Tactical Jacket Rapid Weapon Access Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tactical garments do not provide quick and single-handed access to a concealed weapon carried at the user's side, as they require two-handed operation or complex mechanisms to open and expose the weapon.
Innovation Solution
A jacket with a side slit opening from the armpit to the bottom, featuring a non-locking zipper concealed by a flap, a rip cord with a gripping tab, and a spring-biased buckle system that allows the jacket to be rapidly opened with one hand, exposing the weapon by releasing the zipper and unlocking the bottom closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the jacket uses a traditional closure system (buttons, zippers, snaps), then the weapon is concealed effectively, but the access time to the weapon is slow and requires two-handed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The jacket is divided into front and rear portions that can be separated independently. The side opening allows the front portion to be pulled away from the rear portion, creating a rapid access path to the weapon without requiring opening of the entire jacket closure system.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure system is extracted from the traditional full-front configuration and repositioned to the bottom hem only. This allows the majority of the jacket front to be pulled away freely, providing rapid weapon access while maintaining concealment when closed.
2Reliability
If the jacket opening is secured at the bottom with a locking mechanism, then the jacket remains closed and concealed, but the mechanism becomes complex and requires multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The snap fastener at the bottom hem provides automatic self-closing functionality. When the jacket portions are brought together, the snap fastener engages automatically to secure the opening, eliminating the need for manual buttoning or zipping and reducing overall system complexity.
3Shape
If the zipper is concealed by a flap when closed, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the zipper mechanism becomes harder to access and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The zipper is extracted from its traditional full-length position and repositioned to run only along the side opening edge. This allows the zipper to be concealed by the flap in the closed position while remaining fully accessible and operable when the side opening is pulled apart for weapon access.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables fast and single-handed access to a concealed weapon, ensuring rapid deployment without compromising concealment, as the zipper opens automatically when the rip cord is pulled, allowing quick retrieval of the weapon.
Implementation Method 1
When the rip cord is pulled, a spring-biased rocker of the buckle is lifted, which releases the buckle
Data Source
AI summary
A jacket for tactical use by police, for example, has a side opening just below the arm to the bottom of the jacket, with a quick-opening feature for fast access to a weapon secured under the jacket. The side opening is closed by a zipper pulled downwardly, concealed by a flap when closed. A small gripping tab extends out at the exterior of the jacket near the bottom edge, at the end of a rip cord secured to a buckle or clip positioned along the inside surface of the jacket. The clip snaps together to hold the jacket opening secured at bottom. When the rip cord is pulled, this has the effect of releasing the buckle and opening the zipper to separate the jacket along the opening line. The wearer can thus quickly reach a weapon or other implement by a rapid one-handed pull of the rip cord.