Protective garment having a quick release system

Abstract

In one embodiment, the inventive ballistic garment includes a front panel and a rear panel; a plurality of connecting element, wherein each connecting element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each connecting element is operatively fastened to a first end of a respective anchor element and each of a second end of each respective anchor element is operatively fixed to the rear panel of the ballistic garment; a locking assembly, wherein the locking assembly is operatively fixed to the ballistic garment; at least one releasable plug for releasably engaging the locking assembly, wherein the at least one releasable plug is operatively attached to the second end of at least one connecting element, and wherein the front panel of the ballistic garment is attached to the rear panel of the ballistic garment when the at least one releasable plug engages the locking assembly.

1 . A ballistic garment, comprising:
 a front panel of the ballistic garment;   a rear panel of the ballistic garment;   a plurality of connecting elements, wherein each of the plurality of connecting elements having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of connecting elements is operatively fastened to a first end of a respective anchor element and each of a second end of each respective anchor element is operatively fixed to the rear panel of the ballistic garment;   a locking assembly, wherein the locking assembly is operatively fixed to the ballistic garment;   at least one releasable plug for releasably engaging the locking assembly, wherein the at least one releasable plug is operatively attached to the second end of at least one connecting element, and wherein the front panel of the ballistic garment is attached to the rear panel of the ballistic garment when the at least one releasable plug engages the locking assembly;   wherein at least one releasable plug is releasably engaged by at least one pin member of the locking assembly;   wherein a cover at least partially covers the locking assembly and the at least one releasable plug; and   a pull mechanism operatively coupled to the at least one pin member of the locking assembly, wherein the pull mechanism actuates the at least one pin member to disengage the at least one releasable plug to allow a detachment of at least a part of the front panel of the ballistic garment from at least a part of the rear panel of the ballistic garment.   
     
     
         2 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1 , wherein a body of the locking mechanism having at least one extension member that operatively secures the locking mechanism to the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         3 . The ballistic garment of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one extension member is operatively secured to a plate member embedded in the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         4 . The ballistic garment of  claim 2  wherein at least one extension member that operatively secures the locking mechanism to the front panel of the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         5 . The ballistic garment of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one extension member is operatively secured to the plate member embedded in the front panel of the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         6 . The ballistic garment of  claim 2  wherein at least one extension member that operatively secures the locking mechanism to the rear panel of the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         7 . The ballistic garment of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one extension member is operatively secured to the plate member embedded in the rear panel of the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         8 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connecting elements operatively join the front panel and the rear panel of the ballistic garment at a shoulder area and a waist area, and wherein the activation of the pull mechanism permits the detachment of the front panel from the rear panel at the shoulder area and waist area of the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         9 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the ballistic garment is vest. 
     
     
         10 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the ballistic garment has a left side and a right side, and wherein the pull mechanism is coupled to the at least one releasable plugs to permit the detachment of the front panel of the ballistic garment from the rear panel of the ballistic garment at one of the left side and the right side of the ballistic garment while leaving the front panel of the ballistic garment and the rear panel of the ballistic garment attached at the other side of the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         11 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly further comprises at least one back-up element, wherein at least one back up element is operatively connected to at least one pin member, and wherein the at least one back-up element is being capable of disengaging the at least one releasable plug without use of the pull mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1 , wherein the ballistic garment comprises at least one of soft armor and plate protection. 
     
     
         13 . A method for removing a ballistic garment, the method comprising:
 wearing a ballistic garment having:
 a front panel of the ballistic garment; 
 a rear panel of the ballistic garment; 
 a plurality of connecting elements, wherein each of the plurality of connecting elements having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of connecting elements is operatively fastened to a first end of a respective anchor element and each of a second end of each respective anchor element is operatively fixed to the rear panel of the ballistic garment; 
 a locking assembly, wherein the locking assembly is operatively fixed to the ballistic garment; 
 at least one releasable plug for releasably engaging the locking assembly, wherein the at least one releasable plug is operatively attached to the second end of at least one connecting element, and wherein the front panel of the ballistic garment is attached to the rear panel of the ballistic garment when the at least one releasable plug engages the locking assembly; 
 wherein at least one releasable plug is releasably engaged by at least one pin member of the locking assembly; 
 wherein a cover at least partially covers the locking assembly and the at least one releasable plug; and 
 a pull mechanism operatively coupled to the at least one pin member of the locking assembly; and 
 pulling the pull mechanism, wherein the pull mechanism actuates the at least one pin member to disengage the at least one releasable plug to allow a detachment of at least a part of the front panel of the ballistic garment from at least a part of the rear panel of the ballistic garment. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ballistic garment has a left side and a right side, and wherein the pull mechanism is coupled to the at least one releasable plugs to permit the detachment of the front panel of the ballistic garment from the rear panel of the ballistic garment at one of the left side and the right side of the ballistic garment while leaving the front panel of the ballistic garment and the rear panel of the ballistic garment attached at the other side of the ballistic garment. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the ballistic garment comprises at least one of soft armor and plate protection.