Abstract:
A garment such as a plate carrier has a front part and a back part which are held together by a plurality of buckles. The buckles are releasable manually, and also are simultaneously releasable as a group via a quick release mechanism that includes an actuator cord extending through a plurality of rings. Reassembly of the garment after actuation of the quick release mechanism is effected by buckling the plurality of buckles.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/417,680, filed Nov. 29, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates to a quick release mechanism for a garment. In particular, this application relates to a quick release mechanism for a garment worn by a soldier, which garment must be capable of being removed almost instantly in an emergency situation. This type of garment is often called a “quick release vest”. 
         [0003]    One type of garment that can advantageously employ a quick release mechanism is a plate carrier, which is a garment configured basically as a vest and specifically designed to carry body armor panels. These panels can be soft armor but are often hard armor plates, which offer more protection but are quite heavy. Because hard armor plates are heavy, they can dangerously weigh down a soldier who, for examples, falls into water. In such a situation, the soldier needs to be able to remove the plate carrier very quickly and easily. Removing the plate carrier (or allowing it to fall off the soldier) can allow the soldier to survive. Quick and easy removal of the plate carrier is desirable in other circumstances also, such as when a solider needs to be given emergency medical attention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a plate carrier, shown in laid-flat condition, that includes a quick release mechanism in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0005]      FIGS. 2-4  are a series of views of an exemplary buckle that is included in the plate carrier of  FIG. 1  and that is actuatable by the quick release mechanism; and 
           [0006]      FIG. 5  is a view of the quick release mechanism as included in a portion of the plate carrier; 
           [0007]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the quick release mechanism; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  of a quick release mechanism that is a second embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The present invention relates to a quick release mechanism for a garment. In particular, this application relates to a quick release mechanism for a garment worn by a soldier, which garment must be capable of being removed almost instantly in an emergency situation. This type of garment is often called a “quick release vest”. A plate carrier often forms an integral portion of a vest that is worn by a soldier. Alternatively, a plate carrier can be a stand-alone garment. The present invention is applicable to both types of garments, and can also be used with a vest or other garment that is not carrying armor. As representative of the invention, without limiting, the drawings illustrate a plate carrier  10  including a quick release mechanism  12  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) that is a first embodiment of the invention. 
         [0010]    The plate carrier  10  ( FIG. 1 ) is designed in two parts, a front part  20  and a back part  30 , with the quick release mechanism  12  securing them together in a manner as described below. In accordance with the present invention, the two plate carrier parts  20  and  22  can easily be attached to each other in a secure manner when donning the garment, then can be almost instantly released from each other so that the two parts can fall off the soldier to unburden the soldier. The two plate carrier parts  20  and  22  can also be manually released from each other, at a more measured pace, to remove the plate carrier, in the normal course of doffing the garment. 
         [0011]    In the illustrated embodiment, the front part  20  of the plate carrier  10  includes or supports the quick release mechanism  12 , which is not visible in  FIG. 1  because it is enclosed within the garment. Alternatively, a quick release mechanism of the present invention might be included at least partially or completely in a back part of a garment such as a plate carrier. 
         [0012]    The front part  20  of the plate carrier  10  has left and right side sections  32  and  34  that extend rearward from the central section; and left and right shoulder straps  36  and  38  that extend upward and rearward. 
         [0013]    The back part  22  of the plate carrier  10  has left and right side sections  42  and  44  that extend forward from the central section; and left and right shoulder straps  46  and  48  that extend upward and forward. 
         [0014]    Four buckles  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56  on the front part  20  of the plate carrier  10  releasably join the front part of the plate carrier to the back part  22  of the plate carrier. The first buckle  50  is located on the left front shoulder strap  36 . The second buckle  52  is located on the right front shoulder strap  38 . The third buckle  54  is located on the left side section  32  of the front carrier part  20 . The fourth buckle is located on the right side section  34  of the front carrier part  20 . 
         [0015]    The first buckle  50  is manually engageable with a first tongue  50   a  that is located on the left back shoulder strap  46 . (The first buckle  50  and the first tongue  50   a  are identical in construction and operation to the other three buckles and tongues, and so will be described here in detail.) When the first buckle  50  is engaged with the first tongue  50   a , the left front and left back shoulder straps  36  and  46 , respectively, are releasably connected to each other. The engagement process is as simple as inserting the tongue  50   a  into the buckle  50 , a known procedure such as is involved in buckling a seat belt or a strap on a backpack. 
         [0016]    In accordance with the present invention, the first buckle  50  can be released from the first tongue  50   a  in either one of two different manners as described below—manually via a manual actuator, or in an emergency via a quick release actuator. One specific type of buckle that can be used in the present invention is shown in detail in  FIGS. 2-4 . Other types of buckles can be used, so long as they are actuatable to release both manually and via a lanyard or cable. 
         [0017]    The buckle  50  (female lock element), together with the tongue  50   a  (male lock element), form a buckle assembly  51 . The tongue  50   a  has an arrow-shaped end portion  60  that includes two buckle locking surfaces that engage two locking pawls  64 . The pawls  64  are supported for pivotal movement relative to a housing  68 . A lock spring/ejection spring  70  in the housing  68  extends between the pawls  64  and biases them to a position as shown in  FIG. 8 . The spring  70  is preferably a tension coil spring held in tension between the pawls  64 . 
         [0018]    The pawls  64  contain protrusions  72  on their ends opposite the locking portion, that serve as side-release actuation surfaces. Thus, the pawls  64  can be disengaged from contact with the tongue  50   a  by applying opposing compressive forces to the actuating surfaces as with other side-release buckles. This is the primary or manual release mechanism for the buckle  50 , that is used when the plate carrier  10  is being normally doffed. 
         [0019]    As a secondary or quick release mechanism, a first lanyard  74  is connected with the pawls  64 . Specifically, the housing  68  has a release lanyard hole  70  through which the first lanyard  74  extends. End portions of the lanyard  74  are connected with the pawls  64 . 
         [0020]    In the absence of external forces, the relative position of the pawls  64  is controlled by the spring  62 .  FIG. 3  shows the tongue  50   a  fully engaged with the buckle  50 , the buckle assembly  51  being in a locked configuration. The arrow-shaped end portion of the tongue  50   a  is engaging and deflecting the spring  70 .  FIG. 4  shows the tongue  50   a  fully engaged with the buckle  50 , and shows the pawls  64  in a release condition caused either by inwardly directed compressive force on the pawl actuation surfaces  72  or by a pulling force on the lanyard  74 . The pawls  64  are pivoted out of engagement with the tongue  50   a . The tongue  50   a  will then be ejected by the force of the spring  70  as the spring straightens itself out. 
         [0021]    In a similar manner, the second buckle  52  ( FIG. 1 ), which is on the right front shoulder strap  38 , is manually engageable with a second tongue  52   a  that is located on the right back shoulder strap  48 . When the second buckle  52  is engaged with the second tongue  52   a , the right front and right back shoulder straps  38  and  48  are releasably connected to each other. The second buckle  52  can be released from the second tongue in either one of two different manners—manually via a manual actuator, or in an emergency via a quick release actuator. The quick release actuator includes a second lanyard  76  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) that can be pulled to cause the second buckle  52  to release the second tongue  52   a.    
         [0022]    The third buckle  54  ( FIG. 1 ), which is located on the left side section  32  of the front carrier part  20 , is engageable with a third tongue  54   a  that is located on the left side section  42  of the back carrier part  22 . When the third buckle  54  and the third tongue  54   a  are engaged, the left side section  22  of the front carrier part  20  and the left side section  42  of the back carrier part  22  are releasably connected to each other, about the soldier&#39;s waist. The third buckle  54  can be released from the third tongue  52   a  in either one of two different manners—manually via a manual actuator, or in an emergency via a quick release actuator. The quick release actuator includes a third lanyard  78  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) that can be pulled to cause the third buckle  54  to release the third tongue  54   a.    
         [0023]    The fourth buckle  56  ( FIG. 1 ), which is located on the right side section  34  of the front carrier part  20 , is engageable with a fourth tongue  56   a  that is located on the right side section  44  of the back carrier part  22 . When the fourth buckle  56  and the fourth tongue  56   a  are engaged, the right side section  34  of the front carrier part  20  and the right side section  44  of the back carrier part  22  are releasably connected to each other, about the soldier&#39;s waist. The fourth buckle  56  can be released from the fourth tongue  56   a  in either one of two different manners—manually via a manual actuator, or in an emergency via a quick release actuator. The quick release actuator includes a fourth lanyard  80  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) that can be pulled to cause the fourth buckle  56  to release the fourth tongue  56   a.    
         [0024]    The quick release mechanism  12  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) is used to apply the desired pulling force to the lanyards  74 - 80  in an emergency situation. The quick release mechanism  12  includes a support plate  90  that is sewn to or otherwise secured on the inside of the front carrier part  20 , overlying the user&#39;s chest when the plate carrier  10  is being worn. The support plate  90  in the illustrated embodiment is made from a flexible sheet material such as but not limited to nylon. The support plate is strong and rigid enough to maintain the position of the parts of the quick release mechanism  12  when it is actuated, but flexible enough to be comfortably worn as part of the garment  10 . 
         [0025]    The support plate  90  as shown has a central area  91  and four arms that extend outward from the central area  91 . Two upper arms  92  and  94  of the support plate  90  are relatively short and two lower arms  96  and  98  of the support plate are relatively long. 
         [0026]    The quick release mechanism  12  includes a central ring or guide ring  100  that is connected with the central area  91  of the support plate  90  by a short length of cord  102 . The central ring  100  does not lie in the plane of the support plate  90 , but rather overlies it, and is movable relative to (floats over) the support plate, such movement being limited by the cord  102 . The central ring  100  may be made from a smooth metal or plastic to enable portions of an actuator cord  130  that are trained over the ring  100  to slide smoothly along the ring, in a manner as described below. 
         [0027]    Several openings are formed in the support plate  90  and extend between its front and back sides. An upper central cord opening  104  ( FIG. 5 ) is located in the central area  91  of the support plate  90 . A left upper cord opening  106  is located in the left upper arm  92  of the support plate  90 . A right upper cord opening  108  is located in the right upper arm  94  of the support plate  90 . A left lower cord opening  110  ( FIG. 6 ) is located in the left lower arm  96  of the support plate  90 , and a right lower cord opening  112  is located in the right lower arm  98  of the support plate  90 . 
         [0028]    The support plate  90  is dimensioned, and is positioned on the front carrier part  20 , so that the four cord openings  106 - 112  that are in the support plate arms  92 - 98  are located near the four buckles  50 - 56 . Specifically, the left upper cord opening  106  ( FIG. 5 ) is situated near the location of the first buckle  50  on the front left shoulder strap  36 . The first lanyard  74  extends from the first buckle  50 , on the outside of the front carrier part  20 , inwardly through the left upper cord opening  106 , to a location inside the support plate  90 . A first ring  116 , movable relative (floating over) to the support plate  90 , is connected with an inner end of the first lanyard  74 . The first lanyard  74  enables tensile force to be transmitted from the first ring  116  to the quick release actuator of the first buckle  50 . 
         [0029]    Similarly, the right upper cord opening  108  ( FIG. 5 ) is situated near the location of the second buckle  52  on the front right shoulder strap  38 . The second lanyard  76  extends from the second buckle  52 , on the outside of the front carrier part  20 , inwardly through the right upper cord opening  108 , to a location inside the support plate  90 . A second ring  118 , movable relative to (floating over) the support plate  90 , is connected with an inner end of the second lanyard  76 . The second lanyard  76  enables tensile force to be transmitted from the second ring  118  to the quick release actuator of the second buckle  52 . 
         [0030]    In a similar fashion, the left lower cord opening  110  ( FIG. 6 ) is situated near the location of the third buckle  54  on the left side section  32  of the front carrier part  20 . The third lanyard  78  extends from the third buckle  54 , on the outside of the front carrier part  20 , inwardly through the left lower cord opening  110 , to a location inside the support plate  90 . An auxiliary third ring  119 , movable relative to (floating over) the support plate, is connected with an inner end of the third lanyard  78 . The third lanyard  78  enables tensile force to be transmitted from the auxiliary third ring  119  to the quick release actuator of the third buckle  54 . 
         [0031]    And again, the right lower cord opening  112  ( FIG. 6 ) is situated near the location of the fourth buckle  56  on the right side section  34  of the front carrier part  20 . The fourth lanyard  80  extends from the fourth buckle  56 , on the outside of the front carrier part  20 , inwardly through the right lower cord opening  112 , to a location inside the support plate  90 . An auxiliary fourth ring  121 , movable relative to (floating over) the support plate, is connected with an inner end of the fourth lanyard  80 . The fourth lanyard  80  enables tensile force to be transmitted from the auxiliary fourth ring to the quick release actuator of the fourth buckle  56 . 
         [0032]    To accommodate the extra length of the lower arms  96  and  98  of the support plate  90  as compared to the upper arms  92  and  94 , connector cords extend from the lower arms of the support plate and through the auxiliary rings  119  and  121  to the central area  91  of the support plate  90 . Specifically, one connector cord  119   a  extends between the auxiliary third ring  119  and a third ring  120  ( FIG. 5 ) that is located much closer to the central area  91  of the support plate  90 . Another connector cord  121   a  extends between the auxiliary fourth ring  121  and a fourth ring  122  that is located much closer to the central area  91  of the support plate  90 . 
         [0033]    As a result of this positioning, the third and fourth rings  120  and  122 , together with the first ring  116  and the second ring  118 , form the four corners of an imaginary rectangle that is centered on the central ring  100 . 
         [0034]    The actuator cord  130  is a single length of flexible material with two end portions located outside of the support plate  90  and outside of the front carrier part  20 , at a location over the chest area of the soldier. The actuator cord  130  may be one continuous length of braided cord with a load rating of several times the expected pull force. The two end portions are connected with each other by a pull tab  132  ( FIG. 1 ) that is located on the front exterior of the garment  10 , that is, on the front plate carrier part  20 . The pull tab  132  is normally held down onto the front carrier part  20  by hook and loop fasteners, in an easily accessible exterior location. In an emergency situation, the pull tab  132  can be quickly released from the front carrier part  20 , as described below, and pulled to actuate the quick release mechanism  12 . 
         [0035]    The actuator cord  130  extends from the pull tab  132  through the upper cord opening  104  in the support plate  90 , to the central area  91  of the support plate. Specifically, the actuator cord  130  ( FIG. 5 ) extends from one end portion outside the carrier front portion  20  in through the upper cord opening  106  to and through the central ring  100 . The actuator cord then extends outward from the central ring to and through the third ring  120 ; up to and through the first ring  116 ; and back in to the central ring  100 . The actuator cord  130  then passes through the central ring  100  again, and extends out and up to the second ring  118 ; down to and through the fourth ring  122 , in to the central ring  100 , and back up to the upper cord opening  106 . The actuator cord  130  then passes outward through the upper cord opening  106  and terminates with its other end portion at the pull tab  132 . The actuator cord  130  thus forms a single loop  134 , with most of its length inside the support plate  90  and its two ends outside the support plate at the pull tab  132 . 
         [0036]    When the plate carrier  10  is being donned, the four buckles  50 - 56  are manually engaged to connect the front part  20  of the plate carrier to the back part  22  of the plate carrier. The four buckles  50 - 56  may be manually released, individually, to doff the plate carrier  10 . In an emergency, however, such a process may be too slow or difficult. In such a case, the quick release mechanism  12  can be used, in a manner as follows. 
         [0037]    The pull tab  132  ( FIG. 1 ) is lifted and is detached from its hook and loop connection with the front carrier part  20 . The pull tab  132  is pulled in a direction outward, away from the front carrier part  20 . When this occurs, the two ends of the actuator cord  130  are pulled outward from the front carrier part  20 . This action pulls on the portion of the actuator cord that is inside the support plate  90  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). As a result, the actuator cord pulls inward on all four of the rings  116 - 122 , tending to move them bodily inward toward the central ring  100 . The amount or length of actuator cord  130  that is left inside the support plate  90  decreases accordingly. The actuator cord  130  moves through the rings at the same time that it causes the rings to move bodily inward. 
         [0038]    This inward movement of the four rings  116 - 122  is resisted only by the four lanyards  74 - 78 , which are connected with the engaged buckles  50 - 56 . When the pull tab  132  is pulled with sufficient force, the inward force on the rings  116 - 122  is greater than the resistance provided by the engaged buckles  50 - 56 . As a result, the lanyards  74 - 78  cause all the quick release actuators of all the buckles  50 - 56  to release, with the waist buckles  54  and  56  preferably releasing first, followed immediately by the shoulder buckles  50  and  52 . The release of the buckles via the quick release mechanism  10  is much faster than releasing them manually and individually. 
         [0039]    Specifically, the first tongue  50   a  is released from the first buckle  50 , and the left shoulder strap section  36  of the front carrier part  20  is no longer connected with the left shoulder strap section  46  of the back carrier part  22 . The second tongue  52   a  is released from the second buckle  52 , and the right shoulder strap section  38  of the front carrier part  20  is no longer connected with the right shoulder strap section  48  of the back carrier part  22 . 
         [0040]    The third tongue  54   a  is released from the third buckle  54 , and the left side section  32  of the front carrier part  20  is no longer connected with the left side section  42  of the back carrier part  22 . The fourth tongue  56   a  is released from the fourth buckle  56 , and the right side section  34  of the front carrier part  20  is no longer connected with the right side section  44  of the back carrier part  22 . 
         [0041]    Because all four buckles  50 - 56  are released, the front carrier part  20  can separate completely from the back carrier part  22 . Under the weight of any included armor, the two carrier parts  20  and  22  can fall off the soldier without any further action on the part of the soldier. This beneficial result occurs in response to a single application of force (pulling on the pull tab  132 ) at a single location on the garment  10 . 
         [0042]    When the quick release mechanism  12  is thus actuated, it does not come apart. The loop  134  of actuator cord  130  is not removed from any of the rings  100  or  116 - 122 . No reassembly or re-threading of the actuator cord  130  is needed, and no reassembly of the quick release mechanism  12  is needed. Reassembly of the plate carrier  10  simply involves buckling the four buckles  50 - 56  again, in the same manner as when the plate carrier  10  was earlier donned, and securing the pull tab  132  back in place. 
         [0043]    The plate carrier  10  of the present invention can be worn alone, or over or under another piece of a uniform. The quick release mechanism  12  of the present invention can be used in a garment other than a plate carrier, for example, a tactical vest. 
         [0044]    Alternatively, the plate carrier  10  can be interconnected with a concealable carrier or vest (not shown) in a manner as follows. The vest is designed with front and back parts that open/close at the shoulder strap areas, and also at the sides. When the vest is worn with the plate carrier  10 , the vest front and back shoulder straps are opened, and separated from each other. The shoulder straps of the plate carrier  10  are then inserted between the shoulder straps of the vest, to form a load bearing connection between the front and back shoulder straps of the vest Similarly, the vest front and back sides are opened, and separated from each other. The side sections of the plate carrier  10  are then inserted between the front and back sides of the vest, to form a load bearing connection between the front and back sides of the vest. In this manner, the plate carrier  10  is interconnected with the vest, so that when the plate carrier  10  is released, the vest is also released and can fall off the soldier. 
         [0045]    The quick release mechanism  12  can easily be configured so that force is applied to each of the lanyards  74 - 80  in a manner so as to tailor the release sequence when the pull tab  132  is pulled. 
         [0046]    In a second embodiment of the quick release mechanism, illustrated in  FIG. 8 , only a single length of cord is connected with the pull tab, rather than a double length as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 . Parts of the quick release mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 8  are given the same reference numerals with the suffix “a” added to distinguish them. 
         [0047]    Specifically, as seen in  FIG. 8 , the quick release mechanism  10   a  includes a support plate  90   a  and four lanyards  74   a - 80   a . A single pull cord  140  extends from the pull tab (not shown). The end  141  of the pull cord  140  that is opposite the pull tab is tied down to the support plate  90   a . The pull cord  140  passes through a pull ring  142  that is located adjacent to a central ring  100   a.    
         [0048]    An upper cord  144  extends from the upper arm  92   a , through a ring  116   a , through the central ring  100   a , loops over the pull ring  142  and back to the central ring, and through a ring  118   a  on the upper arm  94   a . A lower cord  146  extends from the lower arm  96   a , through the central ring  100   a , and back down to the other lower arm  98   a.    
         [0049]    When the pull tab is pulled, the force on the pull cord  140  is transmitted through the pull ring  142  to the upper cord  144 . This force is then transmitted from the upper cord  144  through the central ring  100   a  to the lower cord  146 . As a result, release force is exerted on all the lanyards  74   a - 80   a , and their associated buckles (not shown) are released to enable the vest to release from the wearer. 
         [0050]    From the foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the invention, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains will see variations and modifications of the invention. Such variations and modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.