Harness

• US 6,290,111 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interspiro AB (Ocenco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interspiro AB (Ocenco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Crafoord, Carl Göran, Grieves, John, Hedenberg, Håkan
• Primary Examiner(s): Garbe, Stephen P.
• Application Number:
  US09/117,368
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 224/631, 224/632, 224/634, 224/637, 224/261, 224/262
• US Class Current: 224/262
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/10 Pack-frames carried on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/14 Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 25/00 Devices for storing or holding or carrying respiratory or breathing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/04 Couplings; Supporting frames

Abstract

A harness for holding and supporting at least one gas pressure-container. The harness includes a backplate, a container holder mounted on a first side of the backplate, and two elongated support straps disposed on respective sides of a symmetry line dividing the backplate into a left and a right part. A first end of the respective elongated support straps is attached to an upper part of the backplate. The harness further includes a waist belt fastened to a lower part of the backplate. Mounted on a lower part of a second side of the backplate is a first element which is at least substantially rigid and parallel with the backplate, and which is pivotably mounted on the backplate at a pivot point. Each of second ends of the elongated support straps is attached to the first element on a respective side of the pivot point.

Claims

1. A harness including a backplate, two elongated support means disposed on respective sides of a symmetry line that divides the backplate into a left and a right part, wherein a first end of respective elongated support means is attached to an upper part of the backplate, and wherein the harness further includes a waist belt fastened to a lower part of the backplate, wherein mounted on a lower part of a side of the backplate is a first element which is at least substantially rigid and parallel with the backplate and which is pivotably mounted on the backplate by means of a first pivot point, wherein each of second ends of the elongated support means is attached to the first element on a respective side of the pivot point.

2. A harness according to claim 1, wherein the first pivot point lies on the symmetry line.

3. A harness according to claim 1 wherein the first element is an elongated plate-like element that includes hinge lines that extend parallel with said symmetry line in spaced relationship with the pivot point, so as to enable foldable parts of the first element that are located outside respective hinge lines to be folded or swung forwardly away from the backplate;

and wherein the elongated support means are fastened to said foldable parts of said first element.

4. A harness according to claim 1 wherein the waist belt is pivotably mounted on a second pivot on said side of the backplate.

5. A harness according to claim 4, wherein the waist belt includes an at least substantially rigid second element that extends parallel with the backplate, and two flexible strap-parts that are connected at one end to the second element, wherein the second element is pivotably mounted on said backplate at said second pivot point.

6. A harness according to claim 5, wherein the second element includes means that coact with the backplate so as to limit rotational movement of the waist belt.

7. A harness according to claim 5 wherein the second pivot point coincides with the first pivot point;

and wherein the first element is located between the backplate and the second element.

8. A harness according to claim 7, wherein the common first and second pivot point is located in a vertical gap;

and in that an elastic or resilient device connects the common pivot point with the upper part of the backplate so as to draw the common pivot point towards the upper position of said gap.

9. A harness according claim 5 wherein the first pivot point is located above the second pivot point.

10. A harness according to claim 5 wherein the first pivot point is located beneath the second pivot point.

11. A harness according to claim 7 wherein the second element includes two mutually parallel and at least substantially rigid plates that are hinged together along respective upper edges of the plates that extend parallel with the longitudinal direction of the waist belt;

and wherein the first plate is pivotably mounted in the second pivot point.

12. A harness according to claim 1 wherein the first ends of the elongated support means are fastened in mutually spaced relationship to an at least substantially rigid third element;

and wherein the third element is pivotably mounted on the upper part of the backplate on a third pivot that lies on the symmetry line.

13. A harness according to claim 12 wherein the third pivot point is located in a vertical gap;

and in that an elastic or resilient device connects the third pivot point with the second pivot or the lower part of the backplate, therewith drawing the third pivot point towards the bottom position of the gap.

14. A harness comprising a backplate, an at least substantially rigid element parallel with the backplate and mounted thereon on a pivot point for pivotal movement parallel with the backplate, two elongated support means disposed on a respective side of a symmetry line that divides the backplate into a left and a right part, wherein a first end of a respective elongated support means is attached to the element on a respective side of the pivot point, wherein the pivot point is located in a vertical gap;

and wherein said pivot point is joined to a lower part of the backplate by an elastic or resilient device which functions to draw the pivot point towards the lower position of said gap.