Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/984,941 filed on Apr. 28, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to body harness devices. More specifically, the present invention provides a harness comprising a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, wherein the shoulder straps are adjustably secured to a belt. The belt and shoulder straps are adjustable and include a pair of front couplings and a pair of rear couplings. Each coupling allows the shoulder straps to be adjusted in length in order to fit the size of the user. The device further includes a container strap that is removably secured between the front of the first shoulder strap and second shoulder strap. The device further comprises a plurality of fasteners, such as clips, hooks, magnets, and D-rings, for attaching a variety of tools thereto. 
     Working on rooftops, scaffolds, ladders and the like can be a dangerous task due to the risk of falling. Furthermore, when climbing or even walking on such apparatuses, a person needs to use both hands in order to stabilize and secure themselves. Therefore, it is difficult to carry the necessary tools while on rooftops, scaffolds, ladders, and the like when performing tasks, such as painting. Not only does a person need to carry tools when painting, such as paint brushes and painter&#39;s tape, but a paint bucket is also required. However, it is dangerous and very difficult to carry these necessary tools, unless multiple trips are made to retrieve the tools or paint bucket. Unfortunately, traveling repeatedly up and down a ladder or across a rooftop to retrieve such tools introduces additional risk of injury and is time consuming. Quick and convenient access to tools and other objects is helpful in efficiently completing a task, such as painting. Therefore, there is a need for a device that provides a person with convenient access to tools, and the like, while providing the ability to carry such items hands-free. 
     Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to body harness devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to a belt or harness that supports a container of liquid or paint. These devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,591 to Leiserson and Hardy, U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,696 to Walker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,606 to Jenson, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,178 to Taylor. One other device, U.S. Pat. No. 8,516,621 to Woolery, relates to garments including magnets thereon adapted to magnetically secure small items thereto. These devices, however, fail to disclose a harness comprising a pair of shoulder straps adjustably secured to a belt, wherein the harness includes one or more magnetic fasteners thereon and a container strap removably secured thereto. Additionally, these devices fail to include a plurality of fasteners attached thereto as described in the presently claimed invention. 
     In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing body harness devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of body harness devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new body harness device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience and safety for the user when carrying tools and a container of liquid while performing tasks, such as painting, on ladders, scaffolds, rooftops, and the like. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved body harness device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a body harness device comprising a harness with a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap adjustably secured to a belt. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a body harness device comprising a container strap removably secured between the first shoulder strap and second shoulder strap adapted to hold a container of paint therein. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a body harness device further comprising one or more magnets secured to the harness adapted to carry a variety of magnetic tools thereon. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a body harness device further comprising a plurality of fasteners thereon adapted to carry a variety of tools. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a body harness device that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the front of an embodiment of the body harness device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the rear of an embodiment of the body harness device. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the front of a user wearing an embodiment of the body harness device with a variety of tools attached thereon. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the rear of a user wearing an embodiment of the body harness device with a variety of tools attached thereon. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the body harness device in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the body harness device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for carrying a container of paint and attaching a variety of painter&#39;s tools thereon. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a perspective view of the front of an embodiment of the body harness device and a perspective view of the rear of an embodiment of the body harness device, respectively. The device  11  comprises a harness  12  that comprises a first shoulder strap  15  and a second shoulder strap  16  adjustably secured to a belt  13 . The belt  13  and shoulder straps  15 ,  16  each comprise a front section  60  and a rear section  61 , wherein the front section  60  is adapted to fit over the chest and front torso of a user and the rear  61  is adapted to fit over the back and rear torso of the user. The device  11  further comprises a pair of front couplings  18  and a pair of rear couplings  19  adapted to adjust the length of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  and adjustably secure the belt  13  thereto. The front section  60  and rear section  61  of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  are independently adjustable in length in order to maintain the desired position of the body harness device  11  when worn by a user. 
     Each coupling  18 ,  19  comprises an elongated strap  50  and a buckle  51 . The elongated strap  50  includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end extends upward from the belt  13  and the second end connects to the buckle  51 , wherein the buckle  51  is secured to the end of a shoulder strap  15 . The buckle  51  allows the elongated strap  50  to connect thereto at various lengths, such that the length of the shoulder straps can be adjusted. The first end of the elongated strap  50  is attached to the belt  13  by any suitable fastener, such as stitching or hook and loop material. In some embodiments, the front and rear couplings  18 ,  19  are removably secured to the belt  13 , thereby allowing the user to adjust the position of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  relative to the belt  13 . 
     The belt  13  is an elongated, flexible strap adapted to be worn around a person&#39;s torso, wherein the ends are removably secured together by any suitable belt fastener  17 , such as a buckle. The belt fastener  17  is adapted to secure the body harness device  11  to a user. The belt fastener  17  is disposed on the front section  60  of the belt  13  allowing a user to conveniently unfasten or secure the body harness device  11 . In some embodiments, the length of the belt  13  is adjustable. 
     The shoulder straps  15 ,  16  are elongated and flexible, wherein each strap  15 ,  16  extends from a front coupling  18  to a rear couplings  19 . A first front coupling  18  and the first shoulder strap  15  connected thereto are positioned parallel to a second front coupling  18  and the second shoulder strap connected thereto. The first front coupling  18  is disposed on one side of the front section  60  of the belt  13  and the second front coupling  18  is disposed on the opposite side of the front section  60  of the belt  13 . The pair of rear couplings  19  are parallel to each other, wherein a first rear coupling  19  is disposed on one side of the rear section  61  of the belt  13  and the second rear coupling  19  is disposed on the opposite side of the rear section  61  of the belt  13 . In this way, one side  70  of the body harness device  11  is a mirror image of the opposing side  71  of the body harness device  11 . The belt  13  and shoulder straps  15 ,  16  are composed of any suitable material, such as webbing or leather. 
     The rear section  61  of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  include a pair of vertical straps, a horizontal member  63 , and a flexible strap  62  that attaches to the rear couplings. The pair of vertical straps  15 ,  16  are a continuation of the independent shoulder straps  15 ,  16  from the front section  60  of the body harness device  11 . A first vertical strap  15  connects to a second vertical strap  16  by a horizontal member  63 , wherein the horizontal member  62  is disposed between and is substantially perpendicular to the pair of vertical straps  15 ,  16 . The horizontal member  63  includes a channel  66  therethough providing access for the flexible strap  62  to fit therethrough. The flexible strap  62  is disposed through the channel  66  of the horizontal member  63 , wherein the ends of the flexible strap  62  are suspended therefrom and are adjustably secured to the pair of rear couplings  19 . In this way, the rear of the harness provides additional back support and prevents the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  from falling off the shoulders in operation. The end of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  comprise the ends of the flexible strap  62 . 
     The device  11  further includes a container strap  14  removably secured to the front section  60  of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16 , wherein the container  14  strap is positioned therebetween. The container strap  14  is adapted to hold upright a container therein. The container strap  14  is configured in a loop adapted to be positioned around the exterior of a container or paint can. The container strap  14  includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end removably secures to the second end using any suitable fastener, such as hook and loop material, thereby forming a loop configuration. In this way, the container strap  14  is adjustable, thereby allowing various sized containers to fit therein. The container strap  14  rests between the front shoulder straps  15 ,  16 , wherein the first side of the loop formed by the container strap  14  removably secures to the front section  60  of the first shoulder strap  15  and the second side of the loop removably secures to the front section  60  of the second shoulder strap  16  by any suitable fastener, such as a clip. In this way, the container strap  14  is adapted to form a loop around a container, securing the container therein and allowing the container to rest on the front of a user&#39;s body. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown a perspective view of the front of a person wearing an embodiment of the body harness device and a perspective view of the rear of a person wearing an embodiment of the body harness device, respectively, with a variety of tools attached thereon. When the body harness device  11  is worn by a user, the belt  13  is positioned around a user&#39;s torso, wherein the pair of front couplings  18  extend vertically upwards therefrom and connect to the ends of the front section  60  of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16 . The shoulder straps  15 ,  16  extend vertically across a user&#39;s chest, over their shoulders, and down across his or her back, wherein the rear section  61  of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  connect to the rear couplings  19 . The pair of rear couplings  19  extend vertically downward from the ends of the flexible strap shaped strap  62  of the rear section  61  of the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  and attach to the rear section  61  of the belt  13 . The horizontal member  63  is positioned near the center of the user&#39;s back, thereby providing support thereto and preventing the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  from slipping off the user&#39;s shoulders. 
     The body harness device  11  comprises a plurality of fasteners  67  disposed on the belt  13  and shoulder straps  15 ,  16  adapted to hold a variety of tools thereon, such as a caulking gun, a dust brush, and an extension pole. Such fasteners  67  include clips  25 , buckles, hooks, D-rings  26 , hook and loop material, among others. The fasteners  67  are attached to the belt  13  and shoulder strap  15  by a retaining strap  43 . However, in other embodiments, the fasteners attach directly to the belt  13  and shoulder straps  15 ,  16 . The retaining strap  43  is attached to the body harness device  11  by any suitable means, such as stitching, and includes a channel adapted secure the fastener  67  thereto. The retaining straps  43  are flat so as to provide less bulkiness to the device  11 . In an alternative embodiment of a fastener  68 , a fastener  68  is removably secured to the body harness device  11 , whereby a fastening strap  69  is attached thereto. In this way, the device  11  is adapted to carry bulkier objects, such as painter&#39;s tape, that otherwise could not be attach to the body harness device  11 . The device  11  further includes one or more magnets  24  adapted to removably attach a variety of magnetic tools thereon, such as a paint brush. The magnets are attached to the device by any suitable fastener, such as adhesives or rivets. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the body harness device in use. In operation, the shoulder straps  15 ,  16  are attached to the belt  13  and adjusted to the desired shoulder strap  15  length. The user positions his or her arms through each shoulder strap  15 ,  16  and removably secures the belt  13  around his or her torso. Once the body harness device  11  is fastened, the user chooses the variety of tools to fasten thereon. The user is free to use his or her hands while carrying a variety of tools on the body harness device  11 , thereby able to maintain a stable position while on a ladder, scaffold, rooftop and the like. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1