초록 ▼

A garment including an adjustable weight support mechanism used to shift the weight and position of objects contained within pockets disposed on the garment is provided. The garment has a number of pockets including a storage pouch releasably attached to the rear of the garment. The support mechani

A garment including an adjustable weight support mechanism used to shift the weight and position of objects contained within pockets disposed on the garment is provided. The garment has a number of pockets including a storage pouch releasably attached to the rear of the garment. The support mechanism is attached to the garment and includes a pair of strap assemblies which extend from the shoulders of the garment downwardly towards the bottom of front and rear panels forming the garment. The first strap of each assembly is connected between the shoulder of the garment and the front panel. The second strap assembly is connected between the rear panel and the first strap, and is adjustable in length. When the second strap is pulled to shorten the length of the second strap, the second strap pulls the first strap downwardly and forwardly to pull the shoulders and rear panel of the garment upwardly and move the weight contained in the storage pouch upwardly onto the shoulders of the wearer of the garment, and off of the lower back.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A garment comprising: a) a front panel having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of opposed sides; b) a rear panel having an upper end, a lower end and a pair of opposed edges, the rear panel secured to the top end of the front panel at the upper end to form a shoulder portion, and to e

I claim: 1. A garment comprising: a) a front panel having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of opposed sides; b) a rear panel having an upper end, a lower end and a pair of opposed edges, the rear panel secured to the top end of the front panel at the upper end to form a shoulder portion, and to each opposed side along the opposed edges to form an interior surface and an exterior surface for the garment; c) at least one article holder secured to the garment; and d) an adjustable weight support mechanism including a pair of first straps secured between the shoulder portion and the front panel, and a pair of second adjustable length straps secured between the first straps and the rear panel, wherein the adjustable weight support mechanism is disposed on the interior surface of the article of clothing. 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one article holder is a pocket. 3. The garment of claim 2 wherein the at least one article holder is attached to the rear panel. 4. The garment of claim 3 further comprising at least one article holder on the front panel. 5. The garment of claim 1 wherein the pair of first straps are secured to the shoulder portion on opposite sides of a neck opening defined by the top end of the front panel and the upper end of the rear panel. 6. The garment of claim 1 wherein each of the pair of first straps are secured to a seam joining the top end of the front panel to the upper end of the rear panel. 7. A garment of claim 1 comprising: wherein the pair of first straps extend downwardly at an angle from the shoulder portion to the front panel. 8. The garment of claim 1 further comprising a lumbar support assembly secured to the rear panel. 9. The garment of claim 8 wherein the lumbar support assembly includes a wide center portion secured to the rear panel, a pair of narrow end portions extending from opposite sides of the center portion, a receiver adjustably secured to one end portion, and an engagement member secured to the other end portion and releasably engageable with the receiver. 10. The garment of claim 9 wherein the end portions are slidably attached to the front panel. 11. The garment of claim 10 wherein the lumbar support assembly is disposed on the interior surface. 12. The garment of claim 1 wherein the pair of second straps extend from the pair of first straps to the rear panel beneath a pair of opposed sleeve openings defined between the sides of the front panel and edges of the rear panel beneath the shoulder portion. 13. The garment of claim 1 wherein the support mechanism further includes a sternum strap releasably connected between the first straps. 14. The garment of claim 13 wherein the sternum strap includes a first loop including an engagement member and secured opposite the engagement member to one of the first straps, and a second loop including a receiving member releasably engageable with the engagement member and secured opposite the receiving member to the other first strap. 15. The garment of claim 13 wherein the sternum strap is adjustable in length. 16. The garment of claim 1 wherein the at least one article holder is releasably secured to the rear panel. 17. The garment of claim 16 wherein the at least one article holder is secured to the rear panel by a releasable closure mechanism. 18. The garment of claim 16 wherein the at least one article holder is secured to the rear panel by a number of separate closure mechanisms. 19. The garment of claim 1 wherein the front panel includes a releasable closure mechanism. 20. The garment of claim 19 wherein the releasable closure mechanism is a zipper. 21. The garment of claim 19 wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of a vest, a jacket, a pullover, and a shirt. 22. A garment comprising: a) a front panel having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of opposed sides; b) a rear panel having an upper end, a lower end and a pair of opposed edges, the rear panel secured to the top end of the front panel at the upper end to form a shoulder portion, and to each opposed side along the opposed edges to form an interior surface and an exterior surface for the garment; c) at least one article holder secured to the garment; and d) an adjustable weight support mechanism including a pair of first straps secured between the shoulder portion and the front panel, and a pair of second adjustable length straps secured between the first straps and the rear panel, wherein each of the pair of second straps are slidably secured to the pair of first straps. 23. The garment of claim 22 wherein each of the pair of second straps includes a buckle, a loop secured to one side of the buckle and slidably positioned around one of the first straps, and an elongate member with one end threaded through the buckle opposite the loop and the other end fixed to the rear panel. 24. The garment of claim 22 wherein the pair of first straps and the pair of second straps are formed of a fabric webbing. 25. A garment comprising: a) a front panel having a top end, a bottom end and a pair of opposed sides; b) a rear panel having an upper end, a lower end and a pair of opposed edges, the rear panel secured to the top end of the front panel at the upper end to form a shoulder portion, and to each opposed side along the opposed edges to form an interior surface and an exterior surface for the garment; c) at least one article holder secured to the garment; and d) an adjustable weight support mechanism including a pair of first straps secured between the shoulder portion and the front panel, and a pair of second adjustable length straps secured between the first straps and the rear panel wherein each of the pair of second straps are slidably secured to the pair of first straps, the adjustable weight support mechanism is disposed on the interior surface of the article of clothing and the front panel includes a pair of openings that extend through the front panel of the article of clothing. 26. The garment of claim 25 wherein the pair of openings include selectively openable closures. 27. A method of adjusting the position of a load supporting garment worn by an individual, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a garment including a front panel, a rear panel, at least one article holder attached to the garment, and an adjustable weight support mechanism including a pair of first straps secured at one end to the front panel and to a shoulder portion of the garment at the opposite end, and a pair of adjustable length second straps movably secured at one end to the first straps and secured to the rear panel at the opposite end; and b) pulling on the second straps to adjust the length of the second straps. 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the support mechanism is disposed on an interior surface of the garment and the front panel includes a pair of openings, the method further comprising the step of grasping the second straps through the openings prior to pulling on the second straps. 29. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one article holder is releasably attached to the rear panel and further comprising the step of attaching the at least one article holder to the rear panel prior to pulling on the second straps. 30. The method of claim 27 wherein the garment includes a sternum straps and further comprising the step of engaging the sternum strap after pulling on the second straps. 31. The method of claim 27 wherein the garment includes a lumbar strap and further comprising the step of engaging the lumbar strap after pulling on the second straps. 32. A garment comprising: a) a front panel; b) a rear panel secured to the front panel; c) at least one article holder attached to the rear panel; and d) an adjustable weight support mechanism including a pair of first straps secured to the front panel and a pair of adjustable length second straps slidably secured at one end to the first straps and secured to the rear panel at the other end. 33. The garment of claim 32 wherein the support mechanism is disposed on an interior surface of the garment.