Patent Description:
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) typically comprises a structural support member in the form of a back plate or back frame, a pair of shoulder straps and a waist belt. The support member is provided with a valve towards the lower end and a retaining strap. In use, a cylinder of breathable gas is attached to the valve and is secured to the back plate by means of the retaining strap. Various hoses, valves and other equipment conveniently enable a user to breathe the breathable gas contained in the cylinder.

The waist belt and the support member of the SCBA are typically connected together such that the load of the SCBA can be spread between the shoulder straps and the waist belt. However, in some scenarios, it may be necessary to quickly remove the bulky support member of the SCBA, for example if its user needs to "bail-out" of a window or other narrow escape route in a dangerous situation. It may be desirable for the waist belt to remain attached to the user so that it can be used for connecting a safety line, escape tools, or the like. Accordingly, a release mechanism may be provided to rapidly disconnect the support member of the SCBA from the waist belt.

As the release mechanism will typically only be used as in last resort escapes from life-threatening situations, its operation may be rare. However, the release must be fast, reliable, and simple to actuate, as its failure may result in serious injury or the death of the user who is unable to escape through a narrow escape route. Accordingly, it will be understood that improvements in the area of release mechanisms for SCBAs are desirable.

<CIT> discloses a quick release apparatus for rapid disconnection of a rescue worker's waist belt from a self-contained breathing apparatus support frame. The apparatus includes a belt connection apparatus for connection to a wearer's waist belt, an SCBA frame connection apparatus connected to the SCBA frame, and a coupling apparatus including at least one pullable rapid release member that moves in a first direction to couple the belt connection apparatus to the SCBA frame connection apparatus and in a second direction to rapidly decouple the belt connection apparatus from the SCBA frame connection apparatus in such a manner that the SCBA frame is disconnected from the waist belt and the wearer can entirely remove the SCBA from his or her body while leaving the waist belt and any accoutrements attached thereto in place and on his or her person.

<CIT> discloses a carrier support harness for supporting payloads such as heavy compressed air cylinders, that including a body, the body having a first portion including a first compressed air tank coupling and a second portion including a second compressed air tank coupling structure the second portion adapted to pivotally engage with the first portion. This then allows for movement of the second portion, being attached to the shoulders of a user, relative to the first portion which is attached to the hips of a user such that the fixed length of the payload remains the same but is allowed to pivot relative to the harness so that when the user bends their back the harness is also allowed to bend and the payload pivots relative to the harness. The pivoting mechanism comprises a coupling connection to which a payload or payload receiving section can be removeably secured to. The coupling connection is hingedly connected to the first end of the harness by two pivots and a first shaft by way of a structural member. The first shaft can be secured in any number of ways known to those skilled in the art, including removeably secured. This allows for the coupling connection to move upwards and downwards relative to the first end of the harness. The coupling connection also has apertures for receiving a second shaft, to which a coupling section can be releaseably secured. The combination of the two pivot sections on the coupling connection thus allow for the payload secured at the first portion of the harness to move relative to the first end of the first portion of the harness. The harness furthermore does not have a release strap coupled to the pivot pin that would be configured to apply an axial force to slidably remove the pivot pin from the pivot joint mechanism when the release strap is pulled; and it does not comprise a detent for exerting a retaining force to resist axial movement of the pivot pin.

According to an aspect there is provided a harness for breathing apparatus according to the appended independent claim <NUM>. Further optional features are recited in the appended dependent claims.

The vessel of breathable gas may be a cylinder of breathable gas. The structural support member may be arranged to support plural vessels or cylinders of breathable gas. The waist belt may be arranged to be fastened around a wearer's waist.

The harness may provide the advantage that decoupling of the waist belt and the structural support member may be effected at the pivot joint mechanism. A further separate release mechanism may not be required. The harness may therefore be lighter, cheaper, and more easily manufactured when compared to previously considered arrangements. In some arrangements a further separate release mechanism may also be provided to provide redundancy in the system in the event that decoupling via one of the mechanisms fails.

The structural support member may be a support frame or a support plate, for example. The structural support member may be rigid or flexible. The harness may further comprise one or more shoulder straps, such as left and right shoulder straps, such that the harness can be worn on the back of a wearer.

The release part may be removable to decouple the structural support member from the waist belt. Removable may require that the release part is completely separable from the other parts of the pivot joint mechanism.

The pivot joint mechanism may provide articulation between the structural support member and the waist belt about a pivot axis. The pivot axis may be a substantially horizontal axis (i.e. an axis transverse to the wearer's body). The substantially horizontal pivot axis may be a primary pivot axis. The pivot joint mechanism may also be pivotable about a secondary pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the primary pivot axis. The pivot joint mechanism may be pivotable about a vertical pivot axis.

The pivot joint mechanism may comprise a first knuckle coupled to the structural support member and a second knuckle coupled to the waist belt. The first and second knuckles may be pivotable relative to each other. One or both of the structural support member and the waist belt may each comprise a plurality of knuckles. The knuckles of the structural support member and the waist belt may in combination form a barrel through which a pivot pin may be arranged.

The release part comprises a pivot pin of the pivot joint mechanism which defines a pivot axis of the pivot joint mechanism. The pivot pin may be referred to as a pivot rod.

The pivot pin may be arranged in the barrel formed by the knuckles of the structural support member and the waist belt. The pivot pin may be slidable within the barrel.

The pivot pin is slidably removable along the pivot axis. The pivot pin may be slidably removable in only one direction along the pivot axis, or may be slidably removable along both directions along the pivot axis. The pivot axis defined by the pivot pin may be a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

When wearing the harness, the pivot joint mechanism may provide articulation between the structural support member and the waist belt when the user bends forwards and back at the waist. Therefore, such a horizontal pivot pin may be conveniently located for the user to apply a sideways/lateral force away from their body to remove the pin from the pivot joint mechanism along the pivot axis.

The harness may further comprise a retainer to resist or inhibit movement of the release part of the pivot joint. The retainer may exert a retaining force on the release part which must be overcome in order to move the release part. Accordingly, the release part may not be removed unless it is intended to be removed by the user and accidental removal of the release part may be avoided, which could be dangerous in emergency situations.

The retainer may comprise a deformable (e.g. resiliently deformable) collar or gaiter which surrounds at least a part of the pivot joint mechanism. The resiliently deformable collar or gaiter may have a sealing surface which seals against a surface of the structural support member or the waist belt. The resiliently deformable gaiter may comprise rubber or silicone rubber.

The retainer may be a detent. The detent may comprise a resiliently biased projection such as a spring-loaded element, such as a ball bearing. The detent may be formed on the release part and may interact with other parts of the pivot joint mechanism. In some examples, the detent may be formed on a portion of the pivot pin which is exposed outside the barrel formed by the knuckles of the structural support member and the waist belt. The detent or projection may extend radially from the pin such that a width of the pin and the detent is greater than a diameter of the barrel. Accordingly, in order to be removed, a pulling force must be applied which overcomes the spring force which extends the detent from the pin such that the detent is received into the pin to such an extent that the pin can fit through the barrel to be removed.

The harness may further comprise a release strap coupled to the release part. The release strap may be operable to move the release part so as to decouple the structural support member from the waist belt. The release strap may be arranged to move the release part when the release strap is pulled. The release strap may be connected to one end of the pivot pin. The pin may be arranged to be removed in the direction of the release strap along the pivot axis. In some examples, release straps may be connected to both ends of the pivot pin such that the pivot pin can be removed in both directions along the pivot axis. In these examples, the release straps may be narrower than the pivot pin or otherwise compressible such that the release strap on the opposite side to the release strap not being used can also be removed in the same direction.

The release strap may be stowable or stowed such that access to the release strap is inhibited. The harness may further comprise a storage pouch in which the release strap can be stowed or is stowed. The release strap may be stowable or stowed in a storage configuration. The release strap may be securable to the waist belt, the structural support member or another part of the harness, for example by hook-and-loop fasteners or similar releasable connection means.

The harness may further comprises a storage pouch in which the release strap is or can be stowed. The storage pouch may be arranged on the waist belt, or on the structural support member, or on another part of the harness. The storage pouch may be securable in a closed position using hook-and-loop fasteners or similar releasable connection means.

The release strap may comprise a visually distinctive portion to enable easy location of the release strap by a user. The visually distinctive part may be easily distinguishable from the remainder of the breathing apparatus such that the release strap can be easily located by a user in a short time and in low visibility.

The visually distinctive part may comprise a brightly coloured or a high-visibility portion. The portion may be reflective, luminescent, fluorescent, phosphorescent, or any combination thereof. The highly distinctive part may comprise a textured part which is distinguishable from other parts of the breathing apparatus by touch. Thus, if visibility is severely reduced or there is no visibility.

According to another aspect there is provided a method of decoupling a structural support member of a breathing apparatus from a waist belt of the self-contained breathing apparatus comprising moving a release part of a pivot joint mechanism coupling the structural support member to the waist belt to thereby decouple the structural support member from the waist belt.

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

<FIG> and <FIG> show a harness <NUM> is for a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) from the rear and front respectively. When the harness <NUM> is worn by a user, the front side of the harness <NUM> shown in <FIG> is against the user's back.

The harness <NUM> comprises a structural support member <NUM>, a waist belt <NUM>, and shoulder straps <NUM>. In use, the structural support member <NUM> is supported on a user's back when the shoulder straps <NUM> and waist belt <NUM> are worn by the user. Shoulder straps <NUM> are secured to the structural support member <NUM> at upper and lower ends of the structural support member <NUM> such that each of the shoulder straps <NUM> forms a loop. In use, the user can put one their arms through each of these loops such that a padded portions <NUM> of each shoulder strap <NUM> rests upon each of the user's shoulders. Accordingly, some of the weight of the structural support member <NUM> is supported on the user's shoulders.

The waist belt <NUM> of the harness <NUM> is located at the lower end of the structural support member <NUM>. The waist belt <NUM> comprises a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> which extend in substantially opposing directions from a waist belt connector <NUM>. The waist belt connector <NUM> connects the waist belt <NUM> to the lower end of the structural support member <NUM>. In use, the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the waist belt <NUM> are passed around the user's waist in opposite directions and secured together to form a continuous loop around the user's waist. The ends of the first and second portions <NUM>,<NUM> are not shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, each of the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> may be connected to each other around the user by a releasable connection, such as a clip buckle, to thereby form a complete belt loop.

The structural support member <NUM> itself comprises two parallel rails <NUM> which extend from a lower end <NUM> to an upper end <NUM> of the structural support member <NUM>. A retaining strap <NUM> is provided on the structural support member <NUM> for retaining a canister (not shown) of breathable gas. Such a canister can be connected to a valve <NUM> arranged at the lower end <NUM> of the structural support member <NUM>. Air supply hoses, or conduits, <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the valve <NUM> for supplying breathable gas to a breathing apparatus (not shown) and a pressure gauge (not shown). The structural support member <NUM> comprises a structural support member connector <NUM> for connecting to the waist belt connector <NUM> of the waist belt <NUM>. The structural support member connector <NUM> is slidable in a slot <NUM> on the structural support member <NUM> such that the relative positions of the structural support member <NUM> and the waist belt <NUM> is variable by moving the structural support member connector <NUM> along the slot <NUM>.

The harness <NUM> also comprises a release strap <NUM>. The release strap <NUM> can be pulled away from the harness <NUM> in order to disconnect the structural support member <NUM> from the waist belt <NUM>. The mechanism of this release will be described in more detail in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a cross section of a pivot joint mechanism <NUM> of the harness along the section B-B shown in <FIG>. The pivot joint mechanism <NUM> comprises the waist belt connector <NUM> and the structural support member connector <NUM> and a release part <NUM>, in the form of a pivot pin. The pivot joint mechanism <NUM> couples the structural support member <NUM> to the waist belt <NUM> and also provides articulation between the structural support member <NUM> and the waist belt <NUM> to provide improved freedom of movement to a wearer of the harness.

The waist belt connector <NUM> comprises a belt plate <NUM> having side portions <NUM> which extend in substantially opposite directions from a central portion <NUM>. The side portions each comprise a slot <NUM> for connecting one of the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the waist belt <NUM> to the belt plate. Central portion <NUM> of the belt plate <NUM> comprises a circular recess <NUM>.

The circular recess <NUM> houses a belt link member <NUM>. The belt link member <NUM> comprises a circular plate <NUM> of slightly smaller diameter than the circular recess <NUM> of the belt plate <NUM>. A joint knuckle <NUM> extends from a centre of the circular plate <NUM> perpendicular to the plate through a central bore <NUM> in the central recess <NUM> of the belt plate <NUM>. The joint knuckle <NUM> generally extends towards the structural support member connector <NUM>.

As can be seen with reference to <FIG>, which schematically shows a cross section of the pivot joint mechanism <NUM> on the section C-C shown in <FIG>, the joint knuckle <NUM> has a cylindrical bore <NUM> formed therethrough for receiving the pivot pin <NUM>.

As the circular plate <NUM> of the link member <NUM> is received in the circular recess <NUM> of the belt plate <NUM> and not secured to each other, the link member <NUM> and the belt plate <NUM> are free to rotate with respect to one another about a rotational axis Y defined by the central bore <NUM>. A stop mechanism may be provided to limit an angular extent of the rotation between the link member <NUM> and the belt plate <NUM>.

Accordingly, a first axis of rotation Y is provided for improved freedom of movement between the structural support member <NUM> and the waist belt <NUM> as the harness wearer moves. In other cases, the waist belt connector <NUM> may not comprise the link member and belt plate rotation arrangement, and may simply be formed of a solid piece having a joint knuckle <NUM> extending therefrom.

The structural support member connector <NUM> comprises a sliding part <NUM> which is slidably secured in the slot <NUM> of the structural support member <NUM>. In other cases, the structural support member connector may not be slidable with respect to the structural support member <NUM> or may be integrally formed therewith. The structural support member connector comprises two joint knuckles <NUM> which extend from the structural support member connector <NUM> towards the waist belt connector <NUM>.

Each of the joint knuckles <NUM> comprises a cylindrical bore <NUM> similar to the bore of the joint knuckle <NUM> of the waist belt connector <NUM> for receiving the pivot pin <NUM> (See <FIG>). The two joint knuckles <NUM> are spaced apart along the shared axis of their cylindrical bores <NUM> by a distance substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, a width of the joint knuckle <NUM> of the waist belt connector <NUM> along the same axis. Accordingly, the joint knuckle <NUM> of the waist belt connector <NUM> can be arranged between the joint knuckles <NUM> of the structural support member connector <NUM> such that the cylindrical bores <NUM> of the joint knuckles <NUM>, <NUM> are axially aligned to form a cylindrical barrel <NUM> of the pivot joint mechanism <NUM>. The pivot pin <NUM> has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the barrel <NUM> such that the pivot pin <NUM> can be inserted within the barrel <NUM> to connect the knuckles <NUM>,<NUM>, and thereby connect the waist belt connector <NUM> and the structural support member connector <NUM> to form a pivot joint having a pivot axis x defined by the pivot pin <NUM>. Accordingly, the structural support member <NUM> and the waist belt <NUM> may pivot relative to each other about this pivot axis x. As the pivot axis x is substantially horizontal and proximate to the waist of the wearer, the pivot joint mechanism <NUM> permits the harness to bend at the waist, thereby improving freedom of movement.

A dish-shaped gaiter <NUM> surrounds the knuckles <NUM>,<NUM> and the pivot pin <NUM> to thereby prevent the ingress of dirt or grit which might inhibit the movement of the pivot joint mechanism <NUM>. The gaiter is formed of a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber or silicone, such that it can flex as the joint moves to maintain a seal against the waist belt connector <NUM> and the structural support member connector <NUM>.

In order to decouple the structural support member <NUM> from the waist belt <NUM>, the pivot pin <NUM> is arranged to be removed from the pivot joint mechanism <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the pivot pin <NUM> is connected to the release strap <NUM> (not shown to scale). The release strap <NUM> comprises a grip strap <NUM> and a link strap <NUM>. The link strap <NUM> is directly connected to the pivot pin <NUM> via a hole <NUM> formed through the pivot pin <NUM>. The link strap <NUM> is connected to one end of the grip strap <NUM>, which is graspable by the wearer to apply a pulling force to the pivot pin <NUM>. A hole is provided in the gaiter <NUM> in order for the release strap <NUM> to be connected to the pin <NUM>, and to allow the pin <NUM> to be removed therethrough.

When it is desired to decouple the structural support member <NUM> from the waist belt <NUM>, the release strap <NUM> can be pulled in the direction of arrow A in order to apply a force on the pivot pin <NUM> substantially along the pivot axis x of the pin <NUM>. A detent <NUM> is provided on the pin in the form of a sprung ball-bearing. When the pin <NUM> is pulled by the release strap <NUM>, the detent <NUM> contacts the knuckle <NUM>. Thus, a sufficient force must be applied to the release strap <NUM> to retract the detent <NUM> into the pin <NUM> such that it be pulled axially through and out of the barrel <NUM>.

Once the pivot pin <NUM> has been removed from the knuckles <NUM>,<NUM>, the knuckles are no longer connected, and the waist belt connector <NUM> and the structural support member connector <NUM> are decoupled. Accordingly, the structural support member <NUM> can be removed from the wearer by taking off the shoulder straps <NUM>, while the waist belt <NUM> remains attached to the wearer.

If it is desired to re-couple the structural support member <NUM> and the waist belt <NUM>, then the knuckles <NUM>, <NUM> can be re-aligned to form the barrel <NUM>, and the pivot pin <NUM> can be reinserted into the barrel to re-form the pivot joint mechanism.

Accordingly, the pivot joint mechanism <NUM> provides dual functions of articulation between the structural support member <NUM> and the waist belt <NUM> and decoupling of the structural support member <NUM> and the waist belt <NUM>.

The grip strap <NUM> of the release strap <NUM> may have a highly visible or textured portion which can be readily identified by a wearer of the harness in low- or no-visibility situations. As the release strap <NUM> will generally only be pulled in immediately life-threatening situations, it is imperative that it can be found quickly at all times. For example, the grip strap <NUM> may easily distinguishable from the remainder of the harness with a brightly coloured or high-visibility portion. The portion could be reflective, luminescent, fluorescent, phosphorescent, or any combination thereof. The portion could also be a textured part which is distinguishable from other parts of the SCBA by touch. Furthermore, the release strap <NUM> might be stored in a storable configuration where it can be readily located. For example, a pouch may be provided on the harness <NUM>, such as on the waist belt <NUM>, in which the release strap <NUM> can be stored. Such a configuration has advantages in that the location of the release strap <NUM> will always be the same, so it can be operated by the wearer even on low visibility, and in that the release strap <NUM> is stowed away to prevent it being pulled accidentally.

A second embodiment of a pivot joint mechanism <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The construction of structural support member waist belt connector <NUM> and the connector <NUM> the pivot joint mechanism <NUM> is substantially similar to those of the pivot joint mechanism <NUM> and the cross section C-C of pivot joint mechanism <NUM> is substantially identical to that shown in <FIG>. However, pivot joint mechanism <NUM> differs in that the gaiter <NUM> does not comprise a hole through which the release strap <NUM> can pass. Furthermore, no detent is provided in the pivot pin <NUM>.

Accordingly the release strap <NUM>, and in particular the link strap <NUM>, must pass between the gaiter <NUM> and the waist belt connector <NUM>. The link strap <NUM> is formed of a thin cord which does not substantially affect the seal of the gaiter <NUM> to the waist belt connector <NUM>. As the gaiter <NUM> surrounds both ends of the pivot pin <NUM>, it prevents movement of the pivot pin <NUM> along its axis x to avoid the pin <NUM> being removed accidentally.

When it is desired to remove the pivot pin <NUM>, the release strap <NUM> is pulled. The link strap <NUM> therefore tends to straighten, which will lift the resiliently deformable gaiter <NUM> away from the waist belt connector <NUM>. Accordingly, the gaiter <NUM> is deformed to such an extent that the pivot pin <NUM> is no longer blocked from axial movement by the gaiter <NUM>, and the pin <NUM> can be freely removed. Of course, sufficient force must applied to the release strap <NUM> to adequately deform the gaiter <NUM> out of the way of the pin <NUM>, so it will be understood that no detent may be required on the pin to prevent accidental axial movement of the pin, which would otherwise be arrested by the gaiter <NUM>.

Although it has been described that the harness is for self-container breathing apparatus, in other embodiments it could be a harness for other types of breathing apparatus.

Claim 1:
A harness (<NUM>) for breathing apparatus, comprising:
a structural support member (<NUM>) for supporting a vessel of breathable gas;
a waist belt (<NUM>); and
a pivot joint mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>) coupling the structural support member (<NUM>) to the waist belt (<NUM>) and permitting pivoting movement between the structural support member (<NUM>) and the waist belt (<NUM>) when a user bends forwards and back at the waist,
wherein the harness further comprises a release mechanism to decouple the structural support member (<NUM>) from the waist belt (<NUM>); the release mechanism comprising:
a pivot pin (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the pivot joint mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>) which defines a pivot axis of the pivot joint mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>), and is slidably removable along the pivot axis;
a release strap (<NUM>) coupled to the pivot pin (<NUM>, <NUM>) and configured to apply an axial force to slidably remove the pivot pin (<NUM>, <NUM>) from the pivot joint mechanism (<NUM>, <NUM>) when the release strap (<NUM>) is pulled; and
a detent (<NUM>) for exerting a retaining force to resist axial movement of the pivot pin (<NUM>, <NUM>).