EQUIPMENT PACKS

Abstract: An equipment pack suitable for military use comprising a padded substantially U-shaped harness (11) coupled to a belt (16) through straps (12) and (14) the connection of the strap to the belt being through quick release fasteners (13) and various accessories such as ammunition pouches (19), water bottle carriers (24) and pouches (31) being mounted on the belt.

Description: "Equipment Packs" THIS INVENTION relates to equipment packs of the type nor¬ mally used by military personnel. Military personnel are required to carry a number of dif¬ ferent items of equipment which is usually mounted on a saddle or harness worn over the shoulders and connected to a belt around the waist of the wearer. The object of the invention is to provide an equipment pack which is versatile in that different mixes of various items of equipment can be carried; and which can be rea¬ dily discarded when necessary. In one form the invention resides in an equipment pack comprising a substantially U-shaped saddle or harness to fit around the neck of a wearer, a belt to be worn around the waist and connected to the saddle by means of straps said belt being fitted with a quick release catch, and at least one pouch mounted on the belt by means of one or more loops secured to the rear wall of the pouch. Preferably, the pouch is provided with one or more fas¬ teners to enable an accessory holder to be removably attached to the front and/or sides of the pouch. The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1A is a front view of a saddle or harness; Fig. IB is a side view; Fig. 1C is a front view of a suitable type of quick release fastener; Fig. 2A is a plan view of a belt to be used in con¬ junction with the saddle or harness of Figs 1A and IB; Fig. 2B is elevation of the belt; Fig. 3A is a front view of an accessory holder to be attached to the belt; Fig. 3B is a back view of the accessory holder; Fig. 3C is a side view of the accessory holder; Fig. 4A is a front view of a water bottle holder; Fig. 4.B is a top view of the water bottle holder; Fig. 4C is a side view of the water bottle holder; Fig. 4D is a back view of the water bottle holder; Fig. 4E is a bottom view of the water bottle holder; Fig. 5A is a front view of a basic pocket; Fig. 5B is a top view of the pocket; Fig. 5C is a side view of the pocket; Fig. 5D is a back view of the pocket; and Fig. 5E is a bottom view of the pocket. As shown in the drawings the saddle or harness 11 is of more or less conventional design being substantially U-shaped to fit around the neck of the user with the arms of the U lying over the chest of the wearer. Straps 12 are fitted to the neck portion of the harness to be posi¬ tioned on the back of the wearer, the free ends thereof being fitted with one component of a quick release fas¬ tener 13 (see Fig. 1C) the other component of the fastener being fitted to the belt to be described later. Prefer¬ ably the straps 12 are provided with means whereby the length of the strap can be adjusted to meet individual requirements. It is preferable that the component of the quick release fastener fitted to the belt provided with a loop of webbing carrying a piece of the hook portion of a hook and loop ("Velcro") type fastener to prevent the fastener for sliding around the belt. Straps i4 are fitted to the free ends of each arm of the harness, the free ends of each strap being provided with one component of a quick release fastener, the other component of the fastener being attached to the belt to be described later. The harness is padded with foam covered with felt or any other suitable material on the rear face the front of the saddle being formed of canvas or other suitable material such as the plastic marketed under the trade mark "Herculite". Pockets 15 for storage of items such as a medical kit and/or compass are provided on the arms of the harness. The belt shown in Figs. 2A, and 2B is formed from a length of webbing 16 each end of the webbing being fitted with one component of a quick release fastener 17. Provision is made in the attachment of the belt to one component of the fastener to enable the length of the belt to be adjus¬ ted. The inside face 18 of the belt is provided over a substantial portion of its length with the velvet like (loop) portion of a loop and hook type fastener such as that marketed under the trade mark "Velcro". Various items of equipment such as that shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings may be fitted to the belt. As shown in Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C an accessory holder for carrying such things as ammunition magazines comprises a series of pockets 19 each of which is adapted to accommo¬ date one magazine mounted on one face of a supporting member 20. Each pocket is provided with a closure 21 held in the closed position by a press stud 22. Loops 29 of the webbing may be provided on the rear face of the sup¬ porting member to enable it to be mounted directly on the belt. Preferably the rear face of the supporting member is provided with pieces 22 of the hook portion of a hook and loop ("Velcro") type fastener and press studs 23 to lock with co-operating components provided on the front and/or sides of a basic pocket as shown in Figs. 5A to 5E as described later. Referring now to Figs. 4A to 4D, which show a water bottle carrier which forms part of the invention, the carrier is in the form of a pocket 24 open at the top and provided with two flaps 25 which overlie the top of the bottle on opposite sides of the neck and locked in place by means of press studs 26. A small pouch 27 is provided on the front of the pocket and is closed by means of a slide fastener 28. The rear wall of the pocket is provided with two loops 30 formed of webbing through which the belt passes. In Figs. 5A to 5D there is shown a basic pocket adapted to carry various items such as field rations. The basic pocket 31 is general rectangular in plan and elevation and is fitted with a hinged lid 32 provided on the three sides with a downwardly projecting skirt 33 the lid being closed by means of a quick release fastener 34. If desired the rear end of the skirt on each side may be closed by a small piece of a hook and loop ("Velcro") type fastener. The rear wall of the pocket is provided with webbing loops 35 through which the belt passes. The front and side walls of the pocket may be provided with press stud com¬ ponents 36 to enable an accessory holder as shown in Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C to be fitted thereto. The pocket is also provided with a length 37 of the loop portion of a hook and loop ("Velcro") type fastener to receive appropriately located hook portions fitted to the accessory holder. If desired a small pocket 38 fitted with a slide fastener 39 may be provided on top of the lid 32. A quick release fastener is suitable for the purposes of the present invention is that marketed under the trade mark " astex". With the equipment pack of the present invention there is a more even distribution of the load on the wearer and greater facility to vary the load to be carried and more easy access to the various items of equipment.

Claims: THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:- 1. An equipment pack comprising a substantially U-shaped saddle or harness to fit around the neck of a wearer, a belt to be worn around the waist and connected to the saddle by means of straps said belt being fitted with a quick release catch, and at least one pouch mounted on the belt -by means of one or more loops secured to the rear wall of the pouch. 2. An equipment pack as claimed in claim 1 wherein the underface of the harness is padded. 3. An equipment pack as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the straps comprise a pair of back straps fixed to the neck portion of the harness and a pair of front straps fixed one to the free end of each arm of the harness. 4. An equipment pack as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein a small pocket is provided on each arm of the harness. 5. An equipment pack as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims wherein the belt is formed from a length of webbing fitted with a quick release fastener for con¬ necting the ends together, the inner face of the webbing having provided with a component of a hook and loop type fastener adapted to receive the other component of the hook and loop type fastener connected to the adjacent ends of the straps to prevent lateral movement thereof. 6. An equipment pack as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims having an accessory holder mounted on .the belt, the rear face of the holder being provided with at least one loop through which the belt passes. 7. An equipment pack as claimed in claim 6 wherein the accessory holder comprises a series of pockets each of which is to be adapted to receive an ammunition magazine and is provided with a flap cover to hold the magazine in position. 8. An equipment pack as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the rear face of the accessory holder is provided with a component of one or more separable fasteners adapted to engage another component of the separable fastener provi¬ ded on the front or side face of a pouch or pocket mounted on the belt. 9. An equipment pack as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims wherein a water bottle carrier is mounted on the belt. 10. An equipment pack as claimed in claim 9 wherein the carrier is in the form of a pocket open at the top to receive the water bottle and is provided with two flaps which overlie the top of the bottle or each side of the neck of the bottle and are locked in place by separable fasteners. 11. An equipment pack as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein a pouch fitted with a slide fastener is provided on the front of the water bottle carrier. 12. An equipment pack as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims wherein a pocket is mounted on the belt through loops provided on the back of the pocket, said pocket being fitted with a hinged lid provided with a downwardly projecting skirt. 13. An accessory holder adapted to be mounted on the belt of an equipment pack, the rear face of the holder being provided with at least one loop through which the belt passes. 14. An accessory holder as claimed in claim 13 comprising a series of pockets each of which is adapted to receive an ammunition magazine and is provided with a flap cover to hold the magazine in position. 15. An accessory holder as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein the rear face of the accessory holder is provided with a component of one or more separable fasteners adap¬ ted to engage another component of the separable fastener provided on the front or side face of a pouch or pocket mounted on the belt of an equipment pack. 16. A water bottle carrier in the form of a pocket open at the top to receive the water bottle and is provided with two flaps which overlie the top of the bottle or each side of the neck of the bottle and are locked in place by separable fasteners, the pocket being provided with at least one loop through which the belt of an equipment pack passes. 17. A water bottle carrier as claimed in claim 11 is provided on the front with a pouch fitted with a slide fastener. 18. A pocket for use with an equipment pack is mounted on the belt of the equipment pack through loops provided on the back of the pocket, said pocket being fitted with a hinged lid provided with a downwardly projecting skirt. 19. An equipment pack substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 20. An accessory holder substantially as herein described and shown in Figs. 3a, 3B and 3C of the accompanying drawings. 21. A water bottle carrier substantially as herein des¬ cribed and shown in Figs. 4A to 4E of the accompanying drawings. 22. A pouch substantially as herein described and shown in Figs. 5A to 5E of the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: GEARY RODNEY THOMAS, GEARY, RODNEY, THOMAS
Applicants: GEARY RODNEY THOMAS, GEARY, RODNEY, THOMAS
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A45F3
IPC codes: A45F3