Quick Release Vest With Interconnected Locking Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vests designed for emergency, military, or law enforcement personnel, which carry equipment and body armor, often require time-consuming and cumbersome processes for removal, especially in emergency situations where quick release is critical due to the combined weight and complexity of the vest and its components.
Innovation Solution
A load carriage vest with a quick release mechanism featuring interconnected panels and connectors that utilize a locking pin system with knuckle sets and a flexible connection, allowing for simultaneous disengagement of connectors with a single motion, enabling effortless removal of the vest without disconnecting all sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional straps and buckles are used to connect vest panels, then the vest structure is simple and reliable, but the removal process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The vest is divided into multiple separable panels (front panel, back panel, shoulder panels) connected by discrete connectors. Each connector can be independently engaged or disengaged, allowing selective separation of vest sections for rapid removal in emergency situations
Solution Approach 2:
The connector system transitions from static traditional buckles to dynamic locking pins with knuckle sets that can quickly transition between engaged and disengaged states. The locking pin with spring mechanism provides automatic engagement and quick release capability, enabling rapid state changes during vest donning and removal
2Reliability
If multiple connectors are used to secure heavy equipment and body armor, then the vest provides reliable support, but the complexity of disengaging all connectors increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible connection element links the locking pins of multiple connectors, allowing a single pulling motion on one connector to sequentially disengage all locking pins across multiple connectors. This intermediary mechanism translates localized action into system-wide release, simplifying the disengagement process while maintaining secure multi-point attachment
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vest is designed with multiple separable panels for equipment carrying, then the vest functionality is enhanced, but the effort required to remove the vest increases due to combined weight
Solution Approach 1:
The vest is divided into multiple separable panels (front panel, back panel, shoulder panels) connected by discrete connectors. Each connector can be independently engaged or disengaged, allowing selective separation of vest sections for rapid removal in emergency situations
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible connection element links the locking pins of multiple connectors, allowing a single pulling motion on one connector to sequentially disengage all locking pins across multiple connectors. This intermediary mechanism translates localized action into system-wide release, simplifying the disengagement process while maintaining secure multi-point attachment
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A load carriage vest (10) with a quick release capability includes at least two vest sections (12,14). Two connectors (22,24) connect one of the sections to another of the sections. Each connector includes two knuckle sets (22a,24a), one of the knuckle sets being attached to one of the sections and the other knuckle set being attached to another of the sections. Each connector is engaged when a locking pin (32a,32b) is inserted into the knuckles of the two knuckle sets of that connector when the knuckles sets are interleaved. The connector disengages when the pin is removed from all of the knuckles of at least one of the two knuckle sets. A flexible connection (32d) connects the locking pins of the two connectors to enable concurrent removal of the locking pins from two connectors with a single motion.