Cumberbund Attachment System and Method

Abstract

The present invention provides a quick attach/detach system for cumberbunds that maximizes available room for attachment of auxiliary equipment to a wearable personal device. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a personal wearable device having front and back portions, with each of the front and back portions having an outer wall and an inner wall such that the inner walls define a pocket within the device, wherein at least one of the inner walls has a fastening surface, and wherein a finger of a cumberbund attachment is insertable through a slot in an outer wall of the device so as to securely yet releasably attach to the inner wall fastening surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/548,981, filed Oct. 19, 2011 and entitled, “Cumberbund Attachment System and Method”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to outerwear, and more particularly to customizable outerwear that can adapt to accept auxiliary gear or cumberbunds in various ways.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Military personnel, law enforcement personnel and/or outdoor enthusiasts all share a need to be able to quickly attach and detach peripheral equipment. For military personnel, the peripheral equipment can be, for example, a chest rig, ammunition pouch, medical bag, day pack, hydration pack or armor shield. Similarly, recreationists such as backpackers, campers, hikers, hunters might attach auxiliary gear such as a tent, food, climbing gear, first aid materials or other gear. Traditionally, pouches and equipment are attached to armor or recreational systems via clips, buckles, straps, snaps, etc. These attachment methods can be cumbersome and require the user to modify their routine or posture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention permits the individual with a wearable personal device to add carrying capacity without compromising space requirements and while maintaining his or her sitting posture, rucksack inventory or uniform appearance, for example.

Traditionally, cumberbunds are used in the armor industry. However, they attach externally to vests, plate carriers, backpack carriers and other personal wearable devices via a lace-up method, hook and loop fastener, buckles, snaps, or straps, for example, thereby limiting the surface area to which other equipment can attach and making the donning and doffing of armor and other attachments more difficult. The present invention provides a quick attach/detach system for cumberbunds that maximizes available room for attachment of auxiliary equipment to the wearable personal device, which can be an armor carrier, backpack system or other outerwear, for example. The system of the present invention can be offered in varied sizes and shapes to accommodate not only dimensional requests, but capacity of auxiliary equipment and cumberbunds. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention can be employed, for example, in a way that allows cumberbunds to attach internally via button holes which allow attachment fingers of the cumberbund or auxiliary equipment to insert into an auxiliary pocket, thereby removing any restriction on available equipment space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a cumberbund attachment system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a cumberbund attachment system according to one embodiment of the present invention, with fingers of a cumberbund partially inserted into button holes of an auxiliary pocket of a personal wearable device.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a portion of a personal wearable device having an auxiliary pocket for use according to one embodiment of the present invention, with fingers of a cumberbund attachment system of the present invention fully inserted into button holes of the wearable device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 3 depict an embodiment of a cumberbund attachment system 25 and method in accordance with the present invention. Vests, plate carriers, backpack carriers and other personal wearable devices come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of optional accessories. In many instances, personal wearable devices include multiple plies of material that can be joined along edges to create openings or pockets therein. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, such personal wearable devices 1 can include attachment subsystems 5 such as molle panels and the like, which allow the wearer to attach equipment, gear and even other equipment holders to the device 1. In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the personal wearable device 1 is adapted with an auxiliary pocket 20 formed with a first wall 33 comprising the inside of a front side 14 of the device 1 and a second wall 35 comprising the inside of a separate outer layer 29 of the device 1. Outer layer 29 can be the back side of the device, in one embodiment of the present invention. The pocket wall 35 includes hook or loop-type fasteners 22 or other fasteners for receiving and retaining fingers 3 of a cumberbund in accordance with the present invention. The portion of the cumberbund of one embodiment of the present invention is identified at 2 in FIGS. 1 and 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, in one embodiment of the present invention, the personal wearable device 1 has one or more slots or button holes 4 formed in at least one side 17 thereof. Each button hole can be provided with a length L1. Length L1 can vary in size to accommodate various embodiments of the cumberbund as part of the present invention. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3, the internal pocket wall 35 of the personal wearable device 1 is at least partially covered by fasteners such as hook or loop-type fasteners 22 to secure cumberbund fingers 3 that extend through the openings 4 in the personal wearable device. The openings 4 provide access to the pocket 20 and the fasteners 22 contained therein. While one internal wall 35 of the personal wearable device 1 includes fasteners 22, it will be appreciated that the opposing internal wall 33 of the personal wearable device does not include mating fasteners; otherwise, the pocket would potentially be biased in a closed position, thereby hindering the use of the present invention. Nevertheless, one embodiment of the present invention contemplates such mating fasteners on the respective walls 33, 35 to assist in keeping the pocket closed during use of the device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cumberbund attachment system 25 includes straps (also referred to as a fingers) 3 which can be secured to the cumberbund (portion illustrated at 2) at a first end 8 of the finger 3 by means of attachment 7 including, but not limited to, hook and loop, sewing, bonding or otherwise integrating the finger 3 with the cumberbund (or other auxiliary gear device). Each finger further includes a second end 9 opposite the first end 8, which is appropriately terminated so as to prevent frayed edges from hindering the operation of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, each finger 3 can have a width L2, which is substantially equal to or less than the length L1 of a button hole 4 that the finger is designed to pass through. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a top surface 6 of each finger 3 is provided with hook or loop-type fasteners, for example, such that each finger 3 can be removably attached to the interior surface 22 of the device 1 within pocket 20 when the finger 3 is fully inserted into a corresponding button hole 4 of the device 1. The bottom surface 16 of each finger 3 can be provided with or without hook or loop-type connectors, depending upon the embodiment of the present invention.

In operation, the user of the present invention assembles the cumberbund or other device to the personal wearable device prior to donning the combined system. Such operation is initiated by inserting at least one finger 3 through a corresponding button hole 4 on the front side 14 of the personal wearable device 1, then pulling the finger through (such as by inserting a hand into the pocket of the device) and securing the connector surface 6 of the finger to the interior fasteners 22 of the device. The fingers 3 can be adjusted to accommodate the user's girth by reducing or extending the length of extension of the fingers within the pocket. In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cumberbund portion 2 includes three separate fingers 3 and the device 1 includes three corresponding button holes 4 sized to receive each finger 3. While the fingers 3 and holes 4 are shown in uniform sizes, it will be appreciated that the present invention contemplates different sized fingers and holes to the extent greater retention force may be needed in different deployments or for different users of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, each finger 3 is inserted into each corresponding button hole 4 from the front side 14 of the device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, each finger 3 is inserted into each button hole 4 such that the attaching surface 6 (see FIG. 1) of each finger 3 is aligned with attachment surface 22 in the pocket of device 1. The fastening surface 6 of each finger and the corresponding fastening surface 22 of the device engage each other so that the cumberbund is securely but removeably attached to the device 1. Through the use of this internal attachment, the device 1 has additional room on the external side thereof to receive additional equipment and other attachments.

Once installed, the cumberbund will be securely retained adjacent the personal wearable device 1. For example, the cumberbund may wrap around a body or wearable personal device such that the opposite end of the cumberbund may be similarly attached to a second and opposite side of the device in similar fashion to that described above. In one embodiment of the present invention, each finger 3 can be provided with hook or loop attachment means on top and bottom surfaces thereof so as to increase versatility of mounting arrangements for the user. As the present invention assists in maximizing available open space on the outer walls of the personal wearable devices, it will be appreciated that, in one embodiment of the present invention, no finger is attachable or securable to the front portion outer wall or the back portion outer wall of the personal wearable device.

It should be understood that the foregoing description and examples are only illustrative of the present invention; the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, including variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Thus, various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a personal wearable device having front and back portions, with each of the front and back portions having an outer wall and an inner wall, with the inner walls defining a pocket within the device, wherein at least one of the inner walls has a fastening surface secured thereto, and with the front portion having at least one slot formed in a side portion thereof; and

a cumberbund attachment having at least one finger extending therefrom, wherein the at least one finger has a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one of the top and bottom surfaces being in the form of a finger fastening surface that is securely yet releasably attachable to the inner wall fastening surface of the personal wearable device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the inner wall fastening surface comprises a surface having hook or loop fasteners thereon.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the finger fastening surface comprises a surface having hook or loop fasteners thereon.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one finger is extendable through the at least one slot.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one finger is not attachable or securable to the front portion outer wall or the back portion outer wall of the personal wearable device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein both of the inner walls have a fastening surface secured thereto.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the inner walls does not have a fastening surface secured thereto.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one slot comprises multiple slots of varying width, and wherein the cumberbund attachment has at least two fingers of varying widths.

9. A method, comprising:

providing a personal wearable device with front and back portions, with each of the front and back portions having an outer wall and an inner wall, with the inner walls defining a pocket within the device, wherein at least one of the inner walls has a fastening surface secured thereto, and with the front portion having at least one slot formed in a side portion thereof;

providing a cumberbund attachment having at least one finger extending therefrom wherein the at least one finger has a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one of the top and bottom surfaces being in the form of a finger fastening surface; and

inserting the at least one finger through the at least one slot, such that the finger fastening surface engages the inner wall fastening surface.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the inner wall fastening surface comprises a surface having hook or loop fasteners thereon.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the finger fastening surface comprises a surface having hook or loop fasteners thereon.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one finger is extendable through the at least one slot.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one finger is not attachable or securable to the front portion outer wall or the back portion outer wall of the personal wearable device.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein both of the inner walls have a fastening surface secured thereto.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein one of the inner walls does not have a fastening surface secured thereto.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one slot comprises multiple slots of varying width, and wherein the cumberbund attachment has at least two fingers of varying widths.

17. The method of claim 9 including the further step of pulling the at least one finger through the at least one slot and securing the finger fastening surface to the inner wall fastening surface.