Abstract:
A safety harness for a hunter is provided having two primary straps which wrap around the legs and shoulders of the user. A safety tether may be attached to the primary straps to provide support to the user and prevent falls. A climbing strap is attached to each primary strap, and provides support for the user while climbing a tree or other vertical structure. Loops are provided on the sides of the safety harness for attachment thereto of any variety of climbing ropes or supports.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/702,687, filed on Jul. 26, 2005. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a safety harness and, more particularly, to a safety harness for use during hunting to reduce injuries to the hunters due to accidental falls from a tree stand.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Hunting stands are frequently used by hunters and commonly referred to as hunting blinds, tree stands, tree-mounted hunting stands, and the like. The hunting stands can take many forms; some exemplary forms include tree-mounted stands, ground-based stands, and self-supported hunting stands. Further, tree stands offer various amenities contained within the stand; some exemplary amenities include seats, various stand adjustments, and mounting and storage locations for rifles, equipment and the like.  
         [0004]     Many devices have been developed to secure the hunter in a hunting stand to improve hunter safety. As such, many devices address the scenario where the hunter installs the hunting stand above the ground. Examples of such installations include securing the hunting stand to a tree or constructing a self-supporting assembly to maintain the hunting stand above the ground. In the above examples, there is an important concern about the hunter falling from the tree stand to the ground. It is desirable to have a system allowing the hunter generally complete freedom of movement while in the tree stand. It is also desirable to provide a device that keeps the hunter safe if the hunter were to fall from the tree stand. Any safety harness must address and balance the competing interests of freedom of motion and safety during a fall. It has been suggested that seat belt retractors with associated webbing can be used to restrain a hunter. An example of one of these designs can be seen in US Patent Application No. 2004/0140158 herein incorporated by reference.  
         [0005]     The harness is generally comprised of a single primary strap, which wraps around the shoulders and legs of the user. This is the primary load-bearing member of the harness which, in the event of a fall, supports the user from a rear tether strap, which attaches to the tree stand, blind, or other structural member. The rear tether strap is wrapped around the shoulder and leg strap, where it crosses over itself in back of the user. Thus, no other connecting hardware is necessary to secure the rear tether strap to the harness.  
         [0006]     In one embodiment, the harness is further comprised of a climbing belt which is permanently stitched to one side of the harness, and at least one loop sewn to the other side of the harness capable of receiving the climbing belt&#39;s connecting hardware (i.e., carbiner, snap hook, etc.). The climbing belt and loop can thus be used to climb up a utility pole or tree to a stand or blind. The harness may be worn outside almost any clothing worn by the user. The harness may be used for industrial purposes or recreational purposes, such as hunting from a tree stand.  
         [0007]     One of the major issues in proper use of a fall arrest harness is the proper installation to a user&#39;s body of the fall arrest harness. Many potential product users become confused with how to properly put on the fall arrest harness and do not properly install the harness to their body. This has the potential to expose them to the risk of more severe injuries or even death in the event of a fall. One potential method to make it easier for the user to understand how to properly install their harness is to package the product on a hanger or harness caddie. The caddie may be in the outline or shape of a human with the harness draped around it showing the proper way a person should wear the harness. This visual presentation will make it easy for the person to see how to put it on correctly. Another additional way to help clarify how to put the harness on properly is to place small identifying tags to key locations on the harness. The tags might be used for locations such as right shoulder, left shoulder, right chest, left chest, left leg inside, left leg outside, right leg inside, right leg outside, attaching tether and tree strap to name just a few possible locations to be identified. The tags would be especially helpful if the harness were not stored on the caddie, i.e. just thrown in a pile which does frequently occur. The tags can be of many different possible materials (possibly Tyvek or similar material) that will withstand a lifetime of use and remain attached and readable. Further enabling the user to put the harness on correctly is a “step-in” feature. The user may simply step into the harness and pull it up over their shoulders. This operation is similar to putting on a pair of pants, and makes it easier for the user to put the harness on correctly and quickly.  
         [0008]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of the harness as worn by a user;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the harness as worn by a user;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a frontal view of the harness being put on by the user;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a perspective view of the self-adjusting loop of the harness;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an alternate view of one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0015]      FIGS. 6A-6E  represent the steps of manufacturing the harness shown in  FIG. 5 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-2  show the harness  10  which is worn by a user  8 . The harness  10  is formed of a primary strap  12 . Primary strap  12  may be made of any lightweight, strong fabric, but preferably is made from automotive seat belt webbing material. Starting from first end  32  of primary strap  12  on the rear of left shoulder  28  of user  8 , primary strap  12  wraps around user  8 , following a path across the back of user  8  to the front of right leg  22 , between right leg  22  and left leg  26  to the back of right leg  22 , around the right side of user  8  underneath the arm of user  8  to right shoulder  24 , across the back of user  8  again to the front of left leg  26 , between left leg  26  and right leg  22  to the back of left leg  26 , and around the left side of user  8  underneath the other arm of user  8  to left shoulder  28 , where second end  34  of primary strap  12  attaches to first end  32 . First end  32  and second end  34  of primary strap  12  are shown joined to each other adjacent to left shoulder  28  of user  8  with buckle  14 , but may be permanently or releasably fastened to each other by any means well known in the art, and at any other point on primary strap  12  where it is convenient for user  8 .  
         [0018]     Harness  10  is adjustable to suit various sizes of user  8 , and for the overall comfort of user  8 . Primary strap  12  may be adjustable for overall length through any means well known in the art. Primary strap  12  is shown with self-adjustment loops  30  and  40  adjacent to left shoulder  28  and right shoulder  24 . Self-adjustment loops  30  and  40  are comprised of a doubled over portion of primary strap  12 , connected with elastic piece  57 , which is sewn to primary strap  12  ( FIG. 4 ). Self-adjustment loops  30  and  40  thus increase the overall comfort of harness  10  by allowing primary strap to stretch with user  8 .  
         [0019]     Elastic chest strap  18  is sewn or otherwise secured to primary strap  12  at chest strap attachment points  42  and  44 . Elastic chest strap  18  guides the path of primary strap  12  around right shoulder  24  and left shoulder  28  of user  8  by urging both sides of primary strap  12  in a central direction relative to user  8  away from right shoulder  24  and left shoulder  28 , respectively. Elastic chest strap  18  thus enhances the overall comfort and fit of harness  10 .  
         [0020]     Climbing strap  46  is sewn or otherwise attached to primary strap  12  at climbing strap attachment points  48  and  50 , respectively. Climbing strap  46  provides support to user  8  during the operation of climbing a tree or utility pole, for example, using harness  10 . Climbing strap  46  is made preferably of a similarly strong and lightweight material such as automotive seat belt webbing material, similar to primary strap  12 .  
         [0021]     D-ring loops  52  and  54  are provided for D-ring loops  52  and  54  are sewn or otherwise attached to primary strap  12  on each side of user  8 . D-ring loops  52  and  54  are provided for securing climbing devices or rope to harness  10 , and are typically utilized for the operation of climbing a tree or pole (not shown). D-ring loops are preferably made of a material similar to the automotive seat belt webbing used for primary strap  12  and climbing strap  46 .  
         [0022]     To assist user  8  in putting on harness  10 , right shoulder label  56  and right leg label  60  may be sewn or otherwise attached to primary strap  12 , in locations suggesting the placement of primary strap  12 . Left shoulder label  58  and left leg label  62  are similarly attached to primary strap  12  in locations suggesting the proper placement of primary strap  12  on user  8 , the locations being generally symmetrical to those of right shoulder label  56  and right leg label  60  on primary strap  12 .  
         [0023]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , the operation of putting harness  10  on user  8  is described. With harness  10  laid in front of user  8 , user  8  may grasp primary strap  12  adjacent to right shoulder label  56  and left shoulder label  58 . User  8  may then place their right and left legs through the loops formed by primary strap  12  for right leg  22  and left leg  26 , respectively, and raise harness  10  so primary strap  12  fits around the legs and shoulders of user  8  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0024]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show perspective views of the self-adjusting or extension loop of the harness. As can be seen in  FIG. 4A , the primary strap  12  is folded over itself so as to form a plurality of articulations  55 . Disposed over the articulations is an elastic strap  57  which is sewn at predetermined points  58  of the articulations. As shown in  FIG. 4B , when tension is applied to either one of the elastic strap  57  or the webbing  12 , the webbing  12  elongates, thus allowing for the harness to comfortably fit users having larger proportions. While the extension portion is shown on the shoulder loop portions, it is envisioned that they can equally be used in the leg loop portions.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  represents a harness  100  according to the teachings of the present invention. The harness  100  is formed of a single main loop  102 . The main loop  102  is folded a first time to form a first leg loop  104 . Similarly, the main loop  102  is folded to make the second leg loop  106 . Disposed between the first and second leg loops  104  and  106  is a central loop  107  which is crossed  108  to form the first and second arm support loops  110 ,  112 . Disposed along the webbing of the arm support loops  110  and  112  are fasteners  116 .  
         [0026]     The fasteners  116  (shown in the form of an elastic webbing) function to hold the configuration of the loops in place during use. Optionally, the fasteners  116  allow for the passage of the webbing there through to allow for a customization of the harness  100 . Additionally, by passing the portions of the shoulder loops through the fastener  116  twice, an optional accessory loop  118  can be formed. Chest and waist straps  120 ,  122  are sewn to the single main loop at the arm support loops  110 ,  112  and first and second leg loops  104 ,  106 . Optionally, the chest and waist straps  120 , 122  can be formed of elastic material.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 6A-6E  depict the manufacture of the harness  100 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the harness is preferably formed of a single integral loop of webbing  102 . It is envisioned that this can be formed of a single piece of webbing. Those skilled in the art would, however, recognize that it can also be formed of multiple pieces stitched together to form a single main loop  102 . As shown in  FIG. 6B , the single loop of webbing  102  is folded over in two spots to define first  104 , second  107 , and third  106  loops. At locations that the webbing is folded, a fastener in the form of a loop of fabric is provided to hold the pieces relative to each other. At this point, as shown in  FIG. 6C , the second loop  107  is folded over itself to define the pair of arm loops  110 ,  112 . A strap  120 , which is configured to couple the harness to a mounting mechanism, is sewn to the single loop  102  at the intersection of the fourth and fifth loops  110 ,  112 .  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIG. 6D , a pair of elastic members  120 ,  122  are sewn between the fourth and fifth loops and the first and third loops. The elastic member  120  or strap sewn between the fourth and fifth loops define a chest strap while the elastic member sewn between the first and third loops  122  define a back or waist member. At this point, extension loops  130  are defined within the shoulder loops four and five as well as the leg loops one and three. As shown in  FIG. 6E , a plurality of extension loops  130  can be defined in any of the webbing loops. The extension loop  130  is formed by folding a portion of the webbing over itself and by stitching an elastic fabric piece  132  to the harness webbing  102 . It is envisioned that the elastic webbing  132  will be capable of elongating so as to allow the loop  130  of the extension portion to fully unfold. The elastic portion  132  is configured to intermittently allow the webbing of the extension loop to automatically refold itself when tension is not applied to either the elastic strap or the folded portion of the extension loop (see also  FIGS. 4A and 4B ).  
         [0029]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.