AU2012216280A1 - Utility vest - Google Patents

Abstract

C .NRPorlIDCC\JR\4547762_ DOC. 17lX/2012 -31 A utility vest for supporting equipment, including a rear panel, two front panels, a support belt for extending at least part way round a waist of the user in use, and an equipment belt attached to one of the front panels, the equipment belt allowing equipment to be attached thereto, and wherein at least one of the belts is secured in use. Fig. 4D 421 411.3 412.3 422 4 '--412.5 433.2 411.4 412. 433.1 431.1 440 432.1 oo oo o l 41.2 430.1 430.2 432.2 421.1 4 422.1 Fig. 4C 412 A 41 1 400 441.1 A-440 422/F 441.4 4\421 Fig. 4D

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: TBIS Pty Ltd Actual Inventors: Suite 7, 40-42 Christie Street, Canungra, Queensland 4275 Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, Level 10, 301 Coronation Drive, Milton 4064, Queensland. Invention Title: "Utility vest" Details of Associated Provisional Application No: Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2011903302, filed 18 August 2012 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: i flAI - mvr/I C :NRPtnh\DCC\U\4547762.1 DOC-17)RIOI2 UTILITY VEST Background of the Invention [00011 The present invention relates to a utility vest for supporting equipment, and in particular, a vest configured to be worn on the body of a worker such as a miner, or the like. Description of the Prior Art 100021 The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. [00031 Belts are worn by workers in various industries as a means of supporting tools and other work equipment in a convenient location about the waist of the worker. However, when the weight of supported equipment increases it is preferable to redistribute the weight of the supported equipment across a larger portion of the body of the worker. This can be done by supporting the equipment on a utility vest which allows at least some of the weight of the equipment to be distributed across the shoulders of the wearer. 100041 Utility vests are known for use in the mining industry, where heavy equipment is often required to be carried by miners for extended periods. Conventional utility vests may include separate front and rear panels which can be connected together by straps or the like to allow the vest to accommodate different sized wearers. Dedicated attachment points may be provided on the panels to allow equipment to be attached to the vest. Australian Patent No. 2005209570 discloses examples of such arrangements. [00051 Although utility vests or these types can provide a one-size-fits-all solution, numerous straps need to be secured and adjusted correctly to achieve a comfortable and supportive fit, which can be time consuming and unwieldy. In addition, loose strap ends remain after the utility vest is secured, and these can be at risk of being caught in moving machinery.

C:NRPonbl\DCC\LJR4547762_ .DOC-17 I2012 -2 [00061 There is also a risk of not securing the vest properly on the wearer's body, which can result in the weight of the supported equipment not being distributed evenly, which can result in back strain or injury. The supported equipment may also be prone to excessive movement about the wearer's body if the vest is not fitted tightly. A further issue with existing vest designs is that there is no actual support between the back panel and both side panels except for the webbing strips. And this defeats the purpose of giving support around the torso area, as weight on a side panel (from equipment) skews the vest between the side panel and the back panel if not braced in between. Accordingly, even with fine adjustment a conventional utility vest will still not provide much support to the lower back of the wearer, which can lead to an increased risk of back injury particularly when heavy equipment is routinely carried. [00071 Furthermore, the attachment points often require the use of proprietary equipment pouches and may not permit standard equipment to be supported without additional adaptations. [00081 Some more modem utility vest designs provide the option of adding of a separate support belt which provides some lower back support. Australian Patent No. 2007205764 describes such a design. However, this improved back support comes at the expense of additional design complexity along with additional difficulty of securing the utility vest in combination with the rest of the vest components. Summary of the Present Invention 100091 In a first broad form the present invention seeks to provide a utility vest for supporting equipment, including: a) A rear panel; b) Two front panels; c) A support belt for extending at least part way round a waist of the user in use;; and, d) An equipment belt attached to one of the front panels, the equipment belt allowing equipment to be attached thereto, and wherein at least one of the belts is secured in use.

C:\NRPrnbI\DCC\LR\4547762_ .DOC-17A)8/2012 -3 [00101 Typically the support belt includes support belt portions of the front and rear panels. [00111 Typically the support belt includes: a) Elasticised connecting members interconnecting the rear panel support belt portion to the front panel support belt portions; and, b) Connecting straps coupled to the front panels, allowing the front panels to be interconnected, so that the waist and elasticised portions operate as a support belt. [00121 Typically the support belt is attached to the front and rear panels. 100131 Typically the support belt is configured so that ends of the support belt overlap when the support belt is secured and wherein an amount of overlap of the ends of the support belt can be adjusted to allow the support belt to fit the waist of the wearer. [00141 Typically the support belt includes fasteners for securing the support belt around the waist of the wearer. 100151 Typically the fasteners of the support belt are hook and loop fasteners positioned at the ends of the support belt. 100161 Typically the support belt includes elastic portions positioned between the rear panel and each of the front panels. [00171 Typically the elastic portions include bracing members. [00181 Typically the support belt is formed from one of an elastic material and leather. 100191 Typically a lower edge of the support belt is profiled to permit a wearer to sit comfortably whilst the support belt is secured. [00201 Typically the equipment belt is configured to extend and be secured around the waist of a wearer. [00211 Typically a length of the equipment belt is adjustable to fit a range of waist circumferences when secured.

C:\NRPortbl\DCCUR\4547762l .DOC-17982012 -4 10022] Typically the equipment belt is attached at a first end to one of the front panels and the equipment belt is separate from each of the other front panel and rear panel. [00231 Typically the equipment belt includes a fastener for securing the equipment belt around the waist of the wearer. [00241 Typically the vest includes a buckle attached to one of the front panels, the buckle retaining a first end of the equipment belt and including an adjustment mechanism for allowing a length of belt extending therefrom to be adjusted. 100251 Typically the buckle is attached to a front panel via a strap. [00261 Typically the buckle includes a body, the adjustment mechanism including a clasp having an actuating lever, pivotally mounted to the body, the belt being positioned between the body and the lever, with the lever being operatively biased against the belt. 100271 Typically the buckle includes a body, the adjustment mechanism including a clasp having an actuating lever, pivotally mounted to the body, the belt being positioned between the body and the lever, with the lever being operatively biased against the belt. 100281 Typically the buckle supports a connecting ring for receiving a connector mounted on a second end of the belt. 100291 Typically the connector is a carabiner or snap hook. 100301 Typically the fastener of the equipment belt includes a buckle positioned at a second end of the equipment belt opposite to the first end. 100311 Typically the buckle can be adjustably positioned on the equipment belt so that a portion of the equipment belt extends from the buckle. [0032] Typically the portion of the equipment belt extending from the buckle is attachable to the remaining length of the equipment belt. [00331 Typically the utility vest includes at least one belt loop for supporting the equipment belt.

C :RPotb\DCC\UR\547762_t DOC-17AM/2012 -5 [00341 Typically the belt loop is configurable between a closed position for supporting the equipment belt and an open position for receiving the equipment belt and allowing equipment to be repositioned on the equipment belt whilst the equipment belt is secured. 100351 Typically the belt loop is formed from a strip of material attached to the utility vest, the strip including a detachable fastener on at least one end to allow reconfiguration of the belt loop. [00361 Typically respective upper portions of the front panels are attachable to an upper portion of the rear panel. [00371 Typically attachments between the upper portions of the front panels and the upper portion of the rear panel are adjustable. [00381 Typically the attachments between the upper portions of the front panels and the upper portion of the rear panel include first and second fasteners. [00391 Typically the first fasteners include hook and loop fasteners and the second fasteners include a strap and a buckle. 100401 Typically respective upper portions of the front panels are attached to an upper portion of the rear panel via shoulder straps. [00411 Typically the shoulder straps are at least one of tapered and partially curved. [00421 Typically the vest supports at least one equipment pouch. [00431 Typically the at least one equipment pouch includes a compartment that contains danger tags in use. [00441 Typically the at least one equipment pouch is supported by at least one of the equipment belt and connecting straps coupled to the front panels, allowing the front panels to be interconnected. [0045] Typically at least one of the panels includes at least one of padding and reinforcement.

C :NRPortbl\DCC\IJR\447762.1 DOC-17A)/2012 -6 100461 Typically at least one of the panels is at least partially made of fabric covered open foam. Brief Description of the Drawings [00471 An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [00481 Figure IA is a schematic view of an example of a utility vest in an opened state; [0049] Figure 1 B is a schematic view of a support belt of the utility vest as shown in Figure 1A; [00501 Figure 1 C is a schematic view of a support belt of the utility vest as shown in Figure 1 A, showing optional bracing members; [00511 Figure ID is a schematic view of a rear panel attached to a support belt; [00521 Figure 1 E is a schematic view of a rear panel and two front panels each attached to a support belt; [00531 Figure 2A is a schematic view of an example of a rear panel showing optional features for attachment to a front panel; [00541 Figure 2B is a schematic view of an example of a front panel showing optional features for attachment to the rear panel of Figure 2A; [0055] Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of an example of a utility vest in an opened state, showing exterior features of the utility vest; [00561 Figure 3B is a schematic diagram of the utility vest as shown in Figure 3A in a closed, secured state; [00571 Figure 3C is a schematic diagram of the secured utility vest as shown in Figure 3B, showing details of the support belt and the equipment belt in their respective secured positions; [00581 Figure 3D is a schematic diagram of the region of attachment between the support belt and the rear panel of the utility vest as shown in Figure 3A; [0059] Figure 3E is a schematic diagram of the region of attachment between the support belt and the left front panel of the utility vest as shown in Figure 3A; [00601 Figure 3F is a schematic diagram of the region of attachment between the support belt and the right front panel of the utility vest as shown in Figure 3A; C NRPonbl\DCCLJR\4547762j DOC-17A/02OI2 -7 [00611 Figure 3G is a schematic diagram of an upper portion of the rear panel of the utility vest as shown in Figure 3A; [00621 Figure 3H is a schematic diagram of a left front panel of the utility vest as shown in Figure 3A; 100631 Figure 31 is a schematic diagram of a right front panel of the utility vest as shown in Figure 3A; [00641 Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of interior features of a further example of a utility vest; [0065] Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of exterior features of the utility vest of Figure 4A; [00661 Figure 4C is a schematic diagram of exterior features including an equipment belt, of the utility vest of Figure 4A; 100671 Figure 4D is a schematic diagram of the utility vest of Figure 4A in use; 100681 Figure 4E is a schematic front view of an example of an equipment pouch; [00691 Figure 4F is a schematic rear view of the equipment pouch of Figure 4E; [00701 Figure 4G is a schematic diagram of a first example of the utility vest of Figure 4A including the equipment pouch of Figure 4E; and, [00711 Figure 4H is a schematic diagram of a first example of the utility vest of Figure 4A including the equipment pouch of Figure 4E. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments [00721 The present invention resides in a utility vest that can be worn by a wearer, such as a miner for example, to enable equipment to be conveniently supported on the body of the wearer so that the weight of the equipment can be comfortably distributed across the wearer's body. [00731 A first example of a utility vest 100 will now be described with reference to Figures 1 A to 1 E of the attached drawings. 100741 The overall configuration of the utility vest 100 in an open state can be seen in Figure IA. In broad terms, the utility vest 100 includes a rear panel 110, two front panels, 121, 122, a support belt 130 attached to the rear panel 110 and each of the front panels 121, 122, and an equipment belt 140 attached to one of the front panels 121, 122. In this case the equipment C\NRPorti,\DCC\JR\4$47762_1 DOC-17A8/12 -8 belt 140 is attached to the right front panel 122 at a single attachment point 143, although it will be appreciated that the equipment belt 140 may be attached at any position. [00751 Along with being attached at one attachment point 143 on one of the front panels 121, 122, the equipment belt 140 may also be supported on the utility vest 100 in at least one other location. Preferably, the equipment belt 140 will be supported at a number of points that allow good distribution of the weight of the equipment. In this example, additional support points 144 are provided on the rear panel 110 and the left front panel 121 of the utility vest 100. These support points 144 may be simple belt loops or be of a detachable construction to allow more flexible functionality as will be discussed in greater detail below. [00761 In any event, the equipment belt 140 allows equipment to be attached to the utility vest 100 using standard belt loops without requiring any specialised adaptations, such that any equipment pouch, harness, holster, or the like that is suitable for attachment to a normal belt can be conveniently attached to the equipment belt 140. [00771 Each of the two front panels, 121, 122 can be attachable to the rear panel 110 at respective upper portions, to provide an effective shoulder pad spanning across the shoulders of the wearer, by which at least some of the weight of equipment attached to the equipment belt 140 can be distributed across the wearer's shoulders. In this example, straps 111, 112 are provided on the rear panel 110 which are attachable to the front panels 121, 122, such that the straps 111, 112 are positioned across the wearer's shoulders when attached to the front panels. [00781 The attachments at the upper portions of the front panels 121, 122 can be adjustable to allow the utility vest 100 to fit wearers of different torso sizes, such that the support belt 130 remains appropriately positioned in the vicinity of the lumbar region of the wearer's lower back. However, this is not essential, and alternatively the front panels, 121, 122 may be permanently attached to the rear panel 110 across the shoulders of the wearer. Different sizes of utility vests 100 can be manufactured to accommodate different wearer sizes. 100791 At least one of the belts 130, 140 is secured in use. This allows the utility vest 100 to be firmly secured on the wearer. Numerous belt securing mechanisms can be used, including C NRPonbDCCIJR\547762- IDOC-0 /20 12 -9 hook and loop fasteners, clips, buckles and the like. In this example, both of the belts 130, 140 can be secured, although this is not essential. 100801 The support belt 130 includes fasteners 131, 132 at each end which cooperate to secure the support belt 130 about the waist of a wearer. The support belt 130 can be wrapped around the wearer and the fasteners 131, 132 connected together to provide a comfortable and supportive fit around the wearer's body. The support belt 130 is typically worn about the waist of the wearer and provides support to the wearer's lower back. [00811 Similarly, the equipment belt 140 includes fasteners 141, 142 which are used to secure the equipment belt 140. If the support belt 130 is secured around the wearer, then it is not necessary for the equipment belt 140 to be secured tightly for the purposes of supporting the wearer's lower back. Instead, the tension of the equipment belt 140 may be selected to allow equipment to be supported by the equipment belt 140 without undue sagging under the weight of the equipment or movement of the equipment when the wearer moves. However, the equipment belt 140 can be tightly secured to cause the support belt 130 to support the wearer's lower back even if the support belt 130 is not actually secured. [00821 Accordingly, the utility vest allows the weight of the supported equipment to be distributed over the worker's body in a comfortable manner with reduced risk of back strain or injury when heavy equipment is supported, as well as reducing the risk of back fatigue and injury when carrying heavy equipment for extended periods. [00831 In particular, most traditional vests do not support the torso area enough resulting in too much weight being carried over the shoulders. In contrast, the above described utility vest distributes the weight around a wearer's hips and shoulders better with the support belt being arranged to take more of the load from the shoulder region. Thus, whilst the vest assists in distributing the weight of any carried equipment, it does not support too much of the load, which can result in fatigued shoulders, with the support belt typically supporting most of the weight. [00841 An example of a preferred embodiment of a utility vest 100 in an open state is shown in Figure 3A, and the same utility vest 100 in a secured state is shown in Figure 3B, to allow C:NRPonbDCC\UR\454762_l DOC-17A)X/2012 - 10 better appreciation of how the utility vest 100 can be secured on the wearer. It can be seen that the equipment belt 140 is positioned about the outside of the utility vest 100 to allow equipment to be attached to the equipment belt 140 in the same manner as the attachment of equipment to any normal belt. However, the equipment will be supported by the utility vest 100 such that at least a portion of the weight of the equipment will be distributed more comfortably and safely across the shoulders of the wearer. [00851 The utility vest 100 provides a means for supporting equipment with good weight distribution whilst allowing a comfortable and supportive fit on the wearer's body. Furthermore, the utility vest 100 has a simplified construction compared to conventional vests manufactured for miners and the like. This is at least in part due to the support belt 130 being permanently attached to the rear panel 110 and front panels 121, 122, such that it provides an integral underlying structure for the utility vest 100 without requiring numerous unwieldy straps and buckles as seen in the prior art. By having the equipment belt 140 also attached to the one of the front panels, it will be appreciated that the entire utility vest 100 is provided as a unitary construction which can be easily donned by the wearer without requiring multiple parts to be secured or attached together in a complicated sequence. 100861 Having discussed the general construction of the utility vest 100 in general terms, the different elements of the utility vest 100 will now be described in further detail with reference to Figures lB to lE. 100871 An example of a support belt 130 is shown in isolation in Figure lB. In this example the fasteners 131, 132 are provided in the form of regions of hook and loop fasteners at opposite ends of the support belt 130. One fastener 131 is provided as a region of hook fasteners at one end and the other fastener 132 is provided as a region of loop fasteners at the other end. In this case, the support belt 130 is donned by wrapping the support belt 130 around the waist of the wearer and overlapping the ends of the support belt 130 such that the respective regions of hood and loop fasteners are engaged to secure the support belt 130. [00881 The support belt 130 can fit a range of waist circumferences when secured. This is possible in this example due to the overlapping ends of the support belt 130. Varying the amount of overlap of the ends of the support belt 130 in turn varies the final secured C:NRPonb\DCC\LJR\4547762.1 DOC.178A)2012 - 11 circumference of the support belt 130. To accommodate these circumference variations, it is desirable to provide one region of fasteners on an underlapping end of the support belt 130 such that it extends around a larger portion of the length of the support belt 130. Accordingly, the fasteners 131 of the overlapping end of the support belt 130 can engage at any position of the region of fasteners on the underlapping end and still secure the support belt 130. It will be appreciated that the opposite situation in which the region of fasteners is applied to the overlapping end of the support belt 130 may also apply. Additional hook and loop fasteners may be provided on the side panel 121 allowing the support belt 130 to overlap further if required. [00891 At least a portion of the support belt 130 is preferably constructed from an elastic material, although this is not essential. The use of an elastic material allows the support belt 130 to be stretched around the wearer's waist to provide a snug fit under tension, which further assists in supporting the lower back. [00901 In one example, the base material of the support belt 130 is an elastic material, such that the entire length of the support belt 130 has elasticity. However, in other examples, the support belt 130 can include elastic portions to provide regions having elasticity in locations where the elasticity is most desirable. [00911 For instance, it may not be necessary to use elastic material throughout the entire length of the support belt 130 if the rear panel 110 and front panels 121, 122 are formed from a non-elastic material. This is because the overall elasticity in the regions where the support belt 130 is attached to the rear panel 110 or front panels 121, 122 will be mostly determined by the non-elastic material in those regions. In these cases it may be an efficient use of materials to only use elastic materials in the regions between the attached panels. 100921 The support belt can also include an 'Elasticised Bias Binding Tape' around exterior edges of the belt, as shown for example at 135, to allow optimum stretch under tension. [0093] With reference to Figure IC, the support belt 130 can also optionally include bracing members 134 for providing improved support across portions of elastic material. The bracing members 134 are preferably configured to allow retained flexibility in the length direction of C:\NRPortbl\DCC\UR\4547762 _ DOC-17A)8/2012 -12 the support belt 130 whilst providing increased stiffness in other directions. The diagonal arrangement of pairs of bracing members 134 as illustrated in Figure 1C has been found to be particularly suitable in this regard. As can be seen in the context of the overall utility vest 100 in Figure IA, the bracing members span along the elastic portion of the support belt 130 between the rear panel 110 and front panels 121, 122. This positioning is beneficial as the elastic material in this area of the support belt 130 is not otherwise stiffened by attachment to other panels of the utility vest 100, and may be prone to twisting or other undesirable deformations if no stiffening is provided, particularly if additional weight is to be supported by the front panels 121, 122 as compared to the rear panel 110, for example due to the weight of the equipment belt & the equipment being carried thereon. [00941 Despite the benefits of elastic materials as discussed, it may alternatively be desirable to use different materials in the construction of the support belt 130, such as leather. A leather support belt 130 may serve functionality similar to that of a weight lifters belt, in providing strong support around the wearer's lower when lifting heavy equipment loads. The provision of a felted inner surface to a leather support belt 130 can improve comfort for the wearer. 100951 Another optional feature of the support belt 130 is that the lower edge can be profiled for further comfort when the support belt 130 is secured. For example, the ends of the support belt 130 may include recesses 133 along the lower edge such that the recesses 133 are positioned across a front part of the wearer's body when the support belt 130 is secured. It will be appreciated that these recesses 133 can allow a wearer to sit more comfortably because the support belt 130 will not dig into the legs of the wearer to the same extent as if the recesses 133 were not provided. By providing recesses 133 in this way the support belt 130 is still able to be correctly positioned to support a sufficiently large region of the wearer's lower back. [00961 Figures 1 D and I E illustrate the progressive construction of the utility vest 100, as the different panels 110, 121, 122 are attached. In Figure ID, the rear panel 110 is attached at the centre of the support belt 130, between the bracing members 140. In this case, the attachment region 113 includes layers of the support belt 130 material and the rear panel 110 material. The attachment can be achieved in any means for permanently attaching layers of material together, such as stitching or riveting, depending on the types of materials being attached.

C:\NRPonbl\DCCULJR\4547762-1 DOC-17M8/21112 - 13 100971 The straps 111, 112 extend from the upper portion of the rear panel 110, and as discussed above these are used for connecting to the front panels 121, 122 such that the weight of the equipment can be distributed over the shoulders. These straps 11, 112 can be integrally formed from the same piece of material as the rear panel 110, or otherwise attached to the rear panel 110 using any permanent attachment means such as stitches. A benefit of providing the straps 111, 112 separately is that these can be provided using a different material to the rear panel 110, allowing the material to be selected for wearer comfort and/or its ability to better withstand tension loads on the straps 111, 112 caused by the weight of the supported equipment. [00981 As can be seen in Figure IE, the front panels 121, 122 are also attached to the support belt 130 by layering of the respective materials at attachment regions 123, 124. Similar attachment means can be used as for the rear panel 110 attachment region 113. Stitching is convenient and particularly suitable for all attachment regions 113, 123, 124. [00991 In this example, the ends of the support belt 130 extend beyond the outside edges of the front panels 121, 122, allowing more convenient use of the fasteners 131, 132 when securing the support belt 130. [01001 Although the above example has the respective panels 110, 121, 122 attached to the support belt 130 at overlapping attachment regions 113, 123, 124, it is not essential that the support belt 130 be continuous about the entire utility vest 100. In alternative embodiments, an effective support belt 130 can still be formed by providing elastic portions attached between the rear panel 110 and the front panels 121, 122 (i.e. in the portions spanned by the bracing members 140). Fasteners 131, 132 can be provided attached to the front panels 121, 122 to allow securing around the wearer's waist. [01011 Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the use of the term "support belt" is to be interpreted functionally such that there is a belt-like element around the utility vest 100 for providing support, without necessarily requiring that the support belt 130 be a single continuous belt that wraps around the waist of the wearer.

C:\RPortb\DCC\URW 547762_1.DOC-7AW/20l2 -14 [01021 Returning to Figure IA, which shows a complete utility vest 100, it can be seen that the partially constructed utility vest 100 Figure 1E is completed through the attachment of the equipment belt 140. The attachment point 143 permanently fixes the equipment belt 140 to the utility vest 100 at the front panel 122, such that the equipment belt 140 cannot fall off and can also be easily secured by connecting fasteners 141, 142 provided at each end of the equipment belt 140. In this example, the equipment belt 140 remains separate from each of the other front panel 121 and the rear panel 110. [01031 By attaching the equipment belt 140 to one of the front panels 121, 122 at one end only, this allows the equipment belt 140 to be tensioned separately to the support belt 130, for a tighter or looser fit, depending on wearer preference. In use, the free unattached end of the equipment belt 140 is extended around the wearer's waist and fasteners 141, 142 at the ends of the equipment belt 140 are connected to secure the equipment belt 140. [01041 The length of the equipment belt 140 is adjustable, to allow fitting to a range of waist circumferences. The support points 144 allow the equipment belt 140 to slide therethrough along its free length from the attachment point 143. The position of the fastener 141 on the free end of the equipment belt 140 can be adjusted to thereby adjust the effective length of the equipment belt 140 when secured. [01051 The fasteners 141, 142 can be of any construction typically used to fasten belts, such as hook and loop fasteners or buckles. In this example, buckles, particularly clip-type buckles, are preferred as these are a proven reliable means of providing a detachable fastener which nevertheless has good tension carrying characteristics, which is beneficial for the equipment belt 140 whenever heavy equipment is to be supported. 101061 The support points 144 can provided in the form of standard belt loops, consisting of a strip of material permanently attached to the utility vest 100 at each end to form a loop capable of supporting the equipment belt 130 and transferring weight of supported equipment to the utility vest 100. However, the support points 144 may also be detachable to allow improved operational flexibility in use.

C :WRPortblDCCUJR\4547762I.DOC.178A)S/2012 - 15 [01071 The number and position of support points 144 can be varied depending on different requirements such as the maximum weight support capabilities, optimisation of weight distribution on the vest, and the desired positions of equipment about the wearer's body. [01081 Further example embodiments of the rear panel 110 and front panel 121, 122 are illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, respectively. [0109] The rear panel 110 shown in Figure 2A includes a twin-strap arrangement. Primary straps 111, 112 extend from the upper portion of the rear panel 110, however in this case secondary straps 211, 212 extend from each of the primary straps 111, 112. The secondary straps 211, 212 may be attached to the primary straps 111, 112 using any suitable means of attachment such as stitching. 101101 The primary straps 111, 112 each include a fastener region 213, 214 to compliment fastener regions 221 on one side of the front panels 121, 122, as can be seen on Figure 2B. These fasteners can be conveniently provided as hook and loop fasteners. In one example, the primary straps 111, 112 are fastened on the underside of the front panels 121, 122 when the utility vest 100 is worn, to allow relative positioning of the panels 110, 121, 122. 101111 The secondary straps 211, 212 are then fastened to the respective front panels 121, 122 using further fasteners, such as a buckle 222 in this instance. The buckle 222 used to fasten the secondary straps 211, 212 provides additional strength in the connection between the rear panel 110 and the front panel 121, 122, to allow the connection to more reliably bear the weight of the supported equipment across the wearer's shoulders. This also allows finer adjustment and tightening of the connection between the rear panel 110 and the front panel 121,122. [01121 A cross strap 223 is also optionally attached onto each of the front panels 121, 122, such that the respective cross straps can be fastened together using cross strap fasteners 224. The cross straps 223 can therefore provide an additional securing point on the utility vest 100 to help retain the utility vest 100 snugly and comfortably on the wearer even during activity.

C:\NRorb\DC LJR\I547762 DOC-17rnO1/202 -16 [01131 Optional reflective regions 210 may also be provided on the panels 110, 121, 122. These are conveniently provided as patches of reflective material stitched onto the panel material. 101141 An example embodiment of the utility vest 100 is shown in Figures 3A to 31. This embodiment includes many of the features discussed above and these have been identified in the Figures using corresponding reference numerals. [0115] As mentioned above, Figures 3A and 3B illustrate the utility vest 100 in respective open and closed states. Figure 3A generally corresponds to the example of Figure IA incorporating the features of the rear panel 110 and front panel 121, 122 of Figures 2A and 2B. Figure 3B shows the same utility vest 100 in a secured state where each of the different fasteners has been secured so that the overall utility vest 100 can be secured upon the body of a wearer. [01161 As can be seen, the ends of the support belt 130 have been overlapped so that the regions of hook and loop fasteners of the fasteners 131, 132 can engage to secure the support belt 130 around a user. The equipment belt 140 is also secured using the fasteners 141, 142, provided in the form of buckles, and the equipment belt 140 is supported in the supports 144. The primary straps 111, 112 at the upper portion of the rear panel 110 extend across shoulder regions of a wearer and attach by hook and loop fasteners to upper portions of the front panels 121, 122 (these attachments takes place behind the front panels 121, 122 from the perspective of Figures 3A and 3B). The secondary straps 211, 212 fasten to the buckles 222 mounted on the front panels 121, 122 to provide additional load bearing connections over the shoulder regions, and the cross strap 223 is connected across a chest region of the wearer using cross strap fasteners 224 which are provided in this case as further buckles. [01171 Reflective material strips 210 are provided at selected locations upon the utility vest 100, including on the rear panel 110, front panels 121, 122 and along the secondary straps 211,212. [0118] Specific construction details for this embodiment will now be outlined. The utility vest 100 can be provided in a number of standard sizes including: Small, Medium, Large, C:NRPonbI\DCC\UR\4547762_l DOC-17A)/2012 - 17 XL, 2XL, 3XL and 4XL. However, the utility vest 100 includes features which help to ensure an excellent fit even if standard sizing is not perfectly compatible with the wearer's body shape. [01191 Turning to the detailed views of Figures 3C to 3F, the features of the support belt 130 and equipment belt 140 can be clearly discerned. [01201 In this embodiment, the support belt 130 is formed from a 200mm wide length of elastic fabric with regions of hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro provided at each end to serve as the fasteners 131, 132 which allow the support belt 130 to be secured when both ends overlap and meet. The elastic fabric can alternatively be 100mm, 140mm, 170mm or 200mm wide depending on requirements. The overlap at the front of the utility vest 100 gives the wearer the option to adjust the utility vest 100 for a perfect fit. Both ends of the support belt 130 are tapered to define a recess 133 for enhanced comfort when bending or sitting. [01211 In alternative embodiments, the support belt 130 can include leather lined with felt in place of the elastic fabric. Instead of the hook and loop fasteners 131, 132 at each end, the leather support belt 130 will typically be provided with a metal buckle to allow securing of the support belt 130. [01221 With reference to Figure 3D, the bracing members 134 can be seen as four dark diagonal lines. The bracing members 134 are provided in the form of a hardened material such as plastic placed inside webbing material and sewn to the elastic fabric. These help to provide better out-of-plane and cross-width stiffness to the elastic fabric when the support belt 130 is worn around the waist. The stitched attachment region 113 between the rear panel 110 and the support belt 130 can be seen to extend across the overlap between those two parts. [01231 In this example, the equipment belt 140 is 50mm wide and has side release buckles as the fasteners 141, 142 to allow the equipment belt 140 to be secured from end-to-end, although alternative sizes, such as a 38mm wide equipment belt, with side release buckles can be used. The equipment belt 140 is made from heavy duty webbing, for example of the type typically used for truck lashing. Colours can be fluorescent yellow, fluorescent green, C:\NRPertbl\DCC\UR\4547762I DOC-17MV/2UL2 -18 fluorescent orange, black, blue, grey, and green, with selection depending on worksite requirements. [01241 The equipment belt 140 is permanently attached to the right side of the support belt 130 and front panel 122. It is also supported in the centre of the support belt 30 where the rear panel 110 is attached and on the left side of the support belt 130 where the left front panel 121 is attached. 101251 Each support point 144 is a belt loop through which the equipment belt 140 is passed. In this example, the support point 144 is reconfigurable between a closed position for supporting the equipment belt 140 and an open position for receiving the equipment belt 140 and allowing equipment to be repositioned on the equipment belt whilst the equipment belt 140 is secured. [01261 In practice, the belt loop of the support point 144 may be formed from a strip of material, such as leather, or any other material that is suitably strong for supporting the equipment belt 140, attached to one of the panels 110, 121, 122 of the utility vest. The strip of material can include a detachable fastener on at least one end to allow reconfiguration of the belt loop. This may be of a similar arrangement to the belt loops provided on camera cases. [01271 In this case, the detachable fastener is a metal turnbutton style fastener 340, such as a metal "Commonsense Turn-Button Fastener", which allows easy detachment by simply turning the button into an open position. The ends of the strip of material forming the belt loop of the support point 144 can then be moved apart to place the support point 144 in an open position. This allows equipment to be slid around the equipment belt 140 for convenient repositioning to desired positions upon the utility vest 100 without requiring the detachment of equipment from the equipment belt 140 and subsequent re-attachment. 101281 There are two support points 144 in this embodiment, positioned relatively evenly around the utility vest 100, although any number and positioning can be used. In this case, one support point 144 is positioned at the centre of the rear panel 110 and the other support point 144 is positioned on the front panel 121 upon which the equipment belt 140 is not C :NRPortbl\DCC\LJR4547762_ILDOC.17A)821i2 -19 attached. This arrangement provides a good compromise between the distributions of the weight of the supported equipment between the different panels 110, 121, 122 of the utility vest 100, whilst allowing flexibility of positioning of the equipment upon the equipment belt 140. 101291 Turning to Figures 3E and 3F, further details of the belt attachments will be outlined. Figure 3E shows the left end and Figure 3F shows the right end of the support belt 130 and equipment belt 140. The fastener 131 of the left end of the support belt 130 is an extended region of hook or loop fastener, providing a length upon which the complimentary fastener 132 at the right end of the support belt 130 can be attached at different relative positions with different amounts of overlap, such that varying waist circumferences can be accommodated. [01301 A stitched region 341 can be observed on the equipment belt 140, and this stitched region 341 corresponds to a further hook and loop fastener region on the inside surface of the equipment belt 140. The fastener 141 of the equipment belt 140 is a buckle positioned at the free end of the equipment belt 140, at the opposite end to the attachment point 143. In this embodiment, the equipment belt 140 is configured to allow adjustment of its length without resulting in loose ends of belt which might otherwise pose an entanglement risk. 101311 Accordingly, the buckle can be adjustably positioned on the equipment belt 140 so that a portion thereof extends from the buckle, but this portion of the equipment belt 140 extending from the fastener 141 is attachable to the remaining length of the equipment belt 140 along the inside of the equipment belt 140. The attachment is achieved using the hook and loop fastener region on the inside surface of the equipment belt 140 corresponding to the stitched region 341 in Figure 3E. A further hook and loop fastener region is also provided at the extreme end of the equipment belt 140 to enable attachment between the respective hook and loop fastener regions. Alternatively, the hook and loop fastener region can also be on the outside surface of the equipment belt 140 depending on requirements. 101321 Turning to Figure 3F, it can be seen the attachment point 143 is positioned close to an end of the equipment belt 140 such that the fastener 142, in the form of a buckle, is placed almost immediately adjacent to the attachment point 143. This enables a simple fastening operation without requiring the wearer to coordinate holding and bringing together both ends C:WRPorb\DCCLR\4547762_1 DOC-t7r08/2012 - 20 of the equipment belt 140. This allows the equipment belt 140 to be more easily secured on the wearer. [01331 Figure 3G shows details of the rear panel 110, which is attached to the outside of the elastic support belt 130 between the bracing members 134. The rear panel 110 is typically made from a durable fabric, such as a 2x2 weave PVC coated (fire retardant) polyester mesh. Cordura '2x2 weave' water-proof mesh has been found to be suitable whilst allowing for good air flow. Colours of the mesh can be black, fluorescent yellow or fluorescent orange (depending on the requirements of the worksite for visibility). The rear panel may also include a 'Polyester Bias Binding Webbing Tape' provided all exterior edges of the panel, as shown at 215. [01341 A lower portion of the rear panel 110 may include an integrated hardened material such as plastic to allow a strong placement location for the attachment point 144. The rear panel 110 may also include internal padding for extra support and comfort. [01351 The rear panel 110 may also be fitted with further accessories, such as pouches or pockets, which can be sewn onto the rear panel 110. These can be made to accommodate equipment, such as a cap lamp battery, self rescue unit, water bladder, water bottle, or other tools and equipment. These pockets or pouches could be included on the rear panel 110, or on other parts of the utility vest, depending for example on site requirements. [01361 The primary straps 111, 112 can be in the form of shoulder pads attached to the rear panel. These shoulder pads may have integrated padding for wearer comfort. The fastener regions 213, 214 also include hook fasteners such as Velcro in order to attach to the right and left front panels 121, 122. The fastener regions 213, 214 are elongated to allow adjustment for different torso lengths. [01371 Both primary straps 111, 112 have secondary straps 211, 212 in the form of 50mm webbing permanently attached thereto. These secondary straps 211, 212 are used to provide further connections to the right and left front panels 121, 122 via the buckles 222. In this embodiment the buckles 222 are "Tri Glide" buckles mounted on the front panels 121, 122. These help to keep the primary straps 111, 112 and the front panels 121, 122 securely C:\NRPonbl\DCCUR4547762I DOC-17)8/2012 -21 attached. These secondary straps 211, 212 have high visibility tape provided thereon, in reflective regions 210. [01381 As seen in Figures 3H and 31, both the right and left front panels 121, 122 are attached to the outside surface of the support belt 130 at either end. Both front panels 121, 122 are made from durable fabric, which can include a 2x2 weave PVC coated (fire retardant) polyester mesh, such as Cordura '2x2 weave' water-proof mesh, to allow for air flow, as per the rear panel 110, and similar colour options will also apply. The front panels may include 'Polyester Bias Binding Webbing Tape' provided on exterior edges of the two side panels for additional strength, as shown at 125. 101391 A lower portion of each front panel 121, 122 may include integrated padding for extra comfort on the wearer's hips, to reduce tools & equipment from rubbing on the wearer and/or generally causing discomfort. Furthermore, both the right and left front panels 121, 122 can include a hardened material such as plastic integrated into a lower portion of the panel in order to provide strong mounting points for both the permanent attachment point 143 and the detachable support points 144 used to support the equipment belt 140. [01401 Both front panels 121, 122 include 50mm hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro on their inside surfaces for attachment of the primary straps 111, 112 on the rear panel 110. Both front panels also have 50mm Tri-Slide buckles 222 for attachment of the secondary straps 211, 212 on the rear panel 110. Both front panels connect together across the chest region of the wearer via 25mm side release buckles 224 which are also adjustable. [01411 The front panels 121, 122 can also be fitted with further accessories such as extra pouches or pockets that would be sewn onto the front panels 121, 122. For example, strips of webbing, 'D' rings, or snap hooks, can be sewn to the front panels 121, 122 in order for the wearer to attach numerous types of equipment thereto. Such attachments can be provided as accessories, allowing these to be included on the vest when required. [01421 A further example of a utility vest will now be described with reference to Figures 4A to 4H.

CANRPortbl\DCC\R\4547762 1 DOC- 17A)9/2012 - 22 [01431 In this example, the utility vest 400 includes a rear panel 410 and two front panels 421, 422. The front and rear panels 410, 421, 422 include support belt portions 410.1, 421.1, 422.1 adapted to be worn around the waist of the user. The support belt portions 410.1, 421.1, 422.1 are interconnected using elasticised connecting members 430.1, 430.2. [01441 Connecting straps 431.1, 431.2, 432.1, 432.2 may be provided on the front panels 421, 422, and interconnected via respective buckles, allowing the front panels to be interconnected, so that the support belt portions 410.1, 421.1, 422.1, and elasticised connecting members 430.1 provide support belt functionality similar to that described above with respect to the previous example, albeit with the support belt being integrally formed with the panels 410, 421, 422. [01451 It will also be appreciated that the connecting straps may not be interconnected so that the support belt only extends part way round the user's waist. It will be appreciated however that support will still be provided to the user through a combination of the elasticised connecting members 430.1, 430.2 and action of the equipment belt, as will be described in more detail below. The connecting straps may also be used to support equipment pouches, as will be described in more detail below. [01461 Additional connections between the front panels 421, 422 can be provided by a chest strap 433 formed from chest connecting straps 433.1, 433.2 coupled to the front panels 421, 422 and interconnected via a buckle in use. The chest strap 433 can help with fixing utility vest 400 in position, as well as the even distribution of load over a wearer's torso. [0147] The apparatus can also include an equipment belt 440, attached to at least one of the front panels 421, 422 via a buckle 441. In particular, the buckle includes a body 441.1 coupled to the front panel 421, for example, via a strap 441.2. In use, the buckle retains a first end of the belt includes an adjustment mechanism for allowing a length of belt extending therefrom to be adjusted. In one example, the adjustment mechanism includes a clasp, such as an actuating lever 441.3, pivotally mounted to the body 441.1. In use, the belt 440 is positioned in the buckle 441 between the body 441.1 and the lever 441.3, with the lever 441.3 being operatively biased against the belt 440, for example using a spring or the like. The lever 441.1 can be actuated by a user, for example by depressing, releasing or pulling the C\NRPrnbl\DCCLJR\4547762_I DOC-17AI12II2 - 23 clasp, releasing the belt 440, and allowing length of the belt projecting from the buckle to be adjusted by feeding the belt 440 into or out of the buckle 441, as required. The buckle also supports a connecting ring 441.4 for receiving a connector 442, such as a carabiner, snap hook, or the like, mounted on a second end of the belt, thereby allowing the belt to be connected around the wearer's waist. [01481 The equipment belt 440 may also be supported on the utility vest 400 in at least one other location, for example through the use of support points, such as belt loops 444, on the rear panel 410 and the left front panel 421 of the utility vest 400. These support points may be simple belt loops or the like similar to those described above with respect to the example of Figures 3A to 31 and these will not therefore be described in any further detail. [01491 In any event, the equipment belt 440 allows equipment to be attached to the utility vest 400 using standard belt loops without requiring any specialised adaptations, such that any equipment pouch, harness, holster, or the like that is suitable for attachment to a normal belt can be conveniently attached to the equipment belt 440. [01501 Each of the two front panels, 421, 422 can also be attached to the rear panel 410 at respective upper portions, to define shoulder straps 411, 412 extending over the shoulders of a wearer in use. This helps support the weight of equipment attached to the vest 400, allowing this to be distributed between the wearer's shoulders and waist. The shoulder straps 411, 412 are attached to the rear panel 410 and adapted to be adjustably mounted to the upper portions of the front panels 421, 422 to allow the utility vest 400 to fit wearers of different torso sizes, such that the support belt portions 410.1, 421.1, 422.1 remain appropriately positioned in the vicinity of the lumbar region of the wearer's lower back and waist. 101511 In one example, the shoulder straps 411, 412 include primary straps 411.1, 412.1 which in use are positioned in pockets 411.2, 412.2 mounted on a rear side of the front panels 421, 422, respectively. Secondary straps 411.3, 412.3 are then fastened to buckles 411.4, 412.4 provided on the front panels 421, 422. The use of primary straps 411.1, 412.1 allows for suitable degree of padding and hence comfort, whilst the secondary straps 411.3, 412.3 can be used to conveniently adjust the overall length of the shoulder straps.

C :\RPonbl\DCCUR\4547762_1 DOC-17AIN2012 - 24 101521 In one example, the shoulder straps 411, 412 may be tapered and/or partially curved (as shown at 412.5), thereby ensuring the shoulder straps 411, 412 extend in a parallel fashion down the front of the user when the vest is worn. This prevents outward loads being applied to the subject when the vest is being worn, increasing comfort in use. The front panels 421, 422 may also be provided with a complementary shape to the shoulder straps 411, 412, to ensure the straps correctly align with the panels. [01531 Tapering of the front panels 421, 422 and/or shoulder straps 411, 412 can assist in maximising airflow to the wearer, which is important in hot environments, such as mines, or the like. Airflow can be further improved through the use of appropriate materials. For example, the panels can include a lightweight robust fabric covered open foam material, such as a flexible polyester - polyurethane foam with a unique three dimensional open cell structure, to provide airflow and comfort. One specific example foam is known as "Polyester-Urethane Meracell Reticulated Grade S28/25R, but it will be appreciated that other open foams, or other similar materials could be used. [01541 The connecting members 430.1, 430.2 can be made of an open breathable elastic to allow airflow through the connecting members 430.1, 430.2. The vest 400 may also include HI-VIS reflector tape 415, for ensuring the wearer is visible even in low light conditions, in which case this is also made breathable through the provision of perforated holes. [01551 As described above, the connecting straps 431.1, 431.2, 432.1, 432.2 can act to support equipment pouches, for example by having the connecting straps 431.1, 431.2, 432.1, 432.2 extend through securing loops provided on the pouches. An example equipment pouch 450 is shown in Figures 4E and 4F. In this example, the pouch includes a body 451 including a zip 452, allowing the body 451 to be opened so as to provide access to the contents thereof. On a rear side, the pouch includes first belt loops 453 and second belt loops 454, which are fixed to the body by respective turnbuckles 455. In use, the belt loops 453 can be used to couple the pouch to one of the connecting straps 431.2, 432.2, whilst the belt loops 454 can be used to couple the pouch to one of the connecting straps 431.1, 432.1. This allows two pouches 450.1, 450.2 to be supported on the vest 400 by the connecting straps 431.1, 432.1, 431.2, 432.2.

C:WRPortb1DCCJR\4547762 jDOC-17#8/2012 - 25 [01561 The provision of the turnbuckles 455 allows the belt loops 454 to be opened, so that the pouch 450 can be releasably attached to the connecting straps 431.1, 432.1, allowing the pouches 450 to be swung clear of the vest 400, as shown by the pouch 450.1 in Figure 4G. This can be used to provide access to the connecting straps 431.1, 432.1, 431.2, 432.2 to facilitate connecting strap tension, as well as to provide access to the equipment belt buckle 441, also allow equipment belt tension to be adjusted. Thus, it will be appreciated that the turnbuckles 455 allow the vest to be adjusted, whilst avoiding the need to remove the pouches 450 from the vest. [01571 Typically the connecting straps 431.1, 431.2, 432.1, 432.2 support relatively lightweight equipment, whereas the equipment belt supports heavier equipment, such as batteries or the like. In one example, at least one of the pouches 450 includes an internal body 456 supporting a number of pockets 456.1, 456.2, 456.3, 456.4 for containing documents or labelling markers, such as danger tags. Danger tags are used to indicate points of danger within hazardous environments, so providing a specific compartment which is provided on the front of the vest means that the danger tags are readily accessible, thereby allowing these to be readily and rapidly deployed as required. [01581 In view of the above, it will be appreciated that the utility vests described herein provide a solution which allows for a comfortable and supportive fit upon the wearer without overly complicated attachment requirements. The components of the utility vests are each permanently attached together to provide a utility vest of unitary construction which does not require extensive assembly or adjustment, other than to initiate a secure fit. Safety risks due to excessive loose strap ends and the like are also minimised. Any equipment having standard pouches, holster etc. can be easily attached to the equipment belts, and further features are provided which allow for convenient repositioning without requiring any specialised attachment adaptations. [01591 It will further be appreciated that features of the different examples can be used interchangeably or in conjunction as required. For example, the equipment belt 440 of the further example, could be used instead of the equipment belt 140 of the first example, or vice versa. The equipment belt, and in particular the buckle arrangement of the second example CANRPonbI\DCCULJR\4547762_1 DOC-17A8/2112 - 26 can also be used in other equipment, and its use with respect to the vest example above is not intended to be limiting. [01601 Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and modifications will become apparent. All such variations and modifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art, should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope that the invention broadly appearing before described.