Weight Plate Carrier Vest

Abstract

A weight plate carrier vest includes first and second panels. Each panel includes an interior layer having an inner layer, foam pad, a mesh spacer, and an outer layer. An exterior layer and the interior layer define a pocket therebetween. Shoulder straps extend between the first and second panels. A waist strap includes an elastic base strap having first and second ends and a central portion secured to the second panel. A first strap portion has a first end secured to the first end of the elastic base strap and a free second end. A second strap portion has a first end secured to the second end of the elastic base strap and a free second end. A first waist strap fastener is positioned proximate the second end of the first strap portion, and a second waist strap fastener is positioned proximate the second end of the second strap portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weight plate carrier vest comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel defining a torso cavity therebetween configured to receive a torso of a user, the first panel comprising a first layer and a second layer secured to the first layer, the first layer and the second layer defining a pocket therebetween configured to receive a weight plate, wherein the second layer is not secured to the first layer along at least a portion of a bottom of the first panel to define an opening at a bottom of the first panel providing access to the pocket, and wherein the first panel further comprises a flap extending downward at a bottom edge of the first layer, the flap configured to be removably connected to the second panel to at least partially cover the opening and hold the weight plate within the pocket;   a pair of shoulder straps extending between the first panel and the second panel; and   a waist strap configured to secure the first panel and the second panel to the torso of the user at a bottom portion of the weight plate carrier vest.   
     
     
         2 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , further comprising a first flap fastener connected to an exterior surface of the first layer and releasably connectable to a second flap fastener connected to an interior surface of the second layer. 
     
     
         3 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is an interior layer confronting the torso cavity, and the second layer is an exterior layer located outward of the interior layer. 
     
     
         4 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer further comprises a foam pad and a mesh spacer positioned between the first and second layers. 
     
     
         5 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is integral with the first layer. 
     
     
         6 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises an internal foam pad, and wherein the internal foam pad extends into the flap. 
     
     
         7 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises an inner layer facing the torso cavity, a foam pad adjacent and secured to the inner layer, a mesh spacer adjacent and secured to the foam pad, and an outer layer adjacent and secured to the mesh spacer, and wherein the inner layer, the foam pad, the mesh spacer, and the outer layer extend into the flap. 
     
     
         8 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , wherein the flap has a lateral width at all locations that is smaller than a lateral width of the bottom of the first panel. 
     
     
         9 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , wherein each shoulder strap comprises:
 a first strap support having a first end secured to the first panel and a second end, the first strap support having a tapered width such that the first end is wider than the second end;   a second strap support having a first end secured to the second panel and a second end, the second strap support having a tapered width such that the first end is wider than the second end; and   a fastening strap adjustably secured to the first and second strap supports.   
     
     
         10 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 1 , wherein each shoulder strap comprises:
 a first strap support having a first end secured to the first panel and a second end;   a second strap support having a first end secured to the second panel and a second end;   a D-ring secured to the second strap support; and   a fastening strap extending through the D-ring and having a first end secured to the second end of the first strap support and a second free end, a first portion extending from the first end to the D-ring, a second portion extending from the D-ring to the second free end, a first shoulder strap fastener secured to a first surface of the fastening strap along the first portion, and a second shoulder strap fastener secured to a first surface of the fastening strap along the first portion and configured to be releasably secured to first shoulder strap fastener.   
     
     
         11 . A weight plate carrier vest comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel defining a torso cavity therebetween configured to receive a torso of a user, the first panel comprising:
 an interior layer comprising, in layered order, an inner layer facing the torso cavity, a foam pad adjacent to the inner layer, a mesh spacer adjacent to the foam pad, and an outer layer adjacent to the mesh spacer, wherein the inner layer, the foam pad, the mesh spacer, and the outer layer are secured together; 
 an exterior layer secured to the interior layer, the interior layer and the exterior layer defining a pocket therebetween configured to receive a weight plate, wherein the outer layer of the interior layer faces the pocket; 
   a pair of shoulder straps extending between the first panel and the second panel; and   a waist strap configured to secure the first panel and the second panel to the torso of the user at a bottom of the weight plate carrier vest.   
     
     
         12 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 11 , wherein the outer layer of the interior layer of the first panel has opposed sides that are free from other portions of the interior and exterior layers. 
     
     
         13 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 11 , wherein the inner layer of the interior layer has greater elasticity than the outer layer of the interior layer. 
     
     
         14 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 11 , wherein the outer layer of the interior layer is formed of nylon, and the exterior layer is formed of nylon. 
     
     
         15 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 11 , wherein the exterior layer comprises an inner exterior layer and an outer exterior layer, wherein the pocket is defined between the outer layer of the interior layer and the inner exterior layer. 
     
     
         16 . A weight plate carrier vest comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel defining a torso cavity therebetween configured to receive a torso of a user, the first panel having a pocket configured to receive a weight plate;   a pair of shoulder straps extending between the first panel and the second panel; and   a waist strap comprising:
 an elastic base strap having a first end and a second end, a central portion of the elastic base strap being secured to the second panel; 
 a first strap portion having a first end secured to the first end of the elastic base strap and a free second end; 
 a second strap portion having a first end secured to the second end of the elastic base strap and a free second end; 
 a first waist strap fastener proximate the second end of the first strap portion; and 
 a second waist strap fastener proximate the second end of the second strap portion, 
 wherein the first strap portion and the second strap portion are configured to be removably secured via the first and second waist strap fasteners to secure the weight plate vest to the torso of the user, and wherein the elastic base portion has lower elasticity than the first strap portion and the second strap portion. 
   
     
     
         17 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 16 , wherein the first and second waist strap fasteners are configured to be removably secured to each other. 
     
     
         18 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 16 , wherein the first waist strap fastener is a first portion of a hook and loop fastener, and the second waist strap fastener is a mating second portion of the hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         19 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first waist strap fastener includes an outer hook and loop fastener on an exterior surface of the first strap portion, and an inner hook and loop fastener on an interior surface of the first strap portion,   the second waist strap fastener includes an outer hook and loop fastener on an exterior surface of the second strap portion, and an inner hook and loop fastener on an interior surface of the second strap portion.   
     
     
         20 . The weight plate carrier vest of  claim 16 , further comprising a panel fastener on an exterior surface of the first panel and configured to be releasably secured to the first waist strap fastener and the second waist strap fastener.