Modular Stowage System
The present invention is an attachment system for modular stowage units. The system features a rail matrix utilized with a clasp system. Each rail component of the matrix features either a raised bridge or a loop onto which the clasp system attaches and may be a modular rail. Clasp designs include small and large bladed versions where the blade is designed to interface with an underside of a loop and secure an object to the rail matrix. Clasps may be designed to work with woven modular interfaces currently on the market
Latest MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP. Patents:
This application claims priority as a non-provisional application of prior filed U.S. provisional application No. 61/444,119 filed Feb. 17, 2011 and incorporates the same by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of stowage and more particularly relates to a modular system for the attachment for stowage articles onto either an object's surface or an individual.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONEver since the invention of tools, mankind has had a need to carry them. Devices for carrying articles range from the simple pocket, to backpacks, slings, boxes, pouches and an assortment of other devices. Of particular concern is the fact that stowage articles may or may not be necessary, depending upon what needs to be carried. To this end, modular stowage systems have been developed. One such system is the MOLLE (MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) system currently utilized by the US Armed Forces. The MOLLE system is based on a Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS). The PALS is essentially a webbing grid, usually made from 1″ webbing spaced 1″ apart and tacked to the backing at 1.5″ intervals, into which straps attached to a pouch or other container are interwoven. The PALS grid is usually found on the personal equipment of an individual, such as a backpack, rucksack or vest, and used to attach pouches and other implements on the person as needed and in a location the person deems most advantageous. Usage is simple, as the person merely interweaves a strap, originating from the stowage article, into the PALS grid and secures the loose end. However, the MOLLE system is not without disadvantages. The process of interweaving a strap is somewhat time-consuming. The system is also limited in the weight it can bear as the means of support and the means of attachment are, essentially, fabric.
The present invention is a modular load bearing system that utilizes a more rigid mounting structure as its attachment grid. It also utilizes quick release clasps to more efficiently attach and detach stowage articles to the attachment grid. As such, it bears more weight and is easier to implement than the current MOLLE system.
The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the modular stowage system of the present invention allows for rapid and easy attachment and reattachment of modular stowage units while also increasing weight capacity and allowing for use on both individuals and inanimate objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of modular stowage systems, this invention provides an improved modular stowage system with a more rigid support grid. As such, the present invention's general purpose is to provide a new and improved modular stowage system that is easy and faster to use and, when properly mounted on a proper support structure, can bear more weight than previous systems.
To accomplish these objectives, the modular stowage system comprises at least one rail that is attached to a load bearing object, such as a wall, vehicle surface, vest, backpack or other item. The rail has two embodiments. The first is a fairly rigid material such as plastic or metal and is mounted to an object or on personal gear, such as a gear belt or flak jacket. The second is a bar made of rubber or rubberized plastic which may be sewn onto a fabric surface. The fabric surface may be clothing, such as a vest, allowing the system to be used on an individual person. The first rail features regularly spaced attachment nodes with raised bridges therebetween, creating loops which are utilized by the clasps on the articles as an anchor point. This first rail also may be of a modular design. The second rail features raised loops for the same purpose. Ideally, the system has positioned at least one rail in a rail matrix. A clasp, which may be one of several designs, is located on a stowage article and secures the stowage article on the rail matrix. Another feature of the invention is the use of clips which may be designed to not only hold items, such as a flashlight, but also clip directly into the loops. The current design is not only an improvement on the previous MOLLE system, but is also backwards compatible with it as the straps used on the MOLLE stowage articles may be threaded through the loops of the rails in the rail matrix.
The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.
Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the attachment system is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
With reference to
The construction of the rail 10 is depicted in
A modular rail 20 may be utilized to customize the size of the rail matrix. Shown in
An alternate rail 30 may also be utilized (
The second component of the system is the attachment apparatus, or “clasp.” An example of a suitable clasp 40 is shown in
A second attachment clasp 50 is shown in
A third clasp embodiment, based on the second, allows the use of a clasp with a traditional MOLLE system. Shown in
It should be noted that the depicted embodiments all allow for attachment onto two rails. It is to be understood that clasps may readily be manufactured for attachment to as few as one rail or as many as may be needed to secure an object to a desired surface. Likewise, larger objects may require the use of multiple clasps.
Alternate clips (
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. Such modifications include different attachment apparatus designs, different shaped clips with specialized functionality, different materials and different shaped teeth and rail designs. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.
Claims
1. A modular attachment system for affixing an accessory object to a carrier object, collectively the “attachment objects,” the attachment system comprising:
- a. plurality of essentially parallel rails forming a matrix and connected to a surface of one of the attachment objects, each rail further comprising at least one loop extending outward from the surface upon which the rails are attached, the rails being oriented with respect to each other such that at least one loop of a first rail and at least one loop of a second rail define a column of loops along a column axis and have a defined space between them, a side of the loops facing the surface of the attachment object being defined as an underside of the loops;
- b. a clasp connected to another of the attachment objects, the clasp further comprising a base by which the clasp is attached to the another attachment object, a movable blade and at least one gate on the base through which the movable blade travels;
- wherein, the attachment system is actuated by placing the clasp against the rails such that the at least one gate is positioned in a defined space between the loops and the blade is parallel with the column axis, the blade then being then actuated in a manner to interface with an underside of the loops of the loop column.
2. The modular attachment system of claim 1, the rails each further comprising a flexible base from which the loops project that may be stitched to a fabric surface.
3. The modular attachment system of claim 1, the rails further comprising at least one raised bridge and attachment nodes on opposite sides thereof, the nodes and one bridge forming one attachment loop.
4. The modular attachment system of claim 3, the rails further comprising:
- a. a first end piece, containing at least one part of an attachment node;
- b. a second end piece, containing at least one part of an attachment node such that the second end piece and the first end piece are complimentary and together form a complete attachment node; and
- c. at least one middle module comprising a bridge section and at least two ends, one end being complimentary with the first end piece and another end being complimentary with the second end piece;
- wherein a full rail is assembled by associating one first end piece with at least one middle module and associating one second end piece with a middle module.
5. The modular attachment system of claim 1, the clasp further comprising:
- a. at least one maxillary part of a jaw on at least one gate and extending away from the base;
- b. at least one mandible part of a jaw positioned on the blade and extending away from the base such that when the blade is actuated, the jaw will close upon one loop of the loop column; and
- c. a latch mechanism configured to hold the blade in an actuated position relative to the base until purposefully moved from the actuated position.
6. The modular attachment system of claim 5, further comprising at least one more mandible part on the blade and one more maxillary part on the base.
7. The modular attachment system of claim 5, the blade further comprising a stop to hinder removal of the blade from the base.
8. The modular attachment system of claim 1, at least one loop further comprising a positioning structure and the clasp further comprising a complimentary positioning structure designed to associate with the positioning structure of the at least one loop.
9. The modular attachment system of claim 1, the clasp further comprising at least one other gate, defining a space between said gates and a common passage for the blade through the gates, the space between the gates sufficient to accommodate at least one loop; wherein the blade is threaded through the common passage of the gates and underneath at least one loop.
10. The modular attachment system of claim 9:
- a. the blade further comprising a locking hole on a forward end of the blade and a locking detent on a rearward end of the blade; and
- b. an upper most gate further comprising a locking tab;
- wherein the blade, when in an open position, interfaces with the locking tab by means of the locking hole and when in a closed position interfaces with the locking tab by means of the detent.
11. The modular attachment system of claim 10, the base further comprising a locking hole at a lower end and the locking hole of the blade and the locking hole of the base may be used to fasten the blade and base together.
12. A modular attachment system for a woven mounting system, the woven mounting system comprising a matrix of parallel stitched bands forming columns of loops, each with a column axis, the attachment system comprising a clasp connected to a surface of an object, the clasp further comprising:
- a. a base by which the clasp is attached to the surface of the object;
- b. a movable blade; and
- c. at least one gate on the base through which the movable blade travels;
- wherein, the attachment system is actuated by placing the clasp against the matrix such that the at least one gate is positioned in a defined space between the loops and the blade is parallel with the column axis, the blade then being then actuated in a manner to interface with an underside of the loops of the loop column.
13. The modular attachment system of claim 11, the clasp further comprising at least one hook positioned on at least one gate, wherein the at least one hook may be utilized to interface with a loop in the loop column.
14. A rail for a modular attachment system, the rail comprising at least one raised bridge and attachment nodes on opposite sides thereof, the nodes and one bridge forming one attachment loop.
15. The rail of claim 13, further comprising:
- a. a first end piece, containing at least one part of an attachment node;
- b. a second end piece, containing at least one part of an attachment node such that the second end piece and the first end piece are complimentary and together form a complete attachment node; and
- c. at least one middle module comprising a bridge section and at least two ends, one end being complimentary with the first end piece and another end being complimentary with the second end piece;
- wherein a full rail is assembled by associating one first end piece with at least one middle module and associating one second end piece with a middle module.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 17, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 28, 2013
Applicant: MAGPUL INDUSTRIES CORP. (Boulder, CO)
Inventors: Grady Barfoot (Denver, CO), Richard M. Fitzpatrick (Loingmont, CO), Michael T. Mayberry (Denver, CO)
Application Number: 13/399,994
International Classification: A44B 19/24 (20060101);