Auxiliary Gear Attachment System and Method

Abstract

Outerwear in the form of a wearable personal device can be customized to accept auxiliary gear using a quick attach/detach system that provides for minimal alteration to the aesthetics of the auxiliary gear and the wearable personal device. The system of the present invention can be offered in varied sizes and shapes to accommodate not only dimensional requests, but capacity of auxiliary equipment. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention can be employed with a webbing system previously attached to the wearable personal device. The present invention can include a replaceable female buckle designed to mate with to corresponding male buckles placed on any of a variety of auxiliary equipment items, thereby facilitating quick and simple attachment and detachment of the auxiliary equipment.

1 . A system for auxiliary gear attachment, comprising:
 a wearable personal device; and   at least one female buckle member attached to the wearable personal device, wherein the at least one female buckle member comprises:
 a receiving end; 
 a second end; 
 a multi-axially hollow body portion connecting the receiving end to the second end, the body portion comprising a top section having a longitudinal axis, a bottom section, a first left-side wall, a second left-side wall, a first right-side wall and a second right side wall, and wherein the first left-side wall, the first right-side wall, the top section and the bottom section form an opening extending through the receiving end of the body portion substantially along the longitudinal axis of the top section, and wherein the first left-side wall, the second left-side wall, the top section and the bottom section form an opening extending through the body portion substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the top section. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bottom section of the body portion of the at least one female buckle member comprises a first retention arm extending from the first left-side wall and a second retention arm extending from the first right-side wall, wherein the first retention arm and the second retention arm are substantially rhomboid-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second retention arms have a length, and wherein the length of the second retention arm is greater than the length of the first retention arm. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end is a butt end comprising:
 a left butt end retention arm extending from the second left-side wall and a right butt end retention arm extending from the second right-side wall, wherein the left butt end retention arm and the right butt end retention arm are substantially rhomboid-shaped.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the left and right butt end retention arms each have a length, and wherein the length of the left butt end retention arm is greater than the length of the right butt end retention arm. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the bottom section of the body portion of the at least one female buckle member comprises a first retention arm extending from the first left-side wall and a second retention arm extending from the first right-side wall, wherein the first retention arm and the second retention arm are substantially rhomboid-shaped, wherein the first and second retention arms have a length, and wherein the length of the second retention arm is greater than the length of the first retention arm; and wherein the second end is a butt end comprising a left butt end retention arm extending from the second left-side wall and a right butt end retention arm extending from the second right-side wall, wherein the left butt end retention arm and the right butt end retention arm are substantially rhomboid-shaped, and wherein the left and right butt end retention arms each have a length, and wherein the length of the left butt end retention arm is greater than the length of the right butt end retention arm, such that the longer second retention arm is opposite from the longer left butt end retention arm. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end is a second receiving end and wherein the body portion further includes a third left-side wall and a third right-side wall, and further wherein the third left-side wall, the third right-side wall, the top section and the bottom section form an opening extending through the second receiving end of the body portion substantially along the longitudinal axis of the top section. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom section of the body member further comprises a third retention arm extending from the third left-side wall and a fourth retention arm extending from the third right-side wall, wherein the third retention arm and the fourth retention arm are to substantially rhomboid-shaped and extend toward one another. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable personal device includes a vertical strap capable of sliding engagement with the second end of the at least one female buckle member. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wearable personal device includes two or more vertical straps capable of sliding engagement with the second end of the at least one female buckle member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further including at least one auxiliary equipment item having at least one male buckle member insertable through the opening extending through the receiving end of the at least one female buckle member and engageable with the first left-side wall and first right-side wall of the at least one female buckle member. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  including two or more female buckle members and wherein the at least one auxiliary equipment item includes two or more male buckle members. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one female buckle member is detachable from the wearable personal device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one female buckle member includes first and second female buckle members secured to the wearable personal device in reverse orientation from each other such that the receiving end of the first female buckle member is adjacent the second end of the second female buckle member and the receiving end of the second female buckle member is adjacent the second end of the first female buckle member. 
     
     
         15 . A method of attaching auxiliary gear to a wearable personal device, comprising:
 attaching at least one female buckle member to a wearable personal device, wherein the at least one female buckle member comprises:   a receiving end;   a second end;   a multi-axially hollow body portion connecting the receiving end to the second end, the body portion comprising a top section having a longitudinal axis, a bottom section, a first left-side wall, a second left-side wall, a first right-side wall and a second right side wall, and wherein the first left-side wall, the first right-side wall, the top section and the bottom section form an opening extending through the receiving end of the body portion substantially along the longitudinal axis of the top section, and wherein the first left-side wall, the second left-side wall, the top section and the bottom section form an opening extending through the body portion substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the top section;   attaching at least one male buckle member to an auxiliary equipment item; and   inserting the male buckle member into the receiving end of the female buckle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of attaching the at least one female buckle member to the wearable personal device comprises inserting a strap into the second end of the at least one female buckle member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of attaching the at least one female buckle member to the wearable personal device comprises providing hook and loop fastener strips on the at least one female buckle member and the wearable personal device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of attaching at least one female buckle member to a wearable personal device includes attaching first and second female buckle members to the wearable personal device in reverse orientation from each other such that the receiving end of the first female buckle member is adjacent the second end of the second female buckle member and the receiving end of the second female buckle member is adjacent the second end of the first female buckle member.