Release System

Abstract

Systems that may be used to quickly remove gear having straps from a user's body. Certain embodiments provide a housing into which multiple plugs may be inserted. A strap may be secured to each plug, and the straps may be used to secure gear to a user's body. When it is desired to remove the gear, a user may disengage all of the plugs either by pulling on individual tabs coupled to each plug, or by pulling on a master tab coupled to more than one plug. Release members within the housing eject the plugs from the housing such that the user does not need to manually remove the plugs.

1 . A release system comprising:
 a housing comprising: a first channel and a second channel;   a first release member within a portion of the first channel and a second release member within a portion of the second channel;   a first plug inserted into a portion of the first channel and a second plug inserted into a portion of the second channel, wherein each of the first plug and the second plug comprise an engaging member; and   a first actuating member and a second actuating member, wherein each of the first and second actuating members are coupled to the housing and are moveable between a first position and a second position,   wherein, when the first actuating member is in the first position, the first actuating member is engaged with the engaging member of the first plug to secure the first plug within the housing, and when the second actuating member is in the first position, the second actuating member is engaged with the engaging member of the second plug to secure the second plug within the housing, and   wherein, when the first actuating member is in the second position, the first actuating member is disengaged from the engaging member of the first plug and the first release member applies a force to the first plug to release the first plug from the housing, and when the second actuating member is in the second position, the second actuating member is disengaged from the engaging member of the second plug and the second release member applies a force to the second plug to release the second plug from the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The release system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second actuating members are moved into the second position by at least one of applying a force to a master tab coupled to both the first actuating member and the second actuating member, or to individual tabs coupled separately to each of the first actuating member and the second actuating member. 
     
     
         3 . The release system as in  claim 1 , wherein the engaging member of the first plug comprises an aperture in the first plug, and when the first actuating member is in the first position, the first actuating member is inserted into the aperture of the first plug. 
     
     
         4 . The release system as in  claim 1 , wherein when the first actuating member is in the first position, the first release member is compressed, and when the first actuating member is in the second position, the first release member extends to thereby apply force to the first plug. 
     
     
         5 . The release system as in  claim 1 , wherein the first plug and the second plug are each coupled to straps that are secured to gear and worn by a user. 
     
     
         6 . The release system as in  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a third channel and a forth channel, and wherein the release system further comprises:
 a third release member within a portion of the third channel and a fourth release member within a portion of the forth channel;   a third plug inserted into a portion of the third channel and a fourth plug inserted into a portion of the fourth channel, wherein each of the third plug and the fourth plug comprise an engaging member; and   a third actuating member and a fourth actuating member, wherein each of the third and forth actuating members are coupled to the housing and are moveable between a first position and a second position,   wherein, when the third actuating member is in the first position, the third actuating member is engaged with the engaging member of the third plug to secure the third plug within the housing, and when the fourth actuating member is in the first position, the fourth actuating member is engaged with the engaging member of the fourth plug to secure the fourth plug within the housing, and   wherein, when the third actuating member is in the second position, the third actuating member is disengaged from the engaging member of the third plug and the third release member applies force to the third plug to release the third plug from the housing, and when the fourth actuating member is in the second position, the fourth actuating member is disengaged from the engaging member of the fourth plug and the fourth release member applies force to the fourth plug to release the fourth plug from the housing.   
     
     
         7 . A release system comprising:
 a housing comprising: a first channel and a second channel;   a first plug inserted into a portion of the first channel and a second plug inserted into a portion of the second channel;   a first release member within a portion of the first channel to contact and apply a force to the first plug and a second release member within a portion of the second channel to contact and apply a force to the second plug; and   a first actuating member and a second actuating member, wherein each of the first and second actuating members are coupled to the housing and are moveable between a first position and a second position,   wherein, when the first actuating member is in the first position, the first actuating member contacts and applies a resistive force to the first plug to thereby secure the first plug within the housing, and when the second actuating member is in the first position, the second actuating member contacts and applies a resistive force to the second plug to secure the second plug within the housing, and   wherein, when the first actuating member is in the second position, the resistive force is removed from the first plug and the force applied by the first release member releases the first plug from the housing, and wherein, when the second actuating member is in the second position, the resistive force is removed from the second plug and the force applied by the second release member releases the second plug from the housing.   
     
     
         8 . The release system as in  claim 7 , wherein each of the first plug and the second plug comprise an engaging member, and
 wherein, when the first actuating member is in the first position, the first actuating member is engaged with the engaging member of the first plug to thereby apply a resistive force to the first plug, and   wherein, when the second actuating member is in the first position, the second actuating member is engaged with the engaging member of the second plug to thereby apply a resistive force to the second plug.   
     
     
         9 . The release system as in  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first actuating member or the second actuating member comprises an elongated cylinder and a spring that is coupled to the elongated cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The release system as in  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the housing, the first plug, or the second plug is comprised of at least one of nylon, acetal, an impact modified polyacetal resin, or TPOM. 
     
     
         11 . The release system as in  claim 7 , wherein the first release member and the second release member comprise at least one of a coil spring, a leaf spring, or an accordion spring. 
     
     
         12 . A release system comprising:
 a housing comprising: a first channel and a second channel;   a first plug inserted into a first portion of the first channel and a second plug inserted into a first portion of the second channel;   a first release member within a second portion of the first channel to contact and apply a force to the first plug, wherein the force tends to push the first plug out of the housing;   a second release member within a second portion of the second channel to contact and apply a force to the second plug, wherein the force tends to push the second plug out of the housing;   a first actuating member coupled to the housing to contact and apply a resistive force to the first plug, wherein the resistive force secures the first plug within the housing; and   a second actuating member coupled to the housing to contact and apply a resistive force to the second plug, wherein the resistive force secures the second plug within the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The release system as in  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second actuating members are moveable between a first position and a second position, and wherein, when the first actuating member is in the first position, the first plug is secured within the housing, and wherein, when the second actuating member is in the first position, the second plug is secured within the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The release system as in  claim 13 , wherein, when the first actuating member is in the second position, the resistive force is removed from the first plug and the force applied by the first release member releases the first plug from the housing, and wherein, when the second actuating member is in the second position, the resistive force is removed from the second plug and the force applied by the second release member releases the second plug from the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The release system as in  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the first channel is provided at an angle to the first portion of the second channel, and wherein the angle is less than 90°. 
     
     
         16 . The release system as in  claim 12 , wherein a diameter of the first portion of the first channel is smaller than a diameter of the second portion of the first channel, and wherein a diameter of the first portion of the second channel is smaller than a diameter of the second portion of the second channel. 
     
     
         17 . The release system as in  claim 12 , wherein the first portion of the first channel is coaxial with the second portion of the first channel. 
     
     
         18 . The release system as in  claim 12 , wherein the housing is approximately rectangular-shaped and comprises an edge. 
     
     
         19 . The release system as in  claim 18 , wherein the first actuating member and the second actuating member are received within the housing and protrude from the edge of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The release system as in  claim 12 , wherein the housing further comprises a first actuating member channel that receives the first actuating member and a second actuating member channel that receives the second actuating member. 
     
     
         21 . The release system as in  claim 20 , wherein the first actuating member channel is transverse to and intersects with the second portion of the first channel, and
 wherein the second actuating member channel is provided at an angle of less than 90° to the second portion of the second channel, and intersects with the second portion of the second channel.