US20080047109A1

US20080047109A1 - Object slide attachment system

Info

Publication number: US20080047109A1
Application number: US11/789,428
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Rogers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-21
Filing date: 2007-04-23
Publication date: 2008-02-28

Abstract

An object slide attachment system designed for temporarily transporting various secondary objects that must be selectively removed or connected to a primary support object or surface. The system includes an elongated receiver mounted or attached to a primary support object or surface. The elongated receiver includes at least one elevated connecting site with a longitudinally aligned, inverted bell-shaped keyway opening formed thereon. The system also includes a complimentary-shaped post member attached to an intermediate slide connector that connects to a secondary object or that is formed directly on a secondary object. The post member is L-shaped in cross-section and includes an upper half-circular wing section integrally formed on a lower cylindrical body. During use, the post member must be properly rotated and aligned with the keyway opening in order to engage and disengage from the keyway slot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a utility patent application which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/794,255, filed on Apr. 21, 2006.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to connectors for temporarily attaching different objects to another object or surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hunters commonly wear vests, jackets or belts when hunting. Formed on the vest, jacket or belt are pockets, clips, and buckles designed to transport different objects when hunting. Some vests, jackets and belts include D-rings or buckles designed to hold larger objects or an elastic strap sewn into a surface that is divided into small loops designed to receive smaller cylindrical objects, such as bullets or shotgun shells.
One drawback with a vest, jacket or belt that uses D-rings, buckles or elastic straps is that it can be difficult to attach and detach secondary objects to them when the vest, jacket or belt is worn. Two hands are often required which forces the hunter to rest any objects he may be holding on the ground.
Another drawback of D-rings, buckles or elastic straps is that they often become snagged by vegetation when walking through trees or bushes. This can often trip the hunter or disengage any objects attached to the D-ring, buckle or elastic strap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an object slide attachment system for selectively attaching and detaching a secondary object to a primary support object or surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a system that securely holds the secondary object on the primary support object or surface and only disconnects from the secondary object or surface when the secondary object or the primary support object or surface are aligned in an orientation not normally used or obtained during normal use.
These and other objects are met by the object slide attachment system that includes a rigid or semi-rigid elongated receiver mounted or attached to a primary support object or surface. The elongated receiver includes at least one connecting site that includes a longitudinally aligned keyway opening formed therein. The system also includes a post member designed to selectively engage the keyway opening. The post member may be directly attached to a secondary object or surface or onto an optional intermediate structure, called a slide connector, that independently attaches to a secondary object or surface.
In the preferred embodiment, the keyway opening is an inverted bell-shape opening longitudinally aligned on the connecting sites' elevated platform. The bell-shape opening includes an upper large half-circular void area and a lower small oval shape void area. The center axes of the two void areas are longitudinally aligned on the elevated platform. The oval shape void area is smaller than the elevated platform so that flange surfaces are formed on the elevated platform around the oval void area.
The post member is perpendicularly aligned and directly formed or attached to a secondary object or surface formed or attached to an intermediate structure that then attaches to the secondary structure. The post member is L-shaped in cross-section and includes an upper half-circular wing section integrally formed on a lower cylindrical body. The half-circular wing section is complementary to the large half-circular void area formed on the elevated platform. The half-circular wing section and the cylindrical body on the post member are coaxially aligned. The wing section is a thin plate structure and it extends longitudinally outward from the cylindrical body. When the post member is inserted into the bell-shaped opening, and rotated, the wing section extends over the inside surface of the elevated platform thereby holding the post member onto the elevated platform.
In the preferred embodiment, the post member is attached to the upper portion of the secondary object or slide connector so that the secondary object's or surface's center of gravity is below the post member's center of gravity. The half-circular wing section extends downward below the cylindrical body's center axis when a secondary object or slide connector is attached to the elongated receiver.
When initially connecting a secondary object or surface to the elongated receiver, the post member is first rotated to a non-used or non-transported position and aligned over the keyway open. When the wing sections are properly aligned and registered, the post member may be pressed into the bell-shaped opening. The post member is then rotated approximately 180 degrees and pulled downward to engage the oval void area. During normal use, the secondary object is able to swing freely from side-to-side 350 degrees. During use, the weight of the secondary object attached to the post member applies a downward force thereon which helps to prevent the post member from accidentally disengaging.
As mentioned above, the post member may be attached or formed on a secondary object or on an intermediate structure, called a slide connector, that attaches to a the secondary object. An example of a secondary object with a keyway opening designed to attach to a second post member on a slide connector is the shot gun dispenser disclosed in the inventor's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/078,472 filed on Mar. 3, 2005, and Ser. No. 29/252,978 filed Jan. 30, 2006, which are hereby incorporated by reference When a slide connector is used, the post member is attached at one end and a means for connecting the slide connector to the secondary object is provided at the opposite end. In one embodiment, the means for connecting the slide connector to the secondary object is a second post member formed on the slide connector's proximal end opposite the first post member that connects to the keyway opening. In another embodiment of the slide connector, the means for connecting of the slide connector to a secondary object is a loop strap connector formed on the slide connector's proximal end. In still another embodiment, the means for connecting the slide connector to the secondary object is a second keyway opening formed on the slide connector's proximal end that connects to a second post member on the secondary object.
The elongated receivers and the slide connectors come in different sizes for attaching different secondary objects to the primary support object. The elongated receivers may be sewn or adhesively attached to the inside or outside surfaces of a primary support object. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated receiver is made of plastic with thin support flanges. The support flanges are relatively thin and flexible thereby enabling the elongated receiver to bend and twist on the primary support object or surface. Two optional slots may be formed on each connecting site designed to receive a longitudinally aligned strap or belt to be extended through the elongated receiver.
In the preferred embodiment, the elongated receiver is securely attached to a primary support object and surface while the post member is attached to the secondary structure or slide connector. During use the secondary structure or the slide connector are rotated so that the post members may be selectively attached to the elongated receiver. It should be understood, however, that the structures or surfaces to which the elongated receiver and post member are attached or formed may be reversed to that the post member is attached to the primary support object or surface and that elongated receiver is attached to the secondary

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an individual wearing a hunting vest with the slide attachment system constructed therein used to attach two shotgun dispensers and cellular telephone to the vest's two front panels.
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the hunting vest shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a jacket with the slide attachment system constructed therein used to attach a shotgun dispenser, a keyring holder, and a cellular telephone.
FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the jacket shown in FIG. 3 showing the slide attachment system used on the rear panel to hold a shotgun dispenser.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cellular telephone with a first post member attached to its rear surface.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an elongated receiver attached to a primary support object.
FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the elongated receiver shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the elongated receiver shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a rear plan view of the elongated receiver shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
FIG. 10 is a sectional side elevational view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the elongated receiver showing a connecting site in greater detail.
FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of a double post style slide connector.
FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the double post style slide connector shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a sectional side elevational view of a double post slide connector.
FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of a single post and strap style slide connector.
FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of a single post and strap style slide connector.
FIG. 17 is a sectional side elevational view of a single post and strap style slide connector.
FIG. 18 is a rear view perspective view of a section of the elongated receiver showing two connectors attached thereto.
FIG. 19 is a sectional side elevational view of a connecting site showing a post member on a slide connector being inserted into the keyway opening and forced downward within the oval void to retain the slide connector on the connecting site.
FIG. 20 is a rear plan view of an inverted shotgun shell dispenser being attached to a double post style slide connector.
FIGS. 21A-C are three front elevational views of an inverted post member being initially inserted into the keyway opening formed on a connecting site, pulled downward inside the oval void, and then rotated to an upright position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the accompanying Figs., there is shown a primary support object shown as a vest 9, or jacket 11 worn by an individual 150 with an object slide attachment system 6 constructed therein designed for temporarily transporting various secondary objects 100, 120. The vest 9 and jacket 11 include two side panels 12, 14 that cover an individual's 150 side and front torso region and a back panel 16 that covers an individual's 150 rear torso region. The vest 9 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 also includes two adjustable shoulder straps or two shoulder panels 18, 19. Attached to the panels 12, 14, 16 is a horizontally aligned elongated receiver 20.
Each elongated receiver 20 includes at least one connecting site 21 designed to connect to different secondary objects 100, 120 so that they hang loosely from the vest 9 or jacket 11. When used on a vest, the elongated receivers 20 may be attached to the outside surface of the panels 12, 14, 16. When used on a jacket, the elongated receivers 20 may be attached to the inside surfaces of the panels 12, 14, 16.
As shown in FIGS. 6-9, the elongated receiver 20 includes a base frame 22 made of two parallel longitudinally members 23, 24 connected together by a plurality of equally spaced apart transverse members 25. In the preferred embodiment, an open space 26 is formed between the two longitudinal members 23, 24 and between two adjacent transverse members 25, 25′.
Located above the base frame 22 and between two adjacent transverse members 25, 25′ is an elevated platform 30. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 6, 11 and 18 each elevated platform 30 includes a top planar member 31 supported in an elevated position over the base frame 22 by four legs 32-35. Formed under the top planar member 31 is the cavity 27.
Formed on each top planar member 31 is an inverted, centrally aligned keyway opening 36 that includes an upper, large half-circular opening 37 and a lower, small oval opening 38. The circular openings 37 and 38 are co-axially aligned and oriented on the planar member 31.
As stated above, the secondary objects 100, 120 are designed to be selectively attached to one of the elevated platforms 30 on the elongated receiver 20. Attached to the secondary object 100 is a post member 42 that securely holds the secondary object 100 integrally formed or attached thereto or is independently attached to attaches the object 100, 120 thereto during normal use. The shape of the post member 42 and the keyway opening 36 are compatible so that the post member 42 must be properly aligned in order to attach and detach the post member 42 from the key opening 36.
The post member 42 is L-shaped in cross-section and includes a half-circular wing section 43 integrally formed on a cylindrical body 46. The half-circular wing section 43 is complementary to the large half-circular opening 37 formed on the elevated platform 30. The half-circular wing section 43 and the cylindrical body 46 on the post member 42 are also coaxially aligned. The wing section 43 is a thin plate structure and it extends longitudinally outward from the cylindrical body 46. A small slot is formed under the wing section 43. When the post member 42 is inserted into the keyway opening 36, and rotated, the wing section 43 extends over the inside surface of the elevated platform 30 thereby holding the post member 42 onto the elevated platform 30.
As shown in FIG. 5, the post member 42 may be attached directly to a surface on a secondary object (cellular telephone 107). The post member 42 is oriented on the secondary object so that the wing section 43 is located below the cylindrical body 43. As shown in FIGS. 12-18, the post member 42 may be formed on intermediate structures that are used to selectively connect a secondary object to the elongated receiver. In every embodiment, the post member 42 is attached to the upper portion of the secondary object or slide connector so that the secondary object's or surface's center of gravity is below the post member's center of gravity. The half-circular wing section 43 also extend downward below the cylindrical body's center axis when a secondary object or a slide connector is attached to the elongated receiver 20.
There two types of intermediate structures disclosed herein. The first intermediate structure is called a double post slide connector 40 is shown in FIGS. 12-1,4 includes two opposite oriented post members 42 attached or formed on the slide connector. Each post member 42 is L-shaped in cross-section and includes an upper half-circular wing section 43 formed on the outer portion of a lower circular body 46. The wing section 43 includes two lateral ears 44, 45 that extend outward and beyond the outer edges of the body 46. The diameter or width of the wing 43 is slightly smaller than the upper opening 37 and slightly greater than the width of the half-circular lower opening 38 formed on the planar member 31. In the preferred embodiment, a slot 48 is formed behind the lower surface of the wing section 43 that receives the flange surfaces 31A, 31B on the top planar member 31 that surround the keyway opening 36. The slot 48 allows the post member 42 to slide downward inside the cavity 27 so that the ears 44, 45 are positioned against the inside surface of the flange surfaces 31A, 31B, (see FIG. 19). When the ears 44, 45 are properly positioned, the first post member 42 is retained inside the keyway opening 36. The first post member 42 is then rotated 180 degrees so that it hangs downward from the elongated receiver, (see FIGS. 21A-C).
In the second intermediate structure, is called a single post and buckle slide connector 40′ and shown in FIGS. 15-17. The double post slide connector 40 includes one post member 42 formed near one end capable of attached to a complimentary-shaped keyway on a primary object. Formed on the opposite end of the slide connector 40′ is a second post member 40 is capable of attaching to a second complimentary-shaped keyway opening 36 formed on the secondary object. Each post member 42′ includes a half-circular head section 43′ and a half-circular section 46′. The upper head section 43′ includes two lateral ears 44′, 45′ that extend outward from the lower section 46′. A slot 48′ is formed behind the head section 43′ which allows the post member 42′ to slide downward inside the cavity space 27. Also formed on the slide connector 40′ is a buckle strap connector 60 to form on the opposite, distal end 49′. The buckle strap connector 60 is designed to receive a strap that extends from a secondary object that is transported.
It should be understood that the elongated receiver 20 may be made in different lengths and sizes and may include a one or more connecting sites 21. On the preferred embodiment, the elongated receiver 20 is made of light flexible plastic that may be sewn directly onto the outer or inside surfaces of the vest or jacket. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated receiver 20 is approximately 1½ to 4 inches in width and 3 to 16 inches in length. The elevated platform 30 measures 1 to 3 inches square. The open space 26 measures approximately ¼ to ½ inches in height. The keyway openings 36, 36′ are inverted-bell-shaped openings approximately ½ to ¾ inch in width and ¾ to 1 inch in length. During assembly of the primary support object 8 and the elongated receiver 20 is aligned so that its longitudinal axis is horizontally aligned. The elongated receiver 20 is aligned on the primary support object 8 so that its large half-circular opening 37 is positioned above the oval opening 38. During use, the first post member 42 on the slide connector 40 or an object easily engages the keyway opening 36 by light downward pressure.
As stated above, the primary support object 8 may be a garment with a plurality of elongated receivers 20 attached to either the inside or outside surfaces of the side panels 12, 14 and back panel 16 so that objects attached may hang when the garment is worn. The elongated receiver 20 may be the inside surface may be preferred for some type of primary support object 8, such as a hunting vest 9, wherein the objects transported are likely to contact branches or limbs that dislodge the object from the primary support object 8.
FIG. 19 is a sectional side elevational view showing a post member 42 being inserted into the keyway. The arrow shows the downward movement of the post member 42 once inside the keyway which locks the post member 42 therein.
FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of a shot gun dispenser disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/078,472, filed on Mar. 3, 2005. The shot gun dispenser includes elevated receiver formed on its back surface. The bell-shape keyway is upright so that it hangs from a complimentary post member located on the lower end of a double post slide connector. During use, the slide connector and the dispenser are rotated so that wing section can slide into the wide void. The dispenser or slide connector are then rotated 180 and the dispenser is then pulled downward to lock the dispenser and the slide connector together. The slide connector can then be attached to an elevated receiver on the vest or jacket.
FIGS. 21A-C are three illustrations showing how the slide connector with a post member 42 attached thereto is first inserted into the keyway, rotated 180 degrees and pulled downward, and then able to swing freely side-to-side.
In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. An object slide attachment system for temporarily attaching a secondary object to a primary object comprising:

a. a primary object;

b. at least one elongated receiver horizontally aligned and attached to said primary object, said elongated receiver including a plurality of connecting sites, each connecting site includes a keyway opening designed to attached to a complimentary-shaped first post member attached or formed on a proximal end of a slide connector; and,

c. a slide connector with a distal end with a first post member attached or formed thereon capable of being selectively inserted into said keyway opening formed on said connecting site, said first post member capable of being retained inside said keyway when said first post member is inserted into said keyway and rotated, and is pulled downward in said keyway, said slide connector including means for connecting an object to said slide connector so that said object may be hung from said garment body.

2. The attachment system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for connecting an object to said slide connector is a second post member capable of being inserted into a complimentary-keyway formed on said object.

3. The attachment system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for connecting a hanging object to said slide connector is a strap buckle capable of receiving an adjustable strap attached to said object.

4. The attachment system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said garment is a sleeve-less vest.

5. The attachment system, as recited in claim 4, wherein said garment is a hunting vest with made of camouflaging material.

6. The attachment system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said garment is a sleeve-less vest.

7. The attachment system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said garment is a hunting vest with made of camouflaging material.

8. The attachment system, as recited in claim 3, wherein said garment is a sleeve-less vest.

9. The attachment system, as recited in claim 8, wherein said garment is a hunting vest made of camouflaging material.

10. A garment with a slide connector attachment system, comprising:

a. a garment body that is capable of being worn by an individual;

b. at least one elongated receiver horizontally aligned and attached to said garment body, said elongated receiver including a plurality of connecting sites, each connecting site includes a keyway opening designed to attached to a complimentary-shaped first post member attached or formed on a proximal end of a slide connector.