Adjustably fitted protective apparel with rotary tension adjuster

Abstract

An article of adjustably fitted protective apparel includes a vest and an adjustable tensioning system for selective tensioning of the vest into a snug fit on a body of a wearer of the vest. The adjustable tensioning system includes a rotary tension adjuster disposed on the vest and including a housing and a first spool disposed within the housing, and a tensioning line extends from the housing. The tensioning line is attached directly or indirectly to the vest. A portion of the tensioning line is configured to be wound upon the first spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a first rotational direction thereof. Winding of the portion of the first tensioning line draws together first portions of the vest for providing a snug fit of the first portions.

Description

I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 276,400, filed Feb. 27, 2006, which is a nonprovisional of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 656,335, filed Feb. 25, 2005, and which '400 application is a continuation-in-part of:[0002](1) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 276,357, filed Feb. 24, 2006, which published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2006 / 0185357, and which '357 application is a nonprovisional of 60 / 656,335, and further which '357 application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 222,549, filed Sep. 9, 2005, which '549 application is a nonprovisional of 60 / 656,335 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 608,397, and which '549 application a continuation-in-part of each of:[0003](A) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 123,900 filed May 6, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]In accordance with this aspect, the adjustable tensioning system includes a rotary tension adjuster that is disposed on the vest. The rotary tension adjuster includes a housing and a first spool disposed within the housing. A first tensioning line extends from the housing and is attached to the vest. A portion of the first tensioning line is configured to be wound upon the first spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a first rotational direction thereof, and winding of the portion of the first tensioning line onto the first spool results in drawing of first portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the first portions of the vest when worn.

[0039]In still another feature, the first tensioning line extends from the rotary tension adjuster to a side portion of the vest and is connected to an elastic cord that passes freely through loops respectively attached to the front and rear side portions of the vest, thereby defining serpentine configuration of the elastic cord. The loops may be disposed in fixed spaced relation by a rigid spreader bar for preventing bunching, gathering or migration of the rear side portions of the vest during tensioning of the first tensioning line.

Problems solved by technology

Body armor commonly is referred to as a bulletproof vest; however, this may be a misnomer, as the vests may provide little or no protection against rifle ammunition or even against handgun ammunition fired from a pistol-caliber carbine, depending upon the level of armor of the vest.

Such vests have become standard in military use, as advances in ballistic technology have rendered vests made only from Kevlar™ materials generally ineffective.

In principal, a vest does not protect the wearer by deflecting a bullet.

While a vest can prevent a bullet from penetrating, the wearer could still receive blunt force trauma from the momentum of the bullet, with results ranging from bruises to serious internal injuries.

Also, it offers little protection against bladed weapons, such as knives or arrows, because these weapons rely on penetration.

The protection afforded by the vest may be degraded if the vest is worn in a loose fit permitting play between the vest and the body.

On the other hand, a snug fit may be less comfortable than a loose fit, and a wearer may prefer the ability to alternate between a loose fit and a snug fit depending on the currently perceived threat level.

Unfortunately, it can be cumbersome to loosen a vest into a loose fit disposition, and / or to tighten a vest into a snug fit disposition, for several reasons.

First, loosening or tightening the vest generally requires manipulation of two or more fasteners.

Second, access to the required fasteners may be inhibited, such as by clothing if the vest is worn under one or more garments.

No known prior art garment solves the problems presented by the foregoing.

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