Lightweight MOLLE Garment Skeleton Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lightweight load-carrying garments for active occupations are heavy and bulky due to continuous backing layers, which hinder speed, agility, and endurance, and lack efficient attachment systems for both interior and exterior accessories.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight attachment structure comprising a skeleton of horizontal and vertical bands with woven webbing, eliminating the need for a continuous backing layer, allowing for attachment of accessories on both sides while maintaining compatibility with the MOLLE system through a PALS-compatible design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a continuous backing layer is used in conventional MOLLE vests, then the garment provides structural support and attachment surface, but the weight and bulk of the garment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidgarment weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous backing layer is segmented into discrete horizontal bands spaced apart, creating a skeleton structure that provides structural support only where needed while eliminating unnecessary material in between the bands

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous backing layer is extracted and replaced with only the essential horizontal bands and vertical connectors, removing the redundant continuous material that added weight without providing proportional structural benefit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If a continuous backing layer is used in conventional MOLLE vests, then the garment provides structural support and attachment surface, but the bulk and volume of the garment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidgarment bulk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous backing layer is divided into separate horizontal bands with spacing between them, reducing the overall volume of material while maintaining structural integrity through the band arrangement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The garment uses thin horizontal bands and vertical connector elements instead of a bulky continuous backing layer, creating a lightweight skeletal structure that provides support with minimal volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional MOLLE vests use a continuous backing layer, then the garment provides attachment surface, but air circulation is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment surfaceVSAvoidair circulation restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous backing layer is segmented into spaced horizontal bands, creating air channels between the bands that allow air circulation while maintaining attachment surfaces on the outer and inner surfaces of the bands

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The skeleton structure with spaced horizontal bands creates a porous, open architecture that permits air flow through the garment while providing sufficient attachment surface area for accessories

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

4Weight of moving object

If a skeleton structure with spaced horizontal bands is used, then the garment weight is reduced, but structural support may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegarment weightVSAvoidstructural support

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The garment combines horizontal webbing bands with vertical support bands and rigid plastic inserts to create a composite skeletal structure that provides adequate structural support with minimal material usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The skeleton structure provides structural support locally at the horizontal bands and vertical connectors where it is most needed, while allowing flexibility and weight reduction in the spaces between these structural elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9055773B2Lightweight equipment carrying garment

Publication Date: 2015.06.16 LINEWEIGHT

AI summary

A MOLLE system compatible garment has a lightweight attachment structure with a skeleton of horizontal bands connected by a few vertical bands. The horizontal bands are thus accessible from both the interior and the exterior permitting accessories to be attached to either side of the garment. The bands may be sewn with regularly spaced vertical seams to each other or to a plastic substrate. The horizontal bands are connected with supportive vertical bands which serve to retain the shape of the garment, and which do not interfere with the regularly spaced loops of the horizontal webbing bands. Conventional accessories can be attached to both the interior and the exterior of the garment.