Adjustable pouch with lace tightening mechanism having enclosed protected laces

Abstract

An adjustable pouch or pocket for carrying an armor plate, integrates a lace tightening system for adjusting the pouch size, fit, and/or tightness about the armor plate, for snuggly holding the armor plate within an interior cavity of the pouch. The pouch can be adjusted for use with armor plates of varying shapes and sizes. The tightening mechanism has a rotatable knob connected to at least one lace extending between an arrangement of panels of the pouch, wherein rotation of the knob in a tightening direction tightens the at least one lace extending between the panels to pull at least two of the panels of the arrangement together in the at least one dimension to tighten the arrangement of panels about the armor plate when received in the interior cavity and such that the shape and size of the interior cavity will be reduced in the at least one dimension to closely equal the shape and size of the armor plate so that the pouch snugly holds the armor plate within the interior cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable pouch for holding an armor plate having a predetermined overall shape and size, comprising: an arrangement of panels defining an interior cavity having an overall shape and size larger than the overall shape and size of the armor plate in at least one dimension, the armor plate being receivable in the interior cavity; and a tightening mechanism coupled to the arrangement, the tightening mechanism comprising a rotatable knob connected to at least one lace extending between the panels, wherein rotation of the knob in a tightening direction tightens the at least one lace extending between the panels to pull at least two of the panels of the arrangement together in the at least one dimension to tighten the arrangement of panels about the armor plate when received in the interior cavity and such that the shape and size of the interior cavity will be reduced in the at least one dimension to closely equal the shape and size of the armor plate so that the pouch snugly holds the armor plate within the interior cavity. 
     
     
         2 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is incorporated into a garment. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 2 , wherein the garment comprises an armor carrier, a tactical vest, a cummerbund, a neck protector, or a groin protector. 
     
     
         4 . A. The adjustable pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the overall shape of the interior cavity of the arrangement of panels and the overall shape of the armor plate is quadrilateral. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the arrangement of panels defines an opening connected to the interior cavity, such that the opening will overlay a surface of the armor plate when received in the interior cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one lace is coupled to one of the panels in a manner to pull the one of the panels toward the opening when the at least one lace is tightened. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one lace is coupled to all of the panels in a manner to pull the panels toward the opening when the at least one lace is tightened. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 7 , wherein the at least, one lace extends across the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable pouch, of  claim 5 , wherein the rotatable knob is disposed on one of the panels beside the opening. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 5 , wherein the opening is centered about the armor plate. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 5 , wherein the panels each include at least one guideway bounding the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the panels of the arrangement of panels defining the interior cavity are integrally attached. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the panels of the arrangement of panels defining an interior cavity are joined together by sewing, fusion, an adhesive, or fasteners. 
     
     
         14 . An adjustable pouch for holding an armor plate, comprising:
 an arrangement of panels bounding an interior cavity, comprising a front panel, a first side panel connected to the front panel along a first side periphery thereof, a second side panel connected to the front panel along a second side periphery thereof opposite the first side periphery, a bottom rear panel connected to the front panel along a bottom periphery thereof extending between the first side periphery and the second side periphery, and an upper rear panel connected to the front panel along an upper periphery thereof extending between the first side periphery and the second side periphery opposite the bottom periphery, the first side panel, the second side panel, the bottom rear panel, and the upper rear panel being spaced from and overlaying an interior surface of the front panel to define the interior cavity and extending in converging relation toward a central opening connected to the interior cavity; and   a tightening mechanism mounted on the pouch and having at least one lace coupled to guideways mounted on at least three of the first side panel, the second side panel, the bottom rear panel, and the upper rear panel, respectively, and bounding the opening in a manner such that tensioning of the at least one lace by the tensioning mechanism will exert a pulling force against the at least three of the first side panel, the second side panel, the bottom rear panel, and the upper rear panel to pull them together toward the opening so as to be capable of bearing against edges of the armor plate when received in the interior cavity to hold the armor plate in the interior cavity.   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the armor plate has a predetermined overall size and shape and the interior cavity has a size and shape that matches at least a portion of the overall size and shape of the armor plate so as to be capable of receiving at least the portion of the armor plate. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the first side panel, the second side panel, the bottom rear panel, and the upper rear panel are integral with the front panel and folded thereover to extend convergingly toward the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the pouch is incorporated into a garment. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 17 , wherein the garment comprises an armor carrier, a tactical vest, a cummerbund, a neck protector, or a groin protector. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the at least three of the first side panel, the second side panel, the bottom rear panel, and the upper rear panel comprises all of those panels. 
     
     
         20 . An adjustable pouch for holding an armor plate, comprising:
 an arrangement of panels bounding an interior cavity, comprising a front panel, a first side panel connected to the front panel along a first side periphery thereof, a second side panel connected to the front panel along a second side periphery thereof opposite the first side periphery, and a bottom rear panel connected to the front panel along a bottom periphery thereof extending between the first side periphery and the second side periphery, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom rear panel being spaced from and overlaying an interior surface of the front panel to define the interior cavity and extending in converging relation toward a central opening connected to the interior cavity; and   a tightening mechanism mounted on the pouch and having at least one lace coupled to guideways mounted on at least the first side panel and the second side panel and bounding the opening in a manner such that tensioning of the at least one lace by the tensioning mechanism will exert a force against at least the first side panel and the second side panel to pull them together.