Covertly Releasable Flap for Discreet Firearm Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outer garments, such as side-zip jackets and those with bottomless or pass-through pockets, do not allow for covert access to a firearm, requiring the wearer to unzip or fumble with the jacket to access the firearm, which can be slow and expose the firearm.
Innovation Solution
An outer garment with a covertly releasable flap that creates a faux pocket opening, allowing the wearer to access a firearm without exposing it, by using releasable fasteners that allow the flap to be easily opened, providing covert access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If side-zip zippers are used to access firearm, then access speed is improved, but covertness deteriorates because the firearm must be exposed during unzipping
Solution Approach 1:
The jacket is divided into multiple sections: an outer portion with a flap that can be independently opened. The flap is segmented from the main body and can be quickly opened without exposing the entire jacket or the firearm, allowing rapid access while maintaining concealment.
Solution Approach 2:
A flap is introduced as an intermediary element between the outer jacket and the firearm. This flap can be opened to provide access to the firearm while still covering most of the jacket, thus mediating between the need for quick access and the need for concealment.
2Ease of operation
If bottomless pockets are used to access firearm, then access is enabled through jacket, but movement is hindered by jacket fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The pocket structure is segmented with a defined opening bordered by the flap. This creates a controlled access point that allows the hand to reach the firearm without the jacket fabric interfering with the drawing motion, while maintaining a simple overall garment structure.
3Speed
If flap is made fully releasable for quick access, then access speed is improved, but covertness deteriorates because entire flap opening exposes firearm
Solution Approach 1:
The flap is designed with localized functionality: only a portion of the flap needs to be opened to access the firearm, rather than the entire flap. This local quality allows quick access while maintaining concealment of the rest of the jacket and firearm.
Data Source
AI summary
A outer garment with releasable flap, including a garment body wherein an outer portion of the garment body extends from the centerline to a terminal side edge to form a gap in the outer portion; a flap positioned so as to overlay the gap, wherein at least a portion of the flap proximate a terminal bottom edge of the flap and proximate a terminal side edge of the flap is releasably attached or coupled to at least a portion of the outer portion of the garment body, via one or more releasable fasteners; and a faux pocket opening formed between at least a portion of the flap and at least a portion of the outer portion of the garment body, wherein the one or more releasable fasteners are between the faux pocket opening and the terminal bottom edge of the outer portion.