Patent Publication Number: US-2009235431-A1

Title: Quick removal trousers with integral duty belt sleeve

Description:
This application claims priority from U. S. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/070,387 (“the &#39;387 application”) filed Mar. 21, 2008. The &#39;387 application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to quick removal trousers with an improved duty belt sleeve for use by law enforcement officers, service personnel and others who wear gun belts or other equipment belts. More specifically, the present invention allows such persons to use toilet facilities without the necessity of removing their gun belt or equipment belt. 
     In addition the present invention provides an improved duty belt sleeve integral with the quick removal trousers, which allows optimum placement of equipment on the duty belt. 
     For generations, female law enforcement officers have put off using the rest room because of the tedious task of having to remove the entire gun belt before bathroom usage. Besides being time consuming, removal of a gun belt poses safety concerns due to loss of control of the weapon. In addition to safety concerns, the reluctance of officers, particularly female officers, to go to the restroom poses health issues. 
     The problems facing law enforcement officers in attempting to use the restroom while wearing gun belts with related equipment such as handcuffs, ammunition, and flashlights, have been well documented in earlier applications such as Jolla, U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,320, which discloses a waist portion, a detachable portion and a horizontal fastening mechanism, which allows the user to disengage the horizontal fastening mechanism and lower the detachable portion for restroom use. Jolla also requires two belts. One is used to hold up the trousers and the second is a firearm belt, which must be held on with firearm belt attachments placed on the first belt. 
     Blaire, U.S. Pat. No. 6,477,716 and St. Ange, U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,209, both disclose a continuous fastener for the leg inseam which allows the user to unzip the trouser inseam, forming a large skirt like opening. This type of design has certain disadvantages in dealing with the trouser legs opened at the inseam and is effective only with selective underwear styles such as bikini and “low-rider” styles. 
     While these disclosures attempt to address the problem of restroom use for uniformed officers with duty belts, they do not address the integration of the duty belt into a service trouser design. Because of the bulkiness of the equipment that must be placed on the duty belt, the placement or location on the duty belt can be a source of discomfort for the officer. A duty belt may carry a gun, ammunition, handcuffs, baton, mace, and flashlight. When driving a car, for example, placement of any of these items in the rear of the duty belt may cause extreme discomfort and impede the officer. Many officers, both drivers and passengers, complain of back pains as a result of their duty equipment pressing against their lower back and spine while driving in police vehicles. Likewise, it can be seen that placement or misplacement of items on a duty belt will affect the officer&#39;s attempts to use the restroom, even with a detachable portion such as disclosed in Jolla, &#39;320. 
     Thus it can be seen that simply providing a detachable lower portion or a zippered inseam does not solve the problems associated with service trousers. What is needed is a single duty belt integral with the waist portion of service trousers that allows convenient placement of service items on the duty belt along with the ease of a detachable lower trouser portion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide quick removal service trousers which detach below a waist portion, with a continuous belt sleeve integral to the waist portion to receive a single duty belt serving to both hold up the trousers and carry duty equipment in locations convenient and comfortable to the user. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide the user, when needing to use the restroom, with the option of detaching a lower portion from the waist portion with the duty belt holding up the waist portion, or simply unbuckling the duty belt and lowering the trousers with integral duty belt in place in the waist portion. Some users may find it easier to unfasten the duty belt buckle and lower the trousers as one piece or detach the lower portion. The waist portion can be attached securely around the waist while the lower portion is lowered or the trousers can be lowered as one piece with all equipment in place around the waist portion. In either case, the duty belt never leaves the waist portion and the choice is totally up to the user. 
     It is a further object of this invention to eliminate the traditional inner and outer two belt system with external belt keepers. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a continuous belt sleeve with multiple slots in the waist portion to receive a single duty belt that will allow the user to position his or her equipment away from their lower back or spine to eliminate back discomfort while in a vehicle. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a service trouser garment comprising a waist portion, a detachable lower portion, and a horizontal attachment mechanism joining the waist portion and the detachable lower portion, wherein the waist portion further comprises a continuous belt sleeve with a multiplicity of slots to receive a single duty belt. 
     It is further object of this invention to provide an alternative continuous belt sleeve with multiple belt loops in the waist portion to receive a single duty belt that will allow the user to position his or her equipment away from their lower back or spine to eliminate back discomfort while in a vehicle. 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a service trouser garment comprising a waist portion, a detachable lower portion, and a horizontal attachment mechanism joining the waist portion and the detachable lower portion, wherein the waist portion further comprises a continuous belt sleeve with a multiplicity of belt loops to receive a single duty belt. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the present invention with the waist portion above the detachable lower portion and a duty belt placed in the continuous belt sleeve through slots in the waist portion. 
         FIG. 2  is an exterior side view of the waist portion and a duty belt placed in the continuous belt sleeve through slots in the waist portion. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention with the waist portion attached to the detachable lower portion and a duty belt with equipment placed in the continuous belt sleeve through slots in the waist portion. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the present invention with the waist portion attached to the detachable lower portion and a duty belt with equipment placed in the continuous belt sleeve through slots in the waist portion. 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the present invention with the waist portion above the detachable lower portion and a duty belt placed through a multiplicity of belt loops in the waist portion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the inventive service trouser garment  1 , with the waist portion  2  shown above the detachable lower portion  3  with a right leg portion  3   r  and a left leg portion  31 . In this view the detachable lower portion has a front fly  6 , typically fitted with a continuous attachment device such as a “zipper”, although not shown. On the detachable lower portion  3  is also shown the lower portion  4  of a horizontal attachment mechanism for attaching the detachable lower portion  3  to the waist portion  2  at the upper portion  5  of the horizontal attachment mechanism. It is intended that the horizontal attachment mechanism be of any readily available device such as a “zipper” or hook and loop and, furthermore, that the horizontal attachment mechanism is unfastened easily with the spacing of the slots  9  and sliding or lifting of duty equipment during the disconnecting process. Likewise, the horizontal attachment mechanism should reattach as well when reconnecting. The horizontal attachment mechanism would normally have a pull  25  with a durable band  26  attached to the pull  25  for easy and extended horizontal movement while all duty gear is in place on the waist portion  2 . A left end  13  and a right end  14  of the lower portion  4  are also shown. While not shown, it is understood that ends  13  and  14  would normally be provided with attachment means such as a connecting snap, hook or button and buttonhole. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 1  are an inner surface  11  and an outer surface  12  of the waist portion  2 , as well as slots  9 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a duty belt  10  with a buckle  18  is inserted into one slot  9  and out the next slot  9  and into the next slot  9  and so forth around the waist portion  2 . In this way an integral sleeve is created between the inner surface  11  and the outer surface  12  of the waist portion  2  and the duty belt  10  enters that sleeve through one slot  9  and exits through the next slot  9 . As can be seen, a portion  15  of the duty belt  10  is exposed between where it exits one slot  9  and enters the next slot  9 . It is intended that the exposed portion  15  provides a location for attachment of duty gear as the user may choose to be the most convenient, efficient and safe. 
     On the waist portion  2  is also shown the upper portion  5  of a horizontal attachment mechanism for attaching the detachable lower portion  3  to the waist portion  2 . A left end  7  and a right end  8  of the waist portion are also shown. While not shown, it is understood that ends  7  and  8  would normally be provided with attachment means such as a connecting snap, hook or button and buttonhole. Also, while not shown, it is intended that the horizontal attachment mechanism be provided with an inside concealed safety flap to prevent the horizontal attachment mechanism from catching the skin of the wearer. Likewise the horizontal attachment mechanism should have an outside concealment flap to conceal the horizontal attachment mechanism. Both the inside concealed safety flap and the outside concealment flap could be made of the same material as used for the trouser garment  1 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an exterior side view of the waist portion  2  with a duty belt  10  inserted through one slot  9  and out the next slot  9  and then into the next slot  9  and so on, with a portion  15  of the duty belt  10  exposed and external to the outer surface  12  of the waist portion  2 . A hidden portion  16  of the duty belt is indicated beneath the outer surface  12  in the sleeve created between the outer surface  12  and the inner surface  11  of the waist portion  2 . 
     It is intended that the slots  9  are of sufficient height and opening to allow a duty belt  10  to enter and exit easily and yet allow for a snug fit of the exposed portion  15  so as to adequately support the duty gear placed thereon. It is also intended that the slots  9  be sewn with industrial threading around security keepers or inserts to provide sufficient support for the duty belt  10  and attached duty gear. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show respectively a front and rear view of the present invention with the waist portion  2  attached to the detachable lower portion  3  and a duty belt  10  with equipment placed in the continuous belt sleeve through slots  9  in the waist portion  2 . In this arrangement, the front view depicts typical placement of the radio  19 , ammo  20 , cuffs  21  and weapon  22 , while the rear view shows placement of the ASP baton  23  and flash light  24 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , a user would normally not place bulky items in the rear to avoid extreme discomfort when sitting or driving. 
       FIG. 5  shows a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention  1  with the waist portion  2  above the detachable lower portion  3  with a right leg portion  3   r  and a left leg portion  31 . In this embodiment a duty belt  10  is placed through a multiplicity of belt loops  17  on the outer surface  12  of the waist portion  2 . It is intended that the exposed portion  15  of the duty belt  10  between belt loops  17  provides a location for attachment of duty gear as the user may choose to be the most convenient, efficient and safe. 
     It is intended that the belt loops  17  are of sufficient height and opening to allow a duty belt  10  to enter and exit easily and yet allow for a snug fit of the exposed portion  15  so as to adequately support the duty gear placed thereon. It is also intended that the belt loops  17  be sewn with industrial threading to provide sufficient support for the duty belt and attached duty gear.