COMPONENT OF A CARRIER SYSTEM

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a component of a carrier system comprising a belt element which is fastened to the component by a first end and comprises a second free end, by means of which it can be threaded through at least one loop of a second component, in order to fasten the components to one another, wherein the belt element comprises a textile belt strap and a plastics element. In this case, the plastics element is moulded onto the belt strap.

Claims

1. Component of a carrier system, comprising: a belt element which is fastened to the component by a first end and comprises a second free end, wherein the belt element can be threaded through at least one loop of a second component by means of the second free end, in order to fasten the components to one another, wherein the belt element comprises a textile belt strap and a plastics element, wherein the plastics element is moulded onto the textile belt strap.

2. Component according to claim 1, wherein the belt element comprises at least one hinge region, which connects regions of the plastics element adjoining said hinge region, and in which the textile belt strap can be folded over.

3. Component according to claim 2, wherein the plastics element comprises, in the hinge region, at least one plastics region which forms a film hinge.

4. Component according to claim 3, wherein the at least one plastics region which forms the film hinge interconnects plastics regions of the plastics element in which the plastics element is of a greater material thickness than in the at least one plastics region forming the film hinge, wherein the textile belt strap is overmoulded by the plastics element in the plastics regions of greater material thickness.

5. Component according to claim 3, wherein the plastics element is wider than the textile belt strap and comprises in the at least one plastics regions on both sides of the textile belt strap, wherein the textile belt strap is not overmoulded in the hinge region and extends in a recess in the plastics element between the plastics regions serving as the film hinge.

6. Component according to claim 2, wherein the plastics element comprises at least three regions, between which one hinge region is provided in each case.

7. Component according to claim 6, wherein a first region out of the at least three regions is arranged such that it is located in a position threaded through the at least one loop of the second component, when the component is fastened to the second component, and a second region out of the at least three regions, forms a free end of the plastics element, for detachably fixing the belt element in the position, and wherein the belt element is rigidly connected to the component in a third region out of the at least three regions.

8. Component according to claim 1, wherein the plastics element is designed as a multicomponent injection-moulded part, wherein the plastics element comprises an outer structure consisting of a hard plastics component into which a soft plastics component is injected, wherein the hard plastics component surrounds the soft plastics component in a frame-like manner and forms lateral edges of the plastics element.

9. Component according to claim 8, wherein the soft plastics component forms an upper and/or lower face of the plastics element, at least in a portion of the plastics element, and/or comprises nub and/or bead elements extending transversely to an extension of the belt element.

10. Component according to either claim 8, wherein the hard plastics component forms one or more film hinges and/or a region in which the belt element is connected to the component.

11. Component according to claim 1, wherein the textile belt strap extends over the entire length of the plastics element.

12. Component according to claim 1, wherein a free end of the textile belt strap protrudes beyond a free end of the plastics element, wherein the free end is overmoulded with a second plastics element.

13. Component according to claim 1, wherein the component comprises at least one loop, through which the free end of the belt element can be threaded, in order to connect the loop to the at least one loop of the second component.

14. A Method for producing a belt element for a component of a carrier system, wherein the belt element comprises a textile belt strap and a plastics element, comprising the step of: moulding the plastics element onto the textile belt strap.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising the steps of: clamping the textile belt strap in an injection mould and overmoulding the textile belt strap in a clamped state.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the textile belt strap is clamped in end regions thereof, wherein the method comprises the further step of capping said end regions after the plastics element has been moulded onto the belt strap.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising the step of: fastening the belt element to the component by a first end such that the belt element can be threaded through at least one loop of a second component by means of a second free end of the belt element, in order to fasten the components to one another.

18. Belt element for a component according to claims 1, wherein the belt element comprises a textile belt strap and a plastics element, wherein the plastics element is moulded onto the belt strap.

19. Belt element according to claim 18, wherein the belt element comprises two hinge regions, which connect regions of the plastics element adjoining said hinge regions, and in which the belt strap can be turned, and/or wherein the plastics element comprises at least one plastics region that serves as a film hinge.

20. Carrier system comprising a first component according to claim 1 and a second component to which the first component can be detachably fastened via the belt element.

21. Carrier system according to claim 20, wherein the second component is a vest, a plate carrier and/or a backpack, and/or wherein the first component is a transport element which is produced from textile material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0073] The present disclosure will now be explained in greater detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment and drawings.

[0074] In the drawings:

[0075] FIG. 1: shows an exemplary embodiment of a component according to the disclosure, which is fastened to a second component,

[0076] FIG. 2: shows an exemplary embodiment of a belt element according to the disclosure, in a view from a first side,

[0077] FIG. 3: is a perspective view showing the first side shown in FIG. 2,

[0078] FIG. 4: is a plan view from a second side of the exemplary embodiment of a belt element according to the disclosure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

[0079] FIG. 5: is a perspective view of the belt element according to the disclosure, showing the second side shown in FIG. 4,

[0080] FIG. 6: is a perspective view of the belt element according to the disclosure in an intermediate stage of the production process, in which only the hard components of the plastics element were moulded, showing the first side shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and

[0081] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the belt element according to the disclosure in the intermediate stage of the production process also shown in FIG. 6, showing the second side shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0082] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a component 1 according to the disclosure which can be detachably fastened to a second component 2 via the belt element 10. The first component can for example be a bag, an ammunition carrier, and/or a weapons carrier; the second component can for example be a platform such as a vest, a plate carrier, a bag, or a backpack.

[0083] The belt element 10 is rigidly fastened by one end to the first component 1, and can be threaded, by its free end, through at least one loop 4, which is arranged on the second component 2, in order to fasten the first component to the second component. The first component 1 may also comprise at least one loop 3, through which the belt element is threaded.

[0084] In the exemplary embodiment, at least one of the two components comprises two loops 4 which are arranged in parallel with one another and/or side-by-side in the transverse direction and in particular vertically one above the other, which loops are spaced apart in such a way that a loop 3 of the other element can be arranged therebetween. In this case, the belt element is threaded through the three loops, in order to lace these together in the manner of a warp thread.

[0085] In the exemplary embodiment, the second component comprises at least two loops, and the component according to the disclosure comprises one loop. In a further embodiment, the second component comprises at least three loops which are arranged in parallel with one another and/or side-by-side in the transverse direction and in particular vertically one above the other, and the component according to the disclosure comprises at least two loops which are arranged in parallel with one another and/or side-by-side in the transverse direction and in particular vertically one above the other. Designs having a larger number of loops extending in parallel with one another and/or side-by-side in the transverse direction are also possible, wherein the component according to the disclosure comprises n loops, and the second component n+1 loops.

[0086] While a first end 16 of the belt element is firmly connected to the component 1, in particular sewn to the component 1, in a fastening region 6, a second end of the belt element comprises a fastening region 18 by means of which it can be detachably fastened to the first component after being threaded through the loops. In the exemplary embodiment, a pocket 5 is provided for this, into which the fastening region 18 can be inserted. In this case, the pocket extends from bottom to top in the direction towards the region 6 in which the belt element is firmly connected to the component.

[0087] Therefore, if the two components are fastened to one another via the belt element, the belt element is turned twice about 180°, specifically once immediately before it is threaded through the first loop of the second component, and once immediately after it leaves the last loop of the component or of the second component, and inserted into the pocket 5.

[0088] The at least one loop 3 is therefore positioned, in the transverse direction, in particular in the vertical direction, between the fastening region 6, in which the first end 16 of the belt element is firmly connected to the component, and the pocket 5, into which the fastening region 18 of the belt element is removably inserted.

[0089] In the exemplary embodiment, the loops are provided by belt straps which extend along the component in a first direction, in particular in the horizontal direction, and are sewn to the components by seams extending in the transverse direction, in particular in the vertical direction. Alternatively, the loops could also be provided by slits in a material layer of the respective components.

[0090] The belt element comprises a textile belt strap 13 and at least one plastics element 14, wherein the plastics element 14 is moulded onto the belt strap 13. As a result, the combination of the plastics element and belt strap can be produced in a cost-effective manner and at an unchanged level of quality, in large numbers. Compared with elements which are produced entirely from plastics material, improved handling ability result at a simultaneously increased stability, and an additional securing function.

[0091] In the exemplary embodiment, the belt element comprises two hinge regions 11 and 12, in which it can be turned about 180° in each case, as described above. In this case, the first hinge region 12 is arranged between the region 16 in which the belt element is rigidly connected to the component according to the disclosure, and the region 17 which, in the position in which the two components are fastened to one another, is threaded through the loops 4 and in particular weaves together the loops of the two components. The second hinge region 11 is arranged between the region 17 and the fastening region 18, by means of which the belt element is detachably connected to the component according to the disclosure.

[0092] In the exemplary embodiment, the component is designed such that it comprises a loop 3 which is arranged, in the transverse direction, in particular in the vertical direction, between two loops 4 of the second component. The spacing between the first hinge region 12, in which the belt element is turned about 180° for the first time, and the second hinge region 11, in which the belt element is turned about 180° for the second time, is therefore three loop widths.

[0093] Alternatively, the component according to the disclosure could also, for example, comprise two loops 3 which extend in parallel and are arranged side-by-side in the transverse direction and in particular vertically one above the other, and which are optionally weaved together with three loops of the second component. In this case, the spacing between the two hinge regions is five loop widths. Designs having a larger number of loops extending in parallel with one another are also possible, wherein in the case of a number of n loops on the component according to the disclosure, the spacing between the two hinge regions may be 2n+1.

[0094] In the exemplary embodiment, the hinge regions in each case interconnect two regions, in which the belt element is formed by the belt strap and the plastics element.

[0095] In a first embodiment, which is not shown in the drawings, the plastics element comprises three mutually separated regions 16, 17 and 18, which are interconnected, in the hinge regions 11 and 12, only by the continuous belt strap.

[0096] However, in the exemplary embodiment, the plastics element 14 is a continuous element which extends non-stop over the regions 16, 17 and 18, wherein the plastics element is designed, in the hinge regions, as a film hinge. In particular it comprises three plastics regions, in each case, in the hinge regions, which plastics regions are formed so as to be thinner than the remaining regions and therefore form a film hinge.

[0097] In the exemplary embodiment, the plastics element 14 is wider than the belt strap 13, wherein plastics regions 20, serving as a film hinge, are provided in each case on both sides of the belt strap 13, in the hinge regions.

[0098] In the exemplary embodiment, the belt strap is not overmoulded in the hinge region. The non-overmoulded region 21 of the belt strap extends in a recess 30 in the plastics element, between the plastics regions 20 serving as the film hinge.

[0099] The belt strap 13 extends beyond the fastening region 18 of the belt element, and is not overmoulded in this region 19. The belt tab formed thereby serves to make it possible to pull the fastening region 18 out of the pocket 5 again. Therefore, upon insertion of the fastening region 18 into the tab at the end of the plastics element, the belt strap 13 is turned, and is inserted into the pocket in this turned position, such that the free end of the belt strap shows out of the pocket 5. In the exemplary embodiment, a second plastics element 15 is moulded onto said free end of the belt strap, which plastics element serves as a gripping region for threading the belt element through the loops, and serves for pulling the fastening region out of the pocket 5.

[0100] In the fastening region 18, the plastics element 14 optionally tapers towards the free end thereof, in order to facilitate threading through the loops and insertion into the pocket.

[0101] The component according to the disclosure can in particular be a PALS component for a MOLLE carrier system.

[0102] In this case, in particular the spacings and widths of the loops 3 and 4, and the width of the belt element 10 are standardised, such that a very wide range of components can be arranged on a second component. In this case, the second component typically comprises a larger number of loop rows arranged side-by-side in the transverse direction and in particular vertically one above the other, in order to be able to arrange different components according to the disclosure thereon, in different positions.

[0103] An exemplary embodiment of a belt element which can be used according to the disclosure is now described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2-5. In this case, it initially has the basic structure as has already been explained in greater detail above, in view of FIG. 1, for the belt element. In this case, it in particular comprises a belt strap 13 on which a plastics element 14 is moulded.

[0104] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the textile belt strap 13 extends over the entire length of the belt element. This facilitates the production, since the belt element can be clamped in the injection mould in which it is overmoulded. In particular, in this case the outer ends of the belt strap can be clamped, and then the belt strap can be overmoulded in a region located further inwards. The ends used for clamping can then be capped. Further details regarding the production method are explained further in the following with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0105] The plastics element 14, with which the belt strap 13 is overmoulded, comprises, as described above, three regions 16, 17 and 18, between which the hinge regions 12 and 11 are arranged.

[0106] In the region 16, the belt element is firmly connected, in particular sewn, to the component. For this purpose, the plastics element comprises a web region 29 in which the plastics element extends over the entire width of the belt element and surrounds the belt strap in a central region, at least in part.

[0107] In the exemplary embodiment, in the region of the web 29 the belt strap is overmoulded merely on a first of the two main surfaces, while the belt element extends flush with the lateral elements of the web on the opposing second side shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and therefore is overmoulded at most by small amounts of plastics material intruding at the side. As a result, the thickness of the web region is reduced, which simplifies the sewing. Therefore, in the web region 29 the belt strap is overmoulded merely on three sides, in cross-section.

[0108] Furthermore, lateral tabs 28 of the plastics element are provided here, which protrude beyond the centrally arranged end of the belt strap in the longitudinal direction, and in which the plastics element can be once again sewn separately to the component.

[0109] In a first variant, the belt element can be placed on the component by the region 16, and sewn thus to said component. In this case, the two tabs are used to secure the region 16 to the component by a second seam. In a second variant, the belt element can be placed between two layers of the component, and thus be sewn to these. In the case of an interposed connection of this kind, the seam in the region of the web 29 is sufficient.

[0110] In the region 17 which weaves the loops together, the plastics element has an undulating shape of its outer contour. In this case, the wave bulges 22, in which the width of the plastics element is greatest, and wave troughs 23, in which the width is smallest, alternate.

[0111] The wave bulges 22 are arranged where, in the fastening state, the belt element emerges from one loop in enters the next loop. The full width in this region improves the fastening between the loops.

[0112] Furthermore, bead regions 24 extending transversely to the extension of the belt element are provided on both sides of the wave bulge 22, which bead regions ensure increased friction and thus more reliable fastening to the loops.

[0113] The transversely extending beads 24 are arranged on both main surfaces of the belt element.

[0114] In the third region 18, which is inserted into the pocket 5, the plastics element has a shape which narrows proceeding from the hinge region 11. In this case, in the specific exemplary embodiment, a first wider region 25 is provided, which adjoins the hinge region 11, and a second narrower region 27 is provided, which forms the free end, wherein the first and the second region are connected by a transition region 26 in which the width gradually decreases.

[0115] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, the regions 20, which form a film hinge, in each case form regions of the plastics element which are of a greater thickness than the regions 20. In this case, the length of the regions 20 is selected such that the belt element can be deflected, here, about 180 degrees, and the regions of the plastics element connected by the hinge regions can be laid one on top of the other.

[0116] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, a first side of the regions 20 forming the film hinge extends flush with the first main surface of the belt element, shown for example in FIG. 2. In contrast, on the second main surface shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the plastics element is provided in the region 20 with recesses, by which the thickness of the plastics element is correspondingly reduced in the recess of the film hinge.

[0117] In this case, in the exemplary embodiment the second main surface is the surface which rests on the component in the region 16. The belt element is therefore turned such that in each case regions of the first main surface are folded onto one another.

[0118] The plastics element 14 is manufactured as a two-component injection-moulded part. For this purpose, firstly a hard plastics component is moulded onto the belt strap. The intermediate product thus produces is then inserted into a second injection mould, in order to mould on the soft plastics component.

[0119] As already described above, for this purpose the belt strap 13 is clamped in the first injection mould, in order to mould on the hard plastics component. Clamping in the second injection mould is no longer essential, because the belt strap is already fixed by the hard plastics component.

[0120] The belt strap comprising the moulded-on hard plastics component is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0121] The regions 20, which form the film hinges, are provided by the hard plastics components, as are web regions which are adjacent thereto and extend over the entire width of the plastics elements.

[0122] In those regions of the hinge regions in which the belt strap extends, which strap is not overmoulded there, the hard component comprises a recess 30 in each case.

[0123] The region 16 is also formed by the hard plastics component.

[0124] In the region 17, the hard plastics component forms a frame, into which the soft plastics component is injected. In particular in this case the lateral delimitation 35 is formed by the hard plastics component. Furthermore, web elements 36, in which the belt strap is overmoulded by the hard plastics component, are provided in the region of the wave troughs. In contrast, in the remaining regions 33′ the belt strap is free, and is then overmoulded by the soft plastics component.

[0125] As can be seen in FIGS. 2-5, in the region 17 the soft plastics component 33 forms the two main surfaces of the belt element. The bead elements 24 are also formed by the soft plastics component.

[0126] In the region 18, the hard plastics component in each case comprises recesses 32′, which are ejected together with the soft plastics component 32. Here, too, the hard plastics component surrounds the soft plastics component in a frame-like manner, and forms the lateral delimitations of the plastics element. In contrast, the bead element 28 is formed by the soft component.

[0127] In the first region 25, adjoining the hinge region, the soft plastics element 32 is provided only on the first main surface, while the opposite main surface 31 is formed by the hard plastics element. In contrast, in the second, narrower region 27 and in the transition region, the soft plastics element 31″ is arranged on the second main surface, while the opposite main surface 31 is formed by the hard plastics element. The belt strap is exposed in the respective recesses 32′ for the two soft plastics components, and is thus overmoulded by the hard plastics component on three sides. The fourth side is overmoulded by the soft plastics component.

[0128] The soft plastics components increase the grip of the belt element during handling. However, the decisive function of the soft plastics components is the increase friction of the belt element on the loops or the pocket of the component. This increased friction prevents the belt element from moving out of its fastening position and the connection being released. Accordingly, the soft plastics components are arranged where increased friction is required, wherein the friction is optionally further increased by the bead elements.

[0129] The strap for pulling the free end 18 of the plastics element out of the pocket is provided by the region 19 of the belt strap which is guided out of the plastics element and is not overmoulded. The region 19 of the belt strap comprises, at its free end, a gripping element designed as a plastics element 15, which gripping element, in the exemplary embodiment, is produced at least in part from hard plastics material, and the hard plastics component of which is manufactured, together with the hard plastics component of the plastics element 14, in the first injection mould. In the exemplary embodiment, the hard plastics component of the plastics element 15 comprises recesses, which are then filled, in the second injection mould, with the soft component, together with the soft plastics component of the plastics element 14.

[0130] All conventional materials can be used for the belt strap, the hard plastics component and the soft plastics component.