U.S. patent application number 11/671027 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for garment and load attachment system.
This patent application is currently assigned to EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.. Invention is credited to Scott V. Evans, Carl James Quinlan.
Application Number | 20070289045 11/671027 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38860121 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289045 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Evans; Scott V. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2007 |
GARMENT AND LOAD ATTACHMENT SYSTEM
Abstract
A garment with a load attachment system. The garment has a
plurality of spaced apart rows of loop members. The attachment
device includes a clip member with an arm having fingers at
opposite ends thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the fingers and
arm define generally oppositely opening slots. A load is removably
mounted to the garment with the attachment device by a loop member
being received in a respective slot.
Inventors: |
Evans; Scott V.;
(Jacksonville, NC) ; Quinlan; Carl James;
(Richlands, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLACKWELL SANDERS LLP
720 OLIVE STREET
SUITE 2400
ST. LOUIS
MO
63101
US
|
Assignee: |
EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED,
INC.
1000 Biltmore Drive
Fenton
MO
63026
|
Family ID: |
38860121 |
Appl. No.: |
11/671027 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60766727 |
Feb 8, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/102 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/102 |
International
Class: |
A41D 1/04 20060101
A41D001/04 |
Claims
1. A garment with an attachment system for removably mounting a
load to the garment comprising: a garment having a plurality of
spaced apart rows of first loop members with spaces therebetween;
an attachment device including a clip member having a pair of
fingers and a relatively rigid arm member connected to and
extending between the fingers, said attachment device having a
first slot and a second slot with the first and second slots
opening generally toward each other, a said first loop member in
one said row being received in said first slot and a first loop
member in another said row being received in the second said slot;
and a load mounted to the attachment device.
2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the load including a second loop
member secured thereto and receiving the arm member therethrough,
said second loop being positioned between at least two of said
first loop members received in said first and second slots.
3. An attachment system for mounting a carried device to a carrying
device, said system including: at least one first loop member and
at least one second loop member secured in spaced apart
relationship on a carrying device; and an attachment device
including a clip member having a pair of fingers and an arm
connected to and extending between the fingers, said attachment
device having a first slot and a second slot with the first and
second slots opening generally toward each other, a said first loop
member being received in a said first slot and a said second loop
member being received in a said second slot.
4. The attachment system of claim 3 wherein the first loop member
defining a first opening and the second loop member defining a
second opening, said first opening being generally in alignment
with a said second opening.
5. The attachment system of claim 4 wherein there being a first row
of first loop members with each said first loop member defining a
respective said first opening and there being a second row of
second loop members with each said second loop member defining a
respective said second opening.
6. The attachment system of claim 4 including a carried device
having at least one third loop member defining a third opening with
said arm extending therethrough.
7. The attachment system of claim 4 wherein the first and second
slots being on opposite sides of the arm.
8. The attachment system of claim 7 wherein the first and second
slots lying in generally parallel planes.
9. The attachment system of claim 8 wherein the fingers including a
first finger and a second finger with the first finger and the arm
defining the first slot, each of said loop members having a height,
said first slot having a length of at least about the height of two
said loop members and the first slot contains a loop member on the
carrying device and a loop member on the carried device.
10. The attachment system of claim 9 wherein the second slot having
a length about equal to or less than about the height of one said
loop member received therein.
11. The attachment system of claim 4 wherein the arm bridging at
least three said loop members, of which at least two of said loop
members are on the carrying device and at least one said loop
member is on the carried device and positioned between said two
loop members on the carrying device.
12. The attachment system of claim 11 wherein the arm is positioned
on the outside of an uppermost loop member on the carrying device,
on the inside of a loop member on the carried device and on the
inside of a lowermost loop member on the carrying device bridged by
the arm.
13. The attachment system of claim 11 wherein the arm bridges at
least five said loop members.
14. The attachment system of claim 11 wherein the ann bridging one
more loop member on the carrying device than on the carried
device.
15. The attachment system of claim 4 wherein there being a
plurality of rows of loop members with each row of loop members
including a plurality of laterally positioned loop members.
16. The attachment system of claim 15 wherein the attachment device
including at least two said clip members and a bridge connected to
the arm of each said clip member positioning the clip members in a
laterally spaced relationship with each said clip member being
mounted to respective said loop members.
17. The attachment system of claim 16 wherein the bridge including
an elevated platform on one side thereof and defined by sidewalls
and an outer wall member connected to and extending between the
sidewalls.
18. The attachment system of claim 17 including at least one load
mount device operably associated with the outer wall member.
19. The attachment system of claim 18 wherein the at least one load
mount device including a plurality of apertures extending through
the outer wall member and being in spaced apart relationship.
20. The attachment system of claim 19 wherein the attachment device
being formed of a polymeric material, said apertures each having a
metallic grommet secured to the outer wall member within a
respective said aperture.
21. An attachment system for mounting a carried device to a
carrying device, said system including: at least one first loop
member and at least one second loop member secured in spaced apart
relationship on a carrying device; an attachment device having a
pair of arm members positioned in spaced apart relationship to each
other, each arm member having a pair of fingers associated
therewith, each finger forming a respective slot in association
with said respective arm member, said slots associated with each
respective arm member opening generally towards each other; and at
least one said first loop member being received in one of the slots
associated with each of said pair of arm members and at least one
said second loop member being received in the other slot associated
with each of said pair of arm members.
22. The attachment system of claim 21 wherein the attachment device
including a bridge member extending between said pair of arm
members, said bridge member including at least one load mount
device for attaching a carried device thereto.
23. The attachment system of claim 22 wherein said bridge member
includes an elevated platform.
24. An attachment system for mounting a carried device to a
carrying device, said system including: at least a pair of first
loop members and at least a pair of second loop members secured in
spaced apart relationship on a carrying device; an attachment
device having at least a pair of arm members positioned in spaced
apart relationship to each other and connected together by a bridge
member, each arm member having a pair of fingers associated
therewith, said attachment device having first and second slots
associated with each said arm member, said first slots each opening
generally toward a respective said second slot, said bridge member
being adapted for attaching a carried device thereto; and said at
least a pair of first loop members being received in said first
slots and said at least a pair of second loop members being
received in said second slots.
25. An attachment device for mounting a carried device to a
carrying device wherein the carrying device includes at least one
first loop member and at least one second loop member secured in
spaced apart relationship on the carrying device, and wherein the
carried device includes at least one loop member, said attachment
device comprising a pair of fingers and an arm member connected to
and extending between said fingers, the distal end portion of each
finger being positioned in spaced apart relationship relative to
each other, each finger forming a slot in association with said arm
member, said slots opening generally towards each other, one of
said slots being adapted to receive the at least one first loop
member and said second slot being adapted to receive the at least
one second loop member.
26. The attachment device of claim 25 wherein the at least one loop
member associated with the carried device is received by said arm
member when the carried device is mounted thereto.
27. An attachment device for mounting a carried device to a
carrying device wherein the carrying device includes at least a
pair of first loop members and at least a pair of second loop
members secured in spaced apart relationship on the carrying
device, and wherein the carried device includes at least one loop
member, said attachment device comprising a pair of arm members
positioned in spaced apart relationship to each other, a bridge
member extending between said pair of arm members, each said arm
member having a pair of fingers associated therewith, each said
finger forming a slot in association with its respective arm
member, the slots associated with each respective arm member
opening generally towards each other, one of the slots associated
with each arm member being adapted to receive the at least one of
said first loop members therein and the other of said slots
associated with each respective arm member being adapted to receive
the at least one of said second loop members therein.
28. An attachment device for mounting a carried device to a
carrying device wherein the carrying device includes at least one
first loop member and at least one second loop member positioned in
spaced apart relationship on the carrying device, said attachment
device comprising at least two fingers and an arm member connected
to and extending between at least two of said fingers, the distal
end portion of each said finger being positioned in spaced apart
relationship relative to each other, each said finger at least
partially forming a slot, one of said slots being adapted to
receive the at least one first loop member and said second slot
being adapted to receive the at least one second loop member.
29. The attachment device of claim 28 wherein at least one of the
fingers being in overlying relationship to a major face portion of
the arm forming a said slot therebetween.
30. The attachment device of claim 29 wherein said at least two of
said fingers both being in overlying relationship to a respective
major face portion of the arm each forming a slot therebetween.
31. The attachment device of claim 29 wherein said slots opening
generally towards each other.
32. The attachment device of claim 31 wherein the fingers being
positioned on opposite sides of the arm.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 60/766,727, filed Feb. 8, 2006, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Over the years, numerous systems have been devised for
carrying equipment on one's person, particularly in the military
and law enforcement area. In this evolution, modular means of
carrying equipment have been devised. One of the later systems is
referred to as the MOLLE system which is an acronym for modular
light weight load-carrying equipment. The system includes the use
of some carrying device or garment worn by a user, for example, a
vest, waist belt, panel added to a piece of equipment, back pack,
fanny pack or the like. The system further involves the provision
of a plurality of standardized rows of loops associated with the
carrying device and typically formed by a sewn fabric strip with
the rows of loops typically being horizontally disposed during
normal use. The loops in one row are aligned vertically with loops
in adjacent rows. The loops can be made from a woven heavy weight
strip of material such as nylon webbing or other suitable means.
Typically, straps are utilized to retain some carried device or
load, for example, a pouch, holster or the like, to the carrying
device. Mounting of a carried device is usually in a manner to
provide for removal once attached. An example of a load attachment
system can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,566. Modular carried
devices attached to a garment can be selectively changed and
re-positioned depending upon the circumstances and the equipment to
be carried. Such a system has proven to be very effective in
use.
[0003] One major drawback of the current MOLLE attachment systems
for mounting a carried device such as a pouch to a vest or the like
is that each carried device requires its own attachment device
which increases the cost of each carried device. One form of
attachment device is a hook and loop attachment assembly but this
assembly can be noisy to attach and detach which is a hindrance in
certain tactical environments. The hook and loop attachment
assembly may also be uncoupled inadvertently. Hook and loop
fasteners also add additional labor and costs to the manufacture of
the carried device since this assembly must be added to the carried
device and such assemblies can wear out over time. Some strap
system attachment devices using webbing attachment straps can also
allow the carried device to sag and/or flop around.
[0004] There is thus a need for an improved attachment system for
attaching devices or loads to MOLLE system loops.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention involves the provision of a MOLLE
system which includes a carrying device, a carried device and an
attachment system for releasably connecting the two devices
together. The attachment system includes a member having two slots
with spaced apart portions for receiving strap webbing therein. The
attachment device is sized and shaped to be received through loops
in a MOLLE system chain of loops and has sufficient length to
bridge at least two vertically separated chains of loops on the
carrying device. A strap forming a chain is received in each of the
two slots to mount the carried device to the carrying device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a molle system vest with an
attachment device for the attachment system of the present
invention attached thereto.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an
attachment device of the present invention and rows of mounting
loops.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded fragmentary side view of an
attachment device of the present invention and rows of mounting
loops.
[0009] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing a pouch
mounted to a vest using an attachment device of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an
attachment device constructed in accordance with the teachings of
the present invention.
[0011] Like numbers throughout the various Figures designate like
or similar parts or construction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1, designates generally a
MOLLE carrying device or garment which is shown as a vest. It is to
be understood however that the carrying device 1 can be any
suitable garment compatible with MOLLE system devices such as a
harness, belt, shirt, legging, chest protector, backpack, fanny
pack and the like. Such MOLLE carrying devices 1 are provided with
a plurality of spaced apart rows 2 of loop members 3 which rows are
generally in vertically spaced relation and extend generally
horizontally in normal use. The loops 3 can be formed by webbing 5
(FIG. 2) sewn to an underlying support member 6 such as a sheet of
fabric with the loops 3 being positioned in the various rows of
loops to form generally vertical columns of aligned loops. The
webbing 5 may be sewn at multiple locations as at locations 7 to
the underlying member 6. The webbing may be nylon strapping or the
like. An example of such a MOLLE system on a vest is illustrated in
U.S. Patent Publication 2005/0005343, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,020,897;
the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
[0013] A carried device 11 (FIG. 3) or modular load is removably
attached to the carrying device 1 via an attachment device 15
described below. The carried device 11 may include pouches,
holsters, ammunition clips, knife, utensils such as a flashlight,
radios, OPS, map packets, water containers and the like. In one
form of the present invention, the carried device 11 may be
provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of rows 20 of
loop members 21 (FIG. 4) that are coordinated and compatible with
the rows 2 of loops 3 on the carrying device 1 such that the rows
20 of webbing 25 will be spaced apart generally the same as the
spacing of the webbing 5 on the carrying device 1 and will have
generally the same width (height) as the webbing 5 on the carrying
device 1 so that the webbing 25 on the carried device 11 will fit
in the spaces between the webbing 5 on the carrying device 1. On
small carried devices 11, a row of loops 21 may be only one loop
long and only one row high.
[0014] The attachment device 15 for mounting a carried device 11 to
the carrying device 1 is best seen in FIGS. 1-3. A second form or
another embodiment of the present attachment device is shown in
FIG. 5 and is designated generally 35. The devices 15 and 35 can
have common features as discussed below. The device 15 is provided
with two slots 42, 43 formed by clip fingers 44, 45. The arm 46 and
the fingers 44, 45 are configured to capture the loop members 3,
21, of at least two rows 2 or 20 of webbing 5 or 25 each in a
respective slot 42, 43 for mounting of the attachment device 15 to
a carrying device 1. In a preferred embodiment, the slots 42, 43
are oppositely opening and are formed by the fingers 44, 45
overlying opposite major faces 37, 38 of an intermediate connector
arm 46 as best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In alternate
embodiments, the fingers 44, 45 may be positioned on the same side
of the arm 45; the slots 42, 43 may open in the same direction;
and/or one or more of the fingers 44, 45 forming the slots 42, 43
may be traversely offset from the arm 45, or from each other
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. In the illustrated structure, the arm 46 connects
fingers 44, 45 together and is preferably integral therewith
forming a clip member. The device 15 is relatively rigid and may be
polymeric and formed by extrusion of an elongate strip which is
then cut transversely to the desired width. The device 15 may also
be formed by heat forming a sheet of polymeric material to form
bends at closed ends 47, 48 of the slots 42, 43 to provide the
overlapping portions. The attachment device 15 may also be of a
formed metallic material.
[0015] In the illustrated structure, the slots 42, 43 have open
ends 51, 52 respectively with the slots 42, 43, lying generally in
parallel planes which are also parallel to a central plane of the
intermediate arm 46. Preferably, the fingers 44, 45 and arm 46 are
generally rectangular in shape and have generally planar opposed
surfaces. The slots 42, 43 are preferably on opposite sides of the
arm 46. The length L1 of the arm 46 in one embodiment is
significantly longer than the lengths L2, L3 of the slots 42, 43
respectively as illustrated in FIG. 2. Preferably, the length L1 is
greater than about three times the height H, FIGS. 2 and 3, of the
webbing 5 and 25 (both preferably having the same height), the
length L2 is preferably equal to at least about the height H and
preferably to at least about twice the height H (2H), and L3 is
preferably approximately equal to the height H. Preferably, the
distal end of each finger 44, 45 are spaced apart along the arm 46
a distance of at least about the height H and preferably at least
about 2H such that the distal end portions of the fingers 44 and 45
do not overlap. In the illustrated structure, the free ends of the
fingers 44, 45 are tapered to provide a tapered lead in into the
respective slot 42, 43. The fingers 44, 45 are preferably
resiliently bendable relative to the arm 46 and the relaxed
thickness of the slots 42, 43 is approximately equal to or less
than the thickness of the webbing 5, 25 forming the chains of loops
3, 21 so as to apply a force to the webbing 5, 25 when positioned
therebetween.
[0016] As seen in FIG. 4, mounting the attachment device 15 to both
the carrying device 1 and the carried device 11 is accomplished by
placing the finger 44 on the inside of a loop 3 associated with the
carrying device 1, extending through the loop with the arm 46 being
positioned on the outside of the webbing 5 with the loop 3 being in
the slot 42. The arm 46 is then inserted through a topmost loop 21
associated with the carried device 11 such that the webbing 25 of a
loop 21 on the carried device 11 is on the inside surface and can
also be positioned within the slot 42 depending upon the length of
the finger 44. The ann 46 is then extended through a loop 3 on the
carrying device 1 interlocking the chains of webbing 5, 25. After
passing through the loop 3 on the carrying device, the arm 46 may
then be extended through another loop 21 on the inside between the
carried device 11 and the inside surface of the loop and then
through another loop 3 on the carrying device 1 which will have a
portion thereof positioned within the slot 43. The length L1 of the
arm 46 is approximately equal to the spacing between the top and
bottom closed ends 47, 48 respectively of the slots 42, 43 and is
approximately equal to the spacing S1 between oppositely facing
edges of an odd number of the chains of webbing 5 and intervening
spaces 49 (two in FIG. 3) on the carrying device 1 as best
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The height of a space 49 between
adjacent rows of webbing 5, 25 is approximately equal to the height
H of the webbing. While it is shown that the fingers 44, 45 are
secured to the chains of webbing 5 of the carrying device 1, they
may be reversed and be attached to the carried device 11 as an
alternate rigging. There will be at least one row of webbing on the
carried device 11 (or carrying device 1 depending on the rigging
method) and at least two rows of webbing on the other of the
carrying device 1 (or carried device 11 depending on the rigging
method) cooperating with the attachment device 15 for securing the
same together and the load to the garment. In a preferred
embodiment, at least two rows of webbing are encompassed or
received within the slot 42, and preferably only one row of webbing
is encompassed or received within the slot 43.
[0017] FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment 35 of the present
invention that is particularly useful for carrying hardware, for
example, a holster that could exhibit a rotational moment or torque
on an attachment device because of an imbalance in loading. The
attachment device 35 is comprised of a pair of laterally spaced
apart side portions or clip members 51A, 51B each similar in
construction to the device 15 and being interconnected by an
intermediate bridge portion 53. The attachment device 35 may be
made as for example by extrusion and then forming the notches 55,
56 after extrusion. The device 35 may also be made from a sheet of
material as by die cutting and then thermoforming to form the
fingers 64, 65 joined by arm 66 and the oppositely facing slots 62,
63 in the side portions 51A and 51B. The fingers 64, 65 can have
tapered lead-ins 71, 72. The bridge portion 53 can be provided with
a plurality of apertures 74 reinforced with metallic grommets 75.
Fasteners can be utilized to attach a holster or the like to the
device 35. Suitable fasteners can include rivets, screw fasteners
or other mechanical type fasteners. Fastening can be done in a
manner to allow removal of the carried device or load from the
attachment device 35.
[0018] For rigidity, the device 35 may be provided with formed
contours such as sidewalls 78 to increase the moment of inertia in
the bridge 53 and to provide an elevated platform with a recess 79
on the back side 80 for fastener heads to be received in permitting
below flush mounting of the fasteners. The outer wall 81 extends
between and connects the sidewalls 78 forming an outer side of the
recess 79. The device 35 can be mounted to a carrying device 1 as
by having one or more chains of webbing 5 of the carrying device 1
received within the slots 62, and preferably two or more chains of
webbing 5 particularly when the device 35 is utilized to carry
heavy equipment like a side arm in a holster. Preferably, only one
chain of webbing 5 is received within the slots 63. The device 35,
because of the bridge 53 being in the way of the arms 66 passing
through some loops 3, the arms 66 may skip being received through
loops 3 of one or more rows of chains of webbing 5. The length of
the arms 66 and fingers 64 may be such as to be received through
loops of a plurality of rows of chains on the carrying device 1
and/or carried device as desired. The spacing S2 of the ends of the
slots 62, 63 is approximately equal to the spacing between top and
bottom edges of a plurality of rows of chains of webbing 5, for
example 3 to 5 rows of chains of webbing 5.
[0019] The devices 15 and 35 may be made from a polymeric material
as for example nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene or the like and
can have thickness in the range of between about 0.03 inches and
about 0.1 inches for the arms 46, 66 and fingers 44, 45, 64, 56
thereof. The devices 15, 35 can also be made of a metallic material
if desired, or any other suitable material depending upon the
particular application.
[0020] Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments
of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description,
certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the
particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is
therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications,
or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The
terms "having" and "including" and similar terms as used in the
foregoing specification are used in the sense of "optional" or "may
include" and not as "required". Many changes, modifications,
variations and other uses and applications of the present
construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the
art after considering the specification and the accompanying
drawings.
* * * * *