Releasable vest

Abstract

A releasable vest having a front panel; front shoulder strap elements that include at least one front shoulder strap attachment opening; a back panel; a first waist belt element and a second waist belt element that are releasably coupled to the front panel and extend from the front panel; at least one release loop that is capable of being passed through an opening formed in at least one of the waist belt elements and an opening formed in the front shoulder strap elements; and a release lanyard that is capable of being passed through the release loop so as to releasably secure the waist belt elements and the shoulder strap elements to the release loop.

1 . A releasable vest, comprising:
 a front panel with a front access panel portion;   shoulder strap elements releasably attached to the front panel;   a back panel with a back access panel portion;   a first waist belt element releasably attached or coupled to a portion of the front panel;   a second waist belt element releasably attached or coupled to a portion of the front panel; and   a release lanyard, wherein the release lanyard extends from a pull handle to a terminal end for releasing the above components from one another, the release lanyard having a thin profile.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A releasable vest, comprising:
 a front panel comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer of the front panel includes at least a portion of a releasable fastener, wherein an upper portion of the second layer is attached to the first layer, and wherein a portion of the second layer extends beyond an area where the second layer is attached or coupled to the first layer to form a front access panel portion of the second layer;   shoulder strap elements that extend from the front panel, wherein each of the shoulder strap elements includes at least one shoulder strap attachment opening formed therethrough;   a back panel comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein an upper portion of the second layer is attached to the first layer such that a cavity is formed between at least a portion of the first layer and the second layer such that at least a portion of the shoulder strap elements is introduced into the cavity formed between at least a portion of the first layer and the second layer, and wherein a portion of the second layer extends beyond an area where the second layer is attached or coupled to the first layer to form a back access panel portion of the second layer, wherein a releasable coupler releasably couples the back access panel portion of the second layer to the first layer, and wherein a panel coupler or stitch that couples the first layer of the back panel directly to the second layer of the back panel;   a first waist belt element releasably attached or coupled, via interaction between the releasable fastener of the first layer of the front panel and corresponding releasable fastener of the first waist belt element, to a portion of the front panel such that the first waist belt element extends from a portion of the front panel, wherein the first waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough, and wherein a releasable coupler releasably couples the front access panel portion of the second layer to the first layer so as to cover at least a portion of the first waist belt element;   a second waist belt element releasably attached or coupled, via interaction between the releasable fastener of the first layer of the front panel and corresponding releasable fastener of the second waist belt element, to a portion of the front panel such that the second waist belt element extends from a portion of the front panel, and wherein the second waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough;   a release loop having an associated obstruction of a sufficient size and shape so as to keep a portion of the release loop from passing through the waist belt attachment openings of the first waist belt element and the second waist belt element, wherein the associated obstruction is a knot formed in the release loop, and wherein at least a portion of the release loop is capable of being aligned with and passed through the at least one waist belt attachment opening of each of the waist belt elements and the at least one shoulder strap attachment opening of each of the shoulder strap elements; and   a release lanyard, wherein the release lanyard extends from a pull handle forward of a shoulder to a terminal end, wherein at least a portion of the release lanyard is capable of being aligned with and passed through the release loop so as to releasably secure the first waist belt element and the at least one shoulder strap element to the release loop, and wherein the panel coupler is located proximate a central portion of the back panel and provides an upper limit for an assembled combination of the first waist belt element, the second waist belt element, and the shoulder strap elements.   
     
     
         5 . A releasable vest, comprising:
 a front panel with a front access panel portion;   shoulder strap elements releasably attached to the front panel;   a back panel with a back access panel portion;   a first waist belt element releasably attached or coupled to a portion of the front panel;   a second waist belt element releasably attached or coupled to a portion of the front panel; and   a release lanyard, wherein the release lanyard extends from a pull handle to a terminal end for releasing the above components from one another, the release lanyard having an oval profile.   
     
     
         6 . A method of releasing a vest according to  claim 1  from a user wearing the vest, the method comprising pulling the thin lanyard releasing the vest components and the vest from the user.