Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BELT ASSEMBLY AND CONTAINER THEREFORE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a belt assembly and container therefore, and
more particularly to a belt assembly and container for workers carrying
equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In their daily work, many types of workers need to carry equipment with them.
For doing so, different types of belt assemblies have been proposed in the
prior art.
In the case of police officers, which need to carry a gun, a flashlight,
pepper
spray and sometimes other equipment as well, the typical belt assembly used
is based on a thick leather belt, on which various containers are slid along.
Although such belt assembly has proven its sturdiness over the years, it is
not
particularly convenient for fast removal of containers, as the leather belt is
used to simultaneously support the containers, while passing through loops of
a wearer's pants. Additionally, this type of belt assembly has been identified
as the main cause of preventable back, hip and thigh injuries caused by
poorly distributed and misallocated wearable weight. Because of its intrinsic
mechanical properties, the thickness of leather belt has to be sufficient to
support the equipment securely in various situations: standing, sitting,
walking, running, etc. To prevent excessive lagging, the leather belt needs to
be thick enough and thus is quite rigid, which is not comfortable when used in
a sitting position, and adds pressure to a back of a wearer and may result in
an injury.
Canadian patent no. 2,254,626 to Safariland Ltd. describes a track member
system to carry equipment around a waist of a wearer. More particularly, this
system is composed of an internal belt and an external belt equipped to affix
containers. The internal belt and external belt are equipped with matching
fabric loop/hoop, such as VelcroTM, to allow a tight bonding therebetween.
Containers can be affixed to the external belt, which is equipped of tracks.
Both the external belt track system and container attachment are rigid. A
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clamp is used to secure the container in a specific position on the exterior
belt. Although this track member system can be quickly removed, and the
containers can be affixed to the exterior belt, such system is not comfortable
in bending and sitting positions because of the rigidity of the exterior belt
track
system and containers.
Canadian patent no. 2,354,814 to Hand tools International describes a belt
assembly for storing and inventorying tools. This assembly is composed of a
belt onto which containers are slid. The belt is thus rapidly removable.
However, the containers are free of sliding along the belt, which is not
convenient for workers such as police officers or electricians when they store
their gear between and after uses.
There is therefore a need for a belt assembly that is capable of carrying
various types of interchangeable various types of containers and equipment
more ergonomically, while being removable rapidly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a belt assembly and containers for use with
that belt assembly. The belt assembly of the present invention allows
ergonomic carrying of equipment, and fast removal thereof.
For doing so, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a belt
assembly.
The belt assembly includes an inner belt, a supporting belt and at least one
container. The inner belt is adapted to be installed around a wearer's waist.
The supporting belt is adapted to be cohesively affixed to the inner belt. The
at least one container is adapted to be affixed to the supporting belt and
cohesively affixed to the inner belt.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a container for carrying
equipment on a belt assembly, of the type including an inner belt and a
supporting belt. The inner belt and supporting belt are being substantially
covered with corresponding fabric of the hook and loop fasteners type for
cohesively affixing onto one another. The container includes a receiving
compartment and a fixating structure. The receiving compartment is adapted
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for carrying the equipment. The fixating structure is adapted for affixing the
receiving compartment to the supporting belt and cohesively affixing to the
inner belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following description, the following drawings are used to describe and
exemplify the present invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a belt assembly in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a supporting belt of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a front view of a buckle of the supporting belt of the present
invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inner belt and supporting belt of the
present invention;
Figure 5 is a side elevation view of a portion of the supporting belt
cohesively
affixed to a portion of the inner belt; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a belt assembly and a container that is more
ergonomic and more rapidly removable than prior art belt assemblies. For
doing so, the present invention proposes a belt assembly in three separate
units: an inner belt, a supporting belt, and a compartment. The inner belt is
worn at a wearer's waist, while the supporting belt is adapted to cohesively
affix to the inner belt. Each of the compartments is adapted to affix to the
supporting belt, while cohesively affixing to the inner belt to carry hand
tools,
instrument and devices over long distances, for long period of time or
awkward confined or dangerous spaces. This is referred to as the MaxCon
concept.
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The belt assembly of the present invention can be used by any worker having to
carry equipment at the waist. Such workers include police officers, public
safety,
private security, homeland security, industrial maintenance professionals,
institutional custodial workers, electricians, plumbers, telephone installers,
cable
installers, and all construction workers. Typically, such workers carry at
their
waist many kilograms of equipment unevenly or disproportionately. Because the
weight of the equipment is generally carried on the side and on the front,
many
workers complain of back pain and postural problems. To overcome poor weight
distribution of the equipment around the waist, many belt systems rely on
rigid
belts. Such solution may be acceptable for workers who work mostly in standing
position. However, for workers having to wear their equipment at their waist
for
extensive period of times, and various upright, sitting and bent over
positions, the
use of rigid belts only increases the aches and pains of workers.
Therefore, the belt assembly of the present invention is preferably designed
in
such a manner as to be lighter and more flexible than prior art solutions. In
another aspect, the belt assembly of the present invention also allows use of
various types of interchangeable containers affixed in such a manner to the
belt
assembly so as to provide fast and continuous position of containers in
between
uses of the latter. Alternatively, in accordance with another aspect of the
present
invention, the belt assembly of the present invention is adapted for carrying
equipment and is systematically convertible to use suspenders, utilizing the
same
interchangeable positioning and affixing mechanisms as the belt of the present
invention.
Reference is now made to Figure 1, which is a perspective view of the belt
assembly 10 of the present invention. The belt assembly 10 includes an inner
belt
12, a supporting belt 14, and containers 16a and 16b. The inner belt 12 is
designed in such a manner that it can pass through garment belt loops around
the
wearer's waist. The inner belt 12 may be designed of flexible material. The
inner
belt 12 has an exterior surface partially or completely covered with a fabric
of the
hook and loop fasteners type, such as for example VelcroTM. The inner belt 12
is
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preferably designed in such a manner that it fastens on itself, without
requiring
any buckle, such as with the fabric of the hook and loop fasteners type. Width
of the inner belt 12 can be adapted to fit various physiognomy, so as to add
comfort to the wearer. For example, for a wearer of short torso, it may be
5 desirable to use the inner belt 12 with a smaller width, while for a wearer
of
longer torso, the inner belt 12 may be designed of a larger width.
The supporting belt 14 is designed to cohesively affix to the inner belt 12.
To
perform such cohesive affixing, a cooperating fabric of the hook and loop type
may be applied to an interior surface of the supporting belt. The fabric may
cover only a longitudinal section of the interior surface of the supporting
belt
14, or in a more preferable manner, covers the entire interior surface of the
supporting belt. It could also be possible to design the fabric of the hook
and
loop type of the interior surface of the supporting belt 14 to correspond to
the
size of the fabric of the hook and loop type of the inner belt 12. In order to
add to the comfort of the wearer, the supporting belt is also preferably
designed in a material that it is laterally flexible while being
longitudinally
inflexible or unstretchable. An example of a fabric fulfilling such
requirements,
while providing additional comfort to the wearer is the fabric used for safety
belts. Such fabric is light, durable, and laterally flexible while being
longitudinally inflexible or unstretchable. These criteria are important for a
supporting belt that will be worn for extensive hours, for carrying several
kilograms of equipment, in various positions and conditions.
Reference is now made concurrently to Figures 1, 2 and 5, wherein Figure 2
shows a perspective view of the supporting belt 14 in accordance with an
aspect of the present invention, and Figure 5 is a side elevation view of a
portion of the supporting belt cohesively affixed to a portion of the inner
belt.
More particularly, Figure 5 shows the inner belt 12 in a closed position, as
it
would be around a wearer's waist. The supporting belt 14 may further be
equipped with a locking mechanism 18, to fasten the supporting belt 14
around the wearer's waist, over the inner belt 12. The locking mechanism 18
may also function as a mechanism for adjusting a length of the supporting belt
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14, as shown on Figure 2. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may consist
of cooperating fabric of the hook and loop fasteners type, applied on both
interior and exterior surfaces of the supporting belt 14, and lock the
supporting
belt 14 by superposing ends of the supporting belt 14. In accordance with a
third alternative shown on Figure 3, and now being concurrently referred to,
the locking mechanism 18 may consist of a fast-release buckle as used in
airplanes. In all those alternatives, locking mechanisms 18 are simple,
reliable, and allow for fast removing of the supporting belt 14.
Reference is now concurrently made to Figures 1 and 4, wherein Figure 4
depicts a perspective view of the inner belt 12 partially cohesively affixed
to
the supporting belt 14, on which a container 16 is also affixed. The container
16 is adapted to be installed by a user on a desired position on the
supporting
belt 14. As not two users have identical morphological proportions, the
possibility of locating the container 16 or multiple containers 16 anywhere on
the supporting belt 14 greatly increases user's control flexibility over
weight
allocation while rendering the belt assembly 10 more ergonomic.
Furthermore, the fact that the container 16 affixes to the supporting belt 14
allows for fast release and removal of the belt assembly when needed,
without fear of the container 16 sliding out of a position assigned by the
wearer. An additional feature of the present invention is depicted on Figure
6,
which shows a perspective view of the container 16 in accordance with an
aspect of the invention. The container 16 is adapted to affix to the
supporting
belt 14 and cohesively affix to the inner belt 12. The container 16 can be
specifically designed to receive equipment such as a gun, a flashlight, a
pepper spray, a baton, a construction tool, a walkie-talkie, or a mobile
telephone.
The container 16 is composed of a receiving compartment 20 for carrying the
desired equipment, and a fixating structure 22. The fixating structure 22 is
adapted to affix the container 16 to the supporting belt 14. For doing so, the
fixating structure 22 may consist for example of complimentary fabric of the
hook and loop type, covering a portion of the whole surface 24 of the fixating
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structure 22, and adapted to be in contact with the supporting belt 14 when
the container 16 is affixed thereon. To add rigidity to the container 16, or
to
provide cushioning to a wearer of the belt assembly, the fixating stucture may
consist of a dual flap overlapping clamshell system, as shown on Figure 6.
The dual flap system could for example include a superior flap 26 and a lower
flap 28. Both superior flap 26 and lower flap 28 are adapted to superpose
one another, over the supporting belt 14. Both the superior flap 26 and lower
flap 28 could be partially or completely covered with cooperating fabric of
the
hook and loop type, so as to increase the cohesiveness of the container to the
supporting belt 14.
The fixating structure 22 could alternatively be composed of a loop type, and
allow sliding of the container 16 onto the supporting belt 14. Other means for
affixing the container 16 onto the supporting belt 14 could also be
contemplated without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In addition to affixing the container 16 to the supporting belt 14, the
fixating
structure of the present invention further affixes the container to the inner
belt
12, when the supporting belt 14 is in cohesive contact with the latter. For
doing so, the fixating structure 22 is further provided with a collaborating
fabric
of the hook and loop type, located in such a manner that it cohesively affixes
to the inner belt 12 when the supporting belt 14 is in cohesive contact with
the
inner belt 12. For example, on Figure 6, the cooperating fabric of the hook
and loop type is applied to an exterior surface 30 of the flap that is
designed
to superpose onto the other flap. By adding cohesiveness between the
container 16 and the inner belt 12, the belt assembly 10 becomes intrinsically
more ergonomic, and the preferred position of the container chosen by the
wearer becomes insensitive to movement of the wearer.
The container 16 could be made of various fabrics: for example leather, high
gauge polyester fabric, various gauge of plastic, etc.
The expression "cooperating fabric of the hook and loop type" has been used
throughout the present specification to refer to a combination of two fabrics,
i.e. a hook type fabric and a corresponding loop type fabric. Those skilled in
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the art will acknowledge that such cooperation is only possible when
complimentary hook and loop fabrics are put in contact. In the context of the
present invention, it is immaterial whether a hook fabric or loop type fabric
is
applied to one surface or another, as long as the cooperation there between is
accomplished and respected.
The present invention has been described by way of preferred embodiments.
It should be clear to those skilled in the art that the described preferred
embodiments are for exemplary purposes only, and should not be interpreted
to limit the scope of the present invention. The belt assembly and container
as described in the description of preferred embodiments can be modified
without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the
present invention should be defined by reference to the appended claims,
which clearly delimit the protection sought.
