Patent Publication Number: US-9833058-B2

Title: Electronic device harness assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to harness devices and more particularly pertains to a new harness device for facilitating hands free use of an electronic device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a yoke that may be placed around a neck of a user. A harness is movably coupled to the yoke. The harness may be positioned on a chest of the user when the yoke is worn around the user&#39;s neck. A clamp is movably coupled to the harness and the clamp may be positionable at a selected angle with respect to the user&#39;s chest. The clamp may engage an extrinsic electronic device. Thus, the extrinsic electronic device may be positioned at an accessible location with respect to the user. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an electronic device harness assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a front in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a left side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new harness device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the electronic device harness assembly  10  generally comprises a yoke  12  that may be placed around a neck  14  of a user  16 . The yoke  12  comprises a pair of arms  18 , and each of the arms  18  has a first end  20  and a second end  22 . Each of the arms  18  is curved between the first end  20  and the second end  22  such that the second end  22  of each of the arms  18  is directed toward each other. The second end  22  corresponding to each of the arms  18  is open to define a well  24  in each of the arms  18 . The well  24  in each of the arms  18  has an initial surface  26 . Each of the arms  18  may be positioned on opposite sides of the user&#39;s neck  14 . 
     A central member  28  is slidably coupled between the pair of arms  18 . The central member  28  extends into the second end  22  of each of the arms  18 . Thus, the arms  18  are positionable a selected distance apart from each other. The central member  28  may extend along a back  30  of the user&#39;s neck  14 . Each of the arms  18  may be substantially comprised of a resiliently compressible material thereby enhancing comfort of the yoke  12 . Moreover, each of the arms  18  may flare outwardly between the first end  20  and said the second end  22 . 
     The central member  28  has a pair of ends  32 . A pair of tabs  34  each extends outwardly from an associated one of the ends  32  corresponding to the central member  28 . Each of the tabs  34  on each end  32  of the central member  28  selectively engages the initial surface  26  of a corresponding well  24 . Thus, the central member  28  is inhibited from being removed from the arms  18 . 
     Each of the arms  18  has a first portion  36  that is slidably coupled to a second portion  38 . Thus, the first end  20  corresponding to each of the arms  18  is extendable a selected distance away from the central member  28 . Each of the arms  18  may include a first lock  40 . The first lock  40  may be coupled to the first portion  36  of a corresponding arm  18 . The first lock  40  may selectively engage the second portion  38  of the corresponding arm  18 . Thus, each of the arms  18  may be retained at a selected length. 
     A harness  42  is movably coupled to the yoke  12  and the harness  42  may be positioned on a chest  44  of the user  16  when the yoke  12  is worn around the user&#39;s neck  14 . The harness  42  comprises a pair of first rods  46 , and each of the first rods  46  has a primary end  48  and a secondary end  50 . Each of the first rods  46  has a central section  52  that is slidably coupled between the primary end  48  and the secondary end  50  of a corresponding to each of the first rods  46 . Thus, each of the first rods  46  has a telescopically adjustable length. The primary end  48  of each of the first rods  46  is hingedly coupled to the first end  20  of a corresponding one of the pair of arms  18 . Each of the first rods  46  may extend downwardly along the user&#39;s chest  44 . 
     Each of the first rods  46  includes an upper portion  54 . Each of the first rods  46  may include a second lock  56 . The second lock  56  may be coupled to the central section  52  of a corresponding first rod  46 . The second lock  56  may engage the upper portion  54  of the corresponding arm  18 . Thus, the corresponding first rod  56  may be retained at a selected length. 
     A pair of second rods  58  is provided, and each of the second rods  58  has a beginning end  60  and a terminal end  62 . Each of the second rods  58  has a medial section  64  that is slidably coupled between the beginning end  60  and the terminal end  62 . Thus, each of the second rods  58  has a telescopically adjustable length. The beginning end  60  of each of the second rods  58  is hingedly coupled to the secondary end  50  of a corresponding one of the first rods  46 . Each of the second rods  58  may be positioned at a selected angle with respect to the user&#39;s chest  44 . 
     Each of the second rods  58  has a top section  66 . Each of the second rods  58  may include a third lock  68 . The third lock  68  may be positioned on the medial section  64  of a corresponding second rod  58 . The third lock  68  may engage the top section  66  of the corresponding second rod  58 . Thus, the corresponding second rod  58  may be retained at the selected length. 
     A pair of straps  69  may be provided. Each of the straps  69  may extend between a corresponding first rod  46  and an associated one of the second rods  58 . Each of the straps  69  may retain each of the first rods  46  at a ninety degree angle with respect to the second rods  58  when the straps  69  are fully extended between the first rods  46  and the second rods  58 . Each of the first rods  46  may frictionally engage the associated strap  69  at a selected location along each of the straps  69 . Thus, each of the first rods  46  may be retained at a forty five degree angle and a sixty degree angle with respect to the associated second rod  58 . Each of the first rods  46  may engage the associated strap  69  with a hook or the like. 
     A pair of feet  70  is provided and each of the feet  70  is hingedly coupled to the harness  42 . Each of the feet  70  is positioned at an intersection of an associated pair of the first rod  46  and the second rod  58 . Thus, each of the feet  70  may engage the user&#39;s chest  44 . Each of the feet  70  includes a pad  72  and the pad  72  may abut the user&#39;s chest  44 . The pad  72  corresponding to each of the feet  70  may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material. Thus, the pad  72  enhances comfort of the feet  70 . 
     A belt  74  is provided that has a first half  76  and a second half  78 . Each of the first half  76  and the second half  78  is coupled to an associated one of the second rods  58 . The belt  74  is positioned closer to the terminal end  62  than the beginning end  60 . The first half  76  is selectively matable to the second half  78 . 
     The first half  76  has a distal end  80  with respect to the associated second rod  58 . A buckle  82  may be coupled to the distal end  70  of the first half  76 . The second half  78  has a distal end  84  with respect to the associated second rod  58 . A clip  86  may be coupled to the distal end  84  of the second half  78 . The buckle  82  may selectively engage the clip  86  thereby removably coupling the first half  76  to the second half  78 . The belt  74  retains the second rods  85  a selected distance apart from each other. 
     A clamp  88  is movably coupled to the harness  42  and the clamp  88  may be positionable at a selected angle with respect to the user&#39;s chest  44 . The clamp  88  may engage an extrinsic electronic device  90 . Thus, the extrinsic electronic device  90  may be positioned at an accessible location with respect to the user  16 . The extrinsic electronic device  90  may comprise a smart phone or the like. 
     The clamp  88  comprises a medial member  92  that is coupled between the terminal end  62  of each of the second rods  58 . The medial member  92  has an upper surface  94  and the upper surface  94  has a groove  96  extending downwardly therein. Thus, the groove  96  may engage a lower edge of the extrinsic electronic device  90 . The groove  96  is coextensive with the medial member  92 . The medial member  92  includes a first half  98  that is slidably coupled to a second half  100 . Thus, the medial member  92  has a telescopically adjustable width. The terminal end  62  of each of the second rods  58  may be spaced a selected distance apart from each other. 
     A pair of grips  102  is provided and each of the grips  102  is hingedly coupled to the terminal end  62  of an associated one of the second rods  58 . Each of the grips  102  is positionable at a selected angle with respect to the associated second rod  58 . Moreover, each of the grips  102  frictionally engages the associated second rod  58  at the selected angle. Thus, each of the grips  102  may be frictionally retained at a forty five degree angle, a sixty degree angle and a ninety degree angle with respect to the associated second rod  58 . 
     Each of the grips  102  comprises a lower portion  104  and an upper portion  106 . The upper portion  106  corresponding to each of the grips  102  has a distal end  108  with respect to the lower portion  104 . Additionally, the upper portion  106  corresponding to each of the grips  102  has an inwardly facing surface  110 . The inwardly facing surface  110  corresponding to each of the grips  102  is directed toward each other. 
     The inwardly facing surface  110  corresponding to each of the grips  102  has a channel  112  extending outwardly therein. The channel  112  extends between the lower portion  104  and the distal end  108  of the grips  102 . The channel  112  in each of the grips  102  may engage an associated lateral edge of the extrinsic electronic device  90 . Thus, the extrinsic electronic device  90  may be retained in the clamp  88 . The upper portion  106  corresponding to each of the grips  102  may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material thereby enhancing gripping the extrinsic electronic device  90 . 
     In use, yoke  12  is worn around the user&#39;s neck  14  and the yoke  12  is manipulated to a selected width. The first half  76  of the belt  74  is mated to the second half  78  of the belt  74 . The lower edge of the extrinsic electronic device  90  is positioned in the groove  96  of the medial member  92 . Each of the grips  102  is manipulated such that the channel  112  in each of the grips  102  engages the associated lateral edge of the extrinsic electronic device  90 . Thus, the extrinsic electronic device  90  is retained in the clamp  88 . Each of the harness  42  and the clamp  88  are manipulated to position the extrinsic electronic device  90  at a selected orientation with respect to the user  16 . Thus, harness  42  and the clamp  88  facilitate hands free use of the extrinsic electronic device  90 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.