Patent Publication Number: US-9848659-B2

Title: Load-bearing jacket

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Workers in various fields require quick access to tools or equipment. For example, construction workers frequently wear a tool belt around their waist or a tool suspender system. These belts permit various pouches and tools to be attached for quick and easy access during construction. Additionally, workers such as police, military personnel, or photographers require quick access to often-heavy equipment in time-sensitive situations. 
     Current tool belts or suspender systems have several drawbacks. In cold weather, outdoor workers typically wear a jacket in addition to a tool belt, and the tool belt often gets in the way. For example, if the worker chooses to wear the belt over his jacket, the jacket may lift out from under the belt and cover the tool belt when the worker lifts his arms up. Additionally, the tool belt may slide further down the worker&#39;s waist, and the tools may become less accessible. Consequently, the worker must readjust his tool belt every time he lifts his arms up. In another example, if a worker chooses to wear the tool belt under his jacket to ensure the tool belt is always snug, the worker must reach under his jacket to access his tools. 
     One existing alternative to a tool belt is a suspender system. However, suspender systems also have drawbacks. Because the weight of all of the tools has been taken off of a belt, the weight is now placed on shoulder straps that dig into a worker&#39;s shoulders. This creates pressure and abrasion points on the worker&#39;s shoulders. Additionally, suspender systems frequently involve the use of several straps, which increases the opportunity for entanglement when a worker is in a tight space or brushes up against non-smooth surfaces. Therefore, a new product is needed that enables workers to efficiently access tools while staying warm in cold or cool weather. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed product is, generally, a load-bearing jacket with a built in tool belt system that enables a user to mount various tool pouches to the jacket. In one embodiment, the jacket has the tool belt system incorporated into the jacket at the waist area, has a removable liner for warmth in cold or cool weather, and has removable sleeves. The disclosed jacket ensures that a worker will stay warm while working outside, it decreases possibilities of entanglement on straps, and it is less likely to cause abrasion than current tool belt systems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a load-bearing jacket, according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of a load-bearing jacket, according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a load-bearing jacket, according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a load-bearing jacket that is used to aid persons who needs to carry tools and equipment on their bodies. Various embodiments of the load-bearing jacket will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the load-bearing jacket disclosed herein. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the load-bearing jacket. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover applications or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     In one embodiment, the disclosed load-bearing jacket can enhance ease of access to various tools and equipment that are frequently carried on a person&#39;s body if the person is employed in a field of work such as construction, police-work, military, or photography and will be outside in cold or cool weather. In one embodiment, the load-bearing jacket is made of heavy-duty cloth material and includes removable jacket sleeves  102 , a vest shell  104 , a removable vest liner  106 , an integrated connector system  108 , and an integrated tool belt system  110 . 
     The heavy-duty cloth material used for the jacket can be duck cloth or any other heavy, plain-woven cotton or synthetic fabric. Heavy-duty cloth material is ideal because it is not prone to snagging or tearing, is able to efficiently block the wind, and is resistant to damage from long-term use. However, any other material that includes one, some, or all of these properties can also be used. In some embodiments, the jacket can include an external waterproof shell of synthetic material and an internal fleece (or other insulating) liner. 
     The load-bearing jacket can, in some embodiments, be made of several removable pieces. For example, the sleeves  102  on the load-bearing jacket can be removable. These sleeves  102  may be removably connected to the vest through the use of a connector such as, but not limited to, a zipper  102   a , hook and loop fasteners, or buttons. Additionally, the sleeves  102  can be lined with an insulated liner. In some embodiments, the jacket does not have removable sleeves  102 , but the sleeves  102  are still lined with an insulated liner. The opening of the sleeves  102  at the wrist area can have an adjustment feature  112 , but may not have one. In one embodiment, the sleeves  102  can be tightened or loosened through the use of hook and loop fasteners attached at the wrist area of the sleeves  102 . Other mechanisms may be employed for the adjustment feature  112  such as buttons, snaps, buckles, hook and clasp systems, or bungees. 
     In one embodiment, the load-bearing jacket can have a removable vest liner  106 . The vest liner  106  can be insulated, such as through the use of a quilted pattern or feathers, and can attach to the vest shell  104  using connection means such as buttons, a zipper, or hook and loop fasteners. The vest shell  104  or, if the sleeves  102  are permanently affixed, the jacket, can be closed by means of, for example, a zipper, buttons, snaps, buckles, a hook and loop system, or a hook and clasp system. Further, the shell  104 , the sleeves  102 , or both can have pockets. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the jacket has an integrated connector system  108  that allows the user to tighten or loosen the jacket. This system can be a belt-buckle system (for example, a parachute buckle) or any other clasping system. In an example of a buckle system, as shown in  FIG. 1 , one end of each half of the buckle system is sewn onto the jacket, leaving the other ends free to connect with each other. One or both ends of the buckle system  108   a ,  108   b  can be adjustable so that the jacket can be tightened or loosened at the user&#39;s waist. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the jacket includes an integrated tool belt system  110  that is connected horizontally at the waist of the vest portion of the jacket. The jacket can have a plurality of belt straps that make up the tool belt system  110 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a tool belt system comprised of three belt straps, although fewer or more are possible.  FIG. 1  illustrates a tool belt system  110  wherein the front of the tool belt system  110  includes one belt strap on the front right side of the jacket  110   a  and one belt strap on the front left side of the jacket  110   b .  FIG. 2  illustrates the back of a tool belt system  110  that includes one belt strap on the back of the jacket  110   c . However, the tool belt system  110  can be comprised of more than three belt straps. Further, the belt straps can be at other locations on the jacket other than along the waist. For example, the jacket can have at least one belt strap at the chest level  110   d . In some embodiments, the belt straps  110   a - 110   d  are removable, for example, through the use of a hook and loop system. In some embodiments, the belt straps  110   a - 110   d  may run vertically as opposed to horizontally. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the tool belt system  110  is made of belt straps  110   a - 110   d  that are intermittently sewn on, or otherwise permanently connected to, the jacket. Each belt strap  110   a - 110   d  can be sewn, or otherwise permanently connected, to the jacket on one end of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d , leaving most of the length of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d  capable of hinging around the connected end. The other end of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d  can have a locking system  114 , which enables a user to attach and detach at least one removable tool pouch  116  to the belt strap  110   a - 110   d , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . For example, using the locking system  114 , a user can unlock one end of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d , pull the belt strap  110   a - 110   d  away from the user&#39;s body, slide a loop of a tool pouch  116  onto the belt strap  110   a - 110   d , close the belt strap  110   a -  110   d , and lock it, thereby securing the tool pouch  116  onto the belt strap  110   a - 110   d . The locking system  114  can be, but is not limited to, a buckle (for example, a parachute buckle); a turn lock, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; snaps; or a hook and loop system. 
     The belt straps  110   a - 110   d  of the tool belt system  110 , in a preferred embodiment, are rigid due to the inclusion of, for example, a plastic piece or boning within a flexible part of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d . The flexible portion of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d  can be made of nylon or another tough, flexible material. The flexible portion of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d  can, in one embodiment, encompass the rigid, plastic piece or the boning. Alternatively, the rigid portion of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d  can be attached to the outside material of the flexible portion. 
     In one embodiment, padded straps  118  can be sewn onto the jacket, on the inside or the outside of the jacket, to act as a barrier between the belt straps  110   a - 110   d  and the user, thus ensuring more comfort for the user. The padded straps  118  can be continuously or intermittently sewn on, or otherwise permanently connected, to the jacket. However, in a preferred embodiment, the padded straps  118  are not continuously sewn on, or otherwise completely connected, to the jacket so as to ensure less rigidity. In the case of an intermittent connection, the padded straps  118  can be connected similarly to how the belt straps  110   a - 110   d  are connected, wherein only the ends of the padded strap  118  are sewn, or otherwise permanently connected, to the jacket. However, unlike the belt straps  110   a - 110   d , the padded straps  118  may not be capable of pivoting because both ends may be sewn, or otherwise permanently connected, to the jacket. In another embodiment, the padded straps  118  can attach and detach through a physical attachment system such as, but not limited to, buttons, snaps, buckles, zippers, a hook and loop system, or a hook and clasp system. In some embodiments, the locking system  114  of each belt strap  110   a - 110   d  can penetrate from the base of the jacket through the corresponding padded strap  118  and belt strap  110   a - 110   d . In other embodiments, the locking system  114  of the belt strap  110   a - 110   d  can be permanently affixed to the outward facing portion of the padded straps  118 . 
     The disclosed invention is capable of keeping a user warm during cold or cool weather. Further, due to the integrated belt straps  110   a - 110   d  and padded straps  118 , there are fewer straps and the tool belt system  110  is less likely to be entangled on foreign objects. Additionally, the disclosed load-bearing jacket is more comfortable than current jackets that require a separate belt or suspender system because any movement of the user results in coordinated movement of the jacket and tool belt system  110 . 
     The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.