Patent Publication Number: US-9839279-B2

Title: Apparatus for connecting a pouch to a support article

Description:
This invention relates apparatus used to attachment apparatus used to mount accessory pouches to worn support articles, and in particular attachment apparatus used to mount a pouch between the straps of worn support articles, such as chest rigs, back packs and the like. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Detachable accessory pockets and pouches are common features for a variety of load bearing equipment, including, backpacks, chest rigs, utility belts and equipment harnesses. For example, military and law enforcement personnel generally carry additional ammunition magazines, radios, tools and other items in pouches or pockets detachably connected to duty belts, chest rigs, backpacks and load bearing harnesses. Similarly, hikers and backpackers also use packs with detachable pockets and pouches to provide additional carrying capacity. Support articles and load bearing equipment often use standardized mounting systems, such as the MOLLE attachment system, to provide a convenient means for attaching accessory pouches. While functional, most conventional attachment systems add considerable bulk and weight to gear in the form of arrays of webbing mounted to both the pouch and the support article as well as separate clips and fasteners that connect the pouch and support articles. 
     This invention provides a convenient attachment apparatus for connecting a pouch to the straps of a support article. The attachment apparatus includes a pair of locking tab and cord loops mounted to a pouch that couple together around the straps of a support article to secure the pouch to the support article. The locking tabs have a main section and a distal end that folds back over the main section and is bar tacked together so that the distal end lays back over the main section to form a “locking end.” The locking tab extends through the tab loop and is interposed between the main section and the overlying distal end. In one embodiment, the attachment apparatus is incorporated into an accessory pouch and chest rig where the accessory pouch also includes a pair of buckle capture loops that enclose the chest rigs quick release buckles to prevent inadvertent release and a pair of opposed strips of hook and loop fasteners that help secure the bottom of the pouch to the chest rig. 
     The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary accessory pouch and chest rig using the attachment apparatus of this invention shown in an unattached state; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exemplary accessory pouch and chest rig of  FIG. 1  shown in a partially attached state; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the exemplary accessory pouch and chest rig of  FIG. 1  shown in an attached state; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the exemplary accessory pouch and chest rig of  FIG. 1  shown in an unattached state; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are partial perspective views of the exemplary accessory pouch and chest rig of  FIG. 1  shown in a partially attached state; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of the exemplary accessory pouch and chest rig of  FIG. 1  shown in an attached state; and 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the exemplary accessory pouch and chest rig of  FIG. 1  taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-8  illustrate an exemplary chest rig  100  and a detachable accessory pouch  200  that incorporates an attachment apparatus of this invention for connecting a pouch to the straps on a support article. While illustrated in the drawings and explained herein, as part of a chest rig and detachable accessory pouch, the attachment apparatus of this invention may be adapted for use with other detachable accessory pouches and support articles within the teachings of this invention. For example, in other embodiments of this invention, the attachment apparatus may be used to mount an accessory pouch between the shoulder straps of a backpack. 
     As shown, chest rig  100  is of conventional design and construction. Chest rig  100  is typically constructed of a durable nylon or similar fabric and uses nylon webbing for straps. As shown, chest rig  100  is configured to have various integral and mounted accessory and ammunition pouches. Chest rig  100  includes a main front body  110 , a detachable waist strap  120  and two detachable shoulder straps  130 . Straps  120  and  130  allow chest rig  100  to be donned by a user so that the main body  110  of the chest rig to be worn over the user&#39;s mid riff so that the items in its various pouches are immediately accessible. Shoulder straps  130  are connected to main body  110  by quick release buckles  140 . Male connector parts  142  of buckle  140  are fitted to the free ends of each shoulder strap  130  and female connectors parts  144  are affixed to tabs  114  sewn to the top of main body  110 . Each shoulder strap  130  also includes a pair of routing guides  132  extending from their outer edges. Guides  132  are used to route hydration tubes and wires from communication devices carried in or on chest rig  100 . Main body  110  of chest rig  10  also includes a “kangaroo pocket”  111  formed between its front and rear panels, which provides an open top storage compartment inside the main body for small thin items such as maps, notebooks and the like. Kangaroo pocket  111  is enclosed by strips of opposed hook and loop fasteners  118  sewn across the mouth of pocket  111 . 
     Accessory pouch  200  is ideally constructed of a durable fabric, such as Cordura nylon. Pouch  200  has main pouch body  210  configured as a zipper topped pocket. Pouch body  210  is formed by front and back panels  212  and  214  hemmed and sewn together around it bottom edge and two side edges to form an open top mouth  213 . A zipper  216  is sewn to panels  212  and  214  across mouth  213 . Panels  212  and  214  are covered in PALs webbing  218  as desired to allow other accessory pouches and items to be conveniently mounted to pouch  200 . 
     The attachment apparatus of this invention includes a pair of locking tabs  220  and tab loops  230  that wrap around shoulder straps  130 . Locking tabs  220  are short lengths of nylon webbing extending laterally from the side edges of pouch body  110 . Locking tab  220  is configured having a main section  222  and a distal end  224  that folds back over the main section and is bar tacked together so that the distal end lays back over the main section to form a “locking end.” Tab loops  230  is a short length of braided cord or similar material, whose ends are connected to pouch body  110 . The ends of tab loops  230  are sewn to the side edges of pouch body  110  with locking tab  220  interposed between the sewn ends of the tab loops. Locking tab  220  extends through tab loop  230  and is interposed between main section  222  and the overlying distal end  224 . 
     Accessory pouch  200  also includes a pair of buckle capture loops  240  and a pair of opposed hook and loop strips  250  that help further secure the pouch to chest rig  100 . Buckle capture loops  240  extends from the side edge of pouch body  210 , and enclose quick release buckles  140  to help prevent inadvertent buckle release. Buckle capture loops  240  are short lengths of elastic webbing whose ends are overlapped and sewn into the hem of the pouch body  210 . The front and back panels  212  and  214  each have a transverse strip  250  of either hook or loop fasteners (only one strip is shown in the drawings), which meshes with hook and loop fastener strips  118  on the inside the mouth of kangaroo pocket  111  to further secure pouch  200  to chest rig  100 . 
       FIGS. 1-8  best illustrate how accessory pouch  200  is detachably connected to chest rig  100 . As shown, shoulder strap  130  extends through buckle capture loop  240  and encloses quick release buckle  140  when coupled together. The bottom of accessory pouch  200  is partially seated within the open mouth of kangaroo pocket  111  of chest rig  100 . The bottom of accessory pouch  200  is secured within kangaroo pocket  111  by the engagement of hook and loop strips  250  and  118 , which prevents shiftable movement of the bottom of the accessory pouch relative to the chest rig. Tab loops  240  are laid over the front of shoulder strap  130  and wrapped around guide  118 . Locking tabs  120  are laid over the back of shoulder strap  130 . Distal end  224  of locking tab  220  is pulled through tab loop  230  and tucked back over main section  222  under shoulder strap  130 . Distal end  224  is interposed between main section  222  of locking tab  220  and the back of the shoulder strap  130 , thereby securely connecting the accessory pouch  100  between the shoulder straps. Because distal end  224  is tucked back under and interposed between the back of shoulder strap  130  and main section  222  of lock tab  220 , the distal end is held in place and cannot be pulled free from tab loop  240 . 
     It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.