Patent ID: 9651339
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: A41D,F41H

Claim:
1. A releasable vest, comprising: a front panel; shoulder strap elements that extend from the front panel, wherein each of the shoulder strap elements includes at least one shoulder strap attachment opening formed therethrough; a back panel comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein a portion of the second layer is attached to the first layer such that a cavity is formed between at least a portion of the first layer and the second layer such that at least a portion of the shoulder strap elements can be introduced into the cavity, and wherein a panel coupler further couples the first layer to the second layer and maintains at least a central portion of the first layer in close proximity to a central portion of the second layer; a first waist belt element releasably attached or coupled to a portion of the front panel, wherein the first waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough; a second waist belt element releasably attached or coupled to a portion of the front panel, wherein the second waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough; at least one release loop, wherein the at least one release loop comprises a separate structure not permanently attached to any portion of the vest, wherein the at least one release loop comprises an obstruction, wherein the obstruction is sufficient to keep at least a portion of the release loop from passing through at least one waist belt element attachment opening of the first waist belt element or the second waist belt element, and wherein at least a portion of the at least one release loop is capable of being aligned with and passed through at least one waist belt attachment opening of the first waist belt element, at least one waist belt attachment opening of the second waist belt element, and at least one shoulder strap attachment opening of each shoulder strap element; and a release lanyard, wherein the release lanyard extends from a pull handle to a terminal end, and wherein the release lanyard is capable of being aligned with and passed through the release loop so as to releasably secure the first waist belt element, the second waist belt element, and the shoulder strap elements to the release loop.