Concealed carry vest with compartment for securing an in-waistband holster

Abstract

A vest allows a person to conceal and carry a firearm by placing the firearm into an in-waistband holster in a vest storage compartment between a storage compartment strap and the vest body. The vest particularly allows a person to carry a firearm during exercise or physical activity where carrying a firearm conventionally in an in-waistband holster would inadequately secure the firearm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of clothing for carrying a concealed firearm comprising:
 a vest body configured to cover a torso of a person;   a firearm storage compartment on the vest body comprising;
 a firearm storage compartment flap secured to a vest body along a storage compartment perimeter such that a firearm storage compartment is defined between the vest body, the flap, and the perimeter; 
 wherein the storage compartment perimeter comprises a first portion wherein the storage compartment is not openable along the first portion and a second portion wherein the storage compartment is openable along the second portion; 
 wherein the flap is permanently secured along the first portion of the storage compartment perimeter; 
 a releasable fastener positioned along the second portion of the flap perimeter, the releasable fastener releasably securing the flap to the vest body and permitting the flap to be opened to permit access to the firearm storage compartment and to be closed to prevent access to the firearm storage compartment; 
   a holster strap having a first end which is attached to the vest body at a first location and a second end which is attached to the vest body at a second location, wherein the holster strap extends across a middle portion of the firearm storage compartment between the first and second locations and wherein the holster strap is not attached to the vest body or to the flap between the first and second locations;   wherein the storage compartment is configured to receive an in-waistband firearm holster comprising a firearm holster body and a waistband clip by placing the holster body between the holster strap and the vest body and by placing the clip between the holster strap and the flap such that the holster strap is held between the holster body and the clip; and   wherein the storage compartment flap is configured to cover the holster strap and to cover an in-waistband holster positioned in the firearm storage compartment when the flap is in a closed position and wherein the flap permits access to an in-waistband holster positioned in the firearm storage compartment when the flap is in an open position.   
     
     
         2 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable fastener is hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         3 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the storage compartment perimeter extends along an upper portion of a first side of the flap, an upper portion of a second side of the flap, and a top of the flap disposed between the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         4 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , further comprising side laces attached to a side of the vest body, wherein the side laces are tightenable to reduce a size of the vest. 
     
     
         5 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable fastener extends across a majority of the second portion of the perimeter and wherein a small section of the second portion of the perimeter is not fastened by the releasable fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The article of clothing of  claim 5 , wherein the small section of the second portion of the perimeter is of sufficient size to permit passage of a human thumb and wherein the small section of the second portion of the perimeter is of insufficient size to permit passage of a firearm. 
     
     
         7 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the holster strap extends across the firearm storage compartment horizontally or near horizontally. 
     
     
         8 . An article of clothing for carrying a concealed firearm comprising:
 a clothing body configured to cover a portion of a person;   a firearm storage compartment formed on the clothing body comprising;
 a firearm storage compartment flap; 
 wherein the firearm storage compartment is defined at least in part by the clothing body, the flap, and a storage compartment perimeter 
 wherein the storage compartment perimeter comprises a first perimeter section which is permanently secured and is not openable and a second perimeter section wherein the storage compartment is openable by separating the flap from the clothing body; 
 a releasable fastener positioned along the second perimeter section, the releasable fastener releasably securing the flap to the clothing body and permitting the flap to be opened to permit access to the firearm storage compartment and to be closed to prevent access to the firearm storage compartment; 
   a holster strap having a first end which is attached to the firearm storage compartment at a first location and a second end which is attached to the firearm storage compartment at a second location, wherein the holster strap is not attached to the firearm storage compartment between the first and second locations;   wherein the storage compartment is configured to receive a firearm holster comprising a firearm holster body and an attachment clip by placing holster strap between the holster body and the clip; and   wherein the storage compartment flap is configured to cover the holster strap and to cover a holster which is positioned in the firearm storage compartment when the flap is in a closed position and wherein the flap permits access to a holster positioned in the firearm storage compartment when the flap is in an open position.   
     
     
         9 . The article of clothing of  claim 8 , wherein the holster strap extends across a middle portion of the firearm storage compartment between the first and second locations. 
     
     
         10 . The article of clothing of  claim 8 , wherein the storage compartment is configured to receive a holster body between the holster strap and the vest body and to receive a holster clip between the holster strap and the flap. 
     
     
         11 . The article of clothing of  claim 8 , wherein the second perimeter section extends along an upper portion of a first side of the storage compartment, a top of the storage compartment, and an upper portion of a second side of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The article of clothing of  claim 8 , wherein the releasable fastener extends across a majority of the second portion of the perimeter and wherein a small section of the second portion of the perimeter of sufficient length to permit entry of a thumb is not fastened by the releasable fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The article of clothing of  claim 8 , wherein the flap is openable to expose between about one third and about two thirds of a height of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         14 . An article of clothing for carrying a concealed firearm comprising:
 a clothing body configured to cover a portion of a person;   a firearm storage compartment formed on the clothing body;   a firearm storage compartment flap which is closable to prevent access to the firearm storage compartment and which is openable to permit access to the firearm storage compartment;   a releasable fastener positioned along the flap, the releasable fastener releasably securing the flap to the clothing body and permitting the flap to be selectively opened and closed;   a holster strap having a first end which is attached to the firearm storage compartment at a first location and a second end which is attached to the firearm storage compartment at a second location;   wherein the storage compartment is configured to receive a firearm holster comprising a firearm holster body and an attachment clip by placing holster strap between the holster body and the clip; and   wherein the storage compartment flap is configured to cover the holster strap and to cover a holster which is positioned in the firearm storage compartment when the flap is in a closed position and wherein the flap permits access to a holster positioned in the firearm storage compartment when the flap is in an open position.   
     
     
         15 . The article of clothing of  claim 14 , wherein the storage compartment flap is openable downwardly to expose about an upper one half of the storage compartment along a height thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The article of clothing of  claim 14 , wherein the releasable fastener extends along an upper portion of a first side of a storage compartment perimeter, a top of the storage compartment perimeter, and an upper portion of a second side of the storage compartment perimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The article of clothing of  claim 16 , further comprising a section of the storage compartment perimeter along the top of the storage compartment which is not secured by the releasable fastener and which is of sufficient length to permit entry of a human thumb. 
     
     
         18 . The article of clothing of  claim 14 , wherein the first location is located at a first side of the firearm storage compartment, wherein the second location is located at a second side of the firearm storage compartment, wherein the firearm storage compartment is configured to receive a firearm holster between a back wall of the firearm storage compartment and the holster strap and to receive a firearm holster attachment clip between the holster strap and a front wall of the firearm storage compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The article of clothing of  claim 14 , wherein the holster strap extends generally horizontally across a center portion of a height of the firearm storage compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The article of clothing of  claim 14 , wherein the first location is located at a first side of the firearm storage compartment, wherein the second location is located at a second side of the firearm storage compartment, and wherein the holster strap is not attached to the firearm storage compartment between the first location and the second location.