Adjustable harness

0001The present invention relates to an adjustable harness for use with self-contained breathing apparatus (SBCA) having an improved body length adjusting system. More particularly, it relates to a body-length adjustable harness in which integration of the hoses and cables is improved; thus reducing the potential of snagging.

0002SCBA harnesses comprise a back plate, a pair of shoulder straps and a belt. The back plate 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. One or more flexible hoses extended from the valve to the shoulder straps so that breathing apparatus worn by the user may be conveniently connected thereto.

0003It is desirable for a SCBA harness to be adjustable in length. This allows it to be comfortably worn by users of different heights. There are known harnesses that have this feature. However, in previously considered harnesses, when the harness is adjusted from its maximum length to its minimum length there appears a surplus of hose. This means that position of the hoses on the shoulder straps changes which may be inconvenient for the user. As an alternative, if the hoses remain fixed in place, a loop of hose protrudes from the harness. This creates a risk of snagging the hoses on obstacles whilst the harness is being worn. The hoses may either be damaged by snagging or may become entangled with an obstacle. This poses a safety risk to the wearer.

0004It is therefore desirable to provide a harness which is adjustable in length and in which the hoses remain fixed whilst not providing a snagging risk.

0005<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO0197917A"><text>WO 01/97917</text></patcit> discloses a support frame for a respiratory air container having an approximately U-shaped guiding channel in the longitudinal direction on the side facing towards the body of the user. An extension plate which is also U-shaped is guided into said guiding channel and can be stopped in various positions therein. Supply lines which originate from the pressure reducer of the respiratory air container and which form a reserve loop in the smallest form of the support frame extend into a receiving channel via a line opening, said receiving channel being formed by the U-shaped extension plate, and are fixed thereto. The length of the support frame and the position of the supply lines are adjusted according to the torso length of the user, by adjusting the extension plate. This ensures that the user can move freely and safely while the supply lines are protected or kept close to the body, regardless of body size.

0006The present invention is defined in the attached independent claim to which reference should now be made. Further, preferred features may be found in the sub-claim appended thereto.

0007According to the invention there is provided a harness for use with breathing apparatus, comprising: a back plate for accommodating a gas cylinder; a sliding plate adjustable in a longitudinal direction with respect to the back plate so as to enable the length of the harness to be varied; at least one shoulder strap attached to an upper portion of the sliding plate; and at least two flexible conduits extending from a lower portion of the back plate; wherein at least one of the flexible conduits extends along the sliding plate, to at least one predetermined position on the shoulder strap; and wherein retaining means are provided on the sliding plate to prevent longitudinal movement of the flexible conduit with respect to the sliding plate, such that when the sliding plate is adjusted relative to the back plate the flexible conduit retains its predetermined position on the shoulder strap; characterised in that, the at least two flexible conduits cross one another in the lateral direction of the back plate, so as to assist the folding and unfolding of the conduits when the sliding plate is moved.

0008Preferably, during adjustment of the sliding plate relative to the back plate the flexible conduits are arranged to fold or unfold within the confines of the back plate.

0009In a preferred arrangement the harness comprises two shoulder straps. Each shoulder strap may have a flexible conduit.

0010Preferably one or more guide channels are provided on the sliding plate for accommodating one or more flexible conduits. The retaining means may be provided in the one or more guide channels. Further, the retaining means may comprise clamping elements provided in the one or more guide channels. The guide channels may be shaped to provide the retaining means.

0011Preferably at least one of said conduits extends on one side of the back plate from the lower portion of the back plate and passes through an opening in the back plate to the other side of the back plate before extending along the sliding plate.

0012The back plate may have biasing means to help to bias the folding and unfolding of the or each conduit. The biasing means may include one or more grooves or projections provided on the back plate.

0013The flexible conduits may include a high-pressure hose and/or a medium-pressure hose.

0014The flexible conduits may include one or more electrical cables.

0015An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> shows a rear view of a harness according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the harness is in an extended position;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> shows an inside view of a harness according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the harness is in an extended position;</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref> shows the shoulder straps according to an embodiment of the invention; and,</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> shows a rear view of a harness according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the harness is in an un-extended position.</li></ul>

0016Referring to <figref idref="f0001"><b>Figure 1</b></figref> the harness 10 comprises a back plate 12, a sliding plate 16, a pair of shoulder straps 20, 22 and a belt 18. The sliding plate 16 is slidably attached to the back plate 12 in such a way that it can move longitudinally with respect to the back plate between the extended position shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and the un-extended position shown in <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref>. The shoulder straps 20, 22 are fixed to an upper portion of the sliding plate and the belt 18 is fixed to a lower portion of the back plate. The sliding plate 16 can be fixed at various positions between the fully extended position and the un-extended position. This allows it to be comfortably worn by users of different heights. A valve 28 is provided at the bottom of the back plate 12. In use a cylinder of breathable gas is connected to the valve and it is retained by the back plate 12 and a retaining strap 13. Two air supply hoses, or conduits, 24, 26 are connected to the valve for supplying breathable gas, one to the breathing apparatus of the harness wearer and one to a pressure gauge. The hoses 24, 26 extend substantially longitudinally from the valve 28 and pass through an opening 14 in the back plate 12 to the inside of the back plate. In addition, or instead, one or more of the conduits may be an electrical cable.

0017Referring now to <figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 2</b></figref><b>,</b> the hoses 24, 26 are attached to the sliding plate 16, one being attached to each side. The hoses cross over in the region of the opening 14 and as such the side of the sliding plate 16 to which they are attached is different to the side of the valve 28 from which they leave. There is a longitudinally extending guide channel 34 for retaining the hoses on either side of the sliding plate 16. The guide channels 34 are shaped with projections within and along their length so as to retain the hoses 24, 26 within them. The hoses 24, 26 extend along substantially the full length of the sliding plate 16 and leave the sliding plate in the region of the shoulder straps 20, 22.

0018As can be seen in <figref idref="f0003"><b>Figure 3</b></figref><b>,</b> the hoses 24, 26 are attached to the upper side of each shoulder strap 20, 22 and are held in place and protected by sleeves 21, 23. The hoses are fixed to the shoulder straps and have connectors at their ends that are suitable for connection to breathing apparatus.

0019When the sliding plate 16 is moved to the non-extended position, shown in <figref idref="f0004"><b>Figure 4</b></figref><b>,</b> the hoses 24, 26 remain in the predetermined positions relative to the shoulder straps. Due to the configuration of the back plate 12 and the positional mounting of the hoses 24, 26 with respect to the valve and the sliding plate 16 the hoses fold within the region of the opening 14 of the back plate 12. Since the excess lengths of hose are accommodated within the confines of the back plate 12 there is no risk of snagging the hoses on obstacles.

0020To aid in the folding of the hoses 24, 26 there may be projections provided on the rear of the back plate that bias the hoses to fold in a particularly desired manner.