Emergency release cable system

Abstract

In one aspect, a ballistic resistant garment includes a front component having a front outer shell a rear component having a rear outer shell, each outer shell including a pair of shoulder extensions. Each front shoulder extension includes a first half of a releasable connector and each rear shoulder extension includes a second half of the releasable connector. A release cable is positioned on the front component. In a first position the release cable maintains engagement between the first half of the releasable connector and the second half of the releasable connector to connect the pair of front shoulder extensions with the pair of rear shoulder extensions to form a neck opening. In a second position, the release cable disengage from the releasable connector to enable the pair of front shoulder extensions to disconnect from the pair of rear shoulder extensions.

1 . A ballistic resistant garment comprising:
 a front component including a front outer shell having a pair of front shoulder extensions, each front shoulder extension configured to form a hole through each front shoulder extension;   a rear component including a rear outer shell having a pair of rear shoulder extensions, each rear shoulder extension comprising a loop configured to engage the hole through each front shoulder extension; and   a release cable positioned on the front component and configured to move from a first position to a second position,   the release cable configured in the first position to engage the loop on each rear shoulder extension and retain the loop on each rear shoulder extension in engagement with the hole through each front shoulder extension, thereby connecting the pair of front shoulder extensions with the pair of rear shoulder extensions to form a neck opening,   the release cable configured to disengage from the loop on each rear shoulder extension when moved to the second position, enabling the loop on each rear shoulder extension to disengage from the hole through each front shoulder extension, thereby enabling the pair of front shoulder extensions to disconnect from the pair of rear shoulder extensions.   
   
   
       2 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  wherein the hole through each front shoulder extension is formed in front shoulder extension tabs, one shoulder extension tab being attached to each front shoulder extension. 
   
   
       3 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  further comprising a grommet in each hole through each front shoulder extension. 
   
   
       4 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  wherein the release cable further comprises a pull tab positioned approximately adjacent the neck opening. 
   
   
       5 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  wherein the front outer shell further comprises a loop positioned on a lower portion of the front outer shell and the rear outer shell further comprises a side extension extending from a lower portion of the rear outer shell having a first half of a removable connector, and further comprising
 a release panel comprising a second half of the removable connector to engage the first half of the removable connector on the side extension, and configured to form a hole through the release panel to engage the loop positioned on the lower portion of the front outer shell; and   the release cable configured in the first position to engage the loop positioned on the lower portion of the outer shell and retain the loop positioned on the lower portion of the outer shell in engagement with the hole through the release panel, thereby connecting the release panel with the lower portion of the front outer shell,   the release cable configured to disengage from the loop positioned on the lower portion of the outer shell when moved to the second position, enabling the loop positioned on the lower portion of the outer shell to disengage from the hole through the release panel, thereby enabling the release panel to disconnect from the lower portion of the front outer shell.   
   
   
       6 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a second loop positioned on the lower portion of the front outer shell;   a second side extension extending from the lower portion of the rear outer shell having a first half of the removable connector;   a second release panel comprising a second half of the removable connector to engage the first half of the removable connector on the side extension and configured to form a hole through the second release panel to engage the second loop positioned on the lower portion of the front outer shell; and   the release cable configured in the first position to engage the second loop positioned on the lower portion of the outer shell and retain the second loop positioned on the lower portion of the outer shell in engagement with the hole through the second release panel, thereby connecting the second release panel with the lower portion of the front outer shell,   the release cable configured to disengage from the second loop positioned on the lower portion of the outer shell when moved to the second position, enabling the second loop positioned on the lower portion of the outer shell to disengage from the hole through the second release panel, thereby enabling the second release panel to disconnect from the lower portion of the front outer shell.   
   
   
       7 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 3  wherein the hole through the release panel is formed in a release panel tab attached to the release panel. 
   
   
       8 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 3  wherein the removable connector is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop, snaps, buttons, zippers and buckles. 
   
   
       9 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  wherein each front shoulder extension further comprises an upper arm retention tab, and further comprising a pair of upper arm components, each upper arm component comprising:
 a web loop through which the upper arm retention tab is threaded; and   a strap configured to be attached to a user's arm.   
   
   
       10 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  wherein each loop is 550 parachute cord. 
   
   
       11 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 2  wherein each extension tab is a nylon web material. 
   
   
       12 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 1  wherein the ballistic resistant garment is selected from the group consisting of a vest, a shirt and a jacket. 
   
   
       13 . A ballistic resistant garment comprising:
 a front component comprising
 a front outer shell having a pair of front shoulder extensions extending from an upper portion of the front outer shell, 
 a pair of front shoulder extension tabs, each front shoulder extension tab configured to form a pair of holes therein, one front shoulder extension tab attached to each front shoulder extension, and 
 a plurality of loops attached to a lower portion of the front outer shell; 
   a pair of release panels, each release panel comprising
 a plurality of release panel extension tabs configured to form a hole therein attached along one edge of the release panel, the holes configured to engage the plurality of loops attached to the lower portion of the front outer shell, and 
 a removable connector; 
   a rear component comprising
 a rear outer shell having a pair of rear shoulder extensions extending from an upper portion of the rear outer shell, 
 a pair of rear shoulder extension tabs, each rear shoulder extension tab comprising a pair of loops attached thereto and configured to engage the holes in the front shoulder extension tabs, one rear shoulder extension tab attached to each rear shoulder extension, 
 a pair of side extensions, each side extension extending from a lower portion of the rear outer shell and comprising a mating removable connector to engage the removable connector on one of the release panels; and 
   a release cable positioned on the front component comprising a pull tab positioned approximately adjacent a neck opening and configured to move from a first position to a second position when the pull tab is pulled,
 the release cable configured in the first position to engage the pairs of loops on each rear shoulder extension tab and retain the loop on each rear shoulder extension tab in engagement with the pair of holes through each front shoulder extension tab, thereby connecting the pair of front shoulder extensions with the pair of rear shoulder extensions to form the neck opening, and to engage the plurality of loops attached to the lower portion of the front outer shell and retain the plurality of loops attached to the lower portion of the front outer shell in engagement with the holes in the plurality of release panel extension tabs, thereby connecting the release panels to the lower portion of the front outer shell, 
 the release cable configured to disengage the pairs of loops on each rear shoulder extension tab when moved to the second position, enabling the loop on each rear shoulder extension tab to disengage from the pair of holes through each front shoulder extension tab, thereby enabling the pair of front shoulder extensions to disconnect from the pair of rear shoulder extensions, and to disengage the plurality of loops attached to the lower portion of the front outer shell, enabling the plurality of loops attached to the lower portion of the front outer shell to disengage from the holes in the plurality of release panel extension tabs, thereby enabling the release panels to disconnect from the lower portion of the front outer shell. 
   
   
   
       14 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 11  further comprising a grommet in each hole in the front shoulder extension tabs and the release panel extension tabs. 
   
   
       15 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 11  wherein each front shoulder extension tab is configured to form a plurality of holes therein, the plurality of holes configured to enable fit adjustments. 
   
   
       16 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 11  wherein the removable connector is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop, snaps, buttons, zippers and buckles. 
   
   
       17 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 11  wherein each front shoulder extension further comprises an upper arm retention tab, and further comprising a pair of upper arm components, each upper arm component comprising:
 a web loop through which the upper arm retention tab is threaded; and   a strap configured to be attached to a user's arm.   
   
   
       18 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 11  wherein the ballistic resistant garment is selected from the group consisting of a vest, a shirt and a jacket. 
   
   
       19 . A ballistic resistant garment comprising:
 a first component including a first outer shell having a pair of first shoulder extensions, each first shoulder extension comprising a first half of a releasable connector;   a second component including a second outer shell having a pair of second shoulder extensions, each second shoulder extension comprising a second half of the releasable connector to engage the first half of the releasable connector on each first shoulder extension; and   a release cable positioned on the first component and configured to move from a first position to a second position,   the release cable configured in the first position to maintain engagement between the first half of the releasable connector and the second half of the releasable connector, thereby connecting the pair of first shoulder extensions with the pair of second shoulder extensions to form a neck opening,   the release cable configured to disengage from the releasable connector when moved to the second position, enabling the first half of the releasable connector and the second half of the releasable connector to disengage, thereby enabling the pair of first shoulder extensions to disconnect from the pair of second shoulder extensions.   
   
   
       20 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 17  wherein the first half of the releasable connector defines a passage and the second half of the releasable connector is a loop. 
   
   
       21 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 17  wherein the first half of the releasable connector is a loop and the second half of the releasable connector defines a passage. 
   
   
       22 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 17  wherein the first outer shell further comprises a first half of a lower releasable connector positioned on a lower portion of the first outer shell and the second outer shell further comprises a side extension extending from a lower portion of the second outer shell having a removable connector, and further comprising
 a release panel comprising a mating portion of the removable connector to engage the removable connector on the side extension, and a second half of the lower releasable connector to engage the first half of the lower releasable connector; and   the release cable configured in the first position to maintain engagement between the first half of the lower releasable connector and the second half of the lower releasable connector, thereby connecting the release panel with the lower portion of the first outer shell,   the release cable configured to disengage from the lower releasable connector when moved to the second position, enabling the first half of the lower releasable connector to disengage from the second half of the lower releasable connector, thereby enabling the release panel to disconnect from the lower portion of the first outer shell.   
   
   
       23 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 20  wherein the first half of the lower releasable connector defines a passage and the second half of the lower releasable connector is a loop. 
   
   
       24 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 20  wherein the first half of the lower releasable connector is a loop and the second half of the lower releasable connector defines a passage. 
   
   
       25 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 17  wherein the ballistic resistant garment is selected from the group consisting of a vest, a shirt and a jacket. 
   
   
       26 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 17  wherein the release cable further comprises a pull tab positioned approximately adjacent the neck opening. 
   
   
       27 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 17  wherein the first half of the releasable connector is attached to each first shoulder extension by a first shoulder extension tab and the second half of the releasable connector is attached to each second shoulder extension by a second shoulder extension tab. 
   
   
       28 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 25  wherein the first shoulder extension tabs and the second shoulder extension tabs comprise nylon webbing material. 
   
   
       29 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 20  further comprising
 a second release panel comprising a mating portion of the removable connector to engage the removable connector on the side extension, and a second half of the lower releasable connector to engage the first half of the lower releasable connector; and   the release cable configured in the first position to maintain engagement between the first half of the lower releasable connector and the second half of the lower releasable connector, thereby connecting the second release panel with the lower portion of the first outer shell,   the release cable configured to disengage from the lower releasable connector when moved to the second position, enabling the first half of the lower releasable connector to disengage from the second half of the lower releasable connector, thereby enabling the second release panel to disconnect from the lower portion of the first outer shell.   
   
   
       30 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 17  wherein the first half of the releasable connector defines a plurality of passages and the second half of the releasable connector is a plurality of loops. 
   
   
       31 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 17  wherein the first half of the releasable connector is a plurality of loops and the second half of the releasable connector defines a plurality of passages. 
   
   
       32 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 20  wherein the first component if a front component and the second component is a rear component. 
   
   
       33 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 20  wherein the first component is a rear component and the second component is a front component. 
   
   
       34 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 20  wherein the side extension extending from the lower portion of the second outer shell is a separate component from the second outer shell. 
   
   
       35 . The ballistic resistant garment of  claim 20  wherein the side extension and the release panel are a single component.