NZ229931A - Support harness: harness releasably connected to resilient support - Google Patents

Description

229931 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A SUPPORT HARNESS ASSEMBLY I, STANLEY JOHN BROUGH, a New Zealand citizen, of Marinoto Farm, Ackers, Otatara, No 9 R D, Invercargil1, New Zealand do hereby declare this invention to be described in the following statement:- 229931 This invention relates to a support harness assembly, and more particularly to a support harness assembly to be worn by a shearer while shearing.

Shearing is a task often requiring considerable physical exertion on the part of a shearer. Typically, the task dictates that, for a shearer adopting a conventional shearing stance, substantial periods of each day be spent maintaining a bent over, or partially crouched position whilst holding onto sheep being shorn. It is as a result of such exertion that shearers commonly suffer from back injuries and associated problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which assists in supporting the upper torso of a shearer while in a bent over position.

Accordingly, there is provided in a broad aspect of this invention a support harness assembly adapted to support the upper torso of a user, which comprises a harness and a support arrangement, the support arrangement having a body portion including a resilient element to provide a resilient support action to the harness, catch means to releasably secure the harness to the support action of the resilient element and tether means to maintain a connection between the body portion of the support arrangement and the harness if the harness is disengaged from the support action of the resilient element.

Conveniently, the body portion of the support arrangement can further comprise mounting means to enable the assembly to be mounted on a suitably positioned element of a frame, for example a roof beam located above the head of a person wearing the harness.

An advantage of the present invention is that when the harness is disconnected from the support action of the resilient element the wearer may freely move away from the body portion of the support arrangement of the support harness assembly, yet continue to wear the harness.

Preferably, the tether means comprises a rope and a rope recoiling device, the rope 2 o * 11 AUG5992';; 229931 having one end connected to the harness and the other end connected to the rope recoiling device which is mounted in the body portion of the support arrangement.

Preferably, said resilient element can provide a varying degree of support dependent upon the degree of distortion that that element is caused to undergo.

Preferably, the body portion of the support arrangement further comprises an end housing, within which the rope recoiling device is mounted, and an end section. Desirably, the resilient element comprises a helical spring means having one end attached to the end housing and the other end attached to the end section. Further, the catch means can be mounted in the end section and, an engaging means is mounted on the rope and is cooperable with the catch means to prevent playout of the rope when the catch means is in a closed position, thus locking the relative positions of the harness and the body portion of the support arrangement.

Preferably, the support harness assembly is disposed in a substantially linear configuration, with the harness located at one end of said assembly and the mounting means located at the alternate end of said assembly.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following description of one presently preferred embodiment of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, Figures 1 to 9.

Figure 1A illustrates a perspective view of some aspects of the harness, the support arrangement, the catch means and the tether means; Figure IB illustrates a perspective view of some aspects of the tether means and the body portion of the support arrangement of the preferred embodiment; Figure 2 illustrates a similar view to Figure I, and further illustrates the rope partially extended; 3 \ 1 AUG 1992 ^ 229931 Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the harness in position on the wearer; Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the support harness assembly in use, and further, shows the wearer opening the catch means; Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the support harness assembly in use with the harness disengaged from the support action of the resilient element and with the rope of the tether means maintaining a connection from the harness to the body portion of the support arrangement; Figure 6 illustrates a similar view to Figure 5, but shows the rope of the tether means in a less extended position; Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the support harness assembly providing support to the upper torso of a shearer who is in the typical shearing stance; Figure 8 illustrates a partially cut away side elevation of part of the end section of the body portion of the support arrangement, showing some aspects of the catch means and engaging means; and Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of some aspects of the catch means in more detail.

As shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, there is provided a harness support assembly 1 of substantially linear constructional configuration. Said assembly 1 comprises a harness 3, indirectly connected to a support arrangement 2 by way of a tether means.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1A and IB, the support arrangement 2 comprises an end housing 6 having, at one end a mounting ring 5 and supporting, at its other end, a first helical spring 7. The helical spring 7 is connected at one end to the end housing 6 and terminates in a connector 8 which connects the spring 7 in series with a second helical spring 9. A generally tubular end section 10 is mounted on the second idling. 9 4 1 i AUG1992*} o / at its end opposite to the connector 8. In alternative embodiments of the present invention tubular end section 10 may be mounted substantially within the end of spring 9. Further, helical springs 7 and 9 may be replaced by rubber bungees, or bungees formed from some other resilient material.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, harness 3 comprises a pair of padded flexible shoulder straps 11 both ends of which, in use. are connected to a padded rigid frame 13, an attachment ring 14 located on frame 13 at a position such that when harness 3 is being worn said ring 14 is located on the line of the wearer's backbone at a point approximating the base of the wearer's shoulder blades, and a chest strap 12 which, in use, interconnects straps 11.

Referring to Figures 1A. IB and 2. the tether means comprises a recoiling device 15 to which is attached a retaining rope 16, on which is mounted an engaging means in the form of a toggle 17. A toggle catch 18, mounted on tubular end section 10 of support arrangement 2 is attached to a toggle catch release rope 19, said toggle catch 18 may cooperate with toggle 17 to prevent play out of rope 16 when said toggle catch 18 is in a closed position.

Recoiling device 15 is mounted substantially within end housing 6 of support arrangement 2, and further comprises a recoiling spring unit 20, a spring wind on wheel 21 which is connected to unit 20 by way of a recoiling spring 22, and a retaining rope carrier wheel 23 which is directly attached to, and is on the same rotation axis as, spring wind on wheel 21.

Retaining rope 16 is attached at one end to carrier wheel 23, and at the other end to harness 3 by way of attachment ring 14. further, a length of said rope 16 is wound onto wheel 23 such that when the harness wearer wishes to disconnect the harness 3 from the support action of support arrangement 2, he is provided with sufficient rope 16 to move freely within the confines of the woolshed without necessitating removal of harness 3.

The length of rope 16 connecting harness 3 and wheel 23 passes from wheel 23 through. ^ ' \t AUG 1992 22993 housing 6, down the centre of spring 7, through connector 8. down the centre of spring 9, and through end section 10 to attachment ring 14 of harness 3. The passage of rope 16 through the aforementioned elements is such as to allow rope 16 freedom of movement along the line of the central axis of springs 7 and 9.

The toggle 17, which is substantially cylindrical in shape, is mounted on rope 16 approximately 300 mm from harness attachment ring 14, by way of rope 16 passing through said toggle 17 along the line of the central axis of said toggle 17. It will be appreciated that the mounting position of toggle 17 on rope 16 is dependant principally on the length of support arrangement 2, the height above floor level of end housing 10, and the height of the harness wearer. The end of said toggle 17 closest to said harness 3 has provided a face 24, such that said face 24 is substantially perpendicular to the line of the central axis of said toggle 17, further, the end of toggle 17 opposite face 24 is substantially conical in shape.

As may be seen from Figures 8 and 9, the toggle catch 18 is mounted on tubular end section 10 of support arrangement 2 at a point 25, about which said catch 18 may pivot. Attached to catch 18, by way of attachment point 26, is toggle catch release rope 19. Catch 18 comprises a body element 27, and a catch jaw 28 associated with said body element 27. Catch jaw 28 comprises a plate 29 which, when catch 18 is in a closed position is substantially perpendicular to the line of the central axis of spring 9, and a section 30 removed from plate 29 sufficient to allow retaining rope 16 to pass freely through, but which prevents the passage of toggle 17.

Referring to Figure 7, toggle catch release rope 19 is attached at one end to catch 18, from where said rope 19 passes up through spring connector 8, through which said rope 19 may move freely, and onto where, in use, the alternate end of said rope 19 is connected to a suitably situated fixed point.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7. in use, harness support assembly 1 may be suspended * 6 * 5 AUG 1992 .v s* ' ™ » 229931 by mounting ring 5 from a conveniently located roof beam 31 above the shearing area by way of a tie wire 32. Catch release rope 19 may be strung between the body of support assembly 1 and a suitable post 33 located near the sheep catching pen. Conveniently, rope 19 may be strung such that said rope 19 is within easy reach of a shearer when said shearer is standing upright.

When assembly 1 is set up in location the shearer may put on the harness 3. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the shearer places straps 11 over his shoulders so that the frame 13 rests on his back. Straps 11 are then interconnected by way of chest strap 12. With the shearer wearing the harness 3 the support assembly 1 is ready for use.

To enable a sheep to be caught from the catching pen the shearer must first pull toggle catch release rope 19.

With reference to Figures 2, 8 and 9, pulling release rope 19 causes rope 19 to move in direction 24, further, as rope 19 is connected to toggle catch 18 by way of attachment point 26, catch 18 is caused to pivot about point 25. Accordingly, catch jaw 28 moves in direction 35, thus releasing toggle 17. The shearer may now move freely towards the catching pen, connected by retaining rope 16 to assembly 1. As the shearer moves away from assembly 1 retaining rope 16 is played out from wheel 23, (refer Figure IB), and thus recoiling spring unit 20 is caused to store spring energy.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the shearer may freely move a considerable distance from the shearing area to catch a sheep.

As the shearer moves back towards the shearing area after having caught a sheep, (refer Figures IB and 6), rope 16 retracts as recoiling spring unit 20 causes wheel 23 to wind in the excess length of rope 16.

Referring to Figure 8, as the shearer returns to the shearing area toggle 17 moves backs-.. _ i ^ cf* ^ up passed catch jaw 28 and toggle catch 18 closes under the force of gravity. Toggle 17 ^ is prevented from movement in direction 36, as plate 29 of catch 18 bears on face 24 of toggle 17. As illustrated in Figure 7, the shearer may now continue the shearing operation, with his upper torso supported by the support arrangement 2 and harness 3.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated, in particular, that the present invention is not limited in its application to being for use by shearers and may be suitably used by any person involved in tasks which would be less arduous as a result of assistance provided by the present invention in supporting that person's upper torso.

Further, it will be appreciated that changes may be made to the above described embodiment of the invention without departing from the principles taught herein. Such changes may include the use of alternative means to that of helical springs to provide the support action. For example, alternatives could include the use of torsion bars, coil springs, leaf springs, pneumatic or hydraulic shock absorber means, or similar devices. Further changes may include repositioning the recoiling device to, for example, end section 10, or mounting said device on harness 3. Use of alternatives to the toggle and catch arrangement as a means of attaching the harness to the support arrangement also fall within the scope of the present invention.

Finally, it will be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations, additions or modifications which are within the scope thereof of the invention as defined in the claims. 8

Claims (8)

229931 WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A support harness assembly adapted to support the upper torso of a user, which comprises a harness and a support arrangement, the support arrangement having a body portion including a resilient element to provide a resilient support action to the harness, catch means to releasably secure the harness to the support action of the resilient element and tether means to maintain a connection between the body portion of the support arrangement and the harness if the harness is disengaged from the support action of the resilient element.

2. A support harness assembly according to claim 1 wherein the resilient element can provide a varying degree of support dependent upon the degree of distortion that the resilient element is caused to undergo.

3. A support harness assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tether means includes means whereby if the harness is disengaged from the support action of the resilient element the tether means operates to allow the harness to be moved away from the body portion of the support arrangement yet to maintain a connection between the body portion and the harness.

4. A support harness assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the tether means comprises a rope and a rope recoiling device, the rope having one end connected to the harness and the other end connected to the rope recoiling device which is mounted in the body portion of the support arrangement.

5. A support harness assembly according to claim 4 wherein the body portion of the support arrangement further comprises an end housing, within which the rope recoiling device is mounted, and an end section, the resilient element which comprises a helical spring means, has one end attached to the end housing and the other end attached to the 9 \ • f AUG 1992 c fr 229931 end section, further, the catch means is mounted in the end section and an engaging means is mounted on the rope and is cooperable with the catch means to prevent playout of the rope when the catch means is in a closed position, thus locking the relative positions the harness and the body portion of the support arrangement.

6. A support harness assembly according to claim 5, wherein the length of the rope coiled onto the recoiling device is sufficient to allow the user when the harness is disengaged from the support action of the helical spring means and the retaining rope is played out, to move freely about within a large area without necessitating removal of the harness.

7. A support harness assembly according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the end section of the body portion of the support arrangement is substantially tubular and is mounted substantially within the end of the helical spring means.

8. A support harness assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. STANLEY JOHN BROUGH By his attorneys HENRY HUGHES LTD *11AUGI992