Battery and equipment vest

• US 5,211,321 A
• Filed: 11/25/1991
• Issued: 05/18/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norton Rodriguez
• Original Assignee: Norton Rodriguez
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Norton
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schwarz, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/797,378
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 224/215, 224/209, 224/224, 224/227, 224/228, 224/902, 224/901, 2/94, 2/102
• US Class Current: 224/604
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0012 Professional or protective garments with pockets for particular uses, e.g. game pockets or with holding means for tools or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/006 comprising a suspension strap or lanyard
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/0533 Cameras, e.g. reflex, digital, video camera
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/902 Battery carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A battery and equipment vest, to be rechargeably used to provide power to video, recording, and like equipment. The battery and equipment vest which also provides numerous storage pockets, may utilize a battery belt or integrally disposed batteries and recharging equipment to provide a mobile, conveniently disposed power source, which may be recharged without removal from the vest. In order to insure a comfortable fit for multiple users, the battery and equipment vest has adjustable shoulder straps and an adjustable waist design which is structured and disposed to orderly maintain electrical interconnection between front portions and rear portions of the vest when worn by any size user. Additionally, fastener hooks and accessory rings are employed for attaching a wide variety of peripheral equipment, supplies, tools, and extra batteries.

Claims

1. A battery and equipment vest comprising:

a vest-type article,

said vest-type article including a front portion and a rear portion,

said front portion and said rear portion integrally interconnected at a left shoulder and a right shoulder,

said front portion including a left chest panel and a right chest panel extending beneath said left shoulder and said right shoulder, respectively,

said front portion further including a front fastener for fastening a bottom portion of said left chest panel with a bottom portion of said right chest panel,

said rear portion including a pair of adjustable straps extending from said left shoulder and said right shoulder in overlapping, crisscross relation with one another,

said pair of adjustable straps being connected at lower distal ends thereof to a lower back panel,

said lower back panel, said right chest panel, and said left chest panel including electrical conduction means for supplying electricity to peripheral equipment,

said right chest panel and said left chest panel being adjustably attached to opposite distal ends of said lower back panel by waist adjustment means,

said waist adjustment means including a pair of tongue-like flaps extending from, and integrally formed with, said opposite distal ends of said lower back panel,

said tongue-like flaps having means for interconnecting said electrical conduction means in a hidden way between said front portion of said rear portion,

said waist adjustment means further including a pair of strap-like loops positioned along an inside surface of said left chest panel and said right chest panel, such that each of said pair of tongue-like flaps may be adaptively received therethrough, and

said waist adjustment means also including adjustable fastening means for fastening the waist adjustment means attached to a distal end of each of said pair of tongue-like flaps and to said inside surface of said left chest panel and said right chest panel.

2. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 1 wherein said front portion includes at least one outer chest pocket on an exterior upper portion thereof, which is structured and disposed to hold tapes, cables, and other necessary articles.

3. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 2 wherein said left shoulder and said right shoulder include padding therein.

4. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 3 wherein said front portion and said rear portion include a plurality of rings thereon, such that articles may be hooked or clipped thereto, or looped therethrough.

5. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 4 wherein said back portion includes a cross holder to hold said pair of adjustable straps in a fixed, overlapping, crisscross orientation.

6. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 5 wherein said front portion and said rear portion include a plurality of interior compartments accessible from inside surfaces thereof.

7. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of interior compartments have a zipper on an access opening to facilitate securement thereof.

8. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of interior compartments include a hook and loop fastener on an access opening to facilitate securement thereof.

9. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 6 wherein said adjustable fastening means includes a belt which passes through a loop on said inside surface of said left chest panel and said right chest panel, and is passed through a buckle positioned thereon.

10. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 9 wherein said waist adjustment means includes a hook and loop fastener disposed along said interior surface of said left chest panel and said right chest panel, and a corresponding surface of each of said tongue-like flaps, such that said front portion and said rear portion are securely and non-slidably interconnected.

11. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 10 wherein said electrical conduction means includes a battery belt having a plurality of pouches with batteries therein electrically interconnected and positioned along an exterior surface of said battery belt.

12. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 11 wherein an interior surface of said battery belt and an exterior waist area of said front portion and said rear portion have a hook and loop fastener correspondingly attached thereto.

13. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 12 wherein said pouches are removably attached to said battery belt.

14. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 12 wherein said pouches are integrally attached to said battery belt.

15. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 12 wherein said hook and loop fasteners are attached to said exterior waist area of said front portion and said rear portion, and to a belt liner which may be removably attached to said battery belt.

16. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 12 wherein said battery belt includes closure means for securing the belt attached to a distal end thereof.

17. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 14 wherein said interior surface of said battery belt includes a zippered openinq through which said pouches may be accessed, and a DC power cable may extend.

18. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 10 wherein said electrical conduction means includes a plurality of battery compartments having batteries therein, which are attached and electrically interconnected by said means for interconnecting along said exterior waist area of said front portion and said rear portion.

19. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 18 wherein said plurality of interior compartments provide access to said battery compartments on said front portion and said rear portion.

20. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 19 wherein said battery compartments on said front portion and said rear portion are electrically connected by said means for interconnecting, said means for interconnecting comprising an adjustable interconnecting electrical conductor which passes from an aperture on said distal end of each of said tongue-like flaps and into one of said interior compartments on a corresponding chest panel on said front portion wherein an excess of said interconnecting electrical conductor may be stored.

21. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 20 wherein said interior compartments further include a pair of upper compartments structured and disposed to receive small articles therein.

22. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 21 wherein said electrical conduction means includes an AC cord passing through one of said upper compartments which is internally connected to one of said batteries, has a plug on a distal end thereof for connecting said AC cord to a wall outlet or like power source for charging the batteries, and may be stored within said upper compartment when not in use.

23. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 22 wherein said electrical conduction means includes at least one DC power output connector protruding from one of said battery compartments.

24. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 23 wherein said electrical conduction means includes a secondary DC power output which is comprised of a substantially long power cable which passes through one of said outer chest pockets and has one distal end connected internally to one of said batteries, and a power plug at an opposite distal end thereof for attachment to camera equipment for supplying power thereto, said power cable being stored within said outer chest pocket when not in use.

25. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 24 wherein said outer chest pocket having said power cable passing therethrough includes a small grommet surrounding said power cable and attached at an opening through which said power cable enters said outer chest pocket, such that said power cable may be secured in place and not slide completely into or out of said front portion.

26. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 10 wherein said left shoulder and said right shoulder include one of said rings secured thereto.

27. A battery and equipment vest as recited in claim 26 wherein said rings on said left shoulder and said right shoulder are structured and disposed to support a backpack for carrying a light stand or other accessories attached thereto, or for hanging said battery and equipment vest when not in use.