Vest worn communication control hub

A communications hub apparatus for interconnecting body worn push-to-talk switches, a headset, and a pair of body worn portable radio transceivers and comprising:

• (a) a hub housing;
• (b) a headset cable extending from the housing and having headset conductors therein, the headset cable terminating in a headset cable connector having the headset conductors connected thereto;
• (c) a push-to-talk cable extending from the housing and having sets of push-to-talk conductors therein which are associated respectively with a pair of transceivers, the push-to-talk cable terminating in a push-to-talk cable connector having the push-to-talk conductors connected thereto, the push-to-talk cable connector being configured to enable at least a pair of push-to-talk switches to be connected thereto which are associated respectively with a pair of transceivers;
• (d) a pair of transceiver cables each extending directly from the housing for connection to a respective radio transceiver without intermediate connection through a push-to-talk switch, each of the transceiver cables having transceiver conductors therein which are associated with one of a pair of transceivers, each of the transceiver cables terminating in a respective transceiver cable connector having the associated transceiver conductors connected thereto;
• (e) a proximal end of the push-to-talk cable, a proximal end of the headset cable, and a proximal end of each of the pair of transceiver cables, and connections of the conductors of the push to talk cable, the headset cable, and the transceiver cables to a hub interconnection circuit sealingly molded within the housing, and each of the headset cable, the push-to-talk cable and the pair of transceiver cables being elongated to enable the respective headset cable connector, the push-to-talk cable connector and the transceiver cable connectors associated therewith to be positioned relatively remote from the housing to enable access by a user to the cable connectors to provide electrical communication between contacts of the cable connectors and contacts of connectors of the push-to-talk switches, the headset, and the pair of transceivers;
• and
• (f) the hub interconnection circuit having the conductors of the headset cable, the push-to-talk cable, and the transceiver cables connected thereto, the hub interconnection circuit being configured to interconnect conductors of the push-to-talk, headset, and transceiver cables in such a manner that each of the pair of push-to-talk switches is paired with one of the pair of transceivers via the hub interconnection circuit and operation of a selected push-to-talk switch connected to the push-to-talk cable connector causes cooperation of a headset connected to the headset cable connector with a transceiver connected to a transceiver cable connector associated with the selected push-to-talk switch operated to thereby transmit and receive radio communications by way of the respective transceiver, wherein the headset, each of the pair of push-to-talk switches, and each of the pair of transceivers are independently positionable relatively remote from the housing, wherein the hub interconnection circuit is configured to selectively couple the headset to either one of the pair of transceivers in response to activation of the respective push-to-talk switch and wherein each of the headset cable, the push-to-talk cable, and the pair of transceiver cables extend separately and directly from the hub housing without passing through another one of the push-to-talk switches, the headset, and the pair of transceivers.

A communications hub apparatus for interconnecting body worn push-to-talk switches, a headset, and a pair of body worn portable radio transceivers and comprising:

• (a) a tactical vest having a rear panel with an attachment structure thereon configured for supporting equipment on the vest;
• (b) a hub housing configured to be removably attached to and supported by the attachment structure on the rear panel of the vest such that the hub housing is positioned on the rear panel behind the wearer during use;
• (c) a headset cable having headset conductors therein, a first end of the headset cable extending from the housing, the headset cable terminating in a headset cable connector at a second end thereof, and the headset cable connector having the headset conductors connected thereto;
• (d) a push-to-talk cable having sets of push-to-talk conductors therein, a first end of the push-to-talk cable extending from the housing, the push-to-talk cable terminating in a push-to-talk cable connector at a second end thereof, the push-to-talk cable connector having the push-to-talk conductors connected thereto, and the push-to-talk cable connector being configured to enable a plurality of push-to-talk switches to be connected thereto, each push-to-talk switch associated with a respective transceiver;
• (e) a plurality of transceiver cables each having a respective set transceiver conductors therein, a first end of each of the transceiver cables extending from the housing, each of the transceiver cables terminating in a respective transceiver cable connector at a second end thereof, each transceiver cable connector having the respective set of transceiver conductors of the transceiver cable connected thereto, and each of the transceiver cables associated with a respective transceiver, wherein each transceiver cable extends directly from the housing to the respective radio transceiver without intermediate connection through a push-to-talk switch;
• (f) each of the headset cable, the push-to-talk cable and the plurality of transceiver cables being elongated to enable the respective headset cable connector, the push-to-talk cable connector, and the transceiver cable connectors associated therewith to be positioned relatively remote from the housing supported on the rear panel of the vest to enable access of the connectors positioned adjacent a front panel of the vest by the wearer thereof to provide electrical communication between contacts of the connectors and contacts of connectors of the headset, the push-to-talk switches, and the pair of transceivers;
• and
• (g) a hub interconnection circuit housed within the hub housing and having the conductors of the headset cable, the push-to-talk cable, and the plurality of transceiver cables connected thereto, the hub interconnection circuit being configured to interconnect conductors of the push-to-talk cable, the headset cable, and the plurality of transceiver cables in such a manner that operation of a selected push-to-talk switch connected to the push-to-talk cable connector causes cooperation of a headset connected to the headset cable connector and a transceiver connected to an associated transceiver cable connector and associated with the selected push-to-talk switch operated to thereby transmit and receive radio communications by way of the respective transceiver, wherein the headset cable and the plurality of transceiver cables extend from the hub housing supported on the rear panel of the vest toward communication devices positioned adjacent the front panel of the vest.