Ballistic Vest with Duty Belt Suspension System

Abstract

A ballistic vest is formed with an integrated suspension system for supporting the duty belt directly from the ballistic vest. Front and rear support straps can be tunneled into the structure of the ballistic vest and terminate in clip members formed with an interior slot or cavity into which the duty belt can be positioned. The duty belt is loosely contained within the clip members to permit shifting relative to the ballistic vest to the comfort of the officer wearing the apparatus. The clip member can be formed with a latching clevis to engage the strap for positional adjustment of the clip member or with a plurality of horizontal slots for the threading of the strap. The ballistic vest can be manufactured with the appearance of a uniform shirt so that the ballistic vest can be worn as an external garment as part of the officer's uniform.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ballistic vest comprising:
 a front ballistic panel;   a rear ballistic panel connected by shoulder straps to said front ballistic panel; and   a suspension system integrated into said front and rear ballistic panels to support a duty belt therefrom such that the weight of the duty belt is borne from the front and rear ballistic panels.   
     
     
         2 . The ballistic vest of  claim 1  wherein said suspension system includes a pair of front and rear straps having terminal ends extending downwardly from said front and rear ballistic panels. 
     
     
         3 . The ballistic vest of  claim 2  wherein said front and rear straps are threaded through tunnels formed in said front and rear ballistic panels. 
     
     
         4 . The ballistic vest of  claim 2  wherein said front and rear straps include clip members mounted on each respective said terminal end of said front and rear straps and having an interior cavity for receipt of said duty belt for support thereof from said clip members. 
     
     
         5 . The ballistic vest of  claim 4  wherein each of said front and rear straps is formed as a unitary structure passing over a corresponding said shoulder strap so that the weight of said duty belt will be carried over said shoulder straps. 
     
     
         6 . The ballistic vest of  claim 5  wherein said clip members are detachably mounted on said terminal ends of said front and rear straps. 
     
     
         7 . The ballistic vest of  claim 6  wherein said front and rear panels are formed with the appearance of a uniform shirt so that said ballistic vest can be worn as an external garment forming a part of a uniform. 
     
     
         8 . The ballistic vest of  claim 6  wherein each said clip member mounted on said front straps includes a latching clevis to engage said strap for positionally adjusting the operative length of the strap. 
     
     
         9 . A duty belt suspension system for a ballistic vest having a front ballistic panel coupled to a rear ballistic panel, said duty belt suspension system supporting a duty belt from said ballistic vest, comprising:
 a pair of front and rear straps integrated into said front and rear panels, each said front and rear strap having a terminal end extending below the corresponding front and rear ballistic panels.   
     
     
         10 . The duty belt suspension system of  claim 9  wherein said front and rear straps include clip members mounted on each respective said terminal end of said front and rear straps, said duty belt being supported in said clip members. 
     
     
         11 . The duty belt suspension system of  claim 10  wherein said front ballistic panel is connected to said rear ballistic panel by a pair of shoulder straps, each of said front and rear straps being formed as a unitary structure passing over a corresponding said shoulder strap so that the weight of said duty belt will be carried over said shoulder straps. 
     
     
         12 . The duty belt suspension system of  claim 9  wherein said clip members are detachably mounted on said terminal ends of said front and rear straps, at least one said clip member associated with corresponding front and rear straps including a latching clevis for engaging the strap and positionally locking the at least one clip member on the strap. 
     
     
         13 . The duty belt suspension system of  claim 9  wherein each said clip member is formed with a plurality of horizontal slots for the passage of the corresponding strap for positionally securing said strap on said clip member. 
     
     
         14 . The duty belt suspension system of  claim 13  wherein said front and rear panels are formed with the appearance of a uniform shirt so that said ballistic vest can be worn as an external garment forming a part of a uniform. 
     
     
         15 . A ballistic vest comprising:
 a front ballistic panel formed with an appearance of a front portion of a uniform shirt;   a rear ballistic panel formed with an appearance of a rear portion of said uniform shirt; and   shoulder portions interconnecting said front and rear ballistic portions and being formed with an appearance of shoulder portions of said uniform shirt such that the combination of said front ballistic panel, said rear ballistic panel and said shoulder portions form the appearance of said uniform shirt to enable said ballistic vest to be worn as an external garment as part of a uniform.   
     
     
         16 . The ballistic vest of  claim 15  further comprising
 a suspension system integrated into said front and rear ballistic panels to support a duty belt therefrom such that the weight of the duty belt is borne from the front and rear ballistic panels. 
 
     
     
         17 . The ballistic vest of  claim 16  wherein said suspension system includes a pair of front and rear straps having terminal ends extending downwardly from said front and rear ballistic panels. 
     
     
         18 . The ballistic vest of  claim 17  wherein said front and rear straps include clip members detachably mounted on each respective said terminal end of said front and rear straps, said duty belt being supported in said clip members. 
     
     
         19 . The ballistic vest of  claim 18  wherein at least one said clip member associated with corresponding front and rear straps including a latching clevis for engaging the strap and positionally locking the at least one clip member on the strap. 
     
     
         20 . The ballistic vest of  claim 18  wherein each said clip member is formed with a plurality of horizontal slots for the passage of the corresponding strap for positionally securing said strap on said clip member.