>2, although it may be appreciated that orientations of such directions may also undergo some amount of variation in use in response to movement away from the laid-out flat configuration.

As one example, the core member 203 can extend in, include, and/or be defined in a length or longitudinal direction 206. The longitudinal direction 206 is represented primarily in the left-right direction in the view in FIG. 2. The longitudinal direction 206 may correspond to and/or extend along a longitudinal axis 205. The longitudinal axis 205 may extend along a length of the core member 203, such as through a center 210 of the core member 203 and/or between opposite lateral ends 212. The longitudinal axis 205 may correspond to a portion of the core member 203 configured to at least partially encircle a wearer along a waist and/or hips in a worn position in use. For example, the opposite lateral ends 212 may be drawn toward one another to move the core member 203 toward an encircling configuration (e.g., away from the laid-out flat configuration shown). In the encircling configuration, the core member 203 may be capable of exhibiting some degree of tilt, such as to approximate a frustoconical surface.

As another example, the core member 203 may extend in, include, and/or be defined in a height direction 207. The height direction 207 is represented primarily in the up-down direction in the view in FIG. 2. The height direction 207 may be configured to be aligned generally with the direction of gravity in the worn position and/or to extend between an upper margin 208A and a lower margin 208B of the core member 203, for example. The height direction 207 may be substantially perpendicular to the length direction 206, such as in the laid-out flat configuration. However, some degree of tilt may also be present for the height direction 207 (e.g., to extend upward and at least partially radially inward), such as in situations in which the encircling configuration arranges the core member 203 in a frustoconical orientation and/or in the worn position.

As a further example, the core member 203 may extend in, include, and/or be defined in a thickness or depth direction 209. The depth direction 209 is represented primarily as an arrow going into or out of the page in the view of FIG. 2, for example. The depth direction 209 may be configured to be aligned with a radially inward direction facing toward the wearer in the worn position and/or to extend between front and rear surfaces of the core member 203, for example. The depth direction 209 may be substantially perpendicular to the length direction 206 and/or the height direction 207, such as in the laid-out flat configuration. However, some degree of tilt may also be present for the depth direction 209 (e.g., to extend radially inward and at least partially downward), such as in situations in which the encircling configuration arranges the core member 203 in a frustoconical orientation and/or in the worn position.

The core member 203 may be formed of suitable material for achieving any of various functions. For example, material for the core member 203 may be suitably durable to facilitate load-bearing and/or supporting gear to be mounted on the duty belt 101. Additionally or alternatively, material for the core member 203 may be suitably flexible to permit bending and/or wrapping around contours of the wearer. The material for the core member 203 may enable bending from a laid-out flat configuration to an encircling configuration and back to a laid-out flat configuration without undergoing permanent or plastic deformation, for example. Examples of suitable material can include chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CPSE), thermoset chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE), synthetic rubber, and other examples with suitable durability and/or flexibility.

The core member 203 can include suitable geometry for facilitating functions described herein. Some examples of suitable geometry features may be appreciated with respect to FIG. 2.

The core member 203 may include or exhibit a curvature, such as a bowed curvature. The core member 203 may approximate a saucer shape or a bow shape akin to a bow and arrow, for example. The core member 203 may include the curvature in the laid-out state. The curvature may facilitate arrangement of the core member 203 in a frustoconical arrangement in the worn position, for example.

The curvature may be related to dimensions along the longitudinal axis 205 and/or the length direction 206. For example, the core member 203 may have an upper length along the top margin 208A and a lower length along the bottom margin 208B, and the lower length of the core member 203 may be longer than the upper length of core member 203 such that the core member 203 exhibits a bowed curvature in an at-rest laid out state.

The curvature may correspond to a variation in the height direction 207. The curvature may be measurable by a top-center offset distance 213, which may be determined based on other reference features of the core member 203. For example, the core member 203 may include a center 210 between opposing lateral ends 212 along the longitudinal direction 206. The core member 203 may further define a top reference plane 211. The top reference plane 211 may be arranged to extend through uppermost extremities of the opposing lateral ends 212, such as in the laid-out state. The top reference plane 211 may be aligned with a horizon line or other reference that is normal to the direction of gravity, for example. The top-center offset distance 213 may correspond to a distance between the top reference plane 211 arranged to extend through the uppermost extremities at the opposing ends 212 of the core member 203 and a highest extremity at the center 210 of the core member 203.

In various embodiments, the top-center offset distance 213 may exceed 5 centimeters. As one illustrative example, the core member 203 for one size of belt (e.g., a size small) may include a length of approximately 89 centimeters along the longitudinal axis 205 and a top-center offset distance 213 of 7.5 centimeters. Lengths and/or top-center offset distances 213 may be included in larger amounts for larger sizes (such as for medium, large, extra large, etc.), in smaller amounts for smaller sizes (such as for extra small), and/or in other differing combinations.

In various embodiments, suitably sizing the curvature can allow the core member 203 to adopt a frustoconical orientation in an encircling configuration. A frustoconical orientation can allow a face of the core member to be positioned against the wearer's hip, which may provide a larger surface for distribution of weight than if a lower edge (with smaller profile and thus greater force concentration) of a belt surface is instead positioned in contact as a point load along the wearer's hip. Thus, for example, where a particularly heavy set of equipment to be borne on a belt may be prone to concentrate load through contact of a lower belt edge with hips of the wearer and lead to discomfort and/or negative effects such as bruising and/or hematoma, the same set of equipment may be supported by the core member 203 with weight distributed across a larger area from the frustoconical orientation to avoid such negative effects while supporting a similar set of equipment that may cause such negative effects in other known forms of belts.

In various embodiments, a taper may be included in the core member 203 toward the opposite lateral ends 212. For example, from a given taper starting junction 214, the core member 203 progressing along the longitudinal axis 205 toward the lateral end 212 may generally narrow in the height direction 207. Including a taper may facilitate attachment of buckles for securing the duty belt 101 in the encircling configuration and/or may provide a reduced profile along a front in the worn position to reduce possibility of the duty belt 101 uncomfortably digging in between legs and stomach of a wearer when a wearer bends over or otherwise brings a leg toward the stomach.

The core member 203 can include a series of segments that can include one or more joint segments 215 with two or more support segments 216. Each joint segment 215 may be included between a respective pair of support segments 216. For example, the core member 203 may include a plurality of support segments 216 interspersed by one or more joint segments 215. The core member 203 may be arranged in a pattern of support segments 216 and joint segments 215 alternating with one another. The joint segments 215 may be arranged to divide the support segments 216 among different regions for the wearer's body. For example, a first joint segment 215A and a second joint segment 215B may be arranged on either side of a second support segment 216B that may be sized to be positioned along a back of a wearer, and a first support segment 216A and a third support segment 216C may respectively be sized to extend outward from the first joint segment 215A and the second joint segment 215B to define portions that can extend along the hips and toward a front of the wearer. Although three total support segments 216 (e.g., a first support segment 216A, a second support segment 216B, and a third support segment 216C) and two total joint segments 215 (e.g., a first joint segment 215A and a second joint segment 215B) are shown in FIG. 2, more or fewer may be utilized.

Generally, the support segments 216 may be suitably sized and/or shaped to support gear to be supported by the duty belt 101, and the joint segments 215 may facilitate relative rotation of the support segments 216. The relative rotation of the support segments 216 may be about a rotation axis 218 extending in the depth direction 209, for example. Relative rotation of the support segments 216 may enable the core member 203 to adapt to variations in body shape and size among different wearers (e.g., which may enable faces of the support segments 216 to rest more fully against the body to provide a larger amount of surface area and distribute load more fully than if a portion of the support segment 216 were instead held out of alignment by inflexibility of the core member 203 and resulted in a smaller surface area in contact to distribute load).

The joint segments 215 may include and/or exhibit suitable geometry to facilitate functions of the core member 203. Various examples of features that may contribute to suitable geometry are shown by way of example in FIG. 2.

The joint segments 215 may correspond to necked-down areas. For example, the core member 203 may include a nominal height 217, which may reduce in the height direction 207 at the joint segments 215.

The joint segment 215 may include and/or be accompanied by notches 219. For example, the notches 219 may include a downward notch 219A (which may correspond to an upper notch) and/or an upward notch 219B (which may correspond to a lower notch). The notches 219 may extend along the height direction 207 inwardly and/or centrally from upper and lower extremities (such as the upper margin 208A and the lower margin 208B) of the support segments 216, for example.

The notches 219 may be shaped notches. A shape for the notches 219 may facilitate relative rotation of the support segments 216. The shape of the notches 219 may impart a step function-like shape to the core member 203, such as shapes of the support segments 216 interrupted or alternating with shapes for the joint segments 215. A substantially symmetric extension of the step-function may be present, such as imparting symmetry in the core member 203 in one or more areas across the longitudinal axis 205, across a vertical axis along the height direction 207, or otherwise. The step function-like shape may be continuously differentiable and/or have smooth transitions between the shapes of the support segments 216 and the shapes for the joint segments 215. The support segments 215 may be shaped as bands and be interrupted by the shapes of the notches 219 in the joint segments 215. Some suitable examples of shapes for the notches may include triangular, trapezoidal, half-circular, half-elliptical, bowed, or curved. As a further illustrative example, a triangular shape may provide space between sloped sides that may allow the support segments 216 to rotate toward each other and/or provide suitable limits or stops to the rotation. The triangular shape may correspond to a triangle with a base arranged aligned with the upper margin 208A or the lower margin, with sloped sides extending from the base and toward one another, and with a tip formed from a convergence of the sloped sides and oriented in the height direction 207 toward a middle and/or opposite side of the core member 203. The triangular shape may be established with or without sharp corners. For example, the triangular shape may include at least one radiused or rounded surface along at least one corner of the triangular shape for the notch 219.

The relative dimensions of the notches 219 upward and downward may be symmetrical or may differ from one another. For example, each notch 219 may have a notch height 221 (e.g., extending in the height direction 207), and the notch height 221A of the upper notch 219A may be equal to or differ from the notch height 221B of the lower notch 219B. As a further example, each notch 219 may have a maximum notch width 227 (e.g., aligned and/or along the upper margin 208A and/or the lower margin 208B and/or extending in the length direction 206), which may be equal or different among the upper notch 219A and the lower notch 219B. As another example, each notch 219 may have edges that extend at an angle 229 (e.g., which may be measured relative to the vertical direction 207), and the angle 229 may be equal or different among left and right sides of a given notch 219 and/or among the upper notch 219A and the lower notch 219B. Although the depiction in FIG. 2 may correspond to an angle 229 of approximately 35° from vertical for each side of each notch 219, the angle 229 may be between upper and lower endpoints that may include any of 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 35°, 40°, 45°, 50°, 65°, 70°, 75°, 80°, or 85°, or other suitable range (or at another orientation, such as to form other shapes described herein).

The joint segment 215 may include a bridge portion 223. The bridge portion 223 may be bounded above and/or below in the height direction 207 by the downward notch 219A and/or the upward notch 219B, for example. The bridge portion 223 and/or the distance between the notches 219 may include and/or be accompanied by a bridge height 225.

Various features of the core member 203 may be sized relative to one another. Such relative sizing may be a ratio or other comparison. Some examples of dimensions and comparisons are provided herein, although it is to be understood that other values may be used additionally or alternatively.

A narrowest portion of the joint segment 215 in the height direction 207 (e.g., the bridge height 225) may be less than 65% (or less than 60%, or less than 55%, or less than 50%, or less than 45%, or less than 40%, or less than 35%, or less than 33%, or less than 30%, or less than 25% or less than 20%, or less than 15%, or less than 10%) of a narrowest portion of the second support segment 216B in the height direction 207 (e.g., between the top margin 208A and bottom margin 208B). As an illustrative example, the bridge height 225 may be approximately 1.4 centimeters, while the second support segment may be 5 centimeters tall (e.g., along the nominal height 217), which may correspond to a ratio of approximately 28%.

An overall length of the joint segment 215 in the longitudinal direction 206 (e.g., the notch width 227) may be less than 55% (or less than 50%, or less than 45%, or less than 40%, or less than 35%, or less than 33%, or less than 30%, or less than 25% or less than 20% or less than 15%, or less than 12%, or less than 10%, or less than 5%) of an overall length of the first support segment 216A in the longitudinal direction 206. As an illustrative example, the notch width 227 may be approximately 2.5 centimeters, while a total length of the first support segment 216A may be approximately 30 centimeters, which may correspond to a ratio of approximately 8%. For example, the total length may include a length of 16.5 centimeters between an edge of the notch 219 and the taper starting junction 214 and another length of 13.5 centimeters between taper starting junction 214 and the lateral end 212. At the taper starting junction 214, the core member 203 may include a nominal height of 5.0 centimeters and may taper down toward 3.65 centimeters at the lateral end 212, as an illustrative example.

An overall length of the joint segment 215 in the longitudinal direction 206 (e.g., the notch width 227) may be less than 45% (or less than 40%, or less than 35%, or less than 33%, or less than 30%, or less than 25% or less than 20%, or less than 12%, or less than 10% or less than 5%) of an overall length of the second support segment 216B in the longitudinal direction 206. As an illustrative example, the notch width 227 may be approximately 2.5 centimeters, while a total length of the second support segment 216B may be approximately 22.5 centimeters (e.g., with a length of 24 centimeters on center between the notches 219), which may correspond to a ratio of approximately 11%.

The notch height 221 may be related to the notch width 227 of a given notch 219. For example, the notch height 221 may be more than 15% (or more than 20%, or more than 30% or more than 40%, or more than 50%, or more than 60%, or more than 70%, or more than 75%, or more than 80%, or more than 90%, or more than 100%, or more than 120%, or more than 150%, or more than 175%, or more than 200%) of the notch width 227. As an illustrative example, the notch height 221 may be approximately 1.8 centimeters, while the notch width 227 may be approximately 2.5 centimeters, which may correspond to a ratio of approximately 72%.

The notch height 221 may be related to the nominal height 217 of the core member 203 along one or more of the support segments 216. For example, the notch height 221 may extend at least 20% (or at least 25% or at least 30%, or at least 33%, or at least 40%, or at least 45%) and less than 50% (such as less than 45%, less than 40%, less than 35% or less than 33%, or less than 30%, or less than 25%) of the nominal height 217. As an illustrative example, the notch height 221 may be approximately 1.8 centimeters, while the nominal height 217 may be approximately 5.0 centimeters, which may correspond to a ratio of approximately 36%.

The core member 203 may be able to flex to allow the duty belt 101 to hinge at the joint segments 215, e.g., based on including suitable features, geometry, dimensions, and/or ratios. For example, the hinging action provided by suitable dimensions (such as with one or more of the ratios described herein) may allow the duty belt 101 to sit along and/or atop the hips in a more comfortable fashion than if the hinging ability were not present. Additionally or alternatively, the hinging may allow the duty belt 101 to avoid crumpling or wrinkles along the length of the joint segments 215 that could cause undue strain in the material and/or discomfort for the wearer (such as when moved toward and/or into the encircling configuration of being worn and/or in a frustoconical orientation). Additionally, or alternatively, the hinging may permit movement or accommodation of different girths of user, for example. Stated another way, in general, the core member 203 may facilitate relative rotation between the support segments 216 about a rotation axis perpendicular to a length of the duty belt 101, which may facilitate suitable hinging when the duty belt 101 is moved toward a frustoconical orientation in a worn configuration to provide an adaptive fit suitable to accommodate variations in waistline shape among different users.

Features of the core member 203 may be formed through any suitable technique. In various examples, the core member 203 may be formed of a single monolithic structure. For example, the first support segment 216A, the first joint segment 215A, the second support segment 216B, the second joint segment 215B, and the third support segment 216C may be formed of a continuous strip of material. Having the core member 203 include a continuous strip extending through at least one joint segment 215 and adjoining support segments 216 can allow portions to remain connected in order to ensure that undesirable lengthening of the belt does not occur (which could otherwise be the case if the material of the joint segment 215 were instead only a connection formed of relatively flexible material). Forming a given notch 219, joint segment 215, and/or support segment 216 may be accomplished by cutting the material or by arranging along projections in a mold that may impart a corresponding void in a fabricated workpiece, for example. Alternative constructions may be possible, such as connecting separate parts by a pin or other suitable structure at one or more joint segment 215.

The core member 203 may be coupled with other components in use. Some examples are described, for example, with respect to FIG. 3 and/or subsequent figures.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the core member 203 and other components that may be added. The core member 203 at view 231 is shown with a wrapping 233. The wrapping 233 may be included in sections and/or may wrap around from one side of the core member 203 to another (e.g., to reach the position shown in view 239, such as depicted by arrows 240). The wrapping 233 may be placed against a rear face 235 of the core member 203 and may be wrapped around to arrive in a position along and/or over at least a portion of the front face 237. The wrapping 233 may be formed of a suitable material. For example, the wrapping 233 may be or include a nylon laminate. The wrapping 233 may provide a suitable base for attachment and/or connection with other components.

As shown in view 241 by way of example, components may be applied to the core member 203 and/or other features. For example, a board 243 may be applied, e.g., which may provide a suitable degree of rigidity. As an illustrative example, the board 243 may correspond to a PE board (e.g., formed of polyethylene or polythene). The board 243 may be applied in multiple sections, such as along underlying support segments 216 of the core member 203, for example. Although the board 243 is shown applied over a top of the wrapping 233, the board 243 additionally or alternatively may be applied under at least a portion of the wrapping 233 (if present).

The core member 203 may be supplemented with covers 245. For example, each cover 245 may be formed from a sheet of material that may be placed overlaying a given joint segment 215 in the depth direction 209, e.g., so as to cover the notches 219 and/or joint segments 215 of the core member 203. Each cover 245 may be secured relative to the core member 203. For example, each cover 245 may be secured by stitching through a joint segment 215, a support segment 216, another portion of a cover 245 (e.g., to another cover 245 and/or itself, such as if doubled over or otherwise suitable arranged), and/or other portions of the core member 203 and/or other associated elements that may be present, such as the board 243 and/or the wrapping 233. As an illustrative example, this arrangement may combine elements together into the subassembly shown in the view 247.

The covers 245 may cover the joint segments 215 and/or otherwise avoid or prevent pinching that could be a risk of occurring at the joint segment 215 during relative rotation of the support segments 216. Additionally, or alternatively, the covers 245 may provide a biasing effect. For example, the core member 203 may include a durable material while the sheet that forms the cover 245 may include a flexible sheet that is more stretchable than the durable material. As an illustrative example, the cover 245 may include an elastic webbing, a stretch nylon, and/or another material that is stretchable in one or more directions when loaded and capable of resuming an original size upon cessation of load, which may correspond to being elastic in its sheet plane. The cover 245 may be fixed (e.g., via stitching etc.) at suitable locations to the durable material of the core member 203 such that the stretch characteristics of the flexible sheet of the cover 245 impart a bias toward a default position of the core member 203. For example, the stretch characteristics of the cover 245 may allow the cover 245 and core member 203 to flex and bend to accommodate the contours of a wearer when donned or worn and facilitate moving back toward a flat-laid out state when removed or doffed. Additionally or alternatively, the covers 245 may work against twisting at the joint segments 215, such as twisting about the longitudinal axis 205 that might otherwise cause the duty belt 101 to bind and/or not lay in a fully conforming orientation along the wearer.

FIG. 4 shows a coupling assembly 249 that may be used with the fabrication process. The coupling assembly 249 may include suitable components to facilitate coupling of the core member 203 in the outer belt 201 (e.g., FIG. 1) with the inner belt 301 and/or other components of the duty belt 101. In view 251 in FIG. 4, various elements that may be included in the coupling assembly 249 are shown by way of example, although any combination of fewer, more, or other components may be utilized.

The coupling assembly 249 may include fastener strips 253. The fastener strips 253 may correspond to hook or loop of hook and loop fasteners, for example. In various examples the fastener strips 253 included on the coupling assembly 249 correspond to hook patches, but may correspond to other structures. The fastener strips 253 may be arranged to be accessible or engageable from an exterior of the coupling assembly 249, for example.

The coupling assembly 249 can include base pieces 255. The base pieces 255 may be suitably sized and arranged for receiving the fastener strips 253 and/or other components. The fastener strips 253 may be stitched or otherwise secured to the base pieces 255, for example. The base pieces 255 can include construction similar or different relative to the wrapping 233. The base pieces 255 may be used in addition or in lieu of the wrapping 233, for example.

The base pieces 255 may be combined or connected with each other with stretch pieces 257. The stretch pieces 257 can include suitable materials such as stretch nylon, elastic webbing, or other materials that may be suitable for the covers 245, although similar or different materials may be utilized among the stretch pieces 257 and the covers 245 (if both are present). The stretch pieces 257 may be arranged to exhibit a stretch direction 258, which may be aligned along the length direction 206 and/or other direction.

As shown by way of example in view 251, the components may be combined together. For example, in a combined state, components may be combined into an assembly in which the stretch pieces 257 connect the base pieces 255. Additionally or alternatively, in a combined state, the fastener strips 253 are attached on a rear side (e.g., which may correspond to a rear side taken in the orientation shown in view 251). The coupling assembly 249 once constructed may be suitable for connecting with other components.

As shown by way of example in view 261, the coupling assembly 249 can be coupled with other elements associated with the core member 203, such as the covers 245 and/or the board 243. The elements can be combined together, for example, with other components such as cords 263, which may include foam or other suitable material. The cords 263 can be suitably placed, such as illustrated by arrows 265 in use. The cords 263 may be arranged along upper and lower bounds of the core member 203, for example. The cords 263 may provide reinforcement and/or some degree of rigidity suitable for the outer belt 201 to receive gear in use, for example. The coupling assembly 249 may be wrapped around the core member 203, such as depicted by arrows 267.

The elements thus assembled may be combined (such as shown in view 269) with a strap 271. The strap 271