ATTACHMENT SYSTEM

• US 20130192029A1
• Filed: 08/09/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Galvion Ltd. (Galvion Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Revision Military Incorporated (Revision Military)
• Inventors: Hall, Edward R., Wang, Qi, Lebel, Stphane
• Granted Patent: US 9,746,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/101 deforming the cable by moving a part of the fastener
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/13 Article holder attachable to apparel or body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/21 Strap tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2192 Buckle type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

An attachment system is provided which may include a cord, a fastener coupled to a first portion of the cord, a tensioner coupled to a second portion of the cord, and a first fitting arranged to couple either the fastener or the tensioner to the cord. The tensioner is configured to retain a third portion of the cord to maintain the tension in the cord. An attachment system may include a first working component configured to be coupled to the cord, and a first fitting arranged to couple the first working component to the cord. The first working component may have a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the first fitting, and the first fitting may have an actively moveable element configured to retain the cord when the first fitting is positioned in the working component cavity.

Claims

1. An attachment system comprising:

a cord having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion;

a fastener coupled to the first portion of the cord;

a tensioner coupled to the second portion of the cord, the tensioner configured to retain the third portion of the cord in the tensioner to maintain the tension in the cord; and

a first fitting constructed and arranged to couple either the fastener to the cord or the tensioner to the cord.

2. The attachment system recited in claim 1, wherein the cord is made of an elastic material.

3. The attachment system recited in claim 2, wherein the tensioner has at least one tooth, the tensioner configured to retain the third portion of the cord in the at least one tooth to maintain the tension in the cord.

4. The attachment system recited in claim 3, wherein the tensioner has a plurality of teeth.

5. The attachment system recited in claim 3, wherein the tensioner has an opening extending therethrough, with the at least one tooth adjacent the opening, and wherein the opening is configured to receive the cord.

6. The attachment system recited in claim 5, wherein the tensioner has a plurality of teeth including at least one tooth positioned on a first side of the tensioner and at least one tooth positioned on a second side of the tensioner.

7. The attachment system recited in claim 5, wherein the tensioner has a first plurality of teeth positioned on a top portion of the opening and a second plurality of teeth positioned on a bottom portion of the opening.

9. The attachment system recited in claim 7, wherein the tensioner has a first concave surface adjacent the first plurality of teeth and a second concave surface adjacent the second plurality of teeth.

10. The attachment system recited in claim 1, wherein the tensioner has a cavity constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of the first fitting, and wherein the first fitting has an actively moveable element configured to retain the cord when the first fitting is positioned in the tensioner cavity.

11. The attachment system recited in claim 10, wherein the first fitting has a hole configured to receive a portion of the cord.

12. The attachment system recited in claim 1, wherein the fastener is a hook.

13. The attachment system recited in claim 1, wherein the first fitting is configured to couple the tensioner to the second portion of the cord, the attachment system further comprising:

a second fitting constructed and arranged to couple the fastener to the first portion of the cord.

14. The attachment system recited in claim 1, wherein the fastener is constructed and arranged to removably couple the first portion of the cord to a first object.

15. The attachment system recited in claim 14, in combination with the first object.

16. The attachment system recited in claim 15, wherein the first object is a helmet.

17. The combination recited in claim 16, in combination with a second object coupled to the attachment system, wherein the second object is a helmet accessory.

8. The attachment system recited in 5, wherein the tensioner has a concave surface adjacent the opening.

18. An attachment system for use with a cord, the attachment system comprising:

a first working component configured to be coupled to a first portion of a cord;

a first fitting constructed and arranged to couple the first working component to the first portion of the cord;

wherein the first working component has a cavity constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of the first fitting, and wherein the first fitting has an actively moveable element configured to retain the cord when the first fitting is positioned in the working component cavity.

19. The attachment system recited in claim 18, wherein the first fitting has a hole configured to receive the first end of the cord.

20. The attachment system recited in claim 18, wherein the actively moveable element includes a first arm and a second arm, wherein the second arm is positioned opposite the first arm.

21. The attachment system recited in claim 18, wherein the actively moveable element includes an inwardly facing projection configured to engage the cord when the first fitting is positioned in the working component cavity.

22. The attachment system recited in claim 18, wherein the actively moveable element includes an outwardly facing detent configured to engage the working component when the first fitting is positioned in the working component cavity.

23. The attachment system recited in claim 18, further comprising a cord.

24. The attachment system recited in claim 23, wherein the cord is made of an elastic material.

25. The attachment system recited in claim 18, wherein the first working component is a tensioner configured to retain a portion of the cord in the tensioner to maintain the tension in the cord.

26. The attachment system recited in claim 25, wherein the tensioner has at least one tooth, the tensioner configured to retain the portion of the cord in the at least one tooth to maintain the tension in the cord.

27. The attachment system recited in claim 26, wherein the tensioner has an opening extending therethrough, with the at least one tooth adjacent the opening, and wherein the opening is configured to receive the cord.

28. The attachment system recited in claim 26, wherein the tensioner has a plurality of teeth including at least one tooth positioned on a first side of the tensioner and at least one tooth positioned on a second side of the tensioner.

29. The attachment system recited in claim 27, wherein the tensioner has a first plurality of teeth positioned on a top portion of the opening and a second plurality of teeth positioned on a bottom portion of the opening.

31. The attachment system recited in claim 18, wherein the first working component is a fastener constructed and arranged to removably couple the cord to an object.

32. The attachment system recited in claim 31, wherein the fastener is a hook.

33. The attachment system recited in claim 18, further comprising:

a second working component configured to be coupled to the cord;

a second fitting constructed and arranged to couple the second working component to the cord;

wherein the second working component has a cavity constructed and arranged to receive at least a portion of the second fitting, and wherein the second fitting has an actively moveable element configured to retain the cord when the second fitting is positioned in the second working component cavity.

34. The attachment system recited in claim 33, wherein the first working component is a tensioner configured to retain the cord in the tensioner to maintain the tension in the cord when the cord is coupled to a first object, and wherein the second working component is a fastener constructed and arranged to removably couple the cord to a second object.

30. The attachment system recited in 27, wherein the tensioner has a concave surface adjacent the opening.

35. A method of attaching a first object to a second object, comprising:

attaching a fastener of an attachment system to a first object, wherein the fastener is configured to be coupled to a first portion of a cord;

attaching the cord to a second object;

passing the cord through an opening in a tensioner of the attachment system, wherein the tensioner is configured to be coupled to a second portion of the cord;

coupling a first fitting to either the first portion of the cord or the second portion of the cord;

securing the first fitting to either the fastener or the tensioner; and

adjusting the position of the cord relative to the tensioner to adjust the tension in the cord.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first fitting is configured to couple the tensioner to the second portion of the cord, the method further recites:

coupling a second fitting to the first portion of the cord; and

securing the second fitting to the fastener.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the first object is a helmet and the second object is a helmet accessory.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the tensioner has at least one tooth, and wherein the act of adjusting the position of the cord relative to the tensioner includes gripping the cord with the at least one tooth.