Patent Application
20060096009
The present invention relates generally to a fastener for attaching objects to garments, and, more particularly, to a fastening system that securely mounts removable pockets to an outer surface of a vest. It is well recognized that certain types of modular load bearing vests and backpacks with modular pockets employ some type of fastening system to hang the removable pockets on the exterior of the vest. In particular applications such as military, law enforcement, or sporting applications, there is a need to be able to position necessary pockets or other such objects where they are most useful to the individual user, as well as providing their ability to be moved to a different position as necessary for different applications.
Examples of previous types of fastening systems used to removably attach pockets to a garment include the use of hook and loop fasteners, keepers with slides, buttons, snap fasteners, and soft snap devices. Generally, the problems associated with these past methods and devices are the creation of unstable loads, unreliability, expense, or difficulty in manipulation. In addition, past systems also could be bulky and uncomfortable to the user.
A removable pocket allows the user to tailor their garment to best fit their needs, replace worn out pockets, or exchange pockets more suitable for a particular application. Another prior method for attaching a removable pocket to a garment includes the use of a flexible, yet somewhat rigid strap being attached to the pocket and threaded or interwoven between a plurality of horizontal webbings sewn onto the outer surface of the vest. A problem associated with this technique is the difficulty and time consuming nature of threading straps through a plurality of webbings to secure the pocket to the garment. Consequently, a need exists for an improved fastening system to attach removable pockets to the outer surface of a garment which is easy to install, inexpensive to manufacture and reliable for multiple applications.
The interlocking fastening system of the present invention overcomes the problems associated with previous attaching systems in an inexpensive and reliable manner. The present invention provides a molded plastic fastener which is attached to the back of a load bearing pouch or pocket. The fastener hooks to horizontal webbing loops sewn to the front of the vest or garment. Thumb pressure securely locks the fasteners to the webbing and can be removed by flexing a tab on an end of the fastener. A plurality of fasteners, also referred to herein as clips, would be positioned along the back surface of the pocket and would be threaded through the webbing loops on the vest to attach the pockets. The clips have two legs, a tab, a hook and a latch so that the latch by thumb pressure engages the hook to close and secure the latch to the webbing on the vest. The tab can be manipulated by the thumb to open the clip for removal of the pocket.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other features and components, reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Rear section 18 includes a center clip pin 32 comprising two flexible arms 34 and 36, each having a head portion 38. Rear section 18 also has a positioning pin 40 located below center clip pin 32. As seen best in
Preferably, the backing plate 12 is also plastic, however, the desired material can change depending upon a particular application. Similarly, pocket 14 can be made from canvas, nylon, or any desired material depending upon the particular application. Backing plate 12 typically would be manufactured to be a component of the pocket 14 and would be sized to fit the dimensions of the desired application.
Referring now to
The invention is simple to operate by providing molded plastic fasteners, attached to the back plate of a pocket which are positioned to the horizontal webbing and applying thumb pressure to lock the webbing to the fasteners by a clicking action. The pocket can then be moved to a different location or removed from the vest by opening the fasteners by flexing the tab to disengage the front and rear sections of the fasteners. The fastening system of the present invention is an improvement over previous attachment methods by being easy to operate, quickly installed to provide a secure attachment while providing simple removal of the pocket as desired.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a pocket for a vest, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable for other types of containers or attachments for various garments or wearing apparel, such as shirts, jackets, pants, backpacks, or boots. In addition, although this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be so limited and is capable of further and other embodiments within the scope of the claims appended hereto.
