Patent GB-360605-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to safety harness for aeronauts and the like
IPC: B64D25/06
Filed: 1930-10-10
Abstract: 360,605. Safety harness for aviators. MILLS EQUIPMENT CO., Ltd. and LETHERN, A. A., 56, Victoria Street, London. Oct. 10, 1930, No. 30337. [Class 141.] Safety harness for retaining an aviator in his seat comprises shoulder straps adapted to pass from one or more anchors over the aviator's shoulders and to have their ends detachably secured by fastenings on each side of the breast, and thighanchoring straps adapted to be detachably connected to fastenings on the aviator's thighs, each thigh-anchoring strap being so interconnected with a shoulder strap that the release of the shoulder straps automatically slackens the thigh-anchoring straps so that these can then slide through their anchors and permit the aviator to rise. When the safety harness is used in conjunction with parachute harness, Fig. 1, the ends of the shoulder straps G are fastened to parts A<1> of the parachute harness lying on the pilot's breast by quick-release devices comprising interengaging metal loops G<1>, G<2> attached to the parts G, A<1>, respectively, which are locked by a fabric-enshrouded spring steel strip J. The thigh-anchoring straps D are connected to the thigh straps A of the parachute harness by similar fastenings adapted to be automatically released when the pilot rises, after releasing the shoulder straps G. Each thigh-anchoring strap D is coupled through an adjusting buckle D<1> to a strap E which passes through a side-anchor F on the floor of the cockpit to a similar centrally-disposed rear anchor F<1> thence upwardly through an aperture in the back of the pilot's seat to constitute the shoulder straps G, which are interconnected by a tie behind the pilot's neck. Anchorage of the shoulders to the seat is effected by a strap H, which is looped through a rear anchor F<3> and passes through loops secured to the shoulder straps G and thence downwardly on each side through an adjusting buckle H<1> to the side anchors F. The buckle H<1> includes a loop H<2> ; by pulling on this, the pilot may lengthen the strap H enabling him to lean forward and can tighten the strap again by pulling on the free end thereof. Each locking strip J is provided with a releasing strap J<1> which, when pulled, flexes the strip J and withdraws it from the loop G2, whereupon the two loops G<1>, G<2> disengage. The straps Jl of the shoulder straps are connected together by press fasteners J3 so that they may be released simultaneously by the pilot. The straps J<1> of the thigh attachments are connected by lanyards J<2> to the seat. These lanyards are tensioned as the pilot rises after releasing his shoulder straps and thus disconnect the thigh-anchoring straps from the harness. In a modification, for use when no parachute harness is worn, a body harness is provided comprising chest straps K, Fig. 5, the lower ends of which are connected to each other and to the ends of a thigh strap K<1>, similar in form to the thigh strap A of Fig. 1, by a central quick-release device K<2> of the pin-and-cotter type. The safety harness is the same as in Fig. 1 but no releasing straps are provided on the locking strips J, release being obtained from both body and safety harness by withdrawing the cotter of the quick-release device K<2>. According to a further modification, Figs. 7 and 8, the pilot is provided with a strap element comprising a thigh strap L and upwardlyextending chest straps L<1> connected permanently at L<2>. The ends of straps L, L<1> are connected by means similar to those of Fig. 1 to the ends of a thigh-anchoring strap D and shoulder straps M, respectively. A strap N is looped through the rear anchor F<3>, Fig. 8, through loops M<1> at the rear ends of the shoulder straps M, down the pilot's back and through a rear anchor F<1>, and thence through one of two side anchors F, where it is coupled by an adjusting buckle D<1> to the thighanchoring strap D. This safety harness may be used with the parachute harness shown in Fig. 1, or with the harness of Fig. 5, in which case the releasing tabs J<1> are omitted. Alternatively, the harness shown in Fig. 1 may be employed with the chest and thigh strap element shown in Fig. 7. According to a still further modification, the safety harness may be employed in conjunction with fastening devices attached to or mounted on the wearer's clothing. The method of guiding the straps E and the positions of the anchorages F, F<1>, F3 may be varied.