Hook and Loop Fastener Doffing System

Abstract

A quick-release garment has portions connected about a wearer and held in place by hook and loop fasteners. Quick-release tabs are connected to a rear portion of a hook and loop fastener element so as to extend along it and to project along an opposite end in a position making a loop piece accessible by the wearer. By pulling on the loop piece, the wearer causes the connected fastener to fold on to itself, thereby peeling apart the hook and loop fastener assembly. Such an arrangement is provided in a plate-carrying vest garment at a shoulder and at a cummerbund to allow convenient and rapid doffing of the garment, while being simply reassembled after such removal.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A garment with a quick-release connection between two segments, comprising:
 a garment front panel having a garment first segment having a receiving part;   a first fastener element connected to the receiving part;   a garment second segment having a stripping part with a surface which faces the first fastener element and an opposite surface facing away from the first fastener element;   a second fastener element affixed to the surface which faces the first fastener element of the receiving part, wherein one of the first fastener element and the second fastener element comprises a region of hook fastener material, and the other of the first fastener element and the second fastener element comprises a region of loop fastener material, such that the first fastener element and the second fastener element are connected as a hook and loop fastener to define a fastener region which retains the garment first segment in connection with the garment second segment, the fastener region having a remote margin and a near margin spaced in a first direction from the remote margin;   a third fastener element being either a loop fastener material or a hook fastener material, the third fastener element being positioned on the opposite surface facing away from the first fastener element of the receiving part;   a flap connected to the garment front panel, the flap having thereon either a loop fastener material or a hook fastener material to selectively overlie and engage with the third fastener element; and   a quick release tab connected to the second fastener element at the fastener region remote margin, and the quick release tab extending along the stripping part to extend across the near margin of the fastener region, the quick release tab being graspable by a wearer of the quick-release garment assembly, such that a force applied to the quick release tab causes the second fastener element to peel away from the first fastener element such that the stripping part folds over itself and to cause the second fastener element and quick release tab to pass across the near margin thereby separating the first garment segment from the second garment segment.   
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6  further comprising a releaseable engagement between the quick release tab and the first garment element to retain the quick release tab in position for ready access by a wearer prior to separating the first garment segment from the second garment segment. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 6  wherein the flap comprises a cover panel connected to the garment and extending over the fastener region and defining an exit opening; and wherein the quick release tab extends through the opening to protrude beyond the cover panel. 
     
     
         9 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The quick-release garment assembly of  claim 20  wherein the quick-release tab comprises a looped strip of material which extends through a central hole in a rigid loop piece. 
     
     
         14 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A garment with a quick-release connection between two segments, comprising:
 a front panel of a vest having a garment first segment;   a first fastener element affixed to the garment first segment;   a flap which is pivotably attached to the garment first segment along an attachment margin which allows the flap to be pivoted on the attachment margin, the flap having a third fastener element, the flap having a free margin not along the attachment margin;   a garment second segment having a first surface facing in a first direction, and an opposite surface facing in an opposite direction, the garment second segment having a remote margin, and a near margin spaced from the remote margin;   a second fastener element connected to the garment second segment extending along the first surface and positioned between the remote margin and the near margin, wherein one of the first fastener element and the second fastener element comprises a region of hook fastener material, and the other of the first fastener element and the second fastener element comprises a region of loop fastener material, such that the first fastener element and the second fastener element are connected as a hook and loop fastener to define a fastener region which retains the garment first segment in connection with the garment second segment;   a fourth fastener element connected to the garment second segment extending along the opposite surface;   wherein the flap third fastener element comprises a region of hook fastener material or loop fastener material to form a hook and loop fastener when engaged with the first or fourth fastener element which retains the flap in connection with the first garment segment overlying the garment second segment; and   a quick release tab connected to the garment second segment at the garment second segment remote margin, and extending along the garment second segment to pass beneath the flap free margin, the quick release tab being graspable by a wearer of the quick-release garment assembly, such that a force applied to the quick release tab in a direction from the remote margin towards the near margin causes the second fastener element to peel away from the first fastener element to cause the second fastener element and quick release tab to pass beneath the flap free margin thereby separating the second garment segment from the first garment segment.   
     
     
         21 . The garment of  claim 20  wherein the garment second segment comprises portions of a cummerbund element which extends from a vest rear panel, the garment second segment extending across portions of the garment first segment, and wherein the flap attachment margin extends above the second garment segment when it is attached to the garment first segment. 
     
     
         22 . The garment of  claim 21  wherein the direction from the remote margin towards the near margin extends along the front panel of the vest.