GB2429900A

GB2429900A - Human harness for towing a trailing load

Info

Publication number: GB2429900A
Application number: GB0522166A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jon Robinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-13
Filing date: 2005-10-31
Publication date: 2007-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-31
Also published as: GB0522166D0; GB0518599D0; GB2429900B

Abstract

A human body harness for towing a trailing load comprises a belt means 2, in which the belt means 2 is provided with connection means 3 at a rear portion thereof adapted to connect in use to the trailing load. The connection means 3 may comprise a hook 4, which hook 4 is arranged with its opening 6 uppermost. The belt 2 means may comprise first and second flexible sections 10, 12 and a substantially rigid central section 11. The central section 11 may be provided with a plurality of abutments (14) on a front portion (13) thereof. The connection 3 means may be provided with articulation means which may comprise a ball joint which may be a ball and socket. A trailing load with towing apparatus comprising a human body harness comprising belt means 2 as described above is also described. The trailing load may be a wheeled golf trolley.

Description

Human Harness for Towing a Trailing Load This invention relates to a human

harness for towing a trailing load, for use particularly, but not exclusively, to tow a wheeled golf trolley.

Golf trolleys come in various guises, however this invention relates to those which can be pulled by hand. Such trolleys generally comprise a two or three wheeled chassis with a load bay to carry a golf bag with a set of clubs. Generally these trolleys are adapted to be pulled or pushed by means of a handle, which is at about waist height when the trolley is to be moved. If the trolley is of the type which moves on three or four wheels the handle is always at that height, but if the trolley is of the type which balances on two wheels when it is moved, the handle can be arranged to be at that height when the trolley is so balanced. The handle is arranged to be at about this height to make it easy and convenient to pull or push the trolley.

The action of swinging a golf club requires considerable skill and physical fitness. Over the course of a game of golf a player may make many strikes of the ball, and as a result they may grow tired, or pick up aches and strains. Such a deterioration in physical condition can have a marked effect on a player's performance, in particular if it relates to their upper body or arms. However, the act of pulling or pushing a heavy golf trolley with one's hands puts a considerable strain on a golfer's upper body. Whilst they will not usually pick up an injury from doing this, it is tiring and adds to the general punishment a player's upper body receives during the course of a game.

The present invention is intended to overcome some of the above problems.

Therefore, according to a first aspect of the present invention a human body harness for towing a trailing load comprises a belt means, in which the belt means is provided with connection means at a rear portion thereof adapted to connect in use to a trailing load.

With this arrangement a golf trolley can be pulled along without the use of the arms or upper body.

The connection means can comprise any known means which can connect the belt means to a trailing load, for example a rigid rod or bar, or a flexible cable or cord.

Preferably the connection means can be adapted to allow relative movement between the belt means and the trailing load. (This could be achieved by having a connection means which is inherently flexible, for example if it were a cord or cable.

In such a case the relative movement would be inherent.) However, in a preferred embodiment the connection means can comprise a hook, which can be arranged with its opening uppermost.

Most golf trolleys are provided with a handle which extends horizontally. Thus, with the hook arranged with its opening uppermost, such a handle can be placed into the hook to connect the handle and hook together. It will be appreciated that this arrangement allows relative movement between the belt means and the trailing load in at least the vertical plane.

The hook means can be provided with closure means adapted to close its opening. This feature allows the hook and handle to be more securely fixed together.

The hook means and the closure means can comprise a single component formed from a resilient material, and the closure means can be moved upwards to allow access to the inside of the hook.

In one arrangement of the invention the belt means can be adapted to be fitted around a user's torso, and can comprise a first flexible section, a substantially rigid central section, and a second flexible section. The sections can be so arranged that when the belt is donned in use the central section is disposed adjacent a user's lower back.

The connection means can extend from a rear portion of the central section.

Further, the central section can be provided with a plurality of abutments on a front portion thereof, which make it more comfortable to wear.

Preferably the central section can be constructed from a plastics material, and the first and second flexible sections can be formed from a fabric. The flexible sections can be attached to the central section with buckles. The flexible sections can be fastened together around the user with any known buckle or hook and loop fastener.

In an alternative arrangement to that described above, the connection means can be a body provided with a clamp arrangement or similar at a distal end thereof, which is adapted to clamp to the handle of a trailing load.

The body of the connection means can be provided with articulation means adapted to allow relative movement between the belt means and the trailing load.

The connection means can comprise rigid components, and the articulation means can be a joint which provides a "universal" movement, which is to say articulation in both the horizontal and the vertical plane. In one construction the articulation means can comprise a ball joint.

The ball joint can comprise a ball and a socket, which can be released from one another. With this arrangement the connection means can comprise a first part which extends from the belt means and ends at the ball, and a second part with the socket at one end, and the clamp arrangement at the other, for mounting to the trailing load.

The socket can be provided with a locking mechanism to lock it in position over the ball.

In an alternative to the belt means described above, the belt means can comprise a belt adapted to be fitted around the torso, adjacent lower back, and it can be provided with an enlarged portion at a rear portion thereof, adapted to support a user's lower back in use. Such a belt is similar to known weight lifting belts, which are used to support a weight lifter's lower back when lifting heavy weights.

The belt can be constructed from any suitable known material, for example leather or a tough fabric. It can be fastened with a buckle or with a hook and loop fastener.

The invention also includes the above described human body harness in combination with a trailing load.

Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention a trailing load is provided with towing apparatus comprising a human body harness comprising a belt means, in which the belt means is provided with connection means at a rear portion thereof, and in which the connection means is connected to the trailing load.

The connection means can be non-releasably fixed to the trailing load. In other words the towing apparatus can be a permanent component part of the trailing load.

However, preferably the connection means can be releasably fixed to the trailing load, and the harness can be in any of the forms described above.

The term "trailing load" is used herein to define any load which contacts the ground and "trails" behind the user. In other words, it is intended to define a load which is self-supporting, but which must be towed. Such a load could be a sled, or any wheeled chassis.

However, in a preferred construction the trailing load can comprise a wheeled golf trolley.

The invention can be performed in various ways, but tw embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the rear of a human body harness according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front of the harness as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the harness as shown in Figure 1 in use; Figure 4 is a side view of a second human body harness according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 5 is a top view of the harness as shown in Figure 4; and, Figure 6 is a side view of a the human body harness as shown in Figure 1 in use.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a human body harness for towing a trailing load 1 comprises belt means 2, which is provided with connection means 3 in the form of hook 4, at a rear portion 5 thereof, adapted to connect in use to a trailing load, which is not shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As is clear from Figure 1, the hook 4 is arranged with its opening 6 uppermost.

A closure means in the form of extension 7 overlies the opening 6. The hook 4 and the extension 7 are constructed from a resilient plastics material such that the extension 7 can pulled upwards to allow the handle of a golf trolley to be placed inside the hook 4, as described below.

The hook 4 has a base section 8, which is provided with a shaped recess 9, in which the extension 7 rests when the hook 4 is not being lifted, as in Figure 1.

The belt means 2 comprises a first flexible section 10, a substantially rigid central section 11, and a second flexible section 12. As is clear from Figure 1, the sections are arranged such that when the belt 2 is donned in use the central section 11 is disposed adjacent a user's lower back.

As is also clear from Figure 1, the connection means 3 extends from a rear portion of the central section 11. The central section 11, and the connection means 3 are formed from a single piece of moulded plastics material.

As is shown in Figure 2, a front portion 13 of the central section 11 is provided with a plurality of rounded abutments 14, which make it more comfortable to wear.

The first 10 and second 12 flexible sections are formed from a fabric, and they are attached to the central section 11 by means of buckles 15 mounted in the ends of the central section 11. The flexible sections 10 and 12 are fastened together around the user with a hook and loop fastener (not shown in the Figures).

Figure 3 shows the harness 1 in use with a golf trolley 16. The golf trolley 16 has a handle 17 which extends horizontally. (It is basically Lshapecl and the laterally extending part is not visible in Figure 3 as it is obscured by the forwardly extending part.) The golf trolley 16 is of the type which is lifted forward onto two main wheels 18 for transport, and the handle 17 is generally level with the ground when the trolley 16 is arranged thus.

To use the harness 1, the user dons the belt means 2 by wrapping it around their torso, adjacent their lower back, such that the connection means 3 faces rearwards. The belt means 2 is fastened around the user by employing the hook and loop fastener provided on the two flexible sections 10 and 12.

The harness 1 and the trolley 16 are then attached together. The trolley 16 is lifted onto its two main wheels 18, as shown in Figure 3, and the connection means 3 is arranged underneath, and rearward of the handle 17. The extension 7 is lifted upwards, and the handle 17 is placed inside the hook 4, by moving the components together. The extension 7 is released, and it returns to its neutral position, thereby closing the hook 4, and securing the handle 17 in place. (In the example shown the handle 17 is of a small enough diameter to fit neatly inside the hook 4. However, it will be appreciated that it is possible to fit handles of any diameter which can fit between the extension 7 and the base 8 of the hook 4 when the extension 7 is lifted upwards as described above. Due to the resilient nature of the hook 4 and the extension 7, this allows handles of a larger diameter than shown to be connected to the harness 7.) Once the harness 1 and the trolley 16 are connected together, the user can conveniently tow the trolley 16 simply by walking along.

The rigid central section 11 is so shaped as to spread the load across a large area of the user's lower back in order to prevent or alleviate any strain. In addition, the rounded abutments 14 ensure a comfortable fit.

Further, the hook 4 provides for relative movement between the harness 1 and the trolley 16 in the vertical plane which allows the trolley 16 to be towed conveniently over the uneven surface of a golf course. In addition to this, it will be appreciated that the connection means 3 is positioned so as to engage with the trolley 16 when it is balanced on its two wheels 18, by virtue of the fact that the belt means 2 is worn around the lower torso. Thus, the trolley 16 does not apply any undue vertical upward or downward forces on the connection means 3 in use.

When the user needs to play a stroke, they can disengage themselves from the trolley 16 in one of two ways. They can either disengage the handle 17 from the hook 4 by lifting the extension 7 in a reverse of the procedure described above, or the user can remove the belt means 2, and allow it to hang from the handle 17.

It will be appreciated that the harness 1 can be attached to any trailing load with a horizontally extending handle. In particular, it can be attached to other types of golf trolley, including those which sit on three wheels all of the time and which do not tilt forward.

The invention also includes as its second aspect, a trailing load provided with towing apparatus comprising a human body harness, and such a trailing load is shown in Figure 3.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative human body harness for towing a trailing load to that described above. Harness 40 is a performance of the invention which differs from harness 1 in a number of key ways. In particular, as described below, the connection means allows relative movement between the harness and the load in both the horizontal and the vertical plane. However, the connection means is more complex.

As shown in Figure 4, harness 40 comprises a belt means, in the form of lower back belt 41, which is provided with connection means 42, at a rear portion 43 thereof, adapted to connect in use to a trailing load.

In Figures 4 and 5 the belt 41 is shown unfastened, but arranged to form a U- shape. The belt 41 has an enlarged portion 44 at the rear portion 43, which is adapted to support a user's lower back in use. Belt 41 is constructed from a toughened fabric, and is fastened in use by means of a hook and loop fastener. One part of the hook and loop fastener 45 is visible in Figure 1, on the outside of one end 46 of the belt 41, and the corresponding part is provided on the inside of the opposite end 47, although it is not visible in the Figures. Therefore, to fasten the belt the ends 46 and 47 are brought together, and end 47 is wrapped over end 46 so the parts of the hook and loop fastener are connected together.

The connection means 42 comprises a clamp 48 adapted to clamp onto the handle of a trailing load, which in this case is a golf trolley. The clamp 48 is intended for use with golf trolleys provided with a laterally extending handle. The clamp 48 comprises upper jaw 49, lower jaw 50 adjustably connected thereto, and bolt 51 which draws them together.

The connection means 42 is also provided with articulation means in the form or ball joint 52, which comprises ball 53, inside socket 54. The ball joint 52 provides a "universal" type movement in that it can hinge in both the horizontal and the vertical plane. (The ball 53 and socket 54 are shown in hashed lines as they are not visible from the side view.) The ball 53 and socket 54 can be released from one another. Thus, the connection means 42 comprises a first part 55 which extends from the belt 41, and a second part 56 which connects to the trailing load.

The ball 53 and socket 54 are held together by means of a spring loaded locking mechanism which is not shown in detail in the Figures because it is well known. Two opposed locking bodies are biased into positions which hold the ball 53 inside the socket 54 from underneath. The locking bodies can be pushed out of those positions to release the ball 53 by pushing buttons 57 and 58 provided on the sides of the second part 56, which are visible in Figure 2.

The first part 55 if the connection means 42 is attached to the belt 41 by means of shaped rigid plate 59, which is stitched inside the enlarged portion 44. (The plate 59 is shown in hashed lines in Figures 4 and 5, because it would not be visible from the side or top view.) Figure 6 shows the harness 40 in use. The second part 56 of the connection means 42 is connected to the handle 60 of golf trolley 61, by means of the clamp 48.

(Referring back to Figure 4, the bolt 51 is removed from the lower jaw 50, so the handle 60 can be placed inside the jaws 49 and 50, then the bolt 51 is placed back into jaw 50 and tightened up.) This is preferably done so that the second part 56 of the connection means 42 is approximately horizontal when the golf trolley 61 Is approximately balanced on its two main wheels 62 for motion, as shown in Figure 6.

This attachment process is also most conveniently done if the second part 56 of the connection means 42 is not connected to the first part 55.

The user (not shown) then dons the belt 41 by wrapping it around their torso, adjacent their lower back, such that the first end 55 of the connection means 42 faces rearward. End 47 of the belt 41 is wrapped around end 46, and the hook and loop fastener is employed to fastened the belt 41.

The two parts 55 and 56 of the connection means 42 can then be attached together, which is done by lifting the golf trolley onto its two main wheels, as shown in Figure 6, placing the socket 54 over the ball 53 and pressing the buttons 57 and 58 to allow the two components to be connected. Once this is done, the user can conveniently tow the golf trolley 61 simply by walking along.

The enlarged portion 44 of the belt 41 spreads the load across a large area of the user's lower back in order to prevent or alleviate any strain. Further, the articulation provided by the ball joint 52 allows the trolley 61 to be towed conveniently over the uneven surface of a golf course. In addition to this, it will be appreciated that the connection means 42 is positioned so as to engage with the trolley 61 when it is balanced on its two wheels 62, by virtue of the fact that the belt 41 is worn around the lower torso. Thus, the trolley 61 does not apply any undue vertical upward or downward forces on the connection means 42 in use.

When the user needs to play a stroke, they can disengage themselves from the trolley 61 in one of two ways. They can either disengage the ball 53 from the socket 54 by pressing the buttons 57 and 58, and play their stroke while still wearing the belt 41. Or, the user can remove the belt 41, and allow it to hang from the handle 60.

It will be appreciated that the harness 40 can be attached to any trailing load with a laterally extending handle. In particular, it can be attached to other types of golf trolley, including those which sit on three wheels all of the time and which do not tilt forward.

The invention also includes as its second aspect, a trailing load provided with towing apparatus comprising a human body harness, and such a trailing load is shown in Figure 6.

The embodiment described above can be altered without departing from the scope of Claim 1. In particular the various features of harness 1 can be interchanged with the various features of harness 40. For example, in one alternative embodiment (not shown) the belt 41 of harness 40 is used with the connection means 3 of harness 1, and conversely, in another alternative embodiment (not shown) the belt means 2 of harness 1 is used with the connection means 42 of harness 40.

In addition, in other alternative embodiments (not shown) the connection means comprise devices of different constructions to those described above. For example, in one alternative embodiment (not shown) the articulation means is a ball joint which does not have any disconnection feature. With such an arrangement the user must put on and take off the belt to conveniently engage and disengage themselves from the trolley. In another alternative embodiment (not shown), the articulation means is a universal joint. In another alternative embodiment (not shown), the connection means comprises a length of cord.

In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the connection means 3, or the clamp 48 are arranged at 90 degrees to the positions shown in the Figures, so they can attach to a handle which extends forward from a trailing load.

In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the belts are constructed from leather and other materials, and have alternative fastening methods, including buckles.

In one other alternative embodiment (not shown) the extension 7 as shown in Figure 1, is provided with an upwardly extending and curved flange at its outer end to assist the coming together of the hook and the handle of a trailing load.

The trailing load provided with towing apparatus as shown in either Figure 3 or 6 can also be altered without departing from the scope of Claim 18. For example, in one alternative embodiment (not shown) the connection means is non-releasably fixed to the trailing load, and the towing apparatus is a permanent component part of the trailing load.

Further, in other alternative embodiments (not shown) the trailing load comprises loads other than golf trolleys, including industrial trolleys, shopping trolleys and sleds. In addition, in one further alternative embodiment (not shown) the golf trolley is of the kind which rests on three wheels all the time, and which does not tilt forward.

Thus, a harness, or a load with a harness, is provided which allows a golfer to physically transport their clubs around a golf course without using their upper body.

Claims

Claims 1. A human body harness for towing a trailing load comprising a

belt means, in which the belt means is provided with connection means at a rear portion thereof adapted to connect in use to a traiflng load.
2. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 1 in which the connection means is adapted to allow relative movement between the belt means and the trailing load.
3. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 2 in which the connection means comprises a hook, which hook is arranged with its opening uppermost.
4. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 3 in which the hook means is provided with closure means adapted to close its opening.
5. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 4 in which the hook means and the closure means comprise a single component formed from a resilient material, and in which the closure means is moved upwards in use to allow access to an inside of the hook.
6. A human body harness as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the belt means is adapted to be fitted around a user's torso, in which the belt means comprises a first flexible section, a substantially rigid central section, and a second flexible section, in which the sections are so arranged that when the belt is donned in use the central section is disposed adjacent a user's lower back.
7. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 6 in which the connection means extends from a rear portion of the central section.
8. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 7 in which the central section is provided with a plurality of abutments on a front portion thereof.
9. A human body harness as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8 in which the central section is constructed from a plastics material, in which the first flexible section and the second flexible section are formed from a fabric, and in which the first flexible section and the second flexible section are attached to the central section with buckles.
10. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 2 in which the connection means comprises a body with a clamp arrangement at a distal end thereof, adapted to mount in use to a trailing load.
11. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 10 in which the connection means is provided with articulation means which provides relative movement between the belt and the trailing load in both the horizontal and the vertical plane.
12. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 11 in which the articulation means comprises a ball joint.
13. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 12 in which the ball joint comprises a ball and a socket, which are releasably connectable.
14. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 13 in which the socket is provided with a locking mechanism to lock it to the ball.
15. A trailing load substantially as described herein and as shown in Figure 3.

15. A human body harness as claimed in any of Claims 10 to 14 in which the belt means comprises a belt adapted to be fitted around a user's torso, adjacent their lower back in use.

16. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 15 in which the belt is provided with a enlarged portion at a rear portion thereof, adapted to support a user's lower back in use.

17. A human body harness substantially as described herein and as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 or 5.

18. A trailing load with towing apparatus comprising a human body harness comprising a belt means, in which the belt means is provided with connection means at a rear portion thereof, and in which the connection means is connected to the trailing load.

19. A trailing load as claimed in Claim 18 in which the connection means is non- releasably fixed to the trailing load.

20. A trailing load as claimed in Claims 18 in which the connection means is releasably fixed to the trailing load.

21. A trailing load as claimed in any of Claims 18 to 20 in which the trailing load comprises a wheeled golf trolley.

22. A trailing load substantially as described herein and as shown in Figures 3 or 6. e0t,

Claims 1. A human body harness for towing a trailing load comprising a belt means, in which the belt means is provided with connection means comprising a hook at a rear portion thereof adapted to connect in use to a trailing load, which hook is arranged with its opening uppermost.

2. A human body harness as claimed in Claim I in which the connection means is adapted to allow relative movement between the belt means and the trailing load.

3. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 2 in which the hook means is provided with closure means adapted to close its opening.

4. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 3 in which the hook means and the closure means comprise a single component formed from a resilient material, and in which the closure means is moved upwards in use to allow access to an inside of the hook.

5. A human body harness as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the belt means is adapted to be fitted around a user's torso, in which the belt means comprises a first flexible section, a substantially rigid central section, and a second flexible section, in which the sections are so arranged that when the belt is donned in use the central section is disposed adjacent a user's lower back.

6. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 5 in which the connection means extends from a rear portion of the central section.

* 7. A human body harness as claimed in Claim 6 in which the central section is * provided with a plurality of abutments on a front portion thereof.

8. A human body harness as claimed in any of Claims 5 to 7 in which the central section is constructed from a plastics material, in which the first flexible section and the second flexible section are formed from a fabric, and in which the first flexible section and the second flexible section are attached to the central section with buckles.

9. A human body harness as claimed in Claim I in which the connection means is provided with articulation means which provides relative movement between the belt and the trailing load in both the horizontal and the vertical plane.

10. A human body harness as claimed in Claim I in which the belt means is provided with an enlarged portion at a rear thereof, adapted to support a user's lower back in use.

11. A human body harness substantially as described herein and as shown in Figures land 2.

12. A trailing load with towing apparatus comprising a human body harness comprising a belt means, in which the belt means is provided with connection means comprising a hook at a rear portion thereof, which hook is arranged with its opening uppermost, and in which the connection means is connected to the trailing load.

13. A trailing load as claimed in Claim 12 in which the connection means is releasably fixed to the trailing load.

14. A trailing baa as claimea in claim i or.i. in whpcn tne trailing ioad comprises a wheeled golf trolley.