Patent ID: 7424748

Claim:
A vest having a quick release system for a front armor plate and a rear armor plate comprising: a front torso section having a front pocket with a bottom opening to selectively carry a front armor plate; a rear torso section connected to the front torso section, the rear torso section having a rear pocket with a bottom opening to selectively carry a rear armor plate; at least one front connector element to selectively bridge the front pocket bottom opening and assist in selectively retaining a front armor plate in the front pocket and at least one rear connector element to selectively bridge the rear pocket bottom opening and assist in selectively retaining a rear armor plate in the rear pocket; and a retainer system having a flexible retainer element with a first portion for selectively retaining the front connector element bridging the front pocket bottom opening and a second portion for selectively retaining the rear connector element bridging the rear pocket bottom opening and to selectively release the front and rear connector elements from their bridging configuration and thereby open both the front and the rear pockets to free a front armor plate to exit the front pocket and to free a rear armor plate to exit the rear pocket, said retainer system including a handle connected to the retainer element for simultaneously moving the first and second retainer element portions.