GB2123677A - Safety harness - Google Patents

Abstract

A child's safety harness for a swimming ring (13), comprises a belt (11) to be located around the waist of the child and secured by use of a childproof clasp or buckle (12). The belt (11) is attached to the ring (13) by connecting means in the form of two straps (15) looped therearound at substantially opposite locations on said ring (13). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A child's harness This invention relates to a harness for a child and is for use with a buoyancy aid or device when the child is in water.

A problem exists with children in using buoyancy aids. While there are numerous buoyancy aids on the market most children prefer to use a ring which fits comfortably about the body below the armpits and is of the type hereinafter described. The ring may be either an inflatable ring, or a ring of buoyant material, or a ring formed from a combination of both the former and latter, i.e. having a buoyant material portion and an inflatable portion. The reason for the preference is that rings are not so restrictive as for example inflatable wings which are tightly compressing around the arms when inflated.The practical problem is that the rings used by the children in most instances have too large a diameter of aperture for their body sizes and therefore the rings have to be manually held up when the children are standing whether in or out of the water: a restriction which children do not like. Also, if a child jumps into water in a pool or, for example a public swimming pool, it is possible that the ring may slip off from around the child.

This is dangerous to the child's safety.

An object of the present invention is to provide a safety harness for a ring of the type stated and thereby overcome the above problem.

According to the present invention, I provide for use with a ring of the type stated, a child's safety harness comprising a belt, means to secure said belt around the waist of a child, and means for connecting said belt to said ring.

Preferably, the securing means is a two part child-proof clasp or buckle, one part secured to each end of the belt. The belt may be lengthadjustable.

Preferably also, the connecting means comprises two straps or ties secured or securable to the belt at locations thereon to be diametricallyopposed when the belt is in use, and attachable or attached to the ring at diametrically-opposed locations thereon.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a diagrammatic perspective view of a child's safety harness according to the present invention, attached to a ring of the type stated shown in broken line.

The harness 10 comprises a length-adjustable belt 11 and means for securing the belt 11 around the waist of a child, said means being a two-part child-proof clasp or buckle 12, i.e. a clasp or buckle which is different for a child to readily release or undo. One part of the clasp or buckle 12 is secured to each end of the belt 11. Connecting means are provided to connect the belt to a ring 1 3 of the type stated. The means comprises two anchorages 14, one for each of two straps or ties 15, the anchorages being provided at locations on the belt 11 to be diametrically opposed or substantially diametrically-opposed when the belt is in use.The straps or ties 1 5 are attached to the ring 1 3 at diametrically-opposed or substantially diametrically-opposed locations thereon in the illustrated drawing simply by being looped around the ring 13 For use; a harness 10 above-described is fitted to a child by ldcating and securing the belt 11 around its waist and then locating the ring 1 3 over the child and securing it to the harness by use of the straps or ties 1 5.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, there are numerous modifications that can be made regarding the construction of the belt and its length-adjustability, the type of clasp or buckle to be used, and the method of securing the belt of the ring. The harness may be supplied separately from the ring, as an accessory or a ring may be supplied already fitted with a harness.

1. For use with a ring of the type stated, a child's safety harness comprising a belt, means to secure said belt around the waist of a child, and means for connecting said belt to said ring.

2. Harness as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the securing means is a two part child-proof clasp or buckle, one part secured to each end of the belt.

3. Harness as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the belt is length-adjustable.

4. Harness as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the connecting means comprises two straps or ties secured or securable to the belt at locations thereon to be diametrically-opposed when the belt is in use, and attachable or attached to the ring at diametrically-opposed locations thereon.

5. A child's safety harness substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A child's harness This invention relates to a harness for a child and is for use with a buoyancy aid or device when the child is in water. A problem exists with children in using buoyancy aids. While there are numerous buoyancy aids on the market most children prefer to use a ring which fits comfortably about the body below the armpits and is of the type hereinafter described. The ring may be either an inflatable ring, or a ring of buoyant material, or a ring formed from a combination of both the former and latter, i.e. having a buoyant material portion and an inflatable portion. The reason for the preference is that rings are not so restrictive as for example inflatable wings which are tightly compressing around the arms when inflated.The practical problem is that the rings used by the children in most instances have too large a diameter of aperture for their body sizes and therefore the rings have to be manually held up when the children are standing whether in or out of the water: a restriction which children do not like. Also, if a child jumps into water in a pool or, for example a public swimming pool, it is possible that the ring may slip off from around the child. This is dangerous to the child's safety. An object of the present invention is to provide a safety harness for a ring of the type stated and thereby overcome the above problem. According to the present invention, I provide for use with a ring of the type stated, a child's safety harness comprising a belt, means to secure said belt around the waist of a child, and means for connecting said belt to said ring. Preferably, the securing means is a two part child-proof clasp or buckle, one part secured to each end of the belt. The belt may be lengthadjustable. Preferably also, the connecting means comprises two straps or ties secured or securable to the belt at locations thereon to be diametricallyopposed when the belt is in use, and attachable or attached to the ring at diametrically-opposed locations thereon. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a diagrammatic perspective view of a child's safety harness according to the present invention, attached to a ring of the type stated shown in broken line. The harness 10 comprises a length-adjustable belt 11 and means for securing the belt 11 around the waist of a child, said means being a two-part child-proof clasp or buckle 12, i.e. a clasp or buckle which is different for a child to readily release or undo. One part of the clasp or buckle 12 is secured to each end of the belt 11. Connecting means are provided to connect the belt to a ring 1 3 of the type stated. The means comprises two anchorages 14, one for each of two straps or ties 15, the anchorages being provided at locations on the belt 11 to be diametrically opposed or substantially diametrically-opposed when the belt is in use.The straps or ties 1 5 are attached to the ring 1 3 at diametrically-opposed or substantially diametrically-opposed locations thereon in the illustrated drawing simply by being looped around the ring 13 For use; a harness 10 above-described is fitted to a child by ldcating and securing the belt 11 around its waist and then locating the ring 1 3 over the child and securing it to the harness by use of the straps or ties 1 5. Without departing from the scope of the invention, there are numerous modifications that can be made regarding the construction of the belt and its length-adjustability, the type of clasp or buckle to be used, and the method of securing the belt of the ring. The harness may be supplied separately from the ring, as an accessory or a ring may be supplied already fitted with a harness. CLAIMS

1. For use with a ring of the type stated, a child's safety harness comprising a belt, means to secure said belt around the waist of a child, and means for connecting said belt to said ring.

2. Harness as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the securing means is a two part child-proof clasp or buckle, one part secured to each end of the belt.

3. Harness as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the belt is length-adjustable.

4. Harness as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the connecting means comprises two straps or ties secured or securable to the belt at locations thereon to be diametrically-opposed when the belt is in use, and attachable or attached to the ring at diametrically-opposed locations thereon.

5. A child's safety harness substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.