Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/188,597, entitled "Systems and Methods for a Tactical Belt" and filed on July 3, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

Technical Field

[0002] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to belts and more particularly to versatile tactical belts configured to provide load carriage and carry a variety of tactical equipment.

Background

[0003] In tactical situations, personnel, such as military or law enforcement personnel, often depend on personal mobility to transport mission specific equipment. Typically, at least a portion of this mission specific equipment is carried using a belt mounted on the waist of an individual. The weight of the equipment can lead to excessive fatigue to the individual, which may impact performance of the individual, thereby increasing the risk of injury, mistakes, or even death. The type of equipment may vary significantly depending on the specific mission or tactical situation. Many other conventional belts, while accounting for load carriage, fail to provide the versatility of carrying different types of interchangeable equipment. It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived and developed.

Summary

[0004] Implementations described and claimed herein address the foregoing problems by providing a versatile tactical belt. In one implementation, a base belt has an inner surface and an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end. At least one row of webbing is attached to the outer surface of the base belt at a plurality of attachment points. Each of the plurality of attachment points is spaced from an adjacent attachment point by a distance and forms a channel therebetween. A first buckle portion has a first opening defined in a first body. The first end of the base belt extends through the first opening to form an adjustable end portion. A second buckle portion has a second opening defined in a second body. The second end of the base belt extends through the second opening and is secured to the base belt to form a fixed end portion. The first buckle portion is configured to releasably engage the second buckle portion. A spacer has a spacer body with an inner surface and an outer surface. The spacer body includes a cover enclosing padding. The spacer is configured to releasably engage the base belt with the outer surface of the spacer body oriented adjacent to the inner surface of the base belt.

[0005] In another implementation, a base belt has an inner surface and an outer surface. A first row of webbing is attached to the outer surface of the base belt at a proximal end. A second row of webbing extends parallel to the first row of webbing and is attached to the outer surface of the base belt at a distal end. The first row of webbing and the second row of webbing are each attached to the outer surface of the base belt at a plurality of attachment points. Each of the plurality of attachment points is spaced from an adjacent attachment point by a distance and forms a channel therebetween. The channels of the first row of webbing are vertically aligned with the channels of the second row of webbing.

[0006] In yet another implementation, a base belt has an outer surface and an inner surface extending between a first end and a second end. A first buckle portion has a first opening defined in a first body. A rod is disposed in and separates the first opening into a first slot and a second slot. The first end of the base belt extends through the first slot and loops back through the second slot to form an adjustable end portion. A second buckle portion has a second opening defined in a second body. The second end of the base belt extends through the second opening and is secured to the base belt to form a fixed end portion. The first buckle portion is configured to releasably engage the second buckle portion.

[0007] In still another implementation, a base belt has an inner surface and an outer surface. A belt attaching surface is disposed on the inner surface of the base belt. A spacer body extends between a first end and a second end and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The spacer body includes a cover enclosing padding. A spacer attaching surface is disposed on the outer surface of the spacer body. The spacer attaching surface is configured to releasably engage the belt attaching surface. Brief Descriptions of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1 is a proximal front perspective view of an example tactical belt. [0009] Figure 2 is a proximal perspective view of the tactical belt.

[0010] Figure 3 is a detailed view of an example spacer attached to an inner surface of an example base belt of the tactical belt.

[0011] Figure 4 illustrates the spacer separated from the base belt.

[0012] Figures 5 and 6 shows a side perspective view and a proximal detailed view, respectively, of the base belt with the spacer removed.

[0013] Figures 7 and 8 depict a front perspective view and a back perspective view, respectively, of the spacer.

[0014] Figure 9 shows a detailed view of an example buckle of the tactical belt.

[0015] Figure 10 shows a detailed view of a male buckle portion of the buckle.

[0016] Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a side perspective view and a back perspective view, respectively, of the male buckle portion.

[0017] Figure 13 depicts a detailed view of a female buckle portion of the buckle.

[0018] Figure 14 shows a front view of the female buckle portion.

[0019] Figure 15 illustrates a side perspective view of the female buckle portion.

[0020] Figure 16 illustrates the male and female buckle portions moving between a secured and released position.

Detailed Description

[0021] Aspects of the present disclosure involve a versatile tactical belt that provides load carriage belt and rigger belt benefits. In one example aspect, a base belt includes a base belt, a buckle, and a spacer. The base belt is sewn with high strength Type 13 webbing. An outer surface of the base belt is surrounded by one or more rows of webbing space sewn to the outer surface at a plurality of attachment points that are spaced by a distance, such as a half an inch. The one or more rows of webbing provides a wearer with the ability to interchange mission specific equipment, such as pouches, weapons, restraints, and other tactical equipment, as needed. The spacer removably engages an inner surface of the base belt for comfort. The spacer may be an antimicrobial and fire resistant treated padded spacer mesh. The buckle includes a first buckle portion and a second buckle portion forming an adjustable end portion and a fixed end portion of the base belt to facilitate fitting the tactical belt to and removing the tactical belt from the wearer. The buckle may further be configured for quick, one-handed release.

[0022] To begin a detailed description of an example tactical belt 100, reference is made to Figures 1 and 2. In one implementation, the tactical belt 100 includes a base belt 106 with an inner surface 112 and an outer surface 114 extending between a distal end 102 and a proximal end 104 in a direction transverse to a length of the base belt 106. The base belt 106 may be made from and stitched with a high strength webbing, such as a Type 13 webbing or other webbing having a superior strength and resistance to cutting and abrasion. Such Type 13 webbing may include, for example, nylon.

[0023] In one implementation, a spacer 108 is removably attached to the inner surface 112 of the base belt 106 for comfort. The spacer 108 may substantially cover a surface area of a back portion of the base belt 106, extending from the proximal end 104 to the distal end 102 of the inner surface 112. On the outer surface 114 of the base belt 106, in one implementation, one or more rows of webbing 120 may extend along a length of the base belt 106. The row(s) of webbing 120 may be Modular Lightweight Load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) webbing adapted to carry mission specific equipment that may be interchanged based on the needs of the mission. In one implementation, the row(s) of webbing 120 may be Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing adapted to attach mission specific equipment onto the load-bearing platform of the base belt 106. The row(s) of webbing 120 may be made from a variety of materials having superior strength and resistance to cutting and abrasion, such as nylon. [0024] The tactical belt 100 further includes a buckle 110 to secure the tactical belt 100 to, remove the tactical belt 100 from, and/or adjust a fit of the tactical belt 100 on the wearer. In one implementation, the buckle 110 includes a first buckle portion 122 and a second buckle portion 124. The first buckle portion 122 may be associated with an adjustable end portion 116 of the base belt 106. The adjustable end portion 116 has a free edge 118 that may be used to adjust a length of the base belt 106 and thus a fit of the tactical belt 100 on the wearer. The second buckle portion 124 may be associated with a fixed end portion 138 having a first securing loop 126. In this example, the length of the base belt 106 is adjustable with the adjustable end portion 116 with the fixed end portion 138 remaining secure.

[0025] As can be understood from Figure 3, the spacer 108 may be removably attached to the inner surface 112 of the base belt 106 for comfort. The spacer 108 includes a spacer body having an inner surface 130 and an outer surface 128. In one implementation, the spacer 108 is configured to releasable engage the base belt 106 with the outer surface 128 of the spacer body oriented adjacent to the inner surface 112 of the base belt 106. The spacer 108 may releasably engage the base belt 106 using a variety of attachment mechanisms. For example, the spacer 108 may include a spacer attaching surface 134 disposed on the outer surface 128 of the spacer body, and the inner surface 112 of the base belt 106 may include a belt attaching surface 132. The spacer attaching surface 134 is configured to releasably engage the belt attaching surface 132. In one implementation, the spacer attaching surface 134 and the belt attaching surface 132 are paired hook and loop attachment surfaces.

[0026] Turning to Figure 4, which shows the spacer 108 separated from the base belt 106, in one implementation, the belt attaching surface 132 extends along the length of the inner surface 112 of the base belt 106 between the adjustable end portion 116 and the fixed end portion 138. As such, the spacer 108 may be positioned along this area of the base belt 106 for comfort.

[0027] As can be understood from Figures 4-6, in one implementation, the adjustable end portion 116 is formed from a portion of the base belt 106 looping through the first buckle portion 122. As such, a portion of the inner surface 112 of the base belt 106 becomes an outer surface of the adjustable end portion 116, and the corresponding portion of the outer surface 114 becomes an inner surface of the adjustable end portion 116. In one implementation, the inner surface of the adjustable end portion 116 includes an adjustable end attachment surface 142 configured to releasably engage a corresponding attachment surface 140 disposed on the outer surface 114 of the base belt 106. The adjustable end attachment surface 142 and the corresponding attachment surface 140 may be paired hook and loop attachment surfaces.

[0028] In one implementation, the fixed end portion 138 is attached to the second buckle portion 124, for example by looping through the second buckle portion 124, and secured to the base belt 106. Where the fixed end portion is formed from a portion of the base belt 106 looping through the second buckle portion 124, a portion of the inner surface 112 of the base belt 106 becomes an outer surface of the fixed end portion 138, and the corresponding portion of the outer surface 114 becomes an inner surface of the fixed end portion 138. In one implementation, the inner surface of the fixed end portion 138 is secured to the inner surface 112 of the base belt 106, with the outer surface of the fixed end portion 138 facing towards the wearer. The fixed end portion 138 may be stitched to the base belt 106 and/or secured with one or more securing loops (e.g., the first securing loop 126 and a second securing loop 136). The securing loop(s) 126 and 136 may be looped around and sewn or otherwise attached to the fixed end portion 138 and the base belt 106.

[0029] As can be understood from Figures 7 and 8, which depict a front perspective view and a back perspective view, respectively, of the spacer 108, in one implementation, the spacer 108 includes a spacer body having the inner surface 130 and the outer surface 128 extending between a first end and a second end. The spacer body may include a cover enclosing padding. The cover may be a mesh, made from an antimicrobial and fire resistant treated material. In one implementation, the padding of the spacer 108 is stitched into a plurality of padding portions (e.g., padding portions 144, 146, and 148). The plurality of padding portions 144, 146, and 148 may extend along a length of the spacer body with rows of stitching extending therebetween and forming the same. In one implementation, the stitching corresponds to the stitching attaching the spacer attaching surface 134 on the outer surface 128 of the spacer 108.

[0030] To begin a detailed discussion of the buckle 110 and the row(s) of webbing 120, reference is made to Figure 9. In one implementation, a first row of webbing 120 is attached to the outer surface 114 of the base belt 106 at the proximal end 104, and a second row of webbing 120 is attached to the outer surface 114 of the base belt 106 at the distal end 102. Stated differently, a proximal edge of the first row of webbing 120 is coplanar with a proximal edge of the base belt 106 at the proximal end 104, and a distal edge of the second row of webbing 120 is coplanar with a distal edge of the base belt 106 at the distal end 102. The rows of webbing 120 are disposed parallel to each other. In one implementation, a distal edge of the first row of webbing 120 is spaced from a proximal edge of the second row of webbing 120.

[0031] Each of the rows of webbing 120 are attached to the outer surface 114 of the base belt 106. In one implementation, the rows of webbing 120 extend along the length of the base belt 106 between the fixed end portion 138 and the adjustable end portion 116. The rows of webbing 120 may cover or terminate at the fixed end portion 138 and/or the adjustable end portion 116. In one example, the rows of webbing 120 cover the fixed end portion 138 and terminate at the first securing loop 126 and terminate at the adjustable end portion 116, such that the adjustable end portion 116 is not covered by the rows of webbing 120, thereby permitting the adjustable end attachment surface 142 of the adjustable end portion 116 to releasably engage the corresponding attachment surface 140 of the base belt 106.

[0032] In one implementation, the rows of webbing 120 are attached to the outer surface 114 of the base belt 106 at a plurality of attachment points 184, which may be, for example, lines of stitching. Each of the plurality of attachment points 184 are spaced from an adjacent attachment point 184 by a distance and forming a channel 186 therebetween. In one implementation, the distance is approximately 0.5 inches. The channels 186 of the first row of webbing 120 are vertically aligned with the channels 186 of the second row of webbing 120. The channels 186 are adapted to receive and hold one or more articles, including mission specific tactical equipment, that may be interchanged, as needed.

[0033] Referring to the buckle 110, in one implementation, the first buckle portion 122 includes a first opening 158 defined in a first body 154. A rod 156 is disposed in and separates the first opening 158 into a first slot and a second slot. The free edge 118 may be threaded through the first slot, around the rod 156 and looped back through the second slot to form the adjustable end portion 116. An adjustable looped portion 152 of the base belt 106 is thus secured within the first opening 158. The adjustable looped portion 152 may shift as the adjustable end portion 116 is lengthened or shortened in adjusting a length and therefor a fit of the base belt 106.

[0034] In one implementation, the second buckle portion 124 includes a second opening 162 defined in a second body 160. An end of the base belt 106 is looped through the second opening 162 and secured to the base belt 106, as described herein, to form a fixed loop 150 and the fixed end portion 138. Unlike the adjustable looped portion 152, the fixed loop 150 remains fixed in position. It will be appreciated that various features of the first buckle portion 122 and the second buckle portion 124 may be interchanged.

[0035] For a detailed description of the first buckle portion 122 as a male buckle portion, reference is made to Figures 10-12. In one implementation, the first buckle portion 122 includes an internal channel 164 adapted to receive ends of the rod 156 to secure the rod 156 within the first opening 158 to form the first and second slots that receive and form the adjustable looped portion 152. The first buckle portion 122 may form the adjustable end portion 116, such that a longitudinal axis 172 of the based belt 106 is oriented at a perpendicular orientation relative to a longitudinal axis 170 of the first buckle portion 122.

[0036] Further, in one implementation, the first buckle portion 122 includes a protrusion 166 extending from the first body 154 and a set of arms 168 extending transversely to the protrusion 166. The set of arms 168 are adapted to releasably engage the second buckle portion 124, as further detailed herein.

[0037] For a detailed description of the second buckle portion 124 as a corresponding female buckle portion, reference is made to Figures 13-15. In one implementation, the second buckle portion 124 includes a channel 180 defined in the second body 160 by a channel edge 174, which may extend along a contour. The second buckle portion 124 further includes a set of spring loaded levers 176 configured to rotate between a first portion and a second position, with the first position securing the protrusion 166 of the first buckle portion 122 in the channel 180 by engaging the set of arms 168 and the second position releasing the protrusion 166 from the channel 180 by disengaging the set of arms 168. In one implementation, the set of spring loaded levers 176 have an edge that is generally coplanar or otherwise disposed near the channel edge 174. The second buckle portion 124 may be secured to the fixed end portion 138, such that a longitudinal axis 182 the second body 160 is coplanar or otherwise in a parallel orientation with the longitudinal axis 172 of the base belt 106. The orientation of the first buckle portion 122 and the second buckle portion 124 relative to the longitudinal axis 172 the base belt 106 facilitates alignment of the first buckle portion 122 to the second buckle portion 124 for engagement.

[0038] In one implementation, the second buckle portion 124 includes a set of pins 178 corresponding to the set of spring loaded levers 176. The set of pins 178 each define a pivot point, around which the corresponding spring loaded lever 176 rotates between the first position engaging the set of arms 168 and the second position disengaging the set of arms 168 permitting removable of the protrusion 166 from the channel 180.

[0039] Turning to Figure 16, which illustrates the first and second buckle portions 122 and 124 moving between a secured and released position, in one implementation, the channel 180 is in communication with an interior recess configured to receive the set of spring loaded levers 176 therein that extend outwardly from the channel 180. The set of spring-loaded levers 176 are operable to be coupled and decoupled from the set of arms 168 extending from the protrusion 166 of the first buckle portion 122 when the first and second buckle portions 122 and 124 are in the first position.

[0040] The set of pins 178, which establish respective pivot points of the set of spring loaded levers 176, such that the set of spring loaded levers 176 pivot between a normal unbiased position and a biased position (shown in phantom in Figure 16) when the first buckle portion 122 is engaged and disengaged, respectively, relative to the second buckle portion 124. In particular, as shown in Figure 16, when disengaged from the first buckle portion 122, the set of spring loaded levers 176 of the second buckle portion 124 are in the normal unbiased position. When the protrusion 166 of the first buckle portion 122 is inserted into the channel 180 of the second buckle portion 124, the set of spring loaded levers 176 are each momentarily rotated in direction A and forced apart by the set of arms 168 to the biased position (shown in phantom in Figure 16) until the set arms 168 pass through the set of spring loaded levers 176 and the protrusion 166 becomes fully seated within the channel 180.

[0041] In one implementation, the set of spring loaded levers 176 are each configured to allow the protrusion 166 and/or the set of arms 168 to contact and ride along the respective inward portion of each respective spring-loaded lever 176 until a point is reached where the set of arms 168 become fully seated behind the set of spring loaded levers 176. Once the protrusion 166 is fully seated within the channel 180, the set of spring-loaded levers 176 then rotate back in direction B to the normal position such that the protrusion 166 becomes locked between the set of spring loaded levers 176, thereby securing the first buckle portion 122 to the second buckle portion 124.

[0042] To disengage the first buckle portion 122 from the second buckle portion 124, in one implementation, the set of spring-loaded levers 176 are rotated back in direction A toward the second buckle portion 124, thereby placing the set of spring loaded levers 176 in the biased position which operates to release the set of arms 168 and thus the protrusion 166 from engagement with the second buckle portion 124. The protrusion 166 is then removed from the channel 180. Once the set of arms 168 are released, the set of spring loaded levers 176 rotate back in direction B to the normal position.

[0043] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to various implementations, it will be understood that these implementations are illustrative and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. More generally, implementations in accordance with the present disclosure have been described in the context of particular examples. Functionality may be separated or combined in blocks differently in various implementations of the disclosure or described with different terminology. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims that follow.