Cylinder loading and retaining device for a harness

A cylinder back plate includes a frame member 11 and a cylinder clamp 12 connected to the frame member 11 by means of a pivot 13. The cylinder clamp 12 comprises a band of rigid or semi-rigid material. The cylinder clamp 12 has a retaining position with respect to the frame member 11, wherein the cylinder clamp extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the frame member. The frame member 11 lies parallel to a back plate of the harness or is constituted by the back plate of the harness. Thus, when the cylinder clamp 12 is in the retaining position a cylinder can be retained securely to the frame member and sliding of the cylinder relative to the frame member or back plate can be prevented. When it is desired to attach a new cylinder to the harness, the cylinder clamp 12 can be pivoted into a loading position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cylinder loading and retaining device for a harness and also to a harness including such a device. In particular, the invention relates to a cylinder loading and retaining device for mounting a cylinder of breathable gas to a harness for a breathing apparatus of the type used by fire fighters. The invention could also be applied to other types of harness, such as a diving harness.

A known harness1for carrying a cylinder3of breathable gas is shown inFIG. 1. The harness includes a back plate2onto which an air or gas cylinder3is mounted. At its lower end, the cylinder3is attached to a valve4and is retained to the back plate2. Air is supplied from the cylinder3to the wearer through the valve4and air lines5,6one of which extends to a breathing apparatus and the other of which extends to a pressure gauge (neither shown). A fabric strap7is provided towards the upper end of the cylinder3for securing the cylinder3to the back plate2and for preventing the cylinder3from sliding downwards.

The cylinder3is usually mounted onto the harness1in a service workshop. Alternatively, the cylinder3may be mounted to the harness whilst the harness is being worn by a firefighter. In order to mount the cylinder3to the harness, the cylinder3must be aligned with the back plate2for insertion through the fabric strap7. This is awkward and time consuming, particularly as the fabric strap7has a tendency to flop downwards. Furthermore, if the cylinder3is mounted whilst the harness is being worn, the cylinder3must be inserted substantially vertically upwards, which is difficult to do.

A known alternative to the fabric strap7is a metallic strap. This has the advantage of having greater rigidity, and thus does not tend to flop downwards. Nevertheless, in mounting a cylinder3to a harness having a metallic strap it is still necessary to ensure that the cylinder3is aligned with the back plate2of the harness. This can be awkward, especially if the cylinder3is changed whilst the harness is being worn.

Clearly, it is desirable to enable the cylinder3to be mountable to the harness as quickly and easily as possible, for example to facilitate a swift change-over of a used or damaged cylinder3to a new cylinder3. This is especially desirable as the harness is usually being worn by a firefighter at an incident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cylinder retaining device for a harness, comprising: a frame member; and a retaining member connected to the frame member for receiving a portion of a cylinder, wherein the retaining member is movable with respect to the frame member between a loading position, in which the cylinder can be at least partly inserted into, or withdrawn from, the retaining member, and a retaining position, in which the cylinder is retained by the retaining member.

Advantageously, because the retaining member is movable with respect to the frame member between the loading position and the retaining position, the cylinder can be inserted into the retaining member, and thus mounted to a harness, without having to align the cylinder with the frame member (and hence with a back plate of the harness).

Preferably the retaining member is pivotally connected to the frame member and can pivot between the loading position and the retaining position. In this way, the retaining member can move smoothly and easily between the two positions, facilitating mounting of the cylinder.

In addition, the device may further comprise a locking mechanism for maintaining the retaining member in the retaining position. In this way, the retaining member can be maintained securely in the retaining position until the cylinder has been inserted into it. The locking mechanism may include, for example, a biasing means, a latch, a catch or a stop.

It is preferable that in the loading position the cylinder may be at least partly inserted into the retaining member at an obtuse angle with respect to the frame member, and in the retaining position the cylinder is retained substantially parallel to the frame member.

The retaining member may be a cylinder clamp comprising a band or ring of rigid or semi-rigid material, such as a metallic or hardened-fabric material. In addition, the cylinder clamp may include a length adjusting means for varying the length of the cylinder clamp so as to allow different sizes of cylinders to be accommodated and retained securely.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a harness for use with breathing apparatus, the harness including a cylinder loading and retaining device of the type described herein.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly comprising a harness according to the present invention and a cylinder of breathable gas mounted to the harness.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of modifying a harness for use with breathing apparatus, the method comprising the step of attaching a device of the type described herein to the harness.

The invention may comprise any combination of features or limitations described herein, except of such features as are mutually exclusive.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2is a side view of a cylinder loading and retaining device10. The device10comprises a frame member comprising a first frame member11, a projecting piece14, and a second frame member15suspended from the first frame member by means of a pivot13; and a cylinder clamp12connected to the second frame member15. The cylinder clamp12comprises a band of rigid or semi-rigid material. InFIG. 2, the cylinder clamp12is shown in a retaining position with respect to the first frame member11, wherein the cylinder clamp extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the first frame member11.

When the device is applied to or incorporated with a harness, the first frame member11lies parallel to a back plate of the harness or is constituted by (e.g. integral with) the back plate (2inFIG. 1) of the harness. Thus, when the cylinder clamp12is in the retaining position a cylinder3can be retained securely to the first frame member11and sliding of the cylinder3relative to the first frame member11(hence, back plate2) can be prevented.

Furthermore, when it is desired to attach a new cylinder3to the harness, the cylinder clamp12can be pivoted into a loading position as shown inFIG. 3. The loading position is not necessarily fixed but may be varied to an appropriate loading angle. In the loading position, the cylinder clamp12is angled obtusely with respect to the first frame member11, and hence with respect to the back plate2of the harness also. Thus, when the cylinder clamp12is in the loading position, an angled cylinder mounting direction is presented for inserting the cylinder3into the clamp12. In this way, it is unnecessary to align the cylinder3with the back plate2of the harness and instead the cylinder3can be fed more naturally and easily into the cylinder clamp12.

After the foremost or top part of the cylinder3has entered the clamp12, the clamp12can be pivoted into the retaining position to retain the cylinder3against the first frame member11. Thus, in a harness, the cylinder3is held securely against the back plate2of the harness as shown inFIG. 4. The frictional force of the cylinder clamp12against the outer surface of the cylinder3prevents the cylinder from slipping. As with the harness ofFIG. 1, a lower end of the cylinder3, furthest from the clamp12, is connected to a valve4and is retained against the back plate2of the harness.

In a further embodiment of the device, a locking mechanism18inFIG. 3is provided to maintain the clamp12in the retaining position. The locking mechanism18may include a latch, a catch or a stop. Alternatively, a biasing means may be provided, for example, incorporated in the pivot13.

In another embodiment, the cylinder clamp12includes a length adjusting means for enabling the length of the band of the clamp12to be varied, so as to enable different sizes of cylinder to be retained securely by the clamp12. For example, if the clamp12comprises a hardened fabric, such as a rubber coated fabric, the length adjusting means may comprise a buckle arrangement. If the clamp12is metallic, a hook and pin arrangement may be used. The pivot13may be provided by any suitable means, such as a roller (e.g. pin or rod) and bushing arrangement with or without an integral biasing element.

While embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.