Attachment system with reinforcing coating

Abstract

An attachment system can include a plurality of apertures or openings in an attachment platform. The openings can be arranged in a pattern corresponding to a hexagon so that an attachment member for an accessory (such as a MOLLE-compatible accessory) may be passed through one or more of the openings so as to attach the accessory in any of a variety of different directions. The attachment platform can include a reinforcing coating that includes polyurea, such as a polyurea/polyurethane blend.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fabricating an attachment system for receiving MOLLE-compatible gear relative to a load-bearing platform, the method comprising:
 applying a coating to a sheet of base material, the coating comprising material comprising polyurea;   cutting a plurality of openings in the sheet of base material so that the openings are arranged in a repeating hexagonal pattern;   mounting an attachment platform to the load-bearing platform, the attachment platform comprising the sheet of base material having the coating and the plurality of openings arranged in the repeating hexagonal pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting is performed after the applying the coating. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying the coating to the sheet of base material comprises applying the coating to a rear side of the sheet of base material without applying the coating to a front side of the sheet of base material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the mounting the attachment platform to the load-bearing platform comprises mounting the attachment platform so that the rear side of the sheet of base material faces the load-bearing platform. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of base material comprises nylon. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the load-bearing platform is connected with or comprises at least a portion of a vest assembly such that the mounting the attachment platform to the load-bearing platform comprises mounting the attachment platform to the vest assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the coating comprises a hybrid elastomer compound that contains polyurea blended with other substances. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the coating comprises a polyurea/polyurethane blend. 
     
     
         9 . A vest assembly, comprising:
 a front panel;   a rear panel;   a shoulder yoke attached to the front panel and the rear panel so that when the shoulder yoke is worn by a wearer, the front panel is positioned on a front of the wearer and the rear panel is positioned on a rear of the wearer;   a load-bearing platform connected with or comprising at least a portion of at least one of the front panel or the rear panel; and   a substrate comprising:   a) an attachment platform mounted to the load-bearing platform, the attachment platform comprising a coating comprising polyurea; and   b) a plurality of openings formed in the attachment platform and arranged in a repeating hexagonal pattern configured to facilitate attachment of MOLLE-compatible accessories to the attachment platform.   
     
     
         10 . The vest of  claim 9 , wherein the coating comprises a hybrid elastomer compound that contains polyurea blended with other substances. 
     
     
         11 . The vest of  claim 9 , wherein the coating comprises a polyurea/polyurethane blend. 
     
     
         12 . The vest of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the coating is present on the first side and not present on the second side. 
     
     
         13 . The vest of  claim 12 , wherein the first side is mounted to the load-bearing platform so as to face outwardly from the vest. 
     
     
         14 . A substrate for an attachment system, the substrate comprising:
 a) an attachment platform;   b) a coating applied to the attachment platform and comprising polyurea; and   c) a plurality of openings formed in the attachment platform and arranged in a repeating hexagonal pattern configured to facilitate attachment of accessories to the attachment platform by weaving through multiple of the openings along any of at least three differing axes.   
     
     
         15 . The substrate of  claim 9 , wherein the coating comprises a hybrid elastomer compound that contains polyurea blended with other substances. 
     
     
         16 . The substrate of  claim 9 , wherein the coating comprises a polyurea/polyurethane blend. 
     
     
         17 . The substrate of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment platform comprises nylon material. 
     
     
         18 . The substrate of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment platform is connected with or comprises at least a portion of an article of load-bearing equipment. 
     
     
         19 . The substrate of  claim 18 , wherein the article of load-bearing equipment comprises at least one of a vest assembly, a garment, clothing, pants, a shirt, a jacket, a vest, a girdle, a pack, a pouch, a holster, a sheath, an ammunition clip, gear, a wall, a vehicle interior panel or other interior part, a vehicle exterior component or other exterior part. 
     
     
         20 . The substrate of  claim 19 , wherein the article of load-bearing equipment comprises a vest assembly.