Tactical load-bearing protective vest

A ballistic resistant garment particularly useful in military and police applications and adapted to selectively carry detachable supply receptacles having container portions with quick release cover portions for carrying items useful in said military and police applications, said garment comprising:

• a unitary poncho-like member having a front portion adapted for positioning over the chest area of a user, a rear portion adapted for positioning over the back area of a user, and a center portion for positioning over the shoulder area of a user, said unitary member including a first inner layer of durable abrasion-resistant material and a second outer layer of durable abrasion-resistant material;
• a pair of load-bearing shoulder support portions formed in said center portion on either side of a central aperture sized and shaped for receiving a human head therethrough;
• an attachment grid disposed over a substantial portion of the outer surface of the second outer layer of durable abrasion-resistant material of said front and rear portions to permit selective placement and attachment of said detachable supply receptacles;
• a first interior compartment defined in said front member portion between said first and second layers of durable abrasion-resistant material, said first interior compartment being accessible through a first garment opening;
• a second interior compartment defined in said rear member portion between said first and second layers of durable abrasion-resistant material, said second interior compartment being accessible through a second garment opening;
• supply receptacles having quick release cover portions including fastening means for engaging said attachment grid to selectively maintain said cover portions in an open position once released and opened;
• and
• a plurality of at least two individual containment pouches disposed within each said first and said second interior compartments, said pouches being sized and shaped to selectively receive variable sized and types of ballistic-resistant elements therein to provide selectively variable front and rear ballistic protection to a user of said garment.

In a load-bearing tactical vest for military and police protective use adapted to selectively carry detachable supply receptacles thereon and including front and rear panels made from at least two layers of durable abrasion-resistant material, a central compartment in each of said front and rear panels sized to contain ballistic resistant body armor, strips of attachment fabric in the form of hook-and-loop type fastening means covering portions of the outer surface of said front panel, a plurality of individual fastening members spaced across said attachment fabric in operative relation therewith for selective placement and attachment of the detachable supply receptacles to the outer surface of said vest, the detachable supply receptacles carrying complementary hook-and-loop type fastening means, and a recovery strap handle disposed on the upper portion of the rear panel, the improvement comprising:

• said vest having a center portion interconnecting said front and rear panels for positioning the vest over the shoulder area of a user, said center portion defining a central opening sized and shaped for receiving a human head therethrough and a pair of shoulder support straps disposed on each side of said central opening adapted to support a load imposed by said vest during use thereof;
• a first interior compartment defined in said front panel between said layers of durable abrasion-resistant material, said first interior compartment being accessible through a first vest opening;
• a second interior compartment defined in said rear panel between said layers of durable abrasion-resistant material, said second interior compartment being accessible through a second vest opening;
• a plurality of at least two individual pouches secured within said first interior compartment and accessible through said first vest opening for selectively receiving variable sized and types of ballistic-resistant body armor elements to provide selectively variable front ballistic protection to a user of said vest;
• and
• a plurality of at least two separate and distinct individual containment pouches disposed within said second interior compartment to selectively receive variable sized and types of assorted ballistic-resistant elements therein to provide selectively variable rear ballistic protection to a user of said vest.

A load-bearing protective tactical vest adapted to selectively carry detachable elements such as supply receptacles and auxiliary items, said vest comprising:

• a unitary member having a front panel, a rear panel and a central panel interconnecting said front and rear panels, each said panel having at least a first inner layer of durable abrasion-resistant material and a second outer layer of durable abrasion-resistant material;
• said central panel defining a center opening sized and shaped for receiving a human head therethrough and a pair of shoulder support straps disposed on each side of said center opening adapted to support a load imposed by said vest during use thereof;
• a layer of attachment fabric in the form of hook-and-loop type fastening means covering a substantial portion of the outer surface of said second outer layer material of each said front and rear panels, the detachable elements carrying a complementary hook-and-loop type fastening means;
• a plurality of individual fastening members spaced across a substantial portion of said attachment fabric in operative relation therewith for selective placement and attachment of the detachable elements to the outer surface of said vest;
• anchor elements depending from said vest for attachment proximate the waist of a user during the wearing of said vest;
• said front panel having a first interior compartment defined between said first and second layers of material, said first compartment being accessible through a first vest opening;
• said rear panel having a second interior compartment defined between said first and second layers of material, said second compartment being accessible through a second vest opening;
• a plurality of individual pouches secured within said first compartment and accessible through said first vest opening;
• and
• a plurality of individual pouches secured within said second compartment and accessible through said second vest opening, said pouches of said first and second compartments being sized and shaped for selectively receiving assorted ballistic-resistant body armor elements for providing ballistic protection to a user of said tactical vest.