Patent Publication Number: US-2020275713-A1

Title: Body gripping harness and single point connector for electrical rubber insulating sleeves

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/465,207, filed Mar. 21, 2017, entitled “Body Gripping Harness and Single Point Connector for Electrical Rubber Insulating Sleeves,” which claims priority to and the benefit of Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 201611011561, filed on Apr. 1, 2016, entitled “Body Gripping Harness and Single Point Connector for Electrical Rubber Insulating Sleeves,” the entire disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to personal protective equipment used by workers (“linemen”) who work on power lines and other electrical equipment, and more particularly, to electrical rubber insulating sleeves that are worn by such workers to protect the workers from electrical shock, and to the harnesses or other structure utilized to retain such electrical rubber insulating sleeves on a worker during use. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known to provide line workers (“linemen”) who work on power lines and other electrical equipment with a pair of electrical rubber insulating sleeves in order to protect the workers from electrical shock. Conventionally, such insulating sleeves are retained on the worker with either a pair of straps that allow a worker&#39;s head to extend between the straps, or by some type of harness. One common complaint by workers is that the straps/harnesses are uncomfortable while wearing the insulating sleeves, with the complaints including that the straps/harnesses ride up on the neck and choke the worker, the strap/harness limit the range of motion of the line worker while wearing the rubber insulating sleeves, the straps/harnesses do not allow for a proper fit over the shoulders and chest and/or that the straps/harnesses require frequent adjustment of the insulating sleeves, especially when the arms of the worker are extended. The limitation on the range of motion can also result in binding that can break off the buttons or other fasteners that are used to connect the insulating sleeves to the strap/harness. Clearly, there is room for improvement that would address one or more of the above listed complaints. 
     SUMMARY 
     As one feature, a harness is provided for retaining electrical rubber insulating sleeves on a worker, with the harness being made from fabric. 
     In a further feature, the harness includes an elasticized/elastic material. 
     In one feature, the harness includes elasticized grips on the arms. 
     According to one feature, the harness is designed to transfer the load/weight of the electrical rubber insulating sleeves over the shoulders of a worker wearing the harness. 
     As one feature, the harness includes an adjustable back design to fit different body sizes. 
     In one feature, the harness ensures firm attachment of the electrical rubber insulating sleeve to the shoulders of a worker wearing the harness. 
     According to one feature, the harness includes a C-connector unit attached to each rubber sleeve, with the C-connector unit including two attachment points to the rubber sleeve and a single attachment point to the harness. 
     As one feature, the harness includes a single point attachment for each of the insulating rubber sleeves. 
     In one feature, the harness is provided with an adjustable neck grip anchoring that grips the neck of a worker wearing the harness. 
     In accordance with one feature of this disclosure, a harness is provided for retaining a pair of electrically insulating workman sleeves on the shoulders of a worker. The harness includes a pair of fabric shoulder portions configured to extend around at least part of the shoulders of a worker wearing the harness; a pair of fastener features, each fastener feature configured for attaching an electrically insulating sleeve to a corresponding one of the shoulder portions; a connection portion extending from one shoulder portion to the other to limit the motion of the shoulder portions relative to each other; and at least one of: (a) a collar configured to grip the neck of a worker wearing the harness, or (b) a pair of fabric sleeves configured to extend over at least the shoulders and upper arms of a worker, each of the sleeves configured to grip at least a portion of the corresponding upper arm of the worker. 
     As one feature, each fastener feature is at least one of a button or a button hole. 
     In one feature, each fastener feature is an array of button holes. 
     According to one feature, each array of button holes includes a linear array of button holes on the front of the sleeve and a linear array of button holes on the back of the sleeve. 
     As one feature, the harness further includes a C-shaped connector including: a first fastener feature for attaching the C-shaped connector to one of the sleeves, and a pair of second fastener features for attaching an electrically insulating sleeve to the C-shaped connector, and wherein the first fastener feature is located centrally on the C-shaped connector, and each second fastener feature is located on an opposite end of the C-shaped connector from the other second fastener feature. In a further feature, the first fastener feature is a button hole, and each of the second fastener features are buttons. 
     According to one feature, the connection portion includes a resilient material that allows limited movement of the shoulder portions relative to each other. 
     As one feature, the harness includes the pair of fabric sleeves configured to extend over at least the shoulders and upper arms of a worker, with each of the sleeves configured to grip at least a portion of the corresponding upper arm of the worker. 
     In one feature, the connection portion is a back side connection portion extending from the back side of one sleeve to the back side of the other sleeve to connect the sleeves to each other. 
     According to one feature, the back side connection portion includes a resilient material that allows limited movement of the sleeves relative to each other. 
     As one feature, a front side connection portion extends from the front side of one sleeve to the front side of the other sleeve to connect the sleeves to each other. 
     In one feature, the front side connection member includes a resilient material that allows limited movement of the sleeves relative to each other. 
     According to one feature, each of the sleeves includes an elastic band that extends around the upper arm of a worker when the harness is worn by a worker. 
     As one feature, a collar is provided that extends around the neck of a worker when the harness is worn by the worker, the collar including an adjustment feature for adjusting the fit of the collar around a workers neck. 
     In one feature, the adjustment feature is a pair of mating hook and loop strips, and the collar has an open front, with one of the hook and loop strips on one side of the open front and the other of the hook and loop strips on the other side of the open front, and with the hook and loop strips being connectable to each other to close the open front of the collar while also adjusting the fit of the collar around the neck of a worker wearing the harness. 
     According to one feature, a C-shaped connector is provided for connecting an electrically insulating sleeve to a harness worn by a worker. The C-shaped connector includes a first fastener feature for attaching the C-shaped connector to the harness, a pair of second fastener features for attaching an electrically insulating sleeve to the C-shaped connector, and wherein the first fastener feature is located centrally on the C-shaped connector, and each second fastener feature is located on an opposite end of the C-shaped connector from the other second fastener feature. In a further feature, the first fastener feature is a button hole, and each of the second fastener features are buttons. 
     It should be appreciated that a harness according to this disclosure may include only some of the above features, only one of the above features, and/or any combination of the above features. 
     Other features and advantages will become apparent from a review of the entire specification, including the appended claims and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view from the front of one embodiment of a harness as disclosed herein, and showing the harness as worn by a worker; 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of the harness and worker of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the harness and worker of  FIG. 1 , and showing a pair of electrical rubber insulating sleeves attached to the harness; 
         FIG. 4  is a view from the back showing the harness, worker and connected electrical rubber insulating sleeves of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view from the front of another embodiment of the harness as disclosed herein, with the harness again shown as worn by a worker; 
         FIG. 6  is a view from the back of the harness and worker of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a modified embodiment of the harness of  FIGS. 5 and 6  showing a collar feature of the harness of  FIGS. 5 and 6  in an open position, and further showing a rubber insulating sleeve and C-shaped connector for connecting the electrical rubber insulating sleeve to a single fastener feature on the harness. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1-7 , a harness  10  is provided for retaining a pair of electrical rubber insulating workman sleeves  12  on the shoulders  14  of a worker  16 . The harness  10  includes a pair of fabric shoulder portions  18  configured to extend around at least part of the shoulders  14  of the worker  16  when the worker  16  is wearing the harness  10 . The harness  10  further includes a pair of fastener features, shown generally at  20 , with each fastener feature  20  configured for attaching an electrical rubber insulating sleeve  12  to a corresponding one of the shoulder portions  18 . The harness  10  further includes a connection portion, shown generally at  22 , extending from one shoulder portion  18  to the other shoulder portion  18  to limit the motion of the shoulder portions  18  relative to each other. The harness  10  further includes at least one of: (a) a collar  24  configured to grip the neck  25  of the worker  16 , as shown by the embodiments of  FIGS. 5-7 , or (b) a pair of fabric sleeves  26  configured to extend over at least the shoulders  14  and upper arms  28  of the worker  16 , as shown by the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , with each of the sleeves  26  configured to grip at least a portion of the corresponding upper arm  28  of the worker  16 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each fastener feature  20  can include at least one of a button  30  or a button hole  32 , and in the illustrated embodiment, the fastener feature  20  includes an array of button holes  32  in the form of a linear array  34  of button holes on the front of the sleeve and a linear array  36  of button holes on the back of the sleeve. In this regard, it is important to understand that each fastener feature  20  can be just one button hole  32  or just one button  30  even though the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  shows the arrays  34  and  36  of button holes and two of the buttons  30  for each of the fastener features  20  which will be advantageous in many applications. Additionally, it is important to understand that while the illustrated embodiment shows one possible set of arrays  34  and  36  that will be advantageous in many applications, other arrays of button holes are contemplated within the scope of this disclosure and no limitation to the illustrated arrays is intended unless expressly recited in an appended claim. Although the illustrated embodiment will be advantageous in many applications because the buttons  30  are utilized to fasten many conventional electrical rubber insulating gloves that are currently commercially available, it should be understood that other suitable fasteners can be utilized for the fastener features  20 , including, but not limited to, snap buttons and/or hook and loop fasteners. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the connection portion  22  can be provided as a separate component that is attached, such as by stitching, to each of the shoulder portions  18 , and preferably is formed from a resilient material that allows limited movement of the shoulder portions  18  relative to each other and particularly allows limited lateral movement of the shoulder portions  18  towards and away from each other. In this regard, the connection portion  22  can be provided in the form of an elasticized band, a plurality of elasticized bands, a section of elasticized fabric material, a stretchable woven fabric material, a foam material, a webbed material, and/or other suitable resilient materials or fabrics. Further in this regard, it is preferred that the resiliency, sizing and shape of the connection portion allow for up to 7 inches of lateral movement of one shoulder portion  18  relative to the other shoulder portion  18 . The resiliency of the connection portion  18  allows for a single size of the harness  10  to fit all, or nearly all sizes of workers  16 , including workers  16  with odd body sizes, and further allows a wide range of motion for the arms of a worker  16  without undue binding of the harness  10  while retaining the electrical rubber insulating sleeves  12  in their desired position on the arms of the worker  16 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the connection portion  22  can be an integral part of the fabric shoulder portions  18  (i.e., a continuation of the fabric portions  18  extending from one fabric shoulder portion  18  to the other fabric portion  18 ). In this regard, if the fabric of the shoulder portions  18  has some resiliency, the connection portion  22  will be resilient and can be configured to allow the same limited movement of the shoulder portions  18  relative to each other as the harness embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 . On the other hand, if the fabric of the shoulder portions  18  is not resilient, the connection portion will not be resilient. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , the harness  10  can also include a front-side connection portion  40  that extends from the front-side of each of the sleeve portions  18  to connect the sleeve portions  18 . In this regard, the connection portion  40  can be fixed to the sleeve portions  18  using any suitable means, such as by stitching. Again, it is advantageous for the front-side connection portion  40  be formed from a resilient material to allow limited movement of the shoulder portions  18  relative to each other. In the embodiment of the harness  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , the front-side connection portion  40  is a separate component that is attached to the front-side of each of the sleeve portions  18 . 
     Alternatively, as seen in  FIG. 5 , the front-side connection portion  40  can be an integrated extension of each of the shoulder portions  18 , with the resiliency of the front-side connection portion  40  being dependent upon the resiliency of the fabric forming the shoulder portions  18 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , it is very advantageous for each of the fabric sleeves  26  to include an elastic band  42  that extends around the upper arm  28  of the worker  16  when the harness  10  is worn by the worker  16 . This elastic band  42  provides the desired gripping of the corresponding upper arm  26  of the worker  16 . The elastic band  42  can be provided in the form of an elasticized material that is attached to the corresponding sleeve  26 , or can have any other suitable structure, such as a gathering of the fabric of the corresponding sleeve  26  adjacent the end of the sleeve  26  with the gathering including an elasticized circumferential stitch or member that allows the gathering to expand and contract resiliently in the circumferential direction around the upper arm  28 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , in the embodiment that includes a neck gripping collar  24 , the collar  24  can include an adjustment feature  46  for adjusting the fit of the collar  26  around the worker&#39;s neck  25 . In the illustrated embodiments of  FIG. 5-7  and best seen in  FIG. 7 , the adjusting feature  46  includes a pair of mating hook and loop strips  50  and  52 , with the collar  24  being a front opening collar  24 . As best seen in  FIG. 7 , the hook and loop strips  50  and  52  are provided in the form of a first hook and loop strip  50  on one side  54  of the open front, and another hook and loop strip  52  on the other side  56  of the open front, with the hook and loop strips  50  and  52  facing each other so as to be connectable to each other when the open front of the collar  24  is closed as shown in  FIG. 5 , while also allowing for adjustment of the fit (the circumferential size) of the collar  24  around the neck  25  via the circumferential extending length of each of the hook and loop strips  50  and  52 . It should be appreciated that other suitable adjustment features can be utilized within the scope of this disclosure. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 7 , a unique C-shaped connector  60  is provided for connecting one of the electrical rubber insulating sleeves  12  to the harness  10 . The C-shaped connector  60  is preferably formed from a semi-resilient material, such as a suitable rubber, plastic or composite material, and includes a first fastener feature  62  for attaching the C-shaped connector  60  to a single point  64  on the harness  10 , and a pair of second fastener features  66  for attaching the electrical rubber insulating sleeve  12  to the C-shaped connector  60 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first fastener feature  62  is provided in the form of a button hole  62  that can receive a button  30  of the harness  10 , and each of the second fastener features  66  is provided in the form of a button  66  that can be received in corresponding button holes  68  provided on the electrical rubber insulating sleeve  12 . Again, it should be appreciated that the invention contemplates other fastener features  62  and  66 . This C-shaped connector  60  advantageously provides a broader range of motion for the electrical rubber insulating sleeves  72  when worn by a worker  16 , without transferring excessive binding loads to the harness  10  worn by the worker  16 . It should also be appreciated that while the C-shaped connector  60  is shown in connection with the harness embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the C-shaped connector  60  can be utilized with all of the embodiments of the harness  10  disclosed herein, and further can be utilized with other types of harnesses that are currently available in the industry or may be available in the industry in the future. 
     The fabric utilized in making any of the embodiments of the harness  10  disclosed herein can be made out of any suitable woven fabric or material, any suitable foams, any suitable elasticized fabric materials, or any other suitable fabrics. 
     It should be appreciated that the harness  10  disclosed in  FIGS. 1 and 4  grips a worker&#39;s  16  body at the arms, which allows a firm grip for the electrical rubber insulating sleeves  12  and provides better anchoring which restricts undesirable movements of the electrical rubber insulating sleeves  12  during use. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the embodiments of the harness  10  disclosed herein allow for the complete load to be transferred onto the shoulders, which provides better load distribution and comfort during use. It should be further appreciated that the resilient connection portion  22  helps to ensure proper fit to the body of the worker  16 , including for a variety of sizes and shapes of workers  16 . It should also be appreciated that the arrays  34  and  36  of button holes  32  allow for a worker to adjust the positioning of the electrical rubber insulating sleeves  12  to best fit the worker&#39;s current needs and activities. It should also be appreciated that the elasticized sleeves  26  ensure a grip and proper fit to users with different arm sizes.