Adjustable harness

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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 cylinder 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 extend 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 the 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.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0005According 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 one flexible conduit extending from a lower portion of the back plate, along the sliding plate, to at least one predetermined position on the shoulder strap; wherein retaining means or elements 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.

0006Preferably, during adjustment of the sliding plate relative to the back plate the flexible conduit is arranged to fold or unfold within the confines of the back plate.

0007In a preferred arrangement the harness comprises two shoulder straps. Each shoulder strap may have a conduit.

0008Preferably one or more guide channels are provided on the sliding plate for accommodating the 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.

0009Preferably 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.

0010Preferably two flexible conduits extend from the lower portion of the back plate and are configured to 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.

0011The back plate may have biasing means or guide elements to help to bias or guide the folding and unfolding of each conduit. The biasing means or guide elements may include one or more grooves or projections provided on the back plate.

0012The flexible conduits may include a high-pressure hose and/or a medium-pressure hose.

0013The flexible conduits may include one or more electrical cables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

0014An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows a rear view of a harness according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the harness is in an extended position;

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows an inside view of a harness according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the harness is in an extended position;

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows the shoulder straps according to an embodiment of the invention; and

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 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.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

0019Referring to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> a harness <b>10</b> comprises a back plate <b>12</b>, a sliding plate <b>16</b>, a pair of shoulder straps <b>20</b>, <b>22</b> and a belt <b>18</b>. The sliding plate <b>16</b> is slidably attached to the back plate <b>12</b> in such a way that it can move longitudinally with respect to the back plate between the extended position shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> and the un-extended position shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. The shoulder straps <b>20</b>, <b>22</b> are fixed to an upper portion of the sliding plate <b>16</b> and the belt <b>18</b> is fixed to a lower portion of the back plate <b>12</b>. The sliding plate <b>16</b> can be fixed at various positions between the fully extended position and the un-extended position. This allows it to be adjusted so as to be comfortably worn by users of different heights. A valve <b>28</b> is provided at the bottom of the back plate <b>12</b>. In use a cylinder of breathable gas is connected to the valve <b>28</b> and it is retained by the back plate <b>12</b> and a cylinder retaining strap <b>13</b>. Two air supply hoses, or conduits, <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> are connected to the valve <b>28</b> for supplying breathable gas, one to the breathing apparatus of the harness wearer and one to a pressure gauge. The hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> extend substantially longitudinally from the valve <b>28</b> and pass through an opening <b>14</b> in the back plate <b>12</b> to the inside of the back plate <b>12</b>. In addition, or instead, one or more of the conduits may be an electrical cable.

0020Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> are attached to the sliding plate <b>16</b>, one being attached to each side. The hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> cross over in the region of the opening <b>14</b> and as such the side of the sliding plate <b>16</b> to which they are attached is different from the side of the valve <b>28</b> from which they leave. There is a longitudinally extending guide channel <b>34</b> for retaining hoses on each side of the sliding plate <b>16</b>. The guide channels <b>34</b> are shaped with projections <b>35</b> within and along their length so as to retain the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> within them. The hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> extend along substantially the full length of the sliding plate <b>16</b> and exit or leave the sliding plate in the region of the shoulder straps <b>20</b>, <b>22</b>.

0021As can be seen in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> are attached to the upper side of each shoulder strap <b>20</b>, <b>22</b> and are held in place and protected by sleeves <b>21</b>, <b>23</b>. The hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> are fixed to the shoulder straps <b>20</b>, <b>22</b> and have connectors at their ends that are suitable for connection to breathing apparatus.

0022When the sliding plate <b>16</b> is moved to the non-extended position, shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> remain in the predetermined positions relative to the shoulder straps <b>20</b>, <b>22</b>. Due to the configuration of the back plate <b>12</b> and the positional mounting of the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> with respect to the valve <b>28</b> and the sliding plate <b>16</b> the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> fold within the region of the opening <b>14</b> of the back plate <b>12</b>. Since the excess lengths of hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> are accommodated within the confines of the back plate <b>12</b> there is no risk of snagging the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> on obstacles.

0023To aid in the folding of the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> there may be elements or projections <b>50</b> provided on the rear of the back plate <b>12</b> that bias or guide the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> to fold in a particularly desired manner.

0024Extending or telescoping sliding place <b>16</b> relative to back plate <b>12</b> causes the hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> to unfold to the extent necessary from the position shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> to a position shown for example in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. Thus, hoses <b>24</b>, <b>26</b> fold or unfold in response to relative movement of sliding plate <b>16</b> with respect to back plate <b>12</b> in a controlled position.

0025While an embodiment of the invention has been described, the invention is limited only by the following Claims and equivalents thereof.