Abstract: An accessory for detachably connecting a web-belt to a backpack comprises a unitary element including a base panel joined respectively at first and second fold lines to bottom and top panels, with the top panel in turn being joined at a third fold line to a flap, and with all fold lines being parallel. The base panel has a back surface adapted to be secured to the backpack, and a front surface configured and dimensioned to lie along a back side of the web-belt. The bottom panel is foldable at the first fold line to a position overlying a front surface of the web-belt, the top panel is foldable at the second fold line to overlie the thus folded bottom panel, and the flap is foldable at the third fold line to underlie a rear surface of the base panel. The thus folded flap is detachably secured to the rear surface of the base panel by a Velcro-type fastener or the like.

Abstract: A backpack frame comprises side rails defining a first profile. The first profile has a flat first base segment lying on a first reference plane, and a first concave segment leading from the first base segment to an upper end of the frame, with the first concave segment being spaced a maximum distance from the first reference plane at a first location between the first base segment and the upper end of the frame. An intermediate structure interconnects the side rails. The intermediate structure defines a second profile having a second flat base segment lying on a second reference plane parallel to the first reference plane, and a second concave segment leading from the second base segment to the upper end of the frame, with the second concave segment being spaced a maximum distance from the second reference plane at a second location between the second base segment and the upper end of the frame. The first and second locations are offset from one another.

Abstract: A vertically positioned, lanyard, releasing breakaway buckle including a keeper and a secure. The keeper has a rear wall, side walls and a floor. A cover, to which a lanyard is secured, is hinged to the keeper and spaced apart from the floor. The cover defines an elongated slot. Apertures are formed inward from the side walls such that a strap may be fed through the apertures to vertically orient the buckle on a strap. The cover has a caming surface formed on the under surface of the cover, and which caming surface terminates in locking surface. An opening formed in the cover. A secure part includes a base, and a tongue section extending from the base. The tongue section has parallel guide arms extending from the rear wall forwardly, and terminating in leading ends, a member secured to the guide arms, and a caming surface formed in the tongue section.

Abstract: A breakaway buckle has a keeper attachable to a first strap and a secure attachable to a second laterally disposed strap. The secure has a tongue releasably retained in the keeper by overlapping interlocked locking surfaces on both components. Cam surfaces on the secure and keeper coact in response to lateral and/or torsional forces exerted on the secure to reduce the area of overlap between the locking surfaces and thereby facilitate separation of the secure from the keeper.

Abstract: A modular assembly for detachable securing an accessory component to a garment or the like, comprises a meshed fabric, with an array of first openings forming an integral part of the garment. A base plate and a locking plate are provided, the former being secured to the accessory component. A plurality of studs are provided on one of the plates, and a plurality of second openings are provided on the other of the plates.

Abstract: Apparatus for detachably securing an accessory component to a garment or the like has a meshed fabric forming an integral part of said garment. The meshed fabric has an array of first openings. A base plate has a plurality of second openings. The base plate is adapted to be positioned on one side of the meshed fabric with the second openings aligned with mating first openings. The apparatus has means for securing said base plate to the accessory component. A locking plate has a plurality of studs. The locking plate is adapted to be positioned on an opposite side of the meshed fabric with the studs projecting through the mating first openings into the second openings and into interlocked engagement with the base plate.

Abstract: A breakaway buckle has a keeper attachable to a first strap and a secure attachable to a second laterally disposed strap. The secure has a tongue releasably retained in the keeper by overlapping interlocked locking surfaces on both components. Cam surfaces on the secure and keeper coact in response to lateral and/or torsional forces exerted on the secure to reduce the area of overlap between the locking surfaces and thereby facilitate separation of the secure from the keeper.

Abstract: A buckle for capturing and releasably retaining an end tab of a flexible strap wherein the flexible strap has a substantially uniform width and thickness and an end tab of increased thickness. The buckle includes a base, and parallel side walls, which extend upwardly from and cooperate with the base to define an open-ended receiving channel having an entry end and an exit end. Flanges are spaced vertically from the base and extend inwardly in cantilever fashion from the side walls to define an opening-ended slot communicating with and extending along the length of the receiving channel. The slot is configured and dimensioned to accommodate longitudinal pinching and lateral insertion of the strap into the receiving channel. The flanges have undersides configured to accommodate receipt of the end tab in the receiving channel via the entry end, and to releasably retain and prevent withdrawal of the end tab from the receiving channel via the exit end.

Abstract: A buckle used to attach a rucksack to a frame using a strap. The buckle includes a housing, having a bottom, two side walls and an opening in the upper portion thereof. The side walls are parallel for about one half the length of the housing before diverging to form a Y-shaped opening. The side walls have retaining flanges adapted to receive and guide a strap which is locked in the buckle, wherein the diverging side walls form a jamming socket to retain the strap and attach the rucksack to the frame.

Abstract: A device for mounting a noise attenuating ear cup on a helmet shell. The device includes a clamp plate, which is secured to the shell in an operative position extending along a side edge of the shell. A flexible strap extends along an inner surface of the clamp plate. The strap has first and second ends and an intermediate portion bulging inwardly from the inner surface of the clamp plate. The ear cup is attached to the intermediate portion of the strap, and the first end of the strap is anchored to the clamp plate. The second end of the strap is adjustably constrained for longitudinal movement relative to the clamp plate to thereby vary the extent to which the intermediate portion of the strap bulges inwardly from the inner surface of the clamp plate.

Abstract: A two-piece lanyard release buckle having first and second ends which are adapted to receive straps. A keeper has a floor which includes front and rear portions and a first end formed in the rear portion thereof. A flexible cover is spaced apart from the floor, such that the opposed surfaces of the floor and cover define a slot therebetween. A keeper surface is formed on either of the opposed surfaces. The buckle includes side walls spaced apart from one another and which are perpendicular to the cover and floor. The cover and the floor are flexibly secured to one another and a lanyard is secured to the cover. A secure part configured to be received in the slot has a front portion and a rear portion. The secure part has at least one locking surface, wherein the keeper surface and the locking surface are at mirror imaged angles with reference to one another.

Abstract: A lanyard, two-piece, high load buckle assembly including a keeper and a cover. The cover is hinged to the keeper and the lanyard is secured thereto. The cover defines an elongated slot. The cover has a cam surface formed on the under surface thereof and terminates in a locking surface. An opening is formed in the cover. The assembly also contains a secure part which includes a base and a tongue section extending from the base. The tongue section has parallel guide arms extending from a rear wall and terminating in leading ends. A member secured to the guide arms is configured with reference to the slot to remove debris from the slot through the opening in the cover. A cam surface formed in the tongue section terminates in a catch surface, such that when the secure part is received in the keeper, the cam surfaces engage and the cover deflects upwardly. The catch surface extends beyond the locking surface and the cover closes fastening the secure part to the keeper.

Abstract: A button snap flap closure for a pocket having a flap, which flap overlaps a surface of the pocket, that comprises an elongated keeper secured to the pocket. The keeper includes a ridge having ribs in parallel relationship formed therein and a plurality of positioning teeth formed on the ridge. The snap flap closure further includes a snap featuring a top portion that has an underside. The top portion is secured to the flap. The snap has depending locking teeth adapted to engage the ribs of the keeper to lock the snap to the keeper and locating teeth formed on the underside of the top portion.

Abstract: A counterweight attached to the back of a ballistic helmet to balance the load of a night vision goggle which night vision goggle is secured to the front edge of a ballistic helmet. The counterweight includes a back plate having fingers extending inward to engage the helmet. The fingers space the back plate apart from the surface of the helmet to define a slot with the helmet. A pair of arms are joined to the back plate and extend laterally outward from the back plate and define a recess on the inner surface of the back plate. Hooks are secured to and extend inwardly from guide surfaces on the arms. These hooks engage the rear edge of the helmet. The back plate has a recess defined in its outer surface which recess is partially in registration with the recess on the inner surface of the back plate.

Abstract: A low profile quick release assembly for securing and releasing a backpack frame to and from a waist belt which comprises a catch assembly adapted to be secured to the waist belt and a hook assembly adapted to be secured to the backpack frame. The catch assembly has laterally opposed guide surfaces extending downwardly and terminating in a retaining notch, at least one catch surface and a pivot radius formed in the retaining notch. The hook assembly comprises a front surface, a hook and at least one flexible finger having a catch surface formed in the hook assembly. The hook is spaced apart from the front surface to define therewith locating surfaces which terminate in a retaining radius. When the catch assembly and the hook assembly are engaged, the retaining radius seats on the pivot radius in contacting engagement and the catch surface engages the catch slot. The assembly disengages when the rearward angle of the backpack exceeds a predetermined angle with reference to vertical.

Abstract: A two-piece lanyard release buckle which comprises a keeper and a secure part. The keeper is comprised of a floor which includes a front portion and a rear portion and a cover spaced apart from the floor, means for flexibly securing the cover and the floor to one another and a lanyard secured to the cover. The opposed surfaces of the floor and the cover define a slot therebetween and a keeper surface is formed on the surface of the cover. The secure part is configured to be received in the slot and is comprised of a front portion and a rear portion. The secure part is characterized by at least one locking finger having a top surface and terminating in a catch tab. When the secure part is received in the keeper, the locking finger engages the keeper surface and locks the secure part to the keeper.