US20120234878A1

US20120234878A1 - Quick-release attachment mechanism for load-bearing carriages

Info

Publication number: US20120234878A1
Application number: US13/358,299
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul Alan Carter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-01-25
Filing date: 2012-01-25
Publication date: 2012-09-20

Abstract

A quick-release attachment mechanism includes a body, a strap coupled to the body, and a tab coupled to a free end of the strap. The body includes a first end and a second end, each having a front and rear surface. A strap can be coupled proximate to one of the ends of the body so that a free strap end is hingeably movable with respect to the body. A tab can be coupled to the free end of the strap such that a free end of the tab is positionable between a first and second configuration with respect to the body. In the first configuration, the tab free end is folded over the end of the body such that the body is between the strap and the tab. In the second configuration, the tab free end is folded between the strap and the front surface of the body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/436,072, filed on Jan. 25, 2011; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to attachment mechanisms for attaching devices to load-bearing carriages, and more specifically, to quick-release attachment mechanisms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary methods and arrangements conducted and configured according to the advantageous solutions presented herein are depicted in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of a quick-release attachment mechanism for a load-bearing carriage, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a view of the quick-release attachment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1 with the tabs removed from the free ends of the strap of the quick-release attachment mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a quick-release attachment mechanism in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure, having the tab positioned in an unlocked configuration (e.g., a second configuration);

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a quick-release attachment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3, having the tab positioned in a locked configuration (e.g., a first configuration);

FIG. 5 is a view of a quick-release attachment mechanism in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure illustrating the rear surface of the body and the hingeability of the strap with respect to the body;

FIG. 6 is a partial view of one of the ends of the quick release attachment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5 having the tab positioned in an unlocked configuration (e.g., a second configuration);

FIG. 7 is a partial view of the end of the quick release attachment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 6 having the tab positioned in an locked configuration (e.g., a first configuration);

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the quick-release attachment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5 having the tabs positioned in the locked configuration (e.g., the first configuration);

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the quick-release attachment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5 having the tabs positioned in the unlocked configuration (e.g., the second configuration) and where the quick-release attachment mechanism has been woven through the webbing of a device, such as an article of utility;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the quick-release attachment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 5 having the tabs positioned in the locked configuration (e.g., the first configuration) and where the quick-release attachment mechanism has been woven through the webbing of a device, such as a pouch;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a quick-release attachment mechanism in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present disclosure that has been woven through the webbing of a device (e.g., a pouch) and a load-bearing carrier (e.g., a utility vest), where the tabs of the quick-release attachment mechanism have been positioned in a locked configuration (e.g., the first configuration);

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative implementation of a quick-release attachment mechanism in accordance with the present disclosure, where the strap is coupled to the body by a button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As will be appreciated for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the implementations described herein. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the implementations described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the implementations described herein.
Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. The word “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The term “webbing” refers to a member that is affixed at two ends to another structure. For example, webbing can include a belt loop, a channel, a warp, a fastening mechanism that forms a warp through which a quick-release mechanism can be woven, a retaining mechanism through which a quick-release mechanism can be inserted, or any other structure through which a quick-release mechanism to be woven, inserted, slipped, or passed.
Attachment mechanisms are typically utilized to attach articles of utility (for example, canteens, flashlights, weapons, or other equipment) to load-bearing carriages (for example, a utility vest, a utility belt, an armor vest, or other load-bearing carriage). Conventional attachment mechanisms include retaining clips, carabiners, buckles, Velcro straps, and ties. Such conventional attachment mechanisms, in particular Velcro straps, ties, and retaining clips, typically form a loop or include a loop to attach the articles of utility to the load-bearing carriages. However, the loops can catch on other structures, do not lie flat on the load-bearing carriage, and add tension to the load-bearing carriage as the article of utility typically hangs from a belt loop or strap of the load-bearing carriage.
With conventional buckles, the buckles are often complex in construction. For examples, the ends of snap buckles include two mating heads that can be bulky. Additionally, the snap buckles can require additional time and energy from the user to remove the article of utility from the load-bearing carriage, as force is required to release the mating heads of the snap buckle from each other and time is required to apply the force and multiple user-actions are required detach the article of utility from the snap buckle and the load-bearing carriage (for example, applying the force to un-snap the mating heads of the buckle, pulling the mating heads of the buckle apart, and pulling the article of utility off of the buckle). Another buckle typically used to attach articles of utility to a load-bearing carriage is a frame and prong buckle. The frame includes a prong which catches a hole of the belt strap. With the frame and prong buckles, multiple user-actions are required to remove article of utility from the load-bearing carriage. For example, the belt strap must be weaved through a first part of the frame, then pulled towards a second part of the frame to release the prong from the hole of the belt strap, then weaved out of the second part of the frame, and then the article of utility must be removed from the belt strap.
With conventional ties, the ties are manipulated to form a loop on which the article of utility is hung. As discussed above, the loop does not lie flat on the load-bearing carriage and can catch on other structures. Additionally, conventional ties are typically difficult to undo to release the article of utility from the tie. For example, specialized tools may be required to release the article of utility from the load-bearing carriage. Thus, conventional ties are often difficult and time-consuming to release. In some conventional ties, the tie loop must be cut to release the article of utility, thereby making the tie non-reusable.
Accordingly, a need remains for a reusable quick-release attachment that enhances the ease of application and removal of an article of utility to a load-bearing carriage, reduces the time to remove and apply the article of utility to the load-bearing carriage, and is not complex in construction.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a quick-release attachment mechanism for load-bearing carriages includes a body, a strap coupled to the body, and a tab coupled to the strap. The strap is coupled to the body such that the strap includes a free end that is not coupled to the body. Additionally, the strap is coupled to the body such that is hingeably movable with respect to the body. The tab is pivotably coupled to the free end of the strap such that the tab is positionable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration (for example a locked configuration), a free end of the tab is folded over an end of the body such that the rear surface of the body is positioned between the strap and the tab. In the second configuration (for example, an unlocked configuration), the free end of the tab has been folded over the free end of the strap such that the free end of the tab is positioned between the strap and the front surface of the body.
When the tab is placed in the second configuration, the attachment mechanism can be inserted through webbing of a device and a load-bearing carriage to attach the device to the load-bearing carriage. When the device has been attached to the load-bearing carriage, the tab can be placed in the first configuration such that the body and the webbing of at least one of the device and the load-bearing carriage is sandwiched between the strap and the tab, thereby securing the device to the load-bearing carriage. That the tab is positionable between a first and second configuration allows for quick-release of devices from load-bearing carriages. When tab is placed in the second configuration after the device has been attached to the load-bearing carriage, the attachment mechanism can be quickly pulled through the webbing of the device and the load-bearing carriage, thereby releasing the device from the load-bearing carriage. As the tab is positioned in between the strap and the body in the second configuration, the tab is free from becoming caught on the webbing of the device and the load-bearing carriage. Thus, the attachment mechanism can be quickly removed from the device and load-bearing carriage webbing to quickly detach the device from the load-bearing carriage in fewer movements than conventional attachment mechanisms. For example, with the quick-release attachment mechanism described herein, devices can be removed from load-bearing carriages in two movements or less. Further details as to the quick-release attachment mechanism of the present disclosure will be discussed in reference to FIGS. 1-12.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are an exemplary implementation of a quick-release attachment mechanism in accordance with the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 105 is an elongate piece having a first end 110 and a second end 115. Each end 110, 115 of the body 105 includes a front surface 120 and a rear surface (not shown). In the illustrated implementation, a strap 200 is coupled to the front surface 120 of the body 105. In FIG. 1, the strap 200 is layered on top of the front surface 120 of the body 105; however, in other implementations, individual straps, such as a first strap and a second strap can be coupled to one of the first end 110 and the second end 115 of the body 105. Returning to FIG. 1, the strap 200 can have a first strap end 210 and a second strap end 215. Each of the first strap end 210 and the second strap end 215 has a free end 205. Additionally, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the strap 205 is coupled to the body 105 such that each of the first strap end 210 and the second strap end 215 is hingeable with respect to the body 105. Also, the strap 200 can be coupled to the body 205 such that a portion (shown in FIG. 2 as 220) of the first strap end 210 hangs over the first end 110 and a portion (shown in FIG. 2 as 220) of the second strap end 215 hangs over the second end 115. Specifically, in FIG. 1, the strap 200 has a length longer than the length of the body 105. The strap 200 can be sewn 1200 to the body 105 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in other implementations, the strap 205 can be adhered to the body using a glue, an epoxy, or other adhesive, buttoned to the body 105 (shown in FIG. 12), pinned to the body 105 or otherwise coupled to the body 105 such that the free ends 205 are hingeable with respect to the body 105 and such that a portion (shown in FIG. 2 as 220) of the free ends 205 hang over the body 105 in a second configuration (for example, an unlocked configuration). While FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a rectangular-shaped body 105 and strap 200, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each of the body 105 and strap 200 can have other shapes, such as ellipses, ovals, diamonds, or any other shape that allows the body 105 and strap 200 be inserted through device webbing and load-bearing webbing. While the illustrated implementation illustrates the body 105 and the strap 200 having similar shapes, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the body 105 and the strap 200 can be different in shape, so long as the strap 200 can be hingeably coupled to the body 105 such that the strap 200 has a free end 205 having a portion 220 hanging over an end 110, 115 of the body 105.
In FIG. 1, a tab 300 is coupled to each of the free ends 205 of the first strap end 210 and the second strap end 215. In the illustrated implementation, the tab 300 is coupled to the free ends 205 such that the tab 300 is positionable between a first configuration and a second configuration with respect to the body. For example, in FIG. 1, the tabs 300 are pivotably coupled to the strap 205 at proximate to the midpoint 320 of the tab 300. In the illustrated implementation, the tabs 300 are coupled to the strap 200 such that the tabs 300 each have a free end 310 that is positionable between the first configuration and the second configuration, which will be described in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4. While the tabs 300 in FIG. 1 are coupled to the strap 200 by a button; however, in other implementations, the tabs 300 can be sewn to the strap 200, adhered to the strap 200, pinned to the strap 200, or otherwise coupled to the strap 200 to allow the tab 300 to be pivotable about the point of connection of the tab 300 to the strap 200. In at least one implementation, a handle 315 can be coupled to one of the tabs 300, as illustrated in FIG. 1, while in other implementations, the handle 315 can be coupled to the strap 315, or the quick-release mechanism 100 can have no handle 315.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the first 1000 and second 2000 configuration of the tab 300 coupled to the strap 200 of the quick-release attachment mechanism 100. FIG. 3 illustrates the second configuration 2000, and FIG. 1 illustrates the first configuration 1000. Specifically, in the implementation of FIG. 3, the second configuration 2000 is an unlocked configuration, where the tab free end 310 of the tab 300 has been pivoted about the free end 205 of the strap 200 such that the free end of the tab 310 is positioned between body 103 and the strap 200. The tab free end 310 is positioned such that the top face 305 the tab 300 faces the strap 200. For example, the tab free end 310 can be rotated about the free end of 205 of the strap 200 and folded under the strap 200 so that the tab free end 310 is between the front surface 120 of the body 105 and the strap 205. By positioning or sandwiching the tab free end 310 between the body 105 and the strap, the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 is unlocked and can be easily inserted or woven through the webbing of a utility device and a load-bearing carrier to attach the utility device to the load-bearing carrier. Additionally, when the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 is placed in the second configuration 2000 or the unlocked configuration, the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 can be unwoven or pulled through the webbing of the utility device and the load-bearing carrier to quickly remove the utility device from the load-bearing carrier. As the tab 310 is folded and sandwiched between the body 105 and the strap 200, the tab 310 will not catch on the webbing of the utility device and the load-bearing carrier, and the utility device can be removed from the load bearing carrier with a single hand. For example, the user wearing the load-bearing carrier can pull the handle 315 of the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 to fold the tab 300 between the body 105 and the strap 205 with one hand and one motion. Then, the user can pull the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 through the webbing of the utility device and the load-bearing carrier thereby releasing the utility device from the load-bearing carrier in one continuous movement (the pulling). Thus, with the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 described herein, fewer movements of the hand and fewer types of hand movements are required to remove a utility device from a load-bearing carrier as compared to conventional attachment mechanism. For example, with conventional snap buckle attachments, the user must first squeeze the buckle, pull the buckle heads apart, and then slip the utility device from a loop coupled to the webbing of the load-bearing carrier. With conventional ties, the user must cut the tie or use a specialized tool to unhook the two ends of the tie, then pull the ends of the tie apart, and then slip the utility device from the tie. Hence, the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 allows for a quick and efficient attachment of a utility device to a load-bearing carrier as a single continuous hand movement is needed to detach or release the utility device from the load-bearing carrier.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a first configuration 1000 of the quick-release attachment mechanism that is a locked configuration. Specifically, where the tab free end 310 of the tab 300 has been pivoted about the free end 205 of the strap 200 such that the end 110, 115 of the body 105 is positioned between free tab end 310 and the free end 205 of the strap 200. In the illustrated implementation of FIG. 4, the front surface (not shown) of the end 110, 115 of the body 105 faces the strap 200 and the top face 305 of the tab 300 faces the rear surface (not shown) of the body 105. When the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 is inserted through webbing of the utility device and the load-bearing carrier, the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 can be placed in the locked configuration 100, to position or sandwich the webbing of the utility device, the webbing of the load-bearing carrier, or both, and the body 105 between the strap 200 and the tab 300 thereby securing the utility device to the load-bearing carrier. As a result of the coupling of the tab 300 to the strap 200 and the coupled of the strap 200 to the body allows the top face 305 to hold the device webbing and/or the load-bearing carrier webbing against the rear surface of the end 110, 115 of the body 105, the device webbing or the load-bearing webbing is secured between the quick-release attachment mechanism 100, and the utility device is securely attached to the load-bearing carrier with fewer hand movements than conventional attachment mechanisms. For example, the user will weave the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 through the webbing of the device and the webbing of the load-bearing carrier. When the device is attached to the load-bearing carrier, the user will pull the handle 315 of the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 to place the tab 300 in the locked configuration 1000 where the webbing of the device and/or the load-bearing carrier and the body 105 are sandwiched between the tab 300 and the strap 200. Thus, the pulling movement to place the tab 300 into the unlocked configuration 2000 is the same as the pulling movement to place the tab 300 into the locked configuration 1000. Additionally, the pulling movement can be performed by one hand and with fewer movements of the hand and fingers as compared to other conventional attachment mechanisms. For example, with snap buckles, the utility device must be woven through a loop which is attached to the webbing of the load-bearing carrier, and the two ends of the snap buckles must be aligned and snapped together to lock the utility device of the load-bearing carrier. With a belt having a frame and prong buckle, one end of the belt must be woven through the webbing of the utility device, the webbing of the load-bearing carrier, and through one end of the frame. Then, the prong must be inserted through a hole of the belt, and then the end of the belt must be pulled or woven through a second of the buckle frame to secure the utility device to the load-bearing carrier. Hence, the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 allows for a quick and efficient attachment of a utility device to a load-bearing carrier as a single continuous hand movement is needed to attach the utility device to the load-bearing carrier.
FIG. 5 is another exemplary implementation of the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 described herein. The quick-release attachment mechanism 100 is substantially similar to the attachment mechanism 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 except that the rear surface 125 of the body 105 is illustrated.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial views of a quick-release attachment mechanism 100 illustrating the tab 300 placed in a first configuration 1000 and a second configuration 2000. FIG. 6 is an illustration of the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 in the second configuration 2000 (e.g., the unlocked configuration). The quick-release attachment mechanism 100 illustrated in FIG. 6 is substantially similar as to the implementation illustrated in FIG. 3 except that the rear surface 125 of the body 105 is illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is an illustration of the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 in the first configuration 1000 (e.g., the locked configuration). The quick-release attachment mechanism illustrated in FIG. 7 is substantially similar to the implementation illustrated in FIG. 4 except that the rear surface of the body 105 is illustrated.
FIG. 8 is an alternative implementation of the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The quick-release attachment mechanism 100 illustrated in FIG. 8 is substantially similar to the quick-release attachment 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, except that the tab 300 is coupled to the strap 200 by a stitch 800. In other words, the tab 300 is sewn to the strap 200.
FIG. 9 is an illustration of a quick-release attachment mechanism 200 coupled to a utility device 500 that is a pouch. In FIG. 9, the quick-release mechanism 100 has been placed in the second configuration 2000 (e.g., the unlocked configuration) and has been inserted or woven through the webbing 505 of the utility device 500. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the tab 300 has been folded such that the tab 300 is positioned between the strap (not shown) and the body (not shown). As the tab 300 is sandwiched between the strap and the body, the tab 300 can be inserted through the webbing 505 without becoming caught on the webbing 505, thereby allowing quick and efficient attachment and release of the utility device 500 from a load-bearing carrier.
FIG. 10 is an illustration of a quick-release attachment mechanism 200 coupled to a utility device 500 where the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 has been placed in the first configuration 1000 (e.g., the locked configuration). As illustrated in FIG. 10, the tab 300 has been positioned such that the tab 300 is placed on top of the webbing 505 of the device. As one of the webbing 505 of the device 500 and the body 105 of the attachment mechanism 100 is sandwiched between the tab 300 and the strap (not shown), the device 500 is secured to the quick-release attachment mechanism 100. While the utility device 500 illustrated in FIG. 10 is a pouch, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the utility device 500 can be a holster for a weapon, a canteen, a holster for a radio, or any other device that can be attached to a load-bearing carrier.
FIG. 11 is an illustration of the utility device 100 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 coupled to a load-bearing carrier 400 by a quick-release attachment mechanism 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The load-bearing carrier 400 illustrated in FIG. 11 is a back-pack; however in other implementations, the load-bearing carrier 400 can be a utility belt, a utility vest, an armored vest, a bullet-proof vest, or any other load-bearing carrier 400 to which utility devices 500 can be attached. In FIG. 11, the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 has been woven through the utility device webbing 505 and the load-bearing carrier webbing 405. The handle 315 has been pulled to place the tab (not shown) closest to the handle 315 in the first configuration or the locked configuration 1000, where the device webbing 505 and the body 105 of the attachment mechanism are sandwiched between the tab 300 and the strap 200. At the other end of the attachment mechanism 100 (e.g., the end furthest from the handle 315), the tab 300 on the other end has been placed in the locked configuration 1000 such that the load-bearing carrier webbing 405 and the body 105 of the attachment mechanism 100 are sandwiched between the tab 300 and the strap 200. As the load-bearing carrier webbing 405 and the utility device webbing 505 are sandwiched between the strap 200 and the tab 300, the utility device 500 is secured to the load-bearing carrier 400. In other words, the position of the tab 300 securely attaches the utility device 500 to the load-bearing carrier 400.
With the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 described herein, securing a utility device 500 to a load-bearing carriage 400 is intuitive and quick, and allows the device to be removed just as quickly. This quick-release attachment mechanism 100 does not have to be permanently mounted to either the utility device 500 or the load-bearing carriage 400 but may be integrated into the utility device or the load-bearing carriage. The quick-release attachment mechanism 100 can have various sizes and lengths to accommodate different sizes and styles of utility articles. In some implementations, when the attachment mechanism 100 attaches the utility device 500 to the load-bearing carriage 400, the attachment mechanism 100 is normally concealed behind the load-bearing carriage 400 or the utility device 500. When installed in the load-bearing carriage and the utility device, the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 is flat. Additionally, with the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 with no mechanical hinges or joints, pins or mechanical fasteners are needed to attach the utility device 500 to the load-bearing carriage 400. When the quick-release attachment mechanism 100 is threaded into webbing of the utility device 500 and the load-bearing platform 400, each tab 300 can be manipulated to secure the tab 300 across the webbing so that the utility device 500 will not become dislodged or displaced from its placement on the load-bearing carriage 400. The manipulation of either tab 300 can be reverse to allow the utility device 500 to be quickly removed at its point of attachment to the load-bearing carriage 400 (to release the device), and that addition of a handle 315 can enhance the quick removal of the utility device from the load-bearing carriage 400 with a single pull on the handle 315 to pull the attachment mechanism 100 out from the webbing of the utility device 500 and the load-bearing carriage 400.
Exemplary implementations have been described hereinabove regarding a quick-release attachment mechanism for load-bearing carriers. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the features in each of the figures described herein can be combined with one another and arranged to achieve the described benefits of the presently disclosed a quick-release attachment mechanism for load-bearing carriers. Additionally, one of ordinary skill will appreciate that the elements and features from the illustrated implementations herein can be optionally included to achieve the described benefits of the presently disclosed a quick-release attachment mechanism for load-bearing carriers. Various modifications to and departures from the disclosed implementations will occur to those having skill in the art. The subject matter that is intended to be within the spirit of this disclosure is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A system for quick release of devices to a load bearing carriage comprising:

a load bearing carriage comprising a carriage webbing;

a device comprising a device webbing; and

an attachment mechanism adapted for insertion through the carriage webbing and the device webbing thereby securing the device to the load bearing carriage, the attachment mechanism comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second comprising a front surface and a rear surface;

a strap coupled proximate to one of the first end and the second end, said strap having a free end having a portion hanging over the one of the first end and the second end;

a tab comprising a top face, said tab coupled to the free end of the strap such that the tab comprises a free tab end positionable between a first configuration and a second configuration with respect to the body, wherein:

in the first configuration, the tab free end is folded over the respective one of the first end and the second end such that the rear surface of the body is between the strap and the top face of the tab; and

in the second configuration, the tab free end is folded between the strap and the front surface of the body.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises a first strap coupled to the first end and a second strap coupled to the second end.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tab comprises a handle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tab is coupled to the strap at a midpoint of the tab.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tab is pivotably coupled to the strap.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the strap is layered on the body such that the free end of the strap is hingedly coupled to the body.

7. An attachment mechanism for attaching a device to a platform, the attachment mechanism comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end, a front side, and a rear side;

a tab coupled to one of the first end and the second end of the body such that the tab is manipulable between a first position and a second position, the first position being in front side of the front side of body and the second position being in front of the rear side of the body.

8. The attachment mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a connector hingedly coupled to the front side of the body, said connector coupling the tab to the one of the first end and the second end.

9. The attachment mechanism of claim 8, wherein in the first position, the tab is folded between the front side of the body and the connector.

10. The attachment mechanism of claim 8, wherein in the second position, the tab is folded in front of the rear side of the body such that the body is between the connector and the tab.

11. The attachment mechanism of claim 8, wherein the connector is attached to the tab proximate to the midpoint of the tab.

12. The attachment mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a handle coupled to the tab.

13. The attachment mechanism of claim 7, wherein the connector has a first connector end and a second connector end, and the connector is a layer affixed to the front side of the body such that the first connector end and the second connector end are detached from the front side thereby allowing hinged movement the first connector end and the second connector end with respect to the body, and wherein a portion of each of the first connector end and the second connector end hangs over the respective first end and second end.

14. The attachment mechanism of claim 7, wherein the tab comprises a first tab coupled to the first end and a second tab coupled to the second end, each of the first tab and second tab being manipulable between a first position and a second position, the first position being in front of the front side of the body and the second position being in front of the rear side of the body.

15. An attachment mechanism adapted for weaving a device to a platform, the attachment mechanism comprising:

16. The attachment mechanism of claim 15, wherein the strap comprises a first strap coupled to the first end and a second strap coupled to the second end.

17. The attachment mechanism of claim 15, wherein the tab comprises a handle.

18. The attachment mechanism of claim 15, wherein the tab is coupled to the strap at a midpoint of the tab.

19. The attachment mechanism of claim 15, wherein the tab is pivotably coupled to the strap.

20. The attachment mechanism of claim 15, wherein the strap is layered on the body such that the free end of the strap is hingedly coupled to the body.

21-37. (canceled)