Safety vest with retractable tool tethers and integrated helmet

Abstract

A safety vest includes a base vest; retractable tethers, each including a cord retractor and a cord; tools attached to the retractable tethers; a hard hat; and reflective strips. Tethers can be configured in weight ranges, and be lockable and tension adjustable. The base vest can further include an outer tool pocket for storing a tether and an attached tool. An inner retractor pocket can store a retractable tether. The inner retractor pocket can be arranged in combination with an outer tool pocket for convenient attachment of a tool. An inside belt secures the safety vest for carrying a plurality of tools.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety vest, comprising:
 a) a base garment;   b) a plurality of retractable tethers, wherein each retractable tether is connected in a first end to the base garment, such that a second end of each retractable tether is connectable to a tool; and   c) a hard hat; which is releasably connected to an upper part of a rear side of the base garment.   
     
     
         2 . The safety vest of  claim 1 , wherein the base garment is a base vest. 
     
     
         3 . The safety vest of  claim 1 , wherein the hard hat is releasably connected with a second end of a rear retractable tether, which is one of the retractable tethers, such that the rear retractable tether is connected in a first end to the upper part of the rear side of the base garment. 
     
     
         4 . The safety vest of  claim 1 , further comprising a fixed-length cord, such that the hard hat is releasably connected with a second end of the fixed-length cord, such that the fixed-length cord is connected in a first end to the upper part of the rear side of the base garment. 
     
     
         5 . The safety vest of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reflective strips, which are mounted on outer surfaces of the base garment.   
     
     
         6 . The safety vest of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tethers further comprises:
 a) at least one lower tether, which is configured to carry tools, in a weight range of 0.5-5 lbs;   b) at least one intermediate tether, which is configured to carry tools in a weight range of 0.1-1 lbs; and   c) at least one higher tether, which is configured to carry tools in a weight range up to 0.5 lbs;   wherein the lower tether is mounted in a lower end of the base garment, below the intermediate tether, and below the higher tether;   wherein the intermediate tether is mounted in an intermediate section of the base garment, between the lower tether and the higher tether; and   wherein the higher tether is mounted in a higher end of the base garment, above the lower tether, and above the intermediate tether.   
     
     
         7 . The safety vest of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one tool, wherein the tool is releasably connected to a second end of a tether in the plurality of tethers. 
     
     
         8 . The safety vest of  claim 1 , wherein at least one tether in the plurality of tethers further comprises:
 a) an upper end, which is connected to the base garment;   b) a cord retractor, which is connected to the upper end;   c) a cord, such that the cord retractor contains a rolled up segment of the cord; such that an extracted segment of the cord, is outside the cord retractor; and   d) a tool mounting mechanism, which is attached to a lower end of the cord.   
     
     
         9 . The safety vest of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tether is further configured with a lock and release function, such that the at least one tether can be releasably locked at a predetermined length of retraction of the cord. 
     
     
         10 . The safety vest of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one tether is further configured with an adjustable tension function, such that a tension for extracting the cord is adjustable. 
     
     
         11 . The safety vest of  claim 8 , wherein the cord is made from a stainless steel braid. 
     
     
         12 . The safety vest of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an outer tool pocket, further comprising an outer pocket opening in a lower end of the outer tool pocket;   wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;   wherein the cord retractor is mounted on an inner side of the base garment, such that the extracted segment of the cord passes through the cord aperture;   wherein the outer tool pocket is attached to an outer surface of the base garment;   wherein the cord aperture is configured in an upper part inside the outer tool pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inner side of the base garment to an inside of the outer tool pocket;   such that a tool is attachable to the cord, with the tool mounting mechanism;   such that the outer pocket opening allows the extracted segment of the cord and the tool to retract into the outer tool pocket, such that the cord and the tool are inside the outer tool pocket.   
     
     
         13 . The safety vest of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an inner retractor pocket, further comprising an inner pocket opening in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket;   wherein the inner retractor pocket is attached to an inner surface of the base garment;   wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;   wherein the cord aperture is configured in a lower part inside the inner retractor pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inside of the inner retractor pocket to an outer side of the base garment;   such that the cord retractor is mounted inside the inner retractor pocket;   such that the extracted part of the cord passes through the cord aperture.   
     
     
         14 . The safety vest of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an inner retractor pocket, further comprising an inner pocket opening in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket; and   an outer tool pocket, further comprising an outer pocket opening in a lower end of the outer tool pocket;   wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;   wherein the inner retractor pocket is attached to an inner surface of the base garment;   wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;   wherein the cord aperture is configured in a lower part inside the inner retractor pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inside of the inner retractor pocket to an outside of the base garment;   such that the cord retractor is mounted inside the inner retractor pocket;   such that the extracted part of the cord passes through the cord aperture;   wherein the outer tool pocket is attached to an outer surface of the base garment;   wherein the cord aperture is configured in an upper part inside the outer tool pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inner side of the base garment to an inside of the outer tool pocket;   such that a tool is attachable to the cord, with the tool mounting mechanism;   such that the outer pocket opening allows the extracted segment of the cord and the tool to retract into the outer tool pocket, such that the cord and the tool are inside the outer tool pocket;   wherein the inner retractor pocket is mounted above and adjacent to the outer tool pocket;   such that that the lower part of the inner tool pocket overlaps with the upper part of the outer tool pocket;   such that the cord aperture connects an inside of the inner retractor pocket with an inside of the outer tool pocket.   
     
     
         15 . The safety vest of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a belt mounting mechanism, which is connected to an inner side of the base garment; and   b) an inside belt, which is mounted on an inner side of the base garment, with the belt mounting mechanism, such that the inside belt further includes an attached belt locking mechanism;   such that the inside belt is configured to secure and fasten the safety vest onto a person using the safety vest.   
     
     
         16 . A safety vest, comprising:
 a) a base garment;   b) a plurality of retractable tethers, wherein each retractable tether is connected in a first end to the base garment, such that a second end of each retractable tether is connectable to a tool; and   c) an outer tool pocket, further comprising an outer pocket opening in a lower end of the outer tool pocket;   wherein at least one tether in the plurality of tethers further comprises:
 an upper end, which is connected to the base garment; 
 a cord retractor, which is connected to the upper end; 
 a cord, such that the cord retractor contains a rolled up segment of the cord; such that an extracted segment of the cord, is outside the cord retractor; and 
 a tool mounting mechanism, which is attached to a lower end of the cord; 
   wherein the base garment further comprises a cord aperture;   wherein the cord retractor is mounted on an inner side of the base garment, such that the extracted segment of the cord passes through the cord aperture;   wherein the outer tool pocket is attached to an outer surface of the base garment;   wherein the cord aperture is configured in an upper part inside the outer tool pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inner side of the base garment to an inside of the outer tool pocket;   such that a tool is attachable to the cord, with the tool mounting mechanism;   such that the outer pocket opening allows the extracted segment of the cord and the tool to retract into the outer tool pocket, such that the cord and the tool are inside the outer tool pocket.   
     
     
         17 . The safety vest of  claim 16 , wherein the base garment is a base vest. 
     
     
         18 . The safety vest of  claim 16 , further comprising a hard hat, which is releasably connected with a second end of a rear retractable tether, which is a tether in the plurality of retractable tethers, such that the rear retractable tether is connected in a first end to an upper part of a rear side of the base garment, whereby the hard hat is releasably connected to the upper part of the rear side of the base garment. 
     
     
         19 . The safety vest of  claim 16 , further comprising a hard hat and a fixed-length cord, such that the hard hat is releasably connected with a second end of the fixed-length cord, such that the fixed-length cord is connected in a first end to an upper part of a rear side of the base garment, whereby the hard hat is releasably connected to the upper part of the rear side of the base garment. 
     
     
         20 . The safety vest of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of tethers further comprises:
 a) at least one lower tether, which is configured to carry tools, in a weight range of 0.5-5 lbs;   b) at least one intermediate tether, which is configured to carry tools in a weight range of 0.1-1 lbs; and   c) at least one higher tether, which is configured to carry tools in a weight range up to 0.5 lbs;   wherein the lower tether is mounted in a lower end of the base garment, below the intermediate tether, and below the higher tether;   wherein the intermediate tether is mounted in an intermediate section of the base garment, between the lower tether and the higher tether; and   wherein the higher tether is mounted in a higher end of the base garment, above the lower tether, and above the intermediate tether.   
     
     
         21 . The safety vest of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one tool, wherein the tool is releasably connected to a second end of a tether in the plurality of tethers. 
     
     
         22 . The safety vest of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one tether is further configured with a lock and release function, such that the at least one tether can be releasably locked at a predetermined length of retraction of the cord. 
     
     
         23 . The safety vest of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an inner retractor pocket, further comprising a pocket opening in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket and a cord aperture, in a lower end of the inner retractor pocket;   wherein the inner retractor pocket is attached to an inner surface of the base garment;   wherein the cord aperture is configured in a lower part inside the inner retractor pocket, such that the cord aperture creates a passage from an inside of the inner retractor pocket to an outer side of the base garment;   such that the cord retractor is mounted inside the inner retractor pocket.   
     
     
         24 . The safety vest of  claim 23 , wherein the inner retractor pocket is mounted above and adjacent to the outer tool pocket;
 such that that the lower part inside the inner tool pocket overlaps with the upper part of the outer tool pocket;   such that the cord aperture connects an inside of the inner retractor pocket with an inside of the outer tool pocket.   
     
     
         25 . The safety vest of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a) a belt mounting mechanism, which is connected to an inner side of the base garment; and   b) an inside belt, which is mounted on an inner side of the base garment, with the belt mounting mechanism, such that the inside belt further includes an attached belt locking mechanism;   such that the inside belt is configured to secure and fasten the safety vest onto a person using the safety vest.   
     
     
         26 . A safety vest, comprising:
 a) a base garment;   b) a plurality of retractable tethers, wherein each retractable tether is connected in a first end to the base garment, such that a second end of each retractable tether is connectable to a tool; and   c) an inner retractor pocket, further comprising a pocket opening in an upper end of the inner retractor pocket and a cord aperture, in a lower end of the inner retractor pocket;   wherein at least one tether in the plurality of tethers further comprises a cord retractor and a cord;   wherein the cord aperture creates a passage from an inside of the inner retractor pocket to an outside of the base garment;   such that the at least one cord retractor is mounted inside the inner retractor pocket;   such that an extracted part of the cord passes through the cord aperture.   
     
     
         27 . The safety vest of  claim 26 , wherein the base garment is a base vest.