Abstract:
A cut away vest featuring a first panel connected at a bottom portion to a rear or second panel by a belt. The belt engages the front panel at first ends and engages an attachment point on the rear or second panel at two second ends. A pair of shoulder straps communicate between the first and second panels. A first flexible member such as a cable is translatable to release the second ends of the belt from the second panel. A, second cable may be translated to release the shoulder straps sequentially from the first panel. The cables may be translated concurrently when engaged to a single handle or independently when having two separate handles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/861,463 filed on Nov. 28, 2006, and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The disclosed device relates to clothing worn for body protection. More particularly, the device relates to a vest worn by a user which provides compartmentalized armor or ballistic resistant shielding for the wearer, and is easily removable in a plurality of modes using hand activated rip cords or cables in case of injury or another need for urgent release of the vest from the user. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Ballistic resistant clothing in the form of vests is widely employed by members of the military and law enforcement as a critical piece of equipment for personnel who are constantly exposed to the perils of bullets, shrapnel, and other high velocity projectiles encountered in military and law enforcement environments. Such vests are particularly employed during military operations and law enforcement operations where participants are highly likely to encounter ballistic projectiles. 
         [0003]    Such vests, in addition to providing strategic positioning of ballistic resistant shields around the torso of the wearer, also provide pockets and engagement points for weapons, food, ammunition, and other devices carried into battle. With the ballistic shielding and compartments carrying heavy ammunition and other supplies the vest can become extremely heavy for the wearer during use. This is of high concern should the wearer enter a water environment that is over his head, as the extreme weight of the vest can overcome the wearer&#39;s ability to swim, causing him to drown if the vest cannot be removed immediately and without fumbling to release buttons or zippers. 
         [0004]    Additionally, should the wearer become wounded or injured, it is imperative that medical personnel have immediate access to the wearer&#39;s torso to ascertain injuries under the vest and to otherwise render first aid. Since the body armor style vests inherently resist cutting and piercing, it is important they be constructed from components that may be intentionally easily released to allow immediate removal or relocation of the vest on the wearer during medical procedures. 
         [0005]    Consequently, emergency removal in a substantially instantaneous fashion is a special concern for wearers of such vests for both medical treatment and during situations where the vest becomes a liability to the wearer&#39;s safety. 
         [0006]    A favored style of such body worn armor used by the military and law enforcement is the cut away vest. It is known by this term because the vest is adapted to be quickly removable in emergency situations with one easy to execute action by the wearer, generally some type of ripcord which allows for separation of the components making up the vest and instant removal. 
         [0007]    However, existing vests adapted for easy removal have many drawbacks. An example of the cut away style vest conventionally employed to be removable by the soldier without having to unfasten belts and other typical retainers can be found in published U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,093 (D&#39;Annunzio) and U.S. Pat. No. 7,047,570 (Johnson). These vests are both cut away type vests employing a release component 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 cut away vests, employ front and rear torso portions with the rear torso portion including an internal cummerbund to retain the rear torso portion to the waist of a user. In addition to the cummerbund, a waist belt is also employed to retain the front and rear torso portions to the waist of the user. Shoulder straps are engaged through connecting strap portions on the front torso portion to the strap portions on the rear torso portion. Cables are routed in a serpentine fashion and engaged to a handle with the distal end of each cable being used to realizably retain the shoulder straps, the cummerbund and the belt as a unit. Once the cables are translated by pulling the handle, the entire device falls off, or may be taken off the user, and becomes a large number of separated individual pieces that make up the vest. 
         [0008]    In the Johnson Patent, the shoulder straps, cummerbund, and waist belt all being connected at a common point, are released by pulling a single cable in a generally straight line except for the accommodation of the curvature of the body. This type of carrier, much like the multiple cable vest of D&#39;Annunzio, only allows for the release of the entire attachment system comprising the shoulder straps, inner cummerbund, and outer waist belt and other components, in to a plurality of loose, individual parts. 
         [0009]    This separation of the vest into many pieces once the cable or cables are pulled, and the requirement for both a cummerbund and belt, is a particularly vexing problem to users. First, the multiple cummerbund and belts make the vest a time consuming prospect to assemble and thereafter put on their body. Second, once the cables are released for any reason, the vest disintegrates into many pieces which generally get lost in the shuffle during battle and removal of the user from the field. As with anything that is broken into many pieces, some get lost rendering the vest useless for subsequent use. 
         [0010]    Further, the act of breaking the vest into multiple small components when treating a wounded wearer, renders the vest useless to shield the wounded wearer during subsequent attacks. If a wearer is being treated and incoming fire occurs, the medical personnel may have to retreat temporarily from treatment for safety. The vest having been removed and broken into multiple pieces, can no longer afford protection to the wearer who is exposed to severe injury. During transport of wounded vest users, since the vest has decomposed into multiple components, it is useless to further protect the wearer. Further, as noted, those parts may be left in many places in the field and along the way during transport thereby causing the very expensive vest to become worthless and unusable. 
         [0011]    Accordingly, there is an unmet need for a ballistic resistant cut-away style vest that will allow for a minimum number of belts to engage the components thereof to thereby allow the user a quick entry into the vest. Further, such a vest should be easily removable with activation of a rip cord or cable system, to allow access to the user. However, in its detached state such a vest should remain sufficiently intact to allow it to re-cover and protect the user during transport to medical facilities and during subsequent incoming attacks. Still further such a vest should remain relocatable as a unit rather than in components during medical procedures thereby preventing it from turning into many easily lost, non-useable components when removed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The disclosed device meets that need through the provision of a releasable armor carrier or cut away vest which is usable for carrying supplies and equipment and is constructed for quick release from the wearer so that the vest may be discarded or relocated on the wearer quickly and effectively in an emergency. The vest may be assembled in two separate configurations or modes, depending on user preference. 
         [0013]    In a first configuration an emergency pull handle is connected to two separate cables. One cable, at a distal end opposite that of the handle, connects to the back of the vest and secures both ends of a single waist belt to the vest at a mounting point. The second cable provides a quick disconnect of the rear torso panel to the front torso panel via the shoulder straps which secure the upper portion of the vest to the user. The wearer can easily pull the single pull handle currently provided as a fabric pillow engaged to the cables in a generally straight line to translate the two serpentine routed cables to fully release the carrier in an emergency. 
         [0014]    The second configuration which may be employed by the user provides two emergency pull handles or pillows, one on each release cable, placed on the left and right side of the front torso panel. In this mode, the wearer or medical personnel assisting them may release the back portion from the front of the vest in a fashion rendering the vest still-usable by the wearer during transport to emergency facilities since the shoulder straps remain engaged. In this mode of the device, when released, it allows the front panel to be easily flipped up over the wearer&#39;s head to protect it during medical procedures in the field, but allows for immediate repositioning of the front panel over the torso thereafter and during transport to a medical facility to continue protection. 
         [0015]    After arriving at designated trauma care facilities, the entire vest, with only one cable release activated, may be quickly and easily released from the wearer by pulling the second emergency pull handle or fabric pillow which releases the front and rear torso panels entirely by separating the shoulder straps, without causing further injury to the wearer. In this mode, the device allows the wearer to pull both cables simultaneously or independently in an emergency situation to either partially or completely release the entire carrier during an emergency situation. Of course the handles might also be pulled in reverse to allow separation of the shoulder straps to fold the front or rear panels downward, leaving the belt in place, and later separating the belt portion at the bottom of the vest. 
         [0016]    Because the vest only separates to a couple of components, it is subsequently easily reassembled and parts are not lost on the battle field nor during transport since it is adapted to remain on the wearer along the way rather than falling apart in the field. Being on the user, it continues to afford protection from ballistic projectiles during medical procedures in the field and during transport. This solves the prior noted problems in the prior art. 
         [0017]    In addition to the multiple release system and releasing into a minimum number of continuously wearable components, the device also provides for attachment of a supply pouch through the use of a strap or webbing connected to the pouch which ultimately extends thru loops on the pouch and vest, allowing the pouch to be moved securely in a selected position on the vest at either the sides, the front, or the back torso panels. 
         [0018]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the device and method herein 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 or method steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is thus capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in different orders of execution. 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. 
         [0019]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the ballistic resistant cut away vest is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other vests for carrying out the purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    It is an object of this invention to provide a cut away vest that provides two user options for release of the vest from their body. 
         [0021]    It is a further object of the invention to provide such a vest that once separated decomposes into a minimum number of components to avoid losing parts in the field or during transport once the vest is disengaged. 
         [0022]    A further object of this invention is the provision of such a ballistic resistant vest that may be partially disconnected to allow for medical access to the wearer&#39;s torso, but remains engaged to the user to afford protection subsequently. 
         [0023]    These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of the construction and method as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  depicts a view of the front of the vest showing the front panel which has interior pockets for armor or ballistic resistant material, and two cables engaged to a single handle for selectively releasing the shoulder straps, or the belt portions of the device. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a close up view of a shoulder strap engagement at the front panel of  FIG. 1  showing a first cable or other flexible member, routed to a rear position on the rear panel for engagement of a belt thereto, and a second cable routed through the first shoulder strap attachment and onto the second shoulder strap attachment to the front panel. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a rear view of the device showing the distal end of the first cable engaged to hold the components attached to distal ends of a waist belt to the rear panel. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  depicts a preferred distal end fastening component engaged to one half of the waist belt showing the smooth surfaced component which is especially well adapted for sliding inside a passage formed in the rear panel of the vest. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4   a  depicts the post and aperture engagement of the ends of smooth planar member on the end of the belt. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  depicts a close up of the shoulder strap attachment to the front of the vest. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-5  which generally depict the cut away vest device  10  disclosed herein in various modes or embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 1  in a frontal view of the device  10 , a front panel  12  is engaged to a rear panel  14  with shoulder straps  16  and a belt  18 . The belt  18  is engaged at a first end to the front panel  12  with a fastening means such as hook and loop fabric  15 . The belt  18  is engaged at a second end to the rear panel  14  with cable engageable means for securing each of both second ends of both half portions of the belt  18 . This means for engagement of the distal ends of the belt  18  operates such that translation of the distal end of a first cable  20 , opposite the handle  22 , will disengage both second ends of both halves of the belt  18 . The two belt portions forming the belt  18  thus provide engagement between the front panel  12  and rear panel  14  during use. Interior pockets in both the front panel  12  and rear panel  14  are adapted to hold ballistic resistant material therein in a conventional fashion. 
         [0031]    In a first mode of the device  10  pulling on a handle  22  at located and engaged to first ends of a first cable  20  and second cable  26 , will cause disengagement of the shoulder straps  16  and the belt  18  from their attachment to the rear panel  14  and front panel  12  respectively. 
         [0032]    In a second mode of the device  10 , the second end of the first cable  20  would be engaged to a handle  22  and the second end of the second cable  26  would be engaged with a second handle  22   a . This will allow independent release of either the belt  18  from the rear panel  14  by pulling on the first cable  20  or a release of the shoulder straps  16  in a sequential fashion by pulling upon the second handle  22   a . If desired in this mode, pulling on the second handle  22   a  attached to the second cable  26 , allows for sequential release of the shoulder straps  16  with the strap  16  furthest from the handle releasing first, and then the strap closest to the handle  22  releasing second as the second cable  26  is pulled further along. 
         [0033]    In  FIGS. 2 and 5  there is a close up of a shoulder strap  16  engagement at the front panel  12  showing the shoulder strap  16  closest to the handle  22 . As can be seen, the first cable  20  routed over the first shoulder strap  16  to a rear position on the rear panel  14  for engagement to both distal ends of the belt  18 . The second cable  26  is routed through the first shoulder strap  16  adjacent to the handle  22  to an enragement to the fastener  19  at the second shoulder strap  16 . The fastener  19  is a quick release two piece fastener  19  having one portion secured to the front panel  12  by the second cable  26 , and a second portion of the fastener  19  engaged to the shoulder strap  16 . The first shoulder strap  16  adjacent to the handle  22  or handle  22   a  would be engaged in the same fashion as that in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    As can be seen, this two cable approach also allows the user or medical personnel to forgo translation of the second cable  26  to release the shoulder straps by just disengaging the two-component fastener  19  if time allows. This would allow the user or others to release the belt  18  by translating the first cable  20  and leaving the shoulder straps engaged or using the two component fasteners  19  to disengage one or both of the shoulder straps. Or, translating the second cable  26  by pulling the handle  22  will release both one or shoulder straps  16  sequentially from the top portion of the front panel  12 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows in a rear view of the device  10  the distal end of the first cable  20  is engaged to hold the distal ends of a waist belt  18  in a flexible member releasable mount to the rear panel  14 . The preferred mode for a handle activated releasable mount employs cable engageable pins  28  having an aperture  31  communicating through the pin  28  which will engage the distal end of the first cable  20  passing therethrough in an attached position. The aperture  31  in the pins  28  would be spaced to allow a stacked engagement of the distal ends over the pins  28  as shown in  FIG. 4   a  with the distal ends of the belt sandwiched between the first cable  20  and the rear panel  14 . 
         [0036]    As depicted the distal ends of the belt  18  slide through pockets  17  formed in the rear panel. The distal ends of the belt  18  have apertures  23  formed therein which are sized to engage over the pins  28  as in  FIG. 4   a . In this attached position, the first cable  20  will hold both distal ends of the belt  18  in a removable mount to the rear panel  14  with the pins  28  engaged with the apertures  23 . Of course other means for a translatable engagement of the second cable  20  with the rear of the vest sandwiching the distal ends of the belt between the second cable  20  and the vest can be employed and such are anticipated however the currently disclosed mode is favored since it has been shown to work very well in the field and is a simple construction with little to fail in the hostile environment of use. 
         [0037]    In  FIGS. 4 and 4   a  there are shown larger views of the preferred mode of belt attachment for the device  10  in which the apertures  23  are formed into a smooth planar component  30  engaged to each distal end of the belt  18 . In this mode of the device  10 , each end of the belt  18  has one of planar components  30  affixed to an elastic portion  32  of the belt  18 . The other end of the belt  18  is engaged to the front panel  12  using hook and loop fabric  15  such as that on the rear panel adjacent to the pins  28  or other secure removable means of engagement to the front panel  12 . Pulling the handle  22  engaged to the first cable  20  will translate the first cable  20  out of the pins  28  releasing the apertures  23  of the planar component  30  allowing separation between the lower portions of the front panel  12  and rear panel  14 . 
         [0038]    The planar member  30  is especially preferred in that it allows for easy assembly by the user with the smooth but flexible planar member  30  by simply engaging the apertures  23  over the pins  28 . Release is quick and easy once the first cable  20  is pulled since the smooth members  30  slide over each other and out of engagement to the rear panel  14 . A flap  27  may be provided to cover the engagement point and secured with hook and loop fabric  25  or other means. 
         [0039]    Also especially preferred is an elastic portion  32  of the belt  18  engaged to the smooth members  30 . This elastic portion allows for expansion and contraction of the belt  18  while in the engaged position while continually providing means to bias the front panel  12  toward the rear panel  14  keeping the device snug on the use buy allowing some stretch to move about. 
         [0040]    As noted, the first and second cables  20  and  26  can be attached to one handle  22  for a release of both the shoulder straps and belt in one pull, or can be attached to two independent handles  22  and  22   a  allowing independent separation of either the top portions of the front and rear panels at the shoulder straps  16 , or the bottom portions of the front and rear panels by release of the belt  18  from its engagement to the rear panel  14 . This allows first responders treating an injured wearer to separate the panels and flip them out of the way for first aid, but, to flip them back in place subsequently. Further, the device  10  may continue to be worn on the way to the field hospital or medical center since one of the two means of attachment can remain intact. Still further, use of a single belt  18  with elastic  32  makes the device  10  lighter and easier to put on for use and eliminates the cumbersome cummerbund employed as a separate component in conventional protective vests. For carrying pouches of supplies and such, numerous loop attachments  34  for removable engagement of such pouches. 
         [0041]    While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the improved cut away vest have been described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instance, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should be understood that such substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the invention as defined herein.