A cylinder loading and retaining device for a harness

0001The invention relates to a cylinder loading and retaining device for a harness and to a harness including such a device. In particular, the invention relates to a cylinder loading and retaining device for mounting a cylinder of breathable gas to a harness of the type used in fire-fighting. The invention could also be applied to other types of harness, such as a diving harness.

0002A known harness 1 for carrying a cylinder of breathable gas is shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>. The harness includes a back plate 2 onto which an air cylinder 3 is mounted. At its lower end, the cylinder is attached to a valve 4 and is retained to the back plate 2. Air is supplied from the cylinder to the wearer through the valve 4 and air lines 5, 6 one of which extends to a breathing apparatus and the other of which extends to a pressure gauge (neither shown). A fabric strap 7 is provided towards the upper end of the cylinder 3 for securing the cylinder to the back plate 2 and for preventing the cylinder from sliding downwards.

0003The cylinder 3 is usually mounted onto the harness 1 in a service workshop. Alternatively, the cylinder may be mounted to the harness whilst the harness is being worn by a firefighter. In order to mount the cylinder to the harness, the cylinder must be aligned with the back plate 2 for insertion through the fabric strap 7. This is awkward and time consuming, particularly as the fabric strap has a tendency to flop downwards. Furthermore, if the cylinder is mounted whilst the harness is being worn, the cylinder must be inserted substantially vertically upwards, which is difficult to do.

0004A known alternative to the fabric strap 7 is a metallic strap. This has the advantage of having greater rigidity, and thus does not tend to flop downwards. Nevertheless, in mounting a cylinder to a harness having a metallic strap it is still necessary to ensure that the cylinder is aligned with the back plate of the harness. This can be awkward, especially if the cylinder is changed whilst the harness is being worn.

0005Clearly, it is desirable to enable the cylinder to be mountable to the harness as quickly and easily as possible, for example to facilitate a swift change-over of a used or damaged cylinder to a new cylinder. This is especially desirable as the harness is usually being worn by a firefighter at an incident.

0006According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cylinder retaining device for a harness, comprising: a frame member; and a retaining member connected to the frame member for receiving a portion of a cylinder, wherein the retaining member is movable with respect to the frame member between a loading position, in which the cylinder can be at least partly inserted into, or withdrawn from, the retaining member, and a retaining position, in which the cylinder is retained by the retaining member.

0007Advantageously, because the retaining member is movable with respect to the frame member between the loading position and the retaining position, the cylinder can be inserted into the retaining member, and thus mounted to a harness, without having to align the cylinder with the frame member (and hence with a back plate of the harness).

0008Preferably the retaining member is pivotally connected to the frame member and can pivot between the loading position and the retaining position. In this way, the retaining member can move smoothly and easily between the two positions, facilitating mounting of the cylinder.

0009In addition, the device may further comprise a locking mechanism for maintaining the retaining member in the retaining position. In this way, the retaining member can be maintained securely in the retaining position until the cylinder has been inserted into it. The locking mechanism may include, for example, a biasing means, latch, catch or stop.

0010It is preferable that in the loading position the cylinder may be at least partly inserted into the retaining member at an obtuse angle with respect to the frame member, and in the retaining position the cylinder is retained substantially parallel to the frame member.

0011The retaining member may be a cylinder clamp comprising a band or ring of rigid or semi-rigid material, such as a metallic or hardened-fabric material. In addition, the cylinder clamp may include a length adjusting means for varying the length of the cylinder clamp so as to allow different sizes of cylinders to be accommodated and retained securely.

0012According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a harness for use with breathing apparatus, the harness including a cylinder loading and retaining device according to any statement herein. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly comprising a harness according to the present invention and a cylinder of breathable gas mounted to the harness. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of modifying a harness for use with breathing apparatus, the method comprising the step of attaching a device according to any statement herein to the harness.

0013The invention may comprise any combination of features or limitations described herein, except of such features as are mutually exclusive.

0014Reference is now made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> shows a harness having a known cylinder retaining strap;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> is a side view of a cylinder loading and retaining device according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein a cylinder clamp is in a retaining position;</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 3</figref> is a side view of the device of <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref>, wherein the retaining member is in a loading position.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 4</figref> is a rear view of a harness including a cylinder loading and retaining device embodying the invention and having an air cylinder mounted thereto.</li></ul>

0015<figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 2</b></figref> is a side view of a cylinder loading and retaining device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The device comprises a frame member 11 and a cylinder clamp 12 connected to the frame member 11 by means of a pivot 13. The cylinder clamp 12 comprises a band of rigid or semi-rigid material. In <figref idref="f0002">figure 2</figref>, the cylinder clamp 12 is shown in a retaining position with respect to the frame member 11, wherein the cylinder clamp extends substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the frame member.

0016When the device is applied to a harness, the frame member 11 lies parallel to a back plate of the harness or is constituted by the back plate of the harness. Thus, when the cylinder clamp 12 is in the retaining position a cylinder can be retained securely to the frame member and sliding of the cylinder relative to the frame member (hence, back plate) can be prevented.

0017Furthermore, when it is desired to attach a new cylinder to the harness, the cylinder clamp 12 can be pivoted into a loading position as shown in <figref idref="f0002"><b>Figure 3</b></figref>. The loading position is not necessarily fixed but may be varied to an appropriate loading angle. In the loading position, the cylinder clamp 12 is angled obtusely with respect to the frame member 11, and hence with respect to the back plate of the harness also. Thus, when the cylinder clamp is in the loading position, an angled cylinder mounting direction is presented for inserting the cylinder 3 into the clamp 12. In this way, it is unnecessary to align the cylinder 3 with the back plate of the harness and instead the cylinder can be fed more naturally and easily into the cylinder clamp 12.

0018After the foremost part of the cylinder has entered the clamp 12, the clamp can be pivoted into the retaining position to retain the cylinder 3 against the frame member 11. Thus, in a harness, the cylinder is held securely against the back plate of the harness as shown in <figref idref="f0003"><b>Figure 4</b></figref>. The frictional force of the cylinder clamp 12 against the outer surface of the cylinder 3 prevents the cylinder from slipping. As with the harness of <figref idref="f0001">figure 1</figref>, a lower end of the cylinder 3, furthest from the clamp 12, is connected to a valve 4 and is retained against the back plate of the harness.

0019In a further embodiment of the device, a locking mechanism is provided to maintain the clamp 12 in the retaining position. The locking mechanism may include a latch, catch or stop. Alternatively, a biasing means may be provided.

0020In another embodiment, the cylinder clamp includes a length adjusting means for enabling the length of the band of the clamp to be varied, so as to enable different sizes of cylinder to be retained securely by the clamp. For example, if the clamp comprises a hardened fabric, such as a rubber coated fabric, the length adjusting means may comprise a buckle arrangement. If the clamp is metallic, a hook and pin arrangement may be used.

0021The pivot 13 may be provided by any suitable means, such as a roller and bush arrangement.