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; 
   (c) wherein the adjustable tensioning system further comprises a distribution channel system through which the tensioning line extends, a first distribution channel of the distribution channel system sheathing the first tensioning line.   
     
     
         2 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first distribution channel comprises an elongate section that sheathes the first tensioning line and an outrigger section that extends from the elongate section to provide stability and support to the elongate section during tensioning of the first tensioning line. 
     
     
         3 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first distribution channel comprises a layer of material that is coupled to a surface of the vest in overlapping relation to the first tensioning line. 
     
     
         4 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 3 , wherein the first distribution channel further comprises a tubular member through which the first tensioning line extends, the layer of material overlapping the tubular member through which the first tensioning line extends. 
     
     
         5 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution channel system includes a C-shaped section proximate a side portion of the vest. 
     
     
         6 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution channel system includes a C-shaped section proximate a shoulder portion of the vest. 
     
     
         7 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the first tensioning line fully encircles a wearer of the vest by extending from the rotary tension adjuster, passing through a left upper torso distribution channel formed in a front portion of the vest, passing through a left line spreader, passing through a distribution channel formed in a back portion of the vest, passing through a right line spreader, passing through a right upper torso distribution channel formed in another front portion of the vest, and returning to the rotary tension adjuster. 
     
     
         8 . 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; 
   (c) wherein a second tensioning line extends from the housing and is coupled directly or indirectly to the vest, a portion of the second 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 second tensioning line on the first spool also drawing the first portions of the vest together for providing a snug fit of the first portions of the vest when worn, and wherein the first tensioning line comprises an upper side torso tensioning line that extends from the rotary tension adjuster toward a side portion of the vest, and wherein the second tensioning line comprises a lower side torso tensioning line that extends from the rotary tension adjuster toward the side portion below and in spaced relation to the upper side torso tensioning line.   
     
     
         9 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 8 , wherein both the upper side torso tensioning line and the lower side torso tensioning line are coupled to the side portion of the vest by way of a line spreader. 
     
     
         10 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 9 , wherein the line spreader is coupled to a back portion of the vest by a quick-release buckle. 
     
     
         11 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 9 , wherein the line spreader comprises a rigid, elongate member that maintains a fixed distance between opposed ends thereof, and wherein the upper and lower side torso tensioning lines are coupled to the line spreader at the respective opposed ends thereof, whereby bunching or gathering of the vest about the midriff of the wearer is prevented during tensioning of the side portion. 
     
     
         12 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 11 , wherein the upper and lower side torso tensioning lines comprise separate lines that are coupled at opposite respective ends thereof to the line spreader and to the rotary tensioner adjuster. 
     
     
         13 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 11 , wherein the upper and lower torso lines pass through the line spreader and through distribution channels formed in the side portion of the vest for coupling of the lines to a back portion of the vest. 
     
     
         14 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the upper and lower side torso tensioning lines are respective portions of a single line. 
     
     
         15 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 14 , wherein the single line forming the upper and lower side torso tensioning lines slides freely through a channel defined by the line spreader. 
     
     
         16 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 15 , wherein a first end of the single line is fixedly attached to the rotary tension adjuster and wherein a second end of the single line is spooled within the rotary tension adjuster. 
     
     
         17 . The article of protective apparel of  claim 15 , wherein opposite ends of the single line both are spooled within the rotary tension adjuster. 
     
     
         18 . A method for adjustably tensioning an article of protective apparel, comprising the step of manipulating a rotary tension adjuster in a first rotational direction thereof to draw together first sections of a vest. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of manipulating the rotary tension adjuster in a second rotational direction thereof opposite to the first rotational direction thereof to draw together second sections of the vest. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each step of manipulating the rotary tension adjuster comprises manually rotating a dial of the rotary tension adjuster.