GB1590172A - Harness for holding a person on a chair - Google Patents

Description

(54) A HARNESS FOR HOLDING A PERSON ON A CHAIR (71) I, ALMA CARPENTER of 14, St.

Edeyrn's Road, Cyncoed, Cardiff, Glamorgan, a British Subject, do hereby declare the invention, which was communicated from SUZANNE WRIGHT, CASA WRIGHT, Paraisode-los-Pines, Playa Mjorm, Formentera, Baleares, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a harness for holding a young child or other person on a chair or seat with a back. The invention may also be applicable to a harness for holding an infirm adult person, or indeed a person of any age, on a seat and is to be understood to embrace all such possibilities.

Broadly stated, the invention consists in a harness for holding a young child, or other person, on a chair or seat with a back, comprising an anchorage or attachment of flexible sheet material arranged in use to extend over and also around the side edges of the back of the chair or seat, a flexible crutch strap connected to the anchorage or attachment to extend forwards between the legs of the user, and one or more belts, straps or other parts connected or connectable to the crutch strap and designed to fit round the user's waist or body and to hold the user in position on the seat or chair.

Conveniently, the anchorage or attachment is in the form of one or more pockets or pouches and preferably the harness includes one or more belt or strap sections attached or attachable to the front of the crutch strap and designed to engage around the back of the chair or seat.

The invention may be performed in various ways and some embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a fabric harness according to the invention, laid out flat, Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the harness in position on a chair before the child has been put in place, Figure 3 is a side view illustrating the child in position on a chair with the harness fastened, Figure 4 is a view of an alternative top anchorage.

Figure 5 is a plan view of another modification showing the harness laid out flat, Figure 6 is a perspective view of another modification, and Figures 7, 8 and 9 are rear views of three different types of adjustable pocket.

In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the harness is formed of any suitable fabric material or, if preferred, of a flexible synthetic plastics material, which has the advantage of being readily washable. The harness is folded back at its top end to form a pouch or pocket 10 to provide an anchorage which can be placed over the back of an upright chair or seat. The sides of the pouch are joined and the dimensions are such that the inverted pouch will fit the backs of most domestic seats or chairs. Integrally formed with this anchorage pouch is a connecting dorsal part 11 intended to lie behind the back of the child when in use and leading to a narrower crutch strap 12 intended to be passed forwards between the child's legs, when in position on a chair. This crutch strap extends to a panel 13 having straps or belts 14 constituting wings extending laterally.

These may be simple fabric straps without buckles, intended to be knotted or tied together behind the back of the chair after the child has been put in place. Alternatively, adjustable straps with clips, buckles, pressstud fastenings or other connections may be adopted. By these means the effective length of the straps 14 can be adjusted so as to hold the child firmly in place against the back of the chair.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4 the anchorage pouch 10 of Figure 1 is replaced by a pair of triangular corner pockets 20 connected at their upper ends by an adjustable strap 21 to allow the harness to be fitted to chairs of different widths, and likewise connected to the dorsal part 11 which serves the same function as in the previous example.

In the further modification illustrated in Figure 5, the harness is basically similar to that of Figure 1, but instead of a pair of straps 14 extending from the end of the crutch strap 11, 12 this example includes a pair of straps 22 connected to the main back portion of the harness and each having an eyelet 24 or similar fastening to co-operate with a toggle, swivel or other fastening 23 provided on the central crutch strap. In this example the straps 22 may extend forwards from points close to the upper anchorage pocket so as to hold the child's body close against the back of the chair.

In another possible modification the harness may be provided with two straps which are led up over the child's shoulders to hold it upright in the chair, and are then crossed behind the chair, passed through rings at the side edges of the harness and tied together, thus firmly holding the infant in the chair.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 6 the harness is similar to that of Figure 1 but is provided with an additional bib 50 with two ties 51. The outer surface of the bib (or indeed the whole harness) may be formed of a washable material such as synthetics plastics. If desired, a semi-rigid collecting channel 52 may be fitted to the bib to catch food droppings. The bib may be removably attached to the rest of the harness, for example by press-stud fastenings.

The harness may also be provided with means for adjustment to suit different sizes of chair. In one possible modification shown in Figure 7, the pocket 10 at the back of the harness is fitted with a drawstring 34 seamed into the lower edge 35 of the pocket so that it can be drawn taught around the chair back.

In another modification (not illustrated) the lower edge of the pocket at the back may also be fitted with rings or eyelets to receive straps which can be tightened to hold the pocket in place.

Figure 8 illustrates a variation in which a pair of self-adhering Velcro (R.T.M.) strips 36 are attached to the lower edge of the pocket and permit adjustment of the pocket 10.

Figure 9 illustrates another version in which the pocket at the back of the harness is designed to fit, if necessary, over chair backs which are wider or thicker or heavily upholstered. In this case the pouch or pocket formed by the down-turned part illustrated at 40 is fully or partly open at each end as indicated at 41. Each corner part of the chair back can thus protrude through each slit. To prevent the pocket moving too freely, there may be a pouch or strap 42 partly closing the slit, provided with an elastic band or a drawstring. In addition, the drawstring 43 at the lower edge of the pouch extends across the slit or gap at each end and is attached to the front part of the harness at 45 with the two ends knotted at 46.

In all these embodiments it will be seen that the harness, when in use, provides an anchorage pouch to fit over the back of a chair or seat, combined with another pouch in which the child can sit, with two lower leg openings and a central upper body opening.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A harness for holding a young child, or other person, on a chair or seat with a back, comprising an anchorage or attachment of flexible sheet material arranged in use to extend over and also around the side edges of the back of the chair or seat, a flexible crutch strap connected to the anchorage or attachment to extend forwards between the legs of the user, and one or more belts, straps or other parts connected or connectable to the crutch strap and designed to fit round the user's waist or body and to hold the user in position on the seat or chair.

2. A harness according to claim 1, in which the anchorage or attachment is in the form of one or more pockets or pouches.

3. A harness according to claim 1, or claim 2, including a dorsal part of flexible material, connecting the crutch strap to the anchorage and in which the crutch strap is narrower than the dorsal part, to fit between the legs of the user.

4. A harness according to any of claims 1 to 3, including one or more belt or strap sections attached or attachable to the front of the crutch strap and designed to engage around the back of the chair or seat.

5. A harness according to any of the preceding claims, in which the anchorage and the crutch strap are formed from a unitary piece of sheet material.

6. A harness according to any of the preceding claims, including a bib attached or attachable to the upper edge of the front part of the crutch strap.

7. A harness according to any of the preceding claims, including means for adjusting the effective length of the parts designed to fit around the user's body or waist.

8. A harness according to any of the preceding claims, formed from a sheet of flexible material, which is folded rearwards at the upper end to form a pocket, and provided with means for connecting together the edges of the pocket to provide an anchorage pouch to fit over the back of the chair or seat, and at its other end is formed with a central dorsal spine part and lateral wings, which in use provide a pouch in which the child can sit, with two lower leg openings and a central upper body opening.

9. A harness substantially in any of the forms described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. straps 14 extending from the end of the crutch strap 11, 12 this example includes a pair of straps 22 connected to the main back portion of the harness and each having an eyelet 24 or similar fastening to co-operate with a toggle, swivel or other fastening 23 provided on the central crutch strap. In this example the straps 22 may extend forwards from points close to the upper anchorage pocket so as to hold the child's body close against the back of the chair. In another possible modification the harness may be provided with two straps which are led up over the child's shoulders to hold it upright in the chair, and are then crossed behind the chair, passed through rings at the side edges of the harness and tied together, thus firmly holding the infant in the chair. In the modification illustrated in Figure 6 the harness is similar to that of Figure 1 but is provided with an additional bib 50 with two ties 51. The outer surface of the bib (or indeed the whole harness) may be formed of a washable material such as synthetics plastics. If desired, a semi-rigid collecting channel 52 may be fitted to the bib to catch food droppings. The bib may be removably attached to the rest of the harness, for example by press-stud fastenings. The harness may also be provided with means for adjustment to suit different sizes of chair. In one possible modification shown in Figure 7, the pocket 10 at the back of the harness is fitted with a drawstring 34 seamed into the lower edge 35 of the pocket so that it can be drawn taught around the chair back. In another modification (not illustrated) the lower edge of the pocket at the back may also be fitted with rings or eyelets to receive straps which can be tightened to hold the pocket in place. Figure 8 illustrates a variation in which a pair of self-adhering Velcro (R.T.M.) strips 36 are attached to the lower edge of the pocket and permit adjustment of the pocket 10. Figure 9 illustrates another version in which the pocket at the back of the harness is designed to fit, if necessary, over chair backs which are wider or thicker or heavily upholstered. In this case the pouch or pocket formed by the down-turned part illustrated at 40 is fully or partly open at each end as indicated at 41. Each corner part of the chair back can thus protrude through each slit. To prevent the pocket moving too freely, there may be a pouch or strap 42 partly closing the slit, provided with an elastic band or a drawstring. In addition, the drawstring 43 at the lower edge of the pouch extends across the slit or gap at each end and is attached to the front part of the harness at 45 with the two ends knotted at 46. In all these embodiments it will be seen that the harness, when in use, provides an anchorage pouch to fit over the back of a chair or seat, combined with another pouch in which the child can sit, with two lower leg openings and a central upper body opening. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A harness for holding a young child, or other person, on a chair or seat with a back, comprising an anchorage or attachment of flexible sheet material arranged in use to extend over and also around the side edges of the back of the chair or seat, a flexible crutch strap connected to the anchorage or attachment to extend forwards between the legs of the user, and one or more belts, straps or other parts connected or connectable to the crutch strap and designed to fit round the user's waist or body and to hold the user in position on the seat or chair.

2. A harness according to claim 1, in which the anchorage or attachment is in the form of one or more pockets or pouches.

3. A harness according to claim 1, or claim 2, including a dorsal part of flexible material, connecting the crutch strap to the anchorage and in which the crutch strap is narrower than the dorsal part, to fit between the legs of the user.

4. A harness according to any of claims 1 to 3, including one or more belt or strap sections attached or attachable to the front of the crutch strap and designed to engage around the back of the chair or seat.

5. A harness according to any of the preceding claims, in which the anchorage and the crutch strap are formed from a unitary piece of sheet material.

6. A harness according to any of the preceding claims, including a bib attached or attachable to the upper edge of the front part of the crutch strap.

7. A harness according to any of the preceding claims, including means for adjusting the effective length of the parts designed to fit around the user's body or waist.

8. A harness according to any of the preceding claims, formed from a sheet of flexible material, which is folded rearwards at the upper end to form a pocket, and provided with means for connecting together the edges of the pocket to provide an anchorage pouch to fit over the back of the chair or seat, and at its other end is formed with a central dorsal spine part and lateral wings, which in use provide a pouch in which the child can sit, with two lower leg openings and a central upper body opening.

9. A harness substantially in any of the forms described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.