Abstract:
A solar-powered harness comprises a retention pocket for holding a mobile device including a camera configured for capturing images, the retention pocket capable of securely retaining the camera while the camera is capturing images, at least one solar panel, affixed to the solar-powered harness, the solar panel configured for generating electrical current when exposed to solar rays, and a retention channel configured to securely maintain electrically conductive wires in communication with the mobile device and the solar panel so as to enable the solar panel to provide the electrical current to the mobile device while the camera is capturing images.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This patent claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/193,810 filed Jul. 17, 2015 and entitled “Sports Harness”. 
     
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Field 
         [0004]    This disclosure relates to a solar-powered harness. More particularly, a solar-powered harness for temporary storage of a mobile device including a camera that enables a wearer to simultaneously film and charge his or her mobile device while doing so. 
         [0005]    Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    There exist solar-powered charging systems and battery packs that may self-charge using solar power. Similarly, there exist film systems, like the GoPro® cameras that are designed to be mounted to sticks, poles, snowboards, helmets, surfboards, and the like. 
         [0007]    However, virtually every individual in the world currently possesses a telephone that includes a camera of some type. Modern smart phones common across the U.S., Southeast Asia, and Europe include cameras that are of extremely-high quality. Simultaneously, these smart phones include batteries that can last from 2 to 24 hours of use. 
         [0008]    However, as any modern smart phone user knows, activities like constant streaming of video, constant filming of video, or GPS location capabilities rapidly deplete battery stores. In only slightly-older smart phones whose batteries have been used through many power cycles, batteries in use can last less than an hour of constant use. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a solar-powered harness. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a back view of a solar-powered harness. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a back view of an alternative solar powered harness. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a close-up view of a retention pocket on the front of a solar-powered harness. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a close-up view of an alternative retention pocket on the front of a solar-powered harness. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a close-up view of a solar panel on the back of a solar-powered harness. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a close-up view of an alternative solar panel configuration on the back of a solar-powered harness. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit is the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Description of Apparatus 
       [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  a front view of a solar-powered harness  100  is shown. The harness  100  may be made with reinforced stitching  110 . The harness  100  includes a front  120 , a first storage pocket  130 , a retention channel  140 , a second storage pocket  150 , a retention pocket  160 , a set of clips  170  and adjustable straps  180 . 
         [0018]    The harness  100  may be made of neoprene, cloth, leather, Kevlar®, or other synthetic or natural materials. The harness  100  may be designed to be water tight or may be designed to allow water to penetrate the harness  100  while maintaining its shape and fit. 
         [0019]    The reinforced stitching  110  may be used to ensure that the harness is useful under more-extreme conditions under which a wearer may wish to use the harness  100 . For example, the harness  100  may be used while surfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, mountain climbing, scuba diving, or snorkeling. These environments can be harsh on clothing unless it is reinforced. As such, multiple stitching may be used and seams may be reinforced with additional material sewn over the seams. This reinforced stitching may be used on only those seams making up the harness  100  itself or may be used for all of the pockets, channels, and straps described herein as well. 
         [0020]    The front  120  is designed to be worn on the front of a human chest and includes a series of elements, discussed below. The front  120  of the harness  100  shown is intended for use by a male. As can be seen, its lower portion would sit rather high on a chest, with its lower seam falling somewhere mid-rib-cage for a typical male. A similar harness  100  front  120  designed for a female may be designed in a form much more-like that of a sports bra, such that its lower seam would fall slightly lower so as to be more comfortable for a woman. 
         [0021]    The first pocket  130  and second pocket  150  may be used as utility pockets for storing virtually anything desired by a wearer, subject only to their size. For example, the first pocket  130  and second pocket  150  may include a closure, such as Velcro®, a snap, a button, a clip, or the like suitable for closing the pockets  130 ,  150  and retaining things within. The first pocket  130  and second pocket  150  may or may not be water tight, when closed using the closure. The first pocket  130  and second pocket  150  may each store, for example, an additional battery that may also be electrically connected to a rear solar panel  190 ,  195  (See  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) for charging such that a mobile device within the harness  100  may have access to a much larger store of power than its own batteries alone. 
         [0022]    A retention channel  140  is a channel of fabric, for example, made by folding a length of fabric in on itself and sewing along its base, closest to the harness  100 , to thereby create a channel, through which long, flexible items such as cords or tubes may be passed. Although not shown, the retention channel  140  may be sewn into the material of the harness  100  itself such that it appears only as an inlet and an outlet on the front  120  and back  125  (See  FIG. 2 ) of the harness  100 . Still further, the retention channel  140  may be sewn or otherwise formed in the interior of the harness  100  such that no aspect of the retention channel  140  is visible from the exterior of the harness. 
         [0023]    The retention channel  140  is designed to enable a mobile device stored within a central retention pocket  160  to be electrically connected to the one or more rear solar panels  190 ,  195  (See  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) while stored within the retention pocket  160 . So, the retention channel  140  can take many forms. As shown, the retention channel  140  is external to the harness  100  and passes over one shoulder strap thereof from front to rear. 
         [0024]    The retention pocket  160  is designed to securely hold a mobile device within, while that mobile device is or may be filming using an internal camera. Although a mobile device herein is generally intended to mean a smart phone, it may include devices that are only cameras or have limited functionality other than being a camera. However all mobile devices include, at least, a camera and a battery for powering the camera that may be charged using the solar panels  190 ,  195  (See  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
         [0025]    The retention pocket  160 , as described in more detail below, may be water tight, may include a closure such as Velcro®, a snap, a button, a clip, or the like suitable for closing the retention pocket  160  and retaining a mobile device therein, and further may be made, in whole or in part, of a transparent or semi-transparent material. Alternatively, the retention pocket  160  may include a cutout or other “hole” through which the camera of the mobile device may film while the mobile device is within the retention pocket. The retention pocket  160  is designed in such a way that filming may take place while the mobile device is retained safely, and hands-free, within the retention pocket  160 . 
         [0026]    The retention channel  140  is shown in  FIG. 1  as not connecting directly to the retention pocket  160 . However, in some cases, the retention channel  140  may connect directly to the retention pocket  160  or may be internal to the harness  100  and open within the retention pocket  160 . This may be done, for example, to maintain the safety of the mobile device and other electrically-active components in a watertight environment. 
         [0027]    The harness  100  also includes a set of clips  170  and adjustable straps  180  to enable a wearer to tighten the harness  100  to their body. The harness  100  is shown as including two clips  170  and straps  180 , but fewer or more clips  170  and straps  180  may be used. Also, although clips  170  are shown, other methods of securing the harness  100  to a wearer may be used. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a back view of a solar-powered harness  100 . The back  125  of the harness  100  includes the retention channel  140 , the clips  170  and straps  180  and a solar panel  190  mounted centrally on an upper portion of the panel  125 . The retention channel  140 , clips  170  and straps  180  have been described above. That description will not be repeated here. 
         [0029]    However, the retention channel  140  may, as described above, be internal or external to the harness  100  and may, if desired, connect directly to the solar panel  190 . As shown, conductive wires within the retention channel  140  may be connected externally to the harness  100 , but other, for example, water tight, embodiments are also envisioned where conductive wires do not meet the exterior of the harness  100  or any water-exposed element of the harness  100  at all. 
         [0030]    The solar panel  190  is preferably a self-contained, water tight unit. Conductive wires may already be hard-wired into the solar panel  190  or the solar panel  190  may include an outlet for removable connection to conductive wires for transmitting the associated power to a mobile device in the retention pocket  160  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0031]    The solar panel  190  is designed to translate photonic energy into electrical current. Solar panels, like solar panel  190 , rely upon photovoltaic cells to convert the photonic energy from the sun and other sources into electrical current. Solar panels of a suitable size for inclusion on the back of the harness  100  may provide insufficient power to maintain the full charge of a mobile device in constant use. However, efficiency of solar panels is rapidly increasing and, as discussed above, the inclusion of additional built-in power (e.g., batteries) in the first and second pockets  130 ,  150  may enable the harness  100  to continue operating the mobile device long beyond its typical operating time on its own battery power while filming. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a back view of an alternative solar powered harness  100 . The same back panel  125 , retention channel  140 , clips  170  and straps  180  are shown. Their description will not be repeated. However, here, the harness  100  includes two solar panels  195  spaced horizontally next to each other across a broader area of the panel  125  than the first-described solar panel  190 . It may be desirable to incorporate multiple panels for several reasons. First, more surface-area for solar panels increases the amount of current generated linearly. Second, using multiple panels, rather than a single panel, decreases the likelihood that the panel(s) will break because they more-easily conform to the shape of the wearer&#39;s body and, should the wearer fall, are less-likely to crack and be damaged irreparably. The present application contemplates one or more solar panels, chosen to result in a balance of flexibility/durability and minimal electrical connections. Two to four solar panels is believed most desirable. For example, two large, present-day solar panels or four smaller solar panels can provide 15 watts of current at 2 amperes. 
         [0033]    Although the solar panels  195  are shown on the back panel  125 , solar panels may be included on the front of the harness as well or, in some cases, on other pieces of associated clothing such as a hat or on sleeves of a jacket, so long as those other pieces of clothing are in electrical communication with the retention channel  140  and the mobile device within the retention pocket  160 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a close-up view of a retention pocket  160  on the front  120  of a solar-powered harness  100 . The retention pocket  160  may have an opening  165  in the top of the retention pocket  160 . The opening may enable a mobile device to be inserted or to be removed from the retention pocket  160 . Similarly, a closure  167  may be used to retain a mobile device securely within the retention pocket  160 . Here, the closure  167  is shown as Velcro®, but various other closure types may be used, as discussed above. 
         [0035]    Although not clearly shown, the retention pocket  160  itself may be removably affixed to the exterior of the front  120  of the harness  100 . For example, the entire retention pocket  160  may be affixed to the exterior of the front  120  of the harness  100  by Velcro® such that the retention pocket  160  may be removed without opening the closure  167  of the opening  165  or removing any mobile device from the retention pocket  160 . When removed, the retention pocket  160  may be designed in such a way that capacitive touch or other user interaction may be translated to a mobile device within the retention pocket  160 . 
         [0036]    For example, a mobile device within the retention pocket  160  may be visible through transparent plastic on the back of the retention pocket  160  once removed from the harness  100 . Then, a user may interact with the mobile device while it is within the retention pocket  160 . In cases in which the retention pocket  160  is water tight, this may be particularly helpful while, for example, a wearer is snowboarding, snorkeling, or otherwise in an environment that may not be suitable to remove the mobile device from the retention pocket  160 , but during which interaction is desirable. 
         [0037]    The retention pocket  160  shown in  FIG. 4  may be made, entirely, of a transparent plastic or similar material, such that the mobile device may film the exterior environment while within the retention pocket  160 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 5  is a close-up view of an alternative retention pocket  160  on the front  120  of a solar-powered harness  100 . This retention pocket  160  has an opening  165  on its left side with a suitable closure  167  also on the left. The description of these elements will not be repeated. 
         [0039]    However, the retention pocket  160  in this example may be made of a non-transparent material. As such, a cutout  169  is shown. This cutout may actually be a hole in the fabric exposing the mobile device (and in particular its camera lens) to the exterior environment, while being small enough to ensure that the mobile device does not simply fall out of the retention pocket  160 . However, the cutout may instead be a built-in hole that is filled or covered with a transparent material. This may be particularly helpful for version of the harness  100  designed to include the water tight retention pocket  160 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  is a close-up view of a solar panel  190  on the back panel  125  of a solar-powered harness  100 . The solar panel  190  may be sewn into the back  125  using reinforced stitching  192  as described above. In some embodiments, however, the solar panel  190  may also be removably affixed, similar to that described above with respect to the retention pocket  160 . For example, the solar panel  190  may be affixed by Velcro® such that replacement solar panels (for example, should one cease to function) may be obtained. To this end, the exterior of the harness  100  may include a series of Velcro® or other attachment systems whereby one or more solar panels  190  may be removably affixed. The inclusion of one or more solar panels (or other pockets) may enable the harness  100  to provide more storage, to provide more current, or to otherwise function better or longer, depending on a wearer&#39;s needs. 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  is a close-up view of an alternative solar panel  195  configuration on the back panel  125  of a solar-powered harness  100 . Here, multiple solar panels  195  are shown. These panels  195  may be affixed permanently with reinforced stitching  192  or may be removable as described above. 
       Closing Comments 
       [0042]    Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and procedures disclosed or claimed. Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the methods described herein. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments. 
         [0043]    As used herein, “plurality” means two or more. As used herein, a “set” of items may include one or more of such items. As used herein, whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used herein, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.