Personal load distribution device
First Claim
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1. A load-carrying assembly for wearing by a wearer, the assembly comprising:
- a vest having a rear section arranged for positioning to the rear of the wearer, a front section spaced frontwardly of the rear section arranged for positioning to the front of the wearer, and a left side section and a right side section which extend between the front section and the rear section, wherein top segments extend between the front section and the rear section to define a left arm hole above the left side section, and a right arm hole above the left side section;
a waist encircling belt separate from and beneath the vest, the belt having a front section arranged for positioning to the front of the wearer, a rear section arranged for positioning to the rear of the wearer, and a left side section and right side section which extend between the front section and the rear section for positioning on opposite sides of the wearer;
a first support assembly comprising a stiff first bar which extends between an upper attachment which is connected to the vest left side section below the left arm hole, and a lower attachment which is connected to the belt left side section; and
a second support assembly comprising a stiff second bar which extends between an upper attachment which is connected to the vest right side section below the right arm hole, and a lower attachment which is connected to the belt right side section; and
wherein the first bar and second bar have tops, and are flexibly coupled to the vest to allow the vest to pivot in the vicinity of each bar top, and where the first bar and second bar are selectively detachable from their respective assemblies, allowing the vest and belt to completely detach from one another and exist as two separate components.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Support assemblies releasably extending between a ballistic vest and a waist encircling belt transfer the loads from the vest to the belt relieving the stress on the wearer'"'"'s shoulders and spine. Each support assembly has a stiff carbon fiber bar enclosed within webbing which is attached to a side section of the vest such as by extending within a downwardly opening pocket, and is attached to the belt such as by an upwardly opening pocket.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A load-carrying assembly for wearing by a wearer, the assembly comprising:
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a vest having a rear section arranged for positioning to the rear of the wearer, a front section spaced frontwardly of the rear section arranged for positioning to the front of the wearer, and a left side section and a right side section which extend between the front section and the rear section, wherein top segments extend between the front section and the rear section to define a left arm hole above the left side section, and a right arm hole above the left side section; a waist encircling belt separate from and beneath the vest, the belt having a front section arranged for positioning to the front of the wearer, a rear section arranged for positioning to the rear of the wearer, and a left side section and right side section which extend between the front section and the rear section for positioning on opposite sides of the wearer; a first support assembly comprising a stiff first bar which extends between an upper attachment which is connected to the vest left side section below the left arm hole, and a lower attachment which is connected to the belt left side section; and a second support assembly comprising a stiff second bar which extends between an upper attachment which is connected to the vest right side section below the right arm hole, and a lower attachment which is connected to the belt right side section; and wherein the first bar and second bar have tops, and are flexibly coupled to the vest to allow the vest to pivot in the vicinity of each bar top, and where the first bar and second bar are selectively detachable from their respective assemblies, allowing the vest and belt to completely detach from one another and exist as two separate components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A load-carrying assembly for wearing by a wearer, the assembly comprising:
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a vest having a rear section arranged for positioning to the rear of the wearer, a front section spaced frontwardly of the rear section arranged for positioning to the front of the wearer, and a left side section and a right side section which extend between the front section and the rear section, wherein top segments extend between the front section and the rear section to define a left arm hole above the left side section, and a right arm hole above the left side section; a downwardly opening left pocket attached to the left side section of the vest below the left arm hole; a downwardly opening right pocket attached to the right side section of the vest below the right arm hole; a waist encircling belt separate from and beneath the vest, the belt having a front section arranged for positioning to the front of the wearer, a rear section arranged for positioning to the rear of the wearer, and a left side section and right side section which extend between the front section and the rear section for positioning on opposite sides of the wearer; a first support assembly comprising a stiff first bar which extends into the left pocket defining an upper attachment which is flexibly connected to the vest left side section below the left arm hole, and a lower attachment which is connected to the belt left side section; and a second support assembly comprising a stiff second bar which extends into the right pocket defining an upper attachment which is flexibly connected to the vest right side section below the right arm hole, and a lower attachment which is connected to the belt right side section. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification