Adjustable fit tactical cummerbund

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system for fit adjustment of a tactical vest may include a cummerbund configured to span between a first panel of a tactical vest to a second panel of the tactical vest across sides of a wearer; and a first attachment panel slidably interconnected to a second attachment panel attached to the cummerbund, wherein the first attachment panel is configured to releasably attach to an attachment panel on the first panel of the tactical vest, wherein the second attachment panel is configured to releasably attach to the first attachment panel, and wherein the second attachment panel is configured to provide wearable length adjustments to the cummerbund based on an amount of overlap between the first attachment panel and the second attachment panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for tactical vest fit adjustment comprising:
 a cummerbund configured to span between a first panel of a tactical vest to a second panel of the tactical vest across sides of a wearer; and   a first attachment panel slidably interconnected to a second attachment panel attached to the cummerbund, wherein the first attachment panel is configured to releasably attach to an attachment panel on the first panel of the tactical vest, wherein the second attachment panel is configured to releasably attach to the first attachment panel, and wherein the second attachment panel is configured to provide wearable length adjustments to the cummerbund based on an amount of overlap between the first attachment panel and the second attachment panel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second attachment panel extends from a first side of the first attachment panel, through a channel in the first attachment panel, to a second side of the first attachment panel. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first side of the first attachment panel includes a complementary attachment mechanism to an attachment mechanism of the attachment panel on the first panel of the tactical vest. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a first side of the second attachment panel includes a complementary attachment mechanism to an attachment mechanism of the second side of the first attachment panel and wherein a second side of the second attachment panel and the second side of the first attachment panel have a same non-complementary attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein sliding the portion of the second attachment panel through the channel toward the first side of the first attachment panel elongates a wearable length of the cummerbund and wherein sliding the portion of the second attachment panel through the channel toward the second side of the first attachment panel reduces a wearable length of the cummerbund. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 shoulder straps configured to have independently adjustable wearable lengths and to be releasably attachable to a face of the first panel of the tactical vest or the second panel of the tactical vest at any of a plurality of potential shoulder strap attachment positions; and   a set of reference markings on the face of the first panel of the tactical vest or the second panel of the tactical vest, each reference marking of the set of reference markings indicating a respective potential shoulder strap attachment position of the plurality of potential shoulder strap attachment positions, wherein the set of reference markings is configured such that releasably attaching each of the shoulder straps to the face of the first panel of the tactical vest or the second panel of the tactical vest so that corresponding portions of the shoulder straps align with equivalent reference markings causes the shoulder straps to have an equivalent wearable length.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the shoulder straps includes a slotted channel, marked with a secondary set of reference markings that indicate a plurality of potential panel strap attachment positions that are matched to the plurality of potential shoulder strap attachment positions, through which a panel strap attached to the first panel of the tactical vest or the second panel of the tactical vest can be engaged at any of the plurality of potential panel strap attachment positions to provide an adjustment to a hanging angle of the first panel of the tactical vest or the second panel of the tactical vest. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cummerbund includes an attachment mechanism adapter comprising an engagement strap configured to be looped through a corresponding slot in a panel attachment mechanism and releasably captured within a locking flap attached to the cummerbund to releasably secure the panel attachment mechanism to the cummerbund. 
     
     
         9 . A tactical vest fit adjustment apparatus comprising:
 a cummerbund configured to span between a first panel of a tactical vest to a second panel of the tactical vest across sides of a wearer;   a first attachment panel configured to releasably attach to an attachment panel on the first panel of the tactical vest, wherein the first attachment panel includes a set of channels therethrough; and   a second attachment panel, attached to the cummerbund, wherein a portion of the second attachment panel interconnects the second attachment panel to the first attachment panel through the set of channels, and wherein a wearable length of the cummerbund is adjustable by sliding the portion of the second attachment panel through the set of channels.   
     
     
         10 . The tactical vest fit adjustment apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the first attachment panel located between the set of channels passes through and is configured to travel within a slot in the portion of second attachment panel, and wherein a length of adjustment to the wearable length of the cummerbund is limited by a length of the slot in the portion of the second attachment panel. 
     
     
         11 . The tactical vest fit adjustment apparatus as in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 the first panel including a set of panel reference markings to identify a shoulder strap attachment position among a plurality of potential shoulder strap attachment positions where a shoulder strap is releasably attached to a face of the first panel; and   shoulder straps configured to couple the first panel to the second panel across shoulders of a wearer, wherein each of the shoulder straps is configured to have an independently adjustable wearable length dictated by its shoulder strap attachment position and wherein the shoulder straps are configured to have a same wearable length when the shoulder straps are releasably attached to the first panel in alignment with equivalent reference marking of the set of panel reference markings.   
     
     
         12 . The tactical vest fit adjustment apparatus as in  claim 11 , further comprising a panel strap attached to an opposing face of the first panel and configured to releasably engage with a corresponding shoulder strap, wherein each of the shoulder straps includes a slotted channel configured to receive the panel strap laced through slots marked with a secondary set of reference markings that indicate their correspondence to each of the plurality of potential shoulder strap attachment positions. 
     
     
         13 . The tactical vest fit adjustment apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein a wearable length of the cummerbund is releasably fixed by releasably attaching a portion of the second attachment panel that is overlapping the first attachment panel to the first attachment panel. 
     
     
         14 . The tactical vest fit adjustment apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the second attachment panel is configured to adjust the wearable length of the cummerbund independent from an adjustment of a connection of the first attachment panel to the attachment panel on the first panel of the tactical vest. 
     
     
         15 . The tactical vest fit adjustment apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the cummerbund includes an expandable joint housed within a sheath configured to be positioned along a wearer's side. 
     
     
         16 . The tactical vest fit adjustment apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein the cummerbund includes an attachment mechanism adapter configured to releasably capture each of a plurality of structurally distinct panel attachment mechanisms to attach the cummerbund to the first panel. 
     
     
         17 . A tactical cummerbund adjustment apparatus comprising:
 a cummerbund body configured to span between a first panel of a tactical vest to a second panel of the tactical vest across sides of a wearer; and   a set of attachment panels configured to overlap with one another to form a releasable connection between the cummerbund body and the tactical vest, the set of attachment panels comprising:
 a first attachment panel including a channel dimensioned to accommodate a portion of a second attachment panel, and 
 the second attachment panel, attached to the cummerbund body, spanning the channel and slidable within the channel to adjust a wearable length of a cummerbund. 
   
     
     
         18 . The tactical cummerbund adjustment apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the second attachment panel that is not overlapping the first attachment panel acts as an extension of the cummerbund body. 
     
     
         19 . The tactical cummerbund adjustment apparatus as in  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the first attachment panel dividing the channel prevents separation of the first attachment panel from the second attachment panel. 
     
     
         20 . The tactical cummerbund adjustment apparatus as in  claim 17 , further comprising an attachment mechanism adapter attached to the cummerbund body and including an engagement strap configured to be looped through a corresponding slot in a panel attachment mechanism and releasably captured within a locking flap of the attachment mechanism adapter.