CA2652614C

CA2652614C - Passenger harness belt for a recreational vehicle

Info

Publication number: CA2652614C
Application number: CA2652614A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Brian D. Muller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-31
Filing date: 2008-12-31
Publication date: 2011-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-31
Also published as: CA2652614A1

Abstract

A safety riding harness type belt for taking children or small adults on the back of recreational vehicles such as motorcycles, snowmobiles, Quads/ATVs. The device has a wide belt that wraps around the driver, which is attached to a padded separator block, which is in turn attached to a multiple point harness that includes a wide waist belt for the passenger. This arrangement attaches the driver and passenger, while at the same, keeps the passenger marginally spaced from the driver. In this manner, the driver does not have counterbalancing effects with which to contend since the driver and passenger by linkage, have to move in concert.

Description

PASSENGER HARNESS BELT FOR A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a harness system and more particularly, the present invention relates to a safety riding harness type belt for taking passengers on the back of recreational vehicles such as motorcycles, snowmobiles, Quads/ATVs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Harnesses for securing passengers to the driver of, for example, a recreational vehicle have been proposed previously.

One such example is evinced by United States Patent No. 4,560,097, issued December 24, 1985, to Reynolds et al. In the reference, there is disclosed a safety harness for a motorcycle passenger. The arrangement provides a series of straps and a full vest. The arrangement positions the passenger, in this case a child, in direct contact with the driver. this may present situations where if the child fidgets, the control of the vehicle may become challenging for the driver by the disruption of balance. Further, the disposition of the straps over the shoulders of the driver extend diagonally downwardly proximate both sides of the passenger's face. This is, of course, somewhat dangerous.

In the present technology discussed herein after in greater detail, the limitations of the known arrangements are overcome with an improved device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved harness for accommodating a passenger securely connected to the driver of, for example, a recreational vehicle.

In accordance with one aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a safety harness for securing a passenger to a driver of a recreational vehicle, the harness comprising:

an adjustable belt for positioning about the waist of the passenger;
40268886.1 a back yolk support;

a first strap and a second strap, each releasably connected to the back yolk and the adjustable belt, each said strap having opposed free ends, the ends of a respective strap being releasably engageable, the straps in use being positioned about the torso and legs and over the shoulders of the passenger; and padding means for positioning between the passenger and the driver for spacing the driver and the passenger, the padding means being connected to each said strap, the padding means adapted to receive a belt for positioning about the waist of the driver for attaching the driver and the passenger.

The device has a wide belt that wraps around the adult rider, which is attached to a padded separator block or cushion. The block is, in turn, attached to a five point harness that includes a wide waist belt for the passenger which may be a child or small adult.

Advantageously, the arrangement incorporates unique features such as:
ensuring the child remains in an upright position while riding;

providing interchangeability between adult size waist belts, an example of which is a regular waist size belt is adjustable from 30" to 44" and a second belt size adjustable from 44" to 57";

a back yoke support pad connected to the shoulder straps to assist in maintaining the shoulder straps; and a neck or helmet support pad connected to the support pad to help support some of the weight at the back of the child's/ passenger's helmet which eases the strain on the child's/passenger's neck muscles during the ride.

The device has a wide belt that wraps around the driver, which is attached to a padded separator block, which is in turn attached to a five point harness that includes a wide waist belt for the child/passenger.

While using a motorized vehicle such as a motorcycle, if a child passenger were to ride on the back, he or she could fall off if they were not hanging on tight or if they were to 40268886.1

-2-ride over a bump in the road etc. as the driver cannot assist with securing the child on the back as his/her hands are on the motorcycle's controls while riding. Children tend to drift off to sleep while riding and therefore may slide off the vehicle. Having the child ride on the tank is also not very safe as the driver cannot operate the vehicle safely while trying to hang on to his/her passenger while riding.

The present invention allows the adult driver to take a child from the ages of 2 years old up to 12 years old on the back of recreational vehicles such as motorcycles. It is a 5 point riding harness that secures the child to the back of the adult driver. The product is designed so that even if the child were to drift off to sleep or if they were to hit an un-noticed bump in the road, the child would not fall off as they are securely attached to the adult driver of the vehicle. This product allows the driver to safely operate the vehicle using both hands, while the passenger is safely secured behind him/her.

The device is a harness designed for taking a child on the back of a recreational vehicle (motorcycle, all terrain vehicles (ATV), and snowmobile) or on horseback.

The features of the invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the harness arrangement according to one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the harness arrangement of Figure 1 in use as positioned about a passenger and driver;

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the harness for the passenger with the driver belt removed for clarity;

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the driver belt with the passenger harness removed for clarity; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cushion pad used to space the passenger from the driver.

40268886.1

-3-Similar numerals used in the drawings denote similar elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the harness arrangement, generally denoted by numeral 10. Broadly, the harness 10 includes a driver belt 12, a passenger harness arrangement 14 and a padded cushion 16 between the belt 12 and harness 14.

Turning to greater detail, Figure 4 delineates the driver belt 12. The purpose of the belt is to strap securely around the driver's waist as shown in Figure 2. As an example, the driver belt 12 is made of strong nylon Cordura and is 6" wide at the driver's back and tapers down to 4.5" wide at the driver's front and thus is contoured as can be more clearly seen in Figure 2. The belt contains a plurality of pliable plastic forms 18 positioned on the inner side of the belt 12, as illustrated, to offer better support to the mid-body organs such as the kidneys. As an example, the belt has a 2" wide nylon strap 20, 22 that is sewn on both sides of the outside of the belt 12 at 24. The straps 20, 22 each has a fastener 26, 28, respectively at the terminal free ends, which is exemplified by a plastic buckle. The belt 12 is wrapped around the driver's waist with the ends overlapping and secured using a combination of spaced apart Velcro (TM) strips along with the plastic buckle fastener.

Turning now to Figure 3, the passenger harness 14 is illustrated in greater detail.
Generically, the harness comprises a waist belt 30, back yoke 32, divider padded block 34 (Figures 2 and 5), helmet support 36 and a plurality of straps 38.

The child/passenger waist belt 30 in use secures the child/passenger at the waist, as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

In combination with the various straps 38, the arrangement in use becomes a five point harness type device. This five point system consists of securing the child around the waist, over each shoulder and under each leg through the groin area and connects to the other end of these straps that come down the back then connect at the buttocks area.
The strapping interweaves through the waist belt portion using plastic sliders for better fit.

The child/passenger belt 30 shares some common features with the driver belt 12. It may also be made of nylon Cordura and is similar to the adult belt but smaller in size. It is 40268886.1

-4-

5.5" wide at the back and tapers to 3.5" at the front to provide a contoured profile. It also includes pliable plastic supports on the inside (not shown). The tapered design from front to back allows for a better fit to contour to the child's/passenger's small waist size.

In further detail, the harness 14 has of a set of body straps 40, 42 attached to the belt 30. The 2" waist portion of the child/passenger belt 30 provides a strap 44 and 46 attached to each side of the belt 30 at 48 with fasteners 50, 52 shown as plastic buckles at each free end.
The belt 30 wraps around the child's/passenger's waist (Figure 2)with the ends overlapping and securing with Velcro (TM) and also connecting the plastic buckles at the front of the child's waist. This is not shown, however it is connected in the same manner as that which has been discussed concerning the driver belt 12.

Belt 30 also has, for example, 1.5" nylon straps 38 for each side of the child's/passenger's body that goes up and over the child's shoulder and through a loop 50, 52 respectively, made from, for example, 1" strapping. This is positioned on the back padded yoke 54 (discussed herein after ). Each then is positioned over and then down the front to the padded separator block 34 where it wraps around the block 34. The block 34 connects to the child's/passenger's waist belt 30 with a vertical Velcro (TM) strap ( not shown ). Each strap 38 continues down and then loops back up to the back of the belt 30 where each strap 38 slides through plastic sliders (not shown) that are sewn on the side (one on either side) of the child/passenger belt 30. These then connect at each end of this strap using a buckle 56, 58, respectively at each end of each strap 38. Essentially, there are two (2) 1.5"
straps 38 with each one being a continuous strap that goes up the back, over the shoulder in front of the child's/passenger's chest, down through and under the legs/groin area and then connect to the buckle at the buttocks.

The child's/passenger's belt 30 (with the padded separator block 34) is then attached to the adult belt 12 by sliding the adult belt 30 through the same strap that belt 30 is sewn to the padded block 34. The driver belt 12 slides through the front portion (adult rider's side) of the padded separator block 34 and is held in place by a combination of a strap (not shown) being securely fixed to the padded block 34 and Velcro (TM) material ( not shown ). There is only enough space to slide the driver belt 12 in sideways to afford a more secure fit.
40268886.2 Both the child/passenger belt 30 and driver belt 12 portions of the arrangement are held securely in place by weaving the belts over and under lapping each other.
All the strapping used is made with 2" wide nylon for the waist straps and 1.5" wide nylon straps for the child's/passenger's two straps 38 that wrap up the chest, over the shoulder, down the back, under the groin and up the front to connect with plastic buckles. Velcro (TM) is also used in some areas to help secure the belt.

Referring now to the padded cushion or block 34, the same provides a comfortable space between the driver and passenger and also facilitates physical connection between the passenger and the driver. This relationship is schematically illustrated in Figure 2.

The padded separator block 34 is designed to give some free movement space between the driver and the passenger for better control of the vehicle for the driver. This padded separator block 34, as an example, measures 7.5" high, 8.5" wide at the front 60 (driver's side) and tapers to 7" wide at the back 62 (passenger side) with a curved, contoured shape designed for better comfort to the passenger's waist. The block or cushion 34 may be made of various densities of foam inside and enclosed with an outer nylon Cordura fabric sewn around all sides. Two 1" wide straps 64, 66 (one at each side - left and right of the block) with a rubber handle 68 on each strap 64, 66 for the passenger to use for their hands while riding to occupy them during the ride and also for further security.

In respect of the back yoke pad 54, mentioned briefly in the discussion concerning straps 38, the pad 34 provides support to the passenger's back and maintains the shoulder straps 38 aligned in the most appropriate position on the passenger's back and shoulder area.
This helps to eliminate the shoulder straps from sliding off the passenger's shoulder while riding.

The pad 54 consists of a piece of a pliable plastic support on the inside and on the outside it is covered with a thin layer of foam and then enclosed with a nylon Cordoba fabric layer sewn together as one piece. The yoke 54 is 10.5" wide by 8" high and about 0.25"
thick. It also has two (2) 1.5" wide reflective strips 70 sewn on the back for better visibility and safety. On the passenger's upper right hand side of the yoke 54 there is a 1" piece of nylon strapping 54 that is sewn on. This is where the 1.5" nylon shoulder straps slide through to connect to the passenger's waist belt 30 at the front and back of the passenger. On the 46268886.2 =6.

opposite side of the yoke 54 (upper left back area) there are two 1" nylon straps 50 with snaps (not shown) at each end that have the same purpose of the 1.5" nylon shoulder straps being secured with the additional feature that the 1" straps (that are sewn on the yoke) can be snapped in place. This feature allows for the child to put on or take off the child belt easier.

Turning now to the neck or helmet support 36, this feature offers some support for when and if the passenger's head leans backwards due to the weight of the helmet. If the passenger's head tilts back, the helmet support pad 36 will help to support some of the weight of the helmet and also help to keep the passenger's head in a better upright position which will take some of the strain from the neck muscles used to hold up the head.
This helmet support pad offers support for the weight of the passenger's helmet. This is particularly important in this case of a child as the child's neck muscles are not very strong to support the extra weight on the child's head while wearing a safety helmet. It also helps to support the child's head in the helmet in a better upright position while riding.

In one possible embodiment, the helmet support pad measures 5" wide by 3" deep and 2" high and may be made of a piece of foam inside and enclosed with a nylon Cordura fabric outer layer. This support pad 36 is sewn onto the top center portion of the back of the yoke pad 54.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto.

40268886.1

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A safety harness for securing a passenger to a driver of a recreational vehicle, said harness comprising:

an adjustable belt for positioning about the waist of said passenger;
a back yolk support;

a first strap and a second strap, each releasably connected to said back yolk and said adjustable belt, each said strap having opposed free ends, said ends of a respective strap being releasably engageable, said straps in use being positioned about the torso and legs and over the shoulders of said passenger; and padding means for positioning between said passenger and said driver for spacing said driver and said passenger, said padding means being connected to each said strap, said padding means adapted to receive a belt for positioning about the waist of said driver for attaching said driver and said passenger.

2. The harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said harness includes said belt for said driver.

3. The harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said harness is modular and composed of multiple discreet elements.

4. The harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said belt for said passenger is contoured when viewed in plan view.

5. The harness as set forth in claim 4, wherein said contour tapers from a back portion to a front portion to add support to the back and abdominal sides of a passenger.

6. The harness as set forth in claim 5, wherein said belt includes reinforcement means for reinforcing said belt at least in said back portion.

7. The harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adjustable belt for said passenger includes opposed free ends having releasable fastening means.

8. The harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first strap and a second strap include fastening means.

9. The harness as set forth in claim 7 or 8, wherein said fastening means comprises buckles.

10. The harness as set forth in claim 7 or 8, wherein said fastening means comprises hook and loop material.

11. The harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said back yolk includes apertures to receive said first strap and a second strap, said apertures positioned to space each strap for positioning on the back of said passenger.

12. The harness as set forth in claim 11, wherein said back yolk is releasbly connected to each said strap.

13. The harness as set forth in claim 1, wherein said back yolk further includes a neck support.

14. The harness as set forth in claim 13, wherein said neck support is fixedly secured to said yolk.