Internal vest divider for armor plating

Abstract

A divider member positioned at an intermediate location within a pocket associated with a garment for receiving at least one armor plate member, the divider member extending only partially along the height of the pocket and segregating the pocket into two separate compartments, each compartment being adaptable for receiving an minor plate member. The divider member is attachable to opposed portions forming the pocket and functions to restrict movement of the armor plate members within their respective compartments to maximize protection to the wearer during tactical maneuvering. One or both end portions of the divider member may be removably attachable to the opposed pocket portions for enabling a single armor plate member to be utilized within the space provided by the pocket, and the opposed end portions of the divider member may be attached to the opposed pocket portions in an offset manner.

1 . A tactical vest including a pocket for receiving at least one armor plate member comprising:
 a front portion;   a rear portion;   said pocket being associated with said front portion and having an access opening for receiving said at least one armor plate member; and   a divider member positioned within said pocket at an intermediate location therewithin for segregating said pocket into two separate compartments, each compartment being adaptable for receiving an armor plate member, said divider member being extendable only partially along the height of said pocket and having opposed end portions, each of said opposed end portions being releasably removable and re-attachable to a corresponding opposed pocket portion such that said divider member can be removed from said pocket to receive a single armor plate member and said divider member can be re-attached to said pocket to receive a pair of armor plate members, one in each segregated compartment.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The tactical vest defined in  claim 1  wherein the opposed end portions of said divider member are releasably removable and re-attachable to said opposed pocket portions in an offset manner. 
     
     
         5 . The tactical vest defined in  claim 1  including a pocket portion associated with said rear portion having an access opening for receiving at least one armor plate member, and a divider member positioned within said rear pocket for segregating said rear pocket into two separate compartments, each compartment being adaptable for receiving an armor plate member, said divider member being extendable only partially along the height of said rear pocket, said divider member having opposed end portions releasably removable and re-attachable to opposed rear pocket portions. 
     
     
         6 . The tactical vest defined in  claim 1  including means for retaining the access opening of said pocket in a closed position. 
     
     
         7 . A tactical vest having a pocket for receiving at least one armor plate member comprising:
 a front torso portion;   a rear torso portion;   said pocket being associated with said front torso portion, said pocket being formed by first and second members and having an access opening for receiving said at least one armor plate member therewithin, said first member having a first attachment point and said second member having a second attachment point, said first attachment point and said second attachment point being offset from one another; and   a divider member positioned at an intermediate location within said pocket and extending only partially along the full height of said pocket for dividing said pocket into two separate compartments, each compartment being sized to receive an armor plate member, said divider member providing unrestricted space between the two compartments both above and below said divider member;   said divider member having opposed end portions, one of said opposed divider member end portions being releasably removable and re-attachable to said first member at said first attachment point and the other of said opposed divider member end portions being releasably removable and re-attachable to said second member at said second attachment point, said opposed divider member end portions being releasably removable and re-attachable to said first and second members in an offset manner.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The tactical vest defined in  claim 7  including means for keeping the access opening of said pocket in a closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The tactical vest defined in  claim 7  wherein said rear torso portion includes a pocket foamed by first and second members and having an access opening for receiving at least one armor plate member therewithin, and a divider member positioned within said rear pocket and extending only partially along the full height of said rear pocket dividing said rear pocket into two separate compartments, each compartment being sized to receive an armor plate member, said divider member having opposed end portions, one of said opposed divider member end portions being releasably removable and re-attachable to one of said first and second members forming said rear pocket and the other of said opposed divider member end portions being releasably removable and re-attachable to the other of said first and second members forming said rear pocket. 
     
     
         12 . The tactical vest defined in  claim 11  wherein the opposed divider member end portions associated with said rear pocket are releasably removable and re-attachable to said first and second members forming said rear pocket in an offset manner. 
     
     
         13 . The tactical vest defined in  claim 11  including means for keeping the access opening of said rear pocket in a closed position. 
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled)