Patent ID: 8517636

Claim:
A harness for breathing apparatus comprising: a structural support member for supporting a cylinder of breathable gas; a gas-cylinder retaining assembly coupled to the structural support member for retaining a cylinder of breathable gas on the structural support member; and a cylinder of breathable gas supported by the structural support member and retained thereto by the gas-cylinder retaining assembly; the gas-cylinder retaining assembly comprising: a strap coupled to the structural support member and having a retaining portion passing around at least a portion of the cylinder; a tensioning device configured to tighten the retaining portion of the strap around the cylinder, the tensioning device maintaining the retaining portion of the strap in tension around the cylinder, wherein a free portion of the strap having a free end extends from the tensioning device; and a retaining buckle configured to retain the free portion of the strap, the retaining buckle comprising: a positioning slot through which the retaining portion of the strap passes; a pivot member which is located between the cylinder of breathable gas and the retaining portion of the strap; and a retaining slot configured to receive the free end of the strap; wherein the retaining buckle is pivotable about the pivot member between at least a loading position in which the free end of the strap can be inserted into the retaining slot, and a retaining position in which at least part of the free portion of the strap is held between the retaining buckle and the retaining portion of the strap.