwiched hook and loop fabric 17 engagement of the front engaging distal ends of the harnesses 20 and 28 during use of the vest. However, if for some reason disassembly is required, other than the release of the shoulder attachment and the rear-engagement of one or both distal ends of harnesses 20 and 28, such is easily accomplished by separating the hook and loop engagement of the cover panel 15, and then removing the hook and loop engagement of the distal ends of the harnesses 20 and 28.

The assembled device 10 is seen from the rear in FIG. 2, and from the front in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the first securement band 16 wraps around the front portion of one shoulder strap 26 on the right, to affix it to the front portion of the should strap 14, shown on the right. Similarly, the left securement band 38 wraps around the front portion 26 to form the left shoulder strap 24 to configure it to hang upon the front left shoulder strap 36 along with a hook and loop fabric connection. As noted, the configuration to form a releasable shoulder strap can be formed to make either releasable, and the depiction showing the right shoulder strap being releasable can be reversed.

FIG. 2 also displays a pathway of the release cable 42 as it extends from the release handle 32 which as depicted in this mode, would be positioned on one of the shoulder straps such as on the front left shoulder strap, once connected by the securement band 16 however this could be reversed. Thereafter the handle 32 may be used to translate the cable 42 and activate one or both release mechanisms within to disconnect the distal end of one shoulder strap from the rear vest 12 panel, and at least the one of the harnesses 20 or 28 on the same side of the vest device 10 as the released shoulder strap.

To configure the device 10 to be worn by a user, per FIG. 3 or for example FIG. 5, the left rear portion of the shoulder strap 36 engaged to the rear vest 12 panel is inserted through an opening in the shoulder area of the front vest 22 and a releasable component such as the shoulder strap loop 40 at the distal end of the front portion 36 of the shoulder strap, is engaged with through a release link 50, connected to the front vest 22 panel.

Threading the release cable 42 at a first distal end, into a guide channel 52 sewn into the vest front 22, to communicate through the shoulder strap loop 40, and over the release link 50, removably engages the from portion of the shoulder strap 36 to the vest front 22 in a first releasable engagement. To release this engagement from vest using the first release mechanism as described, a user pulls the release handle 32 by a which slides a first distal end of the release cable 42 out of the shoulder strap loop 40. This releases one of the two formed shoulder straps from engagement over the user's shoulder, and allows access and exit therethrough.

Although the shoulder strap loop 40 disengages from the vest front 22 from formed shoulder strap during user-initiated activation, the front left shoulder left securement band 38 remains fastened to the rear portion of the formed shoulder strap, to ensure that components of the device 10 remains connected and intact for post-situational recovery.

FIG. 4 displays the mechanism which joins one harness, such as the left harness 28 to the vest 12 panel. After inserting the wrap around harness 28 through a second opening between the rear vest 22 upper and lower layers the user aligns, and inserts a releasable connector such as the pin 56, through, one or both of the band loops 30, at the distal end of the harness. If both distal ends of both harnesses 20 and 28 are to disconnect, the pin 56 will engage at least one band loop 30 on each distal end of each harness, and engage them to the rear vest 22 panel.

A slit 44 in the rear vest 12 facing layer can be opened to allow for assembly and reassembly, of the release shown. The slit 44 can then be sealed using a closure such as a zipper or hook and loop fabric to protect the contents within.

As the release pin 56, is connected to or translated by the second distal end of the cable 42, pulling the release handle 32 by a distance equal to the length of the release pin 56, translates the release pin 56 out of the vest loops 54 and the band loops 30, to disengage one harness such as the left harness 28, and if so engaged, the other harness such as the right harness 20 from the rear vest 12 panel.

The device 10 can adjust to tightly fit against a user's torso by allowing the user to set the shoulder strap length via the left and first securement bands 38, and hook and loop engagements between the front and rear strap portions. Additionally, the user can tighten the device 10 about their hips through selection of vest loops 54 and band loops 30, or alternatively through additional tightening straps in the left or right harness 28, 20. Further adjustment can be hand with the harness portions by mounting the distal ends shown in FIG. 1a, in different positions.

The first and second or right and left and securement bands 16, and 38, can employ one or a combination of means to engage with the front portions and the back rear portions of the shoulder straps, including connectors from a group including one or a combination of hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, elastics, drawstrings, or loops.

Additionally, means for securing the first access flap 46 and a second access flap 48 to the rear strap portions can include one or a combination of fasteners from a group including hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, elastics, drawstrings or loops. Opening and sealing of the slit 44 in the vest front 22 can be performed by one or a combination of the following known mechanisms including but not limited to: zippers, hook and loop fasteners, slides, ties, buttons, drawstrings, snaps, or elastics.

The release link 50 and release pin 56 can be composed of any metal or a durable plastic such as nylon, delrin, polycarbonate, polypropylene, acrylic or another polymer material. Additionally, the flexible member forming the release cable 42 can be formed of any one or a combination of flexible member materials which are sufficiently non-elastic and which contain sufficient friction to ensure continuous engagement between the shoulder strap loop 40 and the release link 50 when the device is worn. Such flexible member materials can include one or a combination of member materials from a group including polymeric material, plastic, metal, or flexible member material Additional fasteners can be employed to loop and splice the release cable 42 including one or a combination of crimps, ferrules, ties or adhesives.

Shown in FIG. 5, is a graphic depiction of the vest device 10 herein, assembled and employable in an as-used configuration showing that the release handle 32 can be employed on either side of the vest device 10 as a means to disengage one shoulder strap and one harness 28 from their attachment to the vest device 10 on the same side, to form an opening 15 adapted for an exit or entrance to the device 10 from that side. As shown the release handle 32 which translates the release cable 42, is positioned for easy grasping on or extending adjacent one of the shoulder straps which in this case is on the left side of the vest device 10. A pulling of the handle 32 as noted translates the cable 42 to disengage a distal end of one shoulder strap 36 and a distal end of at least one harness 20 on the same side of the device 10 and the wearer's body, thus allowing egress and ingress to the device 10 from that opening 15 on the opened side.

In FIG. 6 is shown the means for easy removal and re-engagement the device 10 herein provides, depicting the device 10 after activation of the release by a pulling of the release handle 32 to translate the release cable 42. As shown, once the release handle 32 is pulled, a first distal end of the cable 42 10 disengages one shoulder strap, and a second distal end of the cable 42 translates and disengages at least one harness from the engagement with the rear panel, to open one side of the vest device 10. As shown in FIG. 6, one shoulder strap has been released at a distal end engaged with the from portion of the vest, and one harness has been disengaged from a distal end attachment to the rear panel of the vest device 10 thereby allowing the shoulder strap and harness to be released at their distal ends to form an exit 15, in this example, through the right side of the formed vest device 10 of FIGS. 5-6.

As noted the opposite shoulder strap and harness could also be activated by a pull of the handle 32 to cause the distal ends of the cable 42 to release them, and thereby form an exit path, and re-engagement path, through the left side of the vest device 10 of FIGS. 5 and 6. The important structure being that a shoulder strap and at least one harness be released, with both on the same side of the formed vest device 10, to allow for easy exit therefrom in an emergency, and easy re-engagement therethrough of the wearer once appropriate.

As noted, any of the different configurations and components can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and steps in the method of production, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, or steps in formation of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

Further, the purpose of any abstract of this specification is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Any such abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A protective vest comprising:

a front panel, said front panel adapted for engagement of ballistic shielding therein;

a rear panel, said rear panel adapted for engagement of said ballistic shielding therein;

a first shoulder strap engaged between said front panel and said rear panel, said first shoulder strap adapted to support said protective vest on a first shoulder of a wearer;

a second shoulder strap engaged between said front panel and said rear panel, said shoulder strap adapted to support said protective vest on a second shoulder of a wearer, opposite said first shoulder;

a first harness engaged between a lower portion of said front panel on a first side of said protective vest and a lower portion of said rear panel on said first side of said protective vest;

a second harness engaged between said lower end of said front panel on a second side of said protective vest and a lower portion of said rear panel on said second side of said protective vest;

said first side of said protective vest being opposite said second side of said protective vest;

a release handle operatively positioned upon said front panel of said vest, said release handle actuatable to disconnect one of said first shoulder strap or said second shoulder strap from engagement with said front panel; and

said release handle actuatable to disconnect one of said first harness or said second harness from engagement with said rear panel, said one of said first harness or second harness being positioned on a same side of said protective vest, as said one of said first shoulder strap or second shoulder strap; and

whereby said wearer of said protective vest can exit said protective vest through an opening formed between said front panel and said rear panel on said same side of said protective vest as said one of said first shoulder strap or second shoulder strap released by actuation of said release handle.

2. The protective vest of claim 1, additionally comprising:

said release handle actuatable to disconnect both of said first harness and said second harness from engagement with said rear panel.

3. The protective vest of claim 1, additionally comprising:

said release handle engaged with a flexible member having a first distal end and a second distal end;

actuation of said release handle communicating a translation to both said first distal end and said second distal end;

said translation of said first distal end disconnecting said one of said first shoulder strap or said second shoulder strap from said engagement with said front panel; and

said translation of said second distal end disconnecting said one of said first harness or said second harness from said engagement with said rear panel.

4. The protective vest of claim 2, additionally comprising:

said release handle engaged with a flexible member having a first distal end and a second distal end;

actuation of said release handle communicating a translation to both said first distal end and said second distal end;

said translation of said first distal end disconnecting said one of said first shoulder strap or said second shoulder strap from said engagement with said front panel; and

said translation of said second distal end disconnecting both said first harness or said second harness from said engagements with said rear panel.

5. The protective vest of claim 3, additionally comprising:

said first harness having a loop at a distal end;

said second harness having a loop at a distal end;

said second distal end of said flexible member having a first position engaged through a passage in said rear panel and concurrently engaged with a loop in a distal end of said one of said first harness or said second harness;

said translation of said second distal end of said flexible member moving it to a second position disconnected from said loop.

6. The protective vest of claim 4, additionally comprising:

said first harness having a loop at a distal end;

said second harness having a loop at a distal end;

said second distal end of said flexible member having a first position engaged through a passage in said rear panel and concurrently engaged with said loop at said distal end of said first harness and with said loop at said distal end of said second harness; and

said translation of said second distal end of said flexible member moving it to a second position disconnected from both said said loop at said distal end of said first harness and said loop at said distal end of said second harness.