Patent ID: 8826462

Claim:
A releasable vest, comprising: a front panel; shoulder strap elements that extend from the front panel, wherein each of the shoulder strap elements includes at least one shoulder strap attachment opening formed therethrough; a back panel comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein an upper portion of the second layer of the back panel is attached to the first layer of the back panel such that a cavity is formed between at least a portion of the first layer of the back panel and the second layer of the back panel; at least one coupling means coupling the first layer of the back panel to the second layer of the back panel; a first waist belt element attached or coupled to the front panel, wherein the first waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough; a second waist belt element attached or coupled to the front panel, wherein the second waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough; a front panel comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein an upper portion of the second layer of the front panel is attached to the first layer of the front panel; a release loop comprising a portion of material that includes an obstruction that is of a sufficient size and shape so as to keep a portion of the release loop from passing through the waist belt attachment openings of the first waist belt element and the second waist belt element, wherein the release loop is detached from the back panel, wherein the release loop does not pass through the back panel, and wherein at least a portion of the release loop is capable of passing through the at least one waist belt attachment opening of the waist belt elements and the at least one shoulder strap attachment opening of the shoulder strap elements; and a release lanyard, wherein the release lanyard is capable of passing through the release loop.