EP0272254B1

EP0272254B1 - Equipment packs

Info

Publication number: EP0272254B1
Application number: EP86903131A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rodney Thomas Geary
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-08
Filing date: 1986-05-08
Publication date: 1993-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2006-05-08
Also published as: WO1986006593A1; DE3688199D1; AU5861186A; EP0272254A1; ATE87441T1; MY104293A; DE3688199T; AU606576B2; EP0272254A4

Abstract

An equipment pack suitable for military use comprising a padded substantially U-shaped harness (11) coupled to a belt (16) through straps (12) and (14) the connection of the strap to the belt being through quick release fasteners (13) and various accessories such as ammunition pouches (19), water bottle carriers (24) and pouches (31) being mounted on the belt.

Description

This invention relates to equipment packs of the type normally used by military or civilian personnel.
Military personnel are required to carry a number of different items of equipment which is usually mounted on a saddle or harness worn over the shoulders and connected to a belt around the waist of the wearer.
The object of the invention is to provide an equipment pack which is versatile in that different mixes of various items of equipment can be carried; and which can be readily accessed for use or discarding when necessary.
According to the invention there is provided an equipment pack for use by military or civilian personnel comprising a substantially U-shaped padded saddle having a neck portion, positionable in use to fit a user's neck and a pair of arms, positionable in use to lie over the chest of the user, a belt for positioning around the waist of the user, a quick-release fastener for securing the ends of the belt together, a first pair of straps secured to the neck portion of the saddle in spaced positions, and a second pair of straps each having one end secured to one of the arms of the saddle, a plurality of belt loops positioned on the belt and at least one pouch mounted on the belt, characterised in that said belt is formed of webbing having the loop portion of a loop pile-hook type fastener secured to an inside face of said belt, the inside face of each loop being positioned on the belt, the inside face of each loop being provided with a hook portion of a loop pile-hook type fastener, each strap being connected to one of the belt loops by a quick-release fastener and in that the pouch is mounted on the belt by means of one or more loops secured to the rear wall of the pouch.
Reference is made to Canadian Patent No 1068240 which discloses a harness having a saddle positioned to fit around the back of the neck of the wearer and a pair of arms adapted to extend over the shoulder of the wearer and downwardly over the wearer's chest, a belt for positioning around the waist of the wearer, the ends being secured together by a quick-release fastener, a first pair of straps secured to the saddle in spaced positions, and a second pair of straps each having one end secured to one of the arms of the saddle.
The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:-

FIGURE 1A is a front view of a saddle or harness;
FIGURE 1B is a side view;
FIGURE 1C is a front view of a suitable type of quick release catch;
FIGURE 2A is a plan view of a belt to be used in conjunction with the saddle or harness of Figures 1A and 1B;
FIGURE 2B is an elevation of the belt;
FIGURE 3A is a front view of an accessory holder to be attached to the belt;
FIGURE 3B is a back view of the accessory holder;
FIGURE 3C is a side view of the accessory holder;
FIGURE 4A is a front view of a water bottle holder;
FIGURE 4B is a top view of the water bottle holder;
FIGURE 4C is a side view of the water bottle holder;
FIGURE 4D is a back view of the water bottle holder;
FIGURE 4E is a bottom view of the water bottle holder;
FIGURE 5A is a front view of a basic pocket;
FIGURE 5B is a top view of the pocket;
FIGURE 5C is a side view of the pocket;
FIGURE 5D is a back view of the pocket; and
FIGURE 5E is a bottom view of the pocket.

As shown in the drawings the saddle or harness 11 is of more or less conventional design being substantially U-shaped to fit around the neck of the user with the arms of the U lying over the chest of the wearer. Straps 12 are fitted to the neck portion of the harness to be positioned on the back of the wearer, the free ends thereof being fitted with one component of a quick release fastener 13 (see Figure 1C) the other component of the fastener being fitted to the belt to be described later. Preferably the straps 12 are provided with means whereby the length of the strap can be adjusted to meet individual requirements. The component of the quick release fastener fitted to the belt is provided with a loop of webbing carrying a piece of the hook portion of a hook and loop ("Velcro") type fastener to prevent the fastener from sliding around the belt. Straps 14 are fitted to the free ends of each arm of the harness, the free ends of each strap being provided with one component of a quick release catch, the other component of the catch being attached to the belt to be described later. Pockets 15 for storage of items such as a medical kit and/or compass are provided on the arms of the harness.
The belt shown in Figures 2A and 2B is formed from a length of webbing 16 each end of the webbing being fitted with one component of a quick release fastener 17. Provision is made in the attachment of the belt to one component of the fastener to enable the length of the belt to be adjusted. The inside face 18 of the belt is provided over a substantial portion of its length with the velvet-like (loop) portion of a loop and hook type fastener such as that marketed under the Trade Mark "Velcro".
Various items of equipment such as that shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings may be fitted to the belt.
As shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C an accessory holder for carrying such things as ammunition magazines comprises a series of pockets 19 mounted on one face of a supporting member 20, each pocket being adapted to accommodate one magazine. Each pocket is provided with a closure 21 held in the closed position by a press stud 22. Loops 29 of the webbing may be provided on the rear face of the supporting member to enable it to be mounted directly on the belt. Preferably the rear face of the supporting member (20) is provided with pieces 22 of the hook portion of a hook and loop ("Velcro") type fastener and press studs 23 to lock with cooperating components provided on the front and/or sides of a basic pocket as shown in Figures 5A to 5E as described later.
Referring now to Figures 4A to 4D, which show a water bottle carrier which forms part of the invention, the carrier is in the form of a pocket 24 open at the top and provided with two flaps 25 which overlie the top of the bottle on opposite sides of the neck and locked in place by means of press studs 26. A small pouch 27 is provided on the front of the pocket and is closed by means of a slide fastener 28. The rear wall of the pocket is provided with two loops 30 formed of webbing through which the belt passes.
In Figures 5A to 5D there is shown a basic pocket adapted to carry various items such as field rations. The basic pocket 31 is generally rectangular in plan and elevation and is fitted with a hinged lid 32 provided on the three sides with a downwardly projecting skirt 33 the lid being closed by means of a quick release fastener 34. If desired the rear end of the skirt on each side may be closed by a small piece of a hook and loop ("Velcro") type fastener. The rear wall of the pocket is provided with webbing loops 35 through which the belt passes. The front and side walls of the pocket may be provided with press stud components 36 to enable an accessory holder as shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C to be fitted thereto. The pocket is also provided with a length 37 of the loop portion of a hook and loop ("Velcro") type fastener to receive appropriately located hook portions fitted to the accessory holder. If desired a small pocket 38 fitted with a slide fastener 39 may be provided on top of the lid 32.
A quick release fastener is suitable for the purposes of the present invention that is marketed under the Trade Mark "Fastex".
With the equipment pack of the present invention there is a more event distribution of the load on the wearer and greater facility to vary the load to be carried and more easy access to the various items of equipment.

Claims

An equipment pack for use by military or civilian personnel comprising a substantially U-shaped padded saddle (11) having a neck portion, positionable in use to fit a user's neck and a pair of arms, positionable in use to lie over the chest of the user, a belt (16) for positioning around the waist of the user, a quick-release fastener (17) for securing the ends of the belt together, a first pair of straps (12) secured to the neck portion of the saddle in spaced positions, and a second pair of straps (14) each having one end secured to one of the arms of the saddle, a plurality of belt loops positioned on the belt and at least one pouch mounted on the belt, characterised in that said belt (16) is formed of webbing having the loop portion of a loop pile-hook type fastener secured to an inside face (18) of said belt, the inside face of each loop being positioned on the belt, the inside face of each loop being provided with a hook portion of a loop pile-hook type fastener, each strap (12, 14) being connected to one of the belt loops by a quick-release fastener (13) and in that the pouch is mounted on the belt (16) by means of one or more loops secured to the rear wall of the pouch.
An equipment pack as claimed in claim 1, characterised by an accessory holder (19, 20) mounted on the belt (16), the rear face of the holder being provided with loops (29) through which the belt (16) passes, the holder being provided with a length of the hook portion of a loop pile-hook type fastener to engage the loop pile material secured to a basic pocket (31).
An equipment pack as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the accessory holder comprises a series of pockets (19) each of which is to be adapted to receive an ammunition magazine and is provided with a flap cover (21) to hold the magazine in position.
An equipment pack as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the rear face of the accessory holder is provided with a component of one or more separable fasteners (22, 23) adapted to engage one another component (36, 37) of the separable fastener provided on the front or side face of a pouch or pocket (31) mounted on the belt.
An equipment pack as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a water bottle carrier is mounted on the belt, said carrier being in the form of a pocket (24) open at the top to receive the water bottle and is provided with two flaps (25) which overlie the top of the bottle on each side of the neck of the bottle and are locked in place by separable fasteners (26).