GB2435244A

GB2435244A - A safety harness assembly partly located within a vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: GB2435244A
Application number: GB0603003A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Lloyd Spillard
Original assignee: SPILLARD SAFETY SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: SPILLARD SAFETY SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-15
Filing date: 2006-02-15
Publication date: 2007-08-22
Also published as: GB0603003D0

Abstract

A safety harness arrangement comprises a seat 14 and a harness (16 figure 1) for restraining a person seated in the seat, where said harness has at least one retractable strap (34) which has at least one portion which extends within the seat between a retractor 18 fixed to the seat and an exit location 20 at which the strap leaves the seat. The portion of the strap which extends within the seat may be located within a rigid walled passage member 42 secured to the seat frame 12b. A guide formation 54 (see also figure 4) may be provided at the upper end of the passage, said guide causing the harness to extend to the corresponding shoulder of the seat occupant. The harness may comprise a single section of strap located within the seat, said strap extending to a bifurcation (38) from where two shoulder straps extend (figure 1). Alternatively the two shoulder straps may both extend in to the seat before passing down respective passage members to individual seatbelt retractors (figure 5).

Description

Safety Harness Arrancjement The present invention relates to safety

harness arrangements.

Safety harnesses are used to restrain the human operators of large equipment such as earth-moving vehicles and other construction equipment, when seated at the controls. This type of equipment is commonly used on rough and/or sloping terrain. Accordingly, this type of equipment may frequently be static or slow moving while tilted in any direction. In emergencies, the equipment may roll over. A need exists for the operator to be restrained to remain in his or her seat in all of these situations.

The present invention provides a safety harness arrangement 1 5 comprising: a seat; a harness for restraining a person seated in the seat and having at least one retractable strap for restraining the person; the retractable strap having at least one portion which extends within the seat between a retractor fixed to the seat and an exit location at which the strap leaves the seat.

Preferably the path extends within a rigid-walled passage member.

Preferably, substantially the whole of the path is within the passage member.

The seat may include an upholstered, load-bearing frame, the path extending between the seat frame and the seat upholstery. The passage member is preferably secured to the seat frame. The seat frame is preferably locally reinforced at the position at which the passage member is secured.

The harness may have at least one retractable shoulder strap for restraining the shoulder of the person. There are preferably guide formations which constrain the or each shoulder strap and are fixed to the seat to cause the or each shoulder strap, in use, to extend to the corresponding shoulder from a position or corresponding position defined by the guide formations and fixed relative to the seat. Preferably, the fixed position is at the top of the seat back.

The or each position is preferably substantially at the height of the shoulders of a person seated in the seat. The harness preferably has a shoulder strap having a common portion which is constrained by the guide formations and extends from the fixed position to a bifurcation from which shoulder straps extend, in use, to the shoulders of a person seated in the seat.

1 5 Alternatively, the harness may have shoulder straps for each shoulder of a person seated in the seat. Each shoulder strap may extend from a respective fixed position. An attachment arrangement may be provided for attaching together the shoulder straps in front of the torso of the person.

Preferably the or one of the guide formations is at the exit location to define the exit location as the or one of the fixed positions.

In another aspect, the invention provides a safety harness arrangement, comprising: a seat; a harness for restraining a person seated in the seat and having at least one retractable shoulder strap for restraining a shoulder of the person; there being guide formations which constrain the or each shoulder strap and are fixed to the seat to cause the or each shoulder strap, in use, to extend to the corresponding shoulder from a position or corresponding position defined by the guide formations and fixed relative to the seat.

The or each fixed position is preferably at the top of the seat back and may be substantially at the height of the shoulders of a person seated in the seat. The harness preferably has a shoulder strap having a common portion which is constrained by the guide formations and extends from the fixed position to a bifurcation from which shoulder straps extend, in use, to the shoulders of a person seated in the seat.

Alternatively, the harness may have shoulder straps for each shoulder of a person seated in the seat. Each shoulder strap may extend from a respective fixed position. An attachment arrangement may be provided for attaching together the shoulder straps in front of the torso of the person.

Preferably, the retractable strap has at least one portion which extends 1 5 within the seat between a retractor fixed to the seat and an exit location at which the strap leaves the seat.

Preferably the path extends within a rigid-walled passage member.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a safety harness arrangement comprising a harness as defined in any of the definitions above, and attachment means for attaching the harness to a seat to form a harness arrangement in accordance with any of the definitions set out above.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a safety harness arrangement in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 corresponds with Fig. 1, with upholstery of the seat shown only in outline, to reveal other structures of the arrangement; Fig. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2; 1 5 Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section at the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 corresponds with Fig. 1, showing an alternative embodiment.

The drawings illustrate a safety harness arrangement 10 which comprises a seat 12, 14, and a harness indicated generally at 16 for restraining a person seated in the seat and having various retractable straps, as will be described. At least one portion of a retractable strap extends within the seat 12, 14 between a retractor 18 (Fig. 2) fixed to the seat 12 and an exit location generally at 20 at which the strap leaves the seat 12, 14.

In more detail, the seat includes a frame 12 which may be in the form of a moulded or shaped shell. The frame 12 is load-bearing to bear the weight of a person seated in the seat, including loads conveyed from the harness 16. The frame 12 has a base portion 12a and a back portion 12b which may be hinged generally at 22 to allow the relative angle to be adjusted for comfort.

Blocks of upholstery 14 are mounted on the frame base 12a and frame back 12b, primarily for the comfort of a person seated in the seat.

In this example, the harness 16 is secured to the frame 12 at three positions, by the rear retractor 18 and side retractors 24. The rear retractor 18 is fixed centrally to the frame base 12a by means of a bracket 26 which also forms a protective shield for the rear retractor 18. Thus, the rear retractor 18 is located at a position in the vicinity of the rear edge of the frame base 12a, and the lower edge of the frame back 12b. The side retractors 24 are also attached to the frame base 12a in the vicinity of the rear edge of the frame base 12a, and in the vicinity of the lower edge of the frame back 12b.

The side retractors 24 are attached to the frame base 12a by brackets 28, which also provide the pivot mounting for the frame back 12b to the frame base 12a.

Location of the retractors 18, 24 at these positions provides some protection against damage during use.

The harness 16 has lap strap portions 30 extending from respective side retractors 24 and attached together by a buckle 32. Shoulder strap portions 34 run on the lap strap portions 30 at their lower ends and extend up to pass over the shoulders of a person seated in the seat. The shoulder straps are completed by a common portion 36 which extends from the rear retractor 18 up to meet the upper ends of the shoulder strap portions 34 at a bifurcation 38. Thus, the shoulder strap is formed by a common portion 36 from the rear retractor 18 up to the bifurcation 38, from which the shoulder portions 34 extend over the shoulders of a person seated in the seat, down to the lap strap 30.

The common portion 36 extends within the seat between the rear retractor 18 and the exit location 20 (Fig. 4) at which the common portion 36 leaves the seat. The path from the retractor 18 to the exit location extends within a rigid-walled passage member 42 in the form of a rectangular tube which is relatively shallow and wide, and curved to follow the profile of the frame back 12b. Substantially the whole of the path from the retractor 18 to the exit location 20 is within the passage member 42, as can be understood from Figs. 2 and 4, for example. The passage member 42, and thus the path of the common portion 36 from the retractor 18 to the exit location 20, is located within the seat, between the frame back 12b and the upholstery 14.

The passage member 42 is secured to the frame back 1 2b, part way along its length, by means of a bracket 44. There is further attachment at the upper end of the passage member 42. In this region, the frame back 12b is locally reinforced by attachment of a metal reinforcing bracket 46. A collar 48 fits over the upper end of the passage member 42, and is attached to the reinforcing bracket 46, thus securing the upper end of the passage member 42 to a locally reinforced region of the frame back 12b.

From the upper end of the passage member 42, the common portion 36 extends through the collar 48 to a short passage 50 (Fig. 4) extending from the rear face of the upholstery 14, to the upper edge 52 of the upholstery 14.

The walls of the passage 50, and particularly the mouth at the upper edge 52, are reinforced by an appropriate lining material, such as a metal lining 54, which may be covered in a plastics material or other material to reduce wear. The walls of the lining 54 serve as guide formations which constrain the common portion 36. Thus, the metal lining 54 defines a fixed position relative to the seat, through which the common portion 36 must pass.

Accordingly, the common portion 36 always extends to the bifurcation 38 from the fixed position of the upper mouth of the lining 54. The mouth of the lining 54 is at the top edge 52 of the seat back and is thus substantially at the height of the shoulders of a person seated in the seat.

The retractors 18, 24 are positioned to avoid damage during use, as noted above. The common portion 36 is also protected against damage or wear by its location within the seat, and by the passage member 42. Locating the path of the common portion 36 within the seat provides protection, particularly against damage or wear from behind the seat, such as from other equipment, dirt, careless use or other sources of rubbing on the common portion 36. The passage member 42 protects the common portion 36 from wear and from dirt ingress. In particular, the passage member 42 is advantageous in defining a consistent environment for the common portion 36, not affected by the weight or position of a person seated in the seat.

1 5 Fixing the position at which the shoulder straps extend from the seat serves to reduce the risk of the shoulder straps slipping off the shoulders of a person seated in the seat, during use. Thus, because the passage 50 is fixed in position, mid-way across the seat, directly behind the neck or shoulders of a person seated in the seat, the bifurcation 38 will be retained at a position close to this mid-position except when a significant amount of the common portion 36 has been run out, and will thus be maintained close to the neck or central to the shoulders of the person seated in the seat. The shoulder strap portions 34, diverging from the bifurcation 38, are therefore less likely to slip off the shoulders.

In use, the buckle 32 is initially released to open the lap straps 30, allowing a person to sit on the seat, between the shoulder strap portions 34.

The shoulder strap portions 34 are then brought over the shoulders by bringing the arms under the shoulder straps and out over the lap straps 30.

The buckle 32 is then secured to complete the operation of fitting the harness.

During normal use, the various retractors allow the operator to move comfortably and substantially normally on the seat, being virtually unhindered by the harness. However, in the event that one or more of the retractors senses an abnormal situation and locks, the person seated in the seat becomes held securely to the seat, in the interests of safety. The retractors are preferably chosen to lock when tilted and may alternatively or additionally lock in response to excessive acceleration or deceleration. It is particularly preferred that the retractors are able to lock by their orientation, so that even a slow tilting of the seat will trigger them to lock the harness and hold the operator in the seat.

In the example described above, the user is secured to the seat at three positions, defined by the passage 50 and the side retractors 24. In an alternative example illustrated in Fig. 5, four point fixing is provided, as 1 5 follows. In the example of Fig. 5, the upper ends of the shoulder strap portions 34 do not meet at a bifurcation, as in the previous example. Instead, each extends into the upholstery 14, through a passage 50, substantially as has been described in relation to Fig. 4. Each shoulder strap portion 34 then passes down a corresponding passage member 42 (not shown) to a respective retractor (not shown) fixed to the frame base 12a in a manner similar to the fixing of the rear retractor 18, but spaced to respective sides of the centre line of the seat. Accordingly, in this example, the advantages of protection of the common portion 36 of the first example are again provided for the shoulder straps 34, during their run through the seat. In addition, each of the shoulder strap portions 34 is held at a fixed position near the shoulders of a person seated in the seat, to provide advantages generally as described above, in relation to reduced risk of the harness slipping off the shoulders of the person seated in the seat.

It is envisaged that the various strap portions will be formed of conventional webbing materials used for safety straps etc. Various materials may be used for the frame 12, including metal or composites.

It will be apparent that many variations and modifications can be made to the examples described above, without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, many different shapes, sizes and relative shapes and sizes could be used.

0 Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A safety harness arrangement comprising: a seat; a harness for restraining a person seated in the seat and having at least one retractable strap for restraining the person; the retractable strap having at least one portion which extends within 1 0 the seat between a retractor fixed to the seat and an exit location at which the strap leaves the seat.

2. A harness arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the path of the strap extends within a rigid-walled passage member.

3. A harness arrangement according to claim 2, wherein substantially the whole of the path is within the passage member.

4. A harness arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the seat includes an upholstered, load-bearing frame, the path of the strap extending between the seat frame and the seat upholstery.

5. A harness arrangement according to claim 4 and either of claims 2 and 3, wherein the passage member is secured to the seat frame.

6. A harness arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the seat frame is locally reinforced at the position at which the passage member is secured.

7. A harness arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the harness has at least one retractable shoulder strap for restraining the shoulder of the person.

8. A harness arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein there are guide formations which constrain the or each shoulder strap and are fixed to the seat to cause the or each shoulder strap, in use, to extend to the corresponding shoulder from a position or corresponding position defined by the guide formations and fixed relative to the seat.

9. A harness arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the fixed position is at the top of the seat back.

10. A harness arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the or each position is substantially at the height of the shoulders of a person seated in the seat.

11. A harness arrangement according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the harness has a shoulder strap having a common portion which is constrained by the guide formations and extends from the fixed position to a bifurcation from which shoulder straps extend, in use, to the shoulders of a person seated in the seat.

12. A harness arrangement according to claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein the harness has shoulder straps for each shoulder of a person seated in the seat.

13. A harness arrangement according to claim 12, wherein each shoulder strap extends from a respective fixed position.

14. A harness arrangement according to claim 12 or 13, wherein an attachment arrangement is provided for attaching together the shoulder straps in front of the torso of the person.

15. A harness arrangement according to any of claims 8 to 14, wherein the or one of the guide formations is at the exit location to define the exit location as the or one of the fixed positions.

16. A safety harness arrangement, comprising: a seat; a harness for restraining a person seated in the seat and having at 1 0 least one retractable shoulder strap for restraining a shoulder of the person; there being guide formations which constrain the or each shoulder strap and are fixed to the seat to cause the or each shoulder strap, in use, to extend to the corresponding shoulder from a position or corresponding position defined by the guide formations and fixed relative to the seat.

17. A harness arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the or each fixed position is at the top of the seat back.

18. A harness arrangement according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the or each fixed position is substantially at the height of the shoulders of a person seated in the seat.

19. A harness arrangement according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the harness has a shoulder strap having a common portion which is constrained by the guide formations and extends from the fixed position to a bifurcation from which shoulder straps extend, in use, fo the shoulders of a person seated in the seat.

20. A harness arrangement according to any of claims 16 to 18, wherein the harness has shoulder straps for each shoulder of a person seated in the seat.

21. A harness arrangement according to claim 20, wherein each shoulder strap extends from a respective fixed position.

22. A harness arrangement according to claim 20 or 21, wherein an attachment arrangement is provided for attaching together the shoulder straps in front of the torso of the person.

23. A harness arrangement according to any of claims 16 to 22, wherein 1 0 the retractable strap has at least one portion which extends within the seat between a retractor fixed to the seat and an exit location at which the strap leaves the seat.

24. A harness arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the path of the 1 5 strap extends within a rigid-walled passage member.

25. A harness arrangement according to claim 23 or 24, wherein substantially the whole of the path is within the passage member.

26. A harness arrangement according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the seat includes an upholstered, load-bearing frame, the path extending between the seat frame and the seat upholstery.

27. A harness arrangement according to claim 25 arkl either of claims 23 and 24, wherein the passage member is secured to the seat frame.

28. A harness arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the seat frame is locally reinforced at the position at which the passage member is secured.

29. A harness arrangement according to any of claims 23 to 28, wherein the or one of the guide formations is at the exit location to define the exit location as the or one of the fixed positions.

30. A safety harness arrangement comprising a harness as defined in any preceding claim, and attachment means for attaching the harness to a seat to form a harness arrangement in accordance with any preceding claim.

31. A harness arrangement, substantially as described above, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

32. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter 1 0 disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.