U.S. patent application number 11/037682 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-27 for web attachment system protocol.
Invention is credited to Frank A. Howell, Justin Kiger.
Application Number | 20060162135 11/037682 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36695118 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060162135 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Howell; Frank A. ; et
al. |
July 27, 2006 |
Web attachment system protocol
Abstract
Apparatus for detachably securing an accessory component to a
garment or the like has a meshed fabric forming an integral part of
said garment. The meshed fabric has an array of first openings. A
base plate has a plurality of second openings. The base plate is
adapted to be positioned on one side of the meshed fabric with the
second openings aligned with mating first openings. The apparatus
has means for securing said base plate to the accessory component.
A locking plate has a plurality of studs. The locking plate is
adapted to be positioned on an opposite side of the meshed fabric
with the studs projecting through the mating first openings into
the second openings and into interlocked engagement with the base
plate.
Inventors: |
Howell; Frank A.; (Oxford,
ME) ; Kiger; Justin; (Harrison, ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GAUTHIER & CONNORS, LLP
225 FRANKLIN STREET
BOSTON
MA
02110
US
|
Family ID: |
36695118 |
Appl. No.: |
11/037682 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/442 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2003/146 20130101;
Y10T 24/27 20150115; A45F 5/02 20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101; A41D
13/0012 20130101; A44B 13/0052 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/442 |
International
Class: |
A44B 18/00 20060101
A44B018/00 |
Claims
1. Apparatus for detachably securing an accessory component to a
garment or the like, said apparatus comprising: a meshed fabric
forming an integral part of said garment, said meshed fabric having
an array of first openings; a base plate having a plurality of
second openings, said base plate being adapted to be positioned on
one side of said meshed fabric with said second openings aligned
with mating first openings; means for securing said base plate to
said accessory component, and a locking plate having a plurality of
studs, said locking plate being adapted to be positioned on an
opposite side of said meshed fabric with said studs projecting
through said mating first openings into said second openings and
into interlocked engagement with said base plate.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said accessory component is
comprised at least partially of a fabric to which said base plate
is secured by stitching.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second openings are
spaced along a longitudinal axis of said base plate, and wherein
said base plate is additionally provided with third openings spaced
along paths parallel to and on opposite sides of said longitudinal
axis, said third openings being arranged to accept a threaded
needle of a sewing machine employed to stitch said base plate to
said fabric.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said base plate is
additionally provided with guide surfaces for guiding said sewing
machine along said paths.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second openings comprise
undercut elongated slots communicating with apertures that are
relatively large in comparison to the width of said slots, and
wherein said studs have heads that are connected to said base plate
by stems, said heads being wider than said slots and being
configured and dimensioned to enter said apertures in a first
direction, and said stems having widths that are narrower than said
heads and dimensioned to enter said slots in a second direction
perpendicular to said first direction to position said heads
beneath said slots and to establish said interlocked
engagement.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said studs comprise heads
joined to said base plate by stems, said stems being located
between gaps in said base plate.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said heads have shoulders
overlaying said gaps.
8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a top surface of said base
plate is provided with grooves extending between said third
openings, and wherein said stitching is recessed beneath said top
surface in said grooves.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said base plate has a top
surface with a raised longitudinally extending central area, and
wherein said second openings are spaced along said central
area.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locking plate being
adapted to be in interlocked engagement with said base plate
further comprising being adapted to slide into locking engagement
with said base plate.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein means for securing said base
plate to said accessory component comprises openings formed in said
base plate to accommodate riveting of the base plate to an
accessory component comprised at least partially of a fabric.
12. Apparatus for detachably securing an accessory component to a
garment or the like, said apparatus comprising: a meshed fabric
forming an integral part of said garment, said meshed fabric having
an array of first openings; a base plate having a plurality of
second openings spaced along a longitudinal axis of said base
plate, said base plate being adapted to be positioned on one side
of said meshed fabric with said second openings aligned with mating
first openings, said base plate is additionally provided with third
openings spaced along paths parallel to and on opposite sides of
said longitudinal axis, said third openings being arranged to
accept a threaded needle of a sewing machine employed to stitch
said base plate to said fabric; means for securing said base plate
to said accessory component, wherein said accessory component is
comprised at least partially of a fabric to which said base plate
is secured by stitching, and a locking plate having a plurality of
studs, said locking plate being adapted to be positioned on an
opposite side of said meshed fabric with said studs projecting
through said mating first openings into said second openings and
slid into interlocked engagement with said base plate.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said base plate is
additionally provided with guide surfaces for guiding said sewing
machine along said paths.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said second openings
comprise undercut elongated slots communicating with apertures that
are relatively large in comparison to the width of said slots, and
wherein said studs have heads that are connected to said base plate
by stems, said heads being wider than said slots and being
configured and dimensioned to enter said apertures in a first
direction, and said stems having widths that are narrower than said
heads and dimensioned to enter said slots in a second direction
perpendicular to said first direction to position said heads
beneath said slots and to establish said interlocked
engagement.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said studs comprise heads
joined to said base plate by stems, said stems being located
between gaps in said base plate.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said heads have shoulders
overlaying said gaps.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a top surface of said base
plate is provided with grooves extending between said third
openings, and wherein said stitching is recessed beneath said top
surface in said grooves.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said base plate has a top
surface with a raised longitudinally extending central area, and
wherein said second openings are spaced along said central
area.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein means for securing said base
plate to said accessory component comprises openings formed in said
base plate to accommodate riveting of the base plate to an
accessory component comprised at least partially of a fabric.
20. Apparatus for detachably securing an accessory component to a
garment or the like, said apparatus comprising: a meshed fabric
forming an integral part of said garment, said meshed fabric having
an array of first openings; a base plate having a plurality of
second openings spaced along a longitudinal axis of said base plate
and comprising undercut elongated slots communicating with
apertures that are relatively large in comparison to the width of
said slots, a top surface with a raised longitudinally extending
central area, and wherein said second openings are spaced along
said central area, a plurality third openings spaced along paths
parallel to and on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, said
third openings being arranged to accept a threaded needle of a
sewing machine employed to stitch said base plate to said fabric,
and guide surfaces for guiding said sewing machine along said
paths, said base plate being adapted to be positioned on one side
of said meshed fabric with said second openings aligned with mating
first openings; means for securing said base plate to said
accessory component, wherein said accessory component is comprised
at least partially of a fabric to which said base plate is secured
by stitching, and a locking plate adapted to be positioned on an
opposite side of said meshed fabric, said locking plate having a
plurality of studs having heads that are connected to said base
plate by stems, said heads being wider than said slots and being
configured and dimensioned to project through said mating first
openings and to enter said apertures in a first direction, and said
stems having widths that are narrower than said heads and
dimensioned to enter said slots in a second direction perpendicular
to said first direction to position said heads beneath said slots
and to slide into interlocked engagement with said base plate.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to the attachment of objects
to garments, harnesses, and the like, and, more particularly, to a
fastening system that securely mounts removable pockets, pouches,
or the like, to a mesh fabric.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Many types of load bearing garments or backpacks may employ
some type of attachment system for accessories so that a user may
locate any of a variety of such accessories (e.g., pockets,
pouches, and holders) where they will be most convenient.
Permanently attached pockets are suboptimal because they require
extensive repair or replacement of the garment when they wear out.
Pockets that are permanently attached cannot be repositioned for
the comfort and accessibility of the individual user, nor swapped
for more appropriate alternative accessories given the current
use.
[0003] Well known attachment systems include keepers with slides,
hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners (both hard and soft),
buttons, and interlocking straps. Generally, the problems
associated with these systems are the labor and expense, weight,
heat stress on the user, unreliability, bulk, lack of comfort, and
creation of unstable loads due to sloppiness in the fitting.
[0004] Keepers and sliders tend to be uncomfortable to the user, or
require padding, which adds to a user's heat stress. Their
mechanism have a tendency to become fouled, and are costly to
repair when damaged.
[0005] Hook and loop fasteners (of both plastic and metal) are
noisy and become unreliable when exposed to adverse environmental
conditions, such as water, grit, mud, snow, or ice.
[0006] Snap fasteners are unreliable, easily damaged, and require
support to engage. These fasteners require both sides of the snap
to be affixed to heavy textile substrates and do not provide enough
retention for high load situations.
[0007] Some other attachment methods employ one or more plastic
parts, which are adhered directly to the garment or the pocket, and
interface with another part on the opposing surface. These plastic
parts are sewn directly onto a textile surface, but this requires
that a relatively low strength plastic be used and that it be
thinned to allow penetration by a sewing needle. Furthermore,
piercing the plastic in this manner damages it precisely at the
point of greatest load, typically resulting in tear-outs during
heavy use.
[0008] Modular pockets are frequently avoided due to the cost and
lack of stability caused by sloppiness in the attachment. Methods
which can better approximate the stability of permanent attachment,
such as the interlocking straps described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,724,707, may be expensive, bulky, and cause heat stress due to
their thickness and heavier textile substrates required on a
garment for their mounting. An interlocking strap system confines
the location and angle at which modular pockets can be attached to
a garment, based on the width and placement of the straps on the
garment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The effective modular attachments of the present invention
allow a user to customize the number, style, and location of the
attachments on worn or carried items. The ability to mount
accessories at various angles enhances the utility of the
accessories and the garment. Further advantages are derived from a
system that uses a mesh textile and standard materials as the
substrate for accessory attachment. The ability to use mesh as a
structural element in a garment or item has advantages in weight
and the reduction of heat stress in warm weather environments. To
be useful in performance applications, such as load bearing
garments, backpacks, sportsman's gear, or luggage, an attachment
system must have substantial retention of what is attached.
[0010] A primary object of the present invention is to create a
secure, reliable, robust, and easy to use attachment system that is
low profile (i.e., flat against the garment or item). Additionally,
when used with a mesh substrate, the present invention allows
accessories to be mounted in a variety of positions and at numerous
angles.
[0011] In accordance with a general aspect of the present
invention, an apparatus for detachably securing an accessory
component to a garment or the like has a meshed fabric forming an
integral part of the garment. The meshed fabric has an array of
first openings. A base plate has a plurality of second openings.
The base plate is adapted to be positioned on one side of the
meshed fabric with the second openings aligned with mating first
openings. The apparatus has means for securing the base plate to
the accessory component. A locking plate has a plurality of studs.
The locking plate is adapted to be positioned on an opposite side
of the meshed fabric with the studs projecting through the mating
first openings into the second openings and into interlocked
engagement with the base plate.
[0012] In other aspects of the present invention, the accessory
component is comprised at least partially of a fabric to which the
base plate is secured by stitching. The second openings are spaced
along a longitudinal axis of the base plate, and the base plate is
additionally provided with third openings spaced along paths
parallel to and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, the
third openings being arranged to accept a threaded needle of a
sewing machine employed to stitch the base plate to the fabric. The
base plate is additionally provided with guide surfaces for guiding
the sewing machine along the paths. The second openings have
undercut elongated slots communicating with apertures that are
relatively large in comparison to the width of the slots. The studs
have heads that are connected to the base plate by stems. The heads
are wider than the slots and are configured and dimensioned to
enter the apertures in a first direction. The stems have widths
that are narrower than the heads and dimensioned to enter the slots
in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to
position the heads beneath the slots and to establish the
interlocked engagement. The studs have heads joined to the base
plate by stems, the stems being located between gaps in the base
plate. The heads have shoulders overlaying the gaps. A top surface
of the base plate is provided with grooves extending between the
third openings. The stitching is recessed beneath said top surface
in the grooves. The base plate has a top surface with a raised
longitudinally extending central area, and wherein the second
openings are spaced along the central area. The locking plate is
adapted to be in interlocked engagement with the base plate and is
adapted to slide into locking engagement with said base plate. The
means for securing the base plate to the accessory component
includes openings formed in the base plate to accommodate riveting
of the base plate to an accessory component comprised at least
partially of a fabric.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front view of a vest having several accessories
removably attached thereto;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a locking plate;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a base plate;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of an accessory attached to
a base plate and a mesh fabric disposed between the base plate and
a locking plate;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded section view of a base plate attached
to an accessory, a mesh fabric, and a locking plate;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a first section view of an assembled base plate,
mesh fabric, and locking plate;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a second section view of an assembled base plate,
mesh fabric, and locking plate;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a section view of a mesh fabric locked between a
base plate and a locking plate; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a section view of a base plate attached to an
accessory by stitches.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, vest 1 is shown having a variety of
accessories attached to it, including a pocket 2, pouch 3,
ammunition pocket 4, and pistol holster 5. The accessories are
located on and removably attached to the vest using an example of a
base plate and locking plate described in more detail below. One or
more base plates are attached to an accessory. For each base plate,
a locking plate is used to interlock with the base plate and to
trap meshed fabric 6 of the vest 1 between the base plate and the
locking plate. A user may select the location and orientation of
any of the accessories where they will be most convenient to
him.
[0023] In one example, vest 1 includes panels of a wide aperture
mesh fabric 6 having an array of relatively large openings, such as
about 0.125 inches. An example of this type of fabric is the combat
mesh, available from Crossfire Australia Pty Ltd., of Braidwood,
NSW, Australia.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 7, locking plate 10 is shown
having a planar base 12 with ends 14 and 16, a top surface 18, and
a bottom surface 20. Ledges 22 and 24 are disposed on bottom
surface 20 toward ends 14 and 16 respectively. In one example, a
user may push on ledges 22 and 24 with a lever or a tool, such as a
flat-head screwdriver, to interlock locking plate 10 with a base
plate, as described in more detail below. Base 12 may be molded
from any known plastic material, e.g., ABS or polycarbonate, and
provided with a length of about 2.5 inches, a width of about 0.6
inches and a thickness of about 0.1 inches.
[0025] Studs 26 protrude from top face 18 of base 12 and are
disposed longitudinally along centerline 28 of base 12. The studs
26 have heads 30 having a rectangular shape and about equal width
and length. Heads 30 are connected to base 12 by stems 32 having a
narrower width than heads 30. In one example, stems 32 are about
half the width of heads 30. In another example, heads 30 have a
width of about 0.25 inches, a length of about 0.25 inches, and a
thickness of about 0.062 inches. Stems 32 have a width of about
0.125 inches, for example. Studs 26 may protrude about 0.2 inches
from top surface 18, for example.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, base plate 40 has a top
surface 42 and a bottom surface 44 and a longitudinal axis 45.
Openings 46 extend through base plate 40 and are arranged along
longitudinal axis 45. Each opening 46 is sized to accommodate a
head 30 of locking plate 12. Elongated slots 48 extend through base
plate 40 and each slot 48 is in communication with an opening 46.
Slots 48 are wide enough to accommodate stems 32 and narrow enough
to prevent heads 30 from passing into or through them. Channels 50
extend into bottom into 44 of base plate 40. Each channel 50 is
aligned with and in communication with a slot, 48 and is sized in
depth and width to accommodate head 30 such that head 30 is flush
with or recessed from bottom surface 44 while locking plate 10 is
interlocked with base plate 40.
[0027] Fastening holes 52 extend through base plate 40 and are
arranged along edges 54 and 56. Holes 52 are used to attach base
plate 40 to a modular pocket, such as by sewing, for example. Holes
52 are sized to accommodate a sewing machine needle and are
uniformly spaced so a sewing machine can be adjusted to the correct
number of stitches per inch to correspond with spacing between
holes 52. In one example, holes 52 are elongated transversely to
the direction in which base plate 40 is sewn so that several
different types of sewing machines may be used. In another example,
grooves 58 may extend between individual holes 52, between holes 52
and edges 54 or 56, and between holes 52 and ends 60 or 62. Grooves
58 aid in locating stitches during the sewing installation of a
base plate 40 to a modular pocket. Grooves 58 also protect stitches
from abrasion damage by recessing the stitches below top surface
42. One advantage of holes 52 is the ability to use stronger
materials to make base plate 40 as a sewing needle does not have to
punch through base plate 40 to form each stitch. In one example,
holes 52 are also disposed along ends 60 and 62 of base plate
40.
[0028] In one example, top surface 42 includes an elevated center
portion 64 forming guide ledges 66 along axis 45 and guide ledges
68 transverse to axis 45. Guide ledges 66 and 68 guide a sewing
machine foot during sewing attachment of base plate 40 so that
stitches are properly located relative to holes 52.
[0029] In another example, rivet holes 70 extend through base plate
40 and are arranged along axis 45 to allow attachment of base plate
40 by commonly known riveting methods. Rivet head recesses 72
extend from top surface 42 into base plate 40 and are sized to
permit rivet heads to be installed flush with or below top surface
42.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 4-8, an example of using locking plate 10
and base plate 40 to mount an accessory 80 to mesh fabric 82 is
shown. Locking plate 10 is positioned beneath mesh fabric 80 and
aligned so that studs 26 approximately align with mesh openings 84.
Base plate 40 is attached to accessory 80 by stitches 86 and is
positioned with top surface 42 facing mesh fabric 82. Studs 26 are
inserted through openings 84 and into openings 46 of base plate 40
until heads 30 are at the same level as channels 50. This traps
fabric 82 between locking plate 10 and base plate 40. Base plate 40
is then slid in direction 88 to lock mesh 82 between locking plate
10 and base plate 40. In some examples, mesh fabric 84 is part of a
garment or a bag. In other examples, mesh fabric 80 is tautly
installed over a solid surface, such as a ballistic plate or a
rucksack.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 9, base plate 40 is sewn to accessory 90
by stitches 92. As discussed above, thread 94 lays in grooves 58
between openings 52, which locate thread 94 and protect it from
abrasive wear. A sewing machine foot 96 is disposed against guide
ledge 68 to locate additional stitches in openings 52. In another
example, sewing machine foot 96 could be disposed against guide
ledge 66 to stitch base plate 40 to place stitches 92.
[0032] The foregoing description has been limited to a specific
embodiment of the invention. It will be apparent, however, that
variations and modifications can be made to the invention, with the
attainment of some or all of the advantages of the invention.
Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover all
such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit
and scope of the invention.
* * * * *