US2287812A

US2287812A - Parachute harness

Info

Publication number: US2287812A
Application number: US351636A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank G Manson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-08-06
Filing date: 1940-08-06
Publication date: 1942-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-30

Description

June 30, 1942.

F. G. MANSON PARACHUTE HARNESS Filed Aug.. s, 1'940 2 sheets-sheet 1 FIG. 1

Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES vPlrreNT OFFICE -Pmcnu'rn HARNESS Frank G. Manson, Dayton, Ohio Applicata August s, 1940, sem1No.3s1,c3s

(Granted undef the act of Mai-cn 3, 1ss3, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) v 11 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and. used by or for the- Government for which is capable of quick release and disengagement from the body of the wearer.

A particular object of the present construction is to provide a harness wherein a pair of lift webs are adapted to extend in substantially parallel relation down the Hack of the wearer and terminate in leg straps, so that most of the weight of the wearers body is carried directly by the continuous material of the lift webs, thereby avoiding large stresses in stitched connections.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts and the combination thereof as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration there is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a view of the harness with the parts extended; and

Figure 2 is a view of the harness with the parts connected togethervinthe positions they'would assume on a. wearer. Y

' In the present harness, designed for use with the back typeuof parachute pack, there are provided a pair of lift webs I and 2 equipped with rings 3 and 4 for securing the shroud lines from the parachute canopy. The lift webs I and 2 are adapted to be disposed in substantially parallel relation down the back of the wearer, `and terminate in what may be termed

leg straps

5 and 5 carrying at their ends the connector parts 'I and 8. The leg strapsV 5 and 6 are provided with lengthfadjusting buckles 9 and IlLfin such a manner that each leg strap passes once through the adjusting buckle, then around the eye in the connector part and back to the ad' stitched back onitself in the manner shown inl Figure 2.

A seat strap I5 is provided with enlarged loops,

as shown at I6 and I1, so as to be longitudinally adjustable on the lift webs I and 2.` Preferably,

the loops I6 and I1 are intended to be stitched l to the lift -webs in the proper position to best t a particular individual, but this stitching may be light hand stitching, as it is not subjected to appreciable stress. A back strap I8 formed of wide webbing may terial is attached in transverse relation to the .straps yto their respective lift webs.

lift webs and 2 by stitching or other equivalent means. l The length of the back strap' I8 is such that the end portions I9 and 20 partially encircle the waist of the wearer. Short loops of webbing 2| and 22, or other'strong material, are attached to the end `portions I9 and 20, preferably by stitching Iin the regions indicated at 23.

Rings

24 and 25 are carried by the loops 2| and 22 and are thus definitely positioned by means 'of the stitching in the parts 23.

means of the length-adjusting buckle 32, this buckle being preferablypositioned at one side of' the wearer so that a smooth strip of the belt 30 will lie' against the wearers back underneath the back strap I8. Shoulder straps 30 and 3|v pass through adjusting

buckles

33 and 34, respectively, on the lift webs I and 2, the function of the last-named buckles being to adjustably fix and determine the point of attachment of the back Connecting

parts

35 and 36 are attached to the ends of the back straps 3D and 3| in a well-known manner and 'for a purpose presently to be described.

AThus it is seen that the back strap 30 begins at one end with the connecting part 35, passes through the adjusting buckle 33 on the lift web I and then proceeds diagonally across the back of the wearer tothe ring 25, where it doubles back upon itself and lies against the back strap I8- until it reaches the buckle- 32, where its other end is anchored in proper adjustment. Similarly, the shoulder strap 3| begins at one end at the connecting part 35, proceeds through the buckle 34 on the lift web 2 and then passes diagonally alsl across the back of the wearer to the ringl 24 and thence into the adjusting buckle 32 in the oppostraps, both of .the straps 30 and 3| arefree for` longitudinal movement with respect to the back strap I8,' so that their lengths may be altered by sliding them through the

rings

24 and 25, and also through the

adjusters

33 and 34, if necessary.

It is thus seen from Figure 1 that the lower extremities of the lift webs' I and 2, which are in reality the ends of the leg straps 5 and 6 carrying the connecting parts 1 and 8, may be called free ends. Similarly, the upper extremities of the shoulder straps carrying the connecting

parts

35 and 36 may also be called free ends. A connecting device 40 is employed vfor securing together these four free ends in the manner 35, so that the connector 40 will always remain with the harness and be carried by one of the straps. The specific construction of this connector forms `n0 partv of the present invention, and any equivalent connector may be used.

The manner in which the harness nts the wearer is apparent in Figure 2. The lift webs I and 2, when they are supported by the shroud lines from the canopy of the parachute attached to the rings 3 and 4, will be disposed in substantially parallel relation down the back of the wearer. The lower parts of the lift webs I and 2 form leg straps 5 and 6 supporting a greater part of the wearers weight. The leg straps 5 and 6 are disposed in front of the wearer and there engaged by the loops 2| and 22 in the ends of the back strap I8, thereafter upwardly converging toward the connector 40. The shoulder straps 30 and 3| cross behind the wearers back and pass over the wearers shoulders f'or engagement with the connector 40, to resist the downward pull of the leg straps.

Thus it is seen that substantially the entire weight of the wearers body is borne by the material of the lift webs alone without involving the strength of any stitched portions or connections with other straps. The weight is supported by means of a direct pull in tension on each of the lift webs in substantially a straight line from the wearers thighs to the connection with the shroud lines of the parachute. This construclength of the wearers back, each of said lift websv terminating in a leg strap having a free end disposed in front of the wearer; a webbing strap ,attached transversely to said lift Webs so as to be disposed horizontally across the wearers back, said webbing strap having a leg-strap-engaging loop at each end thereof; an adjustable strap secured to said webbing stra'p and having reaches extending diagonally across the wearers back and from approximately said loops respectively to an opposite shoulder of the wearer, said reaches terminating in free ends disposed in front `of the wearer; and quick-release fastening means for securing together al1 of said free ends.

2. A parachute harness comprising a pair of substantially parallel lift webs extending the full length of the wearers back and terminating in adjustable leg straps having free ends for disposition in front of the wearer, a strap having a portion attached transversely across said lift webs and having leg-strap-engaging loops, a shoulder strap extending approximately from each of said loops and across an opposite shoulder of the. wearer, said shoulder straps passing through guides on said lift webs at approximatelyshoulder height and terminating in vfree ends, and quickrelease fastening means for securing together all of said free ends.

3. In a parachute harness, a pair of lift webs adapted to extend in parallel relation down the back of the wearer, each of said lift webs terminating in a free end; a transverse strap attached to said lift webs in a position to embrace the back of the wearer; a loop at each lateral extremity of said transverse strap adapted to receive one of said lift webs near the 'free end thereof; `diagonal straps extending from the regions of said loops across the opposite shoulders of the wearer and terminating in free ends; and quick-release fastening means for securing together all of said free ends in front of the wearer.

4. A parachute harness comprising a pair of substantially parallel lift` webs, an extremity of .each of said lift webs constituting a leg strap tion makes for great strength, as well as simplicity of design, ease of adjustment, and the possibility of a quick release from the harness after the descent.

A considerable range of adjustment for different sizes of individuals is possible through changing only the adjusters 9 and I0, but if greater adjustment is desired, the length of the shoulder straps may be varied by means of the buckle 32.

Release of the harness from thelbody of the `wearer may be quickly effected by operation of the knob 4I on the connector 40, which allows the previously mentioned free ends to separate. Tension on the leg straps will' easily draw the ends of the latter free of the large loops 2'I and 22, whereupon the wearer is immediately completely disengaged from the harness.

While I have shown and described but a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be underterminating in a free end; a-strap secured to said parallel lift webs in transverserelation thereto and carrying legstrapengaging loops on opposite sides thereof; shoulder straps anchored to said loop-carrying strap and terminating in free ends; and quick-release fastening means' ,for securing together all of said free ends.

5. In aparachute harness, a pair'of lift webs adapted to extend down the wearers back in substantially parallel relationand terminatingin leg straps, each having a free end; loops adapted to engage said leg straps in front of the wearer; diagonal straps extending from adjacent said loops across the back of the wearer and over opposite shoulders, and terminating in free ends;

and quick-release fastening means for securing together all of said free ends in front of the lift webs, the lower extremities of which constitute leg straps; a back strap secured transversely to said supporting webs, said back strap having at each end thereof a `loop for slidably receiving' a leg strap therethrough; a seat strap spanning said lift webs and associated therewith so as to be slidably adjustable therealong; shoulder straps attached to said lift webs; and means for attaching the ends of said shoulder straps to lift webs terminating in leg straps, and a strap attached transversely to said lift webs and having means for loosely-engaging intermediate por-4 tions of said leg straps, said transverse strap having attached thereto crossing shoulder straps having engagement with said lift Webs above the'points of said transverse attachment.

10. A parachute harness comprising a pair of lift webs, the lower extremities of which constitute adjustable leg straps, means spacing and interconnecting said lift Webs to form a seat portion; shoulder straps attached to said lift webs; and means for attaching said leg straps to said shoulder straps.

l1. In a parachute harness, a pair of lift webs and a seat strap spacing and loosely connecting said lift Webs intermediate their ends so as to be adjustable therealong.

FRANK G. MANSON.