Adjustably fitted protective apparel with rotary tension adjuster

Abstract

An article of adjustably fitted protective apparel includes a vest and an adjustable tensioning system for selective tensioning of the vest into a snug fit on a body of a wearer of the vest. The adjustable tensioning system includes a rotary tension adjuster disposed on the vest and including a housing and a first spool disposed within the housing, and a tensioning line extends from the housing. The tensioning line is attached directly or indirectly to the vest. A portion of the tensioning line is configured to be wound upon the first spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a first rotational direction thereof. Winding of the portion of the first tensioning line draws together first portions of the vest for providing a snug fit of the first portions.

1 . An article of adjustably fitted protective apparel, comprising:
 (a) a vest; and   (b) an adjustable tensioning system for selective tensioning of the vest, comprising,
 (i) a rotary tension adjuster disposed on the vest and including a housing and a first spool disposed within the housing, and 
 (ii) a first tensioning line extending from the housing and coupled directly or indirectly to the vest, a portion of the first tensioning line configured to be wound upon the first spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a first rotational direction thereof, winding of the portion of the first tensioning line on the first spool drawing first portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the first portions of the vest when worn. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (c) the adjustable tensioning system further comprises,
 (i) a second spool disposed within the housing; and 
 (ii) a second tensioning line extending from the housing and coupled directly or indirectly to the vest, a portion of the second tensioning line configured to be wound upon the second spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a second rotational direction thereof, winding of the portion of the second tensioning line on the second spool drawing second portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the second portions of the vest when worn. 
   
     
     
         3 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 2 , wherein a third tensioning line extends from the housing and is coupled directly or indirectly to the vest, a portion of the third tensioning line configured to be wound upon the first spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in the first rotational direction thereof, winding of the portion of the third tensioning line on the first spool drawing third portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the third portions of the vest when worn. 
     
     
         4 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 3 , wherein a fourth tensioning line extends from the housing and is coupled directly or indirectly to the vest, a portion of the fourth tensioning line configured to be wound upon the second spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in the second rotational direction thereof, winding of the portion of the fourth tensioning line on the first spool drawing fourth portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the fourth portions of the vest when worn. 
     
     
         5 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the first portions of the vest comprise front and rear shoulder portions of the vest, wherein the third portions of the vest comprise front and rear shoulder portions of the vest, wherein the second portions of the vest comprise front and rear side portions of the vest, and wherein the fourth portions of the vest comprise front and rear side portions of the vest. 
     
     
         6 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 5 , wherein the first and third tensioning lines are coupled to shoulder portions of the vest. 
     
     
         7 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 5 , wherein the second and third tensioning lines are coupled to side portions of the vest. 
     
     
         8 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the first and third tensioning lines comprise a continuous loop and wherein the second and fourth tensioning lines comprise a continuous loop. 
     
     
         9 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , further comprising a clip and a plurality of selectable anchor locations, wherein the first tensioning line is coupled to the clip, and wherein the clip is releasably fastened to an anchor location selected from the plurality of anchor locations. 
     
     
         10 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of anchor locations are generally linearly disposed along a surface of the vest at increasing distances from the rotary tension adjuster. 
     
     
         11 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tensioning line is coupled indirectly to the vest by a quick-release buckle that is coupled to the vest. 
     
     
         12 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable tensioning system further comprises a second rotary tension adjuster disposed on the vest and from which a second tensioning line extends, the second tensioning line being coupled directly or indirectly to the vest, a portion of the second tensioning line being configured to be wound upon a first spool of the second rotary tension adjuster during manipulation of the second rotary tension adjuster in a first rotational direction thereof, winding of the portion of the second tensioning line on the second spool drawing second portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the second portions of the vest when worn. 
     
     
         13 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein further manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster permits separation of the first portions of the vest, thereby providing a loose fit of the first portions of the vest when worn. 
     
     
         14 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary tension adjuster is generally centered on a front portion of the vest. 
     
     
         15 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary tension adjuster includes a dial for manipulation thereof in the first rotational direction, and wherein the rotary tension adjuster is disposed within a pocket of the vest, the pocket including an opening through which a dial of the rotary tension adjuster extends for manipulation thereof by a wearer of the vest. 
     
     
         16 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary tension adjuster is selectively detachable and reattachable to a plurality of different locations on a front portion of the vest. 
     
     
         34 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable tensioning system further comprises a base plate upon which the rotary tension adjuster is mounted, wherein the base plate includes hook-and-loop fasteners, and wherein a front portion of the vest includes hook-and-loop fasteners that couple with the hook-and-loop fasteners of the base place for selective detachment and reattachment of the base plate to the front portion of the vest at different locations. 
     
     
         35 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable tensioning system further comprises a joiner connecting the first tensioning line to a plurality of tensioning belts, each tensioning belt being coupled to the vest. 
     
     
         36 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 35 , wherein the joiner links the first tensioning line to three tensioning belts. 
     
     
         37 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 35 , wherein the first tensioning line is coupled to the joiner for rotational movement of the joiner relative to the first tensioning line at the location of the attachment. 
     
     
         38 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tensioning line extends from the rotary tension adjuster to a side portion of the vest and is connected to an elastic cord that passes freely through loops respectively attached to the front and rear side portions of the vest. 
     
     
         39 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 38 , wherein the loops are disposed in fixed spaced relation by a rigid spreader bar for preventing bunching, gathering or migration of the rear side portions of the vest during tensioning of the first tensioning line. 
     
     
         40 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the vest comprises a ballistic vest having one or more protective panels. 
     
     
         41 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tensioning line extends from the rotary tension adjuster, is coupled to the vest, and then returns to the rotary tension adjuster. 
     
     
         42 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tensioning line comprises a mono-filament material. 
     
     
         43 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tensioning line comprises a multi-filament material. 
     
     
         44 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tensioning line comprises a cable. 
     
     
         45 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tensioning line comprises nylon. 
     
     
         46 . An article of adjustably fitted protective apparel, comprising:
 (a) a vest;   (b) a rotary tension adjuster that draws within a housing of the rotary tension adjuster a tensioning line during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a first rotational direction thereof; and   (c) means for tensioning a portion of the vest into a snug fit on a body of a wearer of the vest as a result of the drawing, into the housing of the rotary tension adjuster, of the tensioning line during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in the first rotational direction thereof.   
     
     
         47 . The article of adjustably fitted protective apparel of  claim 46 , wherein the rotary tension adjuster further draws into the housing thereof a second tensioning line during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a second rotational direction thereof; and further comprising means for tensioning the vest into a snug fit on a body of a wearer of the vest as a result of the drawing, into the housing of the rotary tension adjuster, of the second tensioning line during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in the second rotational direction thereof. 
     
     
         48 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . An article of adjustably fitted protective apparel, comprising:
 (a) a vest; and   (b) an adjustable tensioning system for selective tensioning of the vest, comprising,
 (i) a rotary tension adjuster disposed on a front portion of the vest and including a housing and first and second spools disposed within the housing, 
 (ii) first and second tensioning lines extending from the housing and coupled directly or indirectly to shoulder portions of the vest, a portion of each of the first and second tensioning lines configured to be wound upon the first spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a first rotational direction thereof, winding of the portions of the first and second tensioning lines on the first spool drawing shoulder portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the vest in the shoulder areas when worn, and 
 (iii) third, fourth, fifth, and sixth tensioning lines extending from the housing and coupled directly or indirectly to side portions of the vest, portions of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth second tensioning lines configured to be wound upon the second spool during manipulation of the rotary tension adjuster in a second rotational direction thereof, winding of the portions of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth tensioning lines on the second spool drawing side portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the vest in the side areas when worn. 
   
     
     
         52 . The article of adjustably fitted protective apparel of  claim 51 , wherein the second rotational direction of the rotary tension adjuster is opposite the first rotational direction thereof.