Close quarter ballistic chaps with extensions and/or release system

Abstract

Ballistic chaps for protecting the femur and femoral artery region of a wearer as well as the knee portions and lower leg portions include leg portions with ballistic armor inserts that extend downwardly from a wearer's waist region to terminate at a point above the wearer's ankles, thereby covering at least a front portion of the wearer's upper thighs, preferably also the hip and flank, as well as the knee region and the frontal lower leg region. The leg portions terminate at the sides of the wearer, thereby providing flexibility of movement and minimizing heat entrapment. A plurality of attachment regions may be provided on the exterior surface of the leg portions to provide a mounting platform for various types of peripheral equipment. A quick release system is employed to allow rapid detachment of the ballistic chaps from the wearer.

1 . A ballistic outer garment, comprising:
 a body mounting portion to detachably secure the outer garment to the wearer;   a pair of upper leg portions coupled to the body mounting portion and configured to   substantially cover at least a front portion of an upper leg of the wearer and to terminate above the knee;   a pair of knee pads detachably secured to said pair of upper leg portions and configured to substantially cover the knee portion of the leg of a wearer;   a pair of lower leg portions coupled to the knee pad portion and configured to   substantially cover at least a front portion of a lower leg of the wearer and to terminate above the ankle; and   a plurality of ballistic armor portions,   wherein each of the leg portions are configured to removably retain at least one of the ballistic armor portions such that the ballistic armor portion substantially covers at least the front portion of the upper and lower leg of the wearer when the outer garment is worn by the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The ballistic outer garment as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of attachment portions coupled to an exterior surface of each leg portion and configured to support peripheral equipment when attached thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The ballistic outer garment as recited in  claim 2 , wherein each of the attachment portions comprises an elongate strap secured at spaced apart intervals along the length of the strap to the exterior surface of each leg portion. 
     
     
         4 . The ballistic garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a quick release system, said quick release system providing a rapid detachment of the ballistic garment from the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . Ballistic chaps, comprising:
 a belt;   a first leg portion and a second leg portion coupled to the belt, each of the first and second leg portions configured to substantially cover at least a frontal portion between a waist region and a knee of the wearer;   a first knee portion and a second knee portion coupled to said first leg portion and said second leg portion to substantially cover at least a frontal portion of a knee of the wearer;   a third leg portion and a fourth leg portion coupled to the first knee portion and the second knee portion, respectively, each of the third and fourth leg portions configured to substantially cover at least a frontal portion between a knee region and an ankle region of the wearer;   a plurality of equipment mounting portions coupled to an exterior surface of each of the first, second, third, and fourth leg portion; and   a plurality of ballistic armor portions;   wherein the first, second, third, and fourth leg portions each comprises a front portion and a rear portion that define a receptacle therebetween, the receptacle being configured to retain at least one of the ballistic armor portions therein in a position that substantially covers at least the frontal portion of the wearer, the receptacle having an opening for removably receiving the ballistic armor portion.   
     
     
         6 . Ballistic chaps, comprising:
 a waist portion securable about a waist of the user;   a plurality of ballistic armor portions;   a pair of upper leg portions extending from the waist portion and terminating above the knees of the user and terminating at the sides of the user, each of the upper leg portions configured to enclose at least one of the ballistic armor portions, each of the upper leg portions having a frontal portion and a flank portion, wherein when the ballistic chaps are secured to the user, each of the ballistic armor portions substantially covers a hip, a side portion, and a front femoral portion of an upper leg of the user;   a pair of lower leg portions extending from the knee portion and terminating above the ankles of the user and terminating at the sides of the user, each of the lower leg portions configured to enclose at least one of the ballistic armor portions, each of the lower leg portions having a frontal portion and a flank portion, wherein when the ballistic chaps are secured to the user, each of the ballistic armor portions substantially covers a side portion, and a front portion of a lower leg of the user;   a pair of knee portions substantially covering the front and side portions of the user's knee, wherein the knee portions are releasably attachable to the corresponding upper and lower leg portions; and   a releasable attachment portion coupled to each of the leg portions to releasably secure the leg portion to the corresponding leg of the user.