Patent Application
20220386751
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Repairs and procedures, especially for major articles of equipment or emergency circumstances, in the field can be difficult to achieve when the proper tools are not readily available. Especially when repairs or procedures are difficult to anticipate or unusual in nature. Repair and/or procedure kits have been often devised to be used on common or known issues that may occur in the field but may not always be designed to be field expedient.
A field expedient task may be a task that must be performed at a remote venue in an expedited manner. The field expedient task may require a specific set of supplies, tools, documents, and other items that are particular to the task being performed. The nature of a field expedient task may dictate that supplies must be transported to a remote venue and carried by one person. The nature of the task may further dictate constraints on weight and footprint of the supplies. Once the remote venue is reached, it may be of paramount importance that the supplies are quickly accessible.
Certain illustrative embodiments illustrating organization and method of operation, together with objects and advantages may be best understood by reference to the detailed description that follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
The field expedient repair kit (hereinafter invention) may comprise an inner loadout storage roll and an outer storage system. The invention may store supplies that are intended for the performance of a field expedient task at a remote venue. The field expedient task may be a task that must be performed at a remote venue in an expedited manner. As non-limiting examples, the field expedient task may be a repair, emergency medical procedure, military mission, or other activity. The invention may optimize space utilization to maximize the quantity of the supplies that may be carried within a given volume and footprint without hindering accessibility of the supplies. The invention may be operable to transport the supplies to the remote venue. The invention may be portable and may be adapted to be carried by a person. An inner loadout storage roll may detachably couple to the interior of an outer storage system. The inner loadout storage roll may be unrolled to provide access to the supplies.
Throughout this document, supplies may comprise parts, whether reusable or one-time use, accessories, fittings, provisions, medications, tools, and raw materials.
The inner loadout storage roll may be a flexible flat rectangular carrier for the supplies and tools. The supplies and the tools may be removably coupled to the inner loadout storage roll. The inner loadout storage roll may be rolled into the shape of a rectangular solid to compactly fit within the outer storage system. The inner loadout storage roll may be held in the rolled configuration by a roll fastener. Specifically, the roll fastener may couple the bottom left side of the inner loadout storage roll to the bottom right side of the inner loadout storage roll once the inner loadout storage roll has been rolled. The bottom of the inner loadout storage roll may detachably couple to the top of a shell base by a coupling fastener.
The inner loadout storage roll may comprise a plurality of obverse storage positions and one or more reverse storage positions. The plurality of obverse storage positions may be on the top side of the inner loadout storage roll when the inner loadout storage roll is rolled out flat. Each of the plurality of obverse storage positions may be configured to hold a stored item. Throughout this document, a stored item may refer to a storage box, a storage tube, an individual tool, or combinations thereof.
Each of the plurality of obverse storage positions may be uniquely designated by indicia that may appear on the inner loadout storage roll adjacent to each of the plurality of obverse storage positions. As a non-limiting example, the indicia may be numbers. In some embodiments, the indicia may comprise a photoluminescent material such that the indicia may be viewable in the dark. As a non-limiting example, the indicia may be cutouts with a glow tape backing. As a non-limiting example, the glow tape backing may absorb photons from a light source such as sunlight or a flashlight and may emit photons when the light source is removed. The shape of the cutout may define the indicia that is seen.
In some embodiments, spacing between the plurality of obverse storage positions may vary to allow room for rolling the inner loadout storage roll.
The one or more reverse storage positions may be on the bottom of the inner loadout storage roll when the inner loadout storage roll is rolled out flat. The one or more reverse storage positions may be accessible on one or both sides of the inner loadout storage roll when the inner loadout storage roll is rolled up to fit within the outer storage system. In a preferred embodiment, each of the one or more reverse storage positions may be configured to hold a storage box, a storage tube, an individual tool, or combinations thereof.
An individual storage position selected from the plurality of obverse storage positions or the one or more reverse storage positions may comprise a pair of retention bands to hold the stored item in place. The pair of retention bands may be elastic straps located on opposing sides of the individual storage position. The ends of an individual retention band selected from the pair of retention bands may be coupled to the inner loadout storage roll such that the individual retention band may form a loop that passes over the stored item. End straps may be attached to the inner loadout storage roll and to the center of the individual retention band. In some embodiments, the end strap made of the same material as the individual retention band. The end straps may be located on one or both of the individual retention bands. The end straps may prevent the stored item from sliding out of the pair of retention bands.
The stored item may be a storage container. The supplies may be placed inside of the storage container and the storage container may be inserted into the pair of retention bands at the individual storage position. The storage container may be a resealable plastic container. The storage container may be a storage box. The storage box may be a hollow rectangular container comprising a removable or hinged lid that is held closed by a latch. In a preferred embodiment, the storage box may measure 9 inches long×4 inches wide×1.5 inches high. The storage container may be a storage tube. The storage tube may be a hollow cylindrical container comprising a removable screw cap. In a preferred embodiment, the storage tube may measure 9 inches long and may have an outer diameter of 1.5 inches.
The storage containers may comprise a glow tape bearing matching indicia that correspond to the indicia on the inner loadout storage roll. The matching indicia may indicate which of the individual storage positions the storage container should be returned to after use. The glow tape may comprise a photoluminescent material such that the matching indicia may be viewable in the dark. As a non-limiting example, the matching indicia may be markings on the glow tape. The glow tape may absorb photons from a light source such as sunlight or a flashlight and may emit photons when the light source is removed. The markings on the glow tape may define the matching indicia that is seen.
The outer storage system may wrap around the inner loadout storage roll to form a shell-like covering around the inner loadout storage roll. The outer storage system comprises a shell left side flap, a shell right side flap, the shell base, a shell front cover, and a shell rear cover. The proximal end of the shell left side flap may hingedly couple to the left side of the shell base. The proximal end of the shell right side flap may hingedly couple to the right side of the shell base. The proximal end of the shell front cover may hingedly couple to the front of the shell base. The proximal end of the shell rear cover may hingedly couple to the rear of the shell base. The shell front cover may cover the front end of the outer storage system when the shell front cover is pivoted upwards and the shell rear cover may cover the rear end of the outer storage system when the shell rear cover is pivoted upwards. The distal end of the shell front cover may extend over the top of the inner loadout storage roll when the shell front cover is pivoted upwards. The distal end of the shell rear cover may extend over the top of the inner loadout storage roll when the shell rear cover is pivoted upwards. The distal end of the shell front cover and the distal end of the shell rear cover may be covered by the shell left side flap and the shell right side flap when the shell left side flap and the shell right side flap are pivoted upwards and coupled using a shell fastener. The shell front cover and the shell rear cover may be retained in an upward position over the inner loadout storage roll by the shell left side flap and the shell right side flap. The shell left side flap and the shell right side flap may pivot upwards and may fold over the top of the inner loadout storage roll such that the shell left side flap and the shell right side flap overlap to cover the inner loadout storage roll when the inner loadout storage roll is resting on the shell base. The shell fastener may detachably couple the distal end of the shell left side flap with the distal end of the shell right side flap in order to retain the shell left side flap and the shell right side flap in the configuration where the inner loadout storage roll is covered.
The shell left side flap may comprise one or more document pockets. The one or more document pockets may be accessible when the shell left side flap and the shell right side flap are decoupled and separated. Each of the one or more document pockets may be operable to hold one or more documents or flat supplies. In a preferred embodiment, there may be three (3) pockets and each of the one or more document pockets may be at least 9 inches wide and at least 7 inches deep. The shell right side flap may comprise a disposable glove dispenser and storage area. As a non-limiting example, the disposable glove dispenser and storage area may comprise one or more compartments adapted to hold packaged and/or unpackaged disposable gloves. The disposable glove dispenser and storage area may be adapted to dispense disposable gloves. When the disposable gloves are no longer needed, the disposable gloves may be returned to the disposable glove dispenser and storage area for later disposal. It may be recognized that the disposable glove dispenser and storage area may be adapted to dispense other items. As non-limiting examples, the disposable glove dispenser and storage area may be adapted to dispense sanitary wipes, lensing-cleaning wipes, and evidence bags, among other items.
The outer storage system may further comprise one or more carrying handles. The one or more carrying handles may be coupled to the shell left side flap, to the shell right side flap, or both.
The outer storage system, the inner loadout storage roll, or both may be made from a water-resistant material. As a non-limiting example, the outer storage system, the inner loadout storage roll, or both may be made from water-resistant canvas. In another non-limiting example, the shell fastener, the coupling fastener, the roll fastener, or combinations thereof may be hook and loop fasteners or other detachable fastening means.
In a preferred embodiment, the overall dimensions of the outer storage system may be 10 inches wide×10 inches long by 8 inches high.
In use, supplies selected appropriately for a field expedient task may be placed into one or more document pockets and storage containers. The storage containers may be storage boxes and storage tubes. As a non-limiting example, if the field expedient task relates to mechanical repairs, then mechanical parts may be loaded into the pockets and the storage containers. In another non-limiting example, if the field expedient task relates to medical procedures or first aid then medical supplies may be loaded into the pockets and the storage containers.
The storage containers and tools may be coupled to an inner loadout storage roll at a plurality of obverse storage positions and one or more reverse storage positions. The inner loadout storage roll may be rolled as described by
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It can be seen from this figure that the resulting roll-up is quite compact and effectively uses the interior space of the outer storage system 200. The resulting roll can be quickly accessed by unfastening the roll fastener 282 and unrolling the inner loadout storage roll 240 to expose all positions.
While certain illustrative embodiments have been described, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.
