Attachment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10334902-B2
Application number	US-201715644169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2017
Priority date	Jul 7, 2017
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

Attachment systems for releasably securing an accessory to an article, such as a helmet, are disclosed. In one embodiment, an attachment system includes an attachment plate that includes engaging features which engage corresponding engagement features on an attachment base. At least one of the engaging features on the attachment plate is associated with a flexible member, and is movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration via deformation of the flexible member. A pair of grips are provided on opposing ends of the flexible member, and the grips are pressed toward one another to move the movable engaging feature between the locked and unlocked configurations.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment system for mounting an accessory to a wearable article, the attachment system comprising:
an attachment plate securable to an attachment base on a wearable article;
a first engaging element on the attachment plate, the first engaging element constructed and arranged to engage a second engaging element on the attachment base;
a flexible member extending in a direction from a first side of the attachment plate toward a second side of the attachment plate opposite the first side; and
a third engaging element coupled to the flexible member, the third engaging element constructed and arranged to engage a fourth engaging element on the attachment base;
first and second grips positioned on opposite sides of the flexible member, the flexible member and the first and second grips configured such that movement of the grips toward one another deforms the flexible member, wherein:
when the first engaging element is engaged with the second engaging element on the attachment base, the third engaging element is movable between an unlocked position in which the third engaging element is not engaged with the fourth engaging element on the attachment base, and a locked position in which the third engaging element is engaged with the fourth engaging element to secure the attachment body to the attachment base, and
the third engaging element is movable between the locked and unlocked positions via deformation of the flexible member.

2. The attachment system of claim 1 , further comprising the attachment base.

3. The attachment system of claim 2 , wherein the wearable article comprises a helmet and further comprising the helmet.

4. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the first and third engaging elements are tabs extending from the attachment plate, and the second and fourth engaging elements on the attachment base are recesses constructed and arranged to receive the tabs.

5. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the first and third engaging elements are recesses formed in the attachment plate, and the second and fourth engaging elements on the attachment base are tabs constructed and arranged to be received by the recesses.

6. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the third engaging element moves in a direction transverse to the movement of the pressed grips.

7. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second grips are attached to the attachment plate via first and second flexible struts, respectively, and wherein pressing the first and second grips toward one another bends the first and second struts.

8. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein, when the third engagement element is in the unlocked configuration, the flexible member biases the third engagement element toward the locked configuration.

9. The attachment system of claim 1 , further comprising a guide channel on the attachment plate arranged to receive a boss extending from the flexible member, wherein the guide channel is spaced from the flexible member when the third engaging feature is in the locked configuration.

10. The attachment system of claim 9 , wherein the boss is received in the guide channel when the third engaging element is moved from the locked configuration toward the unlocked configuration.

11. The attachment system of claim 10 , wherein the guide channel includes opposing angled surfaces arranged to guide the boss toward a center of the guide channel.

12. The attachment system of claim 1 , further comprising an connector formed on the attachment plate constructed and arranged to releasably mount an accessory to the attachment plate.

13. The attachment system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is a living hinge.

14. The attachment system of claim 1 , further comprising a camming arrangement associated with at least one of the third and fourth engaging elements and constructed and arranged to cause deformation of the flexible member upon pressing the third engaging element into contact with the attachment base, wherein the camming arrangement comprises one or more angled surfaces on at least one of the third and fourth engaging elements.

15. An adapter plate attachable to an attachment base, the adaptor plate comprising:
a plate body constructed and arranged to be attached to an attachment base;
first and second engagement elements extending from the plate body, the first and second engagement elements constructed and arranged to engage third and fourth engagement elements of the attachment base;
the plate body having a connector to connect an accessory;
a flexible member extending in a direction from a first side of the plate body to a second side of the plate body opposite the first side, wherein the second engagement element is coupled to the flexible member and is movable relative to the first engagement element via deformation of the flexible member; and
first and second grips positioned on opposite sides of the flexible member, wherein the grips are constructed and arranged to be pressed toward one another to cause the flexible member to deform.

16. The adapter plate of claim 15 , wherein the second engagement element is moveable along a direction transverse to movement of the pressed grips.

17. The adapter plate of claim 15 , further comprising a guide channel on the plate body arranged to receive a boss extending from the flexible member.

18. The adapter plate of claim 17 , wherein the guide channel is spaced from the flexible member when the grips are not pressed toward one another, and wherein the boss is received in the guide channel when the second engagement element is moved toward the first tab.

19. The adapter plate of claim 15 , wherein the first engagement element comprises a first tab, and the second engagement element comprises a second tab.

20. The adapter plate of claim 15 , further comprising a camming arrangement on the second engaging element, the camming arrangement constructed and arranged to cause deformation of the flexible member upon pressing the second engaging element into contact with the attachment base.

21. A method of operating an attachment system, the method comprising:
engaging a first engaging element of an attachment plate with a first corresponding engaging element on an attachment base;
deforming a flexible member on the attachment plate to move a second engaging element of the attachment plate toward an unlocked configuration, the second engaging element associated with the flexible member; and
releasing the deformation of the flexible member to move the second engaging element toward locked configuration in which the second engaging element of the attachment plate engages a second corresponding engaging element of the of the attachment base.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein deforming the flexible member comprises pressing first and second grips toward each other, the grips positioned on opposing ends of the flexible member.

23. The method of claim 21 , further comprising applying a camming force to the second engaging element via a camming arrangement to cause the deformation of the flexible member.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the deformation of the flexible member moves the second engaging element of the attachment plate along a direction transverse to a direction of movement of the pressed grips.

25. The method of claim 21 , further comprising attaching an accessory to a connector on the attachment plate.

Assignees

• Revision Military Sarl

Inventors

• Vilone Mario
• Desjardins Nicolas

Classifications

• F16B2/22

  of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A42B3/0406 Primary

  Accessories for helmets · CPC title

• A42B3/04

  Parts, details or accessories of helmets · CPC title

• A45F5/02 Primary

  Fastening articles to the garment · CPC title

• A45F2200/0533

  Human Necessities · mapped topic