Patent ID: 8695171

Claim:
A quick release apparatus for selective connection and rapid disconnection of a rescue worker's waist belt from the support frame of a self-contained breathing apparatus, comprising: first and second connector elements disposed on either the self-contained breathing apparatus support frame or the waist belt; first and second quick release pull straps selectively and releasably coupled to said first and second connectors and connecting the self-contained breathing apparatus support frame to the waist belt, each of said first and second quick release pull straps having a quick release handle portion for grasping with a hand, such that by pulling one of said quick release handle portions away from the waist belt effects a partial release of the waist belt from the self-contained breathing apparatus support frame, and by pulling both of said handle portions of said first and second quick release pull straps, the waist belt is fully released from the self-contained breathing apparatus support frame, whereby the self-contained breathing apparatus may be removed by the wearer without also having to unbuckle or to remove the waist belt.