Patent Publication Number: US-8536433-B1

Title: Waist belt rigid frame equipment support harness

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefits of provisional application No. 61/341,808 filed Apr. 3, 2010. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to equipment and musical instrument support devices that use the hips to support the weight, specifically those devices designed to be worn by a musician. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There exist quite a large number of wearable musical instrument and equipment support devices available today. Patent numbers DE4019416, 5,873,503, and 5,483,860 to Al Liebchen 2000, Atherton, et al. 1999 and Adams 1996 respectively, detail a number of wearable, load bearing devices, which distribute the load over some portion of the operator&#39;s back, shoulders and/or neck but still utilize the operator&#39;s or musician&#39;s back, shoulders and/or neck to bear the weight. Everyone who has ever been in the position of having to bear a weight supported by their back, shoulders, and/or neck for an extended period of time has come to know first-hand how pain, discomfort and fatigue can develop. This discomfort, for an extended period of time, can lead to a potential disability and/or back problem that is immediate or can develop later in life. A solution reducing these issues would be a device that bears the weight at the hips and waist as does the present invention. 
     There are a number of issued patents that support the weight of a carried load from the hips and waist of an operator, those being patent numbers U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,009,097, 5,332,137, 5,069,103, 3,102,446, and 5,000,071, to Terplivetz 2006, Violette 1994, Healy 1991, Raleigh 1963, and Thomas 1991 respectively. Interestingly, all of these patents present tremendous limitations that associate with the capacity to position the equipment or instrument while in use with essentially single point attachments of the instrument to the carry apparatus. Musical instrument players generally have their favorite positions for the instrument to be placed. It clearly remains more desirable to have the option of adjustment for comfort and ease of use, and the present invention provides profound instrument adjustability not only in the vertical axis but the horizontal as well. 
     Additionally, there are a number of issued patents that require modification to an instrument in order for the lifting and bearing mechanism to function. U.S. Pats. DE4019416, 7,009,097, 5,332,137, 5,069,103, 3,102,446, and 3,371,570 to Terplivetz 2006, Violette 1994 Healy 1991, Raleigh 1963, and Lester 1967 respectively, as well as patent Applied For application Ser. No. 11/557,984 Gallagher 2006—Publication number US 2007/0289430A1 Gallagher Dec. 20, 2007, clearly outline the modifications required to inflict upon an instrument for means of attachment. In so doing the process can profoundly compromise the value of the instrument. It remains clearly apparent that there is a profound need for a lifting and bearing mechanism that transfers the weight of an instrument to the hips and waist of the user, offers profound lateral and vertical adjustment of the carried article, and does so in a manner that utilizes the conventional attachment means already existing upon what is being borne. The present invention does just that and in a manner that remains reversible so as to be usable by both left-handed and right-handed people, and fully functional for a man or a woman. Further advantages will become apparent throughout the remainder of this work. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary aspect of the present invention is:
     a) to provide a rigid frame component that is mechanically associated with a waist belt, a chest strap, and a stringed instrument strap;   b) to provide a means by which the borne instrument&#39;s weight is supported by the waist and hips rather than by the back, shoulders, and/or neck;   c) to provide a means of supporting the instrument without requiring any modifications to the equipment that might diminish the instrument&#39;s value;   d) to provide substantial adjustability so that it can be used by people of all sizes and shapes and by males and females;   e) to provide reversibility so as to be usable by both left-handed and right-handed users   f) to provide substantial adjustability in all dimensions so that the instrument is able to be placed in a position of the user&#39;s choosing rather than the user adapting to a position dictated by the support device;   g) to provide padding features to protect the borne instrument from excessive wear; and   h) to provide padding features to enhance the comfort of the user.   

     In accordance with one embodiment an inverted T waist belt, rigid frame equipment support harness comprises a shapeable rigid frame component having a capacity to support the borne instrument or equipment without requiring any modification to the instrument. This rigid frame component mechanically associates with a waist belt component, a chest strap component and an instrument strap component, all of which contribute to the function of placing the instrument&#39;s total weight on the waist and hips. Also, all of these components are adjustable and reversible so as to individually and collectively offer both left-handed and right-handed users a wide range of positions in which the instrument can be placed. Further, the components utilize padding features so as to protect the instrument from excessive wear and to enhance the comfort to the user. 
     Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the shapeable rigid frame inverted T frame. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a partially assembled inverted “T” frame. 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of the waist belt and waist belt padded extension. 
         FIG. 3B  is a front elevation view of the assembled waist belt and waist belt padded extension with buckle on user&#39;s left side (as used by a right-handed guitar player). 
         FIG. 3C  is a front elevation view of the assembled waist belt and waist belt padded extension with buckle on user&#39;s right side (as used by a left-handed guitar player). 
         FIG. 4A  is an exploded view of the chest strap and chest strap padded extension 
         FIG. 4B  is a front elevation view of the chest strap and chest strap padded extension. 
         FIG. 5A  is an exploded view of the harness main assembly. 
         FIG. 5B  is a front elevation view of the assembled harness main assembly. 
         FIG. 5C  is a front elevation view of the assembled harness main assembly worn by a user. 
         FIG. 6A  (prior art) is a front elevation view of a stringed instrument strap. 
         FIG. 6B  is a front elevation view of the stringed instrument strap attached to the harness main assembly and supporting a guitar. 
         FIG. 7A  (prior art) is a front perspective view of an assembled saxophone strap. 
         FIG. 7B  is a front elevation view of the saxophone strap attached to the harness main assembly. 
         FIG. 8A  is a front elevation view of a vendor tray strap assembly supporting vendor tray and money pouch assembly. 
         FIG. 8B  is a front perspective view of the money pouch assembly shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 8C  is a front elevation view of the harness main assembly supporting vendor tray strap assembly, vendor tray, and money pouch assembly. 
         FIG. 8D  is a right side elevation view of the user wearing the harness main assembly which supports the vendor tray strap assembly, vendor tray, and money pouch assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is a front elevation view of the harness main assembly supporting a miscellaneous strap. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the waist belt. 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the assembled preferred embodiment of waist belt shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the assembled preferred embodiment of the chest strap. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the harness main assembly. 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of the assembled preferred embodiment of the harness main assembly. 
     
    
    
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, removably entangling hook and loop fastener pads will be referenced hook and loop or abbreviated “H-L, Hook H-L, or “Loop H-L”. For each hook and loop closure, any pairing of the hook side and the loop side will provide the proper function. There are positions/locations where use of the hook component might cause unnecessary abrasion to the instrument or inconvenience to the user. In these locations use of the loop component is recommended. These hook and loop locations are  25 ,  26 ,  29 ,  30 ,  34 ,  46 , and  57 . Also in this document, for brevity, the term buckle is used to mean any adjustable quick-attachment/quick-release fastener. Also, the process of “sewing” as described in this document can also mean to attach by any suitable means. Lastly, the term “guitar” is used to mean any stringed musical instrument that is held when it is played. 
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
     
         
         
           
               20  shapeable rigid inverted “T” frame 
               21  padded rigid inverted “T” frame 
               22  “T” frame padding 
               23  hook and loop location 
               24  “T” frame webbing 
               25  hook and loop location 
               26  “T” frame hook and loop location 
               27  hook and loop location 
               28  equipment strap loop-adjustable 
               29  hook and loop location 
               30  “T” frame hook and loop location 
               32  “T” frame hook and loop location 
               33  belt opening 
               34  “T” frame hook and loop location 
               35  waist belt 
               36  waist belt webbing 
               37  waist belt padded extension 
               38  waist belt padding 
               39  hook and loop location 
               40  frame cradle padding 
               41  hook and loop location 
               42  frame cradle webbing 
               43  waist belt padded extension webbing 
               44  waist belt webbing hook and loop location 
               46  waist belt webbing hook and loop location 
               47  waist belt padded extension padding 
               48  hook and loop location 
               49  hook and loop location 
               50  hook and loop location 
               51  hook and loop location 
               52 L buckle left half 
               52 R buckle right half 
               53  chest strap 
               54  chest strap webbing 
               55  hook and loop location 
               56  chest strap padding 
               57  hook and loop location 
               58  hook and loop location 
               60  hook and loop location 
               61  chest strap padded extension 
               62  hook and loop location 
               63  chest strap padded extension webbing 
               64  chest strap rigid strut 
               65  chest strap padded extension padding 
               66  hook and loop location 
               67  hook and loop location 
               68  hook and loop location 
               69  hook and loop location 
               70 L chest strap buckle left half 
               70 R chest strap buckle right half 
               72  stringed instrument strap webbing-lower 
               73  stringed instrument strap 
               74  stringed instrument strap loop-lower 
               76  stringed instrument strap webbing-upper 
               78  stringed instrument strap loop-upper 
               80  positionable buckle 
               86  stringed instrument strap knob upper 
               88  stringed instrument strap knob lower 
               90  stringed instrument 
               98  harness main assembly 
               100  user/operator 
               110  saxophone strap 
               112  saxophone strap webbing 
               114  saxophone attachment hook 
               116  hook and loop location 
               118  hook and loop location 
               120  vendor tray strap assembly 
               122  tray strap webbing piece 
               123  tray strap webbing piece  2   
               124  tray strap buckle 
               126  money pouch assembly 
               128  vendor tray 
               130  rigid strut-money pouch 
               132  hook and loop location 
               134  hook and loop location 
               136  hook and loop location 
               138  hook and loop location 
               140  fabric exterior-money pouch 
               142  fabric interior-money pouch 
               150  misc. strap 
               152  misc. strap webbing 
               154  misc. strap buckle 
               350  basic waist belt 
               530  basic chest strap 
               980  basic harness main assembly 
           
         
       
    
       FIG. 1  presents the disassembled, open view details of the preferred embodiment of inverted T frame assembly  21 . Hook and loop component  23  is sewn onto equipment strap loop  28 . Equipment strap loop  28  along with hook and loop components at positions  25 , 26 , 30 , 31 ,  32  and  34  are sewn into webbing piece  24 . Additionally, padding  22  as well as the vertical portion of T frame  20  is enclosed by stitching into webbing  24  as hook and loop components at positions  32  and  34  interlock to hold the assembly. Padding  22  is installed between vertical element of T frame  20  and webbing piece  24  so as to face the front F of the frame to protect to guitar. 
     Examination of  FIG. 2  conveys the assembled appearance of inverted T frame assembly  21 . Notice that padding  22  ( FIG. 1 ) remains non-visible as it has been entrapped within webbing piece  24  by stitching, and the only remaining visible portion of inverted T frame  20  is the lower horizontal LH portion which protrudes laterally. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  present detailed versions of both disassembled and assembled views of waist belt  35  and waist belt padded extension  37 . Examination of  FIG. 3A  reveals waist belt webbing segment  36  terminating on both ends with connection buckle components  52 R and  52 L. 
     Detachable waist belt padded extension  37  is shown in a disassembled manner clearly exposing waist belt padded extension webbing  43 , waist belt padded extension padding  47 , enclosed within padded extension and hook and loop attachment locations  39  and  41  which attach as needed to hook and loop locations  48  and  49  on waist belt webbing piece  36 . Frame cradle webbing  42  functions as abrasion resistance surfacing for frame cradle padding  40  which is sewn into the two halves of waist belt webbing  36  along with waist belt padding  38 . 
       FIG. 3B  presents assembled waist belt  35  as described above specifically for right handed use displaying the role of hook and loop locations  48 , 49 , 50  and  51  and how they associate with locations  39  and  41  in the attachment of waist belt padded extension  37 . Additionally, hook and loop location  46  associates with hook and loop location  44  inside strap  36  and function to retain shapeable rigid inverted “T” frame assembly  21  ( FIG. 1 ) which is inserted into strap opening  33 . 
       FIG. 3C  presents the same waist belt assembly  35  as shown in  FIG. 3   b  only in reverse, thus affording the entire system the universal appeal of reversibility for right or left handed use. 
       FIG. 4A  presents the disassembled/open view of chest strap  53  and chest strap padded extension  61 . The components of chest strap  53  comprise chest strap webbing  54 , padding  56 , hook and loop locations  60 , 62 , 68  which associate with hook and loop locations,  58 ,  67 ,  69  respectively, buckle halves  70 R,  70 L, and a shapeable rigid strut  64  which is enclosed within webbing piece  54 . Hook and loop location  66  is sewn onto chest strap webbing  54 . The make up of chest strap padded extension  61  is clearly visible as webbing  63  encases padding  65 . Hook and loop locations  67  and  69  will logically associate with hook and loop locations  62  and  68  on waist belt  53 . 
       FIG. 4B  shows assembled/closed view of chest strap  53  and chest strap padded extension  61 . Chest strap as shown displays buckles  70 R and  70 L terminating chest strap  53  and logically are used to link chest strap into a circle around user&#39;s chest. Within chest strap webbing  54  is hidden chest strap rigid strut  64  which is held in position by hook and loop locations  60  and  58 . Chest strap rigid strut  64  can be inserted or removed through strap opening  33  which is created when hook and loop locations  58  and  60  are disassociated. 
       FIG. 5A  presents the components of harness main assembly  98  positioned for assembly. The five components shown are waist belt  35 , waist belt padded extension  37 , padded rigid inverted “T” frame  21 , chest strap  53  and chest strap padded extension  61 . 
       FIG. 5B  presents the completely assembled harness  98 . Note attachment of extensions  37  and  61  are installed behind buckles  52 L and  70 L, respectively, and function to pad the user from discomfort while in use. Upon installation, buckle halves  70 R and  70 L attach to one another, and buckle halves  52 R and  52 L attach to one another thus encircling the user. Next, the installation of the two padded extensions can be completed. The installation of waist belt padded extension  37  is accomplished by attaching hook and loop locations  39  and  41  to hook and loop locations  50  and  49 , respectively. Likewise, the installation of chest strap padded extension  53  is accomplished by attaching hook and loop locations  67  and  69  to hook and loop locations  68  and  62 , respectively. 
       FIG. 5C  presents the completely assembled harness main assembly  98  installed on user  100 . 
       FIG. 6A  presents stringed instrument strap  73 . Stringed instrument strap webbing-lower  72  is sewn into stringed instrument strap loop-lower  74  at the first end, with the second end terminating securely into buckle  80 . Stringed instrument strap webbing-upper  76  is sewn into stringed instrument strap loop-upper  78  on the first end and the second end is adjustably terminated into buckle  80 . 
       FIG. 6B  displays in detail, harness main assembly  98  in use. Stringed instrument  90  hangs from stringed instrument strap  73  adjustably tightened by buckle  80  terminating on the upper end at upper stringed instrument strap knob  86  and at the lower end at lower stringed instrument strap knob  88 . Equipment loop strap  28  supports stringed instrument strap  73 . 
       FIG. 7A  presents assembled view of saxophone strap  110 , the components of which are hook and loop locations  116  and  118  and saxophone strap webbing  112  which is placed through ring end of saxophone hook  114 . 
       FIG. 7B  shows saxophone strap  110  installed onto harness main assembly  98 , which is accomplished by threading saxophone strap  110  through equipment strap loop  28  and attaching together hook and loop locations  116  and  118 . 
       FIG. 8A  shows vendor tray strap assembly  120 , components of which are vendor tray strap webbing  122  and  123 , tray strap buckle  124 , and money pouch assembly  126 . Also shown is vendor tray  128  to illustrate how vendor tray strap assembly  120  supports it. 
       FIG. 8B  is a detailed illustration of money pouch assembly  126 , the components of which are fabric exterior-money pouch  140 , fabric interior-money pouch  142 , hook and loop locations  132 ,  134 ,  136 , and  138 , and rigid strut-money pouch  130 . 
       FIG. 8C  shows harness main assembly  98  supporting vendor tray strap assembly  120  and vendor tray  128 . 
       FIG. 8D  presents the left side view of vendor tray strap assembly  120  and vendor tray  128  as supported by harness main assembly  98 , shown on body of user  100 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates harness main assembly  98  supporting miscellaneous strap  150 , the components of which are miscellaneous strap webbing  152  and miscellaneous strap buckle  154 . Miscellaneous strap  150  can be used to support a tuba, sousaphone, baritone horn, bass drum, etc. 
       FIG. 10  displays disassembled preferred embodiment of waist belt  350 . Waist belt webbing  36  terminates on both ends with connection buckle components  52 R and  52 L. Frame cradle webbing  42  functions as abrasion resistance surfacing frame cradle padding  40  which is sewn into the two halves of waist belt webbing piece  36  along with waist belt padding  38 . Hook and loop locations  44 ,  45 ,  46 ,  49  are sewn onto waist belt webbing  36 . Hook and loop locations  44  and  46  are attached to form strap opening  33 . Hook and loop locations  27  and  29  are attached together. 
       FIG. 11  shows assembled preferred embodiment of waist belt  350 . Shown are buckle halves  52 L and  52 R. Hook and loop location  27  associates with hook and loop location  29 . Hook and loop location  46  associates with hook and loop location  44  inside waist belt webbing  36  and functions to retain shapeable rigid inverted “T” frame assembly  21  ( FIG. 1A ) which is inserted into strap opening  33 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates preferred embodiment of chest strap  530 . The chest strap as shown displays buckles  70 R and  70 L terminating chest strap  530  and logically are used to link chest strap into a circle around user&#39;s chest. Also shown are chest strap webbing  54  and hook and loop locations  55 ,  57 , and  66 . 
       FIG. 13  shows components of preferred embodiment of harness main assembly  980  positioned for assembly. The three components shown are waist belt  350 , padded rigid inverted “T” frame  21 , and chest strap  530 . 
       FIG. 14  shows assembled preferred embodiment of harness main assembly  980 . The three components shown are waist belt  350 , padded rigid inverted “T” frame  21 , and chest strap  530 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 5C , to put the main harness assembly onto the body and use it to support a guitar, the user first puts the waist belt  350  around the waist and attaches the two parts of the buckle. The user would then adjust the fit of the belt by pulling the loose end of the webbing through the buckle. Next, by attaching the two hook and loop locations  27 ,  29  near the buckle the end of the webbing will be secured and will not hang loosely. 
     Then the user would put the chest strap  530  around the chest and attach the two buckle halves. Next, the user would adjust the fit of the chest strap in much the same way as the waist belt is adjusted. 
     As presented in  FIG. 6B , the stringed instrument strap  73  is then threaded through the equipment strap loop adjustable  28  at the top of the inverted “T” frame. Next, hold the guitar in one hand and place the loops at either end of the stringed instrument strap onto the strap knobs  86 ,  88  on the guitar. Slide the loose end of the instrument strap webbing through the buckle  80  to adjust its length. Then, the guitar  90  can be placed and held in the desired playing position. The various vertical and horizontal adjustments can be made in several ways. The stringed instrument strap  73  and/or waist belt  350  can be lengthened or shortened to move the guitar vertically. Further, the hook and loop piece on the equipment loop strap adjustable  28  can be adjusted along the hook and loop piece on the back of the “T” frame, thus raising or lowering the stringed instrument strap and the guitar. 
     The stringed instrument strap  73  can be slid laterally through the “T” frame&#39;s equipment strap loop adjustable  28  to achieve the desired left-to-right positioning of the guitar. Also, the waist belt  350  and/or chest strap  530  can be rotated around the user&#39;s torso to further change the left-to-right positioning of the guitar. Lastly, the stringed instrument strap  73  can be slid through the equipment strap loop adjustable  28  either left or right. This changes the balance of the guitar, thus changing the angle of the guitar&#39;s neck relative to the horizontal axis.
 
Guitarists generally have their favorite guitar positions and are reluctant to change these positions. The profound variety of guitar positions achievable by using the present invention/equipment support harness allows the user to place the guitar in any and all of these desired positions. The equipment support harness removes the instrument&#39;s weight from the user&#39;s back, shoulders and/or neck and places it instead on the waist and hips. The combination of these two aspects of the present invention make it a unique and superior device.
 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.