Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The invention relates to a wearable article
carrying system. More particularly, the invention is
concerned with a combination utility garment and utility
carrying bag with container means such as satchels capable of
fixedly and removably mounting within the system for use
independently and separately of one another or connected
together as a unitary structure.
In devices for carrying articles, it is common to
have predesigned and predesignated pockets permanently
attached to them. For example, it is known to provide utility
garments with a number of permanently attached pockets to
carry articles of various nature. Utility carrying bags are
also known to have permanently attached pockets for the same
purpose as with the utility garments.
It is even known to provide garments and bags with
removable and/or expandable compartments to improve their
versatility and utility. However, these devices are incapable
of complementing one another by functioning as a unitary
structure resulting in increased 1088 potential and
restricting the physical activity of the user, especially
such activities requiring physical tasks. For example, with
these devices it is not possible to transfer the satchels
and/or pockets with their contents from a garment to a bag,
and vice-versa. The disadvantage is that there is difficulty
in transferring the contents from one device to the other by
a simple operation, with the result that there is time loss
during the transfer and that it is difficult to maintain the
contents of the bags, satchels and pockets in good order
following the transfer. In addition, there is the possibility
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of contamination of the contents during transfer, loss and
damage may occur, and the known systems lack versatility and
utility.
The known devices are incapable of sufficient
growth to meet the requirements of the user, and they are
therefore not economically sound. For example, the user of
these devices will have to purchase additional devices to
accommodate increased volume requirements while leaving
previously bought devices useless as failing to meet new
requirements.
Known garments or other devices that can be worn
and are used to carry articles in pockets permanently
attached thereto are inconvenient, since a compromise has to
be made between weight restriction and the production of a
device which is adequately equipped for a given task. In
addition, it would be difficult to replenish these devices
with supplies such as in tactical or in military operations,
and especially in emergency medical rescue, without risking
contamination of medical supplies and/or critical time loss.
Finally, these known devices are inadequate because most of
them are intended for a specific use only resulting in their
inability to adapt to other uses. They are also inconvenient
since they should be used as such, whether a full load or a
partial load has to be carried, thus causing a problem with
the distribution of weight.
It is an object of the present invention to provide
a system of article carrying devices wherein the separate
devices or parts of the system are capable of functioning as
! separate entities or which may be secured together so as to
function as a unitary structure.
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It is another object of the present invention to
provide a basic set comprising a utility garment and a
utility carrying bag as well as a number of preformed and
preshaped container means such as satchels or the like that,
through the use of fasteners, enable the container means such
as satchels or the like to be releasable and transferable
with the basic set, or to each other.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide satchels or the like container means which are
sufficiently versatile to serve for general purpose as well
as for specific uses.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a combination utility garment and utility carrying
means such as a bag, for use independently and separately of
one another, or connected together as a unitary structure.
The utility garment comprises one or a plurality of first
fa~tener means disposed exteriorly and/or interiorly of the
garment and capable of releasably fastening a plurality of
container means such as satchels thereto. The utility
carrying means comprises one or a plurality of second
fastener means disposed exteriorly and/or interiorly of the
utility carrying means. A plurality of container means such
as satchels are provided for attachment to each other, the
utility garment and/or the utility carrying means or together
respectively through the first and second fastener means.
Attaching means on the container means such as satchels
enable~to fixedly and removably mount the container means
I such as satchels to each other, to the utility garment
; and/or to the utility carrying means by engagement thereof
with the first and second fastener means. Connecting means
are used to connect the utility carrying means to the
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utility garment thereby constituting the unitary structure.
The combination is so constructed and arranged that the
container means such as satchels can be attached to each
other, to the utility garment and/or the utility carrying
means to be carried independently, or as a unitary structure
when the utility carrying means is connected to the utility
garment by means of the connecting means, and the container
means such as satchels are attached to the utility carrying
means or the utility garment or both.
The utility garrnent may be a sleeveless body
garment having a front closure, which may consist of a slide
fastener such as a ZipperT , or of any design apparent to any
one skilled in the art.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, each
first and second fastener means consist of first engageable
slide fastener parts and the attaching means consist of
second engageable corresponding slide fastener parts, the
first and second engageable slide fastener parts being
capable of engaging to one another so as to permit fastening
of the container means such as satchels to each other, to the
garment and/or bag by engaging the first engageable slide
fastener parts with the second engageable corresponding slide
fastener parts.
According to another preferred embodiment, the
first and second fastener means and the attaching means
comprise matin~ burr attachments, such as a VELCRO
attachment. The invention is not limited to the above stated
fasteners; any type and form of fasteners capable of
engagement and disengagement may be utilized.
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According to another embodiment of the invention,
the connecting means comprise first straps fixed at one ends
to the utility garment and having buckle fasteners ~t free
ends thereof, and second straps fixed at one ends to the
utility carrying bag and having buckle fastener mating parts
at free ends thereof, so that connection of the bag to the
garment is made possible by coupling buckle fastener mating
parts with corresponding buckle fasteners. Again any type and
form of releasable fasteners may be incorporated within the
system.
Other objects and advantages will appear from the
following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction
with the annexed drawings which are given only for the
purpose of illustration and in which,
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a garment-bag
combination according to the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a special
container which can be attached to garment or bag of FIGURE
l; .
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 2
representing a camera case;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the garment
illustrated in FIGURE 1 as seen from the back;
FIGURE ~ is a perspective view representing a bag
of tubular shape which can be used with the garment
illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4;
~ FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing a different
type of bag as for hunting use, with a satchel to hold
ammunition type of bag;
FIGURE 7 is a perspective view ~howing a satchel
carrier;
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FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing another type
of satchel carrier;
FIGURE 9 is a perspective view showing an internal
view of the garment and an alternate concealed shoulder
support strap;
FIGURE 10 is a perspective view showing the back of
the garment il~ustrated in FIGURE 9; and
FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are perspective views showing
other possible designs of garments that may be used in the
combination according to the invention.
With reference to the drawings, more particularly
FIGURES 1 to 5, it will be seen that the combination
generally comprises a utility garment 1, a utility carrying
bag 2, and a plurality of satchels which, as particularly
; shown in FIGURE 1 may be used independently and separately or
connected together by means of fasteners and straps which
will be defined later. Although the type of utility garment
that can be used in the combination according to the
invention i9 left to the choice of the person skilled in the
art and can vary greatly, in the embodiment which is
illustrated herein, it consists of a sleeveless body garment
having a front closùre which consists of a slide fastener 3,
such as a ZipperTM although any other kind of fastener could
be used. In addition, the body garment has mounted thereon on
the exterior thereof four engageable first parts 4, 5, 6, 7
of four 81ide fasteners of which the other engageable parts
will be defined later. Of course, any number of such
engageable first parts could be used at the choice of the
designer of the garment to be used, singly or in combination.
The garment 1 may furthermore be provided with straps 8 and 9
attached at the level of the shoulders at 10 and 11 in a
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manner known per se, such as by sewing. Each strap has buckle
fasteners 12 of known construction, at both ends thereof. Two
additional shorter straps 13, 14 are present on the interior
of the garment 1 at chest and at waist level respectively,
which are connected together by means of a buckle fastener 15
provided with the strap 13 and fastener 16 provided with the
strap 14. As shown, strap 14 can serve as a belt, to
distribute some of the weight-load from the shoulder to the
hip. Turning now to FIGURE 4, the garment is shown at the
back with a strap which is the same belt strap as strap 14,
which is used to loop around the waist area for weight
distribution. Finally additional straps 21, 22 are also
provided on both sides of the garment 1. These straps 21,22
are fixed to the garment 1 at shoulder level at 10, 11 and at
the lateral-dorsal area of the waist at 23, 24; strap
portions 23A, 24A are attached also to area 23, 24 and are
provided with buckle fasteners 25, 26 at the free ends
thereof.
FIGURE 9 shows the internal looping of the belt
strap 14 to ensure proper weight distribution. Weight bearing
straps 18A are located right behind the area of first
fastener 4, 5. Weight bearing strap 18B is located right
behind the lower end of the strap 21, 22 (see FIGURE 4) with
anchorage point 18C attaching directly to 23 or 24. An
internal first fastener 18D i9 also provided. A set of
shoulder pads llA is provided to minimize the effect of
weight~ on the shoulders of the user. FIGURE 9 also
illustrates a variation of supporting strap placement, for
aesthetic reasons, with attachment area lOA directly beneath
attachment area 10 and 11, and the other attachment area for
the strap is the same as attachment area 18C of the weight
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bearing strap 18B. Internal straps 17A are used in place of
the external straps 21,22. However, when internal strapping
is utilized, straps 8, 9, 23A, 24A should still be utilized
as anchorage points for mating fastener as shown in FIG~RE
10. Methods of concealment of all externally visible straps
8, 9, 21, 22, 23A, 24A and their respective fasteners have
not been specifically described since they are well known to
anyone skilled in the art.
Referring again to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that
10 the combination also comprises a utility carrying bag 2 which
is in the form of an elongated rectangular box. The bag has
mounted thereon in known manner a number of engageable first
parts of a number of slide fasteners of which only three are
shown which will be referred to by reference numerals 27, 28,
29. As with the utility garment 1, the other engageable parts
will be defined later. It is of course understood that any
q number of engageable first parts of slide fasteners can be
provided on the bag 2 to suit various needs. The bag 2 has a
pair of straps 30, 31 fixed thereto in known manner at 32
20 such as by sewing, each strap 30,31 being respectively
terminated at their free ends by mating fasteners 32,33, and
the length may be adjusted to provide comfort and utility. At
the lower portion of the bag, a strap 31A is shown with a
mating fastener 33A for connection with mating fastener 25 or
26, this strap 31A being also adjustable in length.
Referring again to FIG~RE 1, it will be seen that
the combination includes a number of satchels or containers
which can be mounted either on the utility garment 1 or on
the bag 2. Each satchel or container is provided with an
30 engageable second part of a slide fastener to be engaged with
a corresponding engageable first part on the garment 1 or bag
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2. For example, three satchels 34, 35 and 36, each provided
with an engageable second part 37,38 and 39 of a slide
fastener are associated with the garment 1. These satchels or
containers 34, 35 and 36 can be fastened to the garment 1 by
engagement of parts 5,37 for satchel 34, parts 4,38 for
satchel 35 and parts 6,39 for container 36. In the case of
bag 2, the same satchels 34,35 can be attached to the bag 2
via parts 28,37 and 29,38 respectively. Satchels 40 and 41
are mounted in the same manner on the bag 2 and satchel 42
may be attached to satchel 41,45 via engageable first and
second parts 43,44 of a slide fastener. In the embodiment
illustrated, it will be seen that satchel 40 consists of a
combination of three releasable satchels 45 connected
together as shown by means of slide fasteners 46,47 in the
same manner as the connection for satchel 42 to satchel 40.
It will therefore be seen that the garment can be
i carried separately with a number of satchels attached thereto
as described above or in combination with the bag 2 attached
to it by means of straps 30,31 and 8,9 or otherwise as will
be apparent to anyone skilled in the art. Alternatively the
bag 2 has additional satchels fixed thereto or can be
attached alone to the utility garment 1. Also, bag 2 can be
carried alone by buckling straps 30 and 31, with or without
satchels or containers such as 34, 35, 40, 41, 45 and 42
, fixed thereto. As an example of container that can be fixed
to the garment 1 or bag 2, one could mention a camera case
container 45A with engageable second part 46A (FIGURE 3) or
a different kind of container 47A with engageable second part
~ 48A (FIGURE 2).
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The shape of the bag can of course vary at great
length such as shown in FIGURE 7 which is however based on
the same principle. The only thing that differs is its
attachment to the garment 1 by means of straps and mating
fasteners 47A,48A which can be attached to straps 8,9 and
with fasteners 47B and 48B (not shown) attached to buckle
fasteners 25,26.
Another example of bag may be a blanket or a
fishing rod container 49 (FIGURE 5) having straps 50,51 which
can be attached to the garment via straps 8 and 24A or 9 and
23A.
Other examples of the same type are carrier 52
illustrated in FIGURE 6 and carrier 53 illustrated in FIGURE
8 which are both based on the same principle and with first
fastener provided for attachment of any combination or type
of satchels that have corresponding second fastener. FIGURES
11, 12 and 13 illustrate other variations of garments that
anyone skilled in the art will be able to design and produce,
that may apply to the system according to this invention, for
example including satchels 42.
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