MOLLE adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11530897-B2
Application number	US-202017112658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2020
Priority date	Dec 4, 2020
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

An adapter assembly including an adapter plate and a retainer. The adapter plate includes a substantially planar adapter body, a spaced pair of generally parallel upper arms for removably securing said adapter assembly to equipment, and a spaced pair of lower legs having a spaced pair of lower tines configured to have a gap there between. The lower tines each include a ratchet tooth structure on an exterior surface thereof. The retainer is configured for slideable attachment to the lower tines and for spanning the gap between the lower tines. The retainer includes a corresponding ratchet tooth on an interior surface thereof configured to engage with the ratchet tooth structure for a one-way slideable locking engagement of the retainer on the lower tines.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter assembly comprising:
an adapter plate comprising:
a substantially planar adapter body, wherein the adapter body comprises a rear surface, a front surface, an upper portion, and a lower portion;
a spaced pair of generally parallel upper arms integral with and extending downwardly from the upper portion of the adapter body in substantially the same plane as the adapter body for removably securing said adapter assembly to equipment, wherein the upper arms each comprise an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion; wherein the upper arm portions are generally parallel with one another, and wherein the lower arm portions each have a narrowed portion and a hook portion, wherein each hook portion comprises a first portion extending frontward from a distal end of the narrowed portion and a second portion extending upwardly from the first portion; and
a spaced pair of lower legs integral with and extending downwardly from the lower portion of the adapter body in substantially the same plane as the adapter body, the spaced pair of lower legs each comprising,
an upper portion, and
a lower portion comprising a spaced pair of generally parallel lower tines extending generally downwardly from the upper portions of the lower legs, the spaced pair of lower tines configured to have a gap there between, wherein the lower tines each comprise a ratchet tooth structure on an exterior surface thereof; and

a retainer configured for slideable attachment to the lower tines and for spanning the gap between the lower tines, the retainer comprising a corresponding ratchet tooth on an interior surface thereof configured to engage with the ratchet tooth structure for a one-way slideable locking engagement of the retainer on the lower tines, wherein the retainer comprises an elongated clam shell body having a downwardly facing opening, wherein the retainer further comprises a through hole extending between front and rear surfaces thereof, and wherein the through hole is configured for receiving a locking screw.

2. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , the lower tines each further comprising a lower tip portion, and wherein the retainer is configured to be disengaged from the lower tines upon manual compression of a lower tip portion of the lower tines towards one another decreasing the gap between the lower tines.

3. The adapter assembly of 1 , wherein at least a narrowed portion comprises spaced horizontal ridges on a rear surface thereof.

4. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein each upper portion of the lower legs comprises laterally and downwardly extending shoulder portions extending between the adapter body and the lower tines, wherein each shoulder portion comprises a cut-out portion.

5. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adapter body comprises a through hole extending from the front and rear surfaces, wherein the through hole is configured for single point mount indexable attachment with an attachment assembly for a holster, wherein a ridged indexing ring is provided on the front surface of the adapter body surrounding the adapter through hole and configured for indexable cooperation with the attachment assembly for the holster.

6. The adapter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is configured for attachment to the lower tines at multiple vertical positions on the lower tines.

Assignees

• Vista Outdoor Operations Llc

Inventors

• Smith Paul N
• Sereday Daniel
• Michael Christopher J
• Lance Troy E

Classifications

• F41C33/041 Primary

  for connecting a holster to a belt, webbing or other object · CPC title

• A45F5/02 Primary

  Fastening articles to the garment · CPC title