Patent Application
20190061190
The present disclosure relates to a sheath and a system for attaching the sheath to MOLLE webbing.
Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) webbing is used in the current generation of load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by a number of NATO armed forces, especially the British Army and the United States Army. The system's modularity is derived from the use of rows of heavy-duty nylon stitched onto a base fabric, such as a tactical vest, to allow for the attachment of various MOLLE-compatible pouches and accessories. This method of attachment has become a de facto standard for modular tactical gear. A standard grid consists of horizontal rows of 1 inch (2.5 cm) webbing, spaced 1 inch apart, and reattached to the backing at 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) intervals. MOLLE is used to describe generically all load bearing systems and subsystems that utilize such woven webbing for modular pouch attachment.
Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.
The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.
The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A/B” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.).
With respect to the use of any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
Disclosed herein is a sheath that has been designed to attach to alternating rows of MOLLE webbing. The disclosed sheath provides a more secure, accessible and low profile single piece attachment system for certain cutters, such as a rescue hook (for example the 7 Hook sold by BENCHMADE®) to MOLLE. The BENCHMADE® 7 Hook was designed for a variety of emergency utility situations. The larger handle opening is designed to work well with gloved hands. The rounded end of the hook provides safety from contact with the skin while the edge on the blade steel slices through seatbelts, netting and clothing with ease. The stainless steel handle is covered in a black vinyl coating that adds durability and grip.
Disclosed herein, is a single piece sheath, such as a rescue hook sheath, that attaches to MOLLE webbing using one large hook that secures underneath and slides over the top of MOLLE webbing and two or more hooks that attach over and slide under the bottom of MOLLE webbing. In certain embodiments the one large hook projects downward while the two or more hooks that attach over and slide under the bottom of MOLLE webbing project upward, for example the one large hook and the lower hooks point in a direction toward each other, such that the MOLLE webbing may be “locked” or constrained between these hooks. The cutter is secured in the sheath cavity and by a detent feature on the sheath. The cutter can be inserted either direction along the detent surface. While particular detail is given to a rescue hook sheath this disclosure contemplates use with other cutters and their attachment to MOLLE webbing.
In embodiments, the detent feature includes an upper portion and a lower portion. Disposed between the lower portion and the sheath extension is a slot that is configured to slide over a piece of MOLLE webbing and at least partially retain the sheath to the MOLLE webbing. In embodiments, the sheath portion includes a front and a back, which are disposed about a sheath cavity. The sheath cavity is configured to allow a blade, such as the blade of the rescue hook, to slide in. In conjunction with the detent, the sheath cavity effectively and safely retains a cutter in place in a retained position. In certain embodiments, the sheath extension includes a sloped portion that offsets the plane of the internal surface of the back of the sheath portion relative to the sheath extension. This allows the cutter to more easily slide into the sheath cavity of the sheath portion and lay flat in this configuration.
In certain embodiments, the detent is configured to contact a handle, such as the handle of a rescue hook, such that an exterior surface of the upper portion of the detent rests against a surface of the handle. In embodiments, this interaction creates a friction fit and helps to retain the rescue hook or other cutter in the sheath cavity. In embodiments, the upper portion of the detent is curved and matches, at least approximately, a curved surface of the handle, such as the handle of a rescue hook. In embodiments, the upper portion of the detent is symmetrical about a central axis running from the top end to the bottom end of the sheath. In embodiments, the symmetry allows the rescue hook or other cutter to be positioned in either direction. In embodiments, the lower portion of the detent is curved and matches, at least approximately, a surface of the handle, such as the handle of a rescue hook. In embodiments, the lower portion of the detent is symmetrical about a central axis running from the top end to the bottom end of the sheath. In embodiments, the symmetry allows the rescue hook to be positioned in either direction. In certain embodiments, the lower portion of the detent is slopped down from the upper portion of the detent, for example toward the sheath extension. In embodiments, the slope of the lower potion of the detent allows for a handle of a blade to more easily slide over the detent, for example, to facilitate moving a rescue hook or other cutter in and out of the sheath.
In embodiments, the back side of the sheath includes two or more, such as between 2 and 10 lower hooks that are configured to slide over and behind MOLLE webbing and work with the slot and the lower portion of the detent to secure the sheath to the MOLLE webbing, such as to alternating rows of MOLLE webbing. By way of example, as the lower portion of the detent fits over a strap of MOLLE webbing, which is secured to a backing material, the MOLLE webbing slides within the slot until a top edge of the MOLLE webbing is in contact with the top of the slot. This secures the MOLLE webbing between the sheath extension and the bottom portion of the detent. The lower hooks then slide over the MOLLE webbing and are retained behind the MOLLE webbing, such as the next row of MOLLE webbing, so that the sheath is constrained by the alternating straps of MOLLE webbing. It is contemplated that the disclosed sheath can be attached in any orientation to MOLLE webbing. The designation of up and down directions in not limiting, but meant to only facilitate the discussion.
Systems are disclosed that include a sheath and a rescue hook. In certain embodiments, a rescue hook system includes a rescue hook having a blade and a handle, and a sheath configured to retain the rescue hook and attach to MOLLE webbing. In certain embodiments, the sheath includes: a sheath portion configured to at least partially retain the rescue hook blade; a detent element comprising an upper portion and an lower portion, and configured to couple the sheath to the MOLLE webbing and at least partially retain the rescue hook handle; two or more lower hooks that are configured to slide over MOLLE webbing to at least partially secure the sheath to the MOLLE webbing; and a sheath extension extending from the sheath portion to the detent element, thereby coupling the detent element to the sheath portion.
Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
This application claims the priority benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/551,772, filed Aug. 29, 2017, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62551772 | Aug 2017 | US |
