DK177126B1

DK177126B1 - Chest Clip for Shoulder Straps

Info

Publication number: DK177126B1
Application number: DKPA201070389A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Finn Hjorth; Betina Hjorth
Original assignee: Safety Clip Aps
Priority date: 2010-09-09
Filing date: 2010-09-09
Publication date: 2011-12-12
Also published as: WO2012031601A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a chest cup for holding together a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap to prevent a child from separating said first shoulder strap from said second shoulder strap beyond a distance towards an upper end of said first and second shoulder straps by said chest clip, which comprises a longitudinal base with at least one pivot means whereto at least one bar at a first end of said least one bar is pivotally attached, and which said least one bar at a second end has a hook for engag ing with at least one lock attached to the base for overlaying and locking said bar to said base by one hand and releasing said lock to unfold said bar from said base by one finger thereby securing and/or releasing said first and second shoulder strap, respec tively.

Description

i DK 177126 B1

Chest Clip for Shoulder Straps Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a chest clip for holding together a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap to prevent a child from separating said first shoulder strap 5 from said second shoulder strap beyond a distance towards an upper end of said first and second shoulder straps by said chest clip, which comprises a longitudinal base with at least one pivot means whereto at least one bar at a first end of said least one bar is pivotally attached, and which said least one bar at a second end has a hook for engaging with at least one lock attached to the base for overlaying and locking said 10 bar to said base by one hand and releasing said lock to unfold said bar from said base by one finger thereby securing and/or releasing said first and second shoulder strap, respectively.

Background of the Invention

The need to secure people in an automotive vehicle is evident to most people includ-15 ing babies and children at all ages and sizes.

So called autochairs are available and can be fitted to an existing chair in a vehicle, which chair being the front seat or the back seat of the vehicle. The autochairs fill the space between the baby or child at a given size to the size of the chair. Furthermore, 20 the autochairs provide its own safety belts to restraint and secure the child in the autochair, which not uncommonly is secured to the seat of the vehicle by using a seat belt fitted for the particular chair.

A very common and effective layout of the seat belts of an autochair provides two 25 shoulder straps coming out of the autochair from a position just above the shoulder of the child and separated by a distance matching the width of the shoulders of the child.

The two shoulder straps commonly re-enter the autochair in the area between the seat and the back of the autochair again separated by a distance matching width of the hip.

30 The autochair is further provided with a third crotch strap with a free end coming out of an area around the middle of the seat of the autochair.

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To provide protection to the child in the autochair, the crotch strap is hooked to the two shoulder straps by connection means encompassing slideably connection means attached to the shoulder straps and connection means located at the end of the crotch strap.

5

Thereby the child is secured by straps capable of retaining forces during a brake or any other halt, or accident around the hips, the crotch and the shoulders of the child. Consequently the body is secured by an essentially V-shaped formation of straps going from the crotch to the shoulders of the child.

10

This arrangement of straps has proven to be effective and is commonly provided as authorized equipment for authorized use in automotive vehicles.

It is however a prerequisite that the child remains seated in a position where the V-15 shaped arrangement of straps is maintained.

A child will often move about during a ride in the automotive vehicle and over time disarray the required V-shape arrangement of straps that provides the desired protection.

20

Typically the child will be able to get one, the other or even both arms under a leg in the “Ύ” thereby only being secured around one shoulder and the hips or even only around the hips.

25 To prevent the disarray of the straps it has been suggested, that a restraint device is placed between the two shoulder straps in the upper part of the “V” and in the area around where the child’s chest area is.

One such solution is known from US-patent US 7,445,293, which discloses a restraint . ... _ 30 safety device which, includes a chest clip comprising two-parts,, each part being-at tached to each shoulder strap and each part having an interrelated lock part for engaging and disengaging the chest clip.

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Although the described restraint safety device fulfils its purpose, the parts of the chest clip require quite some efforts to be mounted on the shoulder straps.

Furthermore, the handling of the restraint safety device with the chest clip requires 5 double sided squeeze to disengage, which in practice means the use of at least two fingers including a primate grip i.e. a thumb and at least another finger.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to provide a simple, effective, and/or durable solution to the possible separation of two shoulder straps in an autochair preferably 10 for children.

A further aspect of the invention is to provide a solution that furthermore is more easily installable than known in the prior art.

15 Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a solution that furthermore is easier to disengage, release or remove in daily use and in particular in an emergency.

Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a solution that mitigates unintentional use or faulty use of the safety device thereby improving the overall safety aspect of 20 the device.

Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a solution that is easily produced thereby allowing the device to become widespread at a low cost.

Description of the Invention 25 This is achieved by a chest clip for holding together a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap to prevent a child from separating said first shoulder strap from said second shoulder strap beyond a distance towards an upper end of said first and second shoulder straps by said chest clip, which comprises a longitudinal base with at least one pivot means whereto at least one bar at a firstend of satcHeast one baris pivotally 30 attached, and which said least one bar at a second end has a hook for engaging with at least one lock attached to the base for overlaying and locking said bar to said base by 4 DK 177126 B1 one hand and releasing said lock to unfold said bar from said base by one finger thereby securing and/or releasing said first and second shoulder strap, respectively.

By a chest clip is understood a clip for holding together a first shoulder strap and a 5 second shoulder strap to prevent a child from separating said first shoulder strap from said second shoulder strap beyond a distance towards an upper end of said first and second shoulder straps by said chest clip.

The chest clip as disclosed is thereby for securing and/or releasing said first and sec-10 ond shoulder strap, respectively.

Thereby a simple and easy to use chest clip is described. By simple and easy to use is understood that the chest clip can be engaged by one hand and released by one finger.

The chest clip further secures a child in an autochair by providing means that will pre-15 vent the child from separating two shoulder straps at their upper and bring the shoulder straps in disarray thereby lessening the security of the child in case of an accident.

Furthermore, the chest clip described can be disengaged by applying a force applied unidirectionally and hence disengaged by use of the force applied by a single finger.

20

Furthermore, the chest clip described is more easily retrofitted to an existing autochair.

Furthermore, the chest clip described comprises only a few structural elements that 25 can easily be assembled thereby reducing cost and time during manufacture.

According to an embodiment of the chest clip, the said lock is pivotally attached to the said base. In a particular embodiment the base has at least one axle preferably on an axle support. The lock has an axle grip for engagement with the axle thereby facilitat-30 ing a pivotal movement of the lock for engagement or disengagement-withAhe-hook on the bar.

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According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that said lock has a release member with a release area formed to receive the end of a finger, preferably the end of a thumb, which release area faces the pivot means of said base when said hook of said bar is engaged with said lock.

5

Thereby the lock of chest clip can be released by one finger by design and obvious use in the sense that the form of the release area invites even users unfamiliar with the chest clip to naturally apply a force to the release area.

10 According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the release member, when locked, is positioned in an essentially perpendicular angle to the longitudinal direction of the base thereby being positioned in an optimal angle to direct the release forces.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that said base has at 15 least one pair of marker overhang, where each marker overhang in the longitudinal direction of said base is spaced by at least the width of said first or second shoulder strap or multiples thereof.

Thereby the chest clip can be placed in a desired position with respect to the shoulder 20 straps.

Since the width of shoulder straps vary the distance between two markers can vary, but a distance of few centimetres is desirable.

25 Should the chest clip be used to clip other straps or straps with an overhang or some other structure, the markers can be formed to complement such overhang or structure.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that said base in the longitudinal direction of said base has at least one securing overhang and said bar has 30 at least one recess for receiving said least one securing overhang and/or in between said first or second shoulder strap.

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Thereby the bar and the base can sandwich the shoulder straps and form at least one kink in the shoulder strap thereby further securing the positioning of the chest clip to the shoulder straps.

5 A further implication is that the bend or kink will result in some flexibility in the sandwich thereby possibly eliminates the need for active spring members in the chest clip.

As a result the release member can be engaged and/or disengaged with minimized wear to the structural parts of the chest clip and in particular the hook and release 10 member.

In a preferred embodiment, the securing overhang is realized in base in the same material and is part of the form used during manufacturing of the base.

15 In an alternative embodiment, the securing overhang is made in a flexible material such as rubber thereby resulting in further flexibility in the sandwich structure as well as frictional forces to secure the position of the chest clip on the shoulder straps. In this embodiment the need for recesses may be eliminated in part or in full.

20 According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that at least one part of said chest clip has a surface that is in a contrast or strong colour, such as neon yellow, neon orange, neon green or alike, or said surface is luminous.

Thereby the chest clip is easily identifiable and can easily be located and in particular 25 when the presence of the chest clip is not known a priori to say a rescue worker during an emergency.

In a particular embodiment at least one structural element of the chest clip is luminous. Thereby the chest clip is visible and stands out even at dusk or dawn or when it 30 is dark.

In a particular embodiment the chest clip is made in a material which is phosphorescent, thereby naturally making the surface luminous.

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According to one embodiment the base and the bar is made in a contrast colour such as neon and the release member is made of or coated by a luminous material, which material can be phosphorescent. Thereby the presence of the chest clip is evident and the importance of the release member is even further highlighted.

5

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that said chest clip has an alarm, audio or visual, which alarm is activated by disengaging said least one lock or any other faulty usage of the chest clip.

In a preferred embodiment the alarm is embedded in the base along with a battery. An 10 on/off-switch is visibly located on the base. The alarm includes a circuitry that determines the states of the alarm.

When off the alarm is naturally silent at all times.

15 When on the alarm is activated when the lock is disengaged. This is done by having a simple contact between the release member and the hook. Other placements of the contact can easily be envisioned.

According to a further embodiment the alarm can be activated if the chest clip is 20 locked with the shoulder straps in a faulty or non-optimal location. This can be done by having a light emitter and a light sensor in the base and some reflective area on the bar. Thereby a simple indicator is provided, which indicator can trigger the alarm if the chest clip is misaligned during engagement or during usage. Thereby the driver of the vehicle is notified about a possible increased risk to the child.

25

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that said release member of said lock requires between 3 kg and 10 kg, and preferably about 5 kg, to disengage said lock from said hook.

30 Thereby a certain force is needed to forcibly disengage the lock. Depending on the age, size or strength of the child to be securely retained the lower bound of around 3 kg is a force that a child can not or only with skills and tools can apply.

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The upper bound is the maximum force that can be applied by an adult with some reduced strength caused by for example arthritis.

The lower and upper bounds are somehow approximate values and a force resulting 5 from a 5 kg weight is in the right ballpark.

In a preferred embodiment the hook has a hook overhang raised by a certain distance D from a neck of the hook.

This hook overhang, the distance D and the actual shape of the engage area on the 10 release member as well as the choice of the material of the parts may need some simple experimentation to establish a certain combination or ranges thereof to achieve the preferred 5 kg weight to forcibly disengage the release member from the hook.

Such experimentation is easily conducted and tests can be done by simply hanging 15 weights to the release area of the release member.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that said chest clip is made of a durable material such as plastic, metal, a composite, which said plastic is a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene or alike; which said metal is an alloy 20 including aluminium or alike; or which said composite includes carbon or alike.

By choosing materials or combinations of materials as mentioned, the chest clip will have the required strength to fulfil its purpose as well as fulfilling standard requirements required by standards and codes regarding accessories for vehicles.

25 A preferred material is polypropylene as it has the required properties and the structural elements of the chest clip can easily be mass produced.

According to an alternative embodiment of the chest clip, structural parts are made of 30 different materials..

In a preferred embodiment of the chest clip, all edges are rounded.

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The chest clip can be coated for increasing durability or to provide a special surface as described or envisioned.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that a spring member 5 is placed between said base and bar and preferably on said pivot means for pressing said bar’s second end away from said base.

Thereby the bar will have a natural position being flipped away from the base.

10 In an alternative embodiment, the spring member is a linear spring attached to the bar at one end and attached to the base at another end.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is distinctive in that said chest clip has attachment means for attaching said chest clip to said first or second shoulder 15 strap.

Thereby the chest clip is readily available for use.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means is a spiralled cord made of an elastic 20 material.

Description of the Drawing

One particular embodiment of the chest clip is disclosed in figures 1 to 7 and another particular embodiment of the chest clip is disclosed in figures 8 to 12, where: 25 figure 1 shows the chest clip open and ready to be engaged, figure 2 shows in line with figure 1 a feature of the chest clip’s lock, figure 3 shows in line with figure 1 a feature of the chest clip’s hook, figure 4 shows a chest clip engaged on two shoulder straps above the connection between the shoulder straps and the crotch strap.

30 10 DK 177126 B1 figure 5 shows a chest clip locked as when engaged on two shoulder straps, figure 6 shows a chest clip with two types of alarms indicating faulty usage of the chest clip, and 5 figure 7 shows the chest clip with connection means.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of a chest clip with a single base and double bars pivotally mounted in the centre and with locks at each end, 10 figure 9 shows in line with figure 8 an embodiment of the base of the chest clip, figure 10 shows in line with figure 8 and 9 an embodiment of one of the bars, 15 figure 11 shows in line with figure 8 a view of the double bared chest clip as when engaged on a pair of shoulder straps, and figure 12 shows in line with figure 8 and 11 a view of the double bared chest clips open and ready for engagement with a pair of shoulder straps.

20 Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure 1 shows a chest clip 1 with a base 2 and a bar 3. The base 2 has pivot means 4 whereto the bar 3 at a first end 5 is pivotally attached. At the other and second end 6 of the bar 3 there is a hook 7 formed for engagement with a lock 8 pivotally attached to the base 2.

25

The lock 8 has a release member 9 with a release area 10 that is formed to receive a pull from the end of a finger and most suitably the face of a thumb.

The base 2 has pairs of marker overhangs 11, 1F spaced in the longitudinal direction of the base 2 in multiples of the width of a safety belt such as a shoulder strap as will 30 be introduced later. As depicted marker overhangs 11 and 1Γ are spaced to cover a width marginally broader than two shoulder straps.

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In the shown embodiment of the chest clip 1 there are two pairs of maker overhangs 11,11’ such that the further guidance in the direction of perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the base 2 is provided thereby mitigating a possible tendency of the chest clip 1 to slide away from a desired position.

5

The base 2 has a securing overhang 12 extending at least partly in the longitudinal direction of the base 2. Complimentarily to the securing overhang 12 the bar 3 has a recess 13 for partly receiving the securing overhang 12. The recess 13 is placed in the bar 3 so that when the chest clip 1 is closed, that is the bar 3 is pivotally folded onto 10 the base 2, the securing overhang 12 will partly enter the recess 13 in such a way that a shoulder strap will be kinked around the securing overhang 12. Hence it is understood that there is sufficient space between the recess 13 and the securing overhang 12 to sandwich a shoulder strap.

15 In the shown embodiment of the chest clip 1 there is a pair of securing overhangs 12 and complementary recesses 13.

Furthermore, the chest clip 1 has a surface 14, which surface 14 is in a contrast colour such as neon or even luminous. Thereby the surface 14 and hence the chest clip 1 is 20 easily noticeable even at dusk or when it is dark.

In a particular embodiment the chest clip 1 is made in a material which is phosphorescent, thereby naturally making the surface 14 luminous.

25 Figure 2 shows part of the base 2 with the lock 8 and the release member 9 and the release area 10.

The base 2 has an axle support 15 with an axle 16 here formed as two cylindrically shaped pins for interaction with an axle grip 17 jointed to the release member 9 by an 30 arm 19. The arms 19 provide a space between the axle support 15 and an engage area 20 on the release member 9.

Hence the release member 9 is connectible to the base 2 for a pivotal movement about 12 DK 177126 B1 the axle 16 on the base 2 in such a way that the engage area 20 can engage and disengage to and from the hook 7.

Figure 3 shows part of the bar 3 with the hook 7, which is formed for interaction with 5 the release member 9 from figure 2 thereby forming the lock 8.

The hook 7 is offset from the bar 3 by a neck 21 and the hook 7 finishes the second end 6 of the bar 3 by a receiving area 22, which receiving area 22 is curved for receiving the engage area 20 of the lock 8 during an engagement 23.

10 Having received the release member 9 the hook 7 secures the engage area 20 by having a hook overhang 24 that rises in a height D from the neck 21. The height D is adjusted according to the thickness of the shoulder straps and the possible kink of the shoulder straps so that the release member 9 is held by the hook overhang 24 in a secure but releasable fashion.

15

In this particular embodiment the shoulder straps, the kink in the shoulder straps and the construction of the chest clip 1 will provide a spring-like sandwich structure which is slightly compressible so that by compressing the sandwich structure, the engage area 22 will be freed from the hook overhang 24 and thereby allowing the release 20 member 9 freely to be disengaged from the hook 7.

On the other hand, by applying a certain force to the release member 9 and in particular the release area 10 in a direction away from base 2, the release member 9 and here the engage area 20 will forcibly be disengaged from the hook 7 in particular from the 25 hook overhang 24.

Figure 4 shows the chest clip 1 in use securing a particular embodiment of a first shoulder strap 25 and a second shoulder strap 26 towards an upper end of the first and second shoulder straps 25, 26. In the shown embodiment, the first and second shoul-30 der straps 25, 26 are joinedjto a crotch strap 28 by-connection-means 29, which-con— nection means 29 comprises three connection members 30, 30’, 30'’. Thereby the first and second shoulder straps 25,26 form a V-shaped layout of the restraining straps.

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In the particular embodiment, the connection members 30’, 30” are placed at the end of the shoulder straps 25,26, but the connection members 30’, 30” could slideably be attached to the shoulder straps 25, 26 continued and re-entered into the actual autochair.

5

The release member 9 is engaged and the release area 10 is readily associable. There is a display area 31 for placing instructions relating to the use of the chest clip and in particular the release of the chest clip during emergency situations. The display area 31 is visible on the chest clip 1 as the display area 31 is located on the bar 3 on the 10 opposite side to the recess 13. To accommodate the display area 31, the bar 3 has a rectangular shaped and essentially flat area

Figure 5 shows a chest clip 1 where the bar 3 is engaged to the base 2 with the lock 8 closed. The release member 9 is seen flipped to engage the lock 8 and the release area 15 10 faces the pivot means 4. The release area 10 is seen to have shape for receiving the palm of a thumb for supplying a force away from the pivot means 4 to disengage the lock 8.

To release the lock 8 in a controlled manner, the bar 3 is at the second end 6 seen to 20 have a press area 32 suitable for placing a thumb whilst the release member 9 on the other side to the release area 10 has a lift area 33 suitable for placing the side of the index finger facing the thumb and thereby compressing the bar 3 and the base 2 to an extend where the release member freely can be pivoted of the hook 7 and the lock 8 thereby released.

25

In this particular embodiment there is a spacer 34 placed on the base 2 to provide a desired space between the base 2 and the bar 3.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the chest clip 1 with a loudspeaker 35 sounding an 30 alarm 35’.

Also shown is an embodiment of the chest clip 1 with a light emitting diode 36 flashing an alarm 36’.

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In this particular embodiment the alarm is turned on and alarms are sounded and flashed in combination indicating the faulty use due misplacing the chest clip on the shoulder straps 25, 26 and in this particular case due to the missing of the shoulder straps 25, 26.

5

Combinations of alarms and modes of alarms are easily implemented. Means to power the alarm includes a simple circuit with a battery and a switch powering and operating an alarm circuit.

10 Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the chest clip 1 where attachment means 37 are attached to the base 2 of the chest clip 1. In this embodiment the attachment means 37 is an elastic string placed in the vicinity of the pivot means 4 for easy handling and when hanging increasing the likelihood that the bar 3 will fold onto the base 2 due to gravitational forces.

15

Figures 8 to 12 shows a particular embodiment of a chest clip 1 with a single base 2 and double bars 3,3’.

The bars 3,3’ are pivotally mounted to pivot means 4,4’ mounted in the centre area of 20 the base 2. Each bar 3,3’ has a hook 7,7’ for engaging with pivotally mounted release members 9,9’ forming the locks 8,8’ at each end of the chest clip 1.

Figure 9 shows in line with figure 8 an embodiment of the base 2 of the chest clip 1.

The base 2 is formed with pivot means 4,4’ in the centre of the base 2. In this em-25 bodiment of the chest clip 1 the base 2 is with recesses 13,13’.

The axle support 15,15’ and the axles 16,16’ are located at each end of the base 2.

Figure 10 shows in line with figure 8 and 9 an embodiment of one of the bars 3. The 30 bar 3 is at the second end 6 shown with the hook 7 and the neck 21 as well as the hook’s 7 receiving area 22 and the hook’s 7 overhang 24. At the first end 5 there are pivot means 4.

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Figure 11 shows in line with figure 8 a view of the double bared 3.3' chest clip 1 as when engaged on a pair of shoulder straps. The double bared 3,3’ chest clip is shown with the locks 8,8’ at each end of the base 2 and how the release members 9,9’ engage with the hooks 7,7’ and secured by the hook overhangs 24,24’.

5

Figure 12 shows in line with figure 8 and 11 a view of the double bared 3,3’ chest clip 1 open and ready for engagement with a pair of shoulder straps. The bars 3,3’ are flipped up from the base 2 and the hooks 7,7’ with the hook overhang 24,24’ are noticed. On the base 2, the two release members 9,9’ are flipped down making it possi-10 ble for the bars 3,3’ with the hooks 7,7’ to be flipped down for further engagement.

Claims

Chest strap (1), characterized in that the chest strap (1) comprises a longitudinal base (2) with at least one pivot member (4), to which at least one rod (2) is pivotally secured at a first end (5) by said at least one rod (2) and said at least one rod (3) at another end (6) having a catch (7) for engaging at least one lock (8) attached to the base (2) for overlaying and locking the bar (3) to the base (2) and to release the lock (8) to unfold the bar (3) from the base (2).

Chest buckle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lock (8) has a release element 10 (9) with a release area (10) formed to receive the end of a finger, preferably the end of a thumb, which the release area (10) faces the pivot means (4) on the base (2) when the hook (7) of the rod (3) engages the lock (8).

Chest buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the base (2) has at least a pair of marker projections (11, 1Γ), wherein each marker projection (11, 1Γ) is longitudinally of the base (2). separated by at least the width of the first or second shoulder strap (25, 26) or multiple thereof.

Chest clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base (2) has at least one longitudinal protrusion (12) in its longitudinal direction and the rod (3) has at least one recess (13) for receiving the at least one securing protrusion (12) and / or between the first or second shoulder strap (25, 26).

Breast buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least a portion of the chest buckle (1) has a surface (14) which is in contrast or of a strong color, such as neon yellow, neon orange, neon yellow. or the like, or that the surface (14) is luminous.

Chest strap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the chest strap (1) 30 has an alarm (35, 36), audible (35 ') or visible (36'), which alarm (35, 36). ) is activated by opening the at least one lock (8) or any other misuse of the bracket clamp (1). 2 DK 177126 B1

Chest buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the release element (9) of the lock (8) requires between 3 kg and 10 kg, preferably about 5 kg, to release the lock (8) from the hook. (7).

Chest strap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the chest strap (1) is made of a durable material such as plastic, metal, composite; wherein the plastic is a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene or the like; wherein the metal is an alloy, including aluminum or the like; or wherein the composite comprises carbon or the like. 10

Chest clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a spring element is positioned between the base (2) and the rod (3) and preferably on the pivot member (4) to push the other end (6) of the rod (3) ) away from base (2).

Chest strap (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the chest strap (1) has fastening means (37) for attaching the chest strap (1) to the first or second shoulder strap (25, 26) or the like. 20