Quick release garment

• US 9,115,959 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thf Innovation Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Thf Innovation Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hellweg, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Annis, Khaled
• Application Number:
  US13/256,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 210/2, 2/25, 2 4/8, 2 6/9, 245/6, 2460-463, 246/7, 2 4/4, 2 4/5, 2 5/0, 2 5/1, 2 6/95, 2 9/4, 210/8, 232/6, 2327-334, 246/30, 246/31, 246/33, 246/34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A41D 2400/44 Donning facilities
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of a quick release garment can be provided. The exemplary garment can include a plurality of co-operable garment panels, which when interconnected, can form a garment in a condition wrapped about an upper torso of a person, a plurality releasable mechanical latches, each latch having a first and a second portion and at least one latch element biased towards an engaged condition, releasably engageable to interconnect the garment panels, and a release arrangement operable in a single operation to release the latches. Further, the latches can be structured so that the single operation allows the garment to fall from the upper torso, and the garment can thereafter be rapidly restorable to the condition wrapped about the upper torso by re-engaging each of the latches by pushing the first and second portions together against the bias to re-engage the latch element(s).

Claims

1. A quick release garment, comprising:

a plurality of co-operable garment panels, which when interconnected, form a garment in a configuration wrapped about at least an upper torso of a person;

a plurality of releasable mechanical latches, each of the latches having a first portion, a second portion and at least one latch element provided with a bias towards an engaged condition, the mechanical latches being releasably engageable to interconnect the garment panels to form the garment in the configuration wrapped about at least an upper torso of a person; and

a release arrangement including a pull cord or a cable configuration in which a single cord or a cable with a hand grip at its remote end is structured to pull, via a multiplex coupling device, respective cables coupled to the mechanical latches, wherein the release arrangement is disposed on the garment and operable in a single operation by one hand to mechanically and substantially simultaneously release the latches by disengaging the at least one latch element, each latch element being disengaged by withdrawing the latch element against said bias;

wherein the plurality of releasable mechanical latches is structured so that the single operation allows the garment to fall from the upper torso, and

wherein the garment is rapidly restorable to the condition wrapped about at least the upper torso from which it fell, by re-engaging each of the releasable mechanical latches by pushing the first and second portions together, each latch element being pushed back against said bias until the latch element snaps into place and is reengaged.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the multiplex coupling device includes a housing fastened to the garment structured for holding the multiplex coupling device in a fixed location relative to the garment.

3. The garment of claim 2, wherein a movable element within the housing is attached to the single cord or the cable and to the respective cabled coupled to the latches, wherein a tug on the single cord or cable with the hand grip pulls the moveable element and thereby in turn tugs the respective cables.

4. The garment of claim 3, wherein the single cord or the cable, and the respective cables, are non-fixedly covered by an outer sheath.

5. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a protection arrangement structured to protect against an inadvertent release or an accidental release of the latches.

6. The garment of claim 5, wherein the protection arrangement includes a safety catch device by which the hand grip is releasably attached to the garment, such that a positive release of the safety catch device must occur before the hand grip can be pulled with respect to the garment, wherein the single operation by one hand includes a release of the safety catch and the pulling of the hand grip.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the single cord or cable, and the respective cables, are non-fixedly covered by an outer sheath.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one latch element is spring loaded to the engaged condition but withdrawable by the release arrangement against the spring, the first or second portion having a tongue element having a formation co-operable with the at least one latch element.

9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of releasable mechanical latches includes one latch that when engaged interconnects at least two of the garment panels adjacent the upper torso below armpits, and at least one other latch that when engaged interconnects two of the garment panels of which one extends over at least one shoulder of the upper torso.

10. The garment of claim 1, wherein at least a pair of the latches are provided below armpits and at least a pair associated with garment panels extend over respective shoulders.

11. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment includes a plurality of second devices for interconnecting garment panels of the plurality of garment panels, the plurality of second devices being distinct from the plurality of mechanical latches.

12. The garment of claim 11, wherein the second devices for interconnecting garment panels are structured for use in donning the garment on a normal commencement of duty involving the wearing of the garment, as distinct from occasions when the garment is to be restored to the condition wrapped about at least the upper torso from which it is fallen, by re-engaging the releasable mechanical latches.

13. The garment of claim 11, wherein the second devices include complementary hook and loop fastener pads and extended buckles.

14. The garment of claim 13, wherein the extended buckles include at least one of snap engageable or press releasable buckles.

15. The garment of claim 11, wherein the plurality of garment panels have one of the plurality of mechanical latches at one location thereon, and one of the interconnecting devices at another location thereon.

16. The garment of claim 1, wherein the first portion of each of the mechanical latches is a female housing having a recess, and the second portion is a male housing having a protruding tongue for releasable insertion into the recess of the first portion.

17. The garment of claim 16, wherein the at least one latch element is biased to project from within the female housing into the recess, wherein latching within formations in the tongue of the male housing.

18. The garment of claim 17, wherein the at least one latch element is chamfered pins.

19. The garment of claim 16, wherein the recess is covered.

20. The garment of claim 16, wherein the at least one latch element is activated by cables pulling against their bias.

21. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a protection arrangement structured or configured to protect against an inadvertent release or an accidental release of the latches.

22. The garment of claim 21, wherein the protection arrangement includes a safety catch device by which the hand grip is releasably attached to the garment, such that a positive release of the safety catch device must occur before the hand grip can be pulled with respect to the garment, wherein the single operation by one hand includes the release of the safety catch and the pulling of the hand grip.

23. A quick release garment, comprising:

a plurality of co-operable garment panels, which when interconnected form a garment in a configuration wrapped about at least an upper torso of a person;

a plurality of releasable mechanical latches releasably engageable to interconnect the garment panels to form the garment in the configuration; and

a release arrangement disposed on the garment and operable in a single operation by one hand to mechanically and substantially simultaneously release the latches, the release arrangement including a pull cord configuration or a cable configuration in which a single cord or a cable with a hand grip at its remote end is structured to pull, via a multiplex coupling device, respective cables coupled to the mechanical latches, whereby the garment falls from the upper torso, wherein the multiplex coupling device includes a housing fastened to the garment for holding the coupling device in a fixed position relative to the garment.

24. The garment of claim 23, wherein a movable element within the housing is attached to the single cord or the cable and to the respective cables coupled to the latches, wherein a tug on the single cord or the cable with the hand grip pulls the moveable element and thereby in turn tugs the respective cables.

25. The garment of claim 23, further comprising a protection arrangement structured to protect against inadvertent or accidental release of the latches.

26. The garment of claim 25, wherein the protection arrangement includes a safety catch device by which the hand grip is releasably attached to the garment, such that a positive release of the safety catch device must occur before the hand grip can be pulled with respect to the garment, wherein the single operation by one hand includes the release of the safety catch and the pulling of the hand grip.

27. The garment of claim 23, wherein the single cord or the cable, and the respective cables, are non-fixedly covered by an outer sheath.

28. The garment of claim 23, wherein the garment includes a second plurality of devices for interconnecting garment panels of the plurality of garment panels, the second devices being distinct from the plurality of releasable mechanical latches.

29. The garment of claim 28, wherein the second devices for interconnecting garment panels are structured for use in donning the garment on the normal commencement of duty involving the wearing of the garment, as distinct from occasions when the garment is to be restored to the configuration wrapped about at least the upper torso from which it is fallen, by re-engaging the releasable mechanical latches.

30. The garment of claim 28, wherein the second devices include a complementary hook and loop fastener pads and extended buckle.

31. The garment of claim 30, wherein the extended buckles include at least one of snap engageable or press releasable buckles.

32. The garment of claim 28, wherein the plurality of garment panels have one of the plurality of releasable mechanical latches at one location thereon, and one of the interconnecting devices at another location thereon.

33. A quick release garment, comprising:

a plurality of co-operable garment panels, wherein the plurality of garment panels includes two first shoulder panels and two second shoulder panels, which when interconnected, form a garment in a configuration wrapped about at least an upper torso of a person;

a plurality of releasable mechanical latches, including a first latch that, when engaged, interconnects the two first shoulder panels to extend over the person'"'"'s first shoulder when the garment is wrapped about the person; and

a second latch that, when engaged, interconnects the two second shoulder panels to extend over the person'"'"'s second shoulder when the garment is wrapped about the person, each of the latches having a first portion, a second portion and at least one latch element provided with a bias towards an engaged condition, the mechanical latches being releasably engageable to interconnect the garment panels to form the garment in the configuration wrapped about at least an upper torso of a person; and

a release arrangement disposed on the garment and operable in a single operation by one hand to mechanically and substantially simultaneously release the latches by disengaging the at least one latch element, each latch element being disengaged by withdrawing the latch element against said bias;

wherein the release arrangement is operable in said single operation to mechanically and substantially simultaneously release the first and second latches and disconnect the two first shoulder garment panels and to disconnect the two second shoulder garment panels so that the single operation allows the garment to fall from the upper torso; and

wherein the garment is rapidly restorable to the condition wrapped about at least the upper torso from which it fell, by re-engaging each of the releasable mechanical latches by pushing the first and second portions together, each latch element being pushed back against said bias until the latch element snaps into place and is reengaged.

34. The garment of claim 33, wherein the plurality of releasable mechanical latches includes a third latch that, when engaged, interconnects two waistband panels of the garment that connect to extend adjacent the person'"'"'s torso below armpits when the garment is wrapped about the person and engaged.

35. A quick release garment, comprising:

a plurality of co-operable garment panels, which when interconnected form a garment in a configuration wrapped about at least an upper torso;

a plurality of releasable mechanical latches releasably engageable to interconnect the garment panels disposed on both left and right sides of the garment to retain the garment in said configuration, such that releasing the latches allows the garment to fall off from the upper torso; and

a release arrangement including;

a manipulable member operable by hand,

a plurality of latch operating members connected to the mechanical latches to release the latches, and

a multiplex coupling device that connects the manipulable member to the latch operating members so that operation of the manipulable device operates the latch operating members to release the latches substantially simultaneously with each other to cause the garment to fall off the upper torso.

36. The quick release garment of claim 35, wherein the multiplex coupling device includes a slide and the plurality of latch operating members includes cables or cords attached to the slide, and wherein operation of the manipulable device moves the slide to operate the latch operating members.

37. The quick release garment of claim 35, wherein the multiplex coupling device includes a housing fastened to the garment for holding the coupling device in a fixed position relative to the garment.