Patent Description:
A harness is typically constructed from multiple fabric components interconnected by metal hardware. During use, it is common for fabric components to become worn to the extent that they their safety and integrity of the harness is not maintained. However, the fabric components do not all wear at the same rate, with some components reaching the end of their safe and useful life while many other components are still serviceable. When this happens, it is advantageous if the worn components can be replaced to extend the useful working life of the harness.

One particular arrangement of harness, such as that shown in <FIG>, and in <CIT>, has a pair of side attachment arrangements <NUM> each of which serves to connect a respective riser webbing <NUM> to a waist belt <NUM> of the harness. The riser webbings <NUM> are load-bearing components that interconnect the waist belt <NUM> of the harness to a respective forward connection arrangement <NUM>, which is, in turn, connected to a respective leg loop <NUM>. A rope bridge <NUM> interconnects the forward connection arrangements <NUM>, the rope bridge <NUM> being the component that connects the harness to an external support, such as a climbing rope, for example through a connecting ring <NUM>. In such a harness, it is often the case that the riser webbings <NUM> wear before other components because their position on the harness exposes them to abrasion, wear from continual movement or accidental damage therefore it is common for the riser webbings <NUM> to be replaced to prolong the working safe life of the harness.

In the harness of <FIG>, each side attachment arrangement <NUM> includes two annular metal rings <NUM>, <NUM> (respectively a standing ring and a lying ring), which sit against each other and the waist belt <NUM> to create the side attachment arrangement <NUM> and an attachment for the riser webbing <NUM>. A sewn loop is formed in the riser webbing <NUM> through which the lying ring <NUM> passes. A belt webbing <NUM> extends around the waist belt <NUM>. A loop of the belt webbing <NUM> is displaced through the lying ring <NUM> and passes through the standing ring <NUM> whereby the standing ring <NUM> is held by the belt webbing <NUM> against the lying ring <NUM>. Thus, the standing ring acts <NUM> as a securing component for the lying ring <NUM>. During use of the harness, the standing ring moves on the lying ring, with a substantial portion of the movement being rotation about a centre axis of the lying ring. Although this arrangement is functional, replacement of a riser webbing <NUM> requires the old webbing to be cut from the lying ring <NUM> and the new webbing to be sewn to the lying ring in situ on the harness or additional components to be added to the harness.

An aim of this invention is to provide a harness in which components that are liable to wear or damage are more easily replaced than in an existing harness.

To this end, this invention provides a harness comprising a waist belt to which two side attachment arrangements are connected; two forward attachment arrangements; and a respective riser extending between each forward attachment arrangement and one corresponding side attachment arrangement; wherein each side attachment arrangement includes a securing component and a lying ring assembly, the securing component being connected to the waist belt, and the lying ring assembly being held by the securing component against the waist belt, in which the lying ring assembly includes a retention component that, in use, passes through a loop or an eye in the riser to connect the riser to the lying ring assembly, which retention component is removable from the lying ring assembly to release the connection between the riser and the lying ring assembly.

Thus, replacement of the riser can be achieved by removal and replacement of the retention component without having to cut to form the loop on the riser in situ on the harness. That is, a replacement riser can be formed under controlled (e.g., factory) conditions and fitted to the harness in a simple mechanical operation, rather than having to have a loop formed as part of the installation process. Making replacement of the riser webbing simple, and avoiding the need for special tools, increases the likelihood that the replacement will be carried out safely.

In typical embodiments, the securing component is a ring through which pass one or more connecting elements that connect the securing component to the waist belt Alternatively, the securing component may include a portion that is shaped generally as a disc and includes passages through which pass one or more connecting elements that connect the securing component to the waist belt. Many further alternative shapes and configurations of securing component are possible that meet the requirements that they can be retained on the back of the harness and that they can secure the lying ring assembly.

Where the securing component is a ring, it can be used as a point of attachment to the harness; this may not be possible where it takes other forms, such as a disc. To address this, the securing component may include one or more attachment formations to which an additional component can be connected. For example, these may include one or more lugs to which a component can be connected, e.g., by an axle bolt.

The riser is typically formed from webbing but might alternatively be formed of other elongate tension member such as a rope.

The retention component may be an axle that has a threaded portion that can be located by a threaded component, such as a nut or screw, within a bore of another component of the lying ring assembly. This allows the retention component to be installed as part of or removed from the lying ring assembly. Advantageously, the lying ring assembly further includes secondary retention means that serves to retain the retention component in place in the lying ring assembly in the absence of the threaded component. The retention component is preferably shaped such that when assembled as a component of the lying ring assembly, rotation of the retention component is prevented. This facilitates application of a threaded component to the retention component.

Advantageously, one or more preferably removable friction-reducing components may be disposed between the lying ring assembly and the standing ring. The friction-reducing components may protect the standing ring and the lying ring assembly from wear. A friction-reducing component may be provided on one or both of the lying ring component and the securing component and are preferably replaceable components.

The lying ring assembly may include one or more load-bearing attachment points by means of which items can be connected to the harness. For example, one or more attachment point may be formed by a rib that extends peripherally part-way around the lying ring assembly to define a slot through which a connection component, such as a cord, line or webbing can be passed. The attachment points can be used, for example, to connect the harness to an upper body harness e.g., for fall protection or as a point to which items to be carried, such as tools or accessories, can be secured.

It will be appreciated that alternative configurations of side attachment arrangements are described. There is no requirement that a harness embodying the invention has two identical (or mirror-image) side attachment arrangements. These may be different from one side of the harness to the other.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

With reference to the drawings, a harness embodying the invention is a modification of the harness of <FIG>. The side attachment arrangements <NUM> shown in the drawings each replace a respective one of the side attachment arrangements <NUM>.

Each side attachment arrangement <NUM> includes a securing component which, in this embodiment, is a standing ring <NUM>, the same as that shown in the harness of <FIG>. The arrangement further includes a lying ring assembly <NUM>.

The lying ring assembly <NUM> is comprises a lying ring body <NUM> that is a one-piece metal component The lying ring body <NUM> has an annular portion that has a circular central aperture <NUM> in a plane P of the lying ring body. The aperture <NUM> that has a diameter less than the outer diameter of the standing ring <NUM>, such that the standing ring <NUM> cannot pass through the aperture. The material of the lying ring body <NUM> that defines the periphery of the aperture <NUM> is radiused.

The lying ring body <NUM> includes a yoke portion, which is formed by first and second projecting lugs <NUM>, <NUM>. The lugs <NUM>, <NUM> have mutually facing flat surfaces that extend in a direction normal to the plane P. A bore extends through each lug parallel to the plane P, the bores of the two lugs being coaxial.

The lying ring assembly <NUM> further comprises a one-piece metal axle <NUM>. The axle <NUM> has an elongate cylindrical shaft portion <NUM> with a head portion <NUM> at one end of diameter greater than that of the shaft portion <NUM>. The head portion <NUM> has a radially-extending fork portion <NUM>. An axial tapped bore is formed into the end of the shaft portion <NUM> opposite the head portion <NUM>.

Each side attachment assembly is installed on a harness by threading the belt webbing <NUM> and additional harness webbing <NUM> through the aperture of the lying ring body <NUM>, through the standing ring <NUM>, and then back through the aperture of the aperture of the lying ring body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. When the belt webbing <NUM> is tightened, the side attachment arrangement <NUM> is secured on the waist belt <NUM>.

The riser webbing <NUM> can be connected to the side attachment arrangement <NUM> by placing its sewn end loop <NUM> between the lugs <NUM>, <NUM> then passing the shaft portion <NUM> of the axle <NUM> through the bore in the first lug <NUM>, through the end loop <NUM> of the riser webbing <NUM>, then into the bore of the second lug <NUM>. With the axle <NUM> in this operational position, the riser webbing <NUM> is securely connected to the lying ring assembly <NUM>, and thus to the waist belt <NUM>.

Features are present in the lying ring assembly <NUM> that serve to enhance the location of the axle <NUM> on the lying ring body <NUM>.

A threaded axle cap screw <NUM> has a threaded shaft that is passed though the aperture in the second lug <NUM> to be received in the tapped bore in the end of the shaft portion <NUM> of the axle <NUM>. A recess is formed axially into a head of the cap screw, the recess being shaped (for example, with a hexagonal cross-section) to receive a tool that can be used to rotate the screw <NUM>. The head of the axle cap screw <NUM> is received within a recess of the second lug <NUM>. An O-ring (not shown) is carried on the axle <NUM>, positioned to make frictional contact with the bore of the first or the second lug <NUM>, <NUM> when the axle is in the operational position, and thereby inhibit rotational movement of the screw <NUM> which could result in its release from the axle <NUM>.

The presence of the axle cap screw <NUM> prevents the axle <NUM> from sliding from the bores. A recess is formed in the first lug <NUM> into which the head portion <NUM> is received. The recess is shaped to conform closely to the shape of the head portion <NUM>, the presence of the fork portion <NUM> preventing the axle <NUM> rotating in the bores when the axle cap screw <NUM> is being tightened into place. Within the recess in the first lug <NUM> there is a tapped hole <NUM>. With the axle <NUM> secured in place by the axle cap bolt <NUM>, an axle bolt <NUM> can be screwed into the tapped hole <NUM>, a head of the axle bolt <NUM> bearing against the fork portion <NUM> of the axle. This serves as a supplementary mechanism for retaining the axle <NUM> in place in the lying ring body <NUM> in case of failure or loss of the axle cap screw <NUM>.

It will be seen that disconnection of the riser webbing <NUM> can be achieved by removing the axle bolt <NUM> and the axle cap screw <NUM> and withdrawing the axle <NUM> from the lying ring body <NUM>. A replacement riser webbing <NUM> can then be installed as described above.

As a wearer of the harness moves, the riser webbings <NUM> move with respect to the side attachment arrangements <NUM>. To avoid wear and to minimise incumbrance upon the wearer, it is advantageous that such movement can take place with minimal resistance. As will be seen from <FIG>, the riser webbing <NUM> can pivot with respect to the lying ring body <NUM> about the axis of the axle <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the lying ring body <NUM> and the riser webbing <NUM> attached to it can also pivot about the standing ring <NUM> about an axis centred on the aperture of the lying ring body <NUM> since the lying ring body <NUM> is free to rotate concentrically with respect to the contact points of the standing ring <NUM>, and therefore also with respect to the waist belt webbing <NUM> to which it is fixed.

One, two or more perimeter ribs <NUM>, <NUM> extend partially around the periphery of the lying ring body <NUM> such that each rib <NUM>,<NUM> defines an arcuate slot that extends through the lying ring body <NUM> radially outwardly from the central aperture <NUM>. The arcuate slots can serve as load-bearing attachment points with which items can be attached to the harness, typically by passing webbing <NUM>, a line or cord through one or both slots. For example, they may serve as connection points for an upper harness assembly for fall protection or as a loading or support point to retain tools or accessories. A lying ring body <NUM> with one rib and slot may be less versatile than one with two, but it will be lighter and occupy less space on the harness. The arcuate slots are concentric to the rotation axis of the lying ring body <NUM>, an arrangement that minimises rotational load applied to the side attachment arrangement <NUM>.

While the harness is in use, the standing ring <NUM> is in continual movement with respect to the lying ring body <NUM>, with friction and potential wear occurring where these two components are in contact with one another. To mitigate such wear, low-friction components may be applied to either or both of the standing ring <NUM> and the lying ring body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a low-friction component <NUM> may extend entirely around the aperture of the lying ring body <NUM>, or, as in <FIG>, low-friction components <NUM> may be provided only in those areas subject to the greatest wear. <FIG> shows a low-friction component <NUM> applied also to the standing ring <NUM> (in which case, the lying ringbody <NUM> may optionally be in accordance with that described in relation to <FIG>). The arrangement of <FIG> uses a simple standing ring <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. In either case, the low-friction components are preferably configured to be replaceable by a user when they become worn to excess.

It will be seen that in embodiments described above, the essential function of the standing ring <NUM> is to retain the lying ring body <NUM>, and therefore the side attachment arrangement <NUM> as a whole, in place on the waist belt <NUM>; its ability to act as a connection point for other components is a secondary and optional function. Therefore, it is possible to use components other than a ring to serve as a retention component in alternative configurations.

<FIG> show an alternative side attachment arrangement, which includes a lying ring assembly <NUM> similar to that of the preceding embodiments. Instead of a standing ring <NUM>, a securing component is in the form of a metal disc <NUM>. The disc <NUM> has an inner surface <NUM> and an outer surface <NUM> and is centred upon an axis A. Along most of the axis A, the disc <NUM> has a diameter that makes it a close fit within the aperture <NUM> of the lying ring body <NUM>. A flange <NUM> projects radially from a portion of the disc close to the outer surface <NUM>, an interface region between the flange <NUM> and the rest of the disc <NUM> being radiused. The disc <NUM> enters into the aperture <NUM>, but the flange <NUM> prevents it from passing through the aperture <NUM>.

A rectangular through passage <NUM> passes centrally through the disc <NUM> interconnecting the inner and outer surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>. A dividing bar <NUM> extends between opposite short end walls of the through passage <NUM>, and from the inner surface <NUM> approximately half-way to the outer surface <NUM>, the dividing bar <NUM> having a radiused surface facing in the direction of the outer surface <NUM>. The dividing bar <NUM> effectively splits the through passage <NUM> into two webbing slots <NUM> at the inner surface <NUM>, which can be seen in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, it will be seen that, in an assembled harness, two (typically - it may be more or fewer) webbings <NUM>, <NUM> pass into the aperture <NUM> of the lying ring body <NUM> and through the standing ring <NUM>. In this embodiment, these webbings <NUM>, <NUM> pass into the aperture <NUM> of the lying ring body <NUM> and through the webbing slots <NUM> into the through passage <NUM>, looping over the dividing bar <NUM>. Tension in the webbings <NUM>, <NUM> pulls the disc <NUM> towards the waist belt <NUM>, the flange <NUM> acting to the lying ring body <NUM> in close proximity to the waist belt <NUM>, as in <FIG> (just one webbing <NUM> being shown for clarity).

Claim 1:
A harness comprising a waist belt (<NUM>) to which two side attachment arrangements (<NUM>) are connected; two forward attachment arrangements (<NUM>); and a respective riser (<NUM>) extending between each forward attachment arrangement (<NUM>) and one corresponding side attachment arrangement (<NUM>); wherein each side attachment arrangement (<NUM>) includes a securing component (<NUM>) and a lying ring assembly (<NUM>), the securing component (<NUM>) being connected to the waist belt (<NUM>), and the lying ring assembly (<NUM>) being held by the securing component (<NUM>) against the waist belt (<NUM>), characterised in that the lying ring assembly (<NUM>) includes a retention component (<NUM>) that, in use, passes through a loop or an eye (<NUM>) in the riser (<NUM>) to connect the riser (<NUM>) to the lying ring assembly (<NUM>), which retention component (<NUM>) is removable from the lying ring assembly (<NUM>) to release the connection between the riser and the lying ring assembly.