Garment system

Abstract

Outerwear garment systems are disclosed having separate components that provide protection from environmental conditions and easy access to protective equipment and accessories for military and non-military uses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment system, comprising:
 a torso covering member; and   a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;   wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a releasable member between said torso covering member and said separate upper back and shoulder covering member.   
     
     
         2 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said releasable member is body armor, gear, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . A garment system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 releasable body armor.   
     
     
         4 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said releasable member is removable by a riser without removing said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member.   
     
     
         5 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member comprises two sleeve portions connected by a yoke portion incorporating a neckhole.   
     
     
         6 . A garment system of  claim 5 ,
 wherein said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member further comprises a head covering member attached to at least a portion of said neckhole.   
     
     
         7 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said sleeve portions are long sleeves.   
     
     
         8 . A garment system of  claim 5 ,
 wherein said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member further comprises at least one storage member.   
     
     
         9 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said torso covering member comprises a front portion, a back portion, and an optional fastener.   
     
     
         10 . A garment system of  claim 9 ,
 wherein said torso covering member further comprises a collar.   
     
     
         11 . A garment system of  claim 9 ,
 wherein said torso covering member further comprises leg covering members.   
     
     
         12 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said torso covering member is made from different materials than said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member.   
     
     
         13 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said separate external upper back and shoulder covering is water-resistant, waterproof, wind-resistant, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said separate external upper back and shoulder covering provides thermal protection.   
     
     
         15 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said torso covering member provides thermal protection.   
     
     
         16 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said torso covering member provides fire resistance, arc protection, moisture management, abrasion resistance, antistatic properties, no melt-no drip properties, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         17 . A garment system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said separate external upper back and shoulder covering provides fire resistance, arc protection, moisture management, abrasion resistance, antistatic properties, no melt-no drip properties, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         18 . A garment system, comprising:
 a plurality of torso covering members, each torso covering, member optionally formed from a different material or a combination of different materials; and   a plurality of separate external upper back and shoulder covering members, each separate external upper back and shoulder covering member optionally formed from a different material or a combination of different materials;   wherein each torso covering member is optionally formed from a material the same as or different from each of said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member;   wherein said garment system is adapted to incorporate a releasable member between said torso covering member and said separate upper back and shoulder covering member; and   wherein each one of said torso covering member can be used with any of said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member.   
     
     
         19 . A garment system of  claim 18 ,
 wherein said releasable member is body armor, gear, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         20 . A garment system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one releasable body armor.   
     
     
         21 . A method of quickly releasing body armor, comprising:
 donning a garment system, comprising:
 an optional torso covering member; 
 a separate external upper back and shoulder covering member; 
 a releasable body armor comprising a quick release mechanism; 
 wherein said releasable body armor member is located between said torso covering member and said separate upper back and Shoulder covering member; and 
 wherein said releasable body armor may be released from said garment system without first removing said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member or said optional torso covering member: 
   doffing said releasable body armor by using said quick release mechanism without first removing said separate external upper back and shoulder covering member or said optional torso covering member.