ATTACHMENT MECHANISM

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for attaching various components to a belt.

BACKGROUND

It is often desirable to attach various components to a belt. Examples of such components include holsters, sheaths, pouches and the like, for items such as firearms, knives, firearm magazines and other tools. Conventional mechanisms for attaching components to a belt typically include straight “Molle” style straps, with a variety of buttons, buckles, and hook and loop attachment mechanisms. However, these conventional mechanisms suffer from a variety of drawbacks. For example, because they are typically straight, the items being attached to the belt are not presented at a preferred angle for the user (i.e., they are typically undesirably orthogonal to the belt). Additionally, they can be difficult to attach or remove and/or may be at risk of detaching from the belt. Accordingly, improved mechanisms for attaching items to a belt are desirable.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an attachment mechanism for attaching components to a belt comprising a strap body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the strap body further comprising loop closures on the inner surface and hook closures on the outer surface. The strap body also comprises a base tab having an aperture, and a bridge section and an overlock tab, wherein the overlock tab passes through the aperture from an inner surface to an outer surface of the strap body and adheres to the base tab. During use, the strap body wraps around the belt, the belt having hook closures on an inside surface of the belt. The loop closures of the base tab are adhered to the hook closures on the inside surface of the belt, the bridge section folds over a top edge of the belt and extends across an outer surface of the belt, and the overlock tab folds over a bottom edge of the belt, wherein loop closures on the overlock tab adhere to hook closures on the inside surface of the belt and/or on a base tab outer surface after the overlock tab extends through the aperture to secure the attachment mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inner surface of an attachment strap in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an outer surface of an attachment strap in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an inner view of an attachment strap attached to a belt with a component attached to the attachment strap in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an outer view of an attachment strap attached to a belt with a component attached to the attachment strap in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a closeup outer view of an attachment strap attached to a belt without a component attached to the attachment strap in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6A is an inner perspective view of an attachment strap prior to attachment to a belt in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B is an inner perspective view of an attachment strap that has initially been placed on to the outer surface of a belt in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 6C is an inner perspective view of an attachment strap after the base tab has been secured to the belt and the overlock tab has passed through the base tab and affixed to the base tab and inner surface of the belt in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various aspects of the present disclosure can be realized by any number of methods and systems configured to perform the intended functions. Stated differently, other methods and systems can be incorporated herein to perform the intended functions. It should also be noted that the accompanying drawing figures referred to herein are not all drawn to scale but may be exaggerated to illustrate various aspects of the present disclosure, and in that regard, the drawing figures should not be construed as limiting. Finally, although the present disclosure can be described in connection with various principles and beliefs, the present disclosure should not be bound by theory.

In general, the present disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for attaching various items and components to a belt 101. In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, the belt 101 may be any typical utility belt and may comprise hook closures 102 on an inside surface 103 of the belt 101.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6A, 6B, and 6C, an example of an attachment mechanism in accordance with the present disclosure comprises a strap body 100 having an inner surface 110 and an outer surface 120, the strap body 100 further comprising loop closures 112 on the inner surface 110 and hook closures 122 on the outer surface 120.

In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, the strap body 100 further comprises a base tab 130 having an aperture 132, a bridge section 140, and an overlock tab 150, wherein the overlock tab 150 passes through the aperture 132 from the inner surface 110 to the outer surface 120 of the strap body 100 and adheres to the base tab 130 vis a vis the loop closures 112 on the overlock tab 150 and the hook closures 122 on outer surface 120 of the base tab 130. In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, the overlock tab 150 may also adhere to the belt 101 in addition to the base tab 130, also vis a vis the loop closures 112 on the overlock tab 150 and the hook closures 102 on the belt 101.

With reference specifically to FIGS. 3-6C, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, the strap body 100 wraps around the belt 101 and wherein the loop closures 112 of the base tab 130 are adhered to the hook closures 102 on the inside surface 103 of the belt 101. Next, the bridge section 140 folds over a top edge 104 of the belt 101 and extends across an outer surface 105 of the belt 101, and the overlock tab 150 folds over a bottom edge 106 of the belt, wherein loop closures 112 on the overlock tab 150 adhere to hook closures 102 on the inside surface 103 of the belt 101 and on a base tab 130 outer surface after the overlock tab 150 extends through the aperture 132.

In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, the strap body may have a shape similar to the number seven (“7”) or a question mark (“?”), though other shapes may similarly fall within the scope of the present disclosure. In accordance with some aspects, the base tab 130 is proportionally larger than the bridge section 140 and the overlock tab 150 (see FIGS. 1 and 2, for example), though in other accordance with other aspects, the proportions may vary.

In accordance with various aspects, the bridge section 140 extends at an angle from the base tab 130. Stated another way, the bridge section 140 is oriented non-orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the belt 101. The angle may vary based on the desired design, but as illustrated in the Figures, ranges from about 20 degrees to 70 degrees, often approximately 45 degrees. As illustrated in FIG. 4, such an angle allows for items attached to the belt 101 via the attachment mechanism to be maintained at an angle with respect to the belt 101 which may provide easier access to the items by the user. For example, in the case of a holster for a firearm, knife or other tool, the angle provides easier access and withdrawal from the holster.

In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, the bridge section 140 comprises an inner smooth surface 141. For example, the inner smooth surface 141 may comprise a laminate such as nylon, plastic, or other polymers, or other materials that are suitably smooth and durable. The inner smooth surface 141 prevents the stretching of the warp and weft of the weave of the strap body 100, particularly in the vicinity of the bridge section 140. In accordance with the present disclosure, laminate may be attached to other portions of the strap body 100 to prevent warp and weft in those locations as well.

In accordance with the present disclosure and with reference to, for example FIGS. 3 and 4, a variety of components 160 may be attached to the strap body 100 which is in turn secured to the belt 101. In general, the components 160 may be any Molle (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment—typically a system of loops) compatible component, though alternatively, other non-Molle compatible components may be substituted. Examples of components 160 include holsters, sheaths, and pouches, though any number of alternative components may fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Finally, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. For example, in various configurations, the hook and loop closures disclosed herein may be reversed. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Likewise, numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the preceding description, including various alternatives together with details of the structure and function of the devices and/or methods. The disclosure is intended as illustrative only and as such is not intended to be exhaustive. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made, especially in matters of structure, deposition materials, elements, components, shape, size and arrangement of parts including combinations within the principles of the invention, to the full extent indicated by the broad, general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. To the extent that these various modifications do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, they are intended to be encompassed therein.