PROTECTIVE GARMENT HAVING A QUICK RELEASE SYSTEM

• US 20110023203A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IQRIS Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: First Choice Acquisition, LLC
• Inventors: Dovner, Edward R., Lesley, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,256,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/2.5
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence

Abstract

A protective garment, such as a body armor vest, equipped with a quick-release system comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a plurality of connectors for releasably attaching the front portion to the rear portion. Each connector includes a ring and a releasable hook, wherein the ring can be releasably clasped by the releasable hook. The protective garment further includes a pull cord, which can be attached to and capable of disengaging, at least two of the plurality of connectors to allow detachment of the front portion from the rear portion.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A ballistic garment, comprising:

a front panel of the ballistic garment;

a rear panel of the ballistic garment;

a plurality of rings, wherein each of the plurality of rings is fastened to a first end of a respective anchor element and each of a second end of each respective anchor element is fixed to the rear panel of the ballistic garment;

at least one releasable hook for releasably attaching the front panel of the ballistic garment to the rear panel of the ballistic garment, wherein the at least one releasable hook is fastened to the front panel of the ballistic garment;

wherein each of the plurality of rings is releasably clasped by the at least one releasable hook;

wherein a cover at least partially covers the plurality of rings and the at least one releasable hook; and

at least one pull cord coupled to the at least one releasable hook, wherein the at least one pull cord selectively actuates the at least one releasable hook to disengage the at least one releasable hook to which the at least one pull cord is coupled from the at least two rings to allow selective detachment of at least a part of the front panel of the ballistic garment from at least a part of the rear panel of the ballistic garment.

25. The ballistic garment of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of rings is selected from the group consisting of:

D-rings, O-rings, and loops.

26. The ballistic garment of claim 24, wherein the at least one releasable hook is located on the front portion of the protective garment.

27. The ballistic garment of claim 24, wherein the at least one releasable hook is located on the rear portion of the protective garment.

28. The ballistic garment of claim 24, wherein the ballistic garment has a shoulder area and a waist area and wherein the at least one pull cord is coupled to the releasable hooks to permit the selective detachment of the front portion from the rear portion at the shoulder area and waist area of the ballistic garment.

29. The ballistic garment of claim 24, wherein the ballistic garment is vest.

30. The ballistic garment of claim 24, wherein the ballistic garment has a left side and a right side, and wherein the at least one pull cord is coupled to the at least one releasable hooks to permit the selective detachment of the front panel of the ballistic garment from the rear panel of the ballistic garment at one of the left side and the right side of the ballistic garment while leaving the front panel of the ballistic garment and the rear panel of the ballistic garment attached at the other side of the ballistic garment.

31. The ballistic garment of claim 24, further comprising a plurality of back-up cords, wherein each of the plurality of back-up cords is attached to a corresponding one of the at least one releasable hook, each of the plurality of back-up cords being capable of disengaging a corresponding one of the at least one releasable hook from a corresponding one of the at least two rings without use of the at least one pull cord.

32. The ballistic garment of claim 24, wherein the ballistic garment comprises at least one of soft armor and plate protection.

33. A method for removing a ballistic garment, the method comprising:

wearing a ballistic garment having;

a front panel of the ballistic garment;

a rear panel of the ballistic garment;

a plurality of rings, wherein each of the plurality of rings is fastened to a first end of a respective anchor element and each of a second end of each respective anchor element is fixed to the rear panel of the ballistic garment;

at least one releasable hook for releasably attaching the front panel of the ballistic garment to the rear panel of the ballistic garment, wherein the at least one releasable hook is fastened to the front panel of the ballistic garment;

wherein each of the plurality of rings is releasably clasped by the at least one releasable hook;

wherein a cover at least partially covers the at least two rings and the at least one releasable hook; and

pulling at least one pull cord coupled to the at least one releasable hook, wherein the at least one pull cord selectively actuates the at least one releasable hook to selectively disengage the at least one releasable hook to which the at least one pull cord is coupled from the at least two rings to allow selective detachment of at least a part of the front panel of the ballistic garment from at least a part of the rear panel of the ballistic garment.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the ballistic garment has a left side and a right side, and wherein the at least one pull cord is coupled to the at least one releasable hook to permit the selective detachment of the front panel of the ballistic garment from the rear panel of the ballistic garment at one of the left side and the right side of the ballistic garment while leaving the front panel of the ballistic garment and the rear panel of the ballistic garment attached at the other side of the ballistic garment.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the ballistic garment comprises at least one of soft armor and plate protection.

36. A ballistic garment, comprising:

a front panel of the ballistic garment;

a rear panel of the ballistic garment;

a plurality of rings, wherein each of the plurality of rings is fastened to a first end of a respective anchor element and each of a second end of each respective anchor element is fixed to the front panel of the ballistic garment;

at least one releasable hook for releasably attaching the front panel of the ballistic garment to the rear panel of the ballistic garment, wherein the at least one releasable hook is fastened to the rear panel of the ballistic garment;

wherein each of the plurality of rings is releasably clasped by the at least one releasable hook;

wherein a cover at least partially covers the plurality of rings and the at least one releasable hook; and

at least one pull cord coupled to the at least one releasable hook, wherein the at least one pull cord selectively actuates the at least one releasable hook to disengage the at least one releasable hook to which the at least one pull cord is coupled from at least two rings to allow selective detachment of at least a part of the front panel of the ballistic garment from at least a part of the rear panel of the ballistic garment.