SE544683C2

SE544683C2 - Combined safety harness and backplate

Info

Publication number: SE544683C2
Application number: SE2150070A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Robert Venema
Original assignee: Poseidon Diving Group Ab
Priority date: 2021-01-22
Filing date: 2021-01-22
Publication date: 2022-10-18
Also published as: EP4281193A1; WO2022159020A1; EP4281193A4; SE2150070A1

Abstract

A combined safety harness and a backplate (1), comprising a harness (1a) provided as one webbing (2) running through the whole harness (1a) is provided. The webbing (2) being closable in one buckle (9) by passing a loop end portion of the webbing (2) provided with a buckle part (9b), through a rescue loop (13) and connecting with a buckle part (9a) at another loop end portion (12) of the webbing (2). The rescue loop (13) being positioned in a front portion of a waist webbing portion (19).

Description

COMBINED SAFETY HARNESS AND BACKPLATE The present invention concerns a safety harness with a backplate which is suitable for res- cuing.

Harnesses with backplates are previously known. These are usually cumbersome to arrange on the body of a diver having many points of fastening and adjustment to provide a suitable fit of the harness with backplates on the diver. They come in different sizes in order to suit divers of different sizes. lt is also previously known with safety harnesses without backplate for rescuing or for fall safety, i.e. preventing fall from hights. Also, these safety harnesses have the same problem with the cumbersome and time-consuming arrangement on a user. Such harnesses may be provided with one or more rescuing loop provided in the neck area of the harness, corre- sponding to a neck area of a wearer provided with the harness. However, lifting in the neck will influence the breathing negatively for a rescued person since the head will fall forward.

For safety reasons divers may use both a rescue harness and a harness with a backplate.

The present invention aims to delimit problems ofthe known art.

According to an aspect of the invention a combined safety harness and a backplate, com- prising a harness provided as one webbing running through the whole harness, is provided. The webbing being closable in one buckle by passing a loop end portion of the webbing provided with a buckle part through a rescue loop and connecting it with a buckle part at another loop end portion of the webbing. The rescue loop being positioned in a front por- tion of a waist webbing portion. Thus, a quick and easy donning of the combined safety harness and backplate is provided, which will form itself according to the person wearing it.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the combined safety harness and backplate comprises two breast webbing portions that run from an upper portion of the backplate to a lower portion ofthe backplate, through a metal loop on each side of a centre of the backplate and forms a part of the waist webbing portion while the webbing runs further along each side of the waist webbing portion to the rescue loop at the front.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the combined safety harness and backplate comprises two leg straps are attached at each side of the waist webbing portion. Thus, the combined safety harness and backplate is further engaged with the person wear- ing it. Preferably, the leg straps are attached via a loop.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the combined safety harness and backplate comprises two further rescue loops, one in each breast webbing portion. Thus, it is possible to keep also an unconscious person in a position where the head is at least in level with the rest of the body. Preferably, a further buckle is provided for a quick release of the safety harness and backplate at one of the breast webbing portions. This could be important in emergency.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the combined safety harness and backplate comprises at least one size adjustment point, which is provided at the waist web- bing portion. Preferably, at least one further size adjustment point is provided in the waist webbing portion and/or breast webbing portion. Thus, the combined safety harness and backplate can be used for many different sizes of persons, According to an embodiment of the present invention the combined safety harness and backplate one or more webbing enclosing attachment part is provided at the waist webbing portion, through which the webbing runs freely. Thus, it is possible to attach for example weights, tools and so on to the combined safety harness and backplate but without disturb- ing the webbing.

According to an embodiment of the present invention the combined safety harness and backplate the webbing runs from a first loop end ofthe webbing at the front along the waist webbing portion to the backplate, through a first side to a second side of the backplate along the waist webbing portion to the front and through the rescue loop, back along the waist webbing portion ofthe same side, through a metal loop on an inside ofthe backplate on the same side up, forming a breast webbing portion, to the upper portion of the back- plate and through to the other side of the upper portion, down, forming a breast webbing portion, to a metal loop on the inside ofthe backplate and along the waist webbing portion to the front, at closure of the harness the webbing will be passed through the rescue loop and back to be attached at the buckle.

Short description of the drawings Embodiments ofthe present invention will be described in more detail under referral to the enclosed drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment according to the present invention of a combined safety har- ness and a backplate in a front view.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment according to the present invention of a combined safety har- ness and a backplate which also comprises leg straps in a front view.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention ln Fig. 1 an embodiment of a combined safety harness and a backplate 1 is shown in a front view. A webbing or a strap 2 runs through the combined safety harness and backplate 1 providing the harness part 1a. A backplate 1b is provided with upper slots 3 in its upper portion 4 for the webbing 2 to run through. The backplate may be provided in metal, rubber, polymer, weave, mesh or any other material or combination of materials strong enough to perform as a backplate. ln a lower portion 5 of the backplate 1b instead a metal loop 6 is provided on each side 7 of a middle of the backplate 1b protruding towards a back of a user when the combined safety harness and backplate 1 is worn. The metal loops 6 provides low friction running through for the webbing 2 without any pinching of the webbing 2. ln the vicinity of the metal loop 6 a lower slot 8 may be provided in the backplate The webbing 2 will run through the harness 1a as one webbing 2 although it may be pro- vided in parts connected to each other. The advantage of this is the quick and easy donning or doffing of the harness in only one buckle 9, preferably a quick release buckle. A buckle should be understood as a closing/opening arrangement and could be provided as a hook and catch for the hook, a classic buckle with a male and female part, a belt buckle with at least one pin going through a hole in a belt, and so on. lt is possible to have a further buckle 10 provided at a breast webbing portion 11 for safety reasons giving the possibility to quickly release a rescued person from the harness 1a. However, this possible second buckle is not provided for the quick donning and closing ofthe harness 1a.

Now the arrangement ofthe webbing 2 will be described in more detail in accordance with an embodiment shown in Fig. 1. The way the webbing 2 will take through the harness 1a will be described starting at the buckle 9 positioned somewhere in a stomach region of a wearer. A first part of the buckle 9a is provided in a loop end 12 of the webbing 2 and run around a first side of a wearer in use to the backplate 1b. The webbing 2 cooperates with the backplate 1b in any suitable manner, in the shown embodiment through a first lower slot 8a on a first side 7a, and further along the backplate 1b and back through a second lower slot 8b on a second side 7b of the backplate 1b. ln the shown embodiment the web- bing 2 runs through the first lower slot 8 from an inside, i.e. a side where a back of a wearer will be in use, to an outside and then back to the inside via the second lower slot 8b. lt is of course possible to let the webbing run via the backplate in other ways, too. A further possi- bility is to attach the webbing 2 at each side of the backplate 1b instead of letting it run all the way through between the slots 8a and 8b.

The webbing thereafter runs along a second side of a wearer in use up to the front, possibly at the stomach region of a wearer, to a rescue loop 13. The rescue loop 13 is provided for attachment of a hoisting rope (not shown) for hoisting a rescued person. The rescue loop 13 may be of any design providing the possibility to let the webbing run through at two positions and a hole or a loop for the hoisting attachment. ln the shown embodiment it is in the form of a ring, but it may for example be oval, or made as a plate with the necessary openings and/or a loop provided at a side, or any other way. The webbing 2 runs through the rescue loop 13 and turn back, i.e. a deflection of about 180 degrees, around the rescue loop 13, to the backplate lb and through a second metal loop 6b positioned on the second side 7b ofthe backplate lb, provided on the inside of the backplate lb, i.e. facing a wearer in use. After the metal loop 6b the webbing 2 forms a breast webbing portion ll running up to the upper portion 4 of the backplate lb and into at least one slot 3. ln the shown embodiment into a second side slot 3b and a further second side slot 3'b. The webbing 2 runs over to a first side in the upper portion 4 of the backplate lb, though at least one slot. ln the shown embodiment into a first side slot 3a and a further first side slot 3'a.

Thereafter, the webbing 2 forms a breast webbing portion ll running down to the lower portion 7 of the backplate lb and into a first metal loop 6a and further along a first side of a wearer in use up to the front to the rescue loop l3. Thereafter, the webbing 2 will, at closure of the harness la, be passed through the rescue loop 13 and deflected about 180 degrees and a second buckle part 9b is attached to the first buckle part 9a. Due to the pulling out through the rescue loop 13 the whole ha rness will adjust around the body of the wearer before the second buckle part 9b is attached.

Preferably, a rescue loop l4 is provided in at least one but preferably both the breast web- bing portions ll. Also, this can be seen in Fig. l. ln the shown embodiment the rescue loop l4 is provided between two looped ends l5a, l5b of the breast webbing portions ll. The harness la is still as one webbing 2 as this will not take away the effect of adjusting and closing of the harness is still made in only one point.

Preferably, in order to be able to adjust for large size differences between different users the webbing 2 may be adjusted in one or more points. A central size adjustment point l6 is provided at the buckle 9 for providing the possibility of changing the length of the webbing 2. Preferably, further size adjustment points l7 may be arranged, for example, at the breast webbing portions ll. Additionally, at least one size adjustment point 18 may be arranged at a waist webbing portion l9 of the harness la. ln waist webbing portion l9 it is possible to locate additional webbing 2 of larger length as double webbing 2' when a smaller sized person is using the harness la and in case a larger sized person the webbing may be used in the harness 1a. ln Fig. 1 the embodiment is provided with several adjustment points 16, 17, 18 although the number and position of them are optional. The adjustment points are for providing different sizes between, for example, XS to XXL but the closure is still only at the buckle 9. After an initial adjustment for a wearer's size a tight fit will be self-adjusted by the pulling out through the rescue loop 13 and the whole harness will adjust around the body of the wearer before the second buckle part 9b is attached due to formation of the harness as one webbing 2 and supported by the use ofthe metal loops lt is possible to provide padding at desired portions of the safety harness and backplate 1, for example at the breast webbing portions 11. lt is also conceivable to provide one or more webbing enclosing attachment parts 26 at the waist webbing portion 19. At the webbing enclosing attachment parts 26 tools, weights and so on may be attached without interfering with the webbing 2 passing through the webbing enclosing attachment parts 26 so that the webbing 2 may run freely therethrough. ln Fig. 2 an embodiment also comprising leg straps 20 is shown. ln the shown embodiment a leg strap 20 for each leg of a wearer is attached at a loop 21 arranged at the waist webbing portion 19. Preferably, an attachment 25 is provided to a webbing enclosing attachment part 26 through which the webbing 2 may run freely. The leg strap comprises a buckle 22 for closing and opening ofthe leg strap 20. An adjustment point 23 may be arranged at the buckle 22. lt is also possible to arrange a seat strap 24 between the two loops 21. ln a pre- ferred embodiment the loops 21 are arranged at a position corresponding to a hip joint of a wearer. lt is also conceivable to provide a strap (not shown) between the two further rescue rings 14 at the breast webbing portions 11. This strap may be provided with a buckle.

The different slots and metal loops ofthe backplate 1b have been shown in certain positions on the backplate 1b. However, the number of slots and metal buckles may be changed as well as their positions and angle to a vertical axis of a backplate 1b in use. For example, the slots 3, 8 and metal loops 6 in the lower region 5 of the backplate 1b may switch positions so that the metal loops 6 will be situated outside the slots 8 whereby the webbing 2 will be running from the breast webbing portion 11 on the outside along the waist webbing portion 19 and back on the inside ofthe waist webbing portion 19 to the backplate 1b instead.

The combined safety harness and backplate 1 may further be used in rescuing, not only of the wearer, but also in situations where other people or possibly animals need to be res- cued. ln those cases the wearer may be lowered, for example from a helicopter or down a hole, with a rope attached in at least the rescue loop 13, and possibly also the further rescue loops 14 in the breast webbing portions 11. lt is also conceivable to provide a person to be rescued with such a combined safety harness and backplate 1 before hoisting the person to be rescued.

The present invention has been described with several embodiments which may be altered in many ways. The invention shall not be delimited to these embodiments. The scope of the following claims will define the invention.

Claims

1. A combined safety harness and backplate (1), comprising a harness (1a) provided as one webbing (2) running through the whole harness (1a), the webbing (2) being clos- able in one buckle (9) by passing a loop end portion ofthe webbing (2) provided with a buckle part (9b) through a rescue loop (13) and connecting it with a buckle part (9a) at another loop end portion (12) of the webbing (2), the rescue loop (13) being positioned in a front portion of a waist webbing portion (19), wherein two breast webbing portions (11) run from an upper portion (4) ofthe backplate (1b) to a lower portion (5) of the backplate (1b), through a metal loop (6) on each side of a centre of the backplate (1b) and forms a part of the waist webbing portion (19) while the webbing (2) runs further along each side of the waist webbing portion (19) to the rescue loop (13) at the front.

2. . The combined safety harness and backplate according to claim 1, wherein two leg straps (20) are attached at each side ofthe waist webbing portion (19).

3. . The combined safety harness and backplate according to claim 1, wherein two fur- ther rescue loops (14) are arranged, one in each breast webbing portion (11).

4. . The combined safety harness and backplate according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a further buckle (10) is provided for a quick release ofthe safety harness and backplate (1) at one ofthe breast webbing portions (11).

5. . The combined safety harness and backplate according to claim 3, wherein the leg straps (20) are attached via a loop (21).

6. . The combined safety harness and backplate according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one size adjustment point (16) is provided at the waist web- bing portion (19).

7. . The combined safety harness and backplate according to claim 6, wherein at least one further size adjustment point (17, 18) is provided in the waist webbing portion (19) and/or breast webbing portion (11).

8. . The combined safety harness and backplate according to claim 1, wherein one or more webbing enclosing attachment part (26) is provided at the waist webbing por- tion (11), through which the webbing (2) runs freely.

9. The combined safety harness and backplate according to claim 1, wherein the web- bing (2) runs from a first loop end of the webbing (2) at the front along the waist webbing portion (19) to the backplate (lb), through a first side (7a) to a second side (7b) of the backplate (lb) along the waist webbing portion (19) to the front and through the rescue loop (13), back along the waist webbing portion (19) ofthe same side, through a metal loop (6b) on an inside of the backplate (lb) on the same side up, forming a breast webbing portion (11), to the upper portion (4) ofthe backplate (lb) and through to the other side of the upper portion (4), down, forming a breast webbing portion (11), to a metal loop (6a) on the inside of the backplate (lb) and along the waist webbing portion (19) to the front, at closure of the harness (la) the webbing will be passed through the rescue loop (13) and back to be attached at the buckle (9).