Harness back plate and strap arrangement

A wearable body harness has first and second shoulder straps arranged in an X-shape, a back plate on a rear portion of the shoulder straps with the first shoulder strap crossing over the second at the back plate. The back plate includes a pair of lower guide slots, having a first lower guide slot side and a second lower guide slot side contiguous with the first and arranged at an angle relative thereto, and a pair of upper guide slots, having a first upper guide slot side and a second upper guide slot side contiguous with the first and arranged at an angle relative thereto. A first of the pair of upper and lower guide slots route a webbing material of the first shoulder strap. A second of the pair of upper and the pair of lower guide slots route the webbing material of the second shoulder strap.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to wearable body harnesses and, in particular, to a harness back plate and strap arrangement of a wearable body harness.

Technical Description

As is known in the art, there exist various safety devices and arrangements that can be worn by or attached to a user to ensure the wearer's safety in certain situations. Such mechanisms come in many forms, including, but not limited to, harnesses and safety belts. Full body harnesses are widely used for lifting and lowering individuals in dangerous situations and as a primary component in a personal fall arrest system. These harnesses can also be used for work positioning, travel restriction, ladder climbing, rescue retrieval, and evacuation. While these harnesses are used mainly in an industrial setting, and particularly the construction industry where the likelihood and danger of falls from heights is both numerous and significant, a full body harness can be used in various other applications in which total suspension and support of the body must be ensured, either expectedly or unexpectedly.

While there are many variations in full body harness construction, all typically include a plurality of elongate straps that are combined to fit around a user's body. In some embodiments or aspects, a full body harness may have an attachment point (D-ring) typically positioned in a central portion of the user's back or chest, and a plurality of straps routed around predetermined portions of the user's body in such a manner as to hold or suspend the user in the event of a fall.

While a variety of full body harnesses exist in the art, there is a continued need in the art for improved harnesses. Elongated straps naturally curl at angles which frequently cause discomfort to the user and create difficulty in adjusting the straps. There is also continued need in the art for improving the management of elongated straps to prevent curling.

SUMMARY

Generally, provided is an improved body harness having a harness back plate and an improved strap arrangement.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, a wearable body harness may have a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap arranged in an X-shaped configuration and a back plate on a rear portion of the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap with the first shoulder strap crossing over the second shoulder strap at the back plate. The back plate may include a pair of lower guide slots, each of the lower guide slots having a first lower guide slot side and a second lower guide slot side contiguous with the first lower guide slot side and arranged at an angle relative to the first lower guide slot side and a pair of upper guide slots, each of the upper guide slots having a first upper guide slot side and a second upper guide slot side contiguous with the first upper guide slot side and arranged at an angle relative to the first upper guide slot side. A first of the pair of upper guide slots and a first of the pair of lower guide slots may be configured to route a webbing material of the first shoulder strap therethrough, and a second of the pair of upper guide slots and a second of the pair of lower guide slots may be configured to route the webbing material of the second shoulder strap therethrough.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the first upper guide slot side and the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot may be arranged at an acute angle relative to each other, and the first lower guide slot side and the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot may be arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other. The first upper guide slot side and the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot may be arranged at an angle between 80° and 120° relative to each other. The first lower guide slot side and the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot may also be arranged at an angle between 80° and 120° relative to each other.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the first lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot may be longer than the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot, and the first upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot may be longer than the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot. The first lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot may be arranged at an angle between 0° and 30° relative to a longitudinal axis of the back plate, and the first upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot may be arranged at an angle between 0° and 30° relative to a longitudinal axis of the back plate. The upper guide slots and the lower guide slots may be configured to bend the webbing material of the first and second shoulder straps in a manner so as to prevent bunching of the webbing material. The back plate may have a core and a pair of branches extending from the core in opposite directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the back plate. Each branch may extend at an angle between 40° and 65° relative to the longitudinal axis of the back plate.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the back plate may further include at least a pair of tabs protruding from a body of the back plate, each of the tabs having a first end connected to the body and a second free end, and the tabs may be spaced apart from each other to define a recess therebetween. At least one of the tabs may have a projection at the second end, and the projection may be spaced apart and substantially parallel or arranged at an acute angle relative to the body of the back plate. The at least a pair of tabs may also be deflectable relative to the body of the back plate.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, a back plate for routing a pair of shoulder straps of a body harness may include a body including a core and a pair of branches extending from the core in opposite directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the body, a pair of lower guide slots extending through the core, each of the lower guide slots having a first lower guide slot side and a second lower guide slot side contiguous with the first lower guide slot side and arranged at an angle relative to the first lower guide slot side, and a pair of upper guide slots extending through the pair of branches, each of the upper guide slots having a first upper guide slot side and a second upper guide slot side contiguous with the first upper guide slot side and arranged at an angle relative to the first upper guide slot side. A first of the pair of upper guide slots and a first of the pair of lower guide slots may be configured to route a webbing material of a first shoulder strap therethrough, and a second of the pair of upper guide slots and a second of the pair of lower guide slots are configured to route the webbing material of a second shoulder strap therethrough.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the first upper guide slot side and the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot may be arranged at an acute angle relative to each other, and the first lower guide slot side and the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot may be arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other. The first upper guide slot side and the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot may be arranged at an angle between 80° and 120° relative to each other, and the first lower guide slot side and the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot may be arranged at an angle between 80° and 120° relative to each other. The first upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot may be longer than the second upper guide slot side, and the first lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot may be longer than the second lower guide slot side. The upper guide slots and the lower guide slots may be configured to bend the webbing material of the first and second shoulder straps in a manner so as to prevent bunching of the webbing material.

Further non-limiting embodiments or aspects are set forth in the following numbered clauses.

Clause 1: A wearable body harness comprising: a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap arranged in an X-shaped configuration; and a back plate on a rear portion of the first shoulder strap and the second shoulder strap with the first shoulder strap crossing over the second shoulder strap at the back plate, the back plate comprising: a pair of lower guide slots, each of the lower guide slots having a first lower guide slot side and a second lower guide slot side contiguous with the first lower guide slot side and arranged at an angle relative to the first lower guide slot side; and a pair of upper guide slots, each of the upper guide slots having a first upper guide slot side and a second upper guide slot side contiguous with the first upper guide slot side and arranged at an angle relative to the first upper guide slot side, wherein a first of the pair of upper guide slots and a first of the pair of lower guide slots are configured to route a webbing material of the first shoulder strap therethrough, and wherein a second of the pair of upper guide slots and a second of the pair of lower guide slots are configured to route the webbing material of the second shoulder strap therethrough.

Clause 2: The wearable body harness of clause 1, wherein the first upper guide slot side and the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot are arranged at an acute angle relative to each other, and wherein the first lower guide slot side and the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot are arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other.

Clause 3: The wearable body harness of clause 1 or 2, wherein the first upper guide slot side and the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot are arranged at an angle between 80° and 120° relative to each other.

Clause 4: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-3, wherein the first lower guide slot side and the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot are arranged at an angle between 80° and 120° relative to each other.

Clause 5: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-4, wherein the first lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot is longer than the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot.

Clause 6: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-5, wherein the first upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot is longer than the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot.

Clause 7: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-6, wherein the first lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot is arranged at an angle between 0° and 30° relative to a longitudinal axis of the back plate.

Clause 8: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-7, wherein the first upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot is arranged at an angle between 0° and 30° relative to a longitudinal axis of the back plate.

Clause 9: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-8, wherein the upper guide slots and the lower guide slots are configured to bend the webbing material of the first and second shoulder straps in a manner so as to prevent bunching of the webbing material.

Clause 10: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-9, wherein the back plate has a core and a pair of branches extending from the core in opposite directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the back plate.

Clause 11: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-10, wherein each branch extends at an angle between 40° and 65° relative to the longitudinal axis of the back plate.

Clause 12: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-11, wherein the back plate further comprises at least a pair of tabs protruding from a body of the back plate, each of the tabs having a first end connected to the body and a second free end, and wherein the tabs are spaced apart from each other to define a recess therebetween.

Clause 13: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-12, wherein at least one of the tabs has a projection at the second end, and wherein the projection is spaced apart and substantially parallel or arranged at an acute angle relative to the body of the back plate.

Clause 14: The wearable body harness of any of clauses 1-13, wherein the at least a pair of tabs are deflectable relative to the body of the back plate.

Clause 15: A back plate for routing a pair of shoulder straps of a body harness, the back plate comprising: a body comprising a core and a pair of branches extending from the core in opposite directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the body; a pair of lower guide slots extending through the core, each of the lower guide slots having a first lower guide slot side and a second lower guide slot side contiguous with the first lower guide slot side and arranged at an angle relative to the first lower guide slot side; and a pair of upper guide slots extending through the pair of branches, each of the upper guide slots having a first upper guide slot side and a second upper guide slot side contiguous with the first upper guide slot side and arranged at an angle relative to the first upper guide slot side, wherein a first of the pair of upper guide slots and a first of the pair of lower guide slots are configured to route a webbing material of a first shoulder strap therethrough, and wherein a second of the pair of upper guide slots and a second of the pair of lower guide slots are configured to route the webbing material of a second shoulder strap therethrough.

Clause 16: The back plate of clause 15, wherein the first upper guide slot side and the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot are arranged at an acute angle relative to each other, and wherein the first lower guide slot side and the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot are arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other.

Clause 17: The back plate of clause 15 or 16, wherein the first upper guide slot side and the second upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot are arranged at an angle between 80° and 120° relative to each other, and wherein the first lower guide slot side and the second lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot are arranged at an angle between 80° and 120° relative to each other.

Clause 18: The back plate of any of clauses 15-17, wherein the first upper guide slot side of each upper guide slot is longer than the second upper guide slot side, and wherein the first lower guide slot side of each lower guide slot is longer than the second lower guide slot side.

Clause 19: The back plate of any of clauses 15-18, wherein the upper guide slots and the lower guide slots are configured to bend the webbing material of the first and second shoulder straps in a manner so as to prevent bunching of the webbing material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the singular forms of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Spatial or directional terms, such as “left”, “right”, “inner”, “outer”, “above”, “below”, and the like, relate to the disclosure as shown in the drawing figures and are not to be considered as limiting, as the disclosure can assume various alternative orientations.

All numbers and ranges used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. By “about” is meant plus or minus twenty-five percent of the stated value, such as plus or minus ten percent of the stated value. However, this should not be considered as limiting to any analysis of the values under the doctrine of equivalents.

Unless otherwise indicated, all ranges or ratios disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass the beginning and ending values and any and all subranges or subratios subsumed therein. For example, a stated range or ratio of “1 to 10” should be considered to include any and all subranges or subratios between (and inclusive of) the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all subranges or subratios beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less. The ranges and/or ratios disclosed herein represent the average values over the specified range and/or ratio.

The terms “first”, “second”, and the like are not intended to refer to any particular order or chronology, but refer to different conditions, properties, or elements.

The term “at least” is synonymous with “greater than or equal to”.

The term “not greater than” is synonymous with “less than or equal to”.

As used herein, “at least one of” is synonymous with “one or more of”. For example, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” means any one of A, B, or C, or any combination of any two or more of A, B, or C. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” includes A alone; or B alone; or C alone; or A and B; or A and C; or B and C; or all of A, B, and C.

The term “includes” is synonymous with “comprises”.

As used herein, the terms “parallel” or “substantially parallel” mean a relative angle as between two objects (if extended to theoretical intersection), such as elongated objects and including reference lines, that is from 0° to 5°, or from 0° to 3°, or from 0° to 2°, or from 0° to 1°, or from 0° to 0.5°, or from 0° to 0.25°, or from 0° to 0.1°, inclusive of the recited values.

As used herein, the terms “perpendicular” or “substantially perpendicular” mean a relative angle as between two objects at their real or theoretical intersection is from 85° to 90°, or from 87° to 90°, or from 88° to 90°, or from 89° to 90°, or from 89.5° to 90°, or from 89.75° to 90°, or from 89.9° to 90°, inclusive of the recited values.

The discussion of the disclosure may describe certain features as being “particularly” or “preferably” within certain limitations (e.g., “preferably”, “more preferably”, or “even more preferably”, within certain limitations). It is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to these particular or preferred limitations but encompasses the entire scope of the disclosure.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, and with reference toFIG. 1, the present disclosure is directed to a safety harness100(hereinafter referred to as “harness100”) used in a fall protection system. The harness100has a plurality of straps that are arranged to support the user's body in an event of a fall. The harness100has a harness connection arrangement configured for releasably coupling at least a pair of straps of the harness100.

With continued reference toFIG. 1, the harness100has at least two leg straps102configured to attach around a user's legs below a user's groin area. When attached, the leg straps102loop around or encircle each of the user's legs. Each leg strap102has a first end102athat is removably attachable to a second end102bvia a connector104that permits removable attachment of the first end102ato the second end102bof each leg strap102. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the at least one connector104and/or the leg strap102may have at least one adjustment mechanism106configured for adjusting the length of each leg strap102. As shown inFIG. 1, the adjustment mechanism106is connected to the second end102b, but the adjustment mechanism106may instead be connected to the first end102a. Each leg strap102is connected to a seat strap108at an intermediate portion102cof the leg strap102between the first end102aand the second end102b. The seat strap108may extend across a user's lower back, buttocks, or an upper portion of the leg when the harness100is in use, depending on the user's size. Each leg strap102may be formed from a substantially flat webbing material typically used in harness construction, such as rayon, polyester, nylon or other materials known to those having skill in the art.

When applying a leg strap102to a leg of a user, the intermediate portion102cmay wrap around the back of a user's leg at or below the buttocks. The first end102aand the second end102bmay wrap around the front of a user's leg and connect at a point on the user's thigh by way of the connector104. The adjustment mechanism106can then be used to adjust the length of the leg strap102and increase or decrease the tightness of the leg strap102around the user's leg. It is contemplated that the connector104may be any suitable connector known to those having skill in the art. For example, the connector104may be a buckle-type or a belt-type connector. It is further contemplated that the adjustment mechanism106may be any suitable adjustment mechanism known to those having skill in the art. For example, the adjustment mechanism106may be a sliding adjustment buckle.

With continued reference toFIG. 1, the harness100further has a pair of shoulder straps110configured to extend over at least a portion of the user's shoulders. The shoulder straps110may have a first shoulder strap110aand a second shoulder strap110barranged to overlap one another in an X-shaped configuration, with the shoulder straps110a,110bconfigured to be connected at the user's chest area via a chest connector120. Like the connector104, the chest connector120may be any suitable connector, such as a buckle, known to those having skill in the art.

In this manner, the shoulder straps110a,110bare configured to cross over each other at a rear portion of the harness100worn on the user's back. As described herein, the harness100may have a back plate200through which the first shoulder strap110aand the second shoulder strap110bcan be routed to maintain the first shoulder strap110aand the second shoulder strap110bin the X-shaped configuration. The first shoulder strap110amay cross a longitudinal axis of the back plate200and the second shoulder strap110bwhen forming an X-shaped configuration. The second shoulder strap110bmay also cross the longitudinal axis of the back plate200as well as the first shoulder strap110a. In some embodiments or aspects, neither the first shoulder strap110anor the second shoulder strap110bmay cross the longitudinal axis of the back plate200or the other shoulder strap. In other embodiments or aspects, the second shoulder strap110bmay not cross the longitudinal axis of the back plate200or the first shoulder strap110a. In these embodiments, the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bmay stay on one half of a user's body.

After the routing through the back plate200, the shoulder straps110a,110bmay extend downward and beyond the back plate200in generally opposite directions, maintaining the X-shaped configuration, until the first shoulder strap110aand the second shoulder strap110breach the first ends102aof the leg straps102. The first and second shoulder straps110a,110bmay either connect to the first ends102aof the leg straps, or the first ends102aof the leg straps may be a distal end of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b. Like the leg straps102, the shoulder straps110a,110bmay be formed from a substantially flat webbing material typically used in harness construction, such as rayon, polyester, nylon or other materials known to those having skill in the art.

As further shown inFIG. 1, the harness100may have a back strap116connecting a substantially intermediate portion of the first shoulder strap110awith a substantially intermediate portion of the second shoulder strap110b. The back strap116may extend across a user's back to provide support and to maintain a set distance between the first shoulder strap110aand the second shoulder strap110bas they extend beyond the back plate200and down and along a user's back. The first and second shoulder straps110a,110bmay be connectable together at a front portion of the harness100in an area of the user's chest. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bmay have at least one connection arrangement120or chest connector, such as a buckle, configured to releasably connect the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bto each other.

As further shown inFIG. 1, the harness100has an anchor element, such as a D-ring118, for connecting at least a portion of the shoulder straps110a,110bto a line fixed to an attachment, anchor point, or to a personal fall limiter device. The D-ring118has a frame defining at least one opening through which a clip, such as a carabiner, a lanyard, or other rope or line, can be secured to connect the harness100to the line or the personal fall limiter device.

With reference toFIG. 2, a detailed rear view of a portion of the harness100shows the back plate200in accordance with some non-limiting embodiments or aspects of the present disclosure. The back plate200is configured to route the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bacross one another such that the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bhave an X-shaped configuration. The back plate200has a body202having a plurality of openings204configured for routing at least a portion of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bthrough the back plate200. The back plate200has the D-ring118connected thereto in a manner such that the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bare routed to prevent removal of the D-ring118from the back plate200. The D-ring118may be connected to a personal fall limiter (PFL)124or a lanyard to allow the back plate200and harness100to be connected to a fixed anchor point.

As shown inFIG. 2, the shoulder straps110a,110bare routed through similar pathways through the openings204of the back plate200. The first and second shoulder straps110a,110bare routed through the back plate200by weaving through a plurality of pathways defined by the openings204. These pathways keep the shoulder straps110a,110bneatly organized across the back plate200and prevent undesirable tangling or bunching of the shoulder straps110a,110bacross a user's back.

With reference toFIGS. 3-4B, the body202of the back plate200has a recess206. The recess206may be defined between a pair of tabs208a,208bprotruding from the body202and may be used for receiving at least a portion of the D-ring118or other attachment. The recess206is positioned between the lower guide slots224a,224band the upper guide slots226a,226b(shown inFIG. 6A). As shown inFIG. 4B, each of the tabs208a,208bhas a first end238a,238bconnected to the body202of the back plate200and a second, free end240a,240bopposite the first end. The second ends240a,240bof the tabs208a,208bare arranged opposite one another with the space210defined therebetween. In some embodiments or aspects, the tabs208a,208bmay be non-removably connected to the body202of the back plate200. For example, the tabs208a,208bmay be monolithically formed with the body202, such as by being molded with the body202as a single piece so that first ends238a,238bare integral with the body202. In other embodiments or aspects, the tabs208a,208bare formed as a separate component from the body202and are removably or non-removably connected to the body202.

The tabs208a,208bmay be deflectable to widen the space210and allow insertion of the D-ring118into the recess206. As shown inFIG. 3, the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bare routed over the tabs208a,208bto prevent removal of the D-ring118from the recess206through the space210.

At least one of the tabs208a,208b, such as the first tab208a, has a projection212that is spaced apart from the body202of the back plate200by a distance D. Distance D is configured to be larger than a width of a connector216(shown inFIG. 5B) used for connecting the PFL124to the harness100. As discussed herein, the projection212may be arranged substantially parallel with the body202. In other embodiments or aspects, the projection212is arranged at an obtuse or an acute angle relative to the body202.

As shown inFIG. 3, the projection212spaces the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bfrom the first tab208asuch that a clearance space214is formed between the first and second shoulder straps110a,110band the first tab208a. The clearance space214is configured to receive the connector216, which is shown as a carabiner inFIG. 4B.

With reference toFIGS. 6A-6C, the back plate200is shown without the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b. The back plate200has a generally Y-shaped configuration with a core218and a pair of branches220a,220bbranching away from the core218. In use, the back plate200is arranged such that the branches220a,220bare pointed in an upward direction when worn by the user. In some embodiments or aspects, the branches220a,220bare arranged at an angle α relative to a central longitudinal axis222of the back plate200. Angle α may be between 40° and 65°. It is contemplated that angle α may be outside of the 40-65° range so long as the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bremain aligned over a user's shoulders during use.

Each of the branches220a,220bhas the plurality of upper openings204formed as elongated slots extending through the body202of the back plate200. Similarly, the core218has a pair of lower openings205at its lower end for receiving the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b. The lower openings205are configured for routing at least a portion of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bthrough the back plate200such that the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bare arranged in a direction extending from the central longitudinal axis222to an angle similar to angle α. In other words, the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bare arranged from the branches220a,220bin a direction generally extending along the user's spine and then toward the user's waist in a direction as dictated by the lower openings205.

Due to the angle of the branches220a,220brelative to the longitudinal axis222and the core218, the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bare bent in directions that may cause the webbing of the straps to curl, bunch up, or pucker. In order to eliminate such curling, bunching, or puckering of the webbing of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b, the back plate200has a pair of lower guide slots224a,224bextending through the core218and a pair of upper guide slots226a,226bextending through the branches220a,220b. The lower and upper guide slots224a,224b,226a,226bare configured to receive first and second shoulder straps110a,110band to facilitate bending of the webbing of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bin a manner to prevent the bunching or puckering of the webbing material. This arrangement of guide slots224a,224b,226a,226bmanages to keep the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bsmooth when traversing along the back plate200and along a user's body.

With continued reference toFIGS. 6A-6C, the lower guide slots224a,224bare positioned below the tabs208a,208bdefining the recess206. A first lower guide slot224ais configured to receive the first shoulder strap110a, while the second lower guide slot224bis configured to receive the second shoulder strap110b. Each of the lower guide slots224a,224bhas a first side228having a first length L1and a second side230having a second length L2. The first and second sides228,230are connected to each other and arranged to form a substantially L-shaped arrangement. In some embodiments or aspects, the first length L1may be longer than the second length L2. In other embodiments or aspects, the first length L1may be equal to or shorter than the second length L2. The first side228and the second side230define an angle β1therebetween. In some embodiments or aspects, the angle β1may be between 80° and 120°. It is contemplated that the angle β1may be outside of the 80-120° range so long as the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bcan be routed through the back plate200without puckering of the webbing material. The first sides228of the first and second lower guide slots224a,224bmay be arranged at an angle γ1relative to the longitudinal axis222. In some embodiments or aspects, the angle γ1may be between 0° and 30°. In some embodiments or aspects, the second side230may define an angle of 0° to 25° relative to a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis222. Each of the first and second sides228,230has a width that is wider than a thickness of the webbing of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b.

The upper guide slots226a,226bare positioned above the tabs208a,208bdefining the recess206. A first upper guide slot226ais configured to receive the second shoulder strap110b, while the second upper guide slot226bis configured to receive the first shoulder strap110a, with the first and second shoulder straps110a,110boverlapping and crossing over each other and between the lower guide slots224a,224band the upper guide slots226a,226b. Each of the upper guide slots226a,226bhas a first side232having a first length L3and a second side234having a second length L4. The first and second sides232,234are connected to each other and arranged to form a substantially L-shaped arrangement. In some embodiments or aspects, the first length L3may be longer than the second length L4. In other embodiments or aspects, the first length L3may be equal to or shorter than the second length L4. The first side232and the second side234define an angle β2therebetween. In some embodiments or aspects, the angle β2may be between 80° and 120°. The first sides232of the first and second upper guide slots226a,226bmay be arranged at an angle γ2relative to the longitudinal axis222. In some embodiments or aspects, the angle γ2may be between 0° and 30°. Each of the first and second sides232,234has a width that is wider than a thickness of the webbing of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b. The upper guide slots226a,226bmay be arranged such that the second side234of each slot is positioned opposite the second side230of the lower guide slots224a,224b. In some embodiments, the back plate200may also have slots235for receiving other attachments therethrough.

As shown inFIG. 7, at least a portion of the back plate200, such as the tabs208a,208b, may have a locking slot242for receiving a clip244. The clip244is configured to extend over the space210, thereby preventing removal of the D-ring118or similar attachment. The clip244has hooks245a,245bconfigured to engage with the locking slot242, thus permitting the clip244to be removably connected to the locking slot242to permit removal of the D-ring118when the clip244is removed. The clip244may have hooks245a,245bconfigured to engage at least a portion of the locking slot242in order to remain in place over the space210. The hooks may engage and disengage the locking slot242by squeezing the clip244. This permits the clip244to slide into and out of the locking slot242. When the locking clip244is inside the slot, the squeezing may cease allowing the hooks245a,245bto press against the locking slot242in a frictional fit. The hooks245a,245bmay also hook around a locking peg (not shown) within the slot242permitting the clip244to be locked in place within the locking slot242. The locking clip244may then be squeezed and removed in a manner opposite of its insertion in order to no longer obstruct the space210.

In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, such as shown inFIG. 8, the back plate200may have a back pad246. The back pad246may be made from a soft material, such as padding or foam, to cushion the user's back from the back plate200and the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b. The back pad246is positioned between the back plate200and the user so as to prevent direct contact between the back plate200and the user. The back pad246may take the same generally Y-shaped configuration as the core218of the back plate200. However, the back pad246is larger than the back plate200so as to prevent contact between the back plate200and the user if the back plate200shifts during use. A back pad246larger than the back plate200may also prevent part of the user's shoulders from contacting portions of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b. For example, the back pad246may be positioned between the user's back and the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b.

With reference toFIGS. 9A and 9B, the shoulder straps110, such as the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b, have a pre-formed fold400configured to position the first and second shoulder straps110a,110baway from the user's neck. Due to the flexible nature of the webbing of the first and second shoulder straps110a,110b, the straps110a,110bhave a natural tendency to take a most direct path between the rear portion of the harness100at the back plate200and a front portion of the harness100at the connector106, thereby interfering with the user's neck (seeFIG. 10B). The pre-formed fold400positions the first and second shoulder straps110a,110baway from the user's neck (seeFIG. 10A), thereby increasing the user's comfort while wearing the harness100.

With continued reference toFIGS. 9A and 9B, wherein only the first shoulder strap110ais shown for clarity of illustration, the fold400is formed by folding the first shoulder strap110aover itself between a first end402and a second end404. The first shoulder strap110ahas a first section408and a second section412extending in opposite directions from the fold400as the first shoulder strap110asits atop a user's shoulder. The fold400may be formed by folding the first shoulder strap110asuch that a top surface406of a first section408abuts a top surface410of a second section412of the first shoulder strap110a. The folded sections may be stitched together by stitching414. The stitching414may extend across the first shoulder strap110ain the direction of the user's neck, along the first shoulder strap110ain the direction of the front side and backside of the user, or, as shown inFIG. 9B, in both directions. The first section408and the second section412define an angle σ therebetween. In some embodiments or aspects, the angle σ may be between 110° and 155°, such as 140°. The first section408may have the same or different length than the second section412. With reference toFIG. 10A, the shoulder straps110, such as the first and second shoulder straps110a,110bwith the pre-formed fold400, are configured to be positioned on the user's shoulders such that pre-formed fold400is positioned away from the user's neck.