Abstract:
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for securing/releasing material are provided. For example, in one embodiment of the invention a releasable seam system that includes a first textile material. The first textile material includes a plurality of edges. On at least one of these edges is a first plurality of loops. The system also includes at least one at least one other textile material. Each textile material in the at least one other textile material has at least one edge with a plurality of loops thereon. The plurality of loops on the at least one other textile material and the first plurality of loops are paired to form opposing loop pairs. Thereafter, a locking chord is interwoven through the opposing loop pairs to temporarily secure the first textile material to the at least one other textile material.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments herein generally relate to apparatuses and methods for securing/releasing material. In particular, the present invention relates to novel apparatuses and methods for securing/releasing an edge of one material to/from an edge of another material. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are instances when textile materials need to be repaired and/or moved. Often these materials are quite heavy. For example, large textile canopy covers such as tents, protective tarps, parachute canopies, receptacles (i.e., bags) that are filled with an item(s), and temporary shelters can be quite massive and heavy when fabricated as one complete item. 
     Repair and replacement of these items can be expensive. In addition, to have a replacement unit readily available (i.e., in the field for use when needed) is often not an efficient use of available resources (e.g., space). 
     In addition, some textile materials utilize zippers (i.e., for opening, for closing, and/or connecting materials). However, there are occasions when zippers jam. Further, there are instances when a zipper is difficult to use. For example, when a zipper is used to close a large bag and that bag needs to be opened for deployment of the contents of the bag (e.g., sand). 
     There is a need in the art for systems, methods, and apparatuses that provides modular repair/replacement of textile materials and easier connection/disconnection. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments herein generally relate to apparatuses and methods for securing/releasing material. In particular, the present invention relates to novel apparatuses and methods for securing/releasing an edge of material to/from an edge of another material. 
     Modular replacement of textile items helps reduce weight, ease construction, reduce cost, and save space. Joining modular pieces of textile items utilizes a connection method that is strong, easily connected, and quickly disconnected in the field. Modular fabrication also simplifies manufacturing and facilitates easier maintenance. 
     For example, in one embodiment of the invention a releasable seam system that includes a first textile material is provided. The first textile material includes a plurality of edges. On at least one of these edges is a first plurality of loops. The system optionally includes at least one other textile material. Each textile material in the at least one other textile material has at least one edge with a plurality of loops thereon. The plurality of loops on the at least one other textile material and the first plurality of loops are paired to form opposing loop pairs. Thereafter, a locking chord is interwoven through the opposing loop pairs to temporarily secure the first textile material to the at least one other textile material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a system in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a close-up perspective view of a portion of the system depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a side view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a top view of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary bag in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a side view of another exemplary bag in accordance with aspects of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of yet another exemplary bag in accordance with aspects of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  depicts a perspective view of an exemplary tent in accordance with aspects of the invention. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, wherever possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, various changes using different configurations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in order to avoid obscuring the invention. Thus, the invention is not considered limited to the particular illustrative embodiments shown in the specification and all such alternate embodiments are intended to be included in the scope of the appended claims. 
     For example, embodiments of the invention are described herein as being used to join together portions of a parachute. However, these descriptions are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. It is appreciated that aspects of the invention can be incorporated into non-parachute items (e.g., to temporarily secure two edges of a material together, to temporarily secure an edge of one material to an edge of another material, and/or to form a receptacle). 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a system  100  in accordance with aspects disclosed herein. The system  100  includes a first textile material  102  and a second textile material  104 . 
     The first textile material  102  has a strip of anchor tape  116  stitched along its peripheral edge. The anchor tape  116  is used to secure a plurality of loops  112   1 ,  112   2 ,  112   3 , . . . ,  112   n-2 ,  112   n-1  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), and  112   n  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) (collectively “loops  112 ”) to the first textile material  102 . The loops  112  are spaced apart (e.g., about 4 inches apart) (the distance between loops  112  is represented by element  118 ). It is appreciated that the distance between loops  112  can be more than 4 inches in some embodiments of the invention and less than 4 inches in other embodiments of the invention, depending on the application and load requirements. 
     The first textile material  102  also includes a flap  106  along its periphery. For example, in various embodiments of the invention, the width of the flap  106  is about 1 inch to about 5 inches or more. 
     The second textile material  104  has a strip of anchor tape  117  stitched along its peripheral edge. The anchor tape  117  is used to secure a plurality of loops  114   1 ,  114   2 ,  114   3 , . . . ,  114   n-2 ,  114   n-1  (not shown in  FIGS. 1 ) and  114   n  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) (collectively “loops  114 ”) to the second textile material  104 . The loops  114  are spaced apart (e.g., about 4 inches apart) (the distance between loops  114  is represented by element  118 ). It is appreciated that the distance between loops  114  can be more than 4 inches in some embodiments of the invention and less than 4 inches in other embodiments of the invention, depending on the application and load requirements. The second textile material  104  also includes an overlapping edge  108 . 
     For illustrative purposes only, the first textile material flap  106  is outstretched. A portion of the second textile material  104  is laid on top of the flap  106  such that loops  112  and loops  114  are adjacent to the flap  106 . For each individual loop  112  there is a corresponding loop  114  (also referred to herein as “loop pairs”). Corresponding loops  112  and loops  114  are placed in close proximity to each other. For example, loop  112   2  on the first textile material  102  has, in close proximity therewith, a corresponding loop  114   2  on the second textile material  104  to form a loop pair. 
     Overlapping edge  108  is that portion of the second textile material  104  that is on the flap  106  of the first textile material  102 . 
     A locking chord  120  is interwoven/snaked through each loop pair (i.e., a loop  112  and its respective corresponding loop  114 ). An exemplary manner in which the locking chord  120  is interwoven is depicted in  FIG. 1 . However, the depicted manner is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. It is appreciated that other weaving patterns can be used in various embodiments of the invention. 
     Two pairs of loop pairs are used as tie down points to secure the ends of the locking chord  120  to the first textile material  102  and the second textile material  104 . In  FIG. 1 , only one tie down point is visible (i.e., tie down point  122 ) using loop  112   1  and corresponding loop  114   1 . A knot is used to tie the locking chord  120  to loops  112   1  and  114   1 . Any knot (e.g., at least one Half-hitch knot, a Bowline knot, or a  FIG. 8  knot) that has sufficient breaking strength (a greater breaking strength than locking chord  120 ) can be used at the tie down points. 
     As explained above, on the first textile material  102  and the second textile material  104  there is a loop  112  and  114 , respectively, about every 4 inches.  FIG. 1  depicts a loop pair (i.e., loop  112   n-2  and loop  114   n-2 ) that is two loop pairs away from the tie down point not visible in  FIG. 1 . In other words, two loop pairs (containing loop  112   n-1  and loop  114   n-1 ; and another loop pair (containing loop  112   n  and loop  114   n ) are not visible in  FIG. 1 . The loop pair containing loop  112   n  and loop  114   n  is used as the tie down point (and as indicated above, is not visible in  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 2  depicts a close-up perspective view of a portion of the system  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . Specifically,  FIG. 2  depicts a close-up view of one loop pair (i.e., loop  112   2  and corresponding loop  114   2 ) and an exemplary pattern for interweaving/snaking the locking chord  120  the loop pair. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , loops  112   2  and  114   2  are the loops next to the loops (i.e., loop  112   1  and  114   1 ) that are used as one of the tie off points  122 . Returning to  FIG. 2 , for illustrative purposes only arrows  200   1 ,  200   2 ,  200   3 ,  200   4 ,  200   5 ,  200   6 ,  200   7 ,  200   8 , and  200   9  (collectively “arrows  200 ”) are included alongside locking chord  120  to show an exemplary interweaving/snaking of the locking chord  120 . 
     In accordance with an aspect of the invention a method of interweaving/snaking the locking chord  120  through loops  112  and  114  is presented. In this aspect of the invention, the locking chord  120  is passed (see arrows  200   1  and  200   2 ) through loop  112   2  and loop  114   2 . Thereafter, the locking chord  120  is formed into a locking chord loop (see arrows  200   2  and  200   3 ). After formation of the locking chord loop, the locking chord  120  is passed through loop  114   2  and  112   2  (see arrows  200   3  and  200   4 ); and back up (without again passing through loop  112   2  and  114   2 ) through the locking chord loop (see arrows  200   5 ,  200   6 , and  200   7 ). 
     Thereafter the locking chord  120  is snaked to the next loop pair (i.e., loops  112   3  and  114   3  in  FIG. 1  (not shown in  FIG. 2 )) (see arrow  200   7 ). Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking chord  120  is passed near loops  112   3  and  114   3  to form another locking chord loop and is brought back down towards locking chord loop (formed  200   3 ) (see arrow  200   8 ). The locking chord  120  is passed through locking chord loop (formed at  200   3 ) and back up (see arrow  200   9 ) towards loops  112   3  and  114   3 . The locking chord  120  is then extended up through loops  112   3  and  114   3  near a further pair of loop pairs  112   n-2  and  114   n-2  to form a further locking chord loop and then past back through the loops  112   3  and  114   3 . The locking chord  120  is then passed up through loop pairs  112   n-2  and  114   n-2  near loop pairs  112   n-1  and  114   n-1  (not shown) to form still a further locking chord loop. This repeats until the last pair of opposed loops  112   n  and  114   n  where a terminal end of the locking  120  is tied. 
     The locking chord  120  and loop pairs are kept loose until the locking chord  120  is interwoven/snaked through all of the loop pairs. After the locking chord  120  is interwoven/snaked through all of the loop pairs, the locking chord  120  is pulled tight (to draw the edge of the first textile material  102  and the edge of the second textile material  104  closer together), and the locking chord  120  is tied off at the tie off points  122 . 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , first textile material  102  depicts flap  106  and second textile material depicts overlapping edge  108  however it is understood that each textile material includes two edges where one edge includes a flap  106  and the other edge includes an overlapping edge  108 . In this manner each textile material can either mate an overlapping edge  108  on a textile material with a flap  106  on another textile material; or mate an overlapping edge  108  with a flap  106  on the same textile material. 
     Although aspects of the invention are described herein as utilizing two textile materials (i.e., a first textile material and a second textile material) those descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. For example, there are various embodiments of the invention in which there is only one textile material. For example, a bag can be made, from one textile material (e.g., first textile material  102 ), where the loop pairs (i.e., one edge has loops  112  and the edge has loops  114 ) are brought together (using loops  112 , loops  114 , and locking chord  120  interwoven/snaked through loops  112  and loops  114 ) to form a receptacle. To increase the capacity of the bag, another textile material (e.g., second textile material  104 ) and locking chord can be added to the system. As the need to increase the capacity of the bag increases, textile materials and locking chords can be added. To remove the contents of the bag, the locking chord(s) can be cut. For example, in an aircraft (or other vehicle), to rapidly deploy a sand filled bag, the locking chord(s) can be cut and pulled through the loop pairs; and the sand dumped from the bag. 
     Various embodiments of the invention can be used for different textile material constructs (e.g., canopy covers, tents, protective tarps, parachute canopies, receptacles (i.e., bags) for holding an item(s), and temporary shelters. 
     For illustrative purposes only, aspects of the invention are described herein using a parachute canopy. However, those descriptions are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. 
     Various configurations of parachute canopies can be used in accordance with the invention. Exemplary parachute canopies that can be adapted for used with the invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,623,109; 4,955,563; 5,303,883; 6,328,262; 6,520,453; 7,293,742; and 7,416,158. The current document incorporates by reference all of the material contained in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,623,109; 4,955,563; 5,303,883; 6,328,262; 6,520,453; 7,293,742; and 7,416,158. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a side view of an embodiment of the invention. Specifically,  FIG. 3  depicts a cross section of an exemplary canopy section  300  in accordance with aspects of the invention. The canopy section  300  includes an upper surface  302 . Although canopy section  300  includes two edges, only edge  304  is visible in  FIG. 3 . Edge  304  includes anchor tape  306 ; an overlapping edge  310 ; and loops  308   1 ,  308   2 ,  308   3 , . . . ,  308   n-2 ,  308   n-1 , and  308   n  (collectively “loops  308 ”). 
     The edge of canopy section  300  that is not visible in  FIG. 3  includes a flap edge, loops, and anchor tape. The edge (that is not shown) is adapted to mate with edges constructed similarly to edge  304 . 
     The number of canopy sections  300  used to construct a canopy depends upon the size of the canopy sections  300  and the size of the canopy. For example,  FIG. 4  provides an exemplary canopy that includes 4 sections. The depiction of a canopy that includes four sections is for illustrative purposes and not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. It is appreciated that in various embodiments of the invention more than four canopy sections are used and in other embodiments of the invention less than four canopy sections are used. 
     Returning to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a view of the top of the parachute canopy  400  having 4 canopy sections  300  (i.e., canopy sections  300   1 ,  300   2 ,  300   3 , and  300   4 ). The canopy  400  includes a canopy skirt  404  and a vent periphery  406 . A vent opening  408  is centrally located and is bounded by the vent periphery  406 . 
     The canopy sections  300  are connected to each other at quick release seams  402   1 ,  402   2 ,  402   3 , and  402   4  (collectively “quick release seams  402 ”). Illustratively, the quick releasable seams are located at each of the canopy sections  300  includes multiple gore sections  410 . In each respective canopy section  300 , gore seams  412  connect gore sections  410 . Eight gore seams  412  are depicted as continuing on the surface of a net material  416  and connect at area  418 . 
     Attached to the canopy skirt  404  is a plurality of suspension lines  414 . 
       FIGS. 5-8  (described below) depict various exemplary embodiments of bags used in accordance with aspects of the invention. However, these embodiments of the invention are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the invention. 
     Each of the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 5-8  includes a plurality of textile material sections connected together at seams formed by coupling the edges of a textile material section in the plurality to at least one other textile material section in the plurality. 
     As described above, in the description of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , at least one edge of each textile material section includes a strip of anchor tape stitched along a first peripheral edge, a flap, and a first plurality of loops. 
     Stitched on at least one other edge of each of the textile material sections is a strip of anchor tape. A second plurality of loops and an overlapping edge are on the at least one other stitched edge. 
     The following description of  FIGS. 5-8  do not describe in detail the stitched edges and plurality of loops on the textile material sections. However, it is appreciated that each of the modular seams are formed by interweaving a locking chord through loops located on the edges of the textile material sections, as described above. For brevity,  FIGS. 5-8  depicts (and the description below regarding these figures refer to) the modular seams. 
     For example,  FIG. 5  depicts an illustrative bag  500  (e.g., a cargo bag). For illustrative purposes only, the cargo bag  500  is depicted as having four textile material sections (i.e., textile material section  502   1 ,  502   2 ,  502   3 ,  502   4  (collectively “textile material sections  502 ”). However, it is appreciated that various embodiments, of the invention, utilize more or less textile material sections  502 . Illustratively, the bag  500  has a substantially rectangular profile. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the textile material sections  502  are connected together at modular seams  508 . Each textile material section  502  contains a lift strap  504  and lift strap handle  506 . In various embodiments of the invention, one pair of lift strap handles  506  are positioned on one end of the bag  500  and another pair of lift strap handles  506  are positioned on an opposite end of the bag  500  to provide greater flexibility in handling the bag  500 . 
     After the bag  500  is formed (by interweaving the locking chords through the loops to form seams) material can be placed in the bag  500 . After material is placed inside the bag  500 , a portion of the bag  500  which remained open (to allow placement of the material inside the bag  500 ) can be sealed (by interweaving a locking chord between loops to form another seam). The bag  500  is subsequently re-opened by removing any of the locking chords that connect any two textile material sections  502  to each other. 
       FIG. 6  depicts an exemplary two-sided bag  600  in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The bag  600  includes two textile material sections  602 . Each textile material section  602  has edges  604   1 ,  604   2 , and  604   3  that incorporate the interwoven loops as explained above. Although not shown in  FIG. 6 , it is appreciated that in various embodiments of the invention utilize different ways of sealing the bag  600 . For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the opening of the bag  600  is sealed by interwoven loops located on the textile material sections  602 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary bag  700 . The exemplary bag  700  is illustratively depicted as an ammunition speed bag  700 . The bag  700  includes a first textile material section  702  and a second textile material section  704 . Each of the textile material sections  702  and  704  includes a plurality of lift straps  706 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of a combined tent  800  in accordance with aspects of the invention. For illustrative purposes only, combined tent  800  includes tent  802  and tent  804  (hereinafter referred to as “sub-tent  802 ” and “sub-tent  804 ,” respectively). In various embodiments of the invention, tent  800  includes more than two sub-tents (e.g., three or more sub-tents). 
     It is appreciated that sub-tent  802  and sub-tent  804  can be used independently of one another. However, there are instances when it is beneficial to join sub-tents (e.g., when one tent has a specific purpose (e.g., food galley), to increase the size of medical tent, or to spread soldiers out over the joined tent so that provisions remain guarded). The sub-tents  802  and  804  are joined along seam  808 . The seam  808  operates as explained above. 
     Sub-tents  802  and  804  each include at least one passageway. In  FIG. 8 , only passageway  810  is visible. However, sub-tent  802  and sub-tent  804  include additional passageways (not shown) so that when sub-tent  802  and sub-tent  804  are joined access between sub-tent  802  and sub-tent  804  is permitted. 
     In various embodiments of the invention, more than two sub-tents can be daisy-chained together. For example, sub-tent  804  includes a second passageway so that access can be granted between sub-tent  804  and a third sub-tent (not shown) connected via a seam as explained above). The third sub-tent can likewise be receptive to connection (via a seam as explained above) and access to a fourth sub-tent. 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.