Quick-mount interlocking attaching system

Abstract

An interlocking attaching system comprises a substrate adapter, an accessory adapter and a discrete locking member. The substrate adapter includes a base for affixing to a substrate object and a plurality of spaced apart raised regions disposed along a first longitudinal axis. The raised regions have slots defining a first plurality of passages oriented parallel to the first longitudinal axis and aligned with one another. The accessory adapter includes a base for affixing to an accessory object and a plurality of spaced apart raised regions disposed along a second longitudinal axis. The raised regions have slots defining a second plurality of passages oriented parallel to the second longitudinal axis and aligned with one another. The spacing between the locations of the raised regions of the adapters are dimensioned to position at least one raised region of one of the adapters between at least two raised regions of the other adapter when the adapters are in operational alignment, i.e., with their respective top sides together and with their respective passage aligned. The locking member is removably insertable through the passages on both adapters when the adapters are in operational alignment. Insertion of the locking member through the passages of both adapters when the adapters are in operational alignment interlocks the accessory object to the substrate object, and withdrawal of the locking member from the passages releases the accessory object from the substrate object.

1 . An accessory object adapter for removably securing an accessory object to a substrate object using a discrete locking member, the substrate object having a plurality of loops disposed at spaced apart locations along a column axis on a top side thereof, the loops forming at least one loop column, the locking member being removably insertable through the loop column of the substrate object and having a first component of a latching mechanism, the adapter comprising: 
 a base affixable to a top side of the accessory object;    a loop column including a plurality of loops disposed at spaced apart locations along a column axis and oriented so as to define a common passage therethrough;    wherein the adapter is formed of a solid polymer material and dimensioned to position at least one of the loops of one of the loop columns of one of the adapter and substrate object between at least two of the loops of a corresponding loop column of the other of the adapter and substrate object when the adapter and substrate object are placed in operational alignment with the common passages of the corresponding loop columns aligned with the respective top sides together;    a second component of the latching mechanism for engaging the first component of the latching mechanism; and    wherein insertion of the locking member into the common passages of the adapter and substrate object when the adapter and substrate object are in operational alignment interlocks the adapter to the substrate object, and withdrawal of the locking member from the common passages releases the adapter from the substrate object.    
   
   
       2 . The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the adapter is thermoformed from the solid polymer material.  
   
   
       3 . The adapter of  claim 1  wherein the adapter is formed by injection molding of the polymer material.  
   
   
       4 . The adapter of  claim 1  wherein each of the loops of the adapter loop column comprise a raised area, the raised areas defining the common passage.  
   
   
       5 . The adapter of  claim 4  wherein the adapter is sufficiently flexible to allow substantial bending while the raised areas of the loops are sufficiently rigid to remain open so as to permit passage of the locking member therethrough when the adapter is flexed.  
   
   
       6 . The adapter of  claim 4  further comprising cutouts formed between the loops to receive corresponding loops of the substrate object.  
   
   
       7 . An accessory object comprising: 
 the adapter of  claim 1;  and    an accessory object comprising a fabric pocket affixed to the adapter.    
   
   
       8 . The accessory object of  claim 7  wherein the adapter is affixed to the object by sewing.  
   
   
       9 . A substrate object adapter for removably securing an accessory object to the substrate object with a discrete locking member, the accessory object including a plurality of loops disposed at spaced apart locations along a column axis forming at least one loop column having a common passage therethrough, the locking member being removably insertable through the loop column of the accessory object, the adapter comprising: 
 a base affixable to a top side of the substrate object;    a loop column including a plurality of loops disposed at spaced apart locations along a column axis and oriented so as to define a common passage therethrough;    wherein the loops are formed of a solid polymer material and dimensioned to position at least one of the loops of one of the loop columns of one of the adapter and accessory object between at least two of the loops of a corresponding loop column of the other of the adapter and accessory object when loop columns of the adapter and accessory object are placed in operational alignment with the common passages of the corresponding loop columns aligned;    wherein insertion of the locking member into the common passages of the adapter and accessory object when the adapter and accessory object are in operational alignment interlocks the adapter to the substrate object, and withdrawal of the locking member from the common passages releases the adapter from the substrate object; and    wherein the loops of the adapter are sufficiently rigid to remain open so as to permit passage of the locking member therethrough when the adapter is flexed.    
   
   
       10 . The adapter of  claim 9  further comprising a latching component for engaging a latching component of the locking member when the locking member is inserted into the common passage.  
   
   
       11 . The adapter of  claim 9  wherein the adapter is thermoformed from the solid polymer material.  
   
   
       12 . The adapter of  claim 9  further comprising cutouts formed between the loops to receive corresponding loops of the accessory object.  
   
   
       13 . An adapter configured for releasably connecting an accessory object to a substrate object comprising a load bearing fabric garment, wherein one of the accessory object or wearable garment includes a plurality of loops formed on an outer side thereof along a column axis such that the loops define a common passageway for receiving an elongate locking member therethrough, comprising: 
 an elongate locking member having a main body, a leading end and an enlarged trailing end;    an adapter body formed from a solid polymer material comprising: 
 a substantially flat base having a top side and a bottom side affixable to one of the object or garment;  
 a plurality of spaced apart raised areas positioned on a column axis and extending upwardly from the top side of the base, each of the raised areas having a slot formed therethrough on the column axis such that the slots of the raised areas define a common passageway aligned with the common axis, the slots configured to receive the leading end and main body of the elongate locking member, the slots having a dimension smaller than a corresponding dimension of the trailing end of the locking member such that the trailing end of the locking member cannot pass through the slots and wherein the main body of the locking member is configured with a width greater than height such that the locking member is non-rotatatable relative to the common axis when positioned in one of the slots; and  
   wherein the spacing between the raised areas is dimensioned to enable at least one of the loops to be positioned between two of the raised areas when the respective column axes are positioned in operational alignment such the adapter is secured to one of the accessory object or wearable garment when the elongate locking member is inserted through the common passages and released from the accessory object or wearable garment when the locking member is removed from the common passages.    
   
   
       14 . The adapter of  claim 13  wherein the locking member further comprises a first component of a latching mechanism for securing the locking member in the common passages.  
   
   
       15 . The adapter of  claim 14  wherein the adapter body further comprises a second component of the latching mechanism for engaging the first component of the latching member to secure the locking member in the common passages.  
   
   
       16 . The adapter of  claim 15  wherein the first component of the latching mechanism comprises an aperture formed proximate the leading end of the locking member; and 
 wherein the second component of the latching mechanism comprises a protrusion formed on the adapter body to engage the aperture.    
   
   
       17 . The adapter of  claim 15  wherein the first component of the latching mechanism comprises a lateral projection extending from the locking member; and 
 wherein the second component of the latching mechanism comprises a rounded member extending into the slot of one of the raised areas.    
   
   
       18 . The adapter of  claim 13 , wherein the base of the substrate adapter does not extend beneath the respective raised areas of each loop.  
   
   
       19 . The adapter of  claim 13  wherein the trailing end of the locking member further comprises a pair of flanges for preventing the trailing end of the locking member from passing through the slots.  
   
   
       20 . The accessory adapter of  claim 13  wherein the locking member further comprises a first component of a latching mechanism for securing the locking member in the common passages; and 
 wherein the adapter body further comprises second components of the latching mechanism aligned with and positioned proximate each end of the common passage for securing the locking member in engagement with the adapter body.