Patent Description:
For military use, in particular, a load-carrying garment is known in the form, for example, of a vest or jacket that is formed with parallel spaced rows of webbing. Each webbing it attached to the garment at spaced intervals so that each webbing has alternate attached and unattached sections along its length. The unattached sections are in vertical alignment. A load, for example a pouch, includes at least one flexible webbing strap that is attached at one end to the load and whose distal end is free. The load is also formed with parallel spaced rows of webbing. Each webbing is attached to the load at spaced intervals so that each webbing has alternate attached and unattached sections along its length. The unattached sections are in vertical alignment. The load is offered-up to the garment so that webbing rows on the load are between the webbing rows of the garment and the unattached sections are aligned. The distal end of the webbing strap is flexed and fed through an aligned row of unattached sections of the garment webbing and the load webbing and the webbing strap is long enough that the distal end can then be reversed back through the rows to draw the webbing through the row to secure the load to the garment.

Garments of this kind are disclosed in, for example, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

It is a problem with such garments that feeding the distal end of the load webbing through many rows of unattached sections is time consuming. In addition, the load has long lengths of webbing hanging from it before attachment and this can be inconvenient. There is also the possibility that the load webbings will pull free and, to try to prevent this, it has been proposed to provide the ends of the load webbings with press studs that fasten to the garment - but this increases cost and complexity. In addition, webbing rows are required on both the garment and the load.

<CIT> discloses a load carrying sytem and a method of attaching a load to a load-carrying garment and a hook arrangement according to the preambles on claims <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. In particular it discloses a coupling member for removably attaching an accessory to a carrier, wherein the coupling member includes an elongate portion of material having a first end portion, an intermediate portion, and a second end portion. At least one hook is formed from a portion of the first end portion, wherein the hook formed from the first end portion allows the first end portion of the coupling member to be removably secured to an accessory webbing or a carrier webbing when the coupling member has been interwoven between aligned carrier tunnel segments and accessory tunnel segments of an accessory and carrier. The coupling member may optionally include a hook formed from a portion of the second end portion.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a load-carrying system including:.

The hook arrangement may be configured to co-operate with a MOLLE load-carrying garment comprising at least one row of webbing that is attached to a backing at attachment sections spaced at approximately <NUM> intervals, wherein the width of the hook arrangement from the distal edges of the oppositely extending hook portions is greater than <NUM> and the main body portion has a width less than or equal to <NUM>, the arrangement being such that the attachment sections fit into the recesses to engage the load-carrying garment in use. The main body portion may have a height less than or equal to <NUM>.

The main body portion may include a slot for receiving a strap or loop that is connected to a load for attachment to the load-carrying garment.

The hook arrangement may be formed from a sheet of rigid material, such as metal or plactics.

The hook arrangement in the embodiment has a width from the distal edges of the oppositely extending hook portions that is greater than the interval between two adjacent attached sections of the webbing and a height that is less than or equal to the interval between said two adjacent attached sections of the webbing.

The load-carrying system arrangement in the embodiment is such that the hook arrangement may pass through the interval between said two adjacent attached sections of the webbing in the generally vertical orientation whereafter the hook arrangement may be moved to the generally horizontal configuration so that the said two adjacent attached sections of the webbing fit into the recesses to engage the load-carrying garment in use.

The load may be a life preserver unit such as a lifejacket. The load may be any item that can usefully be carried by the wearer, such as pockets, holsters (e.g. for a weapon), communication equipment and first aid supplies.

The configuration of the hook arrangement may be such that a further load may be attached to the same portion of webbing between the adjacent attached sections of the webbing while the hook arrangement is in place.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of attaching a load to a load-carrying garment, as defined in claim <NUM>.

The method may include attaching a further load to a portion of the webbing prior to attaching the said load to the same portion of webbing, the hook arrangement being passed behind a part attaching the further load to the portion of the webbing. Alternatively, the further load may be attached after the said load is attached.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a hook arrangement configured to co-operate with a MOLLE load-carrying garment, as defined in claim <NUM>. Optional features are specified in the dependent claims.

The hook arrangement is generally planar and may extend generally parallel to the adjacent surface of the load-carrying garment and/or the adjacent surface of the webbing.

The hook arrangement may be used for securing lifejackets to body armour.

The hook arrangement can pass behind existing loads, pockets, etc. that have been attached to the load-carrying garment, occupying the same portion of webbing without interference.

The hook arrangement may be such that two adjacent attached sections of the webbing fit into the hook recesses to engage the load-carrying garment. This may mean there is no or little slack in the security of the hook arrangement, which could otherwise come over time as the load-carrying garment ages.

A securing loop or strap that attaches the hook arrangement to the load may have a thinner part that finally reaches the hook arrangement, and this may allow a wearer to turn the hook arrangement and allow it pass behind loads that are already in place without removing the existing loads to attach the additional load. Thus, the wearer does not have to reconfigure their equipment just to attach the additional load.

The hook arrangement may allow the load to sit flush to the load-carrying garment so there is no or a reduced snagging hazard.

Embodiments of the invention may allow a user to feed the hook arrangement onto the load-carrying garment (e.g. body armour) without interfering with an existing current set up of other loads mounted on the same garment.

The hook arrangement may anchor its associated load (e.g. a bladder of a lifejacket or other life preserver unit) into the best position to enhance the performance of the load/lifejacket. Anchoring a lifejacket on the correct position on the user's body is important to getting the performance from the bladder, embodiments may allow the lifejacket to anchor into place onto the load-carrying garment without affecting the set up of other loads on the body armour.

The load may be fixed at the front and the back of the load-carrying garment with hook arrangements which run through the webbing of the load-carrying garment at the front and the back.

For a better understanding of the present invention an embodiment will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

In the drawings, like elements are generally designated with the same reference sign.

Referring first to <FIG>, a load-carrying garment <NUM> such as a military jacket has left and right front panels 11A, 11B overlying the chest of a wearer and meeting at the centre of the chest, and arms <NUM> for receiving the arms of a wearer. The left and right front panels 11A, 11B are both provided with rows of webbing <NUM>. The rows are parallel to but spaced from one another and, when the jacket is worn and the wearer upright, the rows are horizontal. The webbing may be arranged in accordance with the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) specification (see, e.g. https://en. org/wiki/MOLLE). The MOLLE specification defines the current generation of load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by a number of NATO armed forces, especially the British Army and the United States Army.

The webbing may be a MACS system (Modular Attachment Carrier System), available from Survitec Group Ltd.

Each row is formed by a single length of webbing <NUM> that is woven in known fashion from cotton or artificial fibres or a mixture of both and has a width of about <NUM> (although any suitable flexible material may be used). Each length of webbing <NUM> is stitched (or otherwise connected) to the associated panel 11A, 11B at its ends and at equidistant intervals between its ends along stitch lines <NUM>, each stitch line <NUM> creating an attachment section. The spacing between the stitch lines <NUM> is about <NUM>. Each webbing length <NUM> thus forms a succession of attached portions and unattached loops <NUM> along its length. The loops <NUM> formed by one row are vertically aligned with the loops of the next adjacent rows.

The function of the loops <NUM> is to allow the attachment to the garment of various loads. As seen in <FIG>, these may include a packed inflatable lifejacket <NUM> and equipment packs <NUM>.

Referring next to <FIG>, a hook part (or hook arrangement) indicated generally at <NUM> is used, in a manner to be described below, to attach loads such as the lifejacket <NUM> and the packs <NUM> to the jacket <NUM>.

The hook part <NUM> is formed from a rigid flat elongate rectangular blank of metal, such as steel, although it should be appreciated that the hook part may be formed from any other suitable material (e.g. rigid plastics).

The hook part <NUM> generally rectangular main body portion <NUM>. A first hook formation 22A extends from the left side (as shown in <FIG>) of the main body portion <NUM> and provides a first recess 23A. A second hook formation 22B extends from the right side (as shown in <FIG>) of the main body portion <NUM> and provides a second recess 23B. The hook formations 22A and 22B are preferably integrally formed with the main body portion <NUM>. The main body portion <NUM> is provided with a laterally extending slot <NUM>.

The hook part <NUM> is configured to co-operate with a MOLLE load-carrying garment <NUM> where each row of webbing that attached to a backing at attachment sections <NUM> spaced at approximately <NUM> intervals. The width Wh of the hook part <NUM> from the distal edges of the oppositely extending hook portions 22A, 22B is greater than <NUM> and the main body portion has a width Wb less than or equal to <NUM>. The arrangement is such that the attachment sections <NUM> fit into the recesses 23A, 23B to engage the load-carrying garment <NUM> in use. The hook part <NUM> has a height (measured in a direction perpendicular to the width) H that is less than or equal to <NUM>.

The use of the hook part <NUM> to connect a load to the garment <NUM> will now be described with the packed lifejacket <NUM> as the load.

The packed lifejacket <NUM> is of generally U-shape with the base <NUM> of the U passing around a wearer's neck (as seen in <FIG>) and the first and second free ends 26A, 26B extending over respective front panels 11a, 11b of the garment <NUM>. Two hook parts <NUM> are connected to the lifejacket <NUM>, one at each free end 26A, 26B. As best seen in <FIG>, each end 26A, 26B of the lifejacket <NUM> is provided with a respective (e.g. fabric) loop 27A, 27B that extends through the slot <NUM> of the associated hook part <NUM> to connect the lifejacket <NUM> to the hook part. Each loop 27A, 27B may be connected to the lifejacket by a respective flexible strap 28A, 28B. Each hook part <NUM> is thus fixed to and hangs from the associated end 26A, 26B of the lifejacket <NUM>. The connection allows the hook part <NUM> to swing freely on the lifejacket <NUM>.

A buckle arrangement <NUM> may be provided near the free ends 26A, 26B of the lifejacket <NUM> to help secure the lifejacket <NUM> to the wearer.

The hook part <NUM> has a horizontal orientation, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, where the top of the lateral slot <NUM> rests against the strap 27A, 27B. The hook part <NUM> is rotatable relative to the strap 27A, 27B, and the end 26A, 26B of the lifejacket <NUM>, to an inclined orientation as shown in <FIG> and to a vertical orientation as shown in <FIG>.

The terms "horizontal" and "vertical" used herein are for ease of understanding, and it should be appreciated that a strict or literal horizontal or vertical orientation is not necessary, but that the hook part is moveable between two orientations that are generally perpendicular to one another.

The lifejacket <NUM> is arranged around the neck of the wearer, as seen in <FIG>. Each hook part <NUM> is then manually moved to the vertical orientation as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, and passed through a loop <NUM> in a webbing row adjacent the end 26A, 26B of the lifejacket <NUM>. The height H of the hook part <NUM> is such that it passes easily through the loops <NUM>.

After passing through the loop <NUM>, the hook part <NUM> then either naturally moves to the horizontal orientation or in manually moved to this orientation. Relative upward movement of the hook part <NUM> then causes adjacent attachment sections <NUM> to move into the recesses 23A, 23B. Once the base of the recesses 23A, 23B engages the attachment sections <NUM>, further relative upward movement is not possible and the hook part <NUM> securely grips the webbing <NUM>.

A portion of the loop 27A, 27B (and strap 28A, 28B, depending on the length of the loop 27A, 27B) also passes through the loop <NUM> formed by the webbing gripped by the hook part <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a portion of the strap 28A, 28B (and loop 27A, 27B, depending on the length of the loop 27A, 27B) may also be passed through a loop <NUM> of a webbing <NUM> above the webbing <NUM> gripped by the hook part <NUM>.

In this way, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the hook parts <NUM> are fixed firmly to the webbing <NUM> and thus the ends of the lifejacket <NUM> are firmly connected to the garment <NUM> to mount the lifejacket <NUM> on the garment <NUM>.

In <FIG> and <FIG> the hook part is shown with the hook portions 22A, 22B behind the webbing <NUM> (on the same side of the webbing <NUM> as the main body portion <NUM>); however, the hook portions 22A, 22B may instead by located in front of the webbing <NUM> (on the opposite side of the webbing <NUM> as the main body portion <NUM>).

An advantage of the arrangement described is that, when a loop <NUM> between two attachment sections <NUM> has a hook part <NUM> therein, that loop <NUM> may still be used for mounting other loads - unlike other prior arrangements.

The hook part <NUM> is easily disengaged manually by pulling it relatively downwards so that the adjacent attachment sections <NUM> to move out of the recesses 23A, 23B. The hook part can then be manually moved to the vertical orientation and can pass through the gap between the attachment sections <NUM>.

The above description and the drawings refer to fixing hook parts <NUM> to webbing rows on a load-carrying garment on the front of the wearer's torso. A similar arrangement may be used to attach hook parts <NUM> to webbing rows on a load-carrying garment on the back of the wearer's torso, to thereby secure a load to the front and back of the wearer.

Other loads, such as the packs <NUM>, can be attached to the garment using one or more hook parts <NUM> in a similar manner.

The hook part <NUM> could be formed of a strong plastics material.

The webbing rows <NUM> are shown and described as extending horizontally when the wearer is upright. While this is preferred, this need not be the case. The rows could have any desired orientation relative to the wearer.

The load may be any item that can usefully be carried by the wearer, such as pockets, holsters (e.g. for a weapon), communication equipment and first aid supplies.

The hook part <NUM> is shown and described as connected to the lifejacket <NUM> by a loop 27A, 27B that extends through the slot <NUM> so that the clip is permanently fixed to the lifejacket <NUM> (or other load). It will be appreciated that the hook part <NUM> may be fixed in other ways by, for example, stitching. Alternatively, the hook part <NUM> may be removably attached to the lifejacket <NUM> (or other load) by, for example, a snap hook arrangement. Another attachment example is to attach the hook part <NUM> directly to the load with a rivet that passes through the load and an aperture in the hook part <NUM>. These different arrangements still allow the hook part <NUM> to rotate relative to the load so that the hook can be moved to facilitate mounting to he load-carrying garment. In some of these arrangements the laterally extending slot <NUM> is unnecessary and can be omitted. The shape of the main body portion <NUM> may be changed if the laterally extending slot <NUM> is omitted.

Claim 1:
A load-carrying system including:
a garment (<NUM>) formed with generally parallel spaced rows of webbing (<NUM>), each webbing (<NUM>) being attached to the garment (<NUM>) at spaced intervals so that each webbing (<NUM>) has alternate attached (<NUM>) and unattached (<NUM>) sections along its length with the unattached sections (<NUM>) in generally vertical alignment, and
a hook arrangement (<NUM>) configured to be flexibly attached to a load (<NUM>), wherein the hook arrangement (<NUM>) comprises a main body portion (<NUM>) from which two hook portions (22A, 22B) extend at opposite sides thereof, the hook portions (22A, 22B) each defining a recess (23A, 23B) for engaging the attached sections (<NUM>) of the webbing (<NUM>) in use, and wherein the hook arrangement (<NUM>) has a width (Wh) from the distal edges of the oppositely extending hook portions (22A, 22B) that is greater than an interval between two adjacent attached sections (<NUM>) of the webbing (<NUM>),
characterised in that the hook arrangement (<NUM>) has a height (H) that is less than or equal to the interval between said two adjacent attached sections (<NUM>) of the webbing (<NUM>), the hook arrangement (<NUM>) being rotatable between a generally horizontal orientation, where it cannot pass through the interval between said two adjacent attached sections (<NUM>) of the webbing (<NUM>), and a generally vertical orientation, where it can pass through the interval between said two adjacent attached sections (<NUM>) of the webbing (<NUM>), the arrangement being such that the hook arrangement (<NUM>) may pass through the interval between said two adjacent attached sections (<NUM>) of the webbing (<NUM>) in the generally vertical orientation whereafter the hook arrangement (<NUM>) may be moved to the generally horizontal configuration so that the said two adjacent attached sections (<NUM>) of the webbing (<NUM>) fit into the recesses (23A, 23B) to engage the load-carrying garment (<NUM>) in use.