Belt System

Abstract

A belt system worn by an individual includes a belt having an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end, and a belt panel having a first end and a second end. The first end of the belt panel is connected to the outer side of the belt between the first end of the belt and the second end of the belt. The second end of the belt panel has a closure for detachably connecting the second end of the belt panel to the belt between the first end of the belt panel and the first end of the belt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A belt system comprising:
 a belt having an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end;   a belt panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt panel being connected to the outer side of the belt between the first end of the belt and the second end of the belt, the second end of the belt panel having a closure configured to detachably connect the second end of the belt panel to the belt between the first end of the belt panel and the first end of the belt; and   wherein at least a portion of the belt facing an inner side of the belt panel or a portion of an inner side of the belt panel facing the belt includes a material configured to increase friction between the belt and the inner side of the belt panel.   
     
     
         2 . A belt system as defined in  1  further comprising an equipment attachment mechanism having attachment loops and a slack panel, wherein the equipment attachment mechanism is configured to receive a portion of the belt panel and a portion of the slack panel through the attachment loops, wherein when the belt panel and the slack panel are received in the attachment loops, the belt panel is between between the equipment attachment mechanism and the slack panel. 
     
     
         3 . A belt system as defined in  1  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         4 . A belt system as defined in  1  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the load panel having a closure, a lower portion of the load panel including a thicker portion configured to substantially fill the space between loads mounted on the load panel and a wearer of the belt; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         5 . A belt system as defined in  1  further comprising a load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the load panel having a first closure configured to attach the first end of the load panel to the belt, the second end of the load panel having a second closure configured to attach the second end of the load panel or the belt. 
     
     
         6 . A belt system as defined in  1  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a first load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the first load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; 
 a second load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second load panel having a first closure configured to attach the first end of the second load panel to the first load panel, and the second end of the second load panel having a second closure configured to attach the second end of the second load panel or the first load panel; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the first load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         7 . A belt system as defined in  1  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a first load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the first load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; 
 a second load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second load panel having a first closure configured to attach the first end of the second load panel to the first load panel, and the second end of the second load panel having a second closure configured to attach the second end of the second load panel or the first load panel, the second load panel comprising a plurality of attachment points configured to receive equipment; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the first load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         8 . A belt system comprising:
 a belt having a first end, a second end, an inner belt portion and an outer belt portion, the outer belt portion being spaced apart from the inner belt portion to define a gap between the inner belt portion and the outer belt portion; and   a belt panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt panel being connected to an outer side of the outer belt portion of the belt between the first end of the belt and the second end of the belt, the second end of the belt panel having a closure configured to detachably connect the second end of the belt panel to the belt between the first end of the belt panel and the first end of the belt.   
     
     
         9 . A belt system as defined in  8 , wherein at least a portion of the belt facing an inner side of the belt panel or a portion of an inner side of the belt panel facing the belt includes a material configured to increase friction between the the belt and the inner side of the belt panel. 
     
     
         10 . A belt system as defined in  8  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         11 . A belt system as defined in  8  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the load panel having a closure, a lower portion of the load panel including a thicker portion configured to substantially fill the space between loads mounted on the load panel and a wearer of the belt; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         12 . A belt system as defined in  8  further comprising a load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the load panel having a first closure configured to attach the first end of the load panel to the belt, the second end of the load panel having a second closure configured to attach the second end of the load panel or the belt. 
     
     
         13 . A belt system as defined in  8  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a first load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the first load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; 
 a second load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second load panel having a first closure configured to attach the first end of the second load panel to the first load panel, and the second end of the second load panel having a second closure configured to attach the second end of the second load panel or the first load panel; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the first load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         14 . A belt system as defined in  8  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a first load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the first load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; 
 a second load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second load panel having a first closure configured to attach the first end of the second load panel to the first load panel, and the second end of the second load panel having a second closure configured to attach the second end of the second load panel or the first load panel, the second load panel comprising a plurality of attachment points configured to receive equipment; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the first load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         15 . A belt system for use with pants having pant loops, the belt system comprising:
 a belt having an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end, the belt configured to be inserted between the belt loops and the pants;   a belt panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt panel being pivotally connected to the outer side of the belt between the first end of the belt and the second end of the belt, the second end of the belt panel having a closure configured to detachably connect the second end of the belt panel to the belt between the first end of the belt panel and the first end of the belt; and   wherein the belt panel is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the second end of the belt panel is detachably connected to the belt and the belt loops are between the inner side of the belt panel and the outer side of the belt, and wherein in the second position, the second end of the belt panel is detached from the belt and the belt panel is pivotable about the belt at the first end of the belt panel.   
     
     
         16 . A belt system as defined in  15  wherein at least a portion of the belt facing an inner side of the belt panel or a portion of an inner side of the belt panel facing the belt includes a material configured to increase friction between the the belt and the inner side of the belt panel. 
     
     
         17 . A belt system as defined in  15  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         18 . A belt system as defined in  15  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the load panel having a closure, a lower portion of the load panel including a thicker portion configured to substantially fill the space between loads mounted on the load panel and a wearer of the belt; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         19 . A belt system as defined in  15  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a first load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the first load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; 
 a second load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second load panel having a first closure configured to attach the first end of the second load panel to the first load panel, and the second end of the second load panel having a second closure configured to attach the second end of the second load panel or the first load panel; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the first load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel. 
 
     
     
         20 . A belt system as defined in  15  further comprising a load carrying assembly comprising:
 a first load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first load panel having a closure configured to adjustably attach to the belt panel along a length of the belt panel, and the second end of the first load panel having a closure; 
 a belt mount having a first end and a second end, the first end of the belt mount configured to slidably mount on the belt panel, and the second end of the belt mount having a closure; 
 a second load panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second load panel having a first closure configured to attach the first end of the second load panel to the first load panel, and the second end of the second load panel having a second closure configured to attach the second end of the second load panel or the first load panel, the second load panel comprising a plurality of attachment points configured to receive equipment; and 
 wherein the closure at the second end of the first load panel and the closure at the second end of the belt mount are configured to connect to attach the load carrying assembly to the belt or the belt panel.