Abstract:
A strap attachment apparatus is arranged to releasably secure pocket and pouch members, holsters, selected holders and other types of removable articles securely yet removably in quick-release manner onto supporting articles including packs and backpacks, luggage, bags, jackets, vests and other garments and types of support articles by releasably interwoven strap components which require no other metal, plastic or molded mechanical fasteners such as snaps, buttons, hooks, VELCRO connectors or other locking arrangement which may snag, catch or otherwise interfere with or hinder installation of and quick-release removal of the attached article.

Description:
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the priority filing of U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/758,510, filed 11 Jan. 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to strap type connector arrangements for releasably securing pocket members, pouches, holsters and other articles securely yet removably onto supporting articles such as backpacks, luggage, jackets, vests, garments and other supporting articles, and more particularly to such strap attachment arrangements that releasably secure a removable article to a supporting, second article only by the interweaving connection of individual, flexible strap member components secured to the first and second articles. 
     Strap type attachment apparatus has been provided heretofore and are well known fastening systems for releasably securing an article removably to a supporting article, such has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,707 to Kirk, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,093 to D&#39;Annunzio; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,804 to Gregg which each teach different structural arrangements for accomplishing the purpose. The patent to Kirk, et al. is believed to be most closely related to the present invention. Strap-type attachment arrangements are preferred because they provide an extremely strong yet detachable securement of various pocket-type members onto garments and such worn or carried by persons, particularly military personnel and emergency and rescue personnel, as well as hunters and fishermen. Such removable articles provided in the form of pocket members or pouches are typically provided to hold handguns, ammunition clips, grenades, medical supplies, canteens and many other types of supplies and gear necessary to the personnel&#39;s functioning in the field. The strap type attachment arrangements permit removal and exchange of alternate sizes, types and arrangements of the pouch members as may be desired, and desired repositioning of the pocket members on the supporting article as best suits the purpose of the wearer at the time. 
     However, it is well known that these arrangements typically employ the use of mechanical fastening members such as buttons, snaps, hooks, VELCRO connectors, and other metal and molded plastic fixtures on the ends of strap members, which fixtures inherently tend to snag and otherwise hinder the weaving of the straps during installation of the pocket member on the supporting article, and snag and interfere with the quick removal of the articles when it is desired to quickly pull the pocket member off of the supporting article. In military and other emergency situations, this snagging and difficult removal of the pouches can present serious problems for the user, particularly when speed is imperative for the user&#39;s safety. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In its basic concept this invention provides a strap attachment apparatus arranged to provide a strong, secure but quick release strap connection of a removable article to a base support mount article without need of any mechanical fastener members such as snaps, buttons, VELCRO type members or other that may obstruct and interfere with the quick release and installation operation of the attachment apparatus by providing an equal number of laterally spaced-apart, longitudinally extending securement strap members on each of the articles to be secured together, the securement strap members on one of the articles being positioned for extension aligned with the spaces between the extending securement strap members on the other article, and the lateral end-most strap member on the one article positioned to substantially overlie the end-most strap member on the other article, for interweaving of at least one laterally extending connector strap member through aligned securement loops provided by the aligned securement strap members to secure the articles releasably together, the terminal end of the connector strap directed in the reverse direction into captured confinement within a securement loop of an endmost securement strap member whereby to effectively lock the connector strap against inadvertent reverse weaving during the rigors of operative securement of the articles to each other. 
     It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principal objective of the present invention is achieved; namely, the provision of a strap attachment apparatus of the class described which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of strap attachment systems of the prior art. 
     Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a strap attachment apparatus of the class described which completely avoids the use of snaps, buttons, hooks, fasteners, VELCRO-type components, and other protruding devices for releasably securing the connected strap members in a locked condition against inadvertent disassembly and loss of the secured article. 
     Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a strap attachment apparatus of the class described which is arranged to facilitate smooth and quick connection of a removable article to a supporting article and provide for unhindered, quick-release disconnection and removal of an attached article from a fixed, base article when needed. 
     Another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a strap attachment apparatus of the class described in which the attachment apparatus and its constituent components may be formed substantially entirely of selected fabric materials by stitching and sewing if so desired or needed, and thereby avoid additional necessary manufacturing steps, materials and processes. 
     Still another object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a strap attachment apparatus of the class described which provides a flexible yet strong interconnection of a removable article to a fixed, base article and which is effectively locked in secured, connected condition against inadvertent and undesirable disconnection. 
     A further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a strap attachment apparatus of the class described that provides a secure mounting connection of an article against separation against the extreme rigors of wear in military and other rough conditions of use. 
     A still further object and advantage of this invention is the provision of a strap attachment apparatus of the class described that is of simplified construction for economical manufacture and reliability and durability in operation. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a base panel of a supporting article and a removable pocket type article shown in a separated condition preliminary to connection of the respective components of the strap attachment apparatus for securing the articles together. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary front elevational view showing the removable pocket article of  FIG. 1  releasably secured to the supporting article by the connector strap components of this invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary side elevational view of the supporting and removable articles in separated but aligned position for interweaving connection of the strap components. 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary side elevational view subsequent interweaving of the connector strap components. 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary side elevational view of the pocket member attached to the mounting base support article, taken along the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 , and showing the terminal end portion of the interwoven connector strap member tucked in reverse direction into the lateral end-most loop of the securement strap member in releasably locked condition of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary side elevational view of an embodiment of a supporting and a removable article in separated but aligned position for interweaving connection of the strap components. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the particular embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-5  of the drawings, there is illustrated a portion of a base panel mounting surface  10  which may be the external panel surface of any supporting article such as a bag, a backpack, a jacket, vest or other garment, a piece of luggage, or other supporting article which is to releasably receive and securely mount a separate, removable, overlying article such as a pocket member or other removable article which is represented herein by the pouch member  12  illustrated. Typically, the base surface  10  is a panel portion area of flexible fabric material such as canvas, nylon or other material suitable for the purpose of the particular construction of the base article itself, as is readily recognized by those skilled in the art. 
     As shown, the base surface  10  mounts a plurality, at least two and three in this embodiment, longitudinally extending, longitudinally elongated securement straps  14   a - 14   c  secured in laterally spaced apart condition to the surface by suitable means such as by sewing or stitching  16  illustrated. As will be understood, these straps, or web members, are typically and preferably formed of flexible material such as nylon webbing material well known for its strength, durability and high resistance to wear and breaking. Other suitable fabric materials may of course alternatively be provided as may be desired or needed for the purpose. As seen clearly in the drawings, each of the longitudinally extending straps  14   a - 14   c  is secured to the underlying base in laterally spaced apart condition, the particular spacing therebetween being illustrated herein as being approximately equal to the width, or lateral dimension of the individual straps  14   a - 14   c  for reasons which will become apparent later. 
     For reasons which will also become clear, each securement strap member  14   a - 14   c  is arranged, when secured on the base surface  10  as by sewing or stitching  16 , to provide at least one longitudinally spaced apart, laterally aligning row of open loops or securement loop channels  18  as seen clearly in the drawings. 
     With reference again to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, and now in particular with the pouch or pocket member  12  to be secured in confronting condition against the face of the base surface  10 , the rear, confronting side wall  12 ′ of the pocket member  12  also mounts a plurality, a pair in this embodiment, of longitudinally elongated, longitudinally extending securement strap members  20   a ,  20   b  secured thereto as by stitching  16  in laterally spaced apart condition similar to the arrangement of strap members  14   a - 14   c  described previously. However, as is readily apparent in the drawings, the strap members  20   a  and  20   b  are secured on the pocket member  12  so that when the pocket member  12  is positioned for securement against the mounting surface face of the base member, the securement strap  20   a  is aligned with the space between the securement strap members  14   a  and  14   b  on the base mounting surface, and the securement strap member  20   b  on the pocket member is aligned with the space between securement strap members  14   b  and  14   c , as is clearly shown in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. These pocket mounted strap members also provide open loops or securement loop channels  18  in longitudinally and laterally spaced alignment with the securement loop channels  18  of the strap members  14   a - 14   c  when the pocket member  12  is positioned for securement on the base surface  10 . 
     As also clearly shown in the drawings, the strap attachment system of this invention also provides, in the particular embodiment illustrated, a third, lateral endmost, longitudinally extending securement strap member  22  secured on the pocket member  12  and positioned thereon in condition for overlying the lateral endmost strap member  14   c  secured on the base surface  10  when the pocket member  12  is positioned for attachment onto the base, as seen best in  FIG. 5 . This bottom endmost strap member  22  also forms, as by sewing or stitching  16 , open loops or channels  18  arranged in longitudinally and laterally spaced alignment with the corresponding channels  18  of the previously described strap members  14   a - 14   c  and  20   a  and  20   b . Accordingly it will be understood that there are an equal number of longitudinally extending securement strap members  20   a ,  20   b ,  22  on the pocket member as there are longitudinally extending securement strap members  14   a - 14   c  on the base, the laterally endmost spaced strap member  22  on the pocket arranged to confrontingly overlie the laterally endmost spaced securement strap  14   c  provided on the base such that a face of the third, lateral, endmost, longitudinally extending securement strap member  22  abuts a face of the lateral endmost strap member  14   c  along a horizontal contact surface, irrespective of whether the base mounts two, three, four or more longitudinally extending securement strap members. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the endmost strap member  22  and strap member  20   b  is less than the distance between strap members  20   a  and  20   b , as best seen in  FIG. 3 . 
     The rear side panel  12 ′ of the pouch or pocket member  12  also mounts, as by rivets, stitching  24  or other suitable securing means, one, first, opposite longitudinal terminal end portion of at least one, and shown herein a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, laterally extending, elongated connector strap members  26 . As is seen best in  FIG. 1 , the connector strap members  26  are secured to the pocket member in longitudinally spaced apart position disposed for alignment with the rows of aligned channels  18  formed by the longitudinally extending strap securement members  14   a - 14   c  and  20   a ,  20   b  and  22  previously described. As will become clear, the positioning of the laterally-elongated connector strap members  26  in alignment with the longitudinally spaced, laterally aligning channels  18  is required to permit weaving of the connector straps  26  through aligned channels  18  of the securement straps, as will be explained in detail. 
     As also shown clearly in the drawings, each laterally elongated connector strap member  26  may also mount, as by stitching  28 , on its second, opposite free terminal end portion  26 ′, an elongated flexible strip of material forming a flexible pull tab member  30  projecting from the terminal end of the connector strap. This flexible pull tab member  30  may also be formed as a strip of nylon webbing or other suitable flexible material selected for providing a flexible, elongated pull tab member on the end of each connector strap member for the intended purpose which will become clear. 
     Having thus described the basic structural elements and arrangement of the various securement and connector strap members of the strap attachment apparatus of the present invention, reference will now be made primarily to  FIGS. 2-5  of the drawings wherein the attachment of a pocket member  12  onto the mounting face surface  10  of a support member is shown.  FIG. 2  illustrates a pocket member  12  in finish, secured condition on a supporting base  10 .  FIG. 5  is a view of the final tautly interwoven engagement of connector strap members  26  with securement strap members  14   a - 14   c  on the support base and  20   a ,  20   b  and  22  on the pocket member, as taken along the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  but showing the pocket member in position for connection to, but still separated from, the base  10  to highlight relative positioning of the base-mounted strap members  14   a - 14   c  and the pocket-mounted strap members  20   a ,  20   b  and  22 . 
     As will be appreciated in viewing  FIGS. 3 and 4 , attachment of the pocket member  12  to the supporting base  10  is accomplished by effectively weaving the laterally-elongated connector strap members  26  through the respective, corresponding, laterally-aligned open channels  18  of the securement strap members  14   a - 14   c ,  20   a - 20   b  and  22  in alternating, laterally-descending fashion as will now be explained. First, a connector strap member  26  is selected and the free terminal end portion  26 ′ is directed downwardly into, through and out of the opposite bottom opening of the corresponding open loop  18  of the top securement strap  14   a  attached to the base surface  10 . The free end  26 ′ is then directed into, through and out of the bottom opening of the corresponding, vertically-lower open loop  18  of the top securement strap  20   a  secured on the pocket member  12 . The free end  26 ′ of the connector strap member  26  is then directed in similar manner through the corresponding laterally aligned loops  18  of securement strap  14   b , and then through the corresponding loop of strap  20   b  and then the open loop or channel of strap  14   c , resulting in the condition shown in  FIG. 4 . The above interweaving process is then repeated with the other connector strap member  26  of the pair of lateral connector strap members shown in the instant embodiment of the invention. 
     Attention is now directed to a comparison of the views of  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings. In this it is seen that the free terminal end portion  26 ′ of each connector strap member  26  is finally trained, in the reverse direction, upwardly into the open bottom end of the open loop  18  formed by the endmost securement strap member  22  secured on the pocket member  12  in condition overlying the securement strap member  14   c  secured to the base article. The free terminal end  26 ′ is then tucked fully upwardly thereinto with the pull tab member  30  extending in the reverse direction in order that its free terminal end extends rearwardly out of the bottom of the open loop or channel, as shown clearly in the finish condition of  FIG. 5 . In this condition, the connector strap members  26  are securely locked in their interwoven inter-engagement with the securement straps of the pocket member  12  and mounting base  10 . This completely prevents any possibility of unintended detachment of the pocket member from its strap-mounted securement on the base member that may result from any reverse-weaving of the connector straps due to pulling or other separating forces applied against the mounted pocket member  12  when mounted on the base. 
     However, if it is desired that the pocket member  12  be released from its securement on the base, the operator need only pull downwardly on the pull tab member  30  on each connector strap member  26 , thereby pulling the free terminal end  26 ′ of each connector strap downwardly from its tucked-in, locked condition of  FIG. 5  within the corresponding channel, and into the condition shown in  FIG. 4 , whereupon the pocket member may be pulled upon as needed to pull the connector strap members in the reverse direction through the loops of the securement strap members for separation and removal of the pocket member. 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the free terminal end portions  26 ′ of each connector strap  26  may include a stiffener member (not shown) such as a strip of plastic material or other stiffening arrangement as may be desired to stiffen the end portions  26 ′ in order to further reduce the possibility of unintended downward movement of the captured end portion when in its tucked in, captured engagement within the channel  18  of the strap member  22  when in the locked condition shown in  FIG. 5 . Also it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present strap type attachment apparatus completely avoids snaps, loops, buckles, VELCRO fastener members, and other projecting locking members which heretofore have been recognized to snag and otherwise interfere with passage of the free ends  26 ′ of the connector strap members  26  through the respective securement loops or channels both in the weaving, installation direction and particularly in the reverse, separation direction. This arrangement thus provides for facilitated and quicker attachment and detachment of the pocket members onto their supporting bases as will be apparent. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternate embodiment where connector strap members  26  are connected to a supporting article, such as supporting base  10 , for attaching a removable article, such as pocket member  12 , to the supporting article. For example, connector strap members  26  may be woven through open channels  18  of the securement strap members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  20   a ,  20   b , and  22  as described above. 
     Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that although the invention has been shown and described herein as utilizing a pair of longitudinally spaced apart, laterally-elongated connector strap members  26 , pocket members may alternatively utilize one, two or even more connector straps as needed or desired, as usually may be determined by the size and type of pocket member or other article being secured onto the base mount article. Also, as previously mentioned, although the illustrated embodiment utilizes three longitudinally extending securement strap members provided on both the base and pocket members, there may alternatively be provided as few as two securement strap members or a plurality of more than the three shown, as may be desired or needed for the purpose. In any case, the number of securement straps provided on base and pocket respectively are always equal, with the endmost strap on the removable article being arranged to overlie the bottommost strap member on the base mount article. 
     From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many various changes, other than those already discussed hereinbefore, may be made in the size, shape, type, number and arrangement of parts described hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.