Abstract:
A harness lifting system  10  is provided for team lifting of objects  10 . Two harnesses  12, 14  are provided which are worn separately by two users  32 . The system  10  includes two support lines or straps  16, 18 . Each line  16, 18  has coupling points spaced from each other which removably attach to one of the harnesses  12, 14 . The lines  16, 18  preferably link together at cross-over point  26  and then extend back to the same harness  12, 14  that the line  16, 18  first extends from the system  10  includes adjustability providing structures and accessories for optimal use to enhance the basic system  10.

Description:
This application claims benefit under Title 35, United States Code §119(e) of United States Provisional Application No. 60/164,922 filed on Nov. 15, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains generally to devices for lifting heavy or bulky objects and more specifically to a harness system for team lifting of heavy or bulky objects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Lifting harnesses have been in existence for purposes of lifting a variety of heavy loads. Most of these harness systems have been made for a single user in carrying heavy and/or bulky loads. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,181,752 issued to A. P. Seltzer on May 4, 1956, discloses a harness system worn by a single user and adapted for carrying luggage. In this patent, the harness straps around the upper body of the user and a pair of hanging straps extend downward. The hanging straps couple to luggage handles and the user then walks in a normal manner, bearing the weight of the luggage upon the harness, rather than carrying the luggage with the arms i a normal manner. This invention thereby alleviates the fatigue associated with carrying heavy luggage long distances. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,645 issued to Goodden on Jul. 28, 1981, discloses a harness system for lifting heavy objects, such as large furniture pieces. This device was basically comprised of a yoke-type harness having two L-shaped support members depending downward. The L-shaped members couple around a user&#39;s arms and terminate at their bottoms in a platform having a frictional covering on their upper surface. The objective for the wearer of this device was to slide the platforms beneath a lifting surface on a large object. For example, the platforms could slide beneath the edge of a large table and be used to lift the table. A drawback of this device was that large objects could easily slip off the platforms while the wearer was in an awkward position, thereby damaging the object being carried, or injuring the wearer. Also, the L-shaped members are difficult to adjust in length, thereby requiring a wearer to stoop or bend uncomfortably low to bring the pads in contact with a lifting surface. 
     In many situations involving heavy lifting, a two person team is used. The use of two people to lift large objects has the advantage of using the muscle power of another individual, thereby allowing more weight and heavier objects to be borne. The prior art harness lifting systems have not yet embraced this team concept by providing a harness system which can be used by a two-person (or greater) team. 
     Additionally, the prior art has not provided a harness lifting system which does not require extensive bending and stooping to put the lifting surfaces of a harness system in contact with a large or bulky object. Such bending or stooping can increase the chance of injury to a lifter because the lifter is often forced to lift an object from an awkward or unnatural position. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a harness lifting system which can be used to lift large bulky objects without extensive bending or stooping. Additionally, a need exists for a harness system which can be adapted for use by two or more individuals so that the lifting power of a team of lifters can be exploited. 
     The foregoing discussion reflects the state of the art of which the inventor is aware, and is tendered with a view toward discharging the inventor&#39;s acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information which may be pertinent with regards to the patentability of the present invention. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the disclosed information does not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventor&#39;s claimed invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to a harness system for lifting large and/or bulky objects. 
     In a first embodiment, this harness system is worn by two or more lifters and is comprised of two wearable harnesses joined by a pair of support straps which are preferably cross linked so as to comprise an X-shape, with the center of the “X” lying approximately midpoint between the two harnesses. The support straps are fully adjustable and can therefore be adapted to accommodate many sizes and shapes of objects. This harness system allows loads to be carried while the user&#39;s hands are completely free to maneuver the load or attend to other tasks. Upon lifting, the harness and straps cause the load to be angled away from the body, thereby making it less likely that a dropped load will injure a wearer. 
     This invention will be more fully understood through the following objects and advantages: 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a harness system which allows unusually large or bulky loads to be lifted and carried with minimal strain to a lifter. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a harness system which takes advantage of two or more lifters. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide a harness system which allows a lifter&#39;s hands to be free during lifting. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a harness system which naturally, directs a load away from a lifter&#39;s body so as to reduce the chances of injury should a heavy load be unintentionally dropped. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention, without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes only: 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the harness system of the present invention shown being worn by two wearers. 
     FIG. 2 is a closeup view of a slide buckle used on the support straps of the harness system, this view showing one wearer of the harness system. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the harness system being worn by two wearers and being used to lift a large object. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the harness system being worn by a wearer. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of a harness component of the harness system being worn by a wearer. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear view of a harness being worn by a wearer. 
     FIG. 7 is a closeup side view showing the attachment of a back support to a harness being worn by a wearer. 
     FIG. 8 is a closeup side view of a fastener used for fastening the support strap and back support components of the harness system. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of two wearers properly positioning themselves in preparation for lifting a large object. 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of the wearers shown in FIG. 9 having lifted the large object and preparing to carry it to a new location using the harness system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a side view of the harness system worn by a single wearer. 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the harness system being worn by a single wearer and attached to a skid board. 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a quick release accessory interposable between a harness of this invention and straps of this invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a second quick release for attachment to an opposite end of the support strap and the harness so that both ends of the support strap can be quickly released from the harness. 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a quick clip accessory interposable between a harness of this invention and other structures to be carried and which features quick length adjustability. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a vertical sling accessory of this invention which is configured to have support straps of this invention threaded through loops of the vertical sling so that large planar objects can be easily carried with the system of this invention. 
     FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of a carryall accessory of this invention including loops configured to receive straps of this invention. 
     FIG. 18 is a top plan view of that which is shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of that which is shown in FIG. 17 illustrating how the carryall accessory can be folded to shorten its length for use with smaller items. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring more specifically to the drawings, the present invention in the embodied in the harness system  10  shown generally in FIG.  1 . This harness system is comprised of two harnesses  12 ,  14  joined by two support straps  16 ,  18  which are used as a load bearing surface for lifting large bulky loads. Additionally, at least one of the support straps  16 ,  18  are adjustable, this adjustability being accomplished by use of a slide buckle  20  in the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG.  2 . The fuction of the slide buckle  20  with the straps  16 ,  18  is similar to that of the floating bar buckle  70  and strap lengths  71 ,  73  of FIG.  15 . While straps  16 ,  18  are preferably used, other lines such as ropes, cables or belts of planar or cylindrical construction could be utilized. 
     Slide buckle  20  has the advantage of allowing a support strap to be adjusted in length, while preventing support strap from slipping loose upon bearing a heavy load. The slide buckle  20  can have a variety of different configurations, but preferably includes an upper movable gripping member  22  and a lower stationary gripping member  24  which keeps support strap  16 ,  18  from slipping. At least one harness  12 ,  14  is coupled to an adjustable support strap  16 ,  18 , which adjustable strap has considerable unused strap  23  which can be played out according to the size of the load being acommodated. Harness and support straps are contructed from any durable, resilient material which can bear heavy loads. The straps preferably feature high flexibility and low elasticity, as well as high tensile strength. In the preferred embodiment, ballistic nylon has proven to be a type of material which meets the requirements of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred arrangement of support straps  16 ,  18  as being interlinked between the two harnesses  12 ,  14 , forming “X” shape. This “X” shape has been found to provide a stable load bearing surface at the center point  26  where support straps meet, and should be placed beneath an object  28  being lifted at its center of gravity. If center point  26  is placed at the center of gravity of an object, then the arms  30  of support straps wrap underneath and around an object  28  being lifted, as shown in FIG.  3 . In this way, the object  28  is fully supported on the support straps  16 ,  18  and the correstponding harnesses  12 ,  14 . As shown in FIG. 3, the wearers hads are free to maneuver the object  28  being cattied, or else attend to other tasks. 
     In the preferred embodiment two object  28  lifting line paths are provided between the two harnesses  12 ,  14 . Each strap  16 ,  18  only fills part of each object  28  lifting line path. Other alternatives, while less desirable overall, may be used effectively in many circumstances. For instance, each strap  16 ,  18  or other line could extend from the first harness  12  to the second harness  14 , with or without crossing of a link. More than two lines and two harnesses could also be used, or a single line between the two harnesses. 
     Also as shown in FIG. 3, upon lifting an object, the arms  30  of support straps  16 ,  18  naturally angle object  28  away from the wearers&#39; bodies  32  such that ample space  34  is afforded for leg movement and safety, should the object be dropped, thereby reducing the change of injury to the wearers. Additionally, upon lifting, the arms  30  of support straps  16 ,  18  become taught, and therefore, object  28  remains relatively still and does not move considerably, thereby contributing to the stable quality of this harness system  10 . 
     If exceptionally large objects are being lifted, such as pianos or book cases, it is preferably for both harnesses  12 ,  14  to be coupled to an adjustable support strap  16 ,  18 . In this manner, both wearers can play out enough strap thtough slide buckles  20  such that a large load can be accommodated. 
     FIGS. 4-6 illuatrate the respective front, side, and rear views of a hrness  12 , shown being worn by a wearer  32 . The harness  14  is similar and so its detailed description is omitted. As shown, harness  12  is comprised of shoulder straps  36  which drape over the shoulders  35  and cross over the back  37  to finally loop under the arms  38 . The basic harness  12  has a double loop or “figure 8” configuration with the cross-over point between the shoulder blades of the wearer  32 . The crossover point can have the straps  36  attached to each other or free floating. As shown, shoulder straps  36  can be modified to include padding  39  for reducing weight borne stress upon the top portions of a wearer&#39;s shoulders. 
     A lower back support  40  can be included as shown in FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 . This lower back support  40  is preferably removable and has a slide buckle  41  for adjustability as shown in FIG.  7 . The support  40  preferably includes a back pad  43  (FIG. 6) centrally located thereon. The back pad  43  can be centered to enhance wearer  32  posture or merely provide a pad to spread out loads from the support  40 . 
     Support straps  16 ,  18  and back support  40  couple to the straps  36  of the harness  12  using a fastener  42 , preferably as shown in FIGS  2 ,  5 ,  7  and  8 , which allows the support straps  16 ,  18  and back support  40  to be removed. In the preferred embodiment a carabiner operates as a removable fastener  42  which meets the requirements of the invention. 
     The adjustable quality of support straps  16 ,  18  allows this harness system  10  to lift heavy and bulky objects  28  with a minimum of bending or stooping. For this reason, it is believed that harness system  10  reduces many of the injuries associated with lifting large objects  28  by normal means. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, two wearers  32  are shown adjusting support straps  16 ,  18  prior to lifting a large piece of furniture  28 . Prior to lifting an object  28 , the proper positioning for using harness system  10  is to be in a slight squatting position, with knees bent. Upon adusting support straps  16 ,  18  so that center point  26  coincides with the center of gravity of the object, support straps  16 ,  18  are adjusted so that all slack is taken out. The two wearers then rise from a “knees bent” position to a full standing position, and in doing so, the large object  28  is lifted free of the ground. To help stabilize the load, the arms  30  of the straps  16 ,  18  can pass around the lateral sides of the object  28  or near corners of the object  28 . 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a single user appliation of the harness system. Adjustable support straps  16 ,  18  can be used as a towing system for large objects. A common method for moving large objects used by house movers is to use a skid board  44 . In such a situation, the harness system used with two wearers might not be practical, as a large object might need to be maneuvered through a space big enough for one wearer. In such a situation, the support strap serves as a load bearing surface and one wearer could easily tow a skid board loaded with large objects such as a grand piano. 
     With particulat reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, details of a quick release  50  to disconnect the support straps  16 ,  18  from the harness  12 ,  14  is described. The quick release accessory  50  includes a fixed loop  51  which connects to the carabiner or other fastener  42  (FIGS. 5 and 8) for attachment to one side of the harness  12 ,  14 . A standard “box X” seam  52  secures the fixed loop  51  in position. A seat belt style clip  54  can be removably coupled to a buckle  53  affixed to the fixed loop  51 . The buckle  53  includes a button which can be quickly and easily depressed to separate the clip  54  from the budkle  53 . The clip  54  includes strap material  55  connected to a folating var buckle  56 . 
     The floating bar buckle  56  allows for adjustment of a length of the support strap  66  (FIG. 14) extending between the two fasteners  42  on the harness  12 ,  14 . The strap  66  is thus analogous to the support straps  16 , 18  of the system  10  (FIG.  1 ). A second assembly  60  is provided with a construction similar to the quick release  50 , but adapted for the second carabiner or other fastener  42  on the harness. The second assebmly  60  thus includes a fixed loop  61  coupled by a length of strap  12 ,  14  material  62  to a buckle  63 . A clip  64  is removably attachable to the buckle  63 . The “box X” seam  65  attaches a length of the strap  66  to the clip  64 . This length of strap material  66  extends away from the assembly  60  around to the floating bar buckle  56  of the quick release  50 . The quick release  50 ,  60  thus both provides for quick detachment of the strap  66  away from the harness at both ends of the strap, and also provides for lenght adjustability of the strap extending between the two buckles  53 ,  63  of the quick release system  50 ,  60 . 
     With particular reference to FIG. 15, a quick clip accessory  70  is described which can be interposed between the carabiner or other fastener  42  on each harness  12 ,  14  and the strap  16 ,  18 . The quick clips  70  facilitate quick adjustability of a length of the strap  16 ,  18  or other lifting structure. The quick clip  70  is preferably constructed of strap-like material  71  with the carabiner or other fastener  42  attached to the fixed loop  74 , connecting the quick clip accessory  70  to the harness  12 ,  14 . 
     The strap  71  is looped through the floating bar buckle  76  and a fixed loop handle  75  is provided on an end of the strap  71  which is accessible for the user to adjust the length of the strap by pulling upward on the strap length  73  closest to the loop handle  75 . On the opposite end of the floating bar buckle  76 , and additional strap  77  is provided which extends out to an additional fixed loop  78 . A second carabiner or other connector can then go directly to an item such as a fire and rescue stretcher, or other support structure to be located beneath an object to be lifted. “Box X” 0  seams  72  can be used to secure the fixed loops  74 ,  75 ,  78  to other strap portions  71 ,  73 ,  77  of the quick clip accessory  70 . 
     The quick clip accessory  70  would typically be worn in pairs with one on either side of the harness  12 ,  14 . The user would adjust the overall lenght of the quick clip  70  by pulling upward on the strap lenght  73  via the fixed loop handle  75 . When a length of the quick clip accessory  70  is to be increased, the strap length  73  would be fed back down through the floating bar buckle  76  to feed the strap length  73  back through the floating bar buckle  76 . 
     With particular reference to FIG. 16, deails of a vertical sling accessory  80  of this invention is described. The vertical sling  80  attaches to other portions of the system  10  of this invention and allows users to support thin square items such as doors, glass, mirrors, plywood, sheet rock, etc. The veritcal sling  80  cradles a “square” corner of the object  87  giving support at the bottom and side edge of the object  87  being carried. The cross strap  16 ,  18  of this invention could additionally provide lateral and/or underneath support for the object  87 . 
     The vertical sling  80  is formed of strap-like material including a vertically oriented U-shaped sling  81 . A rear support strap  82  extends horizontally from the U-shaped sling  81 . The cross straps of this invention are fed through fixed loops  83 ,  84  at the ends of the U-shaped sling  81  located at the top of the vertical sling  80 . The fixed loops  83 ,  84  and the rear support strap  82  can all be secured with two “box X” seams  85 ,  86 . 
     The cross straps  16  can be routed away from the harness  12  and through the vertical sling  80  in at least two different ways. First, a first strap  16  can pass through one of the fixed loops  83 ,  84  and then extend over to another side of the ojbect  87  (routing depicted by arrow  16 ) where it would typically pass through fixed loops in a second vertical sling and then on to a second harness  14  (FIG.  1 ). In such an arrangement a second strap  18  would be similarly oriented through the other fixed loop  84 ,  83  and then extend on to a second vertical sling and to the opposite harness  14  (routing depicted by arrow  18 ). 
     In an alternative arrangement, depicted with prime reference numberals, a first support strap  16  is coupled at each end ot the first harness  12  so that the routing of the first strap  16  follows along line  16 ′. A second strap  18 ′ would link with the first strap  16 ′ at a link  26 ′ which would typically be underneath the object  87  to be carried. The second strap  18 ′ would be routed back to the second harness  14 . Typically, a second vertical sling would be coupled to the second support strap  18 ′ at a side edge of the object  87  being carried. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 17-19 a carryall accessory  90  is described for use with the system  10  of this invention. The carryall accessory  90  includes a series of flexible high tensile strength webbing  95  surrounding a perimeter of the carryall structure  90  and with support webbing  94  spanning intermediate portions of the carryall  90 . A fabric  93 , such as quilted padding, fills portions of the carryall  90  inboard of the perimeter webbing  95 . Loop handles  91  are located at each corner of the carryall  90 . Additionaly, loops  91  are also provided at intermediate locations between corners of the carryall  90 . 
     A length of the carryall  90  can be adjusted by folding the carryall  90 , as depicted in FIG. 19, and use of loops  91  inboard of the corners. The carryall  90  allows large fragile planar items to be easily carried, such as glass, mirrors, windows, table tops and the like. In addition, the carryall  90  is effective in supporting mattresses and other less rigid items. The cross straps  16 ,  18  (FIG. 1) of this invention are routed through the loops  91  in either a linking fashion where each loop has both of its ends coupled to a common harness  12 ,  14  or in a spanning fashion where each cross strap  16 ,  18  extends from one harness  12 ,  14  to an opposite harness  14 ,  12 . 
     This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without depending from the scope and spirit of this desclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified.