Attachment system

Abstract

An attachment system (9) configured to attach equipment to a load-carriage platform, such as a vest or backpack. The system (9) comprises a bottom layer (11) having a plurality of spaced apart apertures arranged in vertically-orientated columns and horizontally-orientated rows, and a top layer (13) configured to overlay the bottom layer (11), the top layer (13) having a plurality of spaced apart openings arranged in vertically-orientated columns and horizontally-orientated rows that horizontally align with and at least in part overlie the columns in the bottom layer (11). Portions of the top layer (13) between vertically spaced apart rows of openings define horizontal bands (17), each configured to overlie and cover a mid-section of a respective row of apertures in the bottom layer (11), thereby creating upper and lower rows of horizontally- orientated composite slots (27, 29) with a horizontal band (17) therebetween. The composite slots (27, 29) provide attachment points for vertically orientated equipment. The bottom layer (11) may further include horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots (35) and the top layer (13) may include vertically-orientated auxiliary slots (37) to provide additional attachment points for both vertically and horizontally orientated equipment. The two-layer overlay arrangement replaces traditional PALS webbing with laser-cut flexible material layers, enabling MOLLE-compatible attachment in approximately 25 mm vertical increments.

Description

Attachment SystemTechnical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to an attachment system for the attachment of MOLLE compatible accessories to load carriage equipment such as backpacks and garments, such as vests and jackets.Background art

[0002] A Pouch Attachment Ladder System, commonly abbreviated as PALS, is a webbing system used for attaching equipment to load-carriage platforms, such as vests and backpacks used for example by military, law enforcement and public safety personnel. PALS is a key component of the Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) system. PALS provides the framework upon which the MOLLE system is built, enabling the attachment of various accessories to gear in a stable and customizable manner.

[0003] With reference to Figure 1, a Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) 1 in accordance with the prior art is a webbing system which is typically standardised to horizontal rows of 25 mm webbing 3, spaced 25 mm apart, and stitched onto a backing 5 at intervals of about 40 mm. This creates a series of loops 7 into which users can attach various MOLLE-compatible equipment, pouches, holsters, accessories and the like using straps or clips. While the webbing 3 is typically orientated horizontally to create vertical attachment points, webbing 3 can also be orientated vertically to create a grid structure with horizontal attachment points. This pattern provides secure and stable attachment for MOLLE accessories.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide an attachment system which has one or more improved features.

[0005] In this specification, unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.Summary

[0006] In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an attachment system configured to attach equipment to a load-carriage platform comprising:a bottom layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart apertures which extend through the layer, at least some of the apertures in the bottom layer being arranged in vertically-orientated columns in which the apertures within the columns are aligned to create horizontally-orientated rows of apertures, the columns being equally spaced apart horizontally and the rows being equally spaced apart vertically,a top layer configured to overlay the bottom layer, the top layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings which extend through the top layer, at least some of the openings in the top layer being arranged in vertically-orientated columns in which the openings within the columns are aligned to create horizontally-orientated rows of openings, the columns in the top layer being equally spaced apart horizontally with the separation space between each column being substantially the same as the separation space between each column in the bottom layer such that the columns in the top layer horizontally align with and at least in part overlie the columns in the bottom layer,wherein portions of the top layer between vertically spaced apart rows define therebetween a plurality of horizontal bands, with one band being vertically spaced above another with a row of said openings therebetween,and wherein the horizontal bands are each configured to overlie and cover a midsection of a respective row of said apertures in the bottom layer to thereby create an upper row of horizontally-orientated composite slots and a lower row horizontal-orientated composite slots with a horizontal band therebetween, the upper and lower rows of composite slots being each configured to provide an attachment point for vertically orientated equipment.

[0007] The horizontally-orientated rows of openings in the top layer may be equally spaced apart vertically to provide each horizontal band with a uniform width defined by the distance between an upper edge of each opening immediately below the horizontal band and a lower edge of each opening immediately above the horizontal band.

[0008] The apertures arranged in the columns and rows in the bottom layer may each have a height defined by the distance between upper and lower edges of the apertures, the height of the apertures being preferably greater than the width of the horizontal bands.

[0009] Each composite slot in the upper row of composite slots may have a periphery provided by the upper edge of an aperture in the bottom layer and a horizontal band upper edge. Each composite slot in the lower row of composite slots may have a periphery provided by a horizontal band lower edge and the lower edge of an aperture in the bottom layer. The composite slots may be equally spaced apart vertically in each row by about 25 mm.

[0010] The bottom layer may comprise a plurality of spaced apart horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots which extend through the bottom layer and are configured to provide additional attachments points for vertically-orientated equipment. The horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots may be arranged in two horizontally-orientated rows between which the columns and rows of bottom layer apertures are located. Adjacent horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots within each row may be spaced apart by the same distance as each column in the bottom layer such that the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots are vertically aligned with the columns in the bottom layer.

[0011] The horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots in each row can have substantially the same dimensions as the composite slots and may be vertically spaced from a nearest row of said composite slots by about 25mm.

[0012] A vertically-orientated auxiliary slot may be provided between adjacent openings in each row of the top layer, each vertically-orientated auxiliary slot being preferably configured to provide an attachment point for horizontally orientated equipment.

[0013] The vertically-orientated auxiliary slots are preferably equally spaced apart horizontally in each row of the top layer. In a more preferred form, the vertically-orientated auxiliary slots are spaced apart horizontally by about 36 mm.

[0014] The columns in the bottom layer may each comprise at least two said apertures, and each row in the bottom layer may comprise at least four apertures. Further, the columns in the top layer may each comprise at least three said openings, and each row in the top layer preferably comprises at least four openings.

[0015] The bottom layer may comprise two said horizontally-orientated rows of apertures and the top layer may comprise three said horizontally-orientated rows of openings. Further, the apertures arranged in the columns and rows in the bottom layer and the openings arranged in columns and rows in the top layer are preferably substantially the same size. In this respect, the apertures arranged in the columns and rows in the bottom layer and the opening arranged in columns and rows in the top layer may be substantially square.

[0016] The columns in the bottom layer and the top layer may be spaced apart horizontally by about 12 mm. The top layer is preferably stitched to the bottom layer about a periphery of each layer and vertically between each column of both layers.

[0017] The attachment system is preferably configured for connection with a load carriage platform that is connected with or comprises at least a portion of at least one of clothing, a garment, pants, a shirt, a jacket, a vest, a pack, a pouch or accessory thereof.

[0018] In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a load-carriage garment comprising an attachment system configured to attach equipment to the load-carriage garment, the attachment system comprising:a bottom layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart apertures which extend through the layer, at least some of the apertures in the bottom layer being arranged in vertically-orientated columns in which the apertures within the columns are aligned to create horizontally-orientated rows of apertures, the columns being equally spaced apart horizontally and the rows being equally spaced apart vertically,a top layer configured to overlay the bottom layer, the top layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings which extend through the top layer, at least some of the openings in the top layer being arranged in vertically-orientated columns in which the openings within the columns are aligned to create horizontally-orientated rows of openings, the columns in the top layer being equally spaced apart horizontally with the separation space between each column being the same as the separation space between each column in the bottom layer such that the columns in the top layer horizontally align with and at least in part overlie the columns in the bottom layer,wherein portions of the top layer between vertically spaced apart rows define therebetween a plurality of horizontal bands, with one band being vertically spaced above another with a row of said openings therebetween,and wherein the horizontal bands are each configured to overlie and cover a midsection of a respective row of said apertures in the bottom layer to thereby create an upper row of horizontally-orientated composite slots and a lower row horizontal-orientated composite slots with a horizontal band therebetween, the upper and lower rows of composite slots being each configured to provide an attachment point for vertically orientated equipment.

[0019] Brief Description of Drawings

[0020] Various embodiments / aspects of the disclosure will now be described with reference to the following figures.

[0021] Figure 1 is an image of a prior art Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing system;

[0022] Figure 2A is a front view of the top layer of an attachment system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 2B is a front view of the bottom layer of an attachment system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 3 A is a representation of the pattern for the top layer illustrated in Figure 2A showing the dimensions and spacing between various features;

[0025] Figure 3B is a representation of the pattern for the bottom layer illustrated in Figure 2B showing the dimensions and spacing between various features;

[0026] Figure 4 is a front view of the top layer illustrated in Figure 2A overlying the bottom layer illustrated in Figure 2B, and

[0027] Figure 5 is a front perspective image of an attachment system having a top layer in accordance with Figure 2A overlying a bottom layer in accordance with Figure 2B.Detailed description

[0028] With reference to Figures 2A to 4 of the accompanying drawings, there is disclosed an attachment system 9 configured to attach equipment to a load-carriage platform, for example a vest. The attachment system 9 comprises at least a bottom layer 11 and an overlying top layer 13.

[0029] The bottom layer 11 comprises a plurality of spaced apart apertures 14 which are preferably of substantially square shape. The apertures 14 extend through the bottom layer 11 and are preferably all arranged in vertically-orientated columns. The square shaped apertures 14 within the columns are aligned to create horizontally-orientated rows of apertures 14. The columns are equally spaced apart horizontally and the rows are equally spaced apart vertically. In this respect adjacent columns in the bottom layer 11 are preferably separated from one another by a distance of about 12 mm, as shown in Figure 3B. Further, the bottom layer 11 may comprise at least two said horizontally-orientated rows of square shaped apertures 14 and each column in the bottom layer 11 preferably comprises at least two square shaped apertures 14, and each row in the bottom layer 11 comprises at least four square shaped apertures 14, preferably six as shown in Figure 2B.

[0030] The top layer 13 is configured to overlay the bottom layer 11. The top layer 13 comprises a plurality of spaced apart openings 15 which are preferably of substantially square shape, and more preferably have the same dimensions as the apertures 14 in the bottom layer 11. In this respect, with reference to the patten 10 for the top layer 13 shown in Figure 3 A and the pattern 12 for the bottom layer 11 in Figure 3B, the apertures 14 in the bottom layer 11 and the openings 15 in the top layer 13 preferably have a height of about 27 mm and a width of about 26 mm. The openings 15 in the top layer 13 extend through the top layer 13 and are preferably all arranged in vertically-orientated columns, as shown in Figure 2A The square shaped openings 15 within the columns are aligned to create horizontally-orientated rows of openings 15. The columns in the top layer 13 are equally spaced apart horizontally, preferably by about 12 mm, with the separation space between each column being preferably the same as the separation space between each column in the bottom layer 11. Accordingly, the columns in the top layer 13 are able to horizontally align with and horizontally overlie the columns in the bottom layer 11, as illustrated in Figure 4. Further, the top layer 13 may comprise at least three said horizontally-orientated rows of square shaped openings 15 and each column in the top layer 13 preferably comprise at least three square shaped openings 15, and each row in the top layer 13 preferably comprises at least four square shaped openings 15, more preferably six as shown in Figure 2A.

[0031] With reference to Figures 2A and 3 A, portions of the top layer 13 between the vertically spaced apart rows of square shaped openings 15 define therebetween a plurality of horizontal bands 17 with one band being vertically spaced above another with a row of said openings 15 therebetween. The horizontally-orientated rows of square shaped openings 15 in the top layer 13 are preferably equally spaced apart vertically to provide each horizontal band 17 with a uniform width. In this respect the width of a horizontal band 17 may be defined by the distance between the upper edge 19 of the square shaped opening 15 immediately below a horizontal band 17 and the lower edge 21 of the square shaped opening 15 immediately above the horizontal band 17. In the top layer pattern illustrated in Figure 3 A, the width of each horizontal band 17 is preferably about 23 mm.

[0032] As mentioned previously, the apertures 14 in the bottom layer 11 each have a height. The height being preferably about 27 mm, which is the distance between upper and lower edges 23, 25 of each aperture 14. The height of each row of apertures 14 in the bottom layer 11 is therefore greater than the width of the horizontal bands 17 in the top layer 13 by about 4 mm. Accordingly, when the top layer 13 is placed over the bottom layer 11, the horizontal bands 17 are not able to entirely cover the row of apertures 14 in the bottom layer 11. In this respect, only a central portion of each row is covered to thereby create an upper row of horizontally-orientated composite slots 27 and a lower row horizontal-orientated composite slots 29 with a horizontal band 17 therebetween, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The upper and lower rows of composite slots 27, 29 are each configured to provide an attachment point for vertically orientated equipment and are preferably equally spaced apart vertically, more preferably by about 25 mm as illustrated in Figure 4.

[0033] As best shown in Figure 5, each composite slot in the upper row of composite slots 27 has a periphery provided by the upper edge 23 of an aperture 14 in the bottom layer 11 and a horizontal band upper edge 31. Similarly, each composite slot in the lower row of composite slots 29 has a periphery provided by a horizontal band lower edge 33 and the lower edge 25 of an aperture 14 in the bottom layer 11.

[0034] In addition to there being composite slots, the bottom layer 11 may comprise a plurality of spaced apart horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35, as best illustrated in Figure 2B, which extend through the bottom layer 11 and are configured to provide additional attachments points for vertically-orientated equipment. The horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 are preferably arranged in two horizontally-orientated rows, namely a top row and a bottom row as shown in Figure 2B, between which the columns and rows of bottom layer apertures 14 are located. As best shown in Figure 5, the top row of the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 are at the top of the attachment system 9 and each have an upper edge which is aligned with the upper edge 19 of the square shaped opening 15 in the top row of openings 15 in the top layer 13. Likewise, the bottom row of the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 are at the bottom of the attachment system 9 and each have a lower edge which is aligned with the lower edge 21 of the square shaped openings 15 in the bottom row of openings 15 in the top layer 13.

[0035] Adjacent horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 within both rows are spaced apart by the same distance as each column in the bottom layer 11, see Figure 2B, such that the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 are vertically aligned with the columns in the bottom layer 11. Further, the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 in each row preferably have substantially the same dimensions as the composite slots. In this respect, the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 have a height of about 2 mm and width of about 26 mm. In Figure 4, it can be seen that the top and bottom rows of horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 are vertically spaced apart with four rows of composite slots provided therebetween. The horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots 35 are preferably spaced about 25 mm to the nearest row of composite slots, which is the same distance as the spacing between each row of composite slots. The net result from the combined top and bottom layers 13, 11 is a series of columns in which the slots in each column are vertically spaced apart by about 25 mm. This is particularly advantageous as it allows for the vertical distribution of equipment in 25mm increments, as opposed to standard webbing in Figure 1 which allows increments of only 50 mm.

[0036] In addition to the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots and composite slots, the attachment system 9 may further include a plurality of vertically-orientated auxiliary slots 37 to provide attachment points for horizontally orientated equipment. In this respect, a vertically-orientated auxiliary slot 37 may be provided between adjacent openings 15 in each row of thetop layer 13, as best shown in Figures 2A, 4 and 5. Each vertically-orientated auxiliary slots 37 is preferably equally spaced apart horizontally in each row of the top layer 13, and is more preferably spaced apart horizontally by about 36 mm. The vertically-orientated auxiliary slots 37 may have a length which is about the same as the height of the square shaped openings 15 in the top layer 13, i.e. about 27 mm, and have a width of about 2 mm as illustrated in the pattern shown in Figure 3 A. The top layer 13 may comprise at least three said vertically-orientated auxiliary slots 37 in each row, more preferably five as shown in Figure 2A.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5, stitching 39 may be provided to secure the top and bottom layers together. The stitching 39 may be provided about a periphery of the layers 11, 13 and may also be provided vertically between each column of the layers 11, 13. Side entry points 41 may also be provided in the top layer 13 to allow for easier entry of horizontally orientated equipment.

[0038] The attachment system 9 disclosed provides users with both a vertical and horizontal PALS attachment solution which does not involve the use of webbing sewn onto fabric like a traditional PAS system. The top and bottom layers 11, 13 are preferably made of a flexible material which is able to be cut from patterns using laser cutting technology. The laser cutting is able to recreate the necessary PALS spacing to allow for load carrying equipment to be attached. The laser cuts are at specific measurements to ensure the distance increments stay at or close to 25mm to work with conceived and off the shelf load carriage equipment.

[0039] The overlay arrangement provided by the attachment system 9 disclosed, utilises the combination of two layers of material / fabrics (top layer 13 and bottom layer 11) with different patterns to create the desired effect as shown in the patterns of Figures 3A and 3B. The patterns can be repeated infinitely to achieve the desired dimensions of the attachment system 9 to suit the load-carriage platform, for example a load-carriage vest.

[0040] Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Claims

Claims1 An attachment system configured to attach equipment to a load-carriage platform comprising:a bottom layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart apertures which extend through the layer, at least some of the apertures in the bottom layer being arranged in vertically-orientated columns in which the apertures within the columns are aligned to create horizontally-orientated rows of apertures, the columns being equally spaced apart horizontally and the rows being equally spaced apart vertically,a top layer configured to overlay the bottom layer, the top layer comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings which extend through the top layer, at least some of the openings in the top layer being arranged in vertically-orientated columns in which the openings within the columns are aligned to create horizontally-orientated rows of openings, the columns in the top layer being equally spaced apart horizontally with the separation space between each column being substantially the same as the separation space between each column in the bottom layer such that the columns in the top layer horizontally align with and at least in part overlie the columns in the bottom layer,wherein portions of the top layer between vertically spaced apart rows define therebetween a plurality of horizontal bands, with one band being vertically spaced above another with a row of said openings therebetween,and wherein the horizontal bands are each configured to overlie and cover a mid-section of a respective row of said apertures in the bottom layer to thereby create an upper row of horizontally-orientated composite slots and a lower row horizontal-orientated composite slots with a horizontal band therebetween, the upper and lower rows of composite slots being each configured to provide an attachment point for vertically orientated equipment.2 An attachment system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the horizontally-orientated rows of openings in the top layer are equally spaced apart vertically to provide each horizontal band with a uniform width defined by the distance between an upper edge of each opening immediately below the horizontal band and a lower edge of each opening immediately above the horizontal band.3 An attachment system as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apertures arranged in the columns and rows in the bottom layer each have a height defined by the distance between upper and lower edges of the apertures, the height of the apertures being greater than the width of the horizontal bands.4 An attachment system as claimed in claim 3, wherein each composite slot in the upper row of composite slots has a periphery provided by the upper edge of an aperture in the bottom layer and a horizontal band upper edge, and wherein each composite slot in the lower row of composite slots has a periphery provided by a horizontal band lower edge and the lower edge of an aperture in the bottom layer.5 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the composite slots are equally spaced apart vertically in each row by about 25 mm.6 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom layer comprises a plurality of spaced apart horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots which extend through the bottom layer and are configured to provide additional attachments points for vertically-orientated equipment, the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots being arranged in two horizontally-orientated rows between which the columns and rows of bottom layer apertures are located, adjacent horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots within each row being spaced apart by the same distance as each column in the bottom layer such that the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots are vertically aligned with the columns in the bottom layer.7 An attachment system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the horizontally-orientated auxiliary slots in each row have substantially the same dimensions as the composite slots and are vertically spaced from a nearest row of said composite slots by about 25mm.8 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a vertically-orientated auxiliary slot is provided between adjacent openings in each row of the top layer, each vertically-orientated auxiliary slot being configured to provide an attachment point for horizontally orientated equipment.9 An attachment system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the vertically-orientated auxiliary slots are equally spaced apart horizontally in each row of the top layer.10 An attachment system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the vertically-orientated auxiliary slots are spaced apart horizontally by about 36 mm.11 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the columns in the bottom layer each comprise at least two said apertures, and each row in the bottom layer comprises at least four apertures.12 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the columns in the top layer each comprise at least three said openings, and each row in the top layer comprises at least four openings.13 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom layer comprises two said horizontally-orientated rows of apertures and the top layer comprises three said horizontally-orientated rows of openings.14 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures arranged in the columns and rows in the bottom layer and the openings arranged in columns and rows in the top layer are substantially the same size.15 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apertures arranged in the columns and rows in the bottom layer and the opening arranged in columns and rows in the top layer are substantially square.16 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the columns in the bottom layer and the top layer are spaced apart horizontally by about 12 mm.17 An attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top layer is stitched to the bottom layer about a periphery of each layer and vertically between each column of both layers.18 A load-carriage garment comprising an attachment system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.19 An attachment system as claimed in any one of claims 1-17, wherein the attachment system is configured for connection with a load carriage platform that is connected with or comprises at least a portion of at least one of clothing, a garment, pants, a shirt, a jacket, a vest, a pack, a pouch or accessory thereof.

Images