MOLLE PALS Mounting Platform with Interlocking Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MOLLE equipment attachment systems lack a secure and removable method for attaching heavier gear, which can lead to accidental detachment and instability.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece mounting system with downward and upward facing arms joined at a midpoint, capable of being locked in place between MOLLE PALS webbing, and featuring threaded and non-threaded apertures for additional mounting options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If simple lightweight mounting devices are used, then ease of manufacture and device complexity are reduced, but reliability and load support capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device is divided into multiple separate components: a mounting body with downward facing arms, a separate cover strap, and optional fastening mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the mounting body can be made lightweight while the cover strap provides secure locking, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into an integrated system: the mounting body provides attachment to MOLLE webbing, the cover strap provides locking, and the fastening mechanism provides secure attachment. This merging of functions creates a reliable system while maintaining relative simplicity through modular integration.
2Reliability
If downward facing arms are fastened with a cover strap, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover strap is implemented as a separate, removable component from the mounting body. This segmentation allows the locking function to be added without permanently complicating the base mounting structure, maintaining reliability while limiting complexity to only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover strap transitions from a static attachment to a dynamic system where the strap can be easily applied and removed. The fastening mechanism allows the cover strap to move between secured and unsecured states, providing reliability when needed while maintaining simplicity through easy operation.
3Strength
If heavier gear is mounted, then load support capability is improved, but stability and resistance to accidental detachment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cover strap is pre-configured to engage with the mounting body before the gear is attached. This preliminary locking action ensures that the mounting structure is already secured and stable before the weight of the gear is applied, preventing accidental detachment regardless of load.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover strap acts as an intermediary element between the mounting body and the gear. It provides an additional layer of security that mediates the connection, ensuring stable attachment even when heavy gear is mounted by distributing the load and providing mechanical interlocking.
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting device comprising two or more plates, the device configured for insertion into one or more rows of MOLLE PALS strapping and/or mounted to a surface with one or more fasteners, the device comprising a captured mounting platform comprising both downward facing and upward facing arms with a joining interface therebetween such that the device provides a fixed surface for removably attaching equipment or gear thereto.