The present document relates to an adjustable pouch for receiving an article, and in particular to an adjustable pouch configured to store different types of ammunition magazines.
Pouches are used for storing various articles. In tactical applications, pouches may be configured to store ammunition magazines for different types of weapons. Since ammunition magazines have different shapes and sizes, it is a necessary requirement that the pouch have the capability to accommodate different kinds of ammunition magazines. As such, it is desirable for improvements in pouches that are adjustable to accommodate ammunition magazines of different sizes.
In one embodiment, an adjustable pouch may include a pouch body having a front portion, a rear portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion that are connected to a bottom portion that collectively define an interior space. A first plurality of channels is defined by the first side portion and a second plurality of channels is defined by the second side portion. In addition, a first plurality of straps is attached to the front portion of the pouch body and a second plurality of straps is attached to the rear portion of the pouch body. An elastic member is configured to be received through the first and second plurality of channels and the first and second plurality of straps such that the elastic member binds the pouch body together and is adjustable to modify the shape of the interior space of the pouch body.
In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing an adjustable pouch may include:
Additional objectives, advantages and novel features will be set forth in the description which follows or will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description which follows.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings. The headings used in the figures do not limit the scope of the claims.
An adjustable pouch having a pouch body configured to receive different types of articles, such as an ammunition magazine, using an elongated elastic member that binds together different portions of the pouch body such that an interior space defined by the adjustable pouch can be adjusted to accommodate ammunition magazines of different shapes and sizes is described herein. Referring to the drawings, various embodiments of an adjustable pouch are illustrated and generally indicated as 100 in
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The plurality of channels 113 formed along each the first and second side portions 114 and 116, respectively, establish contact points between the first elongated member 108 and the first and second side portions 114 and 116 such that the front portion 110, rear portion 112, first side portion 114, and second side portion 116 of the pouch body 104 are bound together with greater binding force by the first elongated member 108. In this arrangement, the plurality of channels 113 prevent the first elongated elastic member 108 from slipping or otherwise disconnecting from the first and second side portions 114 and 116 which can cause the first side portion 114 and/or second side portion 116 from becoming partially or fully unbound from the front portion 110 and/or rear portion 112.
During use of the adjustable pouch 100, an individual can insert one of many different types of ammunition magazines 102 into the interior space 106 of the pouch body 104 such that the volume of the interior space 106 can be adjusted by the first elongated elastic member 108. For example, once the ammunition magazine 102 is engaged within the pouch body 104, the individual can then grasp the fastener 150 and pull in a substantially downward manner to cinch the first elongated elastic member 108 and tighten the pouch body 104 around the ammunition magazine 102. This process allows the adjustable pouch 100 to be adjusted to accommodate the particular size of ammunition magazine 102. In particular, cinching or tightening the first elongated member 108 around the pouch body 104 causes the front portion 110, rear portion 112, first side portion 114 and second side portion 116 to substantially even tightening of the pouch body 104 around the ammunition magazine 102. This substantial even tightening around all sides of the pouch body 104 is due to the engagement of the first elongated member 108 through the plurality of channels 119 defined by the first and second side portions 114 and 116.
Referring to
In this configuration, the front portion 110, the rear portion 112, the first side portion 114 and the second side portion 116 collectively define the interior space 106 configured to receive the ammunition magazine 102. Once so configured, in one method of assembly the free ends of the first elongated elastic member 108 may be inserted through the respective plurality of channels 119 and plurality of straps 113 as shown in
In some embodiments, the following method of manufacture may be used to manufacture the adjustable pouch 100. One of the free ends of the first elongated elastic member 108 can be inserted through the first channel 130 and strap portion 118A and then through the second channel 132. The free end of the first elongated elastic member 108 is then inserted through the strap portions 124B and 126B and then the third channel 134 before being inserted through the strap portions 120A and 120B as shown in
In some embodiments, the front portion 110, second portion 112, first side portion 114, second side portion 116, and bottom portion 117 may be made from an underlying hard plastic material covered on both sides with a durable fabric material. The hard plastic material provides a reinforcing backing structure to provide structural strength and integrity to the pouch body 104. In some embodiments, the durable fabric material may be a polyester material, a cotton material, a cotton-blend material, a polymer-based material, an animal hide material, such as leather, a burlap material, and any type of man-made or natural materials. The straps 113 may also be made from the same durable fabric material.
During manufacture of the plurality of channels 119, a first durable fabric may form the interior surface 154 of the first and second side portions 114 and 116 that covers one side of the hard plastic material, while a second durable fabric may form the exterior surface 152 of the first and second side portion 114 and 116 that covers the opposite side of the hard plastic material. When attaching the second durable fabric to the hard plastic material, the second durable plastic may be sewn such that excess durable fabric forms each respective channel 119.
It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teachings of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140262842 A1 | Sep 2014 | US |