Abstract: A wearable energy absorbing and dispersing standoff spacer, system, and method for use or incorporation with an armor plate or panel, and/or a carrier for the same, uses one or more spacer panels having features that interlock to form a stack having a desired standoff thickness and resilient compressibility for absorbing and dispersing forces exerted thereagainst from ballistic impacts to reduce traumatic effect on a wearer while limiting lateral displacement of the spacer particularly under lateral forces, and that is readily and easily adaptable to provide customizable support, positioning, and orientation for the armor plate or panel, and fit and comfort for the wearer, particularly female wearers.

Abstract: A ballistic plate or panel carrier, system, and method, has at least one panel of lightweight polymer foam or similar material formed by a pressing process to include an integral stiffened perimeter rim or frame bounding and defining an armor plate or panel cavity making the carrier overall inexpensive to manufacture and lightweight, yet adequately securely holds and supports the armor plate or panel and is safe and comfortable. The carrier can further include one or more cover panels for the plate cavity and outer face of the carrier that can optionally be made using the same process, in the case of covering the cavity, to incorporate one or more lightweight energy absorbing and dispersing standoff spacers for reducing traumatic effect on a wearer from ballistic impact on the associated plate or panel, and in the case of the outer face, to include features, e.g.

Abstract: A vest utilizing an assembly and release apparatus and method incorporating a C-shaped clip defining a channel and a smaller slot extending along the channel, attachable to a first location on the vest. A pin of the apparatus is slidably receivable in the channel through the open end to assemble the C-shaped clip and the pin together. The pin has a tab or strip that extends through the slot, for attaching the pin to a second location on the vest. The apparatus includes at least one detent element associated with one of the C-shaped clip and the pin, cooperatively engageable with the other of the C-shaped clip and the pin for retaining the pin in the channel, and releasable in a predetermined manner to allow slidably removing the pin from the channel to provide a quiet and rapid manner of operation.

Abstract: A silent fastener for connecting a first element to a second element utilizes a foldable or bendable element attached to the first element and extending to the second element, the second element having at least one slit connecting to a flat internal cavity, and a first tuck tab connected to the foldable or bendable element and receivable in the cavity with the a predetermined region of the first element in overlaying relation to the first tuck tab, and a second tuck tab connected to the foldable or bendable element and receivable in another portion of the cavity extending away from the predetermined region of the first element, connecting the first and second elements.

Abstract: A silent fastener for connecting a first element to a second element utilizes a strap attached to the first element and extending to the second element, the second element having a slit connecting to a flat internal cavity, and a flat tuck tab flexibly connected to the strap and receivable in the cavity with the strap tensioned and with the tuck tab in a hairpin configuration in overlaying relation to the cavity containing the tuck tab, and a second tuck tab connected to the strap and receivable in another portion of the cavity extending away from the first element, securely connecting the first and second elements.

Abstract: A silent fastener for connecting a first element to a second element utilizes a strap attached to the first element and extending to the second element, the second element having a slit connecting to a flat internal cavity, and a flat tuck tab flexibly connected to the strap and receivable in the cavity with the strap tensioned and with the tuck tab in a hairpin configuration in overlaying relation to the cavity containing the tuck tab, and a second tuck tab connected to the strap and receivable in another portion of the cavity extending away from the first element, securely connecting the first and second elements.

Abstract: An attachment system for attaching a holder to a carrier includes a platform having an outwardly facing side, an opposite back side, and laminated layers of any of a variety of materials and having a plurality of slits therethrough defined and bound by edges of the layers fused together to have increased stiffness, wear and abrasion resistance, the slits arranged in a predetermined pattern of aligned and spaced apart rows, the slits being configured to receive straps therethrough between the outwardly facing side and the back side to attach the holder to the carrier. As an exemplary embodiment the carrier can be configured for carrying the holder on a user's body, for instance as a vest, a cummerbund, a shirt, pants, a backpack, or a belt, and the holder can be configured for holding a variety of useful articles, accessories, and the like.

Abstract: An attachment system incorporating a platform having an outwardly facing side, an opposite back side, the platform comprising laminated layers including at least one fabric layer comprising a polyethylene or para-aramid fabric, the platform having a plurality of slits therethrough defined and bound by edges of the layers fused together to have increased stiffness, wear and abrasion resistance. The slits are arranged in a predetermined pattern of aligned and spaced apart rows, the slits being configured to receive straps therethrough between the outwardly facing side and the back side to attach at least one holder to the outwardly facing side, and the platform being supported by and comprising an element of a carrier to be carried on a user's body.

Abstract: A 3 dimensional shape retaining light weight pouch and method for making the same, for mounting on a carrier such as a garment such as, but not limited to, a vest, belt, cummerbund, pack, or the like, and more particularly, that utilizes standing portions of stiffened fused together edges of laminated or composite panels of the pouch to hold the pouch in a predetermined 3 dimensional shape. The pouch is durable and wear resistant, allows easy insertion and removal of articles, accessories, and objects to be held and/or carried thereby, and is simple and easy to manufacture, while being configurable to be compatible with some known systems mounting systems such as MOLLE PALS and the like.

Abstract: A silent fastener includes generally flat first and second tuck tabs flexibly connected to a first element to be connected, positionable to form a narrow V-shape or U-shape when viewed from the side, and insertable through at least one slit in an outer surface of a second element to be connected, into internal cavities within first and second portions, respectively, folded or bent in the V- or U-shape, and the second element being unfoldable or bendable to frictionally hold the tuck tabs in the cavities for connecting the elements, and the first element being further securable over one of the portions in a hairpin configuration with the received tuck tab, to further hold the tuck tabs, the tuck tabs being removable by returning the second element to the V- or U-shape. The tuck tabs being tensionable to increase the holding strength and snug the elements about a carried object.

Abstract: A 3 dimensional shape retaining light weight pouch and method for making the same, for mounting on a carrier such as a garment such as, but not limited to, a vest, belt, cummerbund, pack, or the like, and more particularly, that utilizes standing portions of stiffened fused together edges of laminated or composite panels of the pouch to hold the pouch in a predetermined 3 dimensional shape. The pouch is durable and wear resistant, allows easy insertion and removal of articles, accessories, and objects to be held and/or carried thereby, and is simple and easy to manufacture, while being configurable to be compatible with some known systems mounting systems such as MOLLE PALS and the like.

Abstract: An attachment system incorporating a platform having an outwardly facing side, an opposite back side, the platform comprising laminated layers including at least one fabric layer comprising a polyethylene or para-aramid fabric, the platform having a plurality of slits therethrough defined and bound by edges of the layers fused together to have increased stiffness, wear and abrasion resistance. The slits are arranged in a predetermined pattern of aligned and spaced apart rows, the slits being configured to receive straps therethrough between the outwardly facing side and the back side to attach at least one holder to the outwardly facing side, and the platform being supported by and comprising an element of a carrier to be carried on a user's body.

Abstract: A 3 dimensional shape retaining light weight pouch and method for making the same, for mounting on a carrier such as a garment such as, but not limited to, a vest, belt, cummerbund, pack, or the like, and more particularly, that utilizes standing portions of stiffened fused together edges of laminated or composite panels of the pouch to hold the pouch in a predetermined 3 dimensional shape. The pouch is durable and wear resistant, allows easy insertion and removal of articles, accessories, and objects to be held and/or carried thereby, and is simple and easy to manufacture, while being configurable to be compatible with some known systems mounting systems such as MOLLE PALS and the like.

Abstract: An attachment system for supporting holders on a carrier includes a platform having a front side, an opposite back side, the platform being constructed of laminated layers having slits therethrough defined and bound by opposite edges of the layers fused together to increase wear and abrasion resistance of the edges, the slits arranged in a predetermined pattern of aligned and spaced apart rows, the slits being configured to receive straps therethrough between the front side and the back side to attach at least one holder to the platform, and the platform being supported by and comprising an element of a carrier configured to be worn against a portion of a user's body, the back side and at least one element of the carrier or a backing element defining and bounding a generally flat cavity through which the back side can be accessed.

Abstract: A 3 dimensional shape retaining light weight pouch and method for making the same, for mounting on a carrier such as a garment such as, but not limited to, a vest, belt, cummerbund, pack, or the like, and more particularly, that utilizes standing portions of stiffened fused together edges of laminated or composite panels of the pouch to hold the pouch in a predetermined 3 dimensional shape. The pouch is durable and wear resistant, allows easy insertion and removal of articles, accessories, and objects to be held and/or carried thereby, and is simple and easy to manufacture, while being configurable to be compatible with some known systems mounting systems such as MOLLE PALS and the like.

Abstract: A 3 dimensional shape retaining light weight pouch and method for making the same, for mounting on a carrier such as a garment such as, but not limited to, a vest, belt, cummerbund, pack, or the like, and more particularly, that utilizes standing portions of stiffened fused together edges of laminated or composite panels of the pouch to hold the pouch in a predetermined 3 dimensional shape. The pouch is durable and wear resistant, allows easy insertion and removal of articles, accessories, and objects to be held and/or carried thereby, and is simple and easy to manufacture, while being configurable to be compatible with some known systems mounting systems such as MOLLE PALS and the like.

Abstract: A silent fastener includes generally flat first and second tuck tabs flexibly connected to a first element to be connected, positionable to form a narrow V-shape or U-shape when viewed from the side, and insertable through at least one slit in an outer surface of a second element to be connected, into internal cavities within first and second portions, respectively, folded or bent in the V- or U-shape, and the second element being unfoldable or bendable to frictionally hold the tuck tabs in the cavities for connecting the elements, and the first element being further securable over one of the portions in a hairpin configuration with the received tuck tab, to further hold the tuck tabs, the tuck tabs being removable by returning the second element to the V- or U-shape. The tuck tabs being tensionable to increase the holding strength and snug the elements about a carried object.

Abstract: A silent fastener includes generally flat first and second tuck tabs flexibly connected to a first element to be connected, positionable to form a narrow V-shape or U-shape when viewed from the side, and insertable through at least one slit in an outer surface of a second element to be connected, into internal cavities within first and second portions, respectively, folded or bent in the V- or U-shape, and the second element being unfoldable or bendable to frictionally hold the tuck tabs in the cavities for connecting the elements, and the first element being further securable over one of the portions in a hairpin configuration with the received tuck tab, to further hold the tuck tabs, the tuck tabs being removable by returning the second element to the V- or U-shape. The tuck tabs being tensionable to increase the holding strength and snug the elements about a carried object.

Abstract: A vest utilizing an assembly and release apparatus and method incorporating a C-shaped clip defining a channel and a smaller slot extending along the channel, attachable to a first location on the vest. A pin of the apparatus is slidably receivable in the channel through the open end to assemble the C-shaped clip and the pin together. The pin has a tab or strip that extends through the slot, for attaching the pin to a second location on the vest. The apparatus includes at least one detent element associated with one of the C-shaped clip and the pin, cooperatively engageable with the other of the C-shaped clip and the pin for retaining the pin in the channel, and releasable in a predetermined manner to allow slidably removing the pin from the channel to provide a quiet and rapid manner of operation.

Abstract: An attachment system for supporting holders on a carrier includes a platform having a front side, an opposite back side, the platform being constructed of laminated layers having slits therethrough defined and bound by opposite edges of the layers fused together to increase wear and abrasion resistance of the edges, the slits arranged in a predetermined pattern of aligned and spaced apart rows, the slits being configured to receive straps therethrough between the front side and the back side to attach at least one holder to the platform, and the platform being supported by and comprising an element of a carrier configured to be worn against a portion of a user's body, the back side and at least one element of the carrier or a backing element defining and bounding a generally flat cavity through which the back side can be accessed.