Patent ID: 8857681

Claim:
A load carriage connector for use in human load carriage systems comprising; a male connector half comprising: a back plate; and a mounting knob, wherein the mounting knob is coupled to a first side of the back plate, the mounting knob further defining a circumferential annular groove and a retaining bore, wherein the retaining bore comprises a substantially cylindrical hole penetrating a partial distance into a distal end of the mounting knob; and a female connector half comprising: a hub mounting plate, wherein the hub mounting plate further comprises a depression that is configured to receive the mounting knob; at least one lock plate, wherein each lock plate is moveably coupled to the hub mounting plate and biased toward a center of the depression, a leading edge of each lock plate cooperating with the annular groove when the mounting knob is seated within the depression such that the mounting knob is restrained against movement in a direction outwardly away from the hub mounting plate; and a retaining arm, wherein the retaining arm comprises a pivot end and a hooked end, the hooked end being biased toward the retaining bore when the mounting knob is seated within the depression, wherein the hooked end engages the retaining bore such that the mounting knob is restrained against lateral movement along a surface of the hub mounting plate.