U.S. patent application number 12/456069 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-16 for cut away vest.
Invention is credited to Joseph Anscher.
Application Number | 20100313327 12/456069 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42237013 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100313327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anscher; Joseph |
December 16, 2010 |
Cut away vest
Abstract
A cut away vest consists of a front vest piece having two
shoulder sections and two waist sections, and a rear vest piece
having two shoulder sections and two waist sections. The front
piece is connected to the rear piece by four buckle assemblies.
Each buckle assembly has a male portion and a female portion, with
the male portions being attached to the shoulder and waist sections
of the front vest piece, and the female portions being attached to
the shoulder and waist sections of the rear vest piece, so that the
front vest piece is connected to the rear vest piece by inserting
each of the male portions into a corresponding female portion. Each
male buckle portion is connected to a cable. The other end of each
cable is connected to a single handle on the front vest piece.
Pulling the handle causes the male portions to release from the
female portions and the front vest section to separate from the
rear vest section.
Inventors: |
Anscher; Joseph;
(Muttontown, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
42237013 |
Appl. No.: |
12/456069 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/266 20130101;
F41H 1/02 20130101; A41D 2400/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/102 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/04 20060101
A41D001/04 |
Claims
1. A cut-away vest comprising: a front vest piece having two
shoulder sections and two waist sections; a rear vest piece having
two shoulder sections and two waist sections; four buckle
assemblies, each buckle assembly having a male portion and a female
portion, each of the male portions being attached to the front vest
piece, one attached at each of the shoulder sections and at each of
the waist sections, and each of the female portions being attached
to the rear vest piece, one at each of the shoulder sections and
each of the waist sections, so that the front vest piece is
connected to the rear vest piece by inserting each of the male
portions into a corresponding female portions; a plurality of
cables, each cable connected at one end to one of the male
portions, and having a second end; and a handle disposed on the
front vest piece, wherein each of the second ends of the plurality
of cables is attached to the handle, and wherein pulling the handle
causes the male portions to release from the female portions and
the front vest piece to separate from the rear vest piece.
2. The cut away vest according to claim 1, wherein each of the
cables is slidably disposed in a cable sleeve, and wherein the
cable sleeves are connected to the front vest section.
3. The cut away vest according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
the waist sections of the front vest piece overlap the waist
sections of the rear vest piece when the male portions are
connected to the female portions.
4. The cut away vest according to claim 1, wherein at least one of
the shoulder sections of the front vest piece overlap the shoulder
sections of the rear vest piece when the male portions are
connected to the female portions.
5. The cut away vest according to claim 1, wherein the female
portions are connected to at least one of the shoulder sections and
waist sections of the rear vest piece via an adjustable strap.
6. The cut away vest according to claim 1, wherein each female
portion comprises a hollow body with a front wall, a back wall, an
open top, a cavity between the front and back walls, and at least
one locking slot extending through the hollow body and
communicating with the cavity, and wherein each male portion
comprises a base, at least one locking leg, a central leg, such
that inserting the male portion into the open top of the female
portion causes the at least one locking leg to engage the at least
one locking slot to lock the male portion to the female portion,
and means for moving the at least one locking leg toward the
central leg to release the male portion from the female portion
when the handle is pulled.
7. The cut away vest according to claim 6, wherein each male
portion has two locking arms and each female portion has two
locking slots.
8. The cut away vest according to claim 7, wherein the means for
moving the locking leg toward the central leg comprises a pulling
assembly slidably mounted within the central leg and connected to
one of the cables, and two arms connected one to each of the
locking legs and to the pulling assembly, such that pulling on the
cable causes the pulling assembly to slide away from ends of the
locking legs and central leg and pull the locking legs toward the
central leg to release the male portion from the female
portion.
9. The cut away vest according to claim 8, wherein the pulling
assembly is mounted within a channel in the central leg.
10. The cut away vest according to claim 9, wherein the pulling
assembly is a Y-shaped body, and wherein the arms are integrally
formed with one of the cables.
11. The cut away vest according to claim 6, wherein there are two
locking legs, said locking legs being connected to each other by an
integrally formed strap, and wherein the means for moving the
locking legs is a pulling assembly that is connected to the
strap.
12. The cut away vest according to claim 11, wherein the strap has
a hollow receptacle, and wherein the pulling assembly is disposed
within the hollow receptacle and connected to one of the cables.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a cut away vest that can be
quickly and easily removed by the wearer. In particular, the
invention relates to a cut away vest that can be easily
re-assembled after it is removed by the wearer.
[0003] 2. The Prior Art
[0004] Cut away vests are often worn by members of the military and
law enforcement agencies to aid the wearer in carrying gear, as
well as to protect against bullets and other impacts. These vests,
especially when loaded with armor plating, can be very heavy and
cumbersome to wear. Therefore it is a requirement that the vests be
easily removable by the wearer, in case the wearer must be mobile
in an emergency, and especially in case of submersion in water.
[0005] In the past, these vests have been constructed of several
separate pieces that are held together by a cable system. An
example of this system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,376 to
Johnson. A strap is threaded through each piece, with a hole in
each strap. The holes are then lined up, and a cable is threaded
through each hole. A loop on one of the pieces is threaded through
the overlapping holes, and a cable is then fed through the loop,
keeping all of the pieces joined together. In an emergency, the
cable is pulled out, thus releasing all of the pieces
simultaneously. This system works well to free the wearer from the
vest, but it is extremely difficult to re-assemble the vest after
use, so the vests are generally discarded after a single use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cut
away vest that can be easily re-assembled after the release system
is activated, so that the vest can be re-used for further
operations.
[0007] This and other objects are achieved by a cut away vest,
comprising a front vest piece having two shoulder sections and two
waist sections, and a rear vest piece having two shoulder sections
and two waist sections. The front piece is connected to the rear
piece by four buckle assemblies. Each buckle assembly has a male
portion and a female portion, with the male portions being attached
to the shoulder and waist sections of the front vest piece, and the
female portions being attached to the shoulder and waist sections
of the rear vest piece, so that the front vest piece is connected
to the rear vest piece by inserting each of the male portions into
a corresponding female portion. Each male buckle portion is
connected to a cable. The other end of each cable is connected to a
single handle on the front vest piece. Pulling the handle causes
the male portions to release from the female portions and the front
vest section to separate from the rear vest section.
[0008] In one embodiment, each of the cables is slidably disposed
in a cable sleeve that is connected to the front vest section. This
way, the cables can move easily without becoming entangled with the
user, as the cable sleeves are firmly secured to the vest. The
sleeve is fixed on one end to the male buckle and on the other end
to a plate that guides the wires to the handle. Each wire end is
fixed to the leg structure of the male buckle and to the handle.
When the handle is pulled, the legs are pulled inwards to disengage
the male from the female, and when the handle is released, the legs
move back to their original state. Because the sleeve is fixed from
end to end, and the wire slides from end to end, a "spring" effect
is causing the wire to shift back in to the leg locking position
after release of the handle.
[0009] Alternatively, the cables could be run through an interior
of the vest, either within a cable sleeve or by themselves.
[0010] In order to make the vest more secure and easy to assemble,
the waist sections of the front vest piece overlap the waist
sections of the rear vest piece when the male portions are
connected to the female portions. In a preferred embodiment, the
waist sections of the rear vest piece are configured to be stiff
and curved, so that they fit around the wearer's waist, even before
the buckles are secured. This makes the vest easier to assemble
while wearing, as the rear vest piece stays in place while the
front vest piece is being attached.
[0011] To increase adjustability of the vest, the female portions
of the buckles can be connected to the shoulder sections and waist
sections of the rear vest piece via adjustable straps on the rear
vest piece. The female buckle can be equipped with strap securing
bars that allow the straps to be tightened or loosened, depending
on the needs of the wearer. Or, straps with integrated hook and
loop closures can be fed through a single bar on the female to
create adjustability.
[0012] In one embodiment of the buckle, each female portion
comprises a hollow body with a front wall, a back wall, an open
top, a cavity between the top and bottom walls and at least one
locking slot extending through the hollow body and communicating
with the cavity. Each male portion comprises a base with at least
one locking leg and a central leg, such that inserting the male
part into the open top of the female part causes the locking leg to
engage the locking slot to lock the male portion to the female
portion, as is the case with traditional side-release buckles. In a
preferred embodiment, each male portion has two locking arms and
each female portion has two locking slots. The male portion
also-can be released in the traditional manner: by pinching the
locking legs together until they clear the locking slots in the
female portion. However, the buckle used in the present invention
has an additional feature. In this buckle, there are means for
moving the locking leg toward the central leg to release the male
portion from the female portion when the handle is pulled.
[0013] The means for moving the locking leg toward the central leg
can comprise a pulling mechanism slidably mounted within the
central leg and connected to the cable in the male portion, and
arms or a strap connected one to each of the locking legs and to
the pulling mechanism, such that pulling on the cable causes the
pulling mechanism to slide away from ends of the locking legs and
central leg and pull the locking legs toward the central leg. When
the locking legs are pulled toward the central leg, they exit the
locking slots of the female buckle portion, and the male and female
portions are thus released from each other.
[0014] In one embodiment, the two locking legs can be connected by
an integrally molded strap. The cable mechanism can be guided
through the center leg channel and connected towards the middle of
the strap. When the cable is pulled, the strap pulls down and
swings the legs inwards. The strap may have different interface
configurations to attach to the cable.
[0015] In another embodiment, there is a molded hollow receptacle
in the middle of the strap, whereby an end piece of the cable will
interface. In yet another embodiment, the cable mechanism can guide
up through the center leg and split to two separate cables, each
one directly connected to each leg. In all cases, the four cables
from the male buckles eventually connect to a single handle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
[0017] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote
similar elements throughout the several views:
[0018] FIG. 1 shows the vest according to one embodiment of the
invention in an assembled position;
[0019] FIG. 2 shows the vest of FIG. 1 in a disassembled
position;
[0020] FIG. 3 shows one example of a male portion of the buckle for
use in the vest according to the invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 shows the male buckle portion of FIG. 3 when the
cable is pulled;
[0022] FIG. 5 shows another example of the male buckle portion for
use with the vest according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 shows the male buckle portion of FIG. 5 when the
cable is pulled;
[0024] FIG. 7 shows another example of the male buckle portion for
use with the vest according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 8 shows the male buckle portion of FIG. 7 when the
cable is pulled;
[0026] FIG. 9 shows yet another example of the male buckle portion
for use with the vest according to the invention; and
[0027] FIG. 10 shows the male buckle portion of FIG. 9 when the
cable is pulled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show
a vest 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. Vest 10
consists of a front vest piece 11 connected to a rear vest piece
21. Front vest piece 11 has two shoulder sections 12, 13 and two
waist sections 14, 15. Rear vest piece has two shoulder sections
22, 23 and two waist sections 24, 25. Rear vest piece 21 is
connected to front vest piece 11 via buckles located on each of
shoulder sections 12, 13, 22, 23 and waist section 14, 15, 24, 25.
Front vest piece 11 is equipped with male buckle portions 30 on
each of sections 12, 13, 14, 15, and rear vest piece 21 is equipped
with female buckle portions 40 attached to sections 22, 23, 24, 25.
Male buckle portions 30 on front vest piece 11 are releasably
connected to corresponding female buckle portions on rear vest
piece 21 to connect the two vest pieces together.
[0029] Because vest pieces 11, 21 must be connected while vest 10
is being worn, it is ideal if rear waist sections 24, 25 are
reinforced with a stiff, curved material, so that rear vest piece
21 will stay in place prior to attachment of front sections 14, 15
of front vest piece 11. Preferably, waist sections 25, 24, extend
around toward the front of the user, so that there is a significant
overlap between waist sections 15, 14 and 25, 24. To put on the
vest, the shoulder sections of front vest piece 11 are connected to
the shoulder sections of rear vest piece 21 and the vest 10 is
placed over the wearer's head. The waist sections 15, 14, are then
connected to waist sections 25, 24, respectively, to secure vest 10
to the wearer. The vest can be adjusted by adjusting straps 50
which are connected to female buckle portions 40, to increase the
comfort and safety of the wearer. Or, the rear vest piece 21 can be
placed on the wearer's body, and the front vest piece 11 can be
connected to it while on the wearer, with the buckles being
connected in any order.
[0030] So that vest 10 can be easily removed in an emergency, front
vest piece 11 is constructed so that male buckle portions 30 can be
released from female buckle portions 40 with one movement. In this
embodiment, each male buckle portion 30 is connected to a cable 31,
which is attached to a handle 17 on front vest piece 11. Cable 31
is fed through a cable sleeve 32, which is secured to front vest
piece 11, and through which cable can easily slide. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, cables on the left side of the vest
are connected to each other prior to connection to handle 17. The
same is true for the right side cables. Handle 17 and cables 31 are
secured in place on front vest piece 11 by a patch 16, which guide
the cables where the handle is interconnected.
[0031] Male buckle portions 30 are configured so that a hard pull
on handle 17 causes all four buckle portions 30 to simultaneously
disengage from the corresponding female portions 40, thus
separating front vest piece 11 from rear vest piece 21 with a
single motion. Because there are only two pieces to vest 10, and
only four buckles, re-assembling vest 10 is simple and quick. All
that is required is to insert male buckle portions 30 back into
female buckle portions 40, and the vest is completely assembled,
ready for another use.
[0032] The cables 31 that are connected to the male buckle portions
30 on front sections 12, 13 and 14, 15 are. interconnected to
handle 17. This is to allow a downward pull on handle 17 to move
the cable sufficiently to disengage male buckle portions 30 on the
waist sections.
[0033] FIGS. 3 and 4 show one embodiment of a male buckle portion
that is suitable for use in vest 10. Female buckle portion is a
conventional female buckle portion, having a hollow body 43, a
central opening 42 and two locking slots 41, as shown in FIG. 2.
Male buckle portion 30 comprises a base 33, two flexible locking
legs 34 and a central leg 35 with a guide channel. Within the guide
channel of central leg 35 is a slidable pulling mechanism 36.
Connected to mechanism 36 and to locking legs 34 are two pulling
arms 37. Also connected to mechanism 36 is cable 31. In use,
pulling on cable 31 causes pulling mechanism 36 to slide back away
from locking legs 34. This pulls arms 37 downward, and pulls
locking legs 34 inward, as shown in FIG. 4. This inward motion of
locking legs 34 causes male buckle portion 30 to release from
female buckle portion 40 when the two buckle portions are assembled
together.
[0034] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of male buckle
portion 30. In this embodiment, cable 31 is connected to a Y-shaped
pulling mechanism 336. This can be a hollow structure through which
cable 31 is threaded and splits into arms 337, which are connected
to locking legs 34 through aperture 339 and knob 338.
Alternatively, cable 31 can be attached to an end of mechanism 336,
with arms 337 attached to the two Y-arms of. mechanism 336. As with
the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, pulling on cable 31 causes pulling
mechanism 336 to slide back away from locking legs 34. This causes
arms 337 to pull locking legs 34 inward, as shown in FIG. 6. The
inward motion of locking legs 34 causes locking legs 34 to be
released from locking slots 41 in female buckle portion 40, to
release male buckle portion 30 from female buckle portion 40.
[0035] FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of male buckle portion
30. In this embodiment, a connecting strap 437 extends between
locking legs 34. A pulling mechanism 436 is slidably disposed in
central leg 35 and is attached to a center of connecting strap 437.
As shown in FIG. 8, when cable 31 is pulled, pulling mechanism 436
pulls strap 437 downward and causes locking legs 34 to be pressed
inward, to release locking legs 34 from female portion 40.
[0036] FIGS. 9 and 10 show yet another embodiment of male buckle
portion 30. In this embodiment, a hollow receptacle 538 is
integrally molded into straps 537, which connect locking legs 34 to
each other. Within hollow receptacle 538 is a pulling mechanism
536, which is connected to cable 31. Pulling on cable 31 pulls
straps 537 downward and causes locking legs 34 to be pressed
inward, as shown in FIG. 10. This allows male buckle portion 30 to
be released from female buckle portion 40.
[0037] Other buckle assemblies could also be envisioned. All that
is required is that the male portions be releasable from the female
portions by pulling on the handle or cable.
[0038] Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many
changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *