EP0143425B1 - Trapeze harnass for wind surfers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a harness for windsurfing with a hook attached to the shoulder straps and a chest strap via a holding device, which can be attached to both sides of the boom of a windsurfer with both ends or the like. The straps are connected to a padded, large back part are, the hook sits on the chest of the user with the trapezoidal belt on, the holding device is designed as a splint made of rigid material in a length corresponding approximately to the width of the chest of a user and the ends of the chest strap engage at the ends of the splint.

Trapezoidal belts of the basic genus have generally been known under the name "Hawaii trapeze" since about 1976 (cf. for example Windsurfing magazine SURF, July 1980, p. 46 ff).

Known trapeze belts usually consist of a canvas or the like, optionally padded back part with two brace-like shoulder straps, which are brought together with a chest strap to form a holding device, to which the hook for hanging on the boom or the rope attached is attached. For safety reasons, in known trapezoidal belts, at least the chest belt may have a quick release buckle in order to be released from the trapeze in the event of a fall. When the harness is on, the hook is at the lower end of the breastbone. It is also known to equip such trapezoidal belts on the back part with a small backpack in order to be able to take spare parts, money, car keys or the like with them.

The known trapezoidal belts of this basic design have the disadvantage that, especially in strong winds and long journeys, because the entire force has to be practically absorbed by the chest strap, which is connected to the flexible back part, the chest is constricted because of both Sides on the ribs are under considerable pressure. which makes the trapeze driving uncomfortable after a long time. This phenomenon is exacerbated especially by gusts and by the fact that the force applied to the hook is directed obliquely upwards with respect to the user.

In a construction of a trapezoidal belt, as was explained in more detail at the beginning, the chest is relieved in that the holding device is designed as an expansion rail made of a rigid material, the ends of the chest belt engaging at the ends of the expansion rail. Such a trapezoidal construction is described in DE-A-3140668 (= EP-A-0076890), a large plastic part being provided as an expansion rail, in the middle of which the hook is rigidly fastened by means of a base plate made of metal. The spreader bar counteracts the lateral compression of the rib cage by introducing the force applied to the hook virtually parallel to the sides of the rib cage and transferring it to the back part.

Although this construction achieves a considerable advantage in distributing the forces acting on the chest of a user, it has been found in driving practice that this known construction also has the disadvantage that the force is transmitted asymmetrically to the body . In all known trapezoidal belts, the hook is in fact attached approximately in the middle of the chest of a user. In the rarest of cases, however, a surfer stands with the front of his chest directly in front of the sail, but always strives to take up a slightly turned position. In this case, with the known construction, the wide spreader rail is extremely cumbersome, since the end relieved in this position tries to stand away from the body, while the end loaded relocates the entire harness belt relative to the body.

The invention has for its object to provide a trapezoidal belt of the type defined, softer regardless of the position taken by the user of the hook is in an optimal position and in particular the forces transmitted to the body are introduced symmetrically into the trapezoidal belt.

This object is essentially achieved in that the hook is guided on a tied relative to the spreader rail and is attached to the slidable slide component. It is obvious that this proposal according to the invention makes it possible for the user to turn in relation to the sail without the ends of the spreading rail being loaded differently.

In a preferred development according to the invention, a resetting device is provided, which ensures the central position of the slide component with respect to the length of the expansion rail. This development according to the invention is therefore advantageous in that after maneuvers or after unhooking in the meantime, the hook is always in the usual central position of the spreading rail.

In particular, it is advantageous to form the expansion rail from an upper and a lower guide track for the carriage movement.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the guideways are arched upwards in an arc shape, the highest point corresponding to the arc shape of the central position of the slide component. This special design of the guideways prevents the hook from being unhooked, ie from the trapezoidal rope. In addition, the plane of the hook runs straight in every position and it is ensured that in every position of the user a constant downward pull is exerted on the trapeze rope.

In particular, it is particularly advantageous to also bulge the guideways forward in an arc shape, the highest point of the arc shape also corresponding to the central position of the slide component. As a result, the game required for the unobstructed hook movement or unimpeded movement of the carriage is created between the body of the user and the slide component.

It is most expedient to form the guideways by pipe sections which simultaneously form the expansion rail.

In particular, it is particularly preferred to design the fastening points for the chest strap sections as vertically running, slot-shaped openings beyond the two opposite ends of the guideways, with the slit-shaped openings being particularly preferably offset upwards from the ends of the guideways. A particularly preferred development of this embodiment consists in that the upper ends of the slot-shaped openings lie approximately at the level of the uppermost point of the upper guideway. This configuration in the simplest way prevents the spreader rail from being able to perform tilting movements, particularly in the forward direction, when unloaded.

In alternative embodiments, it is also possible to design the guideways with different curvatures to the front in order to thereby generate particularly useful orientations of the hook for the different driving positions.

In a tried-and-tested practical embodiment, the slide component slidably takes out the lower guideway in a through hole and the upper guideway is received in a recess that runs parallel to the hole and is open on one side. This makes it possible in the construction described, in which the guideways simultaneously form the spreading rail, to fasten one or more fastening eyelets for shoulder belt sections to the upper guideway, which then lie in the path of movement of the recess of the slide component, i.e. H. not hinder its movement.

In a practical embodiment, the reset device is preferably designed as a rubber cord or the like, which holds the slide component in the central position.

In a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention, a fixing device for fixing the slide component in the middle position is additionally provided. This gives the user of a harness according to the invention the additional possibility of being able to use it like a conventional harness, which can be particularly advantageous for beginners. In particular, this embodiment can be further developed in that the locking device is formed by a slide which engages in a form-fitting manner between two stops.

Advantageously, the stops are formed by sections of the fastening eyes which are essentially perpendicular to the guide path, the distance between the fastening eyes corresponding to the width of the slide.

In particular, it is preferred that the slide is slidably mounted on a recess of the slide component. This makes it easy to fix the slide component by operating the slide.

A very particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention is characterized in that two stops corresponding to the stops on the upper guide track are provided on the lower guide track and in that the dimensions of the slide component are such that it points both with the hook upwards and downwards can be attached to the guideway. This achieves the advantage that, as corresponds to the personal taste of the user, the hook of the harness according to the present invention can be moved both open upwards and downwards by merely turning the slide component over. The different orientation neither hinders the function of the slide component nor the possibility of fixing it in the central position.

• Fig. 1 eine Vorderansicht der Spreizschiene mit dem darauf verschieblichen Schlitten bei dem Trapez nach vorliegender Erfindung in stark schematisierter Darstellung;
• Fig. 2 eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie 11-11 von Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 eine Fig. 1 entsprechende Frontansicht, welche jedoch lediglich die Spreizschiene ohne den Schlittenbauteil zeigt;
• Fig. 4 eine schematische Schnittansicht des Trapezes nach der Erfindung im angelegtem Zustand;
• Fig. 5 eine Fig. 4 entsprechende Ansicht einer abgewandelten Ausführungsform;
• Fig. 6 eine Fig. 3 ensprechende Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform.
• Fig. 7 eine Fig. 1 entsprechende Ansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform,
• Fig. 8 eine Schnittansicht der Ausführungsform gemäß Fig. 7 längs der Linie VIII-VIII in Figur 7.
• Fig. 9 eine Fig. 7 entsprechende Ansicht einer besonders bevorzugten Ausführungsform, und
• Fig. 10 eine Schnittansicht der Ausführungsform gem. Fig. 9 längs der Linie IX in Fig. 9.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It shows:

• Figure 1 is a front view of the spreader rail with the slidable slide on the trapeze according to the present invention in a highly schematic representation.
• Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;
• 3 shows a front view corresponding to FIG. 1, but which only shows the expansion rail without the slide component;
• Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the trapeze according to the invention in the applied state.
• FIG. 5 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 4 of a modified embodiment;
• FIG. 6 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of a further embodiment.
• 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of a preferred embodiment,
• 8 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7.
• 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 of a particularly preferred embodiment, and
• Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the embodiment according. 9 along the line IX in FIG. 9.

The embodiment of a trapezoidal belt 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 essentially consists of a back part 2, two shoulder straps 3, 4 and two chest belt sections 5, 6, which are sewn onto the back part 2 at corresponding points. For simplicity The associated buckles or similar locking elements for the belts 3 to 6 have not been shown.

As illustrated - cf. 4-, the chest belt sections 5, 6 are attached to both ends of a holding device designed as an expansion rail 7, while the shoulder belts 3, 4 are guided through eyelets 8, 9 on the upper edge of the expansion rail 7.

The back part 2 is also provided with a padding 10, which can also be designed as a buoyancy body.

In the following the construction of the expansion rail 7 together with the hook construction is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

As can be seen from the frontal view of the expansion rail 7 according to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment it consists of two superimposed guide tracks 11, 12, which in the exemplary embodiment are formed by, for example, 12 mm thick tubes made of stainless steel, so that the overall construction is designed as a welded construction can. The guideways 11, 12 thus simultaneously form the rigid construction element of the expansion rail. Alternatively, of course, embodiments are also possible in which, for example, the expansion rail is made of plastic and the guide tracks 11, 12 on the front of the expansion rail are designed differently.

As shown, the guideways 11, 12 are shaped upward parallel to one another, the highest point of the arch being in the middle of the longitudinal extension of the expansion rail 7. On the guideways 11, 12, a sled component 13, which carries the hook 14, is mounted in a fixed, guided manner in a transversely displaceable manner. In the embodiment, the slide component is integrally formed as a plastic part with the hook 14, so that good sliding properties on the guideways 11, 12 result.

2, the carriage part 13 is mounted on the guideways 11, 12 in that the lower guideway is guided through a bore 15 leading through the carriage component 13, while the upper guideway 11 runs in a parallel to the bore 15 , Upwardly open recess 16 is received. This ensures that the slide component 13 can slide freely past the eyelets 8, 9 welded to the upper guide track 11, which are connected to the shoulder straps 3, 4.

As can further be seen from FIG. 1, a restoring device, generally designated 17, is provided for the slide component 13, which, after displacement, always returns the slide component 13 to the central position at the highest point of the arc shape. In the exemplary embodiment, the resetting device 17 is designed as sections of rubber cables 18, 19 which are pretensioned with one end attached to the slide component 13 and with the other end in the region of the lateral ends of the expansion rail 7.

As can also be seen from FIG. 1, slot-shaped openings 20, 21 extending vertically beyond the two opposite ends of the guideways 11, 12 are provided for fastening the chest belt sections 5, 6 in the region of the two opposite ends of the guideways 11, 12, which are also formed in the exemplary embodiment by a tubular construction 'made of the same material as the guideways 11, 12. The arrangement is such that the slit-shaped openings 20, 21 are arranged offset upwards with respect to the ends of the guideways 11, 12, the upper ends of the slit-shaped openings 20, 21 being approximately at the level of the uppermost point of the curvature of the upper guideway 11 lie. This ensures a stable position of the expansion rail 7, which prevents any tilting movements.

As can also be seen from FIG. 4, the guideways 11, 12 are also arched forward in the form of an arc, the highest point of the arc shape likewise corresponding to the central position of the slide component. In the exemplary embodiment, this forward curvature is the same for both guideways 11, 12, so that a parallel construction is produced. However, embodiments are also possible in which different forward curvatures are used to optimize the position of the hook 14 in the different positions of the slide component 13.

In Fig. 4 de 24 is shown in cross section de a user's chest. As can be seen, the chest strap sections 5, 6 engage in the region of the lateral end sections 25, 26 of the spreading rail 7, so that the force p exerted by the harness cables 27 is transmitted over a large area to the back part 2 without constriction of the chest 24. It is obvious that the slide component 13 can assume any desired position with respect to the guideways 11, 12 without these optimal conditions being impaired by oblique pull.

The embodiment according to FIG. 5, which corresponds to FIG. 4 in its representation, differs from the embodiment described there only in that the end sections 25, 26 are angled forwards relative to the guide tracks 11, 12, which means stability and comfort the entire trapezoidal device can be advantageous. Otherwise, the same reference numerals have been used for the same parts.

Likewise, in FIG. 6, a representation corresponding essentially to FIG. 3 illustrates a further modification, which however differs from FIG. 3 only in the different design of the end sections 25, 26. In this embodiment, instead of the slot-shaped openings 20, 21 triangular openings 27, 28 for the Fastening of the rib cage sections 5, 6, which are bent in one piece from the lower guideway 12 and welded to the upper guideway 11.

In Figures 7 and 8, in which the same reference numerals have been used for the same or equivalent parts, so that reference can be made to the above description, a particularly preferred embodiment according to the invention is illustrated, which differs from the previously described embodiments by the essential feature distinguishes that a fixing device generally designated 29 is provided for fixing the slide component 13 in the central position.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the locking device 29 is formed by a slide 30 which engages in a form-fitting manner between two stops 31, 32.

As shown, in this embodiment the fastening eyes 8, 9 are arranged closer to one another symmetrically to the center line, so that the sections of the fastening eyes 8, 9 which are substantially perpendicular to the guide track 11 are at a distance from one another which essentially corresponds to the width of the slide 30 .

In the exemplary embodiment, the slide 30 is slidably mounted in a recess 33 in the slide component.

In the state schematically illustrated in FIG. 8, the slide 30 is in a position in which the slide component 13 is only impeded in its movement by the reset device 17.

To lock the slide component 13 in the central position, the slider 30 is pushed to the right by the above button 34 in the view of FIG. 8 and engages between the stops 31, 32 formed by the fastening eyes 8, 9 on the upper guideway 11. As a result, the carriage component 13 is locked, so that the trapeze can be used like a conventional trapeze, especially for beginners.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 also differs in that instead of the lower through bore 15 in the slide component, a recess 35, which runs parallel to the upper recess 16 and is open on one side downwards, is also provided, in which the lower guideway 12 slides.

Furthermore, the guideways 11, 12 in the exemplary embodiment are not curved upwards in addition to the curvature to the front. The upper guideway 11 is also held by two holders 36, 37 connected to the lower guideway 12, which can be made of plastic, for example. As a result, it is possible in a simple manner for assembly to insert the two guide tracks 11, 12 into the laterally open recesses 16 and 35, respectively. In Figures 7 and 10, in which the same reference numerals have been used for the same or equivalent parts, so that reference can be made to the above description, a very particularly preferred development is illustrated according to the invention, which shows that the slide component 13 each after the desired orientation of the hook 14 can be used in two different positions, the other function of the harness being retained.

For this purpose, as shown, two stops 38, 39 are also provided on the lower guideway 12, which correspond to the connections 31, 32 on the upper guideway 11. These additional stops 38, 39 make it possible to fix the slide component 13 in the central position by means of the locking device 29 when the slide component is used in the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in which the hook 14 points upwards.

The change of the orientation of the hook 14 depending on the personal taste of the user is possible in that the slide component 13 has two open recesses 16, 35 in which the guideways 11, 12 slide. As a result, in both orientations of the slide component, the movement is not hindered either by the stops 31, 32 or by the stops 38, 39, unless the locking device 29 is engaged.

It goes without saying that such a slide component 13, which has recesses 16, 35 open on both sides as guides, with or without a locking device 29 can also be used in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 6.

Claims (10)

1. Harness or trapeze belt (1) for windsurfing comprising a hook (14) which is secured to shoulder belts (3, 4) and a chest belt (5, 6) via a holding means which is adapted to be hooked into lines or the like secured on both sides to the wishbone boom of a windsurfer with both ends, wherein the belts being connected to a cushioned large-area back portion (2), the hook lying on the chest of a user when the trapeze belt is worn, the holding means being constructed as a spreader bar (7) of a stiff matarial in a length corresponding substantially to the chest width of a user with the ends of the chest belt engaging the ends of the spreader bar, characterised in that the hook (14) is secured to a carriage member (13) which is guided tied with respect to the spreader bar (7) and is transversely displaceable.

2. Harness according to claim 1, characterised in that a return means (17) is provided for the center position of the carriage member (13) with respect to the length of the spreader bar (7).

3. Harness according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the spreader bar (7) consists of an upper and lower guide track for the carriage movement.

4. Harness according to claim 3, characterised in that the guide tracks (11, 12) are arcuately curved upwardly, the highest part of the arc corresponding to the center position of the carriage member (13).

5. Harness according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide tracks (11, 12) are arched arcuately forwardly, the highest point of the arc corresponding to the center position of the carriage member (13).

6. Harness according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the securing points for the chest belt portions (5, 6) are formed a perpendicularly extending slot-like openings (20, 21) beyond the two opposing ends of the guide tracks (11, 12), in that the slot-like openings (20, 21) are upwardly offset with respect to the ends of the guide-tracks (11, 12) and in that the upper ends (22, 23) of the slot-like openings (20, 21) lie substantially at the level of the uppermost point of the upper guide track (11).

7. Harness according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the carriage member (13) slidingly accommodates the lower guide track (12) in a through bore (15) and the upper guide track (11) is accommodated in a recess (16) open on the one side and extending parallel to the bore (15) and in that one or more securing eyes (8, 9) for the shoulder belt portions (3, 4) are secured to the upper guide track (11) in such a manner that they lie in the path of movement of the recess (16) of the carriage member (13).

8. Harness according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the return means (17) is constructed as a rubber band (18, 19) or the like which holds the carriage member in the center position, in that a locking means (29) is provided for locking the carriage member (13) in the center position and in that the locking means (29) is formed by a slide (30) which engages positively between two stops (31, 32).

9. Harness according to claim 8, characterised in that the stops (31, 32) are formed by portions of the securing eyes (8, 9) standing substantially perpendicularly with respect to the guide track (11), the spacing of the securing eyes (8, 9) corresponding to the width of the slide (30).

10. Harness according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that at the lower guide track (12) two stops (38, 39) corresponding to the stops (31, 32) at the upper guide track (11) are provided and that the dimensions of the carriage member (13) are such that the latter can be secured both with the hook (14) upwards and with the hook downwards on the guide tracks (11, 12).

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