GB2264039A - Suspension devices for supporting objects on a garment - Google Patents

Abstract

A suspension device for hanging an object (B) from a garment (A) comprising a track (13) defining two longitudinally extending channels (17, 18) and including a base (15) by means of which said track is securable to a garment (A), and a hanger element (14) to which an object (B) is attachable. Engagement means (21, 23, 24) slidably engage said channels and permit longitudinal movement along the track. The engagement means (21, 13, 24) are resiliently deformable to permit desired engagement and disengagement with said channels (17, 18). Preferably, said track (13) comprises a convex projection (16) with a profile matching the concave element (14). The element is formed integrally with a release lever (35) for disengaging said engagement means (21, 23, 24). The device may also be used to suspend equipment from vehicles or buildings. <IMAGE>

Description

SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR SUPPORTING OBJECTS ON A GARMENT OR THE LIKE This invention relates to suspension devices for use in hanging objects on garments.

With military garments, such as jackets, there is commonly a requirement for various objects to be carried such as ammunition, water containers, packs, pouches and the like. This is usually achieved with the aid of specially constructed pockets or loops formed in the garment and/or with the aid of attached webbing. However, with these known arrangements it is difficult to ensure secure and comfortable carrying of a wide range of different objects with a simple and convenient structure. This is especially the case where adjustability of the carrying position is important since this usually requires the use of inconvenient webbing arrangements.

Our U.K. Patent GB 2165737 B discloses a suspension device comprising an elongate track connected to a garment and a hanger element, slidably retained in the track, bearing an object to be suspended.

The track is formed to have two resiliently deformable inwardly directed lips over the length of the track. The hanger element is inserted into the channel defined by the lips by forcing the lips apart. Retention of the hanger element is achieved by the lips returning to their original position.

A problem with such an arrangement is that considerable force is required to separate the hanger element from the track because of the retaining force provided by the lips. A further problem is that the lips tend to retain dirt and mud within the channel defined therebetween.

According to the invention there is provided a suspension device for hanging an object from a garment comprising: a track extending along a longitudinal axis defining two longitudinally extending channels and including base means by means of which, in use, said track is secured to the garment, an hanger element to which the object is attached including engagement means adapted to slidably engage said channels to retain said hanger element on said track and to permit longitudinal movement along the track, characterised in that the engagement means are resiliently deformable to permit desired engagement and disengagement with said channels.

By ensuring engagement of the hanger element to the track by the resilient engagement means on the element it is not necessary to deform a length of the track to effect their separation.

The engagement means may extend for only a short length of the track and the effort required for release is greatly reduced. Because the resilient engagement means are formed on the hanger element there are no projections or lips to retain mud or dirt within the channels making the suspension device less likely to jam or otherwise malfunction.

Preferably, the engagement means comprises a resiliently deformable arm at ends of which are formed channel engaging members. Conveniently the arm has an extension which in use may be grasped to deform the arm end bias the channel engaging members out of engagement with the channels. This is convenient since it permits greater leverage to be applied to release the element from the track.

With regard to the track this may be formed from any suitable material and may be fixed to the garment or object in any suitable permanent or detachable manner. The track may have a degree of resilient flexibility e.g. so as to be capable of at least slight bending with the garment around the wearer's body. Conveniently, the track may be formed from a strung light plastics material and may be stitched and/or bonded to the garment or object directly or via the intermediary of a fabric backing strip or the like.

The hanger element also may be formed from any suitable material and may be fixed to the respective object or garment in any suitable permanent or detachable manner. Thus the hanger element may comprise a plastic or metal body and this may be bonded or stitched or strapped or otherwise secured to the object or garment.

Fixing of the hanger element relative to the track may be possible at any position along the length of the track. Alternatively, the arrangement may be such that fixing is possible only at certain predetermined spaced positions. In the latter case this may be achieved, for example, by provision of recesses in the track which are engageable with a projection in the form of a prong or prongs on the element or by interfitting of other cooperable structures provided respectively on the hanger element and at intervals along the track. In one preferred form, the projection is urged into engagement with the recesses by a spring. Conveniently, an engaging portion of said projection is rounded to enable the projection to ramp out of the recess when a force is applied which exceeds the spring bias.

The carrier element will then be slidable along the track engaging and disengaging each recess in turn until the desired position is achieved.

In a preferred embodiment, the track comprises a projection with the channels being formed at a juncture of the projection and the base means.

The hanger element for this embodiment defines a cavity having a profile which matches said projection. In one preferred form, the cavity has a cross-section which is convex.

To prevent accidental movement of the hanger element relative to the track, preferably, a locking means is provided to prevent movement until the means is unlocked.

Advantageously, the locking means has two selectable states: a first selectable state in which said locking means engages said track means preventing relative longitudinal movement of said hanger element and track; and a second selectable state in which said locking means is prevented from engaging said track.

By providing a locking means having a selectable state in which engagement of the locking means is prevented, the carrier element may be moved along the track without being hindered by unwanted engagement of the locking means.

Preferably, the track defines a plurality of locking recesses each at a position intermediate each one of said first recesses and one of said channels; and said hanger element includes a locking means for engaging at least one of said locking recesses and preventing relative sliding movement of said hanger element until said locking means is unlocked. It is preferred, to provide a locking recess intermediate each one of said first recesses and one of said channels since with this arrangement the locking means can prevent both sliding movement along said track and transverse movement. Thus the locking means prevents accidental removal of the hanger element from the track.

The invention also provides a garment fitted with the above described suspension devices and, in this context, one or a plurality of tracks may be applied to the garment and one or a plurality of hanger elements may be used with the or each track as desired.

It is visualised that the invention will find particular application in the context of military jackets. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to this field of application and the suspension device may be used with any suitable kind of military garment and also with any suitable kind of sporting or working or other non-military garment. It may also be used to suspend equipment from vehicles or buildings by attaching the track to the vehicle or building.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of one form of a suspension device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view of a track of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section through a locking means of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section through an engagement means of the device shown in Figure 1; Figures 5 and 6 show the operation of the device; and Figures 7 and 8 show detail of the locking means shown in Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows a hanging device comprising a longitudinal track 13 and a hanger element 14 both moulded from nylon.

The track 13 has a planar base 15, by means of which the track 13 is secured to a garment A by stitching (not shown), a projection 16 extending from the base 15, a pair of longitudinal channels 17 and 18 formed at the juncture of the base 15 and the projection 16. The channels 17 and 18 extend depthwise inwardly towards each other. The projection 16 has a convex surface within which are formed recesses in the form of longitudinally spaced blind holes. A first set of recesses 19 are formed at the apex of the projection 16. This set is concerned with providing a positive locating action which will be later described.

A second set of recesses 20 are provided intermediate the upper channel 18 and each one of the first set of recesses 19. This set of recesses is concerned with providing a locking function to be described later.

The hanger element 14 comprises a generally curved body 21 defining a concave cavity 22, as more clearly shown in Figure 5. The cavity 22 has a profile which matches that of the projection 16 and is terminated by inwardly directed resiliently deformable lips 23 and 24 formed at end portions of the body 21. The end portion corresponding to the lower lip 23 has a cranked extension to form a release lever 25.

A central portion of the body 21 is of increased thickness to form a bulge 26 which accommodates a position locating prong 27 and its associated compression spring 28 within a bore 29. As is more clearly shown in Figure 4, the spring 28 is disposed between an inner face 30 of the position locating prong 27 and a pack attachment block 31.

A pack B, such as an ammunition pouch containing an object C, such as a rifle magazine, is fixed to block 31 by stitching or attachment loops (not shown). The spring 28 urges the prong 27 along the bore 29 away from the pack attachment block 31 until a circumferentially ring like portion 32 of the prong 27 engages an annular abutment 33 which intrudes into and narrows the bore 29. It is through this narrowed portion that a rounded end 34 of the prong 27 protrudes.

Disposed between the upper lip 24 and the bulge 26 is a locking mechanism 35 comprising a disc-like actuation knob 36 having an integrally moulded stem 37 which extends along axis 38 terminated by a head 39 with a greater axial radius than the stem 37. At the base of the stem 37 is integrally formed a radially extending lock locator 40 as shown in Figure 7.

The stem 37 is located within a bore 41 which passes axially through the body 21. The bore 41 widens at an inner end to accommodate the head 39.

A spring 42 is located between an annular inner end face 43 of the head 39 and an annular abutment 44 formed in the body 21 to urge the stem 37 into, and the head 39 out of, the bore 41.

The body 21 is formed so as to provide a raised annular portion 45, as shown in Figure 8, an end face 46 of which is provided with a depression 47 to accommodate lock-locator 40.

The hanger element 14, and associated pack, is suspended from the track 13, and associated garment in the following manner. Lip 24 is located in the upper channel 18 as shown in Figure 5. The process of location causes the lower lip 23 to make contact with the convex surface of projection 16 deforming the lower arm 21a. The hanger element 14 is pushed downwards and inwards towards the track 3, forming the lip 23 to slide over the convex surface until it is urged by the resilience of the lower arm 21a into engagement with the lower channel 17.

It is most likely when suspending the hanger element 14, that the rounded end 34 prong 27 will abut with the convex surface of the projection 16 at a position between adjacent recesses 19. The process of attachment will therefore cause a compression of spring 28 by forcing the prong 27 to retract into bore 29. However, as the hanger element 14 is slid longitudinally along the track 13, the prong 27 will be urged into engagement with each recess 19. The engagement is not sufficient, however, to prevent desired further longitudinally movement against a force provided by the user, rather it provides a series of positively registered selectable positions.

Disengagement is provided for by the rounded end 34 ramping out of each recess 19.

When the user is satisfied with the position of the hanger element 14 on the track 13, the position is locked by rotating the actuation knob 36 until the lock-locater 40 aligns with the depression 47. The lock-locator 40 is then drawn under the action of spring 42 into the depression 47 and the head 39 engages the recess 20.

From Figure 3, it can be seen that the profile of the recess 20 is such that it has parallel side walls for much of its length before being terminated with a curved end wall. The head 39 has a corresponding shape. The side walls are chosen to be parallel to prevent ramping out of the head 3a and together with a relatively strong spring 42 provides a secure locking action.

If the user desires to select a different position, the actuation knob 36 is lifted until the lock-locator 40 clears the depression 47 and is then rotated before being released to rest on the face 46. The head 39 is then maintained in a position where it is clear of the track 13 and the hanger element 14 is free to move.

To remove the hanger element 14, the lock mechanism 35 is unlocked in the manner previously described. Then the release lever 25 is grasped and forced away from the track 13 in the direction of arrow 48 deforming the lower arm 21a and disengaging the lower lip 23 from the lower channel 17. An outward and upward movement in the direction of arrow 49 then disengages the locating prong 27 and the upper lip 24 from the upper channel 18.

Whilst in this embodiment a separate locking mechanism is provided, it is envisaged that is single mechanism could provide both the positioning and locking functions. It is also envisaged that the hanger element may be fixed to the garment and the track fixed to an object to be suspended such as a backpack or other pack.

Claims (11)

1. A suspension device for hanging an object from a garment or the like comprising a track extending along a longitudinal axis defining two longitudinally extending channels and including base means by means of which said track is securable to a garment, and a hanger element to which an object is attachable including engagement means adapted to slidably engage said channels to retain said hanger element on said track and to permit longitudinal movement along the track, characterised in that the engagement means are resiliently deformable to permit desired engagement and disengagement with said channels.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said track comprises a projection, said channels being formed at a juncture with said base means and said projection, and in which said hanger element defines a cavity having a profile which matches said projection.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said projection has a cross-section which is convex.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said hanger element includes an integrally formed release lever for disengaging said engagement means.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which locking means is provided to prevent relative longitudinal sliding movement of said hanger element and track until the locking means is unlocked.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which a spring is provided to urge said locking means into a locked position.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which said locking means has two selectable states; a first selectable state in which said locking means engages said track preventing relative longitudinal movement of said hanger element and track; and a second selectable state in which said locking means is prevented from engaging said track.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which first and second locating means are provided on said track and said hanger element, respectively, to maintain said hanger element at a desired longitudinal position on said track.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which said first locating means comprise a first set of recesses provided at longitudinally spaced positions in said track and in which said second locating means comprises a projection to engage said recesses and so maintain a desired position of the hanger element on said track.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which spring means is provided to urge said projection into engagement with at least one of said recesses.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9 in which said track defines a plurality of locking recesses each at a position intermediate each recess and one of said channels; and said hanger element includes a locking means for engaging said locking recesses and preventing relative sliding movement of said hanger element until said locking means is unlocked.