TACTICAL AND COMBAT VEST AND COMPONENTS

A vest configured as a tactical vest or combat vest and systems for use with a tactical vest or combat vest, including a first system including at least one unit, the unit including a backing and at least one firearm magazine retainer including at least a bottom opening and a spring-loaded lock and release mechanism including a button configured to release a firearm magazine from the firearm magazine retainer when depressed, and a second system including a pouch assembly including at least one pouch, at least one magnet element, a reversible attachment means, and at least one retractable cord, the retractable cord configured to extend from a retractable cord pack and permit the pouch assembly to be reversibly repositioned from a back torso region of the vest to a front torso region of the vest.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention involves components and associated systems for use in connection with tactical and combat vests. More particularly, the present invention relates to tactical gear retention components and associated systems for use in connection with tactical and combat vests, such as those capable of holding firearm magazines, ordnances, weapons, and other tactical equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is an ongoing need for tactical gear retention elements and systems that securely hold various equipment in a readily accessible manner. Moreover, there are ongoing needs for such elements and systems to be adjustable to adapt to various operational requirements and personal preferences.

Military and law enforcement units are often required to wear tactical vests that can accommodate a variety of mission essential equipment. Most of these extra pieces of equipment are traditionally carried by various pouches worn by the individual. These pouches, plus hard and soft armor pieces, are worn on the upper torso of an individual, typically in the form of a load bearing vest or tactical vest. AR-15 magazines as well as other firearm magazines will be carried in such pouches in a configuration where the magazine fits snugly in the pouch. A tactical vest may accommodate these pouches or have one large pouch on the front side of the vest, which is known as a kangaroo pouch. The kangaroo pouch may be wide enough to receive three AR-15 magazines arranged vertically side-by-side. Such kangaroo pouches are usually loosely fitted, providing little to no retention capability.

The present invention overcomes at least some aspects of the historical challenges in this area by providing novel configurations related, for example, to tactical gear retention components and systems directed to magazine/equipment retainment and expeditious access.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, in one aspect, the invention features a system for use with a tactical vest or combat vest, the system including at least one unit, the unit including a backing, and at least one firearm magazine retainer extending perpendicularly from a surface of the backing, the firearm magazine retainer including at least a bottom opening configured to permit insertion of a firearm magazine into the bottom opening of the firearm magazine retainer, and a spring-loaded lock and release mechanism configured to reversibly lock and release the firearm magazine in the firearm magazine retainer, the spring-loaded lock and release mechanism including a button configured to release the firearm magazine from the firearm magazine retainer when depressed.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The firearm magazine retainer may be configured to retain an AR-15 rifle magazine or an AR-15-style rifle magazine. The system may further include at least one strap having a side release buckle element at an end of the strap, the side release buckle element configured to mate with a counterpart side release buckle element connected to a front torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest. The backing may further include reversible attachment means on a surface of the backing opposite from that of the firearm magazine retainer, the reversible attachment means configured to permit reversible attachment to a front torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest. The unit may include three firearm magazine retainers. The system may include three units, each unit comprising a backing and one firearm magazine retainer.

In general, in another aspect, the invention features a system for use with a tactical vest or combat vest, the system including a pouch assembly including at least one pouch, at least one magnet element configured to reversibly engage with at least one counterpart magnet element on a back torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest, a reversible attachment means configured to permit reversible attachment to a first side torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest and a second side torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest, the second side torso region being on an opposite side of a torso from the first side torso region, and at least one retractable cord, the retractable cord configured to extend from a retractable cord pack attached to the tactical vest or combat vest and permit the pouch assembly to be reversibly repositioned from the back torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest to a front torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest, where the reversible attachment means is configured to reversibly attach to the first side torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest when the pouch assembly is positioned on the back torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest, and the reversible attachment means is configured to reversibly attach to the second side torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest when the pouch assembly is positioned on the front torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The pouch assembly may include three pouches, each pouch of the three pouches having a cover. The reversible attachment means may be attached to the pouch assembly through at least one strap. The at least one retractable cord may include a clip at an end of the retractable cord, the clip configured to attach to a ring element of the pouch assembly. The pouch assembly may include two retractable cords.

In general, in another aspect, the invention features a vest configured as a tactical vest or combat vest, the vest including a first system including at least one unit, the unit including a backing, and at least one firearm magazine retainer extending perpendicularly from a surface of the backing, the firearm magazine retainer including at least a bottom opening configured to permit insertion of a firearm magazine into the bottom opening of the firearm magazine retainer, and a spring-loaded lock and release mechanism configured to reversibly lock and release the firearm magazine in the firearm magazine retainer, the spring-loaded lock and release mechanism including a button configured to release the firearm magazine from the firearm magazine retainer when depressed, and a second system including a pouch assembly including at least one pouch, at least one magnet element configured to reversibly engage with at least one counterpart magnet element on a back torso region of the vest, a reversible attachment means configured to permit reversible attachment to a first side torso region of the vest and a second side torso region of the vest, the second side torso region being on an opposite side of a torso from the first side torso region, and at least one retractable cord, the retractable cord configured to extend from a retractable cord pack attached to the vest and permit the pouch assembly to be reversibly repositioned from the back torso region of the vest to a front torso region of the vest, where the reversible attachment means is configured to reversibly attach to the first side torso region of the vest when the pouch assembly is positioned on the back torso region of the vest, and the reversible attachment means is configured to reversibly attach to the second side torso region of the vest when the pouch assembly is positioned on the front torso region of the vest, and where the pouch assembly of the second system covers at least a portion of the first system when the pouch assembly is positioned on the front torso region of the vest.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The firearm magazine retainer may be configured to retain an AR-15 rifle magazine or an AR-15-style rifle magazine. The first system may further include at least one strap having a side release buckle element at an end of the strap, the side release buckle element configured to mate with a counterpart side release buckle element connected to a front torso region of the vest. The backing may further include reversible attachment means on a surface of the backing opposite from that of the firearm magazine retainer, the reversible attachment means configured to permit reversible attachment to a front torso region of the vest. The unit may include three firearm magazine retainers, or the first system may include three units, each unit comprising a backing and one firearm magazine retainer. The pouch assembly may include three pouches, each pouch of the three pouches having a cover. The reversible attachment means may be attached to the pouch assembly through at least one strap. The at least one retractable cord may include a clip at an end of the retractable cord, the clip configured to attach to a ring element of the pouch assembly. The pouch assembly may include two retractable cords.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first view of a first tactical vest component attached to a tactical vest according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a second view of the first tactical vest component according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a third view of the first tactical vest component according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a fourth view of the first tactical vest component according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a first view of a second tactical vest component attached to a tactical vest according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a second view of the second tactical vest component according to the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a third view of the second tactical vest component according to the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 shows a fourth view of the second tactical vest component according to the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 shows a fifth view of the second tactical vest component according to the embodiment of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10 shows a sixth view of the second tactical vest component according to the embodiment of FIG. 5.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to components and associated systems for use in connection with tactical and combat vests. The present invention includes tactical gear retention components and associated systems for use in connection with tactical and combat vests. The components and systems may be configured to hold firearm magazines (e.g., magazines for semi-automatic rifles, such as AR-15 and AR-15-style rifles), ordnances, weapons, other tactical equipment, and similar products and devices. While a primary embodiment of the present invention involves the recited components and systems being utilized with tactical and combat vests, components and systems of the present invention may be utilized in connection with any appropriate article of clothing, armor, protection, and the like.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, reflected in FIGS. 1-4, a tactical vest 1 is shown being worn by a user on the user's torso region. Disposed on or otherwise connected to vest 1, particularly at a front-or forward-facing surface of vest 1, is a magazine retention system 10. System 10 may attach to vest 1 in any industry-acceptable manner of reversible attachment, e.g., magnets, clips, side release buckles, buttons, snap buttons/fasteners, hook-and-eye fastening, hook-and-loop fastening (e.g., VELCRO), and the like, as well as combinations thereof. System 10 may be composed of one or more industry-acceptable materials, such as metal, metal alloy, plastic, fabric/cloth, rubber, composite materials, and combinations thereof. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, system 10 includes at least one strap 13, e.g., two straps, where each strap 13 is attached to a side release buckle male component 14 configured to mate respectively with a side release buckle female component 2 attached to vest 1, e.g., via a strap. In other embodiments of the present invention, system 10 may be permanently fixed to vest 1.

Magazine retention system 10 may generally serve to hold and release, at the control of the user, magazines and similar elements. System 10 may include at least one holder 11, also referred to as a retainer, for reversibly retaining magazine 100. Holder 11 may include both an opening, or slot, for insertion of magazine 100 as well as a backing disposed in contact with vest 1 and which may be attached to vest 1, e.g., through VELCRO means. Holder 11 may extend perpendicularly from a surface of the backing. In this non-limiting embodiment, three holders 11 are included as part of system 10. System 10 may be formed, e.g., as a unitary structure including a plurality of holders 11, such as three holders 11, or as a collection of individual pieces, each piece comprising one holder 11. A button 12 may be included for use in association with each holder 11. The button 12 is preferably configured as a spring-loaded release or spring lock and release mechanism. In this example, a magazine 100 may be inserted into holder 11 via a bottom opening of holder 11, whereby magazine 100 clicks, e.g., is locked, into holder 11. As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, the user may then depress button 12, which releases magazine 100 from holder 11, resulting in magazine 100 dropping down and out from the bottom opening of holder 11. This reversible retainment mechanism, particularly in which magazine 100 drops from a bottom opening of holder 11, is a beneficial departure from the prior art, which stores magazines in pouches or pockets, often with a VELCRO cover thereon, requiring a user to open the pouch or pocket, reach into same, and pull out the magazine, which is inefficient in terms of speed of access.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, reflected in FIGS. 5-10, a tactical vest 1 is shown being worn by a user on the user's torso region. Initially disposed on or otherwise connected to vest 1, particularly at a back-or backward-facing surface of vest 1, is a convertible pouch assembly 20. Assembly 20 may be composed of one or more pouches 21, e.g., three pouches, arranged consecutively and adjacently to one another. Pouch 21 may include a VELCRO cover thereon. Assembly 20 may include a reversible attachment means 22, e.g., VELCRO, connected to assembly 20 through one or more straps 23, e.g., two straps. On an opposite side of assembly 20 from reversible attachment means 22, one or more rings 25, e.g., two rings, may be attached to assembly 20. Additionally, on the surface of assembly 20 initially in contact with vest 1 are one or more magnets 24 configured to reversibly attach to one or more magnets 3 on vest 1. While several attachment mechanisms have been described for reversible attachment of assembly 20 to vest 1, assembly 20 may attach to vest 1 in any industry-acceptable manner of reversible attachment, e.g., magnets, clips, side release buckles, buttons, snap buttons/fasteners, hook-and-eye fastening, hook-and-loop fastening (e.g., VELCRO), and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Assembly 20 may be composed of one or more industry-acceptable materials, such as fabric/cloth, plastic, rubber, metal, metal alloy, composite materials, and combinations thereof.

In an initial positioning in which assembly 20 is disposed on a back surface of vest 1, magnets 24 of assembly 20 and magnets 3 of vest 1 are in contact, and reversible attachment means 22 is attached to a first reversible attachment location 4 on vest 1. The user may grab reversible attachment means 22 to remove same from first reversible attachment location 4, as shown in FIG.

5. At this point, the user may pull attachment means 22 along with straps 23 outwardly from and/or circumferentially around the user's body to disengage magnets 24 of assembly 20 from magnets 3 of vest 1 in order to disengage assembly 20 from vest 1. Additionally, one or more retractable cords 32 may extend from one or more retractable cord packs 31, respectively, that are disposed on or attached to vest 1, such as through respective vest clips 30, with each end of retractable cord 32 including a pouch assembly clip 33 configured to connect to a respective ring 25 of assembly 20, as shown in FIG. 7. Retractable cords 32 may be elastic cords, such as bungee cords, elastomer cords, rubber cords, elastic webbing, and the like or, alternatively, wires, cables, and the like.

When assembly 20 is disposed on the back surface of vest 1, the retractable cords 32 reside substantially in the retractable cord packs 31. Pulling outwardly on reversible attachment means 22 to disengage assembly 20 from vest 1 results in an extension of cords 32 out from packs 31. In FIGS. 8-9, the user is shown pulling assembly 20 via reversible attachment means 22 outwardly then circumferentially around the user's body such that assembly 20 is in contact with a front surface of vest 1 or a front surface-disposed component of vest 1, such as magazine retention system 10. The user may elect to reversibly maintain, i.e., reposition, assembly 20 on a front portion of vest 1 by attaching reversible attachment means 22 to a second reversible attachment location 5 on vest 1, as shown in FIG. 10. The user may also remove reversible attachment means 22 from second reversible attachment location 5 and permit assembly 20 to return to a back surface of vest 1 through the retractability of cords 32 into cord packs 31, whereby magnets 24 of assembly 20 will reengage with magnets 3 of vest 1 to reversibly maintain assembly 20 on the back portion of vest 1 and, at which point, the user may attach reversible attachment means 22 to first reversible attachment location 4 for additional security. The convertibility of this system associated with assembly 20 between back and front surface locations on vest 1 allows a user to make better use of additional pouches in a convenient manner where, rather than reaching around one's back to enter and search the pouches in a blind manner, the pouches may be brought in front of the user for ease of both sight and access.

The embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced to them without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or from the scope of the invention. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted with each other within the scope of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the drawings and descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A system for use with a tactical vest or combat vest, the system comprising:

at least one unit, the unit comprising: a backing, and at least one firearm magazine retainer extending perpendicularly from a surface of the backing, the firearm magazine retainer including: at least a bottom opening configured to permit insertion of a firearm magazine into the bottom opening of the firearm magazine retainer, and a spring-loaded lock and release mechanism configured to reversibly lock and release the firearm magazine in the firearm magazine retainer, the spring-loaded lock and release mechanism including a button configured to release the firearm magazine from the firearm magazine retainer when depressed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the firearm magazine retainer is configured to retain an AR-15 rifle magazine or an AR-15-style rifle magazine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises at least one strap having a side release buckle element at an end of the strap, the side release buckle element configured to mate with a counterpart side release buckle element connected to a front torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the backing further includes reversible attachment means on a surface of the backing opposite from that of the firearm magazine retainer, the reversible attachment means configured to permit reversible attachment to a front torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the unit comprises three firearm magazine retainers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises three units, each unit comprising a backing and one firearm magazine retainer.

7. A system for use with a tactical vest or combat vest, the system comprising:

a pouch assembly comprising: at least one pouch, at least one magnet element configured to reversibly engage with at least one counterpart magnet element on a back torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest, a reversible attachment means configured to permit reversible attachment to a first side torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest and a second side torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest, the second side torso region being on an opposite side of a torso from the first side torso region, and at least one retractable cord, the retractable cord configured to extend from a retractable cord pack attached to the tactical vest or combat vest and permit the pouch assembly to be reversibly repositioned from the back torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest to a front torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest, wherein the reversible attachment means is configured to reversibly attach to the first side torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest when the pouch assembly is positioned on the back torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest, and the reversible attachment means is configured to reversibly attach to the second side torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest when the pouch assembly is positioned on the front torso region of the tactical vest or combat vest.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the pouch assembly includes three pouches, each pouch of the three pouches having a cover.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the reversible attachment means is attached to the pouch assembly through at least one strap.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one retractable cord includes a clip at an end of the retractable cord, the clip configured to attach to a ring element of the pouch assembly.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the pouch assembly includes two retractable cords.

12. A vest configured as a tactical vest or combat vest, the vest comprising:

a first system comprising: at least one unit, the unit comprising: a backing, and at least one firearm magazine retainer extending perpendicularly from a surface of the backing, the firearm magazine retainer including: at least a bottom opening configured to permit insertion of a firearm magazine into the bottom opening of the firearm magazine retainer, and a spring-loaded lock and release mechanism configured to reversibly lock and release the firearm magazine in the firearm magazine retainer, the spring-loaded lock and release mechanism including a button configured to release the firearm magazine from the firearm magazine retainer when depressed; and
a second system comprising: a pouch assembly comprising: at least one pouch, at least one magnet element configured to reversibly engage with at least one counterpart magnet element on a back torso region of the vest, a reversible attachment means configured to permit reversible attachment to a first side torso region of the vest and a second side torso region of the vest, the second side torso region being on an opposite side of a torso from the first side torso region, and at least one retractable cord, the retractable cord configured to extend from a retractable cord pack attached to the vest and permit the pouch assembly to be reversibly repositioned from the back torso region of the vest to a front torso region of the vest, wherein the reversible attachment means is configured to reversibly attach to the first side torso region of the vest when the pouch assembly is positioned on the back torso region of the vest, and the reversible attachment means is configured to reversibly attach to the second side torso region of the vest when the pouch assembly is positioned on the front torso region of the vest, and
wherein the pouch assembly of the second system covers at least a portion of the first system when the pouch assembly is positioned on the front torso region of the vest.

13. The vest of claim 12, wherein the firearm magazine retainer is configured to retain an AR-15 rifle magazine or an AR-15-style rifle magazine.

14. The vest of claim 12, wherein the first system further comprises at least one strap having a side release buckle element at an end of the strap, the side release buckle element configured to mate with a counterpart side release buckle element connected to a front torso region of the vest.

15. The vest of claim 12, wherein the backing further includes reversible attachment means on a surface of the backing opposite from that of the firearm magazine retainer, the reversible attachment means configured to permit reversible attachment to a front torso region of the vest.

16. The vest of claim 12,

wherein the unit comprises three firearm magazine retainers, or
wherein the first system comprises three units, each unit comprising a backing and one firearm magazine retainer.

17. The vest of claim 12, wherein the pouch assembly includes three pouches, each pouch of the three pouches having a cover.

18. The vest of claim 12, wherein the reversible attachment means is attached to the pouch assembly through at least one strap.

19. The vest of claim 12, wherein the at least one retractable cord includes a clip at an end of the retractable cord, the clip configured to attach to a ring clement of the pouch assembly.

20. The vest of claim 12, wherein the pouch assembly includes two retractable cords.

Patent History
Publication number: 20250060203
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2023
Publication Date: Feb 20, 2025
Inventors: Chaim Perlman (Brooklyn, NY), Shlomo Biton (Brooklyn, NY)
Application Number: 18/235,710
Classifications
International Classification: F42B 39/02 (20060101); A41D 1/04 (20060101); A41D 27/20 (20060101);