Support frame for a respiratory air container

[0001] The invention relates to a support frame for a respiratory air container that can be adjusted to the torso length of the user and comprises a support plate with shoulder straps and fastening means for at least one respiratory air container from which pneumatic and electric supply lines originate.

[0002] Apparatuses consisting of a support plate and shoulder straps are known to be used for stable fixing of respiratory air containers (compressed-air breathing apparatuses) on the back of their respective user, e.g. a fire fighter.

[0003] The support plates are usually made in one piece and at a uniform size while their shape is adjusted to the contour of the human back. The respiratory air container that is held on the support plate using a bottle strap is connected to a pressure reducer located at the lower end of the support plate from which several supply lines originate and run, inter alia, to a pressure gauge and respiratory inlet of a mask the user is wearing. The hose pipes for compressed air and, optionally, electric supply lines for warning and measuring equipment are attached to the support plate. The support plate rests at various heights against its wearer's body depending on the wearer's height: with a short person, it ends in the upper part and with a taller person it ends in a lower part of that person's back. Correspondingly, the length of hose or line available at the user's front side is either too great or too small, too long hose pipes impeding the user's free and unobstructed movement as much as too short hose pipes do. In addition, there is a risk that hose or line portions that do not run close to the user's body or that are freely accessible at the user's back and outside the user's field of vision may get caught on obstacles or be damaged.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,941 describes a support frame for respiratory air containers to be mounted to a user's body that comprises replaceable shoulder parts of different lengths to adjust the support frame to the height of its respective wearer. In addition to the fact that the pneumatic and, optionally, electric supply lines are exposed in this proposed solution, its adjustment to user height also takes a great effort.

[0005] EP 0 747 095 A2 describes a support frame that is also suited for mounting respiratory air containers and has a two-part design. It consists of an upper back plate and a lower support plate, and the lower support plate can be hinged to the upper back plate at different heights. This support frame, however, also leaves supply lines unprotected, and the type of length variability in conjunction with the hinged support plate does not contribute to keeping the respiratory air container stably mounted on the support plate.

[0006] It is therefore the problem of this invention to provide a support frame for as respiratory air container that can be adapted to the height of the respective user, keeps the respiratory air container steadily fixed, and conducts pneumatic or electric supply lines so that they are protected or kept close to the body in an ergonomically favorable arrangement.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by a support frame for respiratory air containers designed to match the characteristics given in claim 1. The subordinate claims disclose further characteristics and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0008] In other words, it is the concept of this proposed new solution that an extension plate is mounted to the support plate that can be moved and locks into various positions, and that the shoulder straps of the support frame and the supply lines of the respiratory air container are attached to this extension plate. A support frame that has this design can be adjusted regarding its length and the conduction of the supply lines to the torso length of the respective user so that the frame is firmly attached to the body and supply lines are conducted close to the body. The supply lines that form a reserve loop resting against the support plate when the extension plate is in its lowest position are, as it were, expanded when the extension plate is drawn out and shortened when the extension plate is pushed back in so that they always have the optimum length and position for the respective user and are neither too long nor too short, thus ensuring safe handling of any devices connected to them. A support frame configured in this way allows its user to move freely and safely, regardless of the user's height and despite carrying a heavy respiratory container and the associated supply lines. According to another characteristic of the invention, a duct for receiving and protecting the supply lines is provided in the extension plate and runs in longitudinal direction. An advantageous improvement of the invention is to guide the extension plate via its receiving duct in a guiding channel of the support plate that is open towards the user's back. The supply lines are fed into the receiving duct of the extension plate through a supply line inlet hole from the accessible side of the support plate. This characteristic provides special protection for the supply lines that emerge from the support frame in the shoulder section of the user only, regardless of the user's height. An embodiment of the invention that illustrates other characteristics, useful embodiments, and advantages shall be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures. Wherein:

[0009]FIG. 1 shows a view of the side facing away from the wearer of the support frame that can be adjusted in length according to the invention with the pressure reducer and supply lines connected to it, but without shoulder straps and respiratory air container;

[0010]FIG. 2 shows a rear view, i.e. the side facing the user's back, of the support frame shown in FIG. 1.

[0011] The support frame <b>1</b> consists of a deflection-resistant support plate <b>2</b> made of an impact-resistant synthetic material with lateral handles <b>3</b> and first slotted holes <b>4</b> for the shoulder straps (not shown) and second slotted holes <b>5</b> for a bottle strap (not shown) for fastening a compressed-air container to the support plate <b>2</b>. A pressure reducer <b>6</b> is mounted to the lower end of the support plate <b>2</b> which also holds the compressed-air container connected to it and from which, forming a reserve loop, a first supply line (pressure gauge hose) <b>7</b> to a pressure gauge (not shown), a second supply line <b>8</b> as the air supply line for the user, and a third supply line <b>9</b> as an alarm signal line originate. The support plate <b>2</b> comprises a shallow U-shaped guiding channel <b>13</b> along its longitudinal axis on the side facing away from the user that ends in the lower section of the support plate <b>2</b> in a supply line inlet hole <b>12</b> above the protruding hose fitting <b>11</b> that is molded to the support plate <b>2</b>. The hose pipes <b>7</b>, <b>8</b> and <b>9</b> enter the flat guiding channel <b>13</b> formed on the rear side (the side facing away from the user's back) of the support plate <b>2</b> through the line inlet hole <b>12</b>. The guiding channel <b>13</b> houses a fitted-in, generally U-shaped extension plate <b>14</b> that is movably held and guided via the guide slots <b>15</b> and guiding pins <b>16</b>. The extension plate <b>14</b> that comprises slotted holes <b>27</b> for fastening the shoulder straps can be locked into four positions in the guiding channel <b>13</b> of the support plate <b>2</b>. Pairs of opposing locking grooves <b>17</b>, <b>18</b>, <b>19</b> and <b>20</b> are molded to the opposing side walls of the guiding channel <b>13</b> for this purpose, into which locking grip ends <b>22</b> on the extension plate <b>14</b> lock that are elastically held in a guiding groove <b>21</b> by means of a spring element <b>20</b>. The extension plate <b>14</b> that can be locked into various locking positions (locking grooves <b>17</b> to <b>20</b>) allows to provide support frames <b>1</b> in various lengths that fit the height (or torso length) of their users. In the embodiment shown, the locking grip ends are located in the locking recesses <b>19</b> so that the support frame shown can be extended or shortened.

[0012] The locking grip ends <b>22</b> are designed as large cups that are open at the top so that they can be handled easily even when the user is wearing protective gloves. The extension plate <b>14</b> comprises an outward facing shoulder <b>14</b><i>a </i>on its two longitudinal edges. These shoulders <b>14</b><i>a </i>cover the locking grooves <b>17</b> to <b>20</b> in the sidewalls of the guiding channel <b>13</b> of the support plate <b>2</b> at the top and simultaneously provide a bearing surface on the user's back. Inward facing clamping grooves <b>23</b> are provided on the lower edge of the extension plate <b>14</b> to which the supply line <b>7</b> to <b>9</b> shown in FIG. 1 can be clamped and thus tightened. The supply lines <b>7</b> to <b>9</b> are conducted in a receiving duct <b>25</b> formed on the inside (the side facing the user's back) of the extension plate <b>14</b> by two longitudinal webs <b>24</b> and emerge from a line outlet hole <b>26</b> in the extension plate <b>14</b> between the third slotted holes.

[0013] As FIG. 1 shows, the supply lines <b>7</b> to <b>9</b> that are connected to a pressure reducer are arranged in the form of a reserve loop resting against the support plate <b>2</b> so that they end in the chest section of a short user at a height that ensures free handling of, and easy access to, units connected to them as well as unhindered movement of the user. When a user's torso is longer or shorter, the extension plate <b>14</b> is adjusted in such a way that the third slotted holes <b>27</b> are placed in a position close to the shoulders that ensures a firm seat of the support frame <b>1</b> and simultaneously adjusts the position of the supply lines <b>7</b> to <b>9</b> fastened to the extension plate <b>14</b> and following its movements to the user's torso length. The supply lines <b>7</b> to <b>9</b> that emerge as a bundle from the line outlet hole are conducted close to the user's body in the user's shoulder and chest area so that the risk that they get caught on something and be damaged is low. This also applies to the unchecked back area of the user where the supply lines <b>7</b> to <b>9</b> are protected and secured in the receiving duct <b>25</b> between the user's back and the support frame <b>1</b> and kept close to the support plate <b>2</b> in the area where they are exposed (reserve loop). Thus a support frame is provided that ensures a stable position of the compressed-air container and protected conducting of the supply lines close to the user's body and ending at an anatomically optimal height in front of the user's body. The user's range of movement and safety are improved.

[0014] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of a support frame described above. Numerous modifications can be made within the concept of the invention, which consists in an extension plate that can be locked into different positions along the expandable support plate and comprises a receiving duct for protected conducting of the supply lines on the user's back and in moving these supply lines with the movement of the extension plate. If the supply lines are very stiff, it is also conceivable to just conduct them in the receiving duct and not move them along with the extension plate. In addition, the proposed support frame is not restricted to the use for respiratory air containers but can also be used for fastening and carrying other objects.

List of Reference Symbols

[0015]<b>1</b> Support frame

[0016]<b>2</b> Support plate

[0017]<b>3</b> Handles

[0018]<b>4</b> First slotted holes

[0019]<b>5</b> Second slotted holes

[0020]<b>6</b> Pressure reducer

[0021]<b>7</b> First supply line

[0022]<b>8</b> Second supply line

[0023]<b>9</b> Third supply line

[0024]<b>10</b> Spring element

[0025]<b>11</b> Protruding hose fitting

[0026]<b>12</b> Line inlet hole

[0027]<b>13</b> Guiding channel (for extension plate)

[0028]<b>14</b> Extension plate

[0029]<b>14</b><i>a </i>Longitudinal shoulders of <b>14</b>

[0030]<b>15</b> Guide slots

[0031]<b>16</b> Guiding pins

[0032]<b>17</b> Locking grooves for <b>22</b>

[0033]<b>18</b> Locking grooves for <b>22</b>

[0034]<b>19</b> Locking grooves for <b>22</b>

[0035]<b>20</b> Locking grooves for <b>22</b>

[0036]<b>21</b> Guiding groove for <b>22</b>

[0037]<b>22</b> Locking grip ends

[0038]<b>23</b> Clamping grooves

[0039]<b>24</b> Longitudinal webs

[0040]<b>25</b> Receiving duct

[0041]<b>26</b> Line outlet hole

[0042]<b>27</b> Third slotted holes