Ballistic-Resistant Garment Having An Incrementally Adjustable Fit

Abstract

A ballistic-resistant garment having an incrementally-adjustable fit, and methods of making and using such a ballistic-resistant garment, whereby the ballistic-resistant garment includes a front panel having a front panel pocket configured to receive a first ballistic-resistant insert; a back panel having a back panel pocket configured to receive a second ballistic-resistant insert; a front panel first fastener coupled to the front panel; and a plurality of discrete back panel first fasteners coupled in spaced apart relation to the back panel, whereby each of the discrete back panel first fasteners is configured to matably engage with the front panel first fastener to provide a first pair of releasably engaged fasteners which couple the front and back panels to fasten the ballistic-resistant garment about a torso of a wearer.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A ballistic-resistant garment, comprising:
 a front panel having a front panel pocket configured to receive a first ballistic-resistant plate;   a back panel having a back panel pocket configured to receive a second ballistic-resistant plate;   a front panel first fastener coupled to said front panel;   an elongate member coupled to said back panel;   a plurality of discrete back panel first fasteners coupled to said elongate member in spaced apart relation, each of said discrete back panel first fasteners configured to matably engage with said front panel first fastener to provide a first pair of releasably engaged fasteners which couple said front and back panels to fasten said ballistic-resistant garment about a torso of a wearer; and   a cover configured to overlay said elongate member.   
     
     
         43 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 42 , said cover configured to overlay an elongate member outer surface of said elongate member. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 43 , said cover resiliently stretchable. 
     
     
         46 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 45 , said cover resiliently stretchable along a cover length. 
     
     
         47 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 46 , furthering comprising a resiliently stretchable panel disposed between opposing cover right and left ends. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 43 , said cover removably couplable to said back panel. 
     
     
         50 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 49 , said cover removably couplable to said elongate member. 
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 43 , further comprising:
 a cover first attachment element coupled to said cover; and   a front panel first attachment element coupled to said front panel;   said cover first attachment element configured to matably engage with said front panel first attachment element to provide a first pair of releasably engaged attachment elements which couple said cover to said front panel.   
     
     
         53 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 a cover second attachment element coupled to said cover; and   a front panel second attachment element coupled to said front panel;   said cover second attachment element configured to matably engage with said front panel second attachment element to provide a second pair of releasably engaged attachment elements which couple said cover to said front panel.   
     
     
         54 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 53 , said cover first attachment element and said front panel first attachment element comprising a mechanical-magnetic connecting structure. 
     
     
         55 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 54 , said cover second attachment element and said front panel second attachment element also comprising said mechanical-magnetic connecting structure. 
     
     
         56 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 53 , further comprising a hook and loop securement system;
 one hook or loop element coupled to a cover inner surface and the corresponding other hook or loop element coupled to a front panel outer surface.   
     
     
         57 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 56 , further comprising a cover first hook or loop element coupled to said cover to dispose outwardly in relation to said cover first attachment element; and
 a cover second hook or loop element coupled to said cover to dispose outwardly in relation to said cover second attachment element.   
     
     
         58 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 57 , further comprising a front panel first hook or loop element coupled to said front panel to dispose inwardly in relation to said front panel first attachment element; and
 a front panel second hook or loop element coupled to said front panel to dispose inwardly in relation to said front panel second attachment element.   
     
     
         59 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 43 , further comprising one or more slits disposed within said cover. 
     
     
         60 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 43 , further comprising a plurality of slits disposed within said cover in horizontally spaced apart relation. 
     
     
         61 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 43 , further comprising one or more pockets disposed within said cover. 
     
     
         62 . A ballistic-resistant garment, comprising:
 a front panel having a front panel pocket configured to receive a first ballistic-resistant plate;   a back panel having a back panel pocket configured to receive a second ballistic-resistant plate;   a front panel first fastener coupled to said front panel;   a back panel first fastener coupled to said back panel, said back panel first fastener configured to matably engage with said front panel first fastener to provide a first pair of releasably engaged fasteners which couple said front and back panels to fasten said ballistic-resistant garment about a torso of a wearer; and   a cover configured to overlay said first pair of releasably engaged fasteners.   
     
     
         63 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 a front panel second fastener coupled to said front panel; and   a back panel second fastener coupled to said back panel, said back panel second fastener configured to matably engage with said front panel second fastener to provide a second pair of releasably engaged fasteners which couple said front and back panels to fasten said ballistic-resistant garment about a torso of a wearer;   said cover configured to overlay said first and second pair of releasably engaged fasteners.   
     
     
         64 . The ballistic-resistant garment of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 a plurality of discrete back panel first fasteners coupled to said back panel in generally horizontal spaced apart relation, each of said discrete back panel first fasteners configured to matably engage with said front panel first fastener to provide said first pair of releasably engaged fasteners; and   a plurality of discrete back panel second fasteners coupled to said back panel in generally horizontal spaced apart relation, each of said discrete back panel second fasteners configured to matably engage with said front panel second fastener to provide said second pair of releasably engaged fasteners.