Load-bearing jacket

Abstract

A load-bearing jacket having an integrated tool belt system connected to a jacket. More specifically, an integrated tool belt comprising a plurality of flexible belt straps and a plurality of rigid pieces, each rigid piece paired with a corresponding flexible belt strap to enhance the rigidity of the plurality of flexible belt straps. Each of the plurality of flexible belt straps can have two ends, wherein a first end of each of the plurality of flexible belt straps can be permanently connected to the jacket and a second end of each of the plurality of flexible belt straps can be connected to the external surface of the jacket by a locking system and designed to hinge around the first end of each of the plurality of flexible belt straps.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A load-bearing jacket comprising:
 a jacket; and   an integrated tool belt system connected to the jacket;   wherein:
 the integrated tool belt system is comprised of:
 a plurality of flexible belt straps; and 
 a plurality of rigid pieces, each rigid piece paired with a corresponding flexible belt strap to enhance the rigidity of the plurality of flexible belt straps; 
 
 each of the plurality of flexible belt straps has two ends, wherein a first end of each of the plurality of flexible belt straps is permanently connected to the jacket and a second end of each of the plurality of flexible belt straps is connected to an external surface of the jacket by a locking system and is designed to hinge around the first end of each of the plurality of flexible belt straps. 
   
     
     
         2 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated tool belt system includes at least three flexible belt straps connected horizontally and in line with each other near a user's waistline. 
     
     
         3 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a first flexible belt strap is located on a front right side of the jacket;   a second flexible belt strap is located on a front left side of the jacket; and   a third flexible belt strap is located on a back of the jacket.   
     
     
         4 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one belt strap near a user's chest. 
     
     
         5 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 1 , wherein the locking system enables a removable tool pouch to be secured to at least one of the plurality of flexible belt straps by unlocking the at least one of the plurality of flexible belt straps from the jacket, rotating the at least one of the plurality of flexible belt straps away from the jacket, sliding an opening of the removable tool pouch onto the at least one of the plurality of flexible belt straps, rotating the at least one of the plurality of flexible belt straps toward the jacket, and locking the at least one of the plurality of flexible belt straps to the jacket. 
     
     
         6 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rigid pieces is encompassed within its corresponding flexible belt strap. 
     
     
         7 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rigid pieces is attached to an outside portion of its corresponding flexible belt strap. 
     
     
         8 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of padded straps, wherein each of the plurality of padded straps is:
 similar in shape and size to a corresponding flexible belt strap, and   located between the external surface of the jacket and the corresponding flexible belt straps.   
     
     
         9 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of padded straps has a first end and a second end connected to the jacket and a middle portion not connected to the jacket, thereby leaving a gap between the external surface of the jacket and each of the plurality of padded straps. 
     
     
         10 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second ends of the plurality of padded straps are permanently connected to the jacket. 
     
     
         11 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of flexible belt straps are permanently connected to their corresponding padded straps on the first end and removably connected to their corresponding padded straps on the second end by the locking system. 
     
     
         12 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer layer made of heavy-duty material;   removable jacket sleeves;   a vest shell; and   a removable vest liner.   
     
     
         13 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 12 , wherein the heavy-duty material is selected from the group consisting of a heavy, plain-woven fabric, a duck cloth fabric, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 12 , further comprising an external, waterproof shell and an insulating liner. 
     
     
         15 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 1 , further comprising an integrated connector system connected horizontally near a user's waistline when worn in an upright position. 
     
     
         16 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 15 , wherein the integrated connector system includes an adjustable attachment point between left and right sides of the jacket enabling the jacket to adjust in size. 
     
     
         17 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 16 , wherein the integrated connector system is a belt-buckle system having a first buckle half and a second buckle half, and:
 the first buckle half and the second buckle half each have a first end fixedly attached to the jacket;   the first buckle half has a second end connected to a male portion of a belt buckle;   the second buckle half has a second end connected to a female portion of the belt buckle; and   at least one of the first buckle half or the second buckle half is adjustable to enable the jacket to be tighter or looser.   
     
     
         18 . The load-bearing jacket of  claim 15 , wherein the integrated connector system is adjustable and is selected from the group consisting of a snap system, a hook system, a metal loop system, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A method of securing a removable tool pouch to an integrated tool belt system on a load-bearing jacket, the method comprising:
 using a locking system to unlock a first end of a flexible belt strap, the flexible belt strap further comprising:
 a middle portion not connected to the load-bearing jacket; and 
 a second end permanently affixed to an external surface of the load-bearing jacket; 
   rotating the first end of the flexible belt strap and a rigid piece that is paired with the flexible belt strap away from the locking system, the locking system being attached to the external surface of the load-bearing jacket;   sliding an opening of the removable tool pouch past the first end of the flexible strap and onto the middle portion of the flexible belt strap;   rotating the first end of the flexible belt strap toward the locking system;   using the locking system to lock the first end of the flexible belt strap in place.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the rigid piece is encompassed within the flexible belt strap; and   a padded strap, having a similar shape and size to the flexible belt strap, is paired with the flexible belt strap and located between the external surface of the load-bearing jacket and the flexible belt strap.