WO2007146810A2

WO2007146810A2 - Quick-release mechanism for use with protective garment

Info

Publication number: WO2007146810A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/070771
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward R. Dovner; Gary Lesley
Original assignee: Dovner Edward R; Gary Lesley
Priority date: 2006-06-09
Filing date: 2007-06-08
Publication date: 2007-12-21
Also published as: WO2007146810A3

Abstract

A protective garment, such as a ballistic vest, equipped with a quick-release mechanism to allow the garment to be removed quickly from a wearer. The garment may include a body portion having a first end and a second end designed to engage one another, a fastening mechanism affixed to the first end and the second end so that in an open position the first end and second end are disengaged, and in a closed position the first end and second attaching the fastening mechanism to a surface of the garment, to permit detachment of the fastening mechanism from the surface of the garment when the fastening mechanism is in the closed position, to allow quick removal of the garment from the wearer.

Description

Quick-Release Mechanism for Use with Protective Garment

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to outer garments, and more particularly, to protective garments that have quick-release systems.

[0002] For the purposes of the present application the term "ballistic garment" is intended to refer to a garment designed to minimize the chances of a fatality or serious injury in the event of a bullet strike, shrapnel strike, or the like (but not necessarily to be impenetrable to all types of strikes under all conditions).

[0003] Further, for the purposes of the present application the term "soft body armor" is intended to refer to a garment formed of a relatively flexible material (e.g., woven KEVLAR fibers) which acts to provide the principal ballistic characteristics of the garment.

[0004] Further still, for the purposes of the present application the term "hard body armor" is intended to refer to a garment including relatively inflexible material (e.g., one or more ceramic plates) carried in one or more pockets in the garment. In this type of body armor the relatively inflexible material acts to provide the principal ballistic characteristics of the garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Oftentimes, such as in emergency situations, protective garments (e.g., soft body armor vests, hard body armor vests, safety vests, and other protective outer garments) need to be removed quickly. For example, when a soldier or law enforcement officer is wearing a protective vest and is injured or incapacitated, in order to provide immediate medical attention, the protective vest typically needs to be removed as quickly as possible. Similarly, a soldier in danger of drowning from being weighed down by protective outer garments along with the equipment and ammunition thereon, may save himself by quickly removing his protective outer garments. A protective garment may also need to be removed quickly, simply so the wearer may quickly change gear and put on other protective outer garments.

[0006] Protective outer garments such as ballistic vests are typically detachable at the shoulders and/or at the sides of the vest. The attachment mechanism typically includes VELCRO fasteners, snap fasteners, buckles or other fastening hardware. To put on or remove the protective outer garment, a wearer must generally manipulate several fasteners, typically one at a time. This may be a time consuming process, or may not be possible. [0007] Some conventional outer garments are equipped with systems that allow a user to quickly detach, and remove these protective outer garments. Specifically, "cutaway" vests are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,948,188, U.S. Patent No. 6,769,137, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0221361, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0120973. The systems used in connection with these vests are generally based on parachute technology, where the emphasis is on complete deployment and not on reassembly of the protective vest subsequent to removal. Similarly, these systems typically emphasize an all or nothing approach, which results in total removal and separation of the protective garment.

[0008] Cutaway vests typically have three main components, a front portion, a rear portion, and a cummerbund. Generally, the front and rear portions of the vest and the cummerbund may be releasably attached together by cables. The cables may be routed through a series of rings and loops that are attached to the fabric of the vest, thereby releasably interlocking the vest components together. In operation, a wearer pulls a handle that is attached to the cables and withdraws the cables from the vest, thereby releasing the vest components, which may then be disengaged from the wearer. To reassemble the cutaway vest, the cables need to be rerouted through the entire series of rings and loops throughout the vest, thereby interlocking the vest components together. This may be a time consuming and tedious process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a protective garment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [00010] Figure 2 illustrates a quick-release mechanism implemented in a protective garment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0001 1] Figure 3 illustrates various components of a quick-release mechanism implemented in a protective garment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [00012] Figure 4 illustrates an initial step in unfastening a protective garment equipped with a quick-release mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [00013] Figure 5 illustrates an intermediate step in unfastening a protective garment equipped with a quick-release mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [00014] Figure 6 illustrates a final step in unfastening a protective garment equipped with a quick-release mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [00015] Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures constitute a part of this specification and include illustrative embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00016] Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[00017] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a protective garment having a quick- release mechanism, which may be utilized by a wearer to rapidly remove the protective garment (e.g., with a single action), and without requiring the wearer to directly disengage each individual zipper, buckle, or other fastener on the protective garment. The present invention may, in various embodiments, provide a reduction in operating parts, faster release, and quicker reassembly than conventional systems.

[00018] Figure 1 illustrates a protective garment 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The protective garment 10 may be a ballistic vest or other protective outer garment. In one example, the protective garment 10 may be a front-entry style ballistic vest having a body portion 16 that includes a first end 14 and a second end 15 (designed to engage one another), opposite collar portions 1 1, 13, and a fastening mechanism 12, such as a zipper.

[00019] The fastening mechanism 12 may be affixed to the first end 14 and the second end 15, so that when the fastening mechanism is in an open position, the first end 14 and second end 15 are disengaged, and when the fastening mechanism is in a closed position, the first end 14 and second end 15 are engaged. In other embodiments, instead of a zipper, other fastening mechanisms 12, such as buttons, snaps, buckles, and/or tie-cords, may be utilized to fasten and secure the protective garment 10 onto a wearer.

[00020] As shown in Figure 2, the garment 10 may also include at least one quick-release mechanism 2 for releasably attaching the fastening mechanism 12 to a surface of the garment 10. The quick-release mechanism 2 permits detachment of the fastening mechanism 12 from the surface of the garment 10, when the fastening mechanism 12 is in the closed position. The quick-release mechanism 2 may be equipped with a first portion and a second portion, adapted to releasably engage one another. Examples of quick-release mechanisms include (but are not limited to): hook and loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO), snaps, snap buttons, other fasteners or any combination thereof.

[00021] In one example, the quick-release mechanism 2 may comprise a hook and loop fastener (e.g., VELCRO) having a hook portion 22 and a loop portion 20. The hook portion 22 and loop portion 20 may be affixed to an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the protective garment 10 as well as to fastening mechanism 12.

[00022] In one example, the loop portion 20 may be affixed (e.g., via stitching or gluing) to the zipper 12, and the corresponding hook portion 22 may be similarly affixed to an inner surface 28 of protective garment 10. When securing the quick-release mechanism 2, the wearer may simply press the hook portion 22 onto the loop portion 20, to releasably fasten and secure the quick-release mechanism 2. In addition, the hook portion 22 and loop portion 20 may include additional fasteners, such as, snaps 21 and snap buttons 23 that may also be releasably engaged to further secure, and steadfastly fasten the quick-release mechanism 2.

[00023] With reference now to Figure 3, in an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to zipper 12, the protective garment 10 may have additional zippers or secondary connectors 33 for securing the protective garment 10 to the wearer. For example, secondary connectors 33 may include one or more male plugs 30, and corresponding female adapters 27. The male plugs 30 may be affixed to a surface, for example, an inner surface 32 of protective garment 10, via a strap 31. Strap 31 may be, for example, coupled to the surface by means well known in the art, such as sewing or gluing.

[00024] The corresponding female adapters 27 may be, for example, affixed to quick-release mechanism 3, which may be utilized to releasably fasten the adapters 27 to the inner surface 28 of protective garment 10. Specifically, quick-release mechanism 3 may have a loop portion 25 affixed to the inner surface 28 of protective garment 10, and a hook portion 24 that may be releasably fastened to the loop portion 25. Both portions 24, 25 may include additional fasteners 26 to further secure, and steadfastly fasten the quick-release mechanism 3 to the protective garment 10. In an embodiment, the adapters 27 may be affixed to the hook portion 24, so as to releasably fasten the adapters 27 to the protective garment 10. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that instead of plugs 30 and adapters 27, other secondary connectors may be utilized to secure protective garment 10 onto a wearer (e.g., zippers, tie- cords, etc),

[00025] To utilize protective garment 10 in normal operation, the quick-release mechanisms 2, 3 should be in the assembled position, which simply requires in the above examples that hook portions 22, 24 be pressed up against, and releasably fastened to the corresponding loop portions 20, 25. Also, the additional fasteners 21, 23, and 26 should be engaged to further secure, and steadfastly fasten the hook portions 22, 24 to the corresponding loop portions 20, 25.

[00026] Once assembled, the protective garment 10 may be worn as any other front-entry protective garment. A wearer may simply put on the protective garment 10, fasten the secondary connectors 33 by inserting plugs 30 into adapters 27, and simply zip up zipper 12. To remove protective garment 10, the wearer simply needs to unzip zipper 12, and undo the underlying secondary connectors, by removing the plugs 30 from their respective adapters 27. The protective garment 10 may then be removed.

[00027] However, in an emergency, the wearer may not have time, or it may not be possible to remove protective garment 10, by unzipping zipper 12, and manipulating the underlying plugs 30 and adapters 27. In such emergency instances, various embodiments of the present invention may be utilized by the wearer to disengage all of the quick-release mechanisms 2, 3 (e.g., in a single action) to allow for rapid removal of protective garment 10.

[00028] Specifically, Figure 4 depicts an individual wearing a protective garment 10 that is equipped with a quick-release mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Protective garment 10 is fastened to the wearer via zipper 12. As discussed above, to remove the protective garment 10, the wearer needs to unzip zipper 12 and undo the underlying secondary connectors. Alternatively, in an emergency, the wearer may simply grasp the opposite collar portions 11, 13 of protective garment 10 and, as shown in Figure 5, the wearer may pull them apart in a single motion to disengage all of the quick-release mechanisms 2, 3. The force of the pulling motion causes the hook portion 22 of the quick- release mechanism 2, to disengage from the corresponding loop portion 20. The additional fasteners, snaps 21 and snap buttons 23, which are disposed on the hook portion 22, and loop portion 20, also disengage.

[00029] Simultaneously, the force of the pulling motion also causes the hook portion 24 of the quick-release mechanism 3 to disengage, and separate from the corresponding loop portion 25. The additional fasteners 26 that may be disposed on hook portion 24 and loop portion 25 also disengage.

[00030] As shown in Figure 6, with the quick-release mechanisms 2, 3 completely disengaged, the protective garment 10, may be readily removed from the wearer. Alternatively, the protective garment 10 may be grasped at opposite waist portions of first end 14 and second end 15 (see Figures 1-3), and pulled apart in an upward and outward direction to disengage all of the quick-release mechanisms 2, 3 and additional fasteners, as described above.

[00031] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention provides a system that includes a protective garment, such as a soft body armor vest, a hard body armor vest, a safety vest, or other protective outer garment, and at least one quick-release mechanism having a first portion and a second portion, adapted to releasably engage with one another. In one example, the quick-release mechanism may be a hook and loop design. In particular, one portion (e.g., the hook portion) and the other portion (e.g., the loop portion) of the quick- release mechanism may be affixed respectively to a surface (e.g., an inner surface) of the protective garment and to a fastening mechanism such as a zipper, so that the hook and loop portions may releasably engage one another (to allow the garment to be removed without undoing the zipper). Of course, the arrangement of the hoop and loop portions relative to the surface of the garmenj and the zipper may be reversed.

[00032] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a garment having a body portion that includes a first end and a second end designed to engage one another. The garment includes a fastening mechanism affixed to the first end and the second end, so that when the fastening mechanism is in an open position, the first end and second end are disengaged, and when the fastening mechanism is in a closed position the first end and second end are engaged. The garment also includes a quick-release mechanism for releasably attaching the fastening mechanism to a surface of the garment, in order to permit detachment of the fastening mechanism from the surface of the garment when the fastening mechanism is in the closed position.

[00033] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for quickly removing a protective garment. The method includes wearing a protective garment having at least one quick-release mechanism, which has a first portion and a second portion adapted to releasably engage with one another. The first and second portions may be respectively affixed to a surface (e.g., an inner surface) of the protective garment and a fastening mechanism such as a zipper. The method may further include pulling the ends of the protective garment apart in order to disengage the quick-release mechanism, to allow the removal of the protective garment from the wearer.

[00034] Other embodiments of the present invention relate to a protective garment having a quick-release system that may provide a reduction in operating parts, faster release, and quicker reassembly than the conventional systems.

[00035] The embodiments of the present invention discussed in this application are primarily focused on ballistic vests and other protective vests. Of course, the quick-release mechanism of the present invention may alternatively be utilized on other protective outer garments including (but not limited to): load-bearing vests, safety vests, life preservers, harnesses, military packs, backpacks and other garments,

[00036] While a number of embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that these embodiments are illustrative only, and not restrictive, and that many modifications may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, while the ballistic garments of the present invention have been described principally as bullet or shrapnel resistant, the garments may also (or instead) be designed to be resistant to sharp and/or blunt weapons (e.g., knives, clubs, etc.). Further, a garment according to the present invention may be designed such that certain components are reusable. Further still, while the garments of the present invention have been described principally as taking the form of a vest, any other desired form may be taken (e.g., in the form of a shirt, in the form of a jacket, in the form of an overcoat). Further still, garments of the present invention may comprise any desired materials (e.g., aramid fiber; nylon; rayon; cotton, and/or ceramic). Further still, any steps may be performed in any desired order (and any desired steps may be added and/or any desired steps may be deleted).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A garment, comprising: a body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are separated from one another in an open position to permit a wearer to put on the garment and the first end and the second end are held adjacent one another in a closed position to hold the garment on the wearer; a fastening mechanism, wherein a first portion of the fastening mechanism is affixed to the first end of the body portion of the garment and a second portion of the fastening mechanism is affixed to the second end of the body portion of the garment so that in the open position the first portion of the fastening mechanism and second portion of the fastening mechanism are disengaged from one another and in the closed position the first portion of the fastening mechanism and second portion of the fastening mechanism are engaged; and a quick-release mechanism releasably attaching at least one of the first portion of the fastening mechanism and the second portion of the fastening mechanism to a surface of the garment, to permit removal of the garment from the wearer by detachment of the fastening mechanism from the surface of the garment when the fastening mechanism is in the closed position; wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a soft body armor ballistic vest; and (b) a hard body armor ballistic vest.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a zipper.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a first portion and a second portion adapted to engage with and disengage from one another.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a hook and loop fastening combination.

5. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a plurality of snaps.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the quick-release mechanism releasably attaches only the first portion of the fastening mechanism to the surface of the garment.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the quick-release mechanism releasably attaches both of the first portion of the fastening mechanism and the second portion of the fastening mechanism to the surface of the garment

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment includes at least one attachment mechanism adapted to accept ballistic armor selected from the group consisting of: a groin guard, a removable collar, a neck and throat guard, a lower back and kidney guard, a shoulder and bicep guard, a rifle bolster, and a flame-resistant inner fabric lining.

9. A method of using a garment, comprising: putting the garment on a wearer while a first end and a second end of a body portion of the garment are separated from one another in an open position; closing the garment on the wearer by engaging a first portion of a fastening mechanism with a second portion of the fastening mechanism, wherein the first portion of the fastening mechanism is affixed to the first end of the body of the garment and the second portion of the fastening mechanism is affixed to the second end of the body of the garment; opening the garment while on the wearer by detaching at least one of the first portion of the fastening mechanism and the second portion of the fastening mechanism from a surface of the garment, wherein at least one of the first portion of the fastening mechanism and the second portion of the fastening mechanism had been attached to the surface of the garment by a quick-release mechanism; and removing the garment from the wearer after opening the garment by detaching at least one of the first portion of the fastening mechanism and the second portion of the fastening mechanism from the surface of the garment; wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a soft body armor ballistic vest; and (b) a hard body armor ballistic vest.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a zipper.

1 1. The method of claim 9, wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a first portion and a second portion adapted to engage with and disengage from one another.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a hook and loop fastening combination.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the quick-release mechanism comprises a plurality of snaps.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the quick-release mechanism releasably attaches only the first portion of the fastening mechanism to the surface of the garment

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the quick-release mechanism releasably attaches both of the first portion of the fastening mechanism and the second portion of the fastening mechanism to the surface of the garment

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the garment includes at least one attachment mechanism adapted to accept ballistic armor selected from the group consisting of: a groin guard, a removable collar, a neck and throat guard, a lower back and kidney guard, a shoulder and bicep guard, a rifle bolster, and a flame-resistant inner fabric lining.