Releasable vest

1. A releasable vest, comprising:

a front panel;

shoulder strap elements that extend from an upper portion of the front panel, wherein each of the shoulder strap elements includes at least one shoulder strap attachment opening formed therethrough;

a back panel comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein an upper portion of the second layer is attached or coupled to an upper portion of the first layer such that a cavity is formed between at least a portion of the first layer and the second layer such that at least a portion of the shoulder strap elements can be introduced into the cavity formed between at least a portion of the first layer and the second layer, and wherein a lower portion of the second layer extends beyond a point where the second layer is attached or coupled to the first layer to form an access panel portion of the second layer, and wherein a releasable coupling means releasably couples the access panel portion of the second layer to the first layer;

a first waist belt element, wherein the first waist belt element is a separate component from the front panel and the back panel and is releasably attached or coupled to a front surface of the front panel, and wherein the first waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough;

a second waist belt element, wherein the second waist belt element is a separate component from the front panel, the back panel, and the first waist belt element and is releasably attached or coupled to a front surface of the front panel, wherein the second waist belt element comprises at least one release loop attached or coupled to a front surface of the second waist belt element, wherein the at least one release loop is aligned with and passed through the waist belt attachment opening of the first waist belt element and the at least one shoulder strap attachment opening of the shoulder strap elements; and

a release lanyard, wherein the release lanyard extends from a pull handle to a terminal end, and wherein the release lanyard is capable of being aligned with and passed through the release loop so as to releasably secure the first waist belt element and the at least one shoulder strap element to the release loop.

2. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder strap elements are formed as an integral part of the front panel.

3. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder strap elements are releasably attached or coupled to the front panel.

4. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder strap elements include an elastic portion to allow for a measure of expansion of the shoulder strap elements.

5. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein each of the shoulder strap elements includes a plurality of shoulder strap attachment openings.

6. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder strap attachment openings are reinforced by stitching, a grommet, or a reinforced eyelet.

7. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the panel coupling means comprises a grommet, a stitch, a stitched portion, one or more male/female snap-release buckles, one or more buttons, or one or more snaps.

8. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the access panel portion of the second layer is releasably coupled to a first side of the first layer.

9. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the access panel portion of the second layer extends beyond a lower portion of the first layer and is releasably coupled to a second side of the first layer.

10. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the waist belt elements are releasably coupled to a front surface of the front panel via waist belt attachment/adjustment elements.

11. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the waist belt element attachment openings are reinforced by stitching, a grommet, or a reinforced eyelet.

12. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the waist belt elements are releasably coupled, via waist belt attachment/adjustment elements, to MOLLE or S.T.R.I.K.E. compatible accessory mounting portions formed on the front panel.

13. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the waist belt elements include an elastic portion to allow for a measure of expansion of the waist belt elements.

14. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein each of the waist belt elements includes a plurality of waist belt attachment openings.

15. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the release loop comprises a fabric, metallic, plastic, or composite material.

16. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the exterior of the front panel, the back panel, and/or the waist belt elements includes MOLLE and/or S.T.R.I.K.E. compatible webbing.

17. The releasable vest of claim 1 , wherein the panel coupling means provides an upper limit for an assembled combination of the waist belt elements and the shoulder strap elements, such that these elements are held in a desired position relative to the back panel.

18. A releasable vest, comprising:

a front panel;

shoulder strap elements that extend from an upper portion of the front panel, wherein each of the shoulder strap elements includes at least one shoulder strap attachment opening formed therethrough;

a back panel comprising at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein an upper portion of the second layer is attached or coupled to an upper portion of the first layer such that a cavity is formed between at least a portion of the first layer and the second layer such that at least a portion of the shoulder strap elements can be introduced into the cavity formed between at least a portion of the first layer and the second layer, and wherein a lower portion of the second layer extends beyond a point where the second layer is attached or coupled to the first layer to form an access panel portion of the second layer, and wherein a releasable coupling means releasably couples the access panel portion of the second layer to the first layer;

a first waist belt element, wherein the first waist belt element is a separate component from the front panel and the back panel and is releasably attached or coupled to a front surface of the front panel, and wherein the first waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough;

a second waist belt element, wherein the second waist belt element is a separate component from the front panel, the back panel, and the first waist belt element and is releasably attached or coupled to a front surface of the front panel, wherein the second waist belt element comprises at least one waist belt element attachment opening formed therethrough;

a release loop comprising a portion of material that includes an obstruction formed in the release loop of a sufficient size and shape so as to keep a portion of the release loop from passing through the waist belt attachment openings, wherein the release loop is a separate component from the back panel and the waist belt elements and attached or coupled to a front surface of the second waist belt element, and wherein at least a portion of the release loop is capable of being aligned with and passed through the at least one waist belt attachment opening of the waist belt elements and the at least one shoulder strap attachment opening of the shoulder strap elements; and

a release lanyard, wherein the release lanyard extends from a pull handle to a terminal end, and wherein the release lanyard is capable of being aligned with and passed through the release loop so as to releasably secure the first waist belt element and the at least one shoulder strap element to the release loop.

19. The releasable vest of claim 18 , wherein the obstruction is a knot formed in a length of material.