US20060130284A1

US20060130284A1 - Mounting system

Info

Publication number: US20060130284A1
Application number: US11/017,624
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy Shellnutt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-20
Filing date: 2004-12-20
Publication date: 2006-06-22

Abstract

This mounting system features a base displaced from a mounting plate which is used to anchor a base mounted receiver releaseably. The base has a pair of flexible arms to engage the receiver in channels that have a catch edge at the end of the channels. The base is constructed with at least one stabilizer element and the receiver has an appropriate alignment slot. Each mounting plate, on both the base and the receiver, have a plurality of apertures to facilitate attachment to fabric which thereby allows attachment of different fabric devices together in a releaseable yet secure manner. An alternate embodiment has the mounting plate enclosed in a fabric envelope or attached to a patch of fabric where the edges of the fabric may be used to secure the base or receiver to the fabric of devices which may be used together. These devices are to be from the following group, non-exclusive; backpack, jacket, hunting jacket, binocular case, knife case, compass case, first aid case, ammunition pouch, animal call case, etc.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hunters, hikers and backpackers have many pieces of support paraphenelia such as ammunition pouch, first aid pouch, compass, binoculars, etc. Most of these are desired to be on hand at any and every moment for use when needed. As the hunter or hiker or backpacker proceeds their desires for what is to be most handy may change. It is useful to have a mechanism with which to mount these pouches in close proximity yet in a replaceable manner so that one may be switched with another, hence the presently disclosed mounting system.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART DEVICES

Adams, U.S. Pat. No. 615,056 discloses an envelope fastener with dual spring loaded members.
Goodwin, U.S. Pat. No. 1,023,514 discloses a garment fastener with dual tongs that are barbed.
Krock, U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,917, Pontaoe, U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,638, Chen, U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,637, Giampavolo, U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,265, and Buscart, U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,944 disclose buckles or clasps with spring loaded tongs.
Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,258 discloses a backpack that is convertible where differing sections are selectively removable from the main segment but uses standard buckles or clasps.
Buddy Locks™ are a system where the receiver is engaged onto the base and rotated to a use position but has a deficiency in that the base and receiver may be easily separated upon inadvertent rotation which occurs all too often in the woods when rubbing against foliage or when crawling upon the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present mounting system is composed of dual components that are mounted upon mounting plates. The base is a pair of tongs that are displaced from the mounting plate but essentially parallel to the plate. The tongs are spring loaded apart by the material of construction and have an end barb. The spring loading and the end barb permit the base to engage securely the receiver which has dual channels, again essentially parallel to its mounting plate. The base and receiver, when together, form a compact assembly where each of the mounting plates may be sewn onto apparel, or backpack, or fabric pouches for the required devices. Each assembly may be easily separated by depression of the barbed tongs toward each other, thereby permitting removal of the receiver from the base. Upon removal, another item may be substituted and attached to that location on the backpack or apparel, such as a hunter's jacket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the front view of the base on its mounting plate.
FIG. 2 shows the receiver upon its mounting plate in the front view.
FIG. 3 shows a side view of the base where the tongs are displaced from the mounting plate.
FIG. 4 shows the receiver and the channels to receive the tongs in hidden lines.
FIG. 5 shows the section portion of the receiver according to lines 5-5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 shows the base of FIG. 1 where the mounting plate is enclosed in fabric or attached to a fabric portion.
FIG. 7 shows the receiver of FIG. 2 where the mounting plate is enclosed in fabric or attached to a fabric portion.
FIG. 8 shows the receiver joined to the base with a portion of the base cut away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 has the base on mounting plate 1. Attachment 3, see FIG. 3, displaces tongs 4 and 5 from the surface of the mounting plate. The tongs are molded so that the material of the molding provides a spring effect to keep barbs 8 displaced outwardly. The stabilizing elements 6 also provide for alignment and appropriate orientation of the receiver when engagement is desired. These stabilizers 6 are attached through their length to the mounting plate and are essentially rigid. The tongs are flexible, to an extent, and allow some displacement along arrows A to permit separation of the base and receiver when removal is desired.
FIG. 2 shows mounting plate 2 with the receiver mounted firmly thereto. The receiver has dual channels 10 displaced from the face of the mounting plate to allow insertion of the tongs 4 and 5 yet access to the manipulation areas 7 to allow depression by a user's fingers in the directions of arrows A to permit separation. The receiver also has channels 12 to receive the aligning stabilizers 6. The face 13 of the receiver, see FIG. 4, is displaced from the channels 10 to provide for insertion of the tongs. Note that the channels are displaced from the face of mounting plate 2 to allow for the height of the stabilizers 6. The channels 10 are provided with an area 14 to engage the barbs 8 of the tongs 4 and 5 so that a positive engagement is enabled.
Each mounting plate 1 and 2 is provided with a plurality of apertures 11. These apertures are provided to allow the mounting plates to be sewn onto either backpack or apparel such as a hunter's jacket and to the fabric of the holder for the various items the individual desires to take with them.
As an alternative to the mounting plate apertures 11, the mounting plates may be sewn into fabric envelopes 15 and 16, see FIGS. 6 and 7 or attached to a portion of fabric. Attachment may be by molding onto a patch of fabric or by adhering using any of a variety of adhesives. Attachment to a patch of fabric or enclosure within a fabric envelope of the mounting plate would allow a user to sew the mounting system onto desired articles with a sewing machine and could enhance utility throughout the outdoors industry.
As shown in FIG. 8 the barb and tongs are fully engaged in the receiver slots. It should be noted that the stabilizer maintains alignment and orientation so that even if one of the tong barbs were to be inadvertently depressed, the other tong barb would be held in place to prevent inadvertent separation of the mounting system. Though the stabilizer channel 12 has been shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7 as being closed across the top, these channels could be open so that field debris would not prevent engagement of the base with receiver.
The mounting plates are also provided with a failsafe loop 20 and 22. These loops are provided with apertures 21 and 23. These loops are displaced from the mounting plate slightly so as to allow the use of lanyards or cords. Expensive or essential items may easily be tied to the user to prevent loss even during unnatural occurrences such as falling down embankments or into bodies of water. It is considered that light cords to small rope may be used, especially if metallic clips are provided on the ends of the length of these failsafe cords.
In summary, the mounting system can be made from various types of plastics, from PVC's to thermoplastics and beyond. Though molding has been disclosed, appropriate construction may be obtained from glued assemblies or by forging or even by machining. Some metals may also be used as the material of choice so long as the design and material provides for the flexibility required. The system is designed to provide a solid anchor despite inadvertent jostling or contacts. Yet this solid anchoring may easily be separated to enable placement of differing articles in areas and placements as desired or required.

Claims

1. A mounting system comprising base and receiver each mounted upon a planar mounting plate where the base comprises dual spring loaded and barbed tongs, with the material of construction providing the spring loading, the tongs are mounted upon a first of said mounting plates in a parallel manner but displaced from said mounting plate to permit portions of said receiver to slide between said tongs and said first mounting plate until said barbs are permitted to engage said receiver.

2. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is mounted upon the second of said mounting plates, said receiver having dual channels, each said channel for receiving one of said dual tongs.

3. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein said receiver has dual channels sized and configured for the insertion of said tongs wherein said tongs are spring loaded apart so that said barbs extend from the channel end and positively engage said channels and thereby said receiver.

4. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein said base comprises at least one of a stabilizer element that is parallel to said tongs and perpendicular to and attached to said mounting plate.

5. The mounting system of claim 4 wherein said receiver comprises a slot that engages said stabilizer element when said tongs are engaged.

6. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein each of said mounting plates comprise a plurality of apertures to aid in the attachment of each of said mounting plates to a fabric.

7. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein said mounting plates are each enclosed in a fabric envelope, said fabric envelope used to engage to another fabric.

8. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein each of said mounting plates are attached to a respective patch of fabric where said patch may be used to engage other fabrics of any of backpacks, apparel, and implement cases.

9. The mounting system of claim 1 wherein when said receiver is engaged to said dual tongs and said barbs are engaging said channels said tongs may be manually pushed toward each other and said barbs may be released from engagement with said channels and the receiver may be released from engagement and permitted to be removed from the base.

10. A mounting system comprising base and receiver each mounted upon a planar mounting plate where the base comprises dual spring loaded and barbed tongs, where the material of construction provides said spring loading, said tongs are mounted upon a first of said mounting plates in a parallel manner but displaced from said first mounting plate to permit portions of said receiver to slide between said tongs and said first mounting plate until said barbs are permitted to engage said receiver, said base further including at least one stabilizing element that is parallel to said tongs and attached to said first mounting plate in a perpendicular manner.

11. The mounting system of claim 10 wherein said receiver is mounted upon the second of said mounting plates with a pair of channels, each said channel for receiving each of said spring loaded and barbed tongs and a slot to receive each of said alignment elements when said tongs are engaged in the channels.

12. The mounting system of claim 10 wherein said receiver is mounted upon the second of said mounting plates and has dual channels that are sized and configured to receive each of said tongs so that each of said barbs on said tongs can engage the end of each said channel and thereby secure the receiver in place when said tongs are fully inserted, and further wherein said receiver is provided with open slots to receive said stabilizer elements when said receiver is in place upon said base.

13. The mounting system of claim 10 wherein each of said mounting plates are attached to a respective patch of fabric where said patch may be used to engage other fabrics of any of backpacks, apparel, and implement cases.

14. A mounting system comprising base and receiver each mounted upon a planar mounting plate where the base comprises dual spring loaded and barbed tongs, where the material of construction provides said spring loading, said tongs are mounted upon a first of said mounting plates in a parallel manner but displaced from said first mounting plate to permit portions of said receiver to slide between said tongs and said first mounting plate until said barbs are permitted to engage said receiver, said base further including at least one stabilizing element that is parallel to said tongs and attached to said first mounting plate in a perpendicular manner and said first mounting plate provided with a displaced loop to engage one of a tie or lanyard.

15. The mounting system of claim 14 wherein said receiver is mounted upon the second of said mounting plates with a pair of channels, each said channel for receiving each of said spring loaded and barbed tongs and a slot to receive each of said alignment elements when said tongs are engaged in the channels and a displaced loop to engage one of a tie or lanyard.