EP3321626B1 - Protective vest, in particular bulletproof vest or armour carrier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a protective vest, in particular a plate holder or bulletproof vest.

A protective vest is intended to be worn by a user, for example a member of the police, a military or the like, to protect him against blows, such as kicks, punches or the like, or impacts. projectiles, such as bullets or the like, and / or against stab wounds or the like.

Conventionally, a protective vest comprises a front face intended, when the vest is worn, to be at the front of the wearer, a rear face intended to be located on the wearer's back, the two front and rear faces being connected by two side flanks, left and right respectively, and by two shoulder parts, left and right respectively, a hole for the head thus being formed between the two left and right shoulder parts and the upper edges of the two front and rear faces , and two holes being formed between each side and a respective shoulder to allow the passage of the user's arms.

It is known that the front face is removable / detachable from the rest of the vest, for example by means of buckle-type fasteners, consisting of a male end and a female end, each male / female end being attached to the front face and penetrating into a female end, fixed to the rest of the vest, at least one of the two male and female end pieces being fixed to its respective element by via a strap, the length of which can be adjusted by the user to adapt the vest to his size and / or body size.

These protective vests, in particular the plate carriers of the prior art have the particular drawback that the effectiveness of the vest vis-à-vis impacts or blows varies depending on the build of the person wearing the vest, and in particular this efficiency decreases as the body size of the user is increasingly removed from the body size corresponding to the so-called normal size of use of the vest. In particular, when the user has a build that is too different from this so-called normal size provided for a given plate holder, the plates inserted in the plate holder are badly positioned relative to their position allowing the best protection for the wearer. As a result, although these vests of the prior art can be adapted to different body sizes of user, the loss of protective efficiency, when the vest is suited to a body too far from the average or normal body size of use. , so that the purchasing department of an army, a police force or the like must nevertheless stock different sizes of vest, resulting in high storage costs. In addition, the adjustment of the size and / or the build of the vest by means of the straps is not simple.

Of CA 2 160 319 , a protective vest is known having a front face and a rear face interconnected by removable fixing means in the form of tongues. The respective edges of the front and rear faces, in the fixing position, come substantially opposite one another to provide protection. lateral which is not, however, complete all around the waist of the wearer. In addition, this vest is not easily adaptable to the body of the wearer.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a protective vest, in particular a plate carrier, which is easy to put on, and in particular which allows easy adjustment of the size of the vest, including less the front face is removable, and which moreover can be used by at least two people of very different builds from each other, without one of the two people being able to do other than wear the waistcoat of one manner which is not perfectly suited to it, in particular in an asymmetrical manner.

According to the invention, a protective vest is as defined in claim 1, improvements being defined in the sub-claims.

By thus providing to be able to position at least one sidewall in different positions relative to the back of the vest, the effectiveness of the vest in protecting the wearer against impacts or blows is improved, and in particular it is obtained that this effectiveness is independent of the body size of the person wearing the vest and in particular is optimal for any body size. Thanks to this modularity, it is possible to ensure that the apex of the curvature of the sidewall or of each sidewall is located substantially midway between the front and rear faces when the vest is worn. Thus, several people of different build can use the same vest, each having the possibility of carrying out the above adjustment for his own use. The waistcoat being better balanced, its resistance to knocks or impacts is improved. As a result, a purchasing department of an army, police or the like needs a smaller stock of waistcoat sizes to meet all of its needs.

Preferably, the rear face comprises a rear flap which can pivot between two positions, a deployed position in which the removable side or each removable side is accessible at the level of its removable attachment with the rear side and a folded position in which the side or each side is covered and not accessible at the level of its removable attachment to the rear face.

Preferably, in the folded down position, the flap is removably attached to the sidewall or to each sidewall, in particular by means of a self-gripping hook and loop fastening.

Preferably, the rear face comprises a plurality of marks, in particular in the form of vertical lines, at a regular distance from each other in the horizontal direction, in particular marked by marks, the positioning of a given point of the or of each flank removable, in particular from the lateral end point on the side of the rear face, for example from the vertical rear lateral edge, in front of a given mark corresponding to a given size or build of the vest.

In particular, the front face, the rear face and the side (s), when they are fixed to each other by the removable fixing means, go around the waist of the wearer, in particular over a height at least equal to that of the side (s).

In particular, the removable fixing of the sidewall or of each sidewall to the front face is effected by a lateral buckle or a respective lateral buckle made up of two side end pieces, one, male or female, fixed to the front face and the other, female or male, attached to the respective side or side.

In particular, the attachment of the side end piece or the respective female or male side end piece, to the respective sidewall or sidewall is carried out by means of a side strap or a respective side strap attached to the sidewall or to the sidewall. respective sidewall at a rear end and having the respective side end or side end at a front end.

Preferably, the attachment of the side strap or of the respective side strap to the respective blank or sidewall is removable, in particular by means of a self-gripping hook and loop fastening.

Preferably, the sidewall or each sidewall comprises a side flap or a respective side flap which can pivot between two positions, a deployed position in which the lateral strap or the respective side strap is accessible at the level of the removable attachment with the sidewall or the sidewall. respective and a folded position in which the side strap or the respective side strap is covered and not directly accessible from the outside (in particular is not visible from the outside) at its removable attachment to the respective side or side.

Preferably, in the folded down position, the respective side flap or side flap is removably attached to the side strap or the side strap. respective, in particular by means of a hook-and-loop fastening with hooks and loops.

Preferably, the sidewall or each sidewall comprises a plurality of marks, in particular in the form of vertical lines at a regular distance from each other, the positioning of a given point of the side strap or of the respective side strap, in particular of the point end of the side of the rear face, for example of the vertical rear lateral edge, facing a given mark corresponding to a given size or build of the vest.

In a preferred embodiment, two stripe-shaped shoulder members extend from the upper edge of the rear face, and the front face is removably attached to a shoulder member or to each shoulder member. shoulder.

In particular, the removable attachment of the shoulder element or of each shoulder element to the front face is effected by a shoulder loop or a respective shoulder loop consisting of two shoulder end pieces, the one, male or female, attached to the front face and the other, female or male, attached to the shoulder element or the respective shoulder element.

In particular, the attachment of the shoulder end piece or of each female or male shoulder end piece, to the shoulder element or to the respective shoulder element is carried out by means of a strap. 'shoulder or a respective shoulder strap attached to the respective shoulder member or shoulder member at a rear end and having the respective shoulder end or shoulder end at a front end.

Preferably, the attachment of the shoulder strap or the respective shoulder strap to the shoulder element or to the respective shoulder element is removable, in particular by means of a hook-and-loop attachment. hook and loop.

Preferably, the shoulder member or each shoulder member has a respective shoulder flap or shoulder flap pivotable between two positions, a deployed position in which the shoulder strap or the shoulder strap respective is accessible at the removable attachment with the respective shoulder element or shoulder element and a folded-down position in which the respective shoulder strap or shoulder strap is covered and not accessible at its removable attachment to the shoulder element or to the respective shoulder element.

Preferably, the shoulder element or each shoulder element comprises a plurality of marks, in particular in the form of parallel lines at a regular distance from each other, in particular numbered, the positioning of a given point of the strap. 'shoulder or the respective shoulder strap, in particular from the side end point on the side of the rear face, for example of a rear side edge, opposite a given mark corresponding to a given size or build of the vest .

According to a preferred embodiment, the front face comprises four male or female buckle end pieces, two intended to cooperate with two female or male buckle end pieces from the two left and right sides and two intended to cooperate with two female or male end pieces. two shoulder members extending from the rear face.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the protective vest is a plate holder, at least one respective plate being received in the front face and / or the rear face, and preferably also in each of the sides.

In the case of such a plate carrier, it is ensured that whatever the size set by the user, the plates, in particular the side plates, are correctly positioned in the vest for optimum protection.

This results in a reduced need to have available a stock of plates of different sizes to adapt to each individual wearing the vest, thus further reducing the cost of storing and / or using the plate holders for the service. purchase of an army, police or the like.

According to a second aspect of the invention, which can be implemented advantageously in combination with the first aspect, while being, independently of the first aspect, an invention in itself, a bulletproof vest, comprising at least one side front detachable from the rest of the vest by means of an actuating handle of the quick detachment from the front face, is characterized in that the handle is disposed and arranged on the front face so that when actuating the handle performs a movement in a direction substantially horizontal, in particular perpendicular to the front face.

By providing such an arrangement for the movement of the handle, a more natural tearing movement is obtained for the person carrying out the detachment and which corresponds better to the desired action.

In fact, to cause the handle to perform this horizontal movement, the wearer grasps the handle with one of his hands by bending his arm and then extending it in front of him. This movement of extension of the arm, more natural for a tearing, allows it to impart to the handle a great force which quickly triggers the detachment. In addition, the movement of the hand and / or the arm is not hampered by the possible presence of an object hanging on the front face under the handle. At the same time, the actuation of the handle by a person facing the wearer of the vest is easier than in the prior art, the movement that he must perform to do this (pulled towards oneself or sideways) being more intuitive. , that is to say in particular easier to understand for a user who does not know in advance the way in which the vest works, than the movement which he had to perform in the devices of the prior art (push down) .

Preferably, the front face is connected to the rest of the vest by one or more removable fasteners, the fastener or each fastener being connected to the handle by one or more cables.

In particular, the vest comprises several, in particular four, male or female end pieces from the front face which cooperate with several, in particular four, corresponding female or male end pieces from the rest of the vest, the male or female end pieces being arranged substantially at the corners of the front face and each being connected to the handle by cables which extend inside the front face The system consists of cables.

Preferably, the cables from each male or female end piece meet at a junction point, itself connected by a cable to the handle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the handle consists of a flattened annular band so as to present two parallel longitudinal sub-bands, respectively inner and outer, joining at their end and separated by a gap in which the user inserts the fingers. to grab the handle and operate it.

In particular, the two respectively inner and outer longitudinal sub-bands extend horizontally and parallel to the front face, being pressed against the latter.
they are thus hardly visible to a person facing the wearer of the vest.

Preferably, the inner face of the inner band comprises means for removable fixing of the band to the front face, for example by a hook and loop system.

Preferably, the outer band is removably fixed by its inner face to the outer face of the inner band, for example by a system of hooks and loops arranged respectively on the opposite faces.

Preferably, the two parallel horizontal bands forming the handle are located substantially at the level of the upper edge of the front face, so that in the starting position of the pulling movement of the handle, the arm is in the folded position allowing the Maximum action of the biceps, triceps and / or shoulders during the pulling action of the handle.

Preferably, the arrangement is such that moving the handle to the left only energizes and pulls the cables connected to the right hand clips while moving the handle to the right only puts tension on and pulls. the left fasteners, so that pulling the handle to the left only detaches the right fasteners and vice versa.

la figure 1

est une vue en perspective d'un mode de réalisation d'un gilet pare-balles ou porte-plaques suivant l'invention, à l'état tel que porté ;

la figure 2

est une vue de derrière de la face arrière du porte-plaques de la figure 1, la face arrière étant détachée de la face avant et des deux flancs gauche et droit ;

la figure 3

est une vue de derrière d'une partie du porte-plaques constituée de la face arrière de la figure 2 et des deux flancs gauche et droit fixés à la face arrière ;

la figure 4

est une vue sensiblement identique à la figure 2, dans laquelle cependant un volet d'épaule droite est à l'état déployé, tandis que ce volet est à l'état rabattu à la figure 2, état rabattu dans lequel il immobilise la sangle dans une position réglée choisie par l'utilisateur ;

la figure 5

est une vue de côté gauche du porte-plaques de la figure 1, dans laquelle, comme à la figure 1, les différents éléments sont fixés les uns aux autres, mais dans lequel cependant un volet gauche du flanc gauche est déployé, tandis qu'à la figure 1, ce volet est rabattu ;

la figure 6

est une vue de côté gauche du porte-plaques des figures précédentes, dans laquelle le volet gauche est déployé ;

les figures

7A, 7B et 7C représentent le porte-plaques porté par l'utilisateur, ce dernier ayant agrippé la poignée, dans des positions successives lors du détachement de la face avant du reste du gilet;

la figure 8

représente le porte-plaques porté par l'utilisateur, ce dernier, à partir de la position de la figure 7A, ayant effectué un mouvement du bras, de sorte que la main ayant agrippé la poignée se déplace à l'horizontale, non plus face à l'utilisateur en s'éloignant de la face avant perpendiculairement à celle-ci comme aux figures 7B et 7C, mais horizontalement parallèlement à la face avant vers sa droite, en vue de détacher uniquement les boucles gauches de la face avant et donc de détacher la face avant uniquement partiellement du reste du porte-plaques, c'est à dire uniquement son côté gauche ; et

la figure 9

représente le système constitué de câbles, de boucles et d'une poignée insérée dans la face avant du porte-plaques et permettant le détachement rapide de celle-ci.

By way of example, an embodiment of a bulletproof vest according to the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

figure 1

is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bulletproof vest or plate holder according to the invention, in the state as worn;

figure 2

is a rear view of the rear face of the plate holder of the figure 1 , the rear face being detached from the front face and the two left and right sides;

figure 3

is a rear view of part of the plate holder consisting of the rear face of the figure 2 and two left and right sidewalls fixed to the rear face;

figure 4

is a view substantially identical to the figure 2 , in which however a right shoulder flap is in the deployed state, while this flap is in the folded state at the figure 2 , folded state in which it immobilizes the strap in an adjusted position chosen by the user;

figure 5

is a left side view of the plate holder from the figure 1 , in which, as in figure 1 , the different elements are fixed to each other, but in which however a left flap of the left flank is deployed, while at the figure 1 , this shutter is folded;

figure 6

is a left side view of the plate holder of the previous figures, in which the left flap is deployed;

the figures

7A, 7B and 7C represent the plate holder carried by the user, the latter having gripped the handle, in successive positions during the detachment of the front face from the rest of the vest;

figure 8

represents the plate holder carried by the user, the latter, from the position of the figure 7A , having carried out a movement of the arm, so that the hand having gripped the handle moves horizontally, no longer facing the user by moving away from the front face perpendicular to it as with the figures 7B and 7C , but horizontally parallel to the front face towards its right, with a view to detaching only the left loops from the front face and therefore to detaching the front face only partially from the rest of the plate holder, that is to say only its left side; and

figure 9

represents the system made up of cables, loops and a handle inserted in the front face of the plate holder and allowing its rapid detachment.

To the figure 1 , we see a vest in a perspective view in the state as it is used, but without the user.

The vest comprises an element forming the front face 1 consisting of a substantially rectangular plate intended to be in contact with the torso of the wearer of the vest and which comprises reinforcement means for protection against bullet impacts or stab wounds or analogues, for example in the form of plates 90 inserted in housings formed in the element, for example in the form of ceramic plates or other very resistant materials inserted in pockets formed in the element 1.

The vest comprises an element forming the back or rear face 2 consisting of a substantially rectangular plate intended to be in contact with the back of the wearer of the vest and which comprises reinforcement means for protection against bullet impacts or blows. knife or the like, for example in the form of plates inserted in housings formed in the element, for example in the form of ceramic plates or other very resistant materials inserted in pockets formed in the element 2.

From this element forming the rear face 2 extend two shoulder elements in the form of bands, respectively left 4 and right 5, making the connection from above between the upper edge of the rear face 2 and that of the front face 1 and which are in contact by their respective lower surface with the shoulders of the user to form between them and in cooperation with the upper edge of the front face 1 and the upper edge of the rear face 2 a hole large enough for the passage of the wearer's head, but not wide enough to allow passage of the rest of the body.

The plate carrier further comprises two lateral flanks, respectively left 6 and right 7, which form the junction between lower parts respectively of the front and rear faces 1 and 2 to protect the wearer on its flanks. These flanks 6, 7 may, like the elements forming the front and rear face, comprise reinforcing means for protection against bullet impacts or stab wounds or the like, for example in the form of plates inserted into housings formed in element.

The sides 6 and 7 have a height or vertical dimension (considered when the wearer is wearing the vest while standing upright, in particular as shown in figure 1 ) less than that of the front and rear faces 1 and 2 to make it possible to form a sufficient passage for the user's arms between the shoulder bands and the upper edges of the sides.

To the figures 2 and 4 , there is shown a rear part of the vest, consisting of the rear face 2 and the two shoulder bands 4 left and 5 right coming from the rear face. The outer surface of the rear face 2 comprises two regions, respectively lower 9 and upper 10, each of substantially rectangular shape, the lower region having a dimension in height substantially equal to those of the left 6 and right 7 sides.

On the lower region 9, it has been affixed, by sewing, gluing, welding or the like, a loop fabric (for example a loop woven fabric or a velvet) which thus forms a rectangular field 12 of loops intended to cooperate. with hooks of a self-gripping hook-and-loop closure well known in the field.

An element 11 forming a shutter, of dimensions substantially identical to those of the field 12 of loops, extends from the delimitation line 13 between the two lower 9 and upper 10 regions of the outer surface of the rear face. On one 15 of its two opposite faces, the flap 11 comprises a rectangular field of hooks intended to cooperate with the loops of the field 12 when the flap is applied, by its face 15 with hooks, against the loop field 12.

The shutter is fixed, for example by sewing along one of its horizontal edges, so as to be able to pivot, relative to an axis corresponding to the delimitation line 13, between at least one deployed position (shown in figures 2 and 4 ) in which the earth of the hooks is at a distance from the loop field 12, in particular, as shown in figures 2 and 4 , in which the shutter extends vertically opposite the region 9 lower than the line 13, and a folded position, in which the hooked face 15 of the shutter is in contact with the field 12 of the loops of the lower region 9, so that the hooks of the hooked face 15 engage the loops of the loop field 12 and provides a hook-and-loop fastening with hooks and loops of the shutter to the rear face, the shutter, in this folded position extending vertically below the line 13. The field of hooks can be produced, for example, by a web of thermoplastic material hooks affixed to one of the faces of the shutter, in particular by gluing, rolling, welding, sewing or the like.

On the other hand, the lower region 9 comprises a zone 16 in the form of a strip comprising parallel lines at a distance from each other marked by references 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 to the left and to the right, of which the The utility will be described below. These lines are preferably vertical. The lines and markers can be made directly on the fabric 12 with loops or be made up of a strip without loop attached to the fabric with loops or even by leaving when placing the fabric 12 with loops on region 9 a window without loop of the desired shape for zone 16. In addition, zone 16 is inside field 12 of loops, but this is not an obligation and provision could be made to form it outside field 12 , above or below it. Likewise, in the figures, the zone 16 is located in the upper part of the field 12 and / or of the lower region 9, but it could also be positioned in the lower part or in the middle without departing from the scope of the invention. Preferably, the zone 16 in the form of a strip is arranged symmetrically with respect to the left and right vertical edges of the rear face.

To the figure 6 , the right flank 7 is shown. The left flank 6 is identical in shape to the right flank 7, while being the image as in a mirror of the right flank. The right sidewall 7 consists of a base plate 20 of substantially rectangular shape, the outer surface of which (that is to say intended to be on the side opposite to the wearer in the worn state) defines three zones 21, 22 and 23 successive rectangular ones, namely a left end zone 21, a central zone 22 and a right end zone 23. A cover flap 24 is pivotally mounted relative to the upper edge 27 of the plate 20, at the level of the central zone 22, so that by pivoting the shutter can move from a deployed position (as in the figure 6 ) in which the shutter is at a distance from the plate 20, in particular is vertically above the central zone 22 of the plate 20 to a folded position in which the shutter 24 is applied against the zone 22 of the plate 20.

Zone 21 is covered with a fabric with loops forming a field of loops intended to cooperate with the hooks of the hooked face 15 of the flap 11 of the rear face, in the folded state of the flap 11. The central zone 22 is also covered with a looped fabric while the face of the flap 24 intended to be applied to the central zone 22 is covered with a web with hooks, the hooks being intended to engage in the loops of the looped fabric of the zone central for mutual fixing of the shutter 24 to the central zone 22.

The end zone 23 is intended to adapt to the front face 1 in the position of use of the vest, either over the front face or from below. It could also be envisaged not to provide an end zone 23 and to have the plate 20 end with the central zone 22 in correspondence with the cover flap 24.

The central zone 22 comprises a region in the form of a rectangular strip 26, the length direction of which extends parallel to the upper edge 27 of the plate 20 and substantially horizontally, in particular perpendicular to the left and right edges 30 and 31 respectively of the plate 20. The strip 26 comprises parallel vertical lines at a regular distance from each other and identified by references 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, from left to right. These traits are from preferences parallel to the side edges 30 and 31 of the plate 20. The marks and / or lines can be made directly from the loop fabric of the central zone 22 or consist of a strip without a loop attached to the loop fabric or by leaving, when laying the loop fabric on the central zone 22, a window without a loop of the shape desired for the zone 26.

On the other hand, the sidewall 7 comprises an elongated strap 32 terminated at its right end by a female end piece 33 intended to cooperate with a male end piece 34 of a removable closure with buckles coming from the front face 1. Hooks emerge from the inside face of the elongated strap 32 to cooperate with the loops of the looped fabric of the central zone 22 to ensure the adjustable removable attachment of this strap 32 to the plate 20. Thus, the positioning of the strap can be adjusted. left side edge 40 of the strap 32 with respect to lines 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 of the strip 26 to choose the position of the female end 33, each mark 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 thus corresponding to a respective given position of the strap 32, and therefore of the end piece 33, relative to the plate 20.

On the outer face 42 of the strap 32 opposite to the central zone 22, provision can be made to affix a fabric with loops to cooperate with the hooks of the flap 24 when the latter is folded over the central zone 22 to ensure an even better fixing. of the strap 32 on the sidewall 7.

Preferably, the strap 32 extends approximately halfway up the plate 20, below the strip 26.

The inner surface of the end zone 21 is covered with hooks to cooperate with the loops of the field 12 of the loops of the rear face 3.

The composition of left flank 6 (which can be seen in figures 1 , 3 and 5 ) is identical to that described for the right sidewall 7 and comprises the same elements as the sidewall 7, these elements bearing the same numerical references (however with inversion of the left and right terms). To the figures 1 and 3 , the sidewall 6 is shown with the flap 24 folded down, while at the figure 5 , it is shown with the flap 24 deployed.

Plates made of an impact and / or puncture-resistant material, in particular ceramic, are received in housings in the form of pockets formed in the front face 1, in the two flanks 6 and 7 and in the rear face 2. To the figure 6 , we can see the plate 90 received in a pocket of the side 7 right. To the figure 6 , the plate is shown in the state partially taken out of its pocket by way of illustration. Once the plate has completely entered the pocket, the latter is closed by covering on the top by the flap 24. The left sidewall 6 likewise comprises a plate 90 received in an identical pocket.

Preferably, the position of the plates 90 is determined in correspondence with the marks 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 defining the different possible sizes of the vest, so that for a given size, for example size 1, in which the edges side 30 of the two sides are in front of the mark 1 of the strip 16 of the rear face and the edge 40 of the straps 32 are in front of the mark 1 of the strip 26, the respective plate 90 of each side is perfectly positioned for the carrier of the plate holder, that is to say in perfect symmetry between the front face and the rear face.

The rear and front faces include pockets in the form of housings receiving plates of the same type as the plates 90. These front and rear plates are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical axis of the vest.

The user can position the left and 7 right sides 6 as he sees fit with respect to the back, in particular by choosing the position of the side edges 30 of the respectively right and left end zones 21 with respect to the marks formed on the strip 16 of the rear face to thus adapt the dimensions of the vest to its body size, in particular by adapting the distance between the front face and the rear face, in particular so that the apex of the curvature of each flank is approximately at mid-distance of the two front and rear faces and the side plates 90 symmetrical with respect to the front and rear faces.

Each of the shoulder bands 4 and 5 comprises a respective strap 50 terminated by a female end piece 51 intended to cooperate with a respective male end piece 52 coming from the front face to ensure the attachment of the respective shoulder band 4, 5 to the shoulder. face 2 front. Each shoulder band further comprises a rectangular strip 53 forming a strip affixed to the outer face of each band 4 and 5 and comprising regularly spaced parallel lines identified by references 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. The outer face of the strap 50 further comprises an area 54 formed of a fabric with loops. The strap 50 has a length which can be settled. The length of the strap 50 is adjusted by positioning the lower edge 56 of the area 54 relative to the marks on the strip 53. In addition, a flap 57 is attached to the shoulder band so as to be able to pass through. between a deployed position (see band 5 right at figure 4 ) in a folded down position (see band 4 on figure 4 or bands 4 and figures 1 , 2 and 3 ). Hooks project from the face of the flap 57 intended to come into contact with the loops of the looped fabric of the area 54 to finalize the immobilization of the strap 50 relative to the strip 5. Another flap 58 then folds back onto the shutter 57. The mutual fixing of the two shutters 57, 58 can be effected by means of hooks and loops from their respective facing face.

To adapt the vest to his body size, the wearer performs the following steps:
First, the wearer selects a size 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 or an intermediate size that he was able to determine in advance when using the vest beforehand. He then fixes the straps 42 on each of the sides 6 and 7 by positioning the end edge 40 in front of the chosen size then he folds the flaps 24 over the central zones 22.

It then positions the end edges 30 of the two left and right flanks facing one of the respective markers 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 of zone 16, preferably on the same mark value, for example both. edges each on the left and right 1 respectively of the strip 16, as shown in figure 3 . The hooks from the inner faces of the end regions 21 cooperate with the loops of the field 12 to achieve a fixing of sides 6 and 7 on the rear face. He then folds down the flap 11 to obtain a rear element consisting of the rear face and the two flanks attached to the rear face.

He then positions the straps 50 on the respective shoulder bands while also selecting the size that suits him for this part of the vest and folds down the flaps 57 and 58 to finalize the mutual attachment of the strap to the shoulder band.

He then only has to position the rear element thus adjusted (with up to six parameters that he can adjust, one for each side strap, one for each side in relation to the rear side, and one for each strap of the shoulder bands) on the front face by coupling the female elements 33 and 51 to the corresponding male elements 34 and 52.

Throughout the application, a self-gripping hook-and-loop fastening has been described for elements comprising a field of loops cooperating with hooks or field of hooks. It would obviously be possible in each case to reverse the position of the hooks and loops, for example by providing the flap 11 with a field of loops and the lower region 9 of the rear face 3 with hooks. One could also achieve a self-gripping hook-in-hook fastening, the field of loops being replaced by a field of hooks which have a shape adapted to mesh with the other hooks to obtain a hook-in-hook attachment also well known in the field.

Similarly, the buckle elements with male and female ends are described by providing the male elements on the front face and the female elements on the rear face, but the reverse can also be expected. It is also possible to provide for a mixing. In addition, instead of buckles, one could provide another system for mutual fixing of the front face to the other elements (shoulders and sides), for example a system with press buttons, hooks or any other similar system.

Tabs 60, 61 and 62 are respectively provided on the flaps 11 and 24 and on the plates 20 to help the wearer to handle them, in particular to peel off the hook-and-loop fasteners.

To the figure 1 , you can see the vest in its final position of use. We also see the front face 1. The latter comprises four male end pieces 34 and 52 which cooperate with the female end pieces 33 and 51 of the rear element. These four male end caps are arranged substantially at the four corners of the front face and are interconnected by cables which extend inside the front face (but could also extend inside the vest, along from the inside of the front panel).

The system consisting of cables, male ends and a quick release handle for the common detachment of the male parts of the corresponding female ends of the buckles is shown in figure 9 .

The cables 80 from each male end meet at an actuation handle 70.

The handle 70 is arranged with respect to the front face so that the movement of the arm necessary for its actuation causes the hand having gripped the handle to perform a movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the outer surface of the front face, which allows the wearer to impart a very high breakout force to the handle, facilitating rapid release. In addition, the movement of the hand is not hampered by the possible presence of an object hanging on the front face under the handle.

The handle consists of a flattened annular band so as to present two parallel longitudinal sub-bands meeting at their end and separated by a gap in which the user inserts the fingers to grip the handle and actuate it. The two respectively outer and inner longitudinal sub-bands extend horizontally and parallel to the plane of the outer surface of the front face, being pressed against the latter, so that they are hardly visible to a person facing the front face. wearer of the vest. The inner face of the inner band comprises means for removable fixing of the band to the front face, for example by a hook and loop system, while the outer band is removably fixed by its inner face to the outer face of the band. the inner band, for example by a fabric with loops and associated hooks respectively arranged on the facing faces. However, the strength of this attachment is chosen to be low to allow easy and rapid tearing of the outer band from the inner band. The two parallel horizontal bands forming the handle are located substantially at the level of the upper edge of the front face, so that in the starting position of the pulling movement of the handle, the arm is in the folded position allowing maximum action of the biceps. during the pulling action of the handle.

Each cable 80 extends between a respective end piece and the handle. The cable 80 is arranged, in a known manner, with respect to an elastic tab of its male end which abuts against the female end, so that an action of pulling the cable by the handle acts on the elastic tab to release the latter. of its stop cooperation with the female end piece and thus release the two male and female end pieces from their mutual cooperation and detach the respective fastener.

As shown in figures 7A, 7B and 7C , when the person actuates the handle (the user or a third party, for example providing assistance) in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the front face, this has the effect of energizing and pulling the four cables partly out from the front panel, which detaches the four clips.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the person actuates the handle (the user or a third party, for example providing assistance) in the horizontal direction parallel to the front face to the right, this has the effect of putting under tension and pull only the two left cables and therefore detach the two left clips only. Obviously, the same action to the left results in the detachment of only the two right fasteners.

Claims (15)

1. Protective vest comprising at least one front face (1), one rear face (2) and two sides (6, 7), each extending between the front face and the rear face, left and right respectively, at least one side (6, 7), preferably each side (6, 7), being fixed in a removable manner to the rear face (2) and to the front face (1) by removable fixing means, said removable fixing means comprising an elongated strap (32) ending at one end in a mutual fixing system intended to engage with a mutual fixing system of a removable closure with self-gripping fixing from the front face (1), said strap (32) and said side (7) being provided with self-gripping portions engaging together such that the or each side may assume a plurality of positions in relation to the rear face and the front face.
2. Vest according to claim 1, characterised in that the rear face (2) comprises a rear section (11) that can pivot between two positions, an extended position in which the removable side or each removable side can be accessed by means of its removable fixing with the rear face and a folded position in which the side or each side is covered and cannot be accessed by means of its removable fixing with the rear face.
3. Vest according to claim 2, characterised in that, in the folded position, the section (11) is fixed in a removable manner to the side or to each side, in particular by means of a self-gripping fixing with hooks and loops.
4. Vest according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the rear face comprises a plurality of identifying marks, in particular in the form of vertical lines, in particular numbered lines, for example 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, the positioning of a given point on the or each removable side, in particular the lateral end point of the edge of the rear face, for example a vertical rear lateral edge (30), lining up with a given identifying mark corresponding to a given size or girth of the vest.
5. Vest according to claim 4, characterised in that the side or each side is fixed removably to the front face by a lateral buckle or a respective lateral buckle (33, 34) consisting of two lateral end fittings, one (34) of which, male or female, is fixed to the front face and the other (33), female or male, is fixed to the side or to the respective side.
6. Vest according to claim 5, characterised in that the lateral end fitting or the respective female or male lateral end fitting is fixed to the side or to the respective side by means of a lateral strap (32) or a respective lateral strap fixed to the side or to the respective side at a rear end and comprising the lateral end fitting or the respective lateral end fitting (33) at a front end.
7. Vest according to claim 6, characterised in that the lateral strap or the respective lateral strap is removably fixed to the side or to the respective side, in particular by means of a self-gripping fixing with hooks and loops.
8. Vest according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterised in that the side or each side comprises a lateral section or a respective lateral section (24) that can pivot between two positions, an extended position in which the lateral strap or the respective lateral strap (32) can be accessed by means of the removable fixing with the side or the respective side and a folded position in which the lateral strap or the respective lateral strap is covered and cannot be accessed by means of its removable fixing with the side or the respective side.
9. Vest according to claim 8, characterised in that, in the folded position, the lateral section or the respective lateral section is fixed in a removable manner to the lateral strap or to the respective lateral strap, in particular by means of a self-gripping fixing with hooks and loops.
10. Vest according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the side or each side comprises a plurality of identifying marks, in particular in the form of vertical lines, in particular numbered lines, the positioning of a given point on the lateral strap or the respective lateral strap, in particular the lateral end point of the edge of the rear face, for example a vertical rear lateral edge, lining up with a given identifying mark corresponding to a given size or girth of the vest.
11. Vest according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that two shoulder elements (4, 5) in the form of bands extend from the upper edge of the rear face and the front face is fixed in a removable manner to a shoulder element or to each shoulder element.
12. Vest according to claim 11, characterised in that the shoulder element or each shoulder element is fixed removably to the front face by means of a shoulder buckle (51, 52) or a respective shoulder buckle comprising two shoulder end fittings, one (52), male or female, fixed to the front face and the other (51), female or male, fixed to the shoulder element or to the respective shoulder element.
13. Vest according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the shoulder end fitting or each female or male shoulder end fitting is fixed to the shoulder element or to the respective shoulder element by means of a shoulder strap or a respective shoulder strap (50) fixed to the shoulder element or to the respective shoulder element at a rear end and comprising the shoulder end fitting or the respective shoulder end fitting at a front end.
14. Vest according to claim 13, characterised in that the shoulder strap or the respective shoulder strap is removably fixed to the shoulder element or the respective shoulder element, in particular by means of a self-gripping fixing with hooks and loops.
15. Vest according to any one of claims 13 or 14, characterised in that the shoulder element or each shoulder element comprises a shoulder section or a respective shoulder section (57) that can pivot between two positions, an extended position in which the shoulder strap or the respective shoulder strap can be accessed by means of the removable fixing with the shoulder element or the respective shoulder element and a folded position in which the shoulder strap or the respective shoulder strap is covered and cannot be accessed by means of its removable fixing with the shoulder element or the respective shoulder element.

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