Modular Pack System

Abstract

Modular pack systems that may be used for backpacking, biking, hunting, fly fishing, or other indoor or outdoor activities are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system is adjustable to fit different user torso sizes and includes attachment structures that may removably secure various detachable packs, pouches, or containers for different items needed. The attachment structures are generally spaced apart evenly in groupings throughout various locations on shoulder straps, a torso structure, and/or waistband, providing for standardization of pouches for attachment to the harness. Certain embodiments may also include hydration and waist packs, fabric flex points on shoulder straps that provide more flexibility in fitting over the shoulders, an adjustable lumbar support system for additional back support for the wearer, and/or flaps on the waistband for securing excess belt webbing after adjustment by the wearer.

1 . A modular pack system harness, comprising: 
 (a) an adjustable waistband comprising two ends and a middle;    (b) a torso structure comprising a bottom attached to the middle of the waistband and a top;    (c) two shoulder straps, each shoulder strap comprising an upper end attached to the top of the torso structure and a lower end; 
 (i) a lower end of one of the two shoulder straps being adjustably attachable to the waistband between the waistband middle and one of the two waistband ends; and  
 (ii) a lower end of the other of the two shoulder straps being adjustably attachable to the waistband between the waistband middle and the other of the two waistband ends; and  
   (d) a plurality of first attachment structures secured to the harness, wherein at least two different packs are attachable to the first attachment structures utilizing a second attachment structure.    
   
   
       2 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , wherein first attachment structures are secured to each of the waistband and the shoulder straps.  
   
   
       3 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 2 , wherein the first attachment structures on each of the waistband and the shoulder straps are generally positioned in rows such that the first attachment structures within each row are substantially equally spaced apart.  
   
   
       4 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , wherein each shoulder strap further comprises a pivotable buckle secured to the lower end for attaching the lower end of the shoulder strap to the waistband.  
   
   
       5 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , wherein the torso structure further comprises: 
 (a) an upward-extending lower torso plate attached the waistband and having an inside;    (b) a downward-extending upper torso plate attached to the shoulder straps and having an inside; and    (c) one of hook fabric and loop fabric attached to one of the torso plates and the other of the hook fabric and loop fabric attached to the other of the torso plates so that the plates may be secured to each other with the hook fabric and loop fabric and the extent to which one of the plates overlies the other plate may be changed to adjust the height of the torso structure.    
   
   
       6 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 5 , wherein the lower torso plate further comprises padding attached to the inside of the lower torso plate for contact with the user's back.  
   
   
       7 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , wherein the waistband further comprises a centrally located lumbar plate with padding on an inside and carrying first attachment structures on an outside.  
   
   
       8 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 7 , wherein the waistband further comprises a first belt web between the lumbar plate and one of the two ends of the waistband and a second belt web between the lumbar plate and the other of the two ends of the waistband.  
   
   
       9 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 8 , further comprising a lumbar adjustment strap extending from each of two opposite edges of the lumbar plate, each lumbar adjustment strap coupled to a belt web.  
   
   
       10 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 9 , further comprising two side panels, each side panel comprising a padded structure connected between one of the belt webs and the lumbar plate and underlying a lumbar adjustment strap.  
   
   
       11 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 10 , wherein each side panel further comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, a first fabric flap extending from the upper edge to overlie the associated lumbar adjustment strap, and a second fabric flap extending from the lower edge to overlie the associated the lumbar adjustment strap.  
   
   
       12 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 11 , wherein the first fabric flap carries first attachment structures and overlies the second fabric flap and attaches to the second fabric flap with hook and loop fabric.  
   
   
       13 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , wherein the waistband further comprises at least one side panel, each side panel comprising first attachment structures.  
   
   
       14 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 13 , wherein each side panel further comprises an upper edge, a lower edge, a first fabric flap carrying the first attachment structures of the side panel, and a second fabric flap extending from the lower edge that attaches to the first fabric flap with hook and loop fabric.  
   
   
       15 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one lumbar adjustment strap, wherein the first and second fabric flaps of each side panel attach to each other to cover at least a portion of a lumber adjustment strap.  
   
   
       16 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (a) a bladder for holding water or other fluids and positionable against the torso structure;    (b) a mouthpiece positionable on the harness proximate a location near a harness wearer's mouth when the harness is being worn; and    (c) a tube connected between the bladder and the mouthpiece.    
   
   
       17 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one elastic fabric loop attached to one of the shoulder straps to hold the tube.  
   
   
       18 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 16 , wherein the bladder is held within a bladder pack permanently attached to the torso structure.  
   
   
       19 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 16 , wherein the bladder is held within a bladder pack alternatively positionable at least (a) attached to the torso structure, or (b) within a backpack attachable to the harness.  
   
   
       20 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first attachment structures comprises studs, each stud having a shank projecting from a base and topped by a head.  
   
   
       21 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 20 , further comprising the at least two different packs, each pack including a second attachment structure.  
   
   
       22 . The modular pack system of  claim 21 , wherein the second attachment structure comprises a clip having a slot open at one end with resilient slot sides defining a neck narrower than the diameter of the shank of the stud such that the shank of the stud is forced through the neck to capture the stud within the clip.  
   
   
       23 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 20 , further comprising studs attached to each of the shoulder straps.  
   
   
       24 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 23 , further comprising an adjustable sternum strap attachable between a stud on one of the shoulder straps and a stud on the other of the shoulder straps.  
   
   
       25 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 24 , wherein the adjustable sternum strap includes a quick-release fastener for separating the sternum strap into two parts, each part attachable to a stud on one of the shoulder straps.  
   
   
       26 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 20 , further comprising studs attached to the waistband proximate the middle of the waistband.  
   
   
       27 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 20 , further comprising studs attached to the torso structure.  
   
   
       28 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable lumbar strap having two strap ends, one of which is attached to different points along the waistband.  
   
   
       29 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , wherein the waistband further comprises a quick-release fastener for securing the two ends of the waistband to one another.  
   
   
       30 . The modular pack system harness of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment structures are mounted on polyethylene board that is stitched in place.  
   
   
       31 . A waistband for supporting one or more of a plurality of packs and accessories, the waistband comprising a belt to which studs are attached, each stud comprising a shank extending from the belt and topped by a head, wherein the studs are spaced apart from each other equidistantly.  
   
   
       32 . The waistband of  claim 31 , further comprising a pouch comprising at least one clip for mounting on one of the studs, and a plurality of pockets for holding tools.  
   
   
       33 . The waistband of  claim 31 , wherein the studs are mounted on polyethylene board that is stitched in place.  
   
   
       34 . The waistband of  claim 31 , further comprising a centrally located lumbar plate with padding on an inside and carrying studs on an outside.  
   
   
       35 . The waistband of  claim 34 , further comprising two adjustable length lumbar straps, each strap attached to an opposite edge of the lumbar plate.  
   
   
       36 . The waistband of  claim 35 , further comprising two side panels, each side panel comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, a first fabric flap extending from the upper edge to overlie a lumbar strap, and a second fabric flap extending from the lower edge to overlie the lumbar strap.  
   
   
       37 . The waistband of  claim 31 , further comprising at least one side panel, each side panel including studs and further comprising an upper edge, a lower edge, a first fabric flap carrying the studs of the side panel, and a second fabric flap extending from the lower edge that attaches to the first fabric flap with hook and loop fabric.  
   
   
       38 . The waistband of  claim 37 , further comprising two lumbar adjustment straps, wherein the first and second fabric flaps of each side panel attach to each other to cover one of the two adjustment lumbar straps.  
   
   
       39 . A waistband for supporting one or more of a plurality of packs and accessories, the waistband comprising: 
 (a) a padded plate for positioning against a lower back of a wearer of the waistband, the plate comprising a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge;    (b) waist-encircling structures connected to the plate for encircling a wearer's waist and attaching in the wearer's front, the waist-encircling structures comprising: 
 (i) a first belt web and a second belt web;  
 (ii) a first adjustable length lumbar strap attached between the first side edge and the first belt web, and a second adjustable length lumbar strap attached between the second side edge and the second belt web;  
 (iii) a buckle for adjustably attaching the first and second belt webs to each other;  
 (iv) underlying each of the first and second adjustable length lumbar straps, padding having an upper edge and a lower edge;  
 (v) a cover overlying each of the first and second adjustable length lumbar straps; and  
 (vi) a plurality of studs secured to the covering material.  
   
   
   
       40 . The waistband of  claim 39 , wherein each cover comprises a first flap of material attached proximate the lumbar strap padding lower edge, a second flap of material attached proximate the lumbar strap padding upper edge, and hook material attached to the one of the first and second flaps and loop material attached to the other of the first and second flaps for closing the flaps over the lumbar strap by securing the hook material to the loop material.  
   
   
       41 . A multifunctional modular pack system, comprising: 
 a harness with two shoulder straps, at least one torso-encircling strap, multiple first attachment structures on the harness, and at least two different soft-sided packs; and    each pack comprising at least one second attachment structure for mating with one of the first attachment structures, and at least one of the packs having at least two second attachment structures.    
   
   
       42 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , wherein the shoulder straps contain elastic material.  
   
   
       43 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , wherein the shoulder straps are joined with stitching to a padded laminate so as to be connected behind the neck of the wearer in use.  
   
   
       44 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , wherein, when mated, the second attachment structure is rotatable on the first attachment structure.  
   
   
       45 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , wherein the first attachment structures comprise one or more groupings of studs, wherein each grouping of studs comprises studs generally in a row and the studs in each row are spaced apart equidistantly.  
   
   
       46 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , wherein each first attachment structure has a head joined by a central shaft to a generally circular base larger than the head.  
   
   
       47 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , further comprising camouflage patterns on at least some of the surfaces visible during use.  
   
   
       48 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , further comprising a plurality of pockets for holding tools.  
   
   
       49 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , further comprising a cover positionable over a head of a first attachment structure when the first attachment structure is not in use.  
   
   
       50 . The multifunctional modular pack system of  claim 41 , wherein the first attachment structures are mounted on fabric backed by board.  
   
   
       51 . A modular pack system comprising: 
 a multifunctional harness assembly comprising shoulder straps;    a lower lumbar support structure;    connecting structure located on a distal end of each shoulder strap for securing the distal ends to the lumbar support structure;    a plurality of studs spaced along a portion of each shoulder strap and a portion of the lumbar support structure, each stud comprising a shank; and    one or more attachable components, each component including a clip that has a slot configured to securely receive a stud by forcing the shaft of the stud beyond a neck in the slot to capture the clip.    
   
   
       52 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more attachable components comprises a hydration pack removably attached to the harness assembly.  
   
   
       53 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more attachable components comprises a removable backpack.  
   
   
       54 . The modular pack system of  claim 53 , wherein the backpack includes an outer pocket having pocket straps on the sides of the outer pocket.  
   
   
       55 . The modular pack system of  claim 54 , wherein the outer pocket contains studs located inside the pocket.  
   
   
       56 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the lumbar support structure comprises a compression molded panel and a lumbar support pad.  
   
   
       57 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the lumbar support structure comprises an adjustable lumbar support strap at least a portion of which is enclosed within a hook and loop closable textile cover.  
   
   
       58 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the plurality of studs are mounted on polyethylene board that is stitched in place.  
   
   
       59 . The modular pack system of  claim 56 , further comprising a plurality of screws, each screw passing through the polyethylene board into an opening in each stud to mount the studs to the polyethylene board.  
   
   
       60 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , further comprising camouflage patterns on at least some surfaces of the harness assembly visible during use.  
   
   
       61 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , further comprising a plurality of pockets for holding tools.  
   
   
       62 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more attachable components comprises a pouch comprising at least one clip for mounting on one of the plurality of studs.  
   
   
       63 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more attachable components comprises a structure for holding fishing equipment.  
   
   
       64 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more attachable components comprises a structure for holding ammunition.  
   
   
       65 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more attachable components comprises a pack for holding camping equipment.  
   
   
       66 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the one or more attachable components comprises a plurality of structures for holding tactical or military equipment.  
   
   
       67 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , further comprising a duffel bag.  
   
   
       68 . The modular pack system of  claim 67 , wherein the duffel bag includes a plurality of studs spaced along a portion of an interior of the duffel bag.  
   
   
       69 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , further comprising a cover positionable on a stud to which a clip is not attached.  
   
   
       70 . The modular pack system of  claim 51 , wherein the studs are mounted on fabric backed by board.  
   
   
       71 . A system for attachment of an object to clothing or other articles worn by a mammal, the system comprising: 
 (a) a stud comprising: 
 (i) a generally round flat base with a plurality of prongs extending from a bottom of the base;  
 (ii) a shank having a diameter extending from a top of the base;  
 (iii) a polygonal plate head having a thickness, the head attached to an upper end of the shank; and  
 (iv) a threaded hole extending through the base and into the shank for receiving a screw for securing the stud to a fabric or other flat material by capturing the fabric or other flat material between the bottom of the base and the screw head, while drawing the prongs into the fabric or other flat material; and  
   (b) a clip comprising: 
 (i) a base plate for securing to fabric or other flat material;  
 (ii) a slot plate attached to the base plate and elevated above the base plate at least the thickness of the stud head, the slot plate comprising a slot open at one end and defined by resilient slot sides that form a neck narrower than the shank diameter such that the shank can be forced through the neck to capture the stud within the clip.  
   
   
   
       72 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the clip further comprising a protrusion to engage an edge of the head to partially resist clip rotation relative to the stud.  
   
   
       73 . A method of providing a modular pack system, the method comprising: 
 providing a multifunctional harness assembly comprising shoulder straps;    providing a lower lumbar support structure;    providing connecting structure located on a distal end of each shoulder strap for securing the distal ends to the lumbar support structure;    providing a plurality of studs spaced along a portion of each shoulder strap and a portion of the lumbar support structure, each stud comprising a shank; and    providing one or more attachable components, each component including a clip that has a slot configured to securely receive a stud by forcing the shaft of the stud beyond a neck in the slot to capture the clip.    
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising providing a duffel bag having a plurality of studs spaced along removal panels on an interior of the duffel bag.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 74 , further comprising storing any of the one or more attachable components by securing a clip of the attachable component to one of the plurality of studs inside the duffel bag.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 74 , further comprising storing the modular pack system in the duffel bag for transport.  
   
   
       77 . A method of preparing for an activity, the method comprising: 
 donning a multi-functional harness with two shoulder straps, a waistband, and multiple studs on the harness; and    attaching to the harness at least two packs useful in the course of the activity by positioning a clip attached to each of the packs to a stud mounted on the harness.    
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 77 , further comprising adjusting an adjustable lumbar strap of the waistband about a user's waist.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 77 , further comprising moving one of a lower torso plate and an upper torso plate of a torso structure of the harness relative to the other to adjust the height of the torso structure.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 77 , further comprising adjustably attaching a distal end of each shoulder strap to the waistband.